Orange (manga)

Orange is a Japanese romance manga series written and illustrated by Ichigo Takano, aimed at the shōjo and seinen demographics.[2][3] It was first serialized in 2012 in Bessatsu Margaret manga magazine and later in Monthly Action.[3] It has been compiled into 6 volumes as of 2017. Its chapters are published online in English by Crunchyroll and in print by Seven Seas Entertainment.[3] It is also published in France by Akata,[2] in Poland by Waneko,[4] and in Spain by Ediciones Tomodomo.[5] A live action film adaptation of the same name was released on December 12, 2015.[6] An anime television adaptation started to air in July 2016.[7] A spin-off to the manga began serialization on March 25, 2016, in the Monthly Action magazine published by Futabasha.[8] An anime theatrical film, titled Orange: Future, premiered in Japan on November 18, 2016.

Orange
Cover of Shueisha's first volume of the series
オレンジ
(Orenji)
GenreRomance, slice of life
Manga
Written byIchigo Takano
Published byShueisha → Futabasha
English publisher
MagazineBessatsu Margaret → Monthly Action
English magazineCrunchyroll Manga
DemographicShōjo, seinen
Original runMarch 13, 2012 – May 31, 2017
Volumes6
Novel series
Written byYui Tokiumi
Illustrated byIchigo Takano
Published byFutabasha
ImprintJunior Bunko
Original runJuly 18, 2015 – March 18, 2016
Volumes3
Manga
Sorigerisu
Written byMatsupon
Published byFutabasha
MagazineMonthly Action
DemographicSeinen
Original runMarch 25, 2016 – present
Anime television series
Directed by
  • Hiroshi Hamasaki
  • Naomi Nakayama
Produced by
  • Ikumi Hayashi
  • Takashi Yoshizawa
Written byYūko Kakihara
Music byHiroaki Tsutsumi
Studio
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTokyo MX, AT-X, BS11, TVA, ABC, TSB
Original run July 3, 2016 – September 25, 2016
Episodes13[1]
Anime film
Orange: Future
Directed by
  • Naomi Nakayama (Chief)
  • Hiroshi Hamasaki
Produced by
  • Ikumi Hayashi
  • Takashi Yoshizawa
Written byYūko Kakihara
Music byHiroaki Tsutsumi
Studio
ReleasedNovember 18, 2016
Live action film

On August 22, 2019, it was announced that a 7th volume will be published which will serve as the true finale.[9]

Plot

In Matsumoto, Naho Takamiya, a second year high school student, receives letters sent from herself 10 years into the future. Her future self asks her to prevent her "biggest regrets", which has something to do with the new transfer student from Tokyo, a boy named Kakeru Naruse. At first skeptical, Naho begins to believe the letters as they accurately predict events. When the letter asks her not to invite Kakeru to go out for the first day, Naho and her friends (Hiroto Suwa, Takako Chino, Saku Hagita and Azusa Murasaka) decide to invite him anyway. Kakeru ends up not attending school for the next two weeks.

To prevent another mistake, Naho resolves to do what the letters order her to do, such as volunteering on a softball round, encouraging Kakeru to join the soccer team, objecting to him pursuing a relationship with an upperclassman, and insisting that the two watch the fireworks alone. Naho learns from the letters that in the future Kakeru is dead, having died by suicide around Valentine's Day in the same school year in which he enrolled.

During the Bon Festival, Kakeru explains to Naho the reason for his absence: his mother died by suicide because of a mental breakdown caused by him leaving her for friends, and not taking her to the hospital on the day of enrollment as he promised. This causes Naho to also feel guilty, as she feels they share responsibility for Kakeru's mother's death. Later on, Suwa tells Naho that he has also received letters from his future self, asking him to be a good friend to Kakeru and save him from his death. Suwa hides the fact that he and Naho are married and have a child in the future, as he realizes Naho and Kakeru are in love. Although he has feelings for Naho, his future self realizes by saving Kakeru, he is giving up a future with Naho. Because he knows of their feelings, he listens to the letters and supports them as much as possible. Later, Azusa, and Hagita, and Chino admit they have received similar letters. They all agree that though they may not be able to change the fate of their future selves, they may create a parallel universe where Kakeru is still alive.

