Tune In to the Midnight Heart Episode 1: Re-Start

The world is dark and monochrome, save for a phone's glow. A young Arisu Yamabuki listens intently, finding solace in the disembodied voice of 'Apollo.' She speaks of mundane things, school, the sea, an all-girls school, dreams that paint a picture. For Arisu, this voice is salvation, a nightly ritual before the world turns to full colour. It is a small, private joy before the harsh light of reality.

The teacher, visibly uncomfortable, announces the merger of the all-girls school with a boys' school. In this new, co-educational environment, Arisu stands abruptly. He corrects the teacher's pronunciation, then introduces himself with a grand, almost absurd confidence, declaring himself perfect save for 'one percent.' He then demands the girls present say 'I love you' to him. It is a bewildering display, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of social graces.

Post-bell, the class is now mixed, and the male students confront Arisu, irritated by his antics. A blonde girl, however, shows interest, asking about the 'Yamabuki Zaibatsu' and offering herself as a potential girlfriend. Arisu, unmoved, physically checks her mouth for 'stretch' and then abruptly announces his need for a toilet break. His male classmates explain his quest for a voice, not a face.

Arisu walks through the hallway, his mind returning to Apollo's broadcasts. He remembers her voice, the comfort it brought, and the abrupt, unexplained end to her show. The channel became a void, all archives deleted. He recalls her dream: an all-girls school by the sea, a detail he meticulously used to pinpoint his new school. His phone vibrates, but it is only a message from his mother.

Still lost in thought, Arisu bumps into a girl in the hallway. She smiles playfully, repeating his earlier words: 'You wanted me to say that, didn't you?' Arisu is stunned, a tremor of recognition passing through him. As she walks away, she adds a teasing 'toilet,' reminding him of his earlier, sudden exit. He shouts in sudden embarrassment, the reality of his rude exit crashing down.

In the cafeteria, Arisu hears a girl's voice over the faulty school broadcast system, immediately sensing a connection to Apollo. He stands abruptly, abandoning his lunch, driven by a new lead. He runs through the school, convinced he is closing in, fueled by his elaborate deduction about Apollo's school choice. He dramatically throws open the door to the broadcasting room, only to find four girls staring back at him in surprise.

Arisu apologizes for his abrupt entrance as the girls, Shinobu Uzuki, Kiri Komoriyama, Rikka Kitami, and Nene Natsume, react with a mix of surprise and annoyance. Rikka immediately identifies him as the 'toilet boy.' Arisu, however, is lost in thought, analyzing each of their voices, finding echoes of Apollo in each one. Their collective similarity frustrates him, making it impossible to discern the true Apollo.

The girls question Arisu's presence, prompting Kiri to explain their shared ambition: to become 'voice professionals.' Shinobu dreams of being an announcer, Kiri a VTuber, Rikka a voice actress, and Nene a singer. Rikka immediately expresses disgust, calling Arisu a pervert. Kiri admits shyness around boys, while Nene playfully teases him. This revelation sparks a realization in Arisu, connecting their dreams to Apollo's past statements.

Arisu, emboldened, directly asks if Apollo is among them, but none raise a hand. He realizes Apollo is intentionally hiding her identity. Frustrated, he pivots, declaring himself an expert in voice work and identifying a 'fatal flaw' in their club: the poor equipment. He boldly offers to fund new gear with his stock earnings in exchange for joining, effectively buying his way into the club. Shinobu, after some consideration, agrees, much to Rikka's shock. Arisu then confidently declares himself the new club president, much to Rikka's further outrage.

The girls conspire briefly, then Rikka instructs Arisu to turn around. As he complies, confused, Shinobu leans in close to his ear and whispers, 'I love you.' The other girls join in, whispering his name in his other ear. Arisu is utterly shocked, his ears turning bright red. He flees the room in a state of embarrassment and confusion.

Collapsed in the hallway, Arisu is overcome with frustration, realizing the gravity of his past 'I love you' to a faceless voice. He vows to retrieve Apollo's confession, deleting old broadcasts to prevent blackmail. He then has a moment of analytical clarity: the phone-transmitted voice he fell for was an 'imitation,' not the true voice. He commits to a new strategy, observing them more closely, and declares his new mission: to guide all the broadcasting club girls to become professionals, for his own 'remaining one percent' lies in finding Apollo.