クリエイターにようこそ! Kurieitā ni Yōkoso! Welcome to the Creator!

Misaki tries to convince Tatsuhiro to sign a contract with her, whereby he will be obligated to listen to her as she tries to ease him out of his hikikomori lifestyle. Later, Tatsuhiro discovers that his otaku neighbor is actually his high school friend Kaoru Yamazaki who is studying a media course in creating games. Using Kaoru’s book, he fibs to Misaki that he is actually a games creator, not a hikikomori, and that he could show her a game that he had made. Overhearing this conversation, Kaoru decides to help Tatsuhiro make an eroge, and assigns him the role of the scenario writer.

プロジェクトにようこそ! Purojekuto ni Yōkoso! Welcome to the Project!

Tatsuhiro Satō’s hikikomori origins are explained. His anxieties lead him to believe that he is a victim of a conspiracy known as the N.H.K., which creates hikikomori via manipulating the media. He is constantly annoyed by hearing the music of an unknown otaku living next door. He meets a mysterious girl called Misaki Nakahara who claims to be able to cure his hikikomori ways.

“Countermeasures for Issues that Arise during the Reorganization of a Group” “Soshiki no Saikōchiku-ji ni Hassei suru Kadai to Taisaku” (組織の再構築時に発生する課題と対策)

The club is depressed due to their punishment of community service. Sasahara becomes the new President and proposes that the society attend Comifes as a circle.

“On the Presence of Malicious Intent in Urban Crimes” “Toshi-gata Hanzai ni okeru Akui no Shozai-ron” (都市型犯罪における悪意の所在論)

Kasukabe decides the club room needs a cleanup, but an accident causes Genshiken to be banned from the university fair. As an apology, Kasukabe takes Ohno’s place in the fair’s cosplay contest.

“The Fetishism of Leisure Time Expenditures Considered by their Economic Result” “Keizai Kōka kara Kangaeru Yoka Shōhi no Fetishizumu” (経済効果から考える余暇消費のフェティシズム)

The club, along with Keiko, pays a visit to the beach, much to the dismay of some of the members; Keiko decides to compete for Kohsaka’s feelings and tries to become an otaku.

“Concerning the Existence and Non-Existence of Explanatory Duties Under Specially Confined Circumstances” “Tokushu Heisa Jōkyō-ka ni okeru Setsumei Gimu no Umu ni tsuite” (特殊閉鎖状況下における説明義務の有無について)

Madarame is stuck in the club room with Kasukabe and tries to strike up a conversation, running through different scenarios in his head which parody the visual novel format.

“Comparative Study in Production Models and Processes” “Ryōsan-gata Seizō Katei ni okeru Hikaku Kenkyū” (量産型製造過程における比較研究)

Ohno and Sasahara start a plamo project and get the whole club involved, while Kasukabe learns an important lesson.

“Aspects of Behavioral Selection in Interpersonal Relationships” “Taijin Kankei ni okeru Kōdō Sentaku no Tokuchō” (対人関係における行動選択の特徴)

Two freshmen take an interest in Genshiken and join them for a night out on the town. Kasukabe, however, has no intention of making them feel welcome.

“On Connecting with Others through Subculture” “Sabukaruchā o Meguru Tasha to no Kankei-ron” (サブカルチャーをめぐる他者との関係論)

Kasukabe tries to make herself more appealing to Kohsaka by taking an interest in his hobbies by trying to learn how to play Puyo Pop Fever. Sasahara’s sister Keiko also makes an appearance and calls on her brother for help.

“Limits of Rejection and Receptiveness as Observed in Autonomous Behaviour” “Jiritsu Kōdō ni Miru Haiseki to Juyō no Kyōkai” (自律行動に見る排斥と受容の境界)

Due to Genshiken’s lack of “activities” as defined by the school, the club is threatened with closure; salvation comes from an unlikely source as Kasukabe intervenes personally.

“The Sublimating Effects of the Dissimulation Brought on Through Makeup and Costume on Mental Obstacles” “Funsō to Kasō no Ika ni yoru Shinri-teki Shōheki no Shōkasayō” (扮装と仮装の異化による心理的障壁の昇華作用)

Ohno is introduced as she joins Genshiken, while Genshiken takes part in a university club fair and Kasukabe’s ex-boyfriend pays her a visit.

“Problems and Merits of Local Culture Promotion” “Chiiki Bunka Shinkō no Mondaiten to sono Kōseki” (地域文化振興の問題点とその功績)

Genshiken goes on a club trip to Comiket, a large comic convention; Madarame seriously injures his hand, but pretends to be fine in the name of fandom until the pain becomes too great to bear.

“Comparative Classification of the Modern Youth through Consumption and Entertainment” “Shōhi to Yūkyō ni yoru Gendai Seishōnen no Hikaku Bunrui” (消費と遊興による現代青少年の比較分類)

Genshiken takes Sasahara to Akihabara for dōjinshi shopping while Kohsaka and Kasukabe go to Harajuku for clothes; Kasukabe discovers Kohsaka’s hentai collection and gets an introduction on the subject from the others.

“Study of the Modern Visually Oriented Culture” “Gendai ni okeru Shikaku o Chūshin to shita Bunka no Kenkyū” (現代における視覚を中心とした文化の研究)

An introduction episode explaining how Kohsaka, Kasukabe and Sasahara got involved with Genshiken; after some uncertainty, Sasahara decides to fully participate in the club.

