Chapter Summaries

Fang Zheng watched fans celebrate that K-On! had not ended and teased them about the emotional episodes still ahead. He reassured them that more everyday stories were coming, while hinting that Azusa’s farewell to Yui and the others would make them cry.

• Fans realized K-On! had not ended after the characters reached graduation age and excitedly celebrated the possibility of more episodes.
• Fang Zheng reflected on K-On!’s appeal and its reputation for blending cute daily life with music and friendship.
• Fang Zheng recalled how K-On!’s final episodes could move viewers to tears, though he avoided watching them during rewatches.
• Fang Zheng posted that K-On! still had plenty of everyday stories to come and told fans to keep watching.
• Fang Zheng hinted that Azusa’s farewell to Yui and the others would bring even more tears.

Azusa faced the imminent graduation of Ritsu, Rei, Tsumugi, and Yui, promising to keep the K-On! Club alive despite her grief at being left behind. As her seniors prepared to leave, she finally pleaded with them not to graduate.

• Ritsu and the others voiced concern about what Azusa would do after they graduated, and Azusa insisted she would recruit members and keep the club from disbanding.
• Azusa handed her seniors the thank-you letters she had written, struggling to hold back tears as she addressed each of them.
• Azusa noticed the graduation flowers on her seniors' schoolbags and realized they had graduated, leaving her alone in the club.
• Azusa begged her seniors not to graduate, promising she would even tolerate them drinking tea and leaving the clubroom untidy.

Azusa broke down at the thought of her seniors graduating, and Yui and the others comforted her with the song they had written for her. The performance left the audience smiling through their tears as they revisited their memories of K-On!.

• Azusa crouched down sobbing and pleaded with her seniors not to graduate, moving the audience to tears.
• Fans blamed Fang Zheng for making them cry, while he watched their angry comments at A Company's headquarters and gleefully anticipated more surprises.
• Yui and the others comforted Azusa by performing the song they had written for her.
• Ritsu's team and Mugi joined the performance, deepening the audience's emotions as they remembered Azusa's time with the club.
• The audience listened to the song, recalled their memories of K-On!, and thanked Fang Zheng for introducing them to the five girls.

Chen Qian’s roommates stayed at Modu University hoping to attend Tiany’s concert, and the ticket presale suddenly began. They rushed to buy tickets, leaving their chances uncertain as another dorm celebrated getting one.

• Chen Qian asked Qi Yu and their roommates why they had not gone home for the holiday, and they admitted they were waiting for Tiany’s concert tour.
• Chen Qian warned that they might fail to get tickets, but his roommates planned to keep trying even if they had to follow the tour.
• Chen Qian received notice that ticket presales had begun and that the concert would celebrate K-On! with the theme “K-On! Never Graduates!”
• Qi Yu and the others hurried to their computers and struggled to load A Company’s official website as tickets sold quickly.
• A student in a neighboring dorm shouted that he had gotten a ticket while Chen Qian and his roommates remained anxiously at their screens.

A Company’s Tiany Concert Tour sold out its first Modu show within minutes, and fans embraced its “K-On! Never Graduates” theme while anticipating more dates. Fang Zheng and Zhang Siyu prepared the venue and coordinated with officials, leaving the tour’s next ticket sales and performances ahead.

• Qi Yu got a ticket first, and Chen Qian urged him to buy tickets for their dormmates.
• A Company’s first Modu concert sold all one hundred thousand tickets within minutes, though fans expected more tour dates across the country.
• Fans praised the “K-On! Never Graduates” theme and shared how much they missed Yui, Azusa, and the others after the series ended.
• Zhang Siyu told Fang Zheng that renovations to the concert venue would be finished by the next day and that officials were cooperating.
• Fang Zheng emphasized security preparations, while Zhang Siyu recalled how the previous K-On! concert had unnerved the uniformed officers.

Zhuyuan District filled with fans as A Company and its partner businesses prepared for a concert. The audience entered the venue safely and waited, wondering whether Fang Zheng would appear after his infamous prank at the K-On! finale.

• Fang Zheng instructed Zhang Siyu to coordinate partner companies’ activities with the concert in Zhuyuan District.
• Fans flocked to the Tiany statue and explored anime-themed stores and events organized by A Company’s partners.
• Uniformed officers and staff prepared for the crowd, wary that fans’ excitement might lead to disorder once the concert began.
• Ticket holders entered the venue calmly and found their seats without incident.
• Fans speculated that Fang Zheng would avoid appearing after the prank he pulled at the K-On! finale.

Fang Zheng appeared at A Company’s concert, where the fans greeted him enthusiastically. He announced theatrical release dates for the K-On! and Girls und Panzer movies.

• Yang Li asked the audience whether they wanted to see Fang Zheng, and the fans cheered loudly.
• Fang Zheng walked onstage in a formal suit, greeted the audience, and joked about a male fan wanting his monkey babies.
• Fang Zheng quieted the crowd and introduced his upcoming works on the large screen.
• Fang Zheng announced that the K-On! movie would premiere on January twenty-third and the Girls und Panzer movie on January twenty-fifth.

