EPISODE CONTEXT

As episode one of twenty-two, this is pure foundation-laying—establishing the core premise of fictional characters manifesting in the real world and introducing the principal cast who will drive the conflict forward. Nothing precedes it, but the groundwork here is critical: the relationships between Sōta, Selesia, and the Military Uniform Princess form the axis around which the entire season will rotate. Expect subsequent episodes to rapidly expand the cast of crossover characters and deepen the philosophical tension between creators and their creations.