Brynhildr in the Darkness

Years ago, skeptical Ryouta Murakami and the driven Kuroneko trekked into the wilderness to search for proof of extraterrestrial life—an outing that ended in a devastating accident that killed Kuroneko and left Ryouta critically injured. A decade later, Ryouta is back in high school, trying to live normally while still clinging to a promise: he’ll confirm the truth about aliens for the friend he lost.

His resolve is shaken when a transfer student, Neko Kuroha, appears with an uncanny resemblance to Kuroneko and even a similar name. Stranger still, Neko displays supernatural abilities, pulling Ryouta into a grim mystery involving scientists pursuing escaped, power-bearing “witches” from a hidden research facility. With Neko among the fugitives—and others like her in danger—Ryouta finds himself caught between his search for answers and the urgent need to keep them alive.