Manga Like Arisa

As the 20th century draws to a close, people worldwide grow uneasy, sensing that the world is shifting—and likely not for the better. Kenji Endou, an ordinary convenience store manager just trying to get by, learns that an old friend nicknamed "Donkey" has suddenly died by suicide. At the same time, a new cult led by a figure called "Friend" is gaining notoriety. Kenji begins to feel that something is deeply wrong. With a few crucial clues left by his deceased friend, he realizes this cult is far more than he ever imagined—not only is this mysterious organization directly targeting him and his childhood friends, but the entire world faces a grave threat that only the friends have the key to stop. Kenji's simple life of barely scraping by is turned upside down when he reunites with his childhood friends. Together they must uncover the truth of how their past connects to the cult, as the turn of the century could mean the possible end of the world.

Kenzou Tenma, a celebrated Japanese neurosurgeon working in postwar Germany, is forced to decide between saving Johan Liebert, a dying orphan boy, or the mayor of Düsseldorf. He ultimately chooses to risk his reputation by operating on Johan, allowing the mayor to die. As a result, hospital director Heinemann strips Tenma of his position, and Heinemann's daughter Eva calls off their engagement. Disgraced and abandoned by his peers, Tenma watches his career prospects vanish—until Heinemann is mysteriously murdered, giving him a second chance. Nine years later, Tenma is head of the surgical department and nearly the director himself. At first everything seems promising, but he soon gets caught up in a series of brutal murders across Germany. The perpetrator is a monster—the very same one Tenma saved that fateful day nine years earlier.

Twenty-Fifth Bam lived in solitude for his entire life until he met Rachel. But now, Rachel has made up her mind to climb the Tower, and she is prepared to leave Bam behind to achieve that goal. After Rachel vanishes behind a curtain of light, Bam chases after her, determined to ascend the Tower in the hope of reuniting with her. However, the Tower is a perilous realm filled with ancient mysteries, terrifying monsters, and malicious people. Each floor is overseen by an Administrator who subjects the daring challengers to grueling trials that test their every limit. When he confronts Headon, the Administrator of the first floor, Bam discovers that he is an "Irregular"—someone who was not chosen by the Tower but managed to enter it on his own, an extremely uncommon occurrence within the Tower. Despite this revelation, his course remains clear. Whether it is wealth, power, glory, or even being reunited with Rachel, every desire can be fulfilled at the pinnacle of the Tower.

Susumu Nakoshi is a middle-aged man who divides his time between a luxury hotel and a park frequented by the homeless. One day, a strange young man approaches Nakoshi, seeking volunteers for trepanation—the act of drilling a hole in the skull. This mysterious individual claims Nakoshi is the ideal candidate for the experiment. Nakoshi initially refuses, but after his car is towed, he changes his mind. He agrees to let 22-year-old medical student Manabu Ito drill a hole in his skull in exchange for 700,000 yen. At first, the procedure yields no visible results, and Nakoshi exhibits no unusual symptoms. However, this normalcy is shattered when Nakoshi starts perceiving a homunculus in every person he encounters. With his vision now warped, how will Nakoshi confront these homunculi?

Seon Jin finds no refuge anywhere. At school, he suffers constant bullying because of his unnervingly quiet demeanor and weak physique. Yet this is not the root of his overwhelming horror—what he dreads even more is his own father. To the outside world, Jin's father is a thriving businessman, a charitable volunteer, and an affectionate parent. But this is only a disguise. In truth, he is a twisted serial killer, and Jin is his reluctant accomplice. For years, they have kept up this pretense without the police ever catching on. When his father sets his sights on the attractive transfer student Yoon Kyun, Jin must decide—stay the coward who delivers her to the same doom as the previous victims, or become the bastard son who stands up to his monstrous parent.

In 1999, a meteorite struck Antarctica, causing the continent's ice sheet to melt and global sea levels to rise dramatically. This event altered the world's climate and wiped out more than half of humanity. By 2015, mysterious beings known as Angels—monsters of unknown origin—are laying waste to the remnants of civilization. In the fortress city of Tokyo-3, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari is fated to stop the Angels' attacks. Summoned by his father's covert group NERV, Shinji becomes the pilot of an Evangelion, a gigantic bio-organic robot built specifically to fight the Angels. Burdened with the fate of the world, Shinji must find the bravery and will to defend the future—and himself. Yet as battles between Evangelions and Angels grow frequent, the terrible reality of the world gradually comes to light.

