Toshokan Sensou

Iku Kasahara Joins Library Defense Force After Media Betterment Act Incident

In 1989, the Japanese government enacted the Media Betterment Act to shield youth from negative media influences. In response, local authorities established Library Defense Forces to stop Media Betterment Act agents from violating citizens' rights to access banned materials. Civilian Iku Kasahara was confronted by an agent attempting to confiscate a prohibited book but was rescued by a Library Defense Force operative. This encounter inspired Kasahara to enlist in the Library Defense Force to protect media access rights.

Kasahara and Tezuka overcome rivalry to protect banned books from special forces raid

Kasahara faces intense rivalry with Hikaru Tezuka, the top new recruit in the LDF, which damages her self-assurance. With guidance from her roommate Asako, she works to enhance her librarian abilities. The tension between the two soldiers resolves into friendship when operatives from the Media Betterment Act attack the Kantō library to seize prohibited texts. Together, Kasahara and Tezuka successfully retrieve the banned books and repel the commandos, solidifying their bond through shared action and mutual respect during the crisis.

MBA forces target Odawara museum while Kasahara escorts Inamine to a ceremony.

Following the death of the curator, the Odawara museum in Kanagawa closes, prompting MBA special forces to launch an operation to seize the facility and confiscate banned materials. In response, Kantō LDF units mobilize to defend the museum against the intruders. Kasahara is reassigned to escort Kazuichi Inamine, a commanding officer of various LDF units and a supporter of the Freedom of the Libraries Law, to a memorial ceremony rather than joining the defense. During this duty, Kasahara and Inamine’s group are confronted by unidentified men, interrupting their journey.

Hostage Crisis Involves Kasahara and Inamine Amidst Bakushukai Demands

A pro-MBA group called the Bakushukai captures Kasahara and Inamine, prompting Ryusuke and Dojo to organize a rescue mission. Kasahara secretly signals her whereabouts by sending a hidden message and removing Inamine's prosthetic leg. During the ordeal, she tells Dojo she intends to remain in the LDF and surpass his abilities. Despite this resolve, her situation appears precarious when she receives a letter from her parents, who have announced plans to visit her at the base.

Kasahara hides her defense job from parents during a base tour

Kasahara attempts to conceal her actual role as a Defense member from her parents to avoid being forced to resign and return home. She seeks assistance from friends and superiors to manage her parents' visit to the Kanto Library Base. However, the inherent risks of her position become apparent when she inadvertently captures a thief within the library. Her mother becomes deeply concerned and urges her to stop, while her father supports her choice and advocates for respecting her decision.

Kasahara and Komaki transport the Book of Prophecy while evading Media Betterment Act troops

Kasahara and Lt. Komaki transport the Book of Prophecy to base but face an attack by Media Betterment Act troops in neutral territory. After a trooper injures Komaki, Kasahara reprimands the shooter for violating agreements. The pair escapes to a stationary train, where Komaki recounts how Dojo once fought MBA troops after they shot at a child. Dojo and his forces eventually rescue them. Komaki advises Kasahara to learn from Dojo’s ability to grow from mistakes. Kasahara returns to the dormitory and discovers twenty missed messages from a worried Shibasaki on her cell phone.

Shibasaki faces library controversy while Kasahara suspects her relationship with Asahina

Shibasaki holds meetings with Hikaru Asahina concerning the Library Force and her workplace, prompting Kasahara to suspect a romantic involvement. Kasahara subsequently confronts Sunagawa of the Library Future Planning Committee after he reviews a favorite book negatively. Tezuka’s older brother leads this committee and attempts to recruit Tezuka, who declines the offer. Asahina offers to suppress reports about the unjust disposal of books at Shibasaki’s library, but she chooses inaction after consulting Kasahara. The suppressed information is leaked to the media, causing a public frenzy. Sunagawa then accuses Kasahara of being an accomplice in the disposal of these books, escalating the conflict surrounding the library's operations and internal politics.

Satoshi Tezuka pressures Kasahara and LDF while Dojo intervenes to stop his interference.

Kasahara faces interrogation by LDF Administration Faction officials following Sunagawa's accusations. Hikaru suspects his brother Satoshi is manipulating these officials to pressure the LDF, aiming to force Hikaru into defecting to the Library Planning Committee. Satoshi later invites Kasahara to dinner, demanding the LDF surrender and disband. Although he admits to using her as a tool to increase pressure on Hikaru, Kasahara firmly rejects his demands. The situation shifts when Dojo arrives to see Kasahara, having braved heavy rain to reach her. His presence and actions convince Satoshi to halt his interference with the Administration Faction's plans to further interrogate Kasahara, effectively ending his immediate campaign against her.

Kasahara, Shibasaki, and Tezuka take librarian promotion exams with Dojo's help.

Kasahara, Shibasaki, and Tezuka participate in the required promotion tests for librarians. During her time spent on studying, Kasahara panics when she thinks about how the one who saved her during her time as a high school student was Dojo himself. This revelation cripples her concentration to study until Dojo assists her by helping her prepare for the test. In the end, she passes the exams with Shibasaki and Tezuka as well. Kasahara gives Dojo some Chamomile essence oil as a means of showing her gratitude before Dojo asks her to take him to the shop where she obtained the oil so as to try some Chamomile tea.

Kasahara Faces Bullying During Library Training Mission in Ibaraki Prefecture

The library task force travels to Ibaraki Prefecture to train a peaceful library hosting a prefectural art exhibition. As the sole female member, Kasahara endures constant bullying from her colleagues throughout the assignment. The harassment escalates when the team contacts Kasahara’s mother to report on her activities. Despite this interference, Kasahara and her mother eventually reach a mutual understanding. Following this personal resolution, Kasahara confronts the members of the Affairs Department. Her actions serve as a catalyst, inspiring other Defense members to stand up against the bullying and assert themselves against the problematic department members.

Ibaraki Exhibition Security: A Life-Or-Death Standoff Between Forces

Tezuka learns from his brother that Media Betterment Act agents will only attack the art exhibition for one day, allowing the Library Corps to prepare. Three hours before opening, MBA task forces crash in, but the defense force holds them back despite the agents' full-force assault. The aggression forces Library Defense Force personnel to kill the attackers, violating their policy of using firearms only to pin enemies down. After Kasahara angrily fires at the retreating MBA personnel, a lone agent shoots Genda while he stands before the protected artwork. Unarmed Library Defense Force soldiers then apprehend him. Simultaneously, Ibaraki library head Commander Sugawara attempts to destroy incriminating evidence. When Dojo tries to interfere, he is shot in the arm and caught in the crossfire while Kasahara detains the head librarian.

Kasahara confronts a reporter while Dojo recovers and Inamine steps down amid LDF political shifts.

Following heavy MBA casualties, public criticism of the LDF intensifies until Kasahara is ambushed by a reporter. He argues that people should not be oppressed by the MBA’s pro-censorship activities, which helps reduce negative sentiment and boosts support through pro-LDF media influence. Meanwhile, Tezuka’s older brother works behind the scenes to eliminate anti-LDF bias. Dojo is diagnosed with agnosia due to injuries sustained in the Ibaraki shootout but eventually recovers. Inamine decides to step down after discovering radical elements within the MBA responsible for undermining the Mito Library Base. Additionally, Genda is promoted by the LDF’s Administrative Faction to serve as the second commanding officer of the Kantō LDF base.

Romance Impairment