To cheer up Kakeru, the five friends organize a celebration for his 17th birthday, in which Kakeru confesses his feelings to a surprised Naho. The five also join the relay race team to back Kakeru. With his friends' encouragement, Kakeru wins the race. As his reward for winning the race, Kakeru kisses Naho. However, on New Year's Eve, Naho and Kakeru argue over the latter's grandmother's health. The two become distant over the following weeks, up until the day that Kakeru is supposed to die by suicide, as Naho manages to confess her feelings as well as telling Kakeru to share his plan for suicide.

On the night of Kakeru's supposed death, the friends' plan to meet up is interrupted as Kakeru does not arrive on time. The five search throughout Matsumoto and manage to stop him from getting hit by a truck. Kakeru apologizes, telling them that he had been thinking of suicide, but at the last second decided not to after realizing that doing so would mean that he would never see his friends again.

Characters
Naho Takamiya (高宮菜穂, Takamiya Naho)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)[10]
A high school girl who receives a letter from herself ten years in the future, informing herself that she will meet a guy named Kakeru who she must keep an eye on. At first she ignores the letter, but when she realizes that everything written in it actually happens, she decides to listen to the letters in order to save Kakeru. She and Kakeru have romantic feelings toward one another. Although at first unaware of each others feelings, due to her future selves regrets about not informing him of her true feelings, she informs him of her feelings, and they are able to start dating.
Kakeru Naruse (成瀬翔, Naruse Kakeru)
Voiced by: Seiichirō Yamashita (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English)[10]
A transfer student from Tokyo. On the first day of classes, he was supposed to take his mother to the hospital, but instead he was invited to go out with Naho and her friends, and ditches her. As he's out with his friends, she texts him asking where he is, and he replies saying she can go by herself, that she's not a kid, and to leave him alone because he's with friends. Due to a mental breakdown, his mother committed suicide. Blaming himself for his mother's suicide, Kakeru falls into deep depression for a while, and eventually commits suicide while making everyone think it was an accident. In the current future, he and Naho start dating, and his friends prevent his suicide.
Hiroto Suwa (須和弘人, Suwa Hiroto)
Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English)[10]
Naho's friend who is in love with her. Despite knowing of Naho's and Kakeru's feelings for each other, ten years after Kakeru's death, he and Naho are married with a child. After watching Naho's sad face, he realizes Naho still has feelings for Kakeru, and acknowledges Naho and Kakeru would probably have been together had Kakeru not committed suicide. He writes a letter to his past self and asks himself to help prevent Kakeru's suicide, and to be encouraging of Naho and Kakeru's happiness together, even if it means he doesn't have a future with her if Kakeru is alive.
Takako Chino (茅野貴子, Chino Takako)
Voiced by: Rika Kinugawa (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English)[10]
Naho's friend who received a letter from her future self. She and Azusa are best friends. They speculate that Naho and Suwa are hiding the fact that they have letters from their future selves, and only reveal they've gotten letters from their future selves when Naho and Suwa do. She and Azusa support both Kakeru and Suwa when it comes to Naho.
Saku Hagita (萩田朔, Hagita Saku)
Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese); Dave Trosko (English)[10]
Naho's friend who likes reading manga. He received a letter from himself and helps Kakeru. He likes Azusa but denies it.
Azusa Murasaka (村坂あずさ, Murasaka Azusa)
Voiced by: Natsumi Takamori (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft (English)[10]
Naho's friend who received a letter from her future self and helps the group keep Kakeru from dying. She teases Hagita about them being a couple and harasses him, to which he denies he likes her.
Rio Ueda (上田莉緒, Ueda Rio)
Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)
A girl who usually watches Kakeru's soccer games and is interested in Kakeru. She confessed her feelings to Kakeru and they started dating. To which Naho, who is in love with Kakeru, becomes emotionally devastated. After her split with Kakeru, she bullies Naho but is constantly confronted by Takako, Hagita, Azusa and Suwa.