“Reki’s World — Prayer — Epilogue” “Reki no sekai — Inori — Shūshō” (レキの世界 — 祈り — 終章)

Rakka discovers that Reki’s entire studio is painted like her cocoon dream. Rakka gives Reki the wooden tablet containing her true name, which fills the latter with despair. She has regretted ever being born in this world seven years ago, exiling herself from others and showing no trust in them. She wanted to always be there for Rakka in order to finally find salvation for herself. She throws Rakka out of her studio, confronts a crumbling stone manifestation of herself, and relives her dream. Rakka finds out the truth about the struggle Reki is going through via her diary, realizing that Reki wanted to protect her all along. Rakka goes back inside the studio, but is stopped by the manifestation. After Reki calls out for Rakka, the manifestation disappears. She saves Reki from being hit by a foggy image of a train. Reki departs on her Day of Flight, something all the Haibane will never forget. As spring nears, Rakka sees two cocoons beginning to sprout out of the ground inside a room.

“Bell Nuts — Passing of the Year Festival — Reconciliation” “Suzu no mi — sugikoshi no matsuri — Yūwa” (鈴の実 — 過ぎ越しの祭 — 融和)

The Haibane go into town to buy bell nuts, gifts of reconciliation for the upcoming Passing of the Year Festival. Reki gives one to Hyoko a week early, saying sorry for dragging her into her personal problems. Hyoko and Midori later reveal that Reki convinced Hyoko to climb over the wall by putting a wedge in it during a downpour in hopes of finding Kuramori on the other side, which led Hyoko to nearly bleed to death. The Communicator tells Rakka that the Day of Flight for a Haibane will come when they realize their true identity. He gives her a wooden tablet containing her true name inside. The Circle of Sin describes that because one cannot forgive themselves for their sin, only someone staying by their side must recognize their sin as well. The Communicator also gives a wooden tablet containing Reki’s true name, and Rakka is task to give it to her after the festival has passed. During the festival at night, the Haibane, except Reki, visit the people in town, giving them bell nuts as a sign of appreciation. Rakka brings Midori to Old Home to show Reki the yellow fireworks launched by Hyoko from Abandoned Factory, a message of forgiveness to Reki.

“Kuramori — Haibane of Abandoned Factory — Rakka’s Job” “Kuramori — Haikōjō no Haibane tachi — Rakka no shigoto” (クラモリ — 廃工場の灰羽達 — ラッカの仕事)

In a flashback, Kuramori and Remu witnessed Reki being born with black-spotted wings. Kuramori promised Reki that she would stay by her side forever. Kuramori takes Reki to see the Communicator, who gives Reki her name and shows Kuramori how to prepare the special medicine. One day, Kuramori falls ill due to her poor health, and Reki and Nemu cook breakfast for her overnight. The next morning, Kuramori lets Reki live in the guest room to take on the responsibility to take care of any newborn Haibane. In the present, Reki goes to the Communicator to ask for help for the ailing Rakka, so he tells her that Rakka is no longer sin-bound. He also says that Nemu always worries about her. Rakka feels better after Reki gives her the special medicine. As punishment for touching the wall, Rakka is given her own job within the wall around the city, as she is to gather light leaves to make halos and to purify the rusted name tags. Hyoko and Midori offer a tentatively friendly gesture from Abandoned Factory to Old Home. Reki tells Nemu not to think of her as a burden for worrying about her so much.

“Parting — Darkness in the Heart — Irreplaceable Thing” “Betsuri — Kokoro no yami — Kakegae no nai mono” (別離 — 心の闇 — かけがえのないもの)

Rakka go to Abandoned Factory to meet up with Hyoko and Midori there. Midori hints to Rakka that Hyoko almost died because of Reki when the two once ran away together. During her work underground, Rakka hears Kuu’s voice as drops of puddles flow down the stream. The Communicator later tells Rakka that while she had the birds to offer her forgiveness, Reki will not accept help from anyone and has little time left. Rakka vows to try and help Reki, already knowing she probably will not ever see her again. Since Nemu is sick, Rakka visits the library, coming across one of the petrified books, which Sumika says that it was turned to stone by some sort of magical force. Rakka becomes upset when Reki views that their moments together will not last forever.

“Well — Rebirth — Riddle” “Ido — Saisei — Nazokake” (井戸 — 再生 — 謎掛け)

The Haibane leave Old Home in search for Rakka, who realizes that the crow that died in the well represents someone who cared about her in her old life. The Toga find and rescue her from the well, but they do not know what has happened to Kuu, much to her dismay. She believes she heard Kuu’s voice behind the cold wall, but the Communicator catches her touching it. Now having a sprained ankle, the Communicator leads her home. The Communicator says that the crow had finished its purpose before dying, but Rakka sympathizes for this crow showing what her dream meant. The Communicator also remarks how she is sin-bound due to her black-spotted wings that she tried to hide. He then gives a riddle, which he calls the Circle of Sin, stating that to recognize sin is to have no sin. As the Communicator departs, Reki and the others find her. However, Reki realizes that Rakka has touched the wall, feeling her cold body. Rakka becomes ill and Reki takes her home to take care of her. It is hinted that Reki may have been in a similar situation in the past.

“The Bird” “Tori” (鳥)

Hikaru gives Rakka a pair of wing covers that will protect her from the cold atmosphere, though she uses it just to hide her wings. After Reki helps Rakka move Kuu’s bed into her room, Rakka questions her purpose for her existence, to which Reki suggests she must find out on her own. They take the Young Feathers to buy winter clothes. After talking with the store owner, a woman tries to touch Rakka’s wings. She flees out of the store, and, as she trip onto the pavement, one of the wing covers comes loose. A man helps her back up and gives her back the wing cover, and she ashamedly runs into the Western Woods, led by the crows, who take her to an old well where she learns about her cocoon dream. Rakka feels both nostalgic and amnesiac of the crow she has seen in this dream.