Fang Zheng announced two theatrical anime films, a Girls und Panzer special, and Plastic Memories as his New Year's gift before leaving the stage. Tiany then opened the concert with the K-On! Club, and their first song brought the audience back to the memories of K-On!.

• Fang Zheng announced two theatrical anime films and a Girls und Panzer special, then introduced Plastic Memories as his New Year's gift.
• Fang Zheng wished the audience a happy New Year and left the stage after chatting with the fans.
• Tiany appeared with Dumb Yui, Mugi, Ritsu's team, and Azusa to begin the concert.
• Tiany sang "Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me" while the K-On! Club members played the accompaniment.
• The audience recalled K-On!'s story and the concert for Azusa, affirming that K-On! never graduates.

Tiany’s concert continued with Katyusha performing before the audience, while fans celebrated A Company’s busy month of anime releases. The premiere of the supposedly cheerful romantic comedy “Plastic Memories” introduced the male lead’s first meeting with Isla, whose tearful ruby eyes left viewers moved.

• Tiany thanked the audience and sent off the K-On! Club with applause.
• Tiany introduced Katyusha, who sang a duet with her.
• Fans reflected on the month’s releases, including the second season of “K-On!” and “Laid-Back Camp.”
• A Company premiered “Plastic Memories” as part of Fang Zheng’s New Year series.
• The anime showed the male lead meeting Isla beneath the city’s lights.

Viewers watched Si begin work at AS and get paired with Isla, envying his job, benefits, and beautiful coworker. Isla's nervous blunders made them laugh before she impressed them by leaping after a fleeing retrieval target.

• Viewers admired Isla's appearance and envied Si for starting work at AS alongside her.
• Fans joked about Si's company-provided housing, car, and attractive coworker, then recognized AS as a promotion for A Company.
• Isla struggled to press the elevator button and carry out her first retrieval assignment, making viewers laugh at her nervousness.
• When the retrieval target fled, Isla leaped from the stairwell railing and soared after them, stunning the viewers.

Viewers laughed at Isla’s disastrous fall while enjoying Plastic Memories, which continued to draw praise for its comedy and emotional bond between humans and robots. As the New Year approached, cinemas began selling tickets for the K-On! movie, but limited screenings quickly sold out.

• Viewers mistook Isla’s leap after spotting the escaped retrieval target for a display of hidden mastery, but she fell into a garbage pile and became the butt of their jokes.
• Audiences watched Isla and Tsukasa retrieve terminals together and praised Plastic Memories for its comedy and their mutual reliance.
• As the New Year drew closer, cinemas began preselling tickets for the K-On! movie, the first anime work to reach the big screen.
• Theater chains gave K-On! only a ten-percent screening rate, and viewers complained that tickets were scarce and the next three days’ shows had sold out.

Fang Zheng visited the cinema to see how audiences responded to the theatrical version of "K-On!" after its low screening rate angered fans. As the theater filled with excited supporters, the lights went out and the film was about to begin.

• Fans protested that "K-On!" received far fewer screenings than poorly regarded movies starring pretty-boy idols and urged one another to buy tickets.
• Fang Zheng went to Wanda Cinema in Magic City with his assistant Chen Xianting to observe the audience’s reaction to the film.
• Fang Zheng saw fans lining up early to support "K-On!" and felt moved by their enthusiasm.
• The audience took their seats and talked excitedly about the long-awaited theatrical version of "K-On!".
• The theater lights went out, and Fang Zheng removed his sunglasses and mask.

The theatrical version of "K-On!" premiered to emotional fans, who learned that Yui and the others had written "Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me" as a surprise gift for Azusa. After the screening, online discussions surged, and the film’s unexpectedly strong attendance stunned cinema executives.

• The audience watched Yui and the others enjoy their graduation trip to Misty Capital, where they performed and prepared a song for Azusa.
• The theatrical version ended with "Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me," moving viewers and prompting hopes for a third season.
• Fang Zheng and Chen Xianting left the cinema as fans exchanged reactions and advice with those waiting for the next screening.
• Fans flooded the internet with discussions, while people without tickets struggled to avoid spoilers.
• Zhao Qiancheng was stunned when his assistant reported that the premiere had achieved 100% occupancy.

Zhao Qiancheng discovered that every screening of the K-On! movie at Qian Da Cinema had sold out and ordered a major increase in its screening rate. As theaters adjusted their schedules and fans celebrated, Kageshisen’s review praised K-On!’s everyday story and stirred memories of the series among anime fans.

• Zhao Qiancheng saw that the K-On! movie had a one-hundred-percent attendance rate at Qian Da Cinema and ordered its screening rate raised as much as possible.
• Qian Da Cinema increased the movie’s screening rate, and fans celebrated as K-On! climbed far ahead of other films in the rankings.
• Film critics and industry figures reacted to K-On!’s unprecedented attendance, while anime fans discussed its growing popularity.
• Kageshisen published a review describing how K-On!’s simple story, youthful memories, and After School Tea Time had captivated viewers.
• Fans shared jokes and recalled the series, declaring that K-On! would never graduate.

The K-On! and Girls und Panzer movies earned huge box-office returns, drawing more viewers and media attention to anime. As new fans joined the otaku community, veteran fans introduced them to its works, events, and collectibles.

• The K-On! movie climbed into the top ten, and viewers who watched the series before seeing the film were moved by the girls' bonds and pasts.
• The Girls und Panzer movie opened with a thirty-percent screening rate and maintained attendance above ninety percent for each showing.
• K-On! and Girls und Panzer reached third and ninth place in the box-office rankings, earning 3.7 billion and 2.4 billion, respectively.
• Media outlets praised A Company's anime movies, and the films continued attracting viewers with little decline in their screening rates.
• Anime fans celebrated the movies' success and recommended anime to friends, while veteran fans introduced newcomers to the otaku community's events and collectibles.

Fans watched the finale of "Plastic Memories" as Isla and Tsukasa spent their remaining time together at an amusement park. Isla thanked the audience for crying for her, while viewers were left devastated by the approaching farewell.

• Fans recalled that Isla had only a little over two thousand hours left to live and braced themselves for the finale.
• Isla and Tsukasa visited the amusement park where their dream had begun and enjoyed its attractions together.
• Tsukasa realized dusk had arrived as their day at the park drew to a close.
• Isla and Tsukasa watched smiling pedestrians and Isla said she liked seeing people smile.
• Isla and Tsukasa rode the Ferris wheel, where Isla said she was happy and thanked those who had cried for her.
• Viewers broke down over Isla's impending farewell and lamented that the story had no happy ending.

After “Plastic Memories” ended, fans searched for clues that Tsukasa’s new partner was Isla, finding comfort in the open ending. Fang Zheng celebrated the New Year behind the security of his new villa while fans flooded his Weibo with angry greetings and threats over the tragedy.

• Tsukasa carried Isla from the Ferris wheel, leaving viewers devastated by her farewell and the anime’s tragic ending.
• Fans dissected the final scene and concluded that Tsukasa’s new partner might be Isla, using details such as the familiar greeting, entrance, and shoes as evidence.
• Viewers compared “Plastic Memories” with “Star Dream” and took hope from the ending’s ambiguity, though they still blamed Fang Zheng for making them cry.
• On Lunar New Year, fans sent Fang Zheng a flood of sarcastic greetings and threats, while he thanked them and promised to work twice as hard.
• Fans reacted angrily to Fang Zheng’s post, accusing him of planning to make them cry even more.

Fang Zheng spent New Year alone before returning to work and proposing a huge anime-themed development project for Zhuyuan District. Zhang Siyu worried about the cost and feasibility, but Fang Zheng insisted A Company could afford it and began explaining the planned Tank Battle Base.

• Fang Zheng received New Year calls from Zhang Siyu and other employees and sent them red packets.
• Fang Zheng spent the holiday alone at his villa and returned to work on the fifth day of the New Year.
• Fang Zheng told Zhang Siyu that A Company would develop seven large anime-themed attractions in Zhuyuan District.
• Zhang Siyu warned that the project could strain A Company's finances and force it to seek outside investment or go public.
• Fang Zheng assured Zhang Siyu that funding would not be a problem, and she asked him to explain the Tank Battle Base and camping area.
• Fang Zheng began describing a simplified version of the Tank Battle Base from the anime.

Fang Zheng explained his plan to turn bumper cars into toy tanks for a tank-battle attraction and sought official approval. Secretary Zou approved the idea with proper safety measures, and Elder Pang offered him a decommissioned tank with its weapons and fire-control system removed.

• Fang Zheng explained to Zhang Siyu that his tank-battle attraction would use bumper cars with plastic tank exteriors and paint rounds, while visitors could camp in a wooded area.
• Zhang Siyu warned Fang Zheng that the tank attraction might cause trouble, so he called Secretary Zou to ask for the official attitude.
• Fang Zheng met Secretary Zou and Elder Pang at Shanghai First Hotel and described his plan to recreate tank battles with modified vehicles.
• Secretary Zou approved the attraction as long as Fang Zheng guaranteed visitors' safety, and Elder Pang agreed that the toy-like vehicles posed no issue.
• Elder Pang offered Fang Zheng a decommissioned tank with its weapons and fire-control system removed, leaving an empty hull that could still drive.

Fang Zheng secured approval for his proposal and received an offer of a tank for scrap-metal prices, then turned to developing Kantai Collection as an anime tied to a mobile game. He recognized that the game’s appeal did not provide a strong anime plot, leaving him to focus on building its world.

• Fang Zheng agreed to take an obsolete tank from Old Master Pang at scrap-metal prices, and Secretary Zou approved his proposal.
• Secretary Zou warned Fang Zheng not to take his company public or accept unknown capital, offering to arrange a bank loan if needed.
• After the New Year celebrations, Fang Zheng created a professional department overseen by Zhang Siyu and began work on his next project.
• Fang Zheng chose Kantai Collection for an anime and game tie-in, valuing its mobile-game revenue and character songs.
• Fang Zheng noted that Kantai Collection had a weak plot and little sense of setting as an anime, so its adaptation needed stronger world-building.