Media

Manga

The original manga series is written and illustrated by Ichigo Takano, and originally began serialization on March 13, 2012 in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret, however switched to Futabasha's Monthly Action in 2013. The first tankōbon was released by Shueisha on July 25, 2012, who published two volumes of the series. The first two volumes were later republished by Futabasha on December 25, 2013. The manga ended serialization on August 25, 2015, and the fifth volume was published on November 12, 2015.[11] It was later announced that an additional sixth volume based on Orange: Future would serve as the final volume, which was released on May 31, 2017.[12] The series is licensed in English in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment, who published the series in two omnibus volumes.[13] Crunchyroll Manga simultaneously published the series on their website.[3]

A spin off manga began serialization in Monthly Action on March 25, 2016.[8]

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 July 25, 2012 (Shueisha)[14]
December 25, 2013 (Futabasha)[15]		ISBN 978-4-08-846804-4 (Shueisha)
ISBN 978-4-575-84323-1 (Futabasha)		January 26, 2016[16]ISBN 978-1-626923-02-7
2 November 22, 2012 (Shueisha)[17][18]
December 25, 2013 (Futabasha)[19]		ISBN 978-4-08-846861-7 (Shueisha)
ISBN 978-4-575-84324-8 (Futabasha)		January 26, 2016[16]ISBN 978-1-626923-02-7
3 August 22, 2014[20]ISBN 978-4-575-84470-2January 26, 2016[16]ISBN 978-1-626923-02-7
4 February 20, 2015[21]ISBN 978-4-575-84575-4May 31, 2016[22]ISBN 978-1-626922-71-6
5 November 12, 2015[23]ISBN 978-4-575-84709-3May 31, 2016[22]ISBN 978-1-626922-71-6
6 May 31, 2017[24]ISBN 978-4-575-84987-5February 6, 2018[25]ISBN 978-1-626927-79-7

Live action
Main article: Orange (2015 film)

A live-action film adaptation was released on December 12, 2015 in Japan with Tao Tsuchiya and Kento Yamazaki as the main characters; directed by Kojiro Hashimoto and written by Arisa Kaneko.

Anime

The anime adaptation of Orange is produced by Telecom Animation Film, directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki and Naomi Nakayama, and written by Yūko Kakihara. The series premiered on July 4, 2016 on Tokyo MX and AT-X. The series was simulcast on Crunchyroll outside of Asia,[26] while Funimation produced an English dub as the series aired.[27] The opening theme song is "Hikari no Hahen" (光の破片, lit. Fragment of Light) by Yu Takahashi, and the ending theme song is "Mirai" (未来, lit. Future) by Kobukuro, which also served as the main theme song for the live-action film and the anime series.[28]

