New Game!! Episode 1: Of all the embarrassing things to be caught doing...

The episode opens on a tender, cinematic embrace, framed by a softly lit lamppost. This romantic scene, however, quickly reveals itself as a movie on a screen, watched by our Protagonist in a dimly lit room. His worn face, marked by stubble and dark circles, tells a story of solitude. He muses on the futility of rewatching films, a sentiment that speaks to a deeper weariness with life's predictable outcomes. He is an observer, not a participant, in the kind of joy the screen portrays.

As the Protagonist continues to reflect, the narrative dives into his past. A younger version of himself, shrouded in shadow, stands against a bleak, cloudy backdrop. We witness the turning point: a cruel rejection from a friend, Nagura, who declares, "Sorry, but I can't protect you anymore. And honestly, I'm fed up with you." This abandonment defines his high school years, leaving him isolated at his desk, surrounded by a blurry, indifferent world. His descriptor, "grey youth," becomes a visceral term for a life lived on the fringes.

Back in his present, the adult Protagonist stands on a balcony, the city lights spread beneath him. He smokes, outlining a life of calculated stability: effortless university credits, a secure job offer. It is a life devoid of passion, a resigned acceptance of the ordinary. "Being able to live a normal life, I think, must be a kind of happiness," he tells himself, but the words lack conviction. The regrets of youth, he observes, are indelible.

A flashback to a younger, hopeful Protagonist under cherry blossoms follows, as he gathers the courage to confess his feelings to Hoshimiya. "Hoshimiya... I've always liked you, please go out with me!" he blurts out, only to be met with her gentle but firm "I'm sorry." This rejection is the core wound, the 'rainbow-colored youth' he desperately yearned for. Back in the present, he searches her name online, then tries to dismiss his feelings as common regrets, yet his prayer to God for another chance is earnest, almost desperate.

His wish seems to manifest in a sudden flash of light and disorientation. He awakens on the floor, dazed, to discover a shocking reflection in the mirror: his younger self, complete with glasses. His sister, Nami, enters, concerned by the noise, still in her junior high uniform. The Protagonist's initial thought is "Cosplay?" an almost comical disbelief. The revelation that the year is 2014, seven years in the past, shatters his remaining doubts.

After the initial shock, the Protagonist tries to convince himself it is a dream, even lying back down in bed. However, the chirping birds and his mother, greeting him with "Congratulations on your graduation!", solidify the truth. He feigns illness to buy time, his mother's concern a stark reminder of the warmth he'd left behind. Standing alone, he finally accepts the impossible: "No, this isn't a dream, it's reality."

Facing his younger reflection, the Protagonist discards logic, embracing the opportunity before him. "From today, I'm going to redo my life," he declares, envisioning his past "grey youth" transforming into a "rainbow." This resolve is immediate and absolute. He dons a tracksuit, recognizing the "thousands, tens of thousands" of past regrets as fuel for his determination.

His commitment is put to the test through rigorous training: exhausting runs, persistent push-ups in the rain. He pushes past the urge to give up, his past pain driving him forward. The transformation is dramatic. He replaces his glasses with contact lenses, and a trip to a salon completes his aesthetic overhaul. A month passes swiftly, culminating in a confident new look that even his sister Nami grudgingly acknowledges as "not bad."

On the day of the entrance ceremony, Protagonist's newfound confidence shines. He encounters Motomiya Mihori, his childhood friend, who is genuinely surprised by his dramatic change. She quickly discerns his true motive, asking, "Do you want to make a high school debut?" Despite his internal embarrassment, Mihori is encouraging, teasing him about his past "unfashionable" and "fat" self, but affirming, "You weren't bad to begin with, you can do it if you try."

Walking into Ryomei High, Protagonist is initially self-conscious, fearing judgment. His anxiety is swept away, however, by a sudden, breathtaking encounter. Under the falling cherry blossoms, he sees Hoshimiya Hikari, just as he remembers her, radiating an almost ethereal beauty. His internal monologue affirms his new "clear direction": he wants Hoshimiya to like him, this time.

His determination gets an unexpected boost when he finds Hoshimiya is in Class 1-2, the same as him. At the class roster, he's quickly drawn into a lively group of familiar faces: Mihori, Sagara Uta, and Nagura Tatsuya, the very friend who rejected him in his past. Despite a momentary shock recalling Nagura's harsh words, Protagonist smoothly navigates the conversation, even inventing a "hobby" of working out to explain his new physique, as Mihori gleefully points out his abs.

In the classroom, Uta immediately declares Hoshimiya "super cute," creating a lively but somewhat awkward atmosphere. Nanase Yuino, Hoshimiya's best friend, confirms Hoshimiya's popularity. Protagonist sees an opportunity to connect with Hoshimiya, perhaps by highlighting a shared junior high or interests. However, his slightly exaggerated compliments on Hoshimiya's beauty lead to an internal panic, a near misstep. Yet, Hoshimiya's amused reaction and his quick recovery ("Oh, sorry, I accidentally spoke my true feelings") diffuse the tension, even generating a laugh.

Protagonist's new path truly begins. He gives a confident self-introduction, declaring his hobbies and ambition to make a hundred friends, despite an internal cringe at his past self's failures. Hoshimiya approaches him after class, inviting him to watch club activities, specifically expressing interest in the literary club. He happily agrees, enjoying the company of his friends. As he walks with Hoshimiya, their hands brush, a small spark of connection. Looking at her, he realizes, "This is what a real rainbow-colored youth is like."