Both the Guerrilla Marketers and us getting new members at once is too much of a coincidence!
After noticing that, I came to a shocking realization!
Yes... our world must be a TV show called Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger, with its own production staff!
Those people are twisting our world to suit themselves...
What's going to happen to us?!
If that mark Hakase had was part of raising the stakes...
Why would it disappear so suddenly?
I think they've realized retooling the show didn't work, so now they're just going to try something else.
Right.
When we realized what was going on, they knew the jig was up, and they panicked.
It's because we, merely the characters in the show, have become aware of their existence.
That's definitely never happened before in official Sentai.
Old man, you keep talking about "them".
Do you know exactly who's behind all this?
I've got a pretty good idea.
The person behind this show, and in reality, the mastermind of it all...
It's probably the person who is credited first, during our opening sequence.
A tiny paradise amidst a sea of skyscrapers: Akihabara.
Created By
Hatte Saburo
There we find three warriors who believe that pain is power,
and who fight battles that exist entirely in their heads.
They are...
Unofficial Sentai... Akibaranger!
Kouya susabu reppu wa
A burning gaze stirs the air
Hoshi no koe ka doukoku ka
Does the planet's voice tremble with fear?
Tashika ni tatta yuusha e no geki ka
Looks like it's the beginning of a heroic adventure!
Kizu moshi wo mo itowanai
They're not afraid of being hurt or killed
Nikuki aku wo uteru nara
When it's time to shoot down the hated enemy
Sange no kigai
Brace for spectacular failure,
Guren no hi e tobikome
and throw yourself into a crimson inferno!
Denkou eiri da
The mysterious heroes of Electric Town!
(We Are Akibaranger!)
Shouri no flag wo tatero
Trigger the flag for victory!
A! A! Abunakatta
A! A! Ah, that was close...
Ki! Ki! Keyboard ni
Ki! Ki! Take your keyboard and
Ba! Ba! Bakusui yodare ga tareteta
Ba! Ba! Bash into it as you crash asleep and drool everywhere!
A! A! Anchi no resu
A! A! Already mad about hateful posts
Ki! Ki! Ki ni shisugite
Ki! Ki! Keeping me so tense that
Ba! Ba! Bangohan nodo wo tooranai
Ba! Ba! It feels like I'm gonna barf soon!
Hitokara tokuson matsuri da zekkyou
We may sing toku karaoke alone, but we can really belt it out!
Cho oma (www)
Wait, you-LOL
Yamero (www) tenin (www)
Stop-LOL-here comes the staff-LOL
Ima wa totsuru na (wwww)
Don't come in here now! LOLOL
Akibaranger!
Hikounin Sentai
The Unofficial Sentai!
Episode 12
Episode Painful: Goodbye Delusion Sentai
That's it! The person credited as the show's creator... Hatte Saburo!
Right... "he's" got to be the culprit behind all this.
Episode 12
Episode Painful: Goodbye Delusion Sentai
Hatte Saburo?
This name has appeared in the credits of every nyofficial Sentai, since the very beginning!
Hatte Saburo intends to take this world... take this show... and cancel it!
I guess, when the characters develop self-awareness, and become independent beings...
The creators can no longer influence the story's progress!
I bet, even now, the guys at Evil Base are triggering flags for our final episode's big battle scene!
I've received word from the Delusion Empire homeworld on the edge of the galaxy,
that our armada has mobilized and is approaching Earth.
The edge of the galaxy?
But I thought the Delusion Empire existed in a parallel universe...
Oh, yes! The massive invasion force, the pride of our Empire...
When it arrives, none shall stand against us!
Dr. Z... I want you to upgrade me.
What?
My true destined rival has returned to his employers...
But I still want to eliminate the man called Akiba Red myself!
I respectfully request that you remove my power limiter, so that I can not fail to end him.
If I do as you ask, you'll run the risk of destroying your own body!
It's an acceptable risk. This is the only way I can discover the meaning of my existence.
Very well.
Then I will upgrade you into your final form!
FINAL
What do we do, Nobu?! I don't wannya quit being Akiba Yellow!
We have to fight.
To us, Hatte Saburo might as well be God... but now, "he's" our enemy!
If you're really the Sentai fanatic I think you are, Akagi,
then I know you can think of a way to defy that God.
How can we free this world from the sinister grip of Hatte Saburo?!
Foreshadowing!
Foreshadowing?
We'll foreshadow developments in the plot!
Complicated ones that can't be resolved in an episode or two!
If we do that, then the creator has to let our story continue, or the ending will feel too abrupt!
What kind of new developments could we foreshadow?
Here I go!
Kozkoz...
I love nyou.
Oh, I see! There's no way they could wrap up that storyline on the quick!
You're right! You're up next, Mitsuki!
Uh, I...
Oh, I have a women's division martial arts tournament coming up in three months!
