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Japanese manga series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inu × Boku SS (Japanese: 妖狐×僕SS, Hepburn: Inu Boku Shīkuretto Sābisu, lit. 'The Dog and Me Secret Service'), also known as Youko × Boku, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Cocoa Fujiwara. It was serialied in Square Enix's Gangan Joker magazine from April 2009 to February 2014, with its chapters collected in eleven tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by David Production aired in Japan between January and March 2012. The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks for streaming, and home video release in North America.
| Inu × Boku SS | |
Manga volume 1 cover | |
| 妖狐×僕SS (Inu Boku Shīkuretto Sābisu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Cocoa Fujiwara |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Gangan Joker |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | April 22, 2009 – February 22, 2014 |
| Volumes | 11 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Naokatsu Tsuda |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Toshizo Nemoto |
| Music by | Kōtarō Nakagawa |
| Studio | David Production |
| Licensed by |
|
| Original network | MBS, TBS, RKB, CBC, BS-TBS |
| English network | |
| Original run | January 12, 2012 – March 29, 2012 |
| Episodes | 12 + OVA |
Volumes 1 to 4.
Known on the outside as merely a daughter of a rich aristocratic family, 15-year-old Ririchiyo Shirakiin is far from normal – she is an Atavist, a human with demon or yōkai ancestors with the ability to channel their supernatural powers. Wrought with insecurities about her birth and family, Ririchiyo protects her inner, most sensitive self through a sharp tongue, eventually leaving to move into the Maison de Ayakashi (メゾン・ド・章樫, Mezon do Ayakashi), better known as Ayakashi Hall or Ayakashikan (妖館), a high-security apartment complex where fellow Atavists reside. As Atavists are neither fully human nor supernatural, they tend to attract fully-grown, often dangerous demons, and so group together, each resident guarded by their own Secret Service (SS) bodyguard. Despite not requesting for a bodyguard, she finds herself served by Sōshi Miketsukami, the descendant of a nine-tailed fox who devotes his life to her. Although initially unwilling to accept him as her bodyguard, the two grow close and Miketsukami helps Ririchiyo suppress her bad habit as well as establish valuable connections with the residents at Ayakashi Hall; Ririchiyo also inevitably helps him become more emotional and to be more perceptive of the world, which he had not acquired due to his house arrest and isolation. The two eventually fall in love and begin a relationship. Instead of fulfilling her initial goal to be alone, Ririchiyo realises that she has instead surrounded herself with supportive friends. As a bonding activity, the residents decide to build a time capsule together for their future selves.
Unfortunately, this sudden peace is interrupted when Karuta Roromiya, Kagerō Shoukiin's SS, is attacked and heavily wounded by a fellow Atavist named Mikoto Inugami. Inugami declares his intention to recruit members for the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, an army of Atavists that have lost their human sanity and become senseless yōkai subject to his command. Despite attempts to save Karuta, she eventually loses herself and becomes a part of the army, attacking her friends. Miketsukami is killed by Inugami in front of Ririchiyo while trying to protect her.
Volumes 5 to 8.
Nearly every one of the residents of Ayakashi Hall is revealed to have been killed as a result of the incident, except for Renshō Sorinozuka. 23 years have passed since then, and the deceased have reincarnated thanks to their yōkai blood. 15-year-old Ririchiyo, wrought with insecurities about her sharp tongue, leaves her home and moves into the apartment complex hoping to be alone, only to meet Miketsukami who employs himself as her SS. Unlike other residents, Ririchiyo has no recollection of her past due to her previous incarnation's trauma over Miketsukami's death, but slowly starts to remember after encounters with the others. Ririchiyo deduces that the Miketsukami now actually has no memories as well, and is merely acting out of an ingrained emotion, choosing to break off their contract and relationship as she confirms that she loved him in her previous life, not her current life. Years of calm is once again interrupted by news about the Night Parade, signalling that it has become an unstoppable cycle. As everyone works to stop it, Banri Watanuki, who has reincarnated as a middle-schooler, befriends Inugami, not realising who he is. The residents eventually discover that Inugami is constantly revisiting a time from 23 years ago using a special sacred tree, known as the Millenium Cherry Blossom Tree, and decide to send a time capsule containing letters for their past selves.
Volumes 8 and 9.
5 short stories, each focusing on one or more of the main characters. Set sometime during Part 1.
Volumes 9 to 11.
The setting jumps back to 23 years ago, in the first timeline, where the group are about to bury the time capsule containing letters to their future reincarnations as a bonding activity. As they dig a hole for the box, they find another box in its place containing letters from their future selves to them, warning them about Inugami's plans. With this timeline now deviating from its original course, Ririchiyo and Miketsukami have yet to cement their relationship, and she instead chooses to keep her distance from him after learning that he will die protecting her. The group manages to prevent the attack on Karuta, but are forced to return to their own homes, knowing that Ayakashi Hall is no longer safe. Back in his loveless home, Miketsukami is held in captivity again until Ririchiyo arrives to save him. The two finally reconnect and begin a relationship.
Reuniting, the residents learn that Inugami is acquainted with Shimon Satorigahara, an elderly Atavist who is revered as the leader of the Atavist community for her power to perceive the thoughts and memories of others by touching them. Because simply going out could mean an overload of information and subsequent death for her, Shimon was locked up at home since a young age, having to live vicariously through Inugami. As children, they had grown close, with Shimon trusting him enough to show him the Satorigahara family's Millenium Cherry Blossom Tree, a yōkai known as Sennenzakura that governs time. An accident however, caused Inugami to become immortal, and from then on his existence began to revolve around hunting and gifting Shimon the corpses of all Atavists, for her to read their stories and memories for enjoyment eternally. In the final battle, Kagerō manages to gather Atavists from all over the country to fight Inugami's army and a final showdown is held in the Satorigahara residence. Inugami is deterred by Watanuki's presence, whom he unconsciously considered as a friend, and killed by Miketsukami, ending the Night Parade and lifting his curse, causing all senseless yōkai to return to their Atavist form. As Shimon reads a dying Inugami's memories, she realises that he had loved her all along, amidst her hundreds of reincarnations. In an aftermath, the residents and their SS bodyguards continue towards a new life together, with everyone alive and well. Zange Natsume, who can See snippets of the future, pictures a scene where those from the "If" world are living happily together in a different timeline.
Inu × Boku SS was written and illustrated by Cocoa Fujiwara. It was serialized in Square Enix's Gangan Joker magazine between April 22, 2009,[4] and February 22, 2014.[5] Square Enix published 11 tankōbon volumes between April 22, 2010, and July 22, 2014. Yen Press licensed the manga and published the series in North America from October 2013 to May 2016.[6]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 22, 2010[7] | 978-4-7575-2851-2 | October 29, 2013[8] | 978-0-316-24313-1 |
| 2 | April 22, 2010[9] | 978-4-7575-2852-9 | January 21, 2014[10] | 978-0-316-32207-2 |
| 3 | July 22, 2010[11] | 978-4-7575-2940-3 | April 22, 2014[10] | 978-0-316-32209-6 |
| 4 | February 22, 2011[12] | 978-4-7575-3146-8 | July 22, 2014[10] | 978-0-316-32208-9 |
| 5 | July 22, 2011[13] | 978-4-7575-3290-8 | October 28, 2014[10] | 978-0-316-32210-2 |
| 6 | December 22, 2011[14] | 978-4-7575-3448-3 | January 20, 2015[10] | 978-0-316-32213-3 |
| 7 | June 22, 2012[15] | 978-4-7575-3630-2 | April 21, 2015[10] | 978-0-316-32215-7 |
| 8 | November 22, 2012[16] | 978-4-7575-3794-1 | July 21, 2015[10] | 978-0-316-32217-1 |
| 9 | May 22, 2013[17] | 978-4-7575-3970-9 | November 17, 2015 | 978-0-316-35211-6 |
| 10 | October 22, 2013[18] | 978-4-7575-4092-7 | February 23, 2016 | 978-0-316-26911-7 |
| 11 | July 22, 2014[19] | 978-4-7575-4359-1 | May 24, 2016 | 978-0-316-39330-0 |
A 12-episode anime adaptation by David Production aired in Japan between January 12 and March 29, 2012, and was simulcast on Crunchyroll.[20] An original video animation episode was released with the seventh Blu-ray Disc volume on September 26, 2012.[21] The series has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.[22] Hanabee Entertainment licensed the anime in Australia and New Zealand and released the series on Blu-ray and DVD in April 2013.[23] MVM Films have licensed the series in the United Kingdom.[24]
| No. | Title[25] | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Dog and Me" Transliteration: "Inu to Boku" (Japanese: いぬとぼく) | January 12, 2012 | |
|
Ririchiyo Shirakiin, a girl from a rich family, moves into the high-security Maison de Ayakashi apartment complex, where she finds herself assigned a Secret Service agent named Sōshi Miketsukami. Ririchiyo is reluctant to have Sōshi as her Secret Service, particularly as she does not feel worth protecting as her family household has taken up much of her being. One night, a burglar breaks into the complex to try and rob Ririchiyo, only to learn that Sōshi, along with the other Secret Service agents in the complex, have the power to channel the spirits of monsters. Having been protected from a gunshot by him, Ririchiyo accepts Sōshi as her bodyguard. | |||
| 2 | "A Lonely Dog" Transliteration: "Samishigariya no Inu" (Japanese: 淋しがり屋の犬) | January 19, 2012 | |
|
Renshō Sorinozuka tags along with Ririchiyo and Sōshi at a shopping mall till evening. Sōshi tells Ririchiyo that they have met each other in the past, but she does not recall of this. As the three return to the complex, they learn from Nobara Yukinokōji that Karuta Roromiya has gone missing. As they set out to find her, Ririchiyo finds herself trapped inside a dark spirit called a nurikabe. With much effort, Sōshi and Ririchiyo slash through the barrier using their enhanced abilities. It turns out that Karuta had left earlier to help prepare a welcome party for Ririchiyo and Sōshi. | |||
| 3 | "The Real Contract" Transliteration: "Hontō no Keiyaku" (Japanese: ほんとうの契約) | January 26, 2012 | |
|
Ririchiyo enters high school, having to deal with the stress of making a good impression. She later notices Sōshi kissing an admirer, but he denies ever having a relationship with the admirer. After questioning him about it, her emotions get the best of her, to the point of her terminating their contract together. The following day, Nobara offers Ririchiyo to contract with her, but the latter turns her down. During a school banquet, after two male students make fun of Ririchiyo for her hostility, Sōshi defends her true personality as being kindhearted. After she realizes how much he cares for her, Ririchiyo asks Sōshi to be her bodyguard again. | |||
| 4 | "Ayakashi Hall Walk Rally" Transliteration: "Ayakashi-kan Wōkurarī" (Japanese: 妖館ウォークラリー) | February 2, 2012 | |
|
Banri Watanuki, a former resident of the complex, has returned from training with Zange Natsume, his Secret Service agent. Sōshi has known Watanuki and Natsume since childhood, which makes this seem awkward to Ririchiyo. The four participate in a walk rally to obtain signatures from all the residents. After Ririchiyo and Sōshi finds Karuta, Natsume reveals that Watanuki had originally gone off to train in order to protect the girl he loves. Ririchiyo seems deep in thought after she begins to have an irregular heartbeat. | |||
| 5 | "Kagerō (Dragonfly) of the Spring" Transliteration: "Haru no Kagerō" (Japanese: 春の蜻蛉) | February 9, 2012 | |
|
Ririchiyo wants to write a letter of apology to Sōshi, but she hesitates trying to find the right notepad to write on. Ririchiyo has been getting disturbing text messages from a block number, shrugging them off until they become more frequent and threatening. While Ririchiyo is walking back from the store alone at night, Sōshi finds her and expresses his worry for her. Soon after, Kagerō Shōkiin, the one responsible for sending the text messages, appears out of the blue. As he is also a childhood friend of most of the other male residents, Kagerō gives all the tenants and agents various "bondage items" as gifts. He also mentions that Sōshi had formerly served under him, catching Ririchyo off guard. After he then claims to be engaged to Ririchiyo, she remembers exchanging letters with him when she was young. | |||
| 6 | "Don't Think" Transliteration: "Kangaeru yori mo" (Japanese: 考えるよりも) | February 16, 2012 | |
|
Karuta spends a lot of her time in her own world in high school, much to Ririchiyo's concern. Watanuki says that not many people truly understand what goes on in Karuta's mind. Natsume wants Ririchiyo to bond with Karuta, although she has no idea how to do so. Since Ririchiyo offered Karuta some of her lunch, Karuta repays her by giving her several treats during suppertime. The next day, Ririchiyo is amazed at Karuta's cooking skills during home economics class, and she begins to understand what Karuta is going through. A downpour occurs after school, and a nure-onna enters the building. Ririchiyo takes it down after Watanuki fails to defeat it. However, the nure-onna revives and sends Ririchiyo and Watanuki out the window. Luckily, Karuta arrives and saves them both from falling. | |||
| 7 | "Their Night Alone" Transliteration: "Futari no Yoru" (Japanese: ふたりのよる) | February 23, 2012 | |
|
A flock of ghosts have invaded the mansion and security measures have been activated. The residents are locked in various places of the mansion and are to stay there until morning. In her room, this is the perfect time for Ririchiyo to express her feelings for Sōshi, but this proves difficult for her. In the hallway, Natsume encourages Watanuki to use this time to train all night. In the cafeteria, Sorinozuka rests while Nobara plays shogi with Chino Kotomura, one of the maids. In the kitchen, Karuta becomes so hungry that she starts to cook a full-course meal. Sōshi stays up all night while Ririchiyo tries to go to sleep. But before doing so, she thanks him for his service thus far. Watanuki accidentally breaks the barrier, allowing the ghosts, known as the obariyon, to pass through. As it seems that the obariyon are wiped out, a few more come out and jump on Ririchiyo's back. Sōshi, who cannot bear the sight of this, destroys the rest of them. | |||
| 8 | "Tea and Distance" Transliteration: "Ocha to Kyori" (Japanese: お茶と距離) | March 1, 2012 | |
|
Ririchiyo wants the type of friendship with Sōshi the tenants share with their agents. She is unable to speak her true feelings, not to mention that she does not know much about his background. She observes how Karuta and Watanuki interact with each other while at school, hoping to understand this for herself. She plans to make coffee and sit down with Sōshi, but she first comes up with ideas to invite him to drink coffee with her, all to no avail. After many desperate attempts to ask him, she calls for him under a cherry blossom, where she finally says that they should treat each other as friends, inviting him to have coffee in her room the following evening. | |||
| 9 | "Day of the Promise" Transliteration: "Yakusoku no Hi" (Japanese: 約束の日) | March 8, 2012 | |
|
Ririchiyo frets over her upcoming coffee date with Sōshi. In the afternoon, Ririchiyo cleans up her room, then decides to study with Karuta and Watanuki for an upcoming quiz in their class while the agents monitor them. Natsume creates a series of "partner games" for everyone, guessing what is inside the mystery box and taking a partner quiz, yet Sōshi gets carried away with both of these. A series of commands have appeared in the mansion causing a stir. Kagerō was behind this. | |||
| 10 | "The Unfaithful Demon Fox" Transliteration: "Uragiri no Yōko" (Japanese: 裏切りの妖狐) | March 15, 2012 | |
|
The coffee date is cancelled due to Kagerō's unexpected return, so she reschedules it for the next day. However, after school the next day, Kagerō drags Ririchiyo with him to several dating spots all over town, making matters worse. Later than night, Ririchiyo grows anxious by Sōshi not responding to her apology text, so she decides to visit his room and offer him a melon to apologize. When she does apologize, Sōshi acts out of character, causing her to get flustered and return to her room in distress. The next morning, Sōshi begs Kagerō to not tell Ririchiyo his secret, but Kagerō denies, leading to an intensive battle between the two. Ririchiyo later finds the two and stops them from fighting, asking them to explain what the problem is. It is then that Sōshi admits he is hiding something from Ririchiyo. | |||
| 11 | "Kagerō" Transliteration: "Kagerō" (Japanese: 陽炎) | March 22, 2012 | |
|
Since his family name was known to be born from an evil bloodline, Sōshi was secluded inside a shrine as a child. A year later at a party, a woman allows him to work for her in her house, where he is to serve a young Kagerō for a living. It is revealed that Kagerō told Sōshi to respond to the letters sent from his fiancée, to which Sōshi believed her to be perceptive. When Kagerō showed Sōshi who his fiancée was, that being Ririchiyo, Sōshi was surprised to see a spoiled rich girl write letters so keenly. During the summer, they continued writing letters to each other, and Sōshi realized his feelings for Ririchiyo, but he started to feel guilty for faking Kagerō's personality. After hearing that Ririchiyo moved inside the Maison de Ayakashi, that is when he decided to become a Secret Service agent. Ririchiyo already knows that Kagerō was not the one who responded to her letters, but she is shocked to find out that Sōshi was actually the one who did, which confirmed how Sōshi knew so much about her in the first place. | |||
| 12 | "The Day We Came Together" Transliteration: "Futari ni natta Hi" (Japanese: 二人になった日) | March 29, 2012 | |
|
Kotarō Kawasumi, the son of the chef, has a conversation with Sorinozuka about his worries on what might happen when his father Jōtarō Kawasumi reincarnates, but then Natsume suddenly suggests to send a message inside a time capsule buried in the garden for the future reincarnation to read. Natsume convinces the others to join in writing letters to their future selves. Ririchiyo recounts how much she has changed since she has lived inside the apartment complex. While Kotarō thinks of what to write, he is comforted by his father, who states he and his future self are two separate beings. Ririchiyo accidentally switched a letter written to Sōshi that was meant for her future self, which stated that she will not run away and will stay by his side. She runs away to a park, and, after Sōshi calls her to come and get her, Ririchiyo realizes Sōshi hates himself like she was before, but she was able to overcome the ordeal because she fell in love with Sōshi. Knowing she has hurt others to protect herself, she decided to use her courage to save him by confessing her love to him. Sōshi embraces Ririchiyo and expresses his love for her as well. Sōshi dreams of having a family with her, but Ririchiyo replies that only time will tell if it is meant to happen. | |||
| OVA | "Miketsukami-kun's Transformations" Transliteration: "Miketsukami-kun Henka / Suitchi / Omamagoto" (Japanese: 「御狐神くん変化」「スイッチ」「おままごと」) | September 26, 2012 | |
|
Noticing Ririchiyo's nervousness, Sōshi tries to ease her by transforming into a young boy and then into a woman. Later, Natsume plays around with Sorinozuka various 'switches' which encourages Karuta to try to find other people's 'switches'. Afterwards, Kotarō's younger sister Hana Kawasumi comes to the mansion and decides to play house with the tenants, which takes many bizarre turns. | |||
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