Concrete Revolutio (コンクリート・レボルティオ～超人幻想～)

I didn't know you were into the Shonen comics, Kikko.

No, I was just killing time.

Here's that espresso con panna.

Okay. Thanks.

Your espresso con panna, sir.

I hope you enjoy it.

Sorry. One more thing.

Um... Yes?

Your name's Kikko Hoshino?

Um, yes.

My name's Jiro Hitoyoshi.

And I need your help.

Jiro! Jiro, wait!

Fuurouta. Don't bother playing tough.

Watch your mouth, Hitoyoshi.

Kikko!

Listen to me! Jiro!

I am twenty years old now!

-- Let go! -- No! Kikko! Don't!

Oh, great. Superhumans.

Why don't you fight somewhere else?!

Keep us out of it!

I swear I won't lose him again.

In addition to the Summer Triangle,

one of the other most famous summer star groups

is the Zodiac constellation Scorpio,

which is now coming into view.

Recently, a new x-ray-emitting body

has been discovered nearby.

Scientists have named it "Star-X".

While scholars around the world continue

to pursue its location, Japan's Professor Onda

claims to have already succeeded in determining

the star's precise coordinates.

And a certain group has taken an interest

in his research these last few days.

Professor Onda. How are you?

Shh! Not so loud, please.

Do you have what you promised me?

Do you know what an industrial spy is?

Well, I'm not exactly sure.

But don't they steal things like corporate secrets

and stuff?

And guess what? There's one in this very café.

One of our leading scientists is trying to sell

information to a third party.

What happens if the spy gets hold of it?

Japan--no--the whole world loses ten years

of scientific progress.

Damn these spy bastards.

They're quite literally stealing our future.

Are you sure you want to help him, Star Child?

Why do a favor for a complete strang--?

You heard him. It's for the good of the whole planet.

Let's see. This guy is Japan's leading scientist.

And he's a bad guy stealing secrets.

All right, Kikko. Play it cool.

There you are. Please, enjoy.

Well then?

Brought it. Just like I promised.

Ah! Perfect! Thank you!

So this is the latest collimator model?

I can't believe it!

How did you ever get your hands on one?

Wait a minute. That seems backwards.

I thought the professor was selling

and the other guy was buying.

We had it all wrong.

Our intel said Onda had already discovered

the x-ray source coordinates.

Blast. What now?

Whoever you are, you're a savior to Japan's

astronomical studies.

I have to go to the lab right away and test it.

So long.

What?

Stop! Thief!

Oh, waitress! I'm paying for his coffee, it's fine!

Kikko?

Huh? What's going on out here?

What's gotten into you, Kikko?

Please forgive her, sir.

Grab it, Kikko, now!

N-No!

Now sleep!

So, a spy from another planet, huh?

Um... No! I'm just, uh...

A superhuman?

Nope, nope, just a normal girl! See?

Star Child.

We have to set the witch power's channel.

Huh? Are you sure?

You can't be caught using magic in public

without your disguise.

Who knows what layer you'd be sent to next.

Meteor-tail!

Lookit, Mommy! She's a witch girl, huh?

Hey. Where is it?

Oh. Here.

Is that--?

An "S" Planetarian.

Umm... I'd like to let people in now

if you're finished.

Sorry, not yet. Just a bit longer.

You say you're with the Super Population

Research Laboratory?

Who are you guys?

Part of the Health and Welfare Ministry.

I can give you the number for the main office

if you want to ask them yourself.

Oh. Here it comes. Just as we planned.

It's Grosse Augen!

Don't be scared. He's on our side!

Did he come here to help fight the evil alien?

They're gone.

What the--?

I think I'll go this way.

He vanished. Like he always does.

I'm counting on you to find him.

I know.

I need your help one more time, Kikko.

Wait a minute!

You knew that spy was an alien all along!

I did.

Just like I knew you were the new witch girl

on the scene.

What? No!

I don't have any idea what you're talking about!

Tell me something, Kikko.

Would you stop saying my name?

What for?

Well, the whole point of having a secret identity

is that it's secret.

I don't normally use magic at work.

I guess I just panicked.

Sorry. I'll never do it again.

It's not that big a deal, really!

Look ahead.

It's the alien and Grosse Augen fighting each other.

Grosse Augen. You know about him?

I saw it in a comic.

The heroic superhuman.

I guess he's real!

Our friend and ally, Grosse Augen. Yeah.

All right. Give me a read on their position.

What? They're right there!

When Grosse Augen goes giant-size,

he shifts the surrounding Temporal Phase,

basically becoming invisible to normal humans like me.

Tempura-what now?

The Fred & Hoyle effect.

Let me try and explain it another way.

Imagine a film reel.

As it plays, we perceive the image as seamless motion.

But in reality, there are blank spaces

between the frames.

Gaps in time, invisible to the human eye,

but every bit as real as the images we see.

That's where Grosse Augen goes,

phasing into the "gaps" between time.

I bet it's because he doesn't wanna hurt people

or destroy any buildings while he's beating up

the bad guys.

Who knows?

This Kikai does have an observation mechanism

in it, but--

I honestly haven't the first clue how to read it!

And besides, I really ought to keep my eyes

on the road.

So um, just who are you?

Superhumans protect human peace, right?

Well, who do you think protects all the superhumans?

Huh?

They're forced to hide their identities

just to live among normal humans.

We're the ones who're tasked with protecting them.

Nowadays, they don't have to keep switching jobs,

or be forced to move from place to place.

You can do it, Grosse Augen!