I have to beat my rival, Usagi Mio, and win the championship!
That's great thinking!
We have to see how that turns out, right?
Achoo!
Yu...
I've loved you this entire time!
I love you so much!
Chatanyara Kushanku!
Aoyagi Mitsuki!
Usagi Mio!
I got into a bike accident, and broke my leg.
So, I will no longer practice martial arts.
Now, you're certain to win your next tournament, three months from now.
Bye.
Wha...
So much for foreshadowing.
Amazing... is this the true power of Hatte Saburo?!
I know! I have to get together with Sayaka!
I hate to admit it, but not only am I out of my league, she's also in America right now!
It'll take a long time to...
I've come back to Akihabara!
I really liked the Sun Vulcan movie they showed on the plane!
So...
Could you come over to my place, and tell me more about it?
And that takes care of that.
Ma... Malshina!
Why?
I'm sorry, Father. There's no other way.
I have to shut down Delu-Knight...
I won't be manipulated by the production staff any longer!
I don't want them to keep doing that to you, either.
Sorry, it's nothing personal.
You're out of luck.
In a crisis, my response time is one hundred times faster than the Japanese government.
You two are the ones this world doesn't need!
You two?!
You wouldn't... Father, too?!
Now, I will take control of the Delusion Empire!
The world will be mine!
Old man, what about this?
GoGo V... no good.
Uh... what about that?
Boukenger?
Well, Boukenger—
Let's just give up on saving the show.
We're fighting our own creator... there's nothing we can do in a situation like that.
That's...!
...true, maybe, but...
Now that we've defied Hatte Saburo, we can never become official.
If we keep resisting, "he" could wipe out every trace of our existence!
That's fine by me.
Hatte Saburo is the greatest enemy, greater than the last boss of any official show.
"He" might even be omnipotent.
But if this world is a TV show,
then someone has to be watching it, right?
If a nerdy otaku like me saw a show like that...
No cover up would ever make him forget it.
So, I'm not afraid.
Let's keep fighting, until the bitter end!
Akagi!
If we're unyofficial, then let's act unyofficial!
Being remembered by otaku, huh?
I'm fine with that.
I won't give up, not until the very end!
Guys...
Quit crying, Hakase!
Commanders are only allowed to cry in the final episode!
And we're not gonna let this be the final episode!
Sayaka
Sayaka again?
Can you hear me, Akiba Red?
That voice... Delu-Knight?!
I've got your woman. Come to the usual abandoned factory.
You coward...!
Save me, Akagi!
I don't want to be separated from you like this!
Sayaka!
This is bad...
If we go now, we'll be play right into the enemy's... no, into Hatte Saburo's hands!
They're trying to force the show to end!
If we go to the abandoned factory, we'll be headed right into the planned ending! We can't do it!
But what else am I supposed to do?!
It seems you've been abandoned by Akiba Red.
Which means I have no further use for you.
There you are, Akiba Red!
Hurry, get to Sayaka!
Are you hurt?
Sayaka, get to safety... hurry!
Thank you so much!
So you've finally come to settle this, once and for all!
We're not going to settle anything!
Right, Hakase?
That's right! Rescue the hostage, but avoid any final episode tropes that try to develop!
That's the only thing we can do!
Akibarangers, go through the motions until the next fateful battle!
You got it!
My favorite fateful battle was between Jan and Rio!
Akiba Red!
I dedicate the first of many future roll calls to Mr. Niibori!
Akiba!
Blue!
Umm, I'm gonnya work hard, so when we get to episode 15 or so, I'll get a power-up! Akiba—
Pain is power!
Ready?!
Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger!
The other way?! Akibaranger!
Our real enemy is the creator who's manipulating him!
Enough babble!
Gimme that!
Are you joking?!
He's strong... how's he so strong?!
Of course I'm strong.
I'm now the commander-in-chief of the Delusion Empire!
What?!
Join Dr. Z and Malshina... in hell!
What?!
They're... what did you do?!
Exactly. I did away with them personally.
Manager...
This... this is Hatte Saburo's fault!
You won't let me get away with that, right? Now unleash your righteous fury!
The bad guys fighting amongst themselves! A total finyal episode cliche!
You're right! Hatte Saburo is trying to make this our final episode!
So if we defeat him, the show ends?!
And if he triggers a flag for certain defeat...
Before you die, I'll tell you—
I am stronger than ever before—
Can't hear you! Can't hear you!
After this battle, I'll return to my fiancée, who waits for me in my hometown—
I can't hear a thing you're saying!
So, for all the reasons I just stated, Akiba Red...
I challenge you to a one-on-one duel!
Here's your handicap.
Aim here, and you can beat me!
Dammit, he's taunting me!
It's so tempting! I wanna beat him!
You can't! Get back here!
Remember what happens if we win?
I know, I know!
Delu-Knight! We'll settle this fight...
...in about six months or so!
Teehee!
Don't be ridiculous! I'm not going to wait that long!
What the... who...
It was I!
Dr. Z?!
You survived? But how...?
The unit I had attached to my gun only works on metal monstrosities, such as yourself.
I came to the realization... that a greater power was manipulating me!
However... I will not bend to "his" will!
You tell him, Dr. Z!
You traitors...
Akibaranger!
Our fight has only just begun!
Alright!
Yay! This'll do it!
Bring it on!
Now the show might last long enough for me to be useful in a fight again!
I will revise my invasion plans...
And once again, see Akihabara bent to my will!
Father?!
What's wrong, Father?!
That's not it! That isn't it at all!
With a giant robot crafted from the most advanced technology in the Delusion Empire...
I will turn this metropolis into the capital city of Evil!
Come forth, Boomerang Titan!
What?!
No way! We don't have any giant robots!
Father!
Malshina!
We have to go!
It's actually a giant robot!
Awaken, Delu-Knight!
I struck you with the dull edge of my sword!
Seriously?!
Now, use Boomerang Titan to wreak havoc!
Father! You were so close to regaining control...
That's all it takes for the bad guys to get stronger?!
Now, face the technological superiority of the Delusion Empire!
An enemy commander wrecking the city in a giant robot...
That's a totally blatant final episode flag!
But we don't have a giant robot, so we can't fight him. Maybe it'll be fine?
Oh, yeah.
Let's run!
Help us, Akibaranger!
Akibaranger! You have to protect everyone!
Akiba Red!
- Akiba Blue! - Akiba Yellow!
Dammit! Now we have to do something!
Machine Itasha!
It became a giant?!
Talk about forcing the issue!
But... this robot's over fifty meters tall...
Ow!
Just like an official hero's robot!
This is what I've always dreamed of...
But we can't use it to fight!
She's right! Don't expect us to fight just because we're on this thing!
Hey, stop it! That's dangerous!
Let go!
Curses... you aim to stop my rampage, eh?
Pretend like you can't hear him!
To produce that kind of air pressure from such slight movements...
Yes, that power suits the one who would be my rival!
What's that nut going on about now?
This is bad!
No matter what we do, he's going to screw up at some point and lose,
and then the show will be over!
What do we do, old man?!
We're out of options!
What are you doing?!
What did you do now?!
We can't attack him!
I didn't. I targeted this robot instead!
This is the only way we can defy Hatte's will...
We have to escape!
Right!
Forgive me, Itasha Robo!
Are they insane?
But now, nothing can stand in my way!
I'll send you all to hell!
Just try it!
I won't let Akibaranger end!
Watch out!
You stupid jerk!
Are you kidding me?!
No way! That's a new record for villain screw-ups!
Curse you, Akibaranger!
Long live the Delusion Empire!
Boomerang Titan!
No! If Dr. Z gets killed by the blast, then the show will end!
Akibaranger!
Thank you for helping us!
I love you all, thank you!
No! Stay back! Stop, stop!
Nyou can all dry your tears now!
- I might start crying nyext! - Don't cry!
Thank you so much for supporting us!
Thank you, Akibaranger!
You're the best! And so cool!
Not good! We're headed straight for the last scene at this rate!
Escape!
Roger!
Dr. Z?!
I've come to my senses...
I'm going to turn over a new leaf, and become a force for good in the scientific world.
I'm sorry for everything I've put you through!
This is...
This is the flag for a happy ending with a family reunion!
Papa!
Hiroyo!
No! You have to keep being evil!
If you don't, then the show will end!
Hiroyo...
Hakase. Go ahead.
Nyon't worry!
We won't let them end the show.
You guys...
Thank you!
But... what happens now?
It's okay.
We're heading out.
Where to?
The fight's not over.
She's still here.
Malshina!
Now I'm the boss of the Guerrilla Marketers.
Akibaranger... I hope you're ready for a inconclusive battle.
One I'll drag out for at least another six months!
Good one, Malshina!
Grand Delusion!
Bang!
Get to work, Sacrificial Corporate Drones!
Got 'em!
The End
Oh crap! It's "the end"!
Change of plans! Attack that insolent sign!
We need to destroy that sign, too!
- Right! - Nyokay!
We're not gonna lose!
I won't let it end like this!
We've barely scratched the surface—
Ow!
—of my cosplay wardrobe!
Hatte Saburo?!
It's not over yet!
Next Episode Preview
Thank you for watching Akibaranger.
Akibaranger is a work of fiction.
Next time, we'll revisit the adventures of the Akibarangers in a special review episode.
Final Episode Performance Review! If It Doesn't Hurt, Then That's All Right!
What have these three warriors accomplished with their efforts?
Please join us to find out.