Episode list
No. Title Director Writer Original air date[29] Ref.
1"Letter 01"
"Tegami 01" (手紙01)		Kazuhiro OzawaYūko KakiharaJuly 4, 2016 (2016-07-04)[30]
A short intro where 26 year old Naho Takamiya and her friends converge on a lot, and intend to read letters kept inside a buried time capsule that they wrote when they were 16 years old. Naho begins her story about the moments that she regrets in her life and decides to tell her 16 year old counterpart how to deal with her misfortunes. 10 years earlier, Naho wakes up late and receives a letter, which comes from her adult self. She reads the first page of the letter at school which accurately tells her that she was late that day. It also says that a transfer student will sit next to her, and it happens. Kakeru Naruse introduces himself and sits next to Naho. As the class dismisses early, Naho and her friends decide to take a stroll, get acquainted and make friends with Kakeru. At night, Naho reads the letter again and notices the similarity between her writing and contents of her diary and the letter. The following day, Naho notices Kakeru's absence. In PE class, she reads the letter saying that she regrets not joining in the softball game. A returning Kakeru chats with Naho regarding joining a sports club and her injured foot due to the size of her shoe. At the softball game, Naho's teammates invite her to play and she is hesitant at first. But because of the letter and a little inspiration from Kakeru, she stands up and plays as the batter in their softball game. Naho hits a home run, winning the game. Their class also emerges as champion because Suwa wins the boys' football game. Naho now completely believes that the contents of the letter are real and will happen, and as she reads the next pages, it reveals that Kakeru will die. The letter asks Naho for a favour: that she must watch closely over Kakeru.
2"Letter 02"
"Tegami 02" (手紙02)		Takayuki KuriyamaYūko KakiharaJuly 11, 2016 (2016-07-11)[31]
Naho continues reading the letter, learning that Kakeru will die soon. As she progresses through the letter, she learns that Kakeru doesn't bring any lunch to school and that her future self regrets never making lunch for him. The letter tells her to make lunch for Kakeru and she does so. However, the next day Naho hesitates giving Kakeru the lunch she prepared. After school, Kakeru notices Naho's bag which contains the bento meant for him. However, Naho rudely dismisses Kakeru, but later apologizes. Kakeru decides to accompany and take a stroll in the park with Naho, during which he explains his 2-week long absence to her. He reveals that his mother had committed suicide on the first day of class, and Naho realizes that was the day she and her friends asked him to hang out with them instead of going home. To comfort Kakeru, Naho finally gives him the bento she made and Kakeru smiles. Afterwards, Naho decides that she will protect Kakeru and make sure that he is happy. In the present timeline, Naho and Suwa, now married with a son, meet up with their other friends to go to Kakeru's burial place.
3"Letter 03"
"Tegami 03" (手紙03)		Taku YamadaMariko KunisawaJuly 18, 2016 (2016-07-18)[32]
Naho progresses to her letter, telling that Kakeru will soon leave the football club. However, Suwa announces that Kakeru will be staying in the football club for good. Naho realizes that every moment mentioned in the letter will soon change for the future. She reads again the letter, this time is about a girl named Ueda Rio who is interested in Kakeru. The letter tells that Ueda will confess her feelings to Kakeru and later they will start dating. As the class ends early, Naho and friends play rock-paper-scissors to determine who will buy drinks and it happened Kakeru loses. As Kakeru buys their drinks, Ueda approaches him. Naho questions Kakeru if he likes Ueda and Kakeru admits that he like Ueda. Again, Ueda approaches Kakeru and after a brief talk, Ueda leaves smiling. Naho looks again to the letter that she should check the case of her eraser borrowed by Kakeru and look for the enclosed note, asking Naho if he should date Ueda. Naho replies to Kakeru's note and leaves it to his locker, but it is too late when she learns that Kakeru and Ueda are now officially dating. Emotionally devastated, Naho left her friends and goes home, drinks the orange juice given by Kakeru and apologizing to her future self, seemingly regretting due to her lack of initiative. Shifting to present timeline where they converge on a lot, reading their letters from their younger selves until they focus on Kakeru's letter. In his letter, Kakeru praises everyone except he never wrote anything about himself. They deduced that Kakeru committed suicide and started crying. Naho resolves that she will do anything to protect her friends and the future.
4"Letter 04"
"Tegami 04" (手紙04)		Takanori YanoAyumu HisaoJuly 25, 2016 (2016-07-25)[33]
