Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Episode 11 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Ready to Start Resolving the Subplots

Tomoya introduces his cousin Michiru Hyodo to Eriri and Utaha and asks her to compose the game's music, but she refuses, and when she waves off otaku, Utaha fires back in defense of creators and fans. At home Michiru explains that her father will allow her band only with a proper manager, wants Tomoya for the job, and tells him his circle is lopsided because only he is serious.

Meanwhile Megumi stays up with Eriri building a scene, and the next morning tells the sleepless Tomoya that she studied scripting on her own because she truly wants to make the game. Encouraged, Tomoya becomes Michiru's manager and, within a week, secures a live slot and every member's promise to play.

• Music proposal dispute

  Tomoya pushes his cousin Michiru Hyodo to compose the game music and a band theme song, while Utaha criticizes his way of asking favors and Michiru insists she never agreed to take part. When Michiru waves off otaku, Utaha fires back in defense of creators and their fans.

• Childhood memory and band manager request

  Michiru recalls being carried down a mountain after injuring her ankle, then explains that her father will allow her band only with a proper manager and wants Tomoya for the job, telling him his circle is lopsided because only he is serious.

• Megumi's late-night scene work

  Megumi stays up with Eriri implementing a scene and suggests the heroine should put on a brave face in a scene where the hero leaves for another girl.

• Morning call

  The sleepless Tomoya admits his scripting has stalled and wonders whether he is the only one who cares. Megumi, who studied his scripting manual on her own, tells him she truly wants to make the game, and they listen to a song of Michiru's he secretly recorded.

• Tomoya becomes the manager

  Tomoya tells Michiru he will be her manager; within a week he has secured a slot at a small live show early next month and every member's promise to play.

Recent Timeline

• Summer Comiket sellout and Eriri's tears (Episode 8)

  After finishing her manuscript, Eriri Sawamura pledged herself to Tomoya's circle until Winter Comiket and turned down Iori Hashima's offer. On the second day of Summer Comiket, Izumi Hashima's book sold out after Tomoya Aki hung a large poster of its unfinished page and Megumi Kato helped at the booth. Afterward Tomoya called out to Eriri, who had secretly bought Izumi's book; in tears she asked whether her work mattered as much to him, and he could not answer.

• Confrontation at the old school and blessing software (Episode 9)

  Utaha Kasumigaoka, called in by Megumi Kato, urged Tomoya Aki to win Eriri Sawamura back through their shared childhood. Following Utaha's plan modeled on Little Love Rhapsody, he led Eriri out of her family's fireworks-night party, and outside their old school he poured out eight years of resentment over her abandoning him. Eriri called it betrayal that he had shared Little Love Rhapsody with another girl, and when he said Izumi's book excited him more, she vowed to become his number one before she would apologize. Eriri then finished the circle cut, modeling its heroine on Megumi's figure, and the circle was named blessing software.

• Michiru moves in (Episode 10)

  Tomoya Aki's same-age cousin Michiru Hyodo, who had fought with her father over her band and left home, came to stay at his house. When she bagged his otaku goods for the trash, Tomoya told her to go home, but that night her guitar playing moved him to ask her to make the ultimate dating game with him.

• Michiru's refusal and the manager condition (Episode 11)

  Tomoya introduced his cousin Michiru Hyodo to Eriri and Utaha and asked her to compose the game's music, but she refused, and when she waved off otaku, Utaha fired back in defense of creators and their fans. At home Michiru explained that her father would allow her band only with a proper manager, insisted she wanted Tomoya, and told him his circle was lopsided because only he was serious.

• Megumi's resolve and Tomoya becomes manager (Episode 11)

  Megumi Kato stayed up with Eriri Sawamura building a scene and, the next morning, told the sleepless Tomoya Aki that she had studied his scripting manual on her own because she truly wanted to make the game. Listening with her to a song he had secretly recorded of Michiru, Megumi wondered whether Michiru was really unconnected to otaku. Tomoya then told Michiru he would be her manager; within a week he had secured a slot at a small live show early next month and every member's promise to play.

Character Graph

Keiichi Kato

Cousin of Megumi Kato who goes out to dinner with her.

• Megumi Kato (Family, Affinity)

  Her cousin; they go out to dinner together while their parents attend a play.

Sonoko Machida

Utaha Kasumigaoka's editor and a deputy editor at her publisher. She presses Utaha on deadlines and brought Tomoya Aki in to interview her.

• Utaha Kasumigaoka (Colleague, Mixed)

  Her editor; keeps pressing her on deadlines and arranged her interview with Tomoya.

Iori Hashima

Izumi Hashima's older brother and Tomoya Aki's former classmate and best friend, who now runs the top doujin circle rouge en rouge. Eriri Sawamura turned down his offer, and on the last day of Summer Comiket Tomoya came to ask for his help in bringing her back; afterward he told Izumi that Kashiwagi Eri had bought her book.

• Rival circle

  Says rouge en rouge is starting a game project like Tomoya's and needs an illustrator, framing it as a contest over Eriri's creative future.

• Break with Tomoya

  They once vowed to rise in the otaku world together, but Tomoya cut ties because Iori rides on popular works and creators to make himself look big.

• Plans for Izumi

  Complained that Tomoya had spoiled his plan to launch Izumi through his circle the following year.

• Tomoya Aki (Friend, Mixed)

  Former best friend turned rival; Tomoya cut ties over his habit of exploiting creators, yet still came to him for help in bringing Eriri back.

• Eriri Sawamura (Other, Neutral)

  Wanted her for his circle, but she turned him down, calling him a doujin hustler.

• Izumi Hashima (Family, Neutral)

  Older brother; Tomoya suggests he hides his doujin activities from her. After Summer Comiket he told her that Kashiwagi Eri had bought her book.

Izumi Hashima (Izumi)

doujin artist

Tomoya Aki's junior, two school years younger, who got into games and anime thanks to him and draws Little Love Rhapsody doujinshi. Her book sold out at Summer Comiket with Tomoya's help, and Iori later told her that the popular artist Kashiwagi Eri had lined up to buy it herself.

• Doujinshi activity

  Draws Little Love Rhapsody doujinshi as the circle Fancy Wave; last year was her first event.

• Origin of interest

  Tomoya gave her Little Love Rhapsody 2 and a console for her birthday, which opened up games and anime for her.

• Last-minute rewrite

  Scrapped finished pages for a new idea the day before the deadline, so the last part of her book was left in rough sketches.

• Tomoya Aki (Mentor, Colleague, Affinity)

  Calls him her senpai and credits him with the hobby that made her happy; at Summer Comiket he helped sell out her book.

• Eriri Sawamura (Other, Neutral)

  Knows of Eriri only by reputation; they have never really talked.

• Iori Hashima (Family, Neutral)

  Her older brother, who told her that Kashiwagi Eri had bought her book.

• Megumi Kato (Other, Affinity)

  Took Megumi for Tomoya's girlfriend at first, and accepted her offer to mind the booth so she could buy other circles' books.

Eriri Sawamura (Eriri)

student · illustrator · circle member

Tomoya Aki's childhood friend and blessing software's illustrator, who secretly draws as Kashiwagi Eri. Jealous of Michiru's lifelong bond with Tomoya, she still stayed up all night teaching Megumi how to put a scene together.

• Pen name

  Draws popular adult doujinshi as Kashiwagi Eri and keeps it secret at school.

• Circle commitment

  Turned down rouge en rouge and swore off other events and guest work until Winter Comiket.

• Vow

  Vowed to become Tomoya's number one as a creator and refuses to apologize until then.

• Childhood-friend rivalry

  Feels threatened by Tomoya's cousin Michiru, who has known him since birth.

• Tomoya Aki (Colleague, Friend, Mixed)

  Childhood friend and circle leader; she pressed him on which childhood episode came first, Michiru's or her own.

• Utaha Kasumigaoka (Colleague, Mixed)

  Senior and fellow circle member she trades barbs with at every turn.

• Megumi Kato (Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Stayed up with Megumi teaching her how to set up the scene's files, and asked why she was working so hard.

• Iori Hashima (Other, Hostility)

  Turned down his offer to join rouge en rouge, calling him a hustler who uses up creators.

• Izumi Hashima (Other, Mixed)

  Secretly lined up to buy Izumi's book and felt outdone by the excitement Tomoya showed for it.

• Michiru Hyodo (Other, Mixed)

  Jealous of the cousin who has known Tomoya since birth.

Tomoya Aki (Tomoya)

student · otaku · circle leader · band manager

Leader of blessing software who wants his cousin Michiru to compose the game's music. Shaken when she called his circle lopsided, he was steadied by Megumi's resolve, then became Michiru's band manager and within a week secured a live slot and every member's promise to play.

• Core ambition

  Wants to turn the girl he met on a hill in spring, his classmate Megumi, into a heroine who moves players.

• Game project

  Leads the circle as producer and director, with Eriri on art and Utaha on the scenario, and works part-time to fund the game.

• Resentment toward Eriri

  Has never forgiven Eriri for pretending to quit being an otaku eight years ago and leaving him for new friends.

• Becoming a manager

  Agreed to manage Michiru's band, as her father requires, and booked a slot at a small live show early next month.

• Eriri Sawamura (Colleague, Friend, Mixed)

  Childhood friend and illustrator; though jealous of his cousin Michiru, she stayed up helping Megumi with scene work.

• Utaha Kasumigaoka (Colleague, Affinity)

  Senior writer who fired back at Michiru in defense of otaku and creators.

• Megumi Kato (Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Classmate and heroine model who studied scripting on her own and told him she truly wants to make the game; in a scene she scripted, he promised to make her a happy heroine.

• Izumi Hashima (Mentor, Colleague, Affinity)

  Junior whose talent stunned him; he helped sell out her book at Summer Comiket.

• Iori Hashima (Friend, Mixed)

  Former best friend turned rival; he still went to Iori on the last day of Comiket to ask for help in bringing Eriri back.

• Michiru Hyodo (Family, Colleague, Mixed)

  Wants her songs for the game; after she called his circle lopsided he agreed to manage her band and, within a week, secured a live slot and every member's promise to play.

Utaha Kasumigaoka (Utaha)

student · writer · circle member

A third-year senior who writes as Kasumi Utako and is blessing software's scenario writer. When Michiru waved off otaku culture, Utaha delivered a furious defense of creators and the fans who support them.

• Pen name

  Publishes best-selling light novels as Kasumi Utako; Tomoya is a devoted fan.

• Game role

  Writes the scenario for Tomoya's dating game.

• Delayed novel

  Has let her own next novel fall behind to write the game's scenario.

• Defense of otaku

  Told Michiru that people who pour everything into creating, and the fans who support them, deserve respect.

• Tomoya Aki (Colleague, Mentor, Affinity)

  Junior and circle leader; she doubted his plan to draft Michiru and told him to look for someone else.

• Eriri Sawamura (Colleague, Hostility)

  Fellow circle member she spars with at every turn.

• Megumi Kato (Colleague, Neutral)

  Wrote her lines and coached her performance as the heroine.

• Michiru Hyodo (Other, Hostility)

  Lashed out at her for looking down on otaku and on creators who give everything to their work.

Megumi Kato (Megumi)

student · classmate · main heroine · circle member

Tomoya Aki's classmate and the model for blessing software's main heroine. She studied scripting on her own and stayed up with Eriri building a scene, then told Tomoya she truly wants to make the game; she also wondered whether Michiru is really unconnected to otaku.

• The girl on the hill

  Thanked Tomoya for picking up her white beret over spring break; she was the girl he had taken for his destined encounter.

• Scene work

  Suggested the heroine put on a brave face in a scene where the hero leaves for another girl.

• Self-taught scripting

  Borrowed Tomoya's scripting manual and studied it unasked to cover his delays.

• Happy heroine

  In a scene she scripted herself, had the heroine ask Tomoya to make her a happy heroine everyone envies.

• Tomoya Aki (Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Classmate and circle leader; she told him she truly wants to make the game and, in a scene she scripted, asked him to make her a happy heroine.

• Eriri Sawamura (Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Stayed up with Eriri, who taught her how to set up the scene's files.

• Keiichi Kato (Family, Affinity)

  Her cousin, with whom she went out to dinner.

• Izumi Hashima (Other, Affinity)

  Offered to mind the booth so Izumi could buy other circles' books, and praised her book.

• Michiru Hyodo (Other, Neutral)

  After hearing her secretly recorded song, wondered whether Michiru is really unconnected to otaku.

Michiru Hyodo (Michiru)

cousin · band

Tomoya Aki's same-age cousin, a guitarist and vocalist in an all-girl band, staying at his house after a fight with her father. She refused to compose for his circle, but since her father allows the band only with a proper manager she wanted Tomoya for the job, and within a week he took it and booked the band's first live show.

• Band activity

  Started an all-girl band in high school a year ago; after its school-festival show a live venue scouted it.

• Father's condition

  Her father will allow the band only with a proper manager, worried about girls frequenting live venues; she refuses a stranger and wants Tomoya.

• Childhood memory

  Recalls spraining her ankle on the mountain behind their grandfather's house and being carried down by Tomoya.

• View of the circle

  Told Tomoya his circle is lopsided because only he is serious about the game.

• Tomoya Aki (Family, Mixed)

  Cousin she calls 'Tomo'; she brushed off his request to compose, pressed him to manage her band, and he agreed and secured a live slot.

• Utaha Kasumigaoka (Other, Hostility)

  Was berated by Utaha for looking down on otaku; she answered that it was a difference in culture, not rank.

World Memo

• Tomoya's game circle

  Otaku Tomoya Aki leads the doujin circle blessing software, which is making a dating game with his classmate Megumi Kato as the model for its main heroine. Eriri Sawamura handles the art and Utaha Kasumigaoka the scenario, and the goal is to finish in December and release it at Winter Comiket. Tomoya covers the production costs with part-time jobs. Tomoya is studying scripting himself, and Megumi has taught herself scripting to cover the backlog. He asked his cousin Michiru Hyodo to compose the music, but she refused.

• Eriri and Utaha's secret identities

  Tomoya's childhood friend Eriri Sawamura is the popular adult doujin artist Kashiwagi Eri, and his third-year senior Utaha Kasumigaoka is the popular light novelist Kasumi Utako. Both keep these identities hidden at school.

• Comiket and doujin circles

  Comiket is a huge event held in summer and winter where doujin circles sell their own doujinshi and doujin games at booths. It runs for three days, and each circle is assigned one of them; at Summer Comiket, Eriri's circle was placed on the final day and Izumi's on the second.

• Circle entry cutoff

  Participating circles enter the hall ahead of the general queue with circle tickets, but circle entry closes at a set time on the morning of the event.

• Large sellers versus small exhibitors

  There is an enormous gap in sales between major sellers and small exhibitors, and small exhibitors often struggle to sell alone and may carry unsold books home.

• The game's route structure

  Utaha Kasumigaoka's original plot centered on the heroine Meguri, bound by a past-life bond. After reworking it overnight with Tomoya Aki in Wago City, the game now pairs the past-life story route with an everyday-romance route.

• Michiru's band

  Tomoya's same-age cousin Michiru Hyodo plays guitar and sings in an all-girl band whose school-festival show drew an offer from a live venue. Worried about a group of girls frequenting live venues, her father made a proper manager the condition for the band, and Tomoya has taken the job.

Clue Board

• Disputed childhood promise (Episode 1)

  A flashback presents a childhood promise that Tomoya would found a game company and hire Eriri as its artist; Eriri disputes that such an implausibly specific promise ever happened.

• An 'impossible' December schedule (Episode 4)

  Tomoya Aki plans to finish the game in December and debut it at Winter Comiket, but Eriri Sawamura protests that the schedule is impossible alongside her art club and her own circle. Tomoya must also raise the production costs, several hundred thousand to a million yen, alone through part-time work, so whether the schedule can hold is still unknown.

• Iori's concealment from Izumi (Episode 7)

  Tomoya suggests Iori hides his activities from Izumi out of shame. Iori does not confirm or deny the accusation, leaving the matter open.

• How Iori knows (Episode 7)

  Iori Hashima knows that Eriri Sawamura is the doujin artist Kashiwagi Eri, a secret she keeps at school, and he also knows about Tomoya's game project and its creative lineup. How he found out has not been revealed.

• Why Eriri turned away eight years ago (Episode 9)

  Tomoya accuses Eriri of pretending to quit being an otaku eight years ago and leaving him for new friends. Eriri insists she had no choice and says she cried over having to ignore him at school, but she has not said what forced her.

• Doubtful sprained ankle (Episode 9)

  Tomoya questions whether Eriri's claimed sprained ankle is genuine, while Eriri treats helping her as his responsibility for taking her away; the question is left open.

• Who will make the game's music (Episode 10)

  Tomoya Aki asked his cousin Michiru Hyodo to compose the game's music, but she refused. He has since become her band's manager, but whether she will take on the game's music is still unknown.

• Michiru's possible otaku ties (Episode 11)

  After Tomoya gushes that the song he secretly recorded of Michiru is full of the nostalgic feel of slightly older games and anime, Megumi wonders whether Michiru really has no connection to otaku culture, despite Michiru's earlier dismissal of otaku activities.

• Megumi's hidden motive (Episode 11)

  When asked why she was working late, Megumi first cited the slipping schedule, then admitted she had other thoughts motivating her, without revealing what they were.

Season Summary

Season 1 — Season 1

Episodes 1–11

Tomoya Aki, a devoted otaku, is making a dating game for Winter Comiket modeled on his unremarkable classmate Megumi Kato, the girl he met on a hill in spring, with his childhood friend Eriri Sawamura, secretly the doujin artist Kashiwagi Eri, on art and senior Utaha Kasumigaoka, the light novelist Kasumi Utako, on the scenario. A night in Wago City spent reworking the plot with Utaha set the game's direction.

Eriri turns down Tomoya's estranged friend Iori Hashima and pledges herself to Tomoya's circle, but at Summer Comiket Tomoya sells out the book of Iori's sister Izumi, a junior he once got into games, and Eriri is hurt. After they air eight years of grievances outside their old school, Eriri vows to become his number one, and the circle is named blessing software.

Then Tomoya's same-age cousin Michiru Hyodo, who has left home over her band, moves in, and her guitar playing moves him to ask her to compose for the game. She refuses, telling him only he is serious about his circle, and asks him to become the manager her father requires for her band. Steadied by Megumi, who has studied scripting on her own because she truly wants to make the game, Tomoya takes the job and books the band's first live show within a week.

Music Releases

• Kimiiro Signal (OP)
• Colorful. (ED)