After Kenji Endo and his childhood friends end their struggle against the cult leader "Friend," two questions stay unanswered—Friend's real name and whether his final warning about an "anti-photon bomb" was genuine. To find out, Kenji works with the United Nations to use a virtual reality program built from Friend's childhood memories in this finale to a journey that extends over many decades.

Kazuki Hoshino treasures his mundane routine above anything else. He spends his school days carefree with his friends, until that uneventful bliss is shattered when the aloof beauty Aya Otonashi transfers into his class and immediately delivers a cold, dramatic statement to him: "I've come to break you. This is my 13,118th transfer. After so many times, it's starting to grate on me, so this time I'm spicing things up with a proper declaration of war." With those puzzling words, the ordinary days Kazuki loved so much become a cycle of turmoil and fear—Aya's sudden appearance signals the unraveling of unseen mysteries surrounding his seemingly normal friends, including the discovery of strange devices known as "boxes."

In a certain imperial court, a 17-year-old girl named Maomao was abducted and compelled to serve as a low-ranking attendant in the emperor's palace. Despite her situation, Maomao holds onto her inquisitive and practical nature, intending to endure her servitude until it ends. One day, she hears that the emperor's two infant children have fallen seriously ill. Drawing on her background as a pharmacist raised in the impoverished red-light district, she secretly intervenes. Though Maomao tries to remain hidden, her actions draw the notice of Jinshi, a powerful eunuch who recognizes her abilities. Maomao soon finds herself in the emperor's inner court, where she steadily earns a reputation by applying her expertise and eccentric demeanor to unravel various medical mysteries.

After his parents died, high school student Kimihiro Watanuki lives by himself and possesses the ability to see supernatural creatures that are drawn to him. These spirits constantly harass him, and he desperately wants to be free from this burden. One day, while being pursued by a swarm of these entities, he stumbles into a strange shop seeking refuge. There he encounters Yuuko Ichihara, the store's owner, who claims she can fulfill any wish. She offers to grant Kimihiro's desire, provided he pays a suitable price. Consequently, Kimihiro starts working at her shop to earn the compensation needed for his wish. Under Yuuko's guidance, he must immerse himself deeper into the world of spirits and the occult before he can eventually leave it behind. How will he cope with the mysterious encounters that lie ahead?

Japanese-American Kevin Yamagata creates the popular detective comic "Billy Bat" after fighting for the Allied Forces in World War II. When the series becomes a tremendous success, Kevin learns that his character Billy Bat had already appeared in a Japanese comic. Fearing he may have unconsciously copied something he saw while stationed in Japan, Kevin travels there to track down the original artist and ask permission to keep using the character. As he investigates the origins of Billy Bat, he uncovers a dark and disturbing chain of murders that are somehow connected to the character he believed he invented.

A rumor persists that a magician lives inside a tent at an abandoned theme park, and some even insist his tricks are genuine. Yet before every performance, he poses the same question: "Do you believe in magic?" For Yoon Ah-ee, magic feels like a distant dream. Stuck in crushing poverty, she spends every waking hour studying, working, and looking after her younger sister while their parents are absent. She has lost all faith in magic's wonders, just like her skeptical classmate Na Il-Deung, who was raised to see a good education as the only sensible path in life. When Ah-ee accidentally wanders into the abandoned theme park and crosses paths with the magician, her existence is forever altered. Annarasumanara unfolds as a philosophical, heartfelt, and thought-provoking story about what it truly means to grow into the person you wish to become.

Hyakkaou Private Academy caters to the children of wealthy business magnates and political elites. Academics take a backseat here; what truly matters is cunning and the knack for reading others. When evening falls, many campus areas become gambling halls run by the student council, where stakes include rank, cash, and various privileges. Ryouta Suzui lives as a "house pet," one of the lowest-ranked students forced to serve those above him. His situation shifts dramatically when the enigmatic transfer student Yumeko Jabami enrolls. Ignoring Suzui's cautions, Yumeko dives headfirst into the school's gambling underworld, taking on formidable rivals. Her actions catch the eyes of student council members, who begin interfering with her plans. Suzui attempts to shield Yumeko from harm, but to his dismay, she proves to be exactly what Hyakkaou demands: a compulsive gambler.

Eiji Urashima leads a typical university student life, spending his days drinking with friends and hoping to find a girlfriend. On the night of October 23rd, he comes back home after a fun evening of alcohol and goes to sleep. When he wakes up, he is stunned to find Kyouka Yukimura, a beautiful girl from his university, next to him—and she insists she is his girlfriend. With no memory of how this happened, Eiji decides to go along with it, but soon encounters more baffling events from the past few days. While walking with his friend Kashiwagi, he asks a natural question: isn't today the 24th? Kashiwagi replies, "Eiji, what are you talking about? Today is the 27th." Three whole days have vanished from his memory, and Eiji cannot recall anything. Matters worsen when a magazine writer reveals Eiji's hidden secret to Kyouka: he is the child of a serial killer. As his life crumbles into chaos, Eiji sets out to untangle the confusion of those lost three days and earn Kyouka's acceptance of his past.

Koyomi Araragi is well acquainted with the unnatural. Over spring break of his third year in high school, he becomes a vampire after a fateful run-in with the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Plunged into a world of aberrations, Araragi one day catches classmate Hitomi Senjougahara as she tumbles down the school stairs—but something feels off. When Senjougahara confronts him, he discovers her weight was taken by a mythical crab. Despite her blunt threats, Araragi persuades her to let him assist. Seeking a remedy for this abnormal issue, the pair visit the enigmatic Meme Oshino, the wanderer who once freed Araragi from his own vampirism. Bakemonogatari is a story about the monsters lurking inside everyone, but just how deep do they hide within the people Araragi encounters?

High school student Yuugi Mutou spends his days being picked on by bullies between classes and his nights playing board games and solving puzzles in his bedroom. His love for games comes from his grandfather, who runs a game shop that also serves as their home. One night, Yuugi finally solves the Millennium Puzzle, an almost impossible challenge that releases his inner darkness and gives rise to a second personality: Yami Yuugi. When under extreme stress, Yuugi involuntarily transforms into this more daring and dangerous alter ego, and he begins operating as a vengeful vigilante, challenging bullies and wrongdoers to high-stakes games where losing leads to fates worse than death. Yuugi and his dark side befriend some of the very students who once tormented him, forming unbreakable bonds with them. However, the group must face off against foes far more dangerous than schoolyard thugs—enemies who use games for evil purposes and threaten the lives of Yuugi and his friends.

Most people are said to be born with a special ability called an "Iris," which manifests as visual cues—ranging from detecting lies to predicting danger. High school student Tooru Mizushima, however, is one of the rare individuals without an Iris. Labeled an "Iris Zero," he faces constant bullying and thus tries to keep a low profile. But when the popular schoolgirl Koyuki Sasamori bursts into his life, his policy of minimal exposure is completely upended. Koyuki's Iris allows her to see the most suitable person for any given task—and she identifies Tooru as the best candidate to help her find the next student council president. Tooru wants nothing to do with such a public endeavor, yet Koyuki's cheerful persistence eventually wins him over. As he becomes involved with more people and applies his exceptional deductive reasoning to solve various mysteries, Tooru's lonely existence as an Iris Zero slowly begins to change.

Each year, the Ushiromiya family gathers on Rokkenjima at the call of their eccentric patriarch, Kinzou. With his health declining, most relatives believe he doesn't have much longer to live. Outside, a typhoon rages; inside, a storm of greed and resentment brews as they quarrel over the inheritance and who will be named Kinzou's true successor. Battler, Kinzou's grandson, returns after six years away, expecting a calm reunion. But his grandfather has other ideas: he initiates a strange game, challenging everyone to find his hidden gold. Whoever discovers it also earns the most desired prize—control of the family. However, the game spirals into violence and murder when the participants are offered as "sacrifices" to resurrect the Millennial Witch of Rokkenjima, Beatrice. A firm skeptic, Battler rejects belief in the occult. Yet as bodies pile up around him, he is forced to consider whether the deaths are caused by genuine magic or by a human hand among the group.

In the summer of 1983, Keiichi Maebara moves with his family from the loud, congested city to the peaceful small town of Hinamizawa. As he gets used to his new life, he becomes friends with some local girls who quickly form his close group: Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude, Rena Ryuuguu, and Mion Sonozaki. Their days are mostly carefree and full of fun, but Keiichi starts to realize that things in Hinamizawa are not what they seem. At the annual Cotton Drifting Festival, he learns that for the past few years, murders and disappearances have occurred right after the celebration. The suspicious townsfolk call this "Oyashiro's Curse," saying that those who anger Hinamizawa's guardian god will be cursed to die or vanish. At first, Keiichi thinks it's just folklore to scare misbehaving kids. But when a murder and a disappearance happen after the festival and his friends refuse to talk about the strange events in the village, he begins to wonder if his new friends might be involved in the horrific incidents—and if he might be the next to die.

A tale about the outcomes of decisions, where confessions lead to either affection or refusal, and choices force sacrifice and sorrow. Koyomi Araragi's choice to rescue a blond vampire and involve himself with the supernatural caused his own death as a human and rebirth as a monstrosity. Yet this was merely one among countless tragedies and decisions he would later confront, and he comes to realize that his seemingly unbreakable, hard-won connections are not permanent. As bizarre oddities continue to emerge around him, he must face impossible dilemmas—whether to cut ties with those he cares for, or forever remain part of the realm of monsters and phantoms and let the world collapse because of it. Whether to accept or reject a confession, and give up everything for others. However, both possibilities could end in tragedy and goodbyes. A tale about Koyomi Araragi finally understanding the weight of his decisions. This entry covers the second season of the Monogatari Series.

A teenager who dropped out of a prestigious Houston program for gifted youths visits a secluded private island. The island's owner, who is essentially stranded there, keeps company with geniuses—mostly young women—until one of them is found decapitated one morning.

The last thing Natsu Iwashimizu remembers about her family is sharing her favorite dishes with them. But when she wakes from that dream, she finds herself aboard a sinking ship, rescued by three strangers: Arashi Aota, a kind-hearted person with a quick temper; Semimaru Asai, who enjoys mocking Natsu's timid personality; and Botan Saotome, a capable woman who seems to understand what is happening. After escaping, the four sail to an uninhabited island. Unknown to them, this mysterious island is actually Japan. A meteorite struck Earth, wiping out humanity and drastically altering the environment. To restart the population, the government launched the "7 Seeds" project, dividing people into five teams—Spring, Summer A, Summer B, Autumn, and Winter—each composed of seven healthy young individuals and a guide. Natsu and her companions are part of Summer B, a group labeled as societal misfits. To secure more resources, the group must locate one of seven government-built shelters. In a hostile, unfamiliar world without loved ones to rely on, the four must learn to cooperate if they want to survive.

In a dystopian society, a unique public welfare law is enforced: the National Welfare Act, which mandates that citizens aged 18 to 24 be selected to die for their country. Twenty-four hours before a nanocapsule triggers their death, the chosen individuals receive notifications called "Ikigami" from government messengers. The government provides only one stated reason for the law's existence—to instill an appreciation for the value of life. Kengo Fujimoto is a newly appointed Ikigami messenger who is uncertain about his stance on the act. Suppressing his doubts to avoid the scrutiny of the national police, Kengo decides that delivering the Ikigami will help him form an opinion. Ikigami chronicles how people behave when they know their final hours are upon them. Whether they perform acts of kindness or commit crimes driven by emotion, the actions of the selected individuals profoundly affect those around them, and this will ultimately guide Kengo to reach his decision.

In a land to the east, an emperor rules, and his consorts and their attendants reside in a vast complex called the hougong, or rear palace. Maomao, a modest girl raised in a humble town by her father, an apothecary, never thought the rear palace would concern her—until she was abducted and sold into servitude there. Despite her plain appearance, Maomao possesses a keen intellect, sharp wits, and deep knowledge of medicine. She keeps this a secret, until she crosses paths with a palace resident just as perceptive: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao's facade and appoints her as a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor's favorite consort... so she can test the lady's food for poison! Serving her lady, Maomao begins to uncover all that transpires in the rear palace—not all of it proper. Can she ever achieve a peaceful life, or will her deductive skills and insatiable curiosity lead her into ever more adventures, and ever greater perils?