In the present timeline, Naho and her friends visit Kakeru's relative. It reveals that before Kakeru committed suicide, the latter usually talks about Naho to his relative. Shifting back to the earlier timeline, Kakeru and Ueda started dating and people notice how Ueda treats Kakeru, especially how Ueda clings to Kakeru while walking down the school premises. Naho, as she read few parts of the letter, avoids Kakeru while the latter is seemingly initiates a conversation with her. Meanwhile, Takako and Azusa dislike Ueda and trying to ask Naho if she hides something. As Naho evades Kakeru and her friends' question, Naho becomes emotional and Suwa approached Naho. Suwa tells Naho to talk to Kakeru. Learning that Ueda and Kakeru will have a quarrel, Naho realizes yet again that the future is constantly changing. At the hallway, Ueda and Kakeru had a brief argument, revealing Ueda's bad attitude and jealousy due to Kakeru's treatment with other girls especially to Naho. Finally, Naho and Kakeru decide to talk each other. Kakeru tells Naho that he will break-up with Ueda, seemingly followed Naho's opinion on dating Ueda. Kakeru also tells Naho that in fact he is in love with special someone and it will be a secret.
5"Letter 05"
"Tegami 05" (手紙05)		Nobukage KimuraYūko KakiharaAugust 1, 2016 (2016-08-01)[34]
Kakeru invites Naho to join him after school as he is free due to the suspension of club activities. Naho continues to realize that there are discrepancies between her world and the letter she received from the future (as her letter tells her that all 6 friends will go out together but it ends up being just her and Kakeru, as everyone else cites various reasons that they cannot join). While overlooking the city, Kakeru uses this opportunity to present Naho with a hairpin as thanks for the bentos she makes for him. He also invites her out during the weekend to the library to study. With Naho's help, Kakeru receives the highest score in the chemistry test. Their Science teacher gives a short exposition on the concept of time travel and the theory of alternate / parallel universes. Naho suddenly realizes that the letter hasn't changed despite her present changing, probably due to the fact that she has perhaps created a new timeline with the choices she has made. She is devastated to think that despite everything she has done, nothing will change for her future self. As the world has changed, an event where Kakeru asks Naho to watch the fireworks alone together at the end of their school festival is never triggered. Naho then forces herself to ask Kakeru to watch the fireworks with her. Kakeru asks Suwa for permission to see the fireworks alone with Naho as he and the others are aware that Suwa actually likes Naho. Suwa however, has made up his mind to support Kakeru and Naho instead. During the school festival, Naho is ambushed by Ueda and her lackeys who bully her into showing the hairpin that Kakeru bought for her, but she is saved by Suwa who shows up and takes her back to their friends at the pool. She later thanks Suwa for everything that he has ever done for her, as her letter tells her to never take his kindness and friendship for granted. The letter reveals that in the future, Suwa was the one who "saved her heart".
6"Letter 06"
"Tegami 06" (手紙06)		Taku YamadaMariko KunisawaAugust 8, 2016 (2016-08-08)[35]
In the evening Kakeru asks Naho to meet at the pool as he wants to talk with Suwa, who persuades Kakeru to go and make Naho happy. However, Naho is once again cornered by Ueda and her lackeys and is bullied into carrying two heavy cartons to the upperclassman's homeroom on the third floor. Ueda then heads to the pool with the intention to watch the fireworks with Kakeru, but is stopped at the gate by Suwa and Hagita who inform her that Kakeru is looking for her elsewhere. The fireworks start and Naho is distraught, until Asuza and Takako run into her and quickly take the cartons, telling Naho to hurry to Kakeru. By the time she arrives, the fireworks have stopped, but Kakeru notices that Naho is wearing the hairpin he gave her. While they talk, the fireworks suddenly start again and they watch together while holding hands. Later, Naho reads ahead in her letter and discovers that Kakeru will die in an accident near his home on February 15th. In the future timeline, Suwa asks Kakeru's grandmother if Kakeru's death was really an accident. She reveals the last note Kakeru wrote before he died, asking his grandmother to forgive him and that he was going to see his mother to apologize. In the present, the 6 friends decide to meet at the Matsumoto bon festival a few days later but Naho and Kakeru find themselves alone when the other four pretend to be late. While visiting a shrine, Kakeru lets slip that he asked God to pass on a message to his mother. As her letter tells her to try to get Kakeru to open up about his mother, Naho finally manages to force Kakeru to reveal that he believes his mother's death was his fault, that his refusal to go with her to the hospital on the day of the opening ceremony led her to commit suicide. Naho is unable to comfort him and is upset as she doesn't know what to do. She is visited by Suwa the next day and decides that she can't save Kakeru on her own. As she tries to explain everything, Suwa stops her to reveal that he too has received a letter from his future self.
