is never home since he is always away in the army. It is soon revealed that Shuji and Fuyumi were once in love. Shuji explains that his love for her was never true; he simply wanted to become physically closer to her. Seen only in the OVA, Mizuki was the prototype for the weapon system which would later be used on Chise. She was an officer who was badly wounded in an attack, but returned to the battlefield because of the prototype weapon system. She also had a crush on Tetsu, her former deputy. She was one of the very few people sympathetic (and empathetic since she, too, was a weapon) towards Chise. Take The most extroverted guy in Shuji's circle of friends and Yukari's boyfriend. Take is the first one to get a girlfriend in Shuji's group. His girlfriend is named Yukari. Nori The most immature guy in Shuji's circle of friends. Nori is a naive high-school student, who believed that the war would never reach their hometown and they should stop worrying about it. He desperately wants to have a girlfriend, and is slightly jealous of Take for having one. Yukari Take's girlfriend. After her boyfriend's death, she leaves the school. Soon after that, she gets another boyfriend and on the surface, claims she will never love anyone seriously again. Takamura Young soldier on Chise's former company. He admires Chise very much, telling her that her combat skills saved his life. Kawahara Head scientist in charge of Chise. He is a nervous man that perpetually wipes his forehead with a dark-blue cloth. Media Manga Written and illustrated by Shin Takahashi, Saikano was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Weekly Big Comic Spirits from December 1999 to October 2001. Shogakukan collected its chapters in seven tankōbon volumes, released from May 30, 2000, to December 25, 2001. A one-shot chapter was published on January 30, 2006; it was later collected in a gaiden volume, along other one-shot chapters, released on July 19, 2006. Shogakukan re-released the series in four aizoban volumes from September 30 to December 26, 2019. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media in 2003. The seven volumes were released from June 16, 2004, to January 10, 2006. Anime A thirteen-episode anime television series adaptation by Gonzo was broadcast on the cable television station Family Gekijo from July 2 to September 24,