Brave Witches (ブレイブウィッチーズ)

The year was 1939.

Humanity was suddenly forced to stand against

a mysterious new threat.

The Neuroi invasion had begun.

In the blink of an eye,

the Neuroi had successfully laid siege

to most of Europe.

Millions lost not just their homes,

but their homelands.

To combat the Neuroi menace,

humanity had to create a new type of weapon.

They devised the Striker Units.

War-machines that could only be operated

by young women with magical powers.

Also known as Witches.

Witches from all across the globe gathered together,

willing to use these Striker Units

to take the fight to the enemy.

A unit of Witches was formed.

To the commanders of the Allied Forces,

they were known as the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing.

But among enlisted forces and civilians,

they were fondly known as the "Brave Witches."

-- -- Good morning!

Hi, Dad!

Here! I brought your lunch!

Oh. Thank you.

Well? Did you fix it?

Course he did.

He had it up and running in no time.

Great! I knew you could do it, Dad!

There's no tellin' when an important radio message

might be broadcast.

Good thing your father's on the job!

And this transceiver's signals can reach

all the way out to South Sea Island, can't they?

Yes.

This is Fusou's tallest radio tower.

That is so neat!

'Scuse me, sir? There's a message.

Thank you.

Hmm. Some good news.

This afternoon,

the Third Carrier Division will be coming into port.

Third Division? My sister's group!

Yep, Sub-lieutenant Takami Karibuchi,

hero of Sasebo's returning home.

All right!

My big sister's coming home!

I feel like I can pull this off today.

A-one!

Two!

--Three-- --

I'm back, Mom!

Oh, my.

Still haven't made it all the way across yet, huh?

Never mind that! Takami's coming home today!

Your sister?

Things always happen so suddenly with that girl.

Not her fault-- it's part of her mission.

See you later, Ma!

Wait! You're not going to change?

My clothes'll dry as I run!

Next! Akiyama!

Right.

Your body still isn't keeping pace with the engine!

That's ten laps for you!

Okay! Watanabe!

Right.

I heard Sub-lieutenant Karibuchi's coming home.

Mm-hmm. From Allied Naval Training.

She's been gone for three months!

She's the best!

She deserves to be assigned to a Carrier Division!

Is it true?

I heard a rumor they're producing a movie

based on her experiences fighting over in Europe!

That's right!

She kept the bad guys busy during the retreat

from Libau single-handedly!

She really is the hero of Sasebo!

Poor Sub-lieutenant Karibuchi.

Must be real embarrassing to have a failure like you

for a sister!

Misumi.

Failure? And what does that mean?

Ha! Exactly what it sounds like!

Next up! Misumi!

Right.

Don't let her get to you, Hikari.

Forget it.

She's pulling a Corkscrew?

That technique's for upperclassmen!

Well done!

Karibuchi! Let's go!

Right!

I'll show her!

Why's she spinning?

No, pull up!

Ouch!

Are you brain dead?

Falling from a sky without enemies?!

Twenty laps!

Right, yes ma'am!

How pathetic.

I can't believe an incompetent loser like you

is related to someone like the great hero of Sasebo!

You fail almost every test!

And you think you have what it takes

to join a Witch unit?

You bet I do! And I'll prove it to you!

I'm gonna become a great Witch, just like my sister!

Hmph! You're only lying to yourself.

Next! Kobayashi!

Right.

See ya!

And away she goes.

She has more stamina than anyone in school.

If only her magic was that strong.

Takami!

Hey, big sis!

Hey! Look over here!

Hey--

Hey, watch your step, Hikari!

Welcome home, "hero!"

Takami's running sorta late.

I want to hear all her stories from Libau again.

There!

Whoa. What a stylish car!

Well, she is the hero of Sasebo, after all!

Hikari?

Hi. I, uh, hitched a ride.

It's nice to finally be home!

That's Takami for you!

So sorry for all the fuss, darling.

I'm sure you'd rather relax.

Just being here is relaxing.

Hey, Takami! Take a look! Ta-dah!

They're all articles about you!

She saved all these clippings.

Oh, stop, you're embarrassing me.

Nonsense, honey.

You're a wonderful Witch; it's okay to take pride in your work!

Oh, right!

I still haven't checked today's paper yet!

Ooh! A Witch article!

"Pictured above.

Hard-fighting Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto,

proud member of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing,

better known as the Strike Witches."

Takami? Do you know Commander Sakamoto?

We served together during the retreat from Libau.

She was pretty tough.

But someone you could really respect.

Is she a Witch from Fusou too?

I couldn't say.

But if another Witch from Fusou was deployed

to a Joint Fighter Wing,

you'd think it would have made the news.

And I haven't heard anything about it.

It's been way too long since I've had an actual bath.

I guess water must be precious aboard a ship!

That's right.

So uh, Takami. Can I take a look?

What? Again?

Oh, wow!

Jeez!

You're acting like you've never seen a scar before.

I know.

But you got it fighting to protect everyone

during the retreat from Libau, right?

I think it's really neat!

Stop it!

C'mon, I'm ticklish!

You've missed so much!

They opened up a new parlor down near the station.

And since your tour is over, that means you can stay

in Sasebo for a while, doesn't it?

What's the matter?

Well, actually, after we pulled into port today,

I was given my new orders.

Orders?

It seems I'm being deployed to fight

over in Europe next.

What? No way!

Oh, hi, Mom. Good morning!

Oh. Good morning.

Where's Hikari?

It seems I'm being deployed to fight over in Europe next.

She just got here.

Now she's going away again.

Hikari!

Takami!

Try leaping off the air,

just before you feel the water on your feet!

Hikari?

That was pretty close!