7"Letter 07"
"Tegami 07" (手紙07)		Satonobu KikuchiAyumu HisaoAugust 15, 2016 (2016-08-15)[36]
Now Naho learns from Suwa that he also got a letter from his future self, they teamed up and plan to save Kakeru from his impending suicide. They also learn about Kakeru's upcoming birthday and the gang decide to ask him what he wants for his birthday. When Naho notices Kakeru doesn't have a sports bag, she decides to buy one for him. Again, Ueda corners Naho and telling her to give up but Takako interferes and reveals that Ueda is a bully. Meanwhile, Suwa and Kakeru having a conversation regarding the latter's birthday. Shifting timelines, the present day gang visits Kakeru's desk and place their gifts but a bouquet of flowers was handed to Naho by Suwa, telling that Kakeru intends to give flowers to Naho. As they celebrate Kakeru's birthday and handed their respective gifts, Suwa gives Kakeru a bunch of flowers and whispered to Kakeru that he should give it to Naho. As Naho and Suwa's letters progress, they learn that Kakeru will visit his friends in Tokyo and reveal his intention of committing suicide. Naho becomes worried but Suwa had a plan, so they confronted Kakeru who is acting a bit weird. It reveals that Kakeru wants to die due to his regret of not accompanying her ill mother after the first day of school. It also reveals that Kakeru lambasted her mother on a text message while enjoying Naho's company despite Naho wants to confess that her invitation is the reason why Kakeru joined them. Suwa joins the confrontation and hugs Kakeru, telling to live and move on. Naho reveals her feelings to Kakeru, that she is in love with him. Learning from Naho's feelings, Kakeru decides to move on and forget about suicide.
8"Letter 08"
"Tegami 08" (手紙08)		Ryûta Kawahara
Takahiko Kyōgoku		Yūko KakiharaAugust 22, 2016 (2016-08-22)[37]
Kakeru cancels his plans with his friends from Tokyo, telling Naho that Suwa is more fun to hang out with anyways. Naho begins to feel that she can change what happened in the past, as the Tokyo visit was when he was supposed to express his intent to suicide. However, on the same day that he first attempted suicide in his previous life, Naho instead experiences a dizzy spell on the soccer pitch. After Kakeru is picked up by his grandmother, Suwa meets up with Naho and apologizes for not giving them a supportive push, despite his future self suggesting that he should. Naho returns home and begins reading further into her present day timeline and learns that Kakeru is going to be uneasy about being picked to anchor the relay team for the class races. Along with Suwa, they make sure not to force him to run in the race initially, and he concedes that he is in fact nervous that he might fall and lose the race for the team. Prior to alerting his class about his decision, Asuza and Takako pressure Suwa into talking to them, feeling that he is hiding something from them. The entire group of friends each elect to volunteer for roles in the race, and Kakeru decides that he will run the race with his friends. After school, Suwa and Naho discuss their decision to go against the letters suggested path, and Naho builds the resolve to put her letter away and go off of what she feels Kakeru wants in her heart more than what her future self seems to think. The next day, Hagita asks Asuza to hang out with him after school. Kakeru also asks Naho to walk to the school gates with him. In the locker room however, she trips and falls into Kakeru's arms, and is too embarrassed or unsure to accept his efforts to hold her hand. The same issue repeats the next day, and in both cases Kakeru excuses himself. Naho is confronted by everyone else in the group, and Asuza and Takako both reveal their letters. Furthermore they suggest that Kakeru may not have anything wrong with him other than the rejections felt from not getting to hold Naho's hand. Hagita is pushed into also revealing his letter by Asuza, confirming that everyone has received letters from the future. Together, they strengthen their resolve to save their friend.
9"Letter 09"
"Tegami 09" (手紙09)		Hideki Tonokatsu
Keiko Oyamada		Mariko KunisawaAugust 29, 2016 (2016-08-29)[38]
Everyone except for Kakeru continue to discuss their support for Naho, saying the only way they feel that Kakeru will truly be happy is if he is with her. Naho begins making a more conscious effort to do what she feels she needs to do to improve upon the relationship. After school, the group meets up to discuss their efforts to make it all work out, but when Kakeru asks they cover it up and suggest they are deciding on the race order. Asuza begins to look into her letter from her present day self, and discovers that her birthday will fall on a rainy day. The umbrella she receives as a gift from Hagita she lends to Kakeru when he asks Naho to let him walk under hers, and her present day self wonders what would've happened if she hadn't. Despite the sunny forecast, everyone but Kakeru now feature an umbrella, unlike Asuza's present recollection of just Naho and Asuza having one. In the end, Naho and Kakeru use Naho's umbrella and walk home, and eventually leads to holding one another hands. Kakeru gets closer to Naho, but when he says suggests that he would like to be able to go out with her on a date, that he will wait for her to want to do so. Naho is unable to say this yet. The scene shifts nine days forward to the day of the athletic meet, where Naho reads her letter from her future self once more. She learns that Kakeru is unable to tell the rest of the group about his mother. Suwa decides to ask his parents to invite Kakeru's grandmother along to the meet and offer her a ride, which improves Kakeru's spirits at the time. During the group photo however, he begins to think about his mother again, and still seems to be troubled by his past. The group minus Kakeru gets together again, where Asuza wonders how those he hasn't told yet should help him if he doesn't want to tell them. Suwa tries to get Kakeru fired up by suggesting he might start asking her out, Kakeru responds that he would be ok with that, and cites that moving away might be a reality and he wouldn't want to hurt Naho. The closing scene has Kakeru doubting himself and how he responded verbally to Suwa when his actions show otherwise.
10"Letter 10"
"Tegami 10" (手紙10)		Takanori YanoAyumu HisaoSeptember 4, 2016 (2016-09-04)[39]
Kakeru's friends notice something is amiss because of the way he is acting. Hagita's future self noticed that Kakeru had injured himself during the Pole-Toppling game. Hagita, Asuza, Suwa, and Takako eventually catch up to Naho and Kakeru, whom were sent on an errand by a teacher. They confront Kakeru about why he is down during the meet when they had hoped it would be a happier time for him, hoping that he might open up to them about some of what is bothering him. Kakeru eventually caves about his mother being gone, and how he is unsure if he should be having fun without her. Together, they help Kakeru realize that there are people that care for him all around him, and that it's ok to be true to his own feelings, good or bad. Kakeru gets his ankle treated while the rest of the group finish the errand, and all six compete in the race. After the race, Kakeru's grandmother talks about how he wasn't smiling much after she divorced his father as a kid, until he managed to finish first in the final race of the meet. His grandmother said that she was so happy when he finally smiled back then, and that she was probably happy right now that he was able to smile again. Meanwhile, Naho thinks about the letter, and how they have diverted from both the mistake and the suggested alternative that her future self suggested. Naho and Kakeru meet at the conclusion of the race, where Kakeru manages to take a reward he was promised for winning the race.
11"Letter 11"
"Tegami 11" (手紙11)		Hideki TonokatsuMariko KunisawaSeptember 11, 2016 (2016-09-11)[40]
The group each takes one photo that was taken by Suwa's father. The story shifts to the future group, where Suwa hopes that Kakeru is ok with him stealing his girl. They begin to each question what they could've done differently, but it hits Suwa the hardest as he was the only one who really knew how both sides felt. Naho comments about how she still would've married him, citing how happy she was when she got his confession in high school. The date of the confession was New Year's Eve. Shifting back to the present, Suwa suggests that they spend New Year's Eve as a group, but Suwa doesn't want to go. Takako then alerts him to what she receives from her future self, and asks him if he really wants to let go of his chance to be with Naho so easily. The episode shifts back to a class discussion about parallel worlds which explains a lot about how the future will stay the same regardless of their decisions. He will still always marry Naho in that world, but in this world he wants to make a choice to support Kakeru and Naho. Kakeru couldn't make the Christmas date because of his grandmother being sick. The future letter wanted Kakeru to stay with her on New Years despite his grandmothers condition, and he refused to do so. She tries to get him to stay because they meet his grandmother in the letter too, meaning she lives through in that future. This leads to Naho making the same mistake, and the fight happens again. After encouragement from the group, Suwa meets up with Naho and says he will support them no matter what, but remains firm to not confessing his love for Naho.
12"Letter 12"
"Tegami 12" (手紙12)		Nobuo TomizawaAyumu HisaoSeptember 18, