01. Jinzou Enemy I

Jinzou Enemy I (人造エネミー Jinzō Enemī I) is the first chapter of the Kagerou Daze manga.

Summary

 * The chapter starts with Ene's back and the narration: "August 14 and 15. This is the story of what befell a certain group of people one summer." In his second-story bedroom with the curtains barely open, Shintaro is on his computer. He begins to freak out once his computer freezes but then sighs in relief once it starts running again. He notes that she isn't around and then sees a silhouette of his sister on his TV with the announcement that she, a new idol, will be making her first TV drama debut. He soon finishes a song he was working on with the program VOCALOID and, upon listening to it a final time, is confident it will be a hit. He wants to reach #1 on NND.


 * Suddenly a loud siren goes off from his computer, causing his mother to scold him. While despairing about how much easier his life would be without her, the culprit of the siren and his thoughts, Ene, appears on his computer screen and greets him with the title "Master." He argues with her, and she reveals more pranks she has in store for him. Shintaro reflects how he has been a shut-in for two years and how he met her one year ago: a random email attachment had installed her into his computer. When he asked her what she was, she responded, "[...] I don't really know myself. I guess we'll both find out together, Master!"


 * In the present, Ene complains that he hasn't written a single song and exits out of VOCALOID. Just as Ene is about to click "No" to SAVE CHANGES, Shintaro, panicking, spills a bottle of soda over his keyboard and mouse. He attempts to save them with tissues, but in the end he can only type O, R, and T and right-click. Furthermore, it seems that Shintaro clicked "No" to SAVE CHANGES.


 * Shintaro notices that Ene is subdued and asks if she feels guilty, which she doesn't deny. Shintaro, surprised at her remorse, says that his system was old and he was planning to replace them anyway. Ene cheers up, but when Shintaro tells her to find an online listing with delivery, she explains that it's impossible because it is August 14th. It is the Obon festival and no sites deliver until the day after tomorrow. Ene suggests they go out and just buy the equipment. Unable to be without a computer for two days, Shintaro puts on his red jersey and tells himself that this will be the first and last time he'll go outside.


 * Outside, Shintaro immediately notices how hot the summer weather is. Ene, in his phone and communicating to Shintaro through his earphones, warns him of heatstroke. As he walks, Shintaro notices that the city looks different since the two years ago, and Ene says that there had been many redevelopments in the city that even changed its map. He passes by a park and eventually reaches their destination: a two-building structure with an amusement park on one of its roofs. Ene sees the amusement park and urges Shintaro that they go there. Shintaro declines and reminds her that she doesn't even have a body to enjoy the rides with. Angry, Ene tells him to forget about it and disappears from his phone screen.


 * Shintaro enters the 7th floor of the mall structure and immediately bumps into a saleswoman. She is the first lady he has talked to in years besides his own mother, and he awkwardly asks her where he can find computer equipment. He then bumps into Kido, whom he mistakes as a guy glaring at him. He bows and apologizes in tears, and Kido responds with her own apology and then disappears. As he despairs, he hears Ene asking through his earphones if he is okay. She then plays a recording of him mumbling to the saleswoman to his great embarrassment. He asks if she can just shut herself off forever and then, realizing that she will just get angry again, tries to pacify her by saying that they will go to the amusement park. Ene cheers up immediately, and he reflects that this change of pace might not be so bad.


 * Suddenly, there is then an explosion on the floor, and armed men in gear walk in.

Trivia

 * This chapter was originally titled without the numeral "I", but it was added to the volume release.