If Her Flag Breaks
| Company type | Light novel series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | December 2, 2011 |
| Founder | Tōka Takei |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Light novels, manga, anime |
| Parent | Kodansha |
, also referred to as , is a Japanese light novel series authored by Tōka Takei with artwork by Cuteg. Kodansha released a total of 16 volumes between December 2011 and September 2016. The franchise extends to include a manga adaptation along with two spin-off series serialized in Kodansha's publications. An anime adaptation produced by Hoods Entertainment was broadcast in Japan from April through June 2014 and holds licensing rights in North America by NIS America.
Plot
Souta Hatate, a new student at Hatagaya School, possesses the ability to perceive the futures of those nearby as flags and can influence these outcomes through his interactions. Upon discovering a death flag targeting himself, he realizes that uniting four individuals—a princess knight, magician, cleric, and shinobi—is essential to altering his destiny. Souta resides in a dormitory alongside several female students.
Characters
- Souta is a transfer student capable of seeing and modifying fate flags. He survived the sinking of the Premium Ambriel cruise ship, where he obtained his powers through Sakura. He lives in Quest Dorm with multiple girls. In the anime, he searches for his sister Nanami and is revealed to belong to the Bladefield family.
- Nanami, the thirteenth princess of Bladefield, serves as Souta’s "princess knight." She expresses interest in Souta’s abilities and is later unveiled as his elder sister and Elia Bladefield’s daughter.
- Akane, granddaughter of the Mahougasawa Foundation’s founder, assumes the role of "magician" within Souta’s group. She grapples with class disparities from her upbringing and develops romantic feelings for Souta after he transforms her death flag into a love flag.
- Known as Okiku, Kikuno is Souta’s childhood friend who fulfills an older sister role. She embodies the "summoner" archetype and maintains a persistent sibling love flag.
- Megumu is a fellow student mistaken for female but recognized by Souta as male. He takes on the role of "thief" in Souta’s party.
- Rin becomes part of Quest Dorm to aid athletic contests. Initially marked by a "hates men" flag, she is revealed to be Souta’s childhood friend, resulting in complex emotions depicted through changing flags.
- Ruri is an android developed by the Mahougasawa Foundation who acts as the "shinobi" in Souta’s group and serves as his little sister figure. She supports efforts during sports tournaments.
- An idol transferring to Hatagaya who joins Quest Dorm as the "bard." She previously encountered Souta, who motivated her success by acknowledging her "Success Flag," leading her to develop affection for him.
- The student council president and granddaughter of the school chairman. She arranged for Souta’s placement in Quest Dorm and later renovates it, ensuring its continuation is tied to success at the sports festival.
- Tsumugi is an enigmatic classmate rumored to have existed before the school’s founding. She acts as a grandmotherly presence toward Souta.
- A mysterious girl aware of Souta’s powers and his ties to another world. She introduces him to a virtual realm and fills the role of "samurai" within the party.
- A middle schooler whose parents perished in the Premium Ambriel incident. After Souta helps her overcome despair during a beach outing, she becomes the "cleric" of his group.
- Nanami’s younger sibling and another Bladefield princess experiencing life as a commoner in Japan. She harbors strong feelings toward Souta without initially knowing they are siblings.
- Souta’s homeroom teacher and advisor for Quest Dorm. An alternate version appears in another world where she plays a significant role influenced by Souta.
- The enigmatic girl from Premium Ambriel who bestowed powers upon Souta. Her name originates from Sacrament, functioning as an emotional program connected to Angel Boat’s conscience.
- Number 0 is an adviser to the Council of Seven Virtues featured in the anime. She seeks Souta’s assistance against Angelus Gemeni and is revealed as Kagura Bladefield, founder queen of Bladefield.
Light novels
The light novel series If Her Flag Breaks was authored by Tōka Takei with illustrations by Cuteg, and is published by Kodansha under their Kodansha Ranobe Bunko label. The inaugural volume was issued on December 2, 2011, and the series currently includes a total of 16 volumes.
Manga
The manga adaptation, illustrated by Nagian, began its run in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Rival magazine starting December 2011 and continued through April 2014. It subsequently moved to Monthly Shōnen Sirius, where it was serialized until April 2015. Kodansha compiled these chapters into ten tankōbon volumes released between March 2012 and April 2015. Following this, a second manga titled Atarashii Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from April 2015 to February 2016 before transitioning online to the Suiyōbi no Sirius platform until June 2016. Kodansha published four collected volumes of this sequel series between July 2015 and September 2016.
A spin-off series named Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara: Ō Yūsha yo, Flag o Tateteshimau to wa Nanigoto da!? (commonly abbreviated as Gawoyū) appeared in Monthly Shōnen Rival from June 2013 to March 2014 and was also accessible via the Magazine Lab website. This fantasy RPG-themed story was gathered into a single volume by Kodansha in May 2014.
Another spin-off, Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara: Root Love (known as Gaworabu) by Kazuki Ayasaki, ran on both the Suiyōbi no Sirius website and Niconico Seiga from July 2013 through June 2014. Two volumes of this series were published in April and July of 2014.
Anime
Produced by Hoods Entertainment and directed by Ayumu Watanabe, the anime adaptation aired from April 6 to June 29, 2014 on Tokyo MX and other television networks. NIS America provided an English-subtitled simulcast via Crunchyroll. The opening theme is performed by Aoi Yūki, while the ending theme is delivered by Yell, a unit consisting of six voice actresses.
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Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network characterized the series as a "relatively traditional harem anime" that manages to keep audiences engaged by incorporating surprising twists in each installment. Nonetheless, she pointed out drawbacks such as the overuse of pastel hues, stereotypical designs for female characters, and irritating personality traits, while also noting that the conclusion felt hurried.
References
- Light novels
- Vol. 1:
- Vol. 2:
- Vol. 3:
- Vol. 4:
- Vol. 5:
- Vol. 6:
- Vol. 7:
- Vol. 8:
- Manga
- Anime
- EP 1: "I'm Going to Marry Her, Once I Leave This School".
- EP 2: "Girls are in the Dorm. But I can't say it yet. Wait until tomorrow.".
- EP 11: "There's No Need To Dance With Everyone, I Am More Than Satisfied Dancing Here Alone".
- EP 12: "What a Terrible World This Is. Let Me Take a Look Behind It Real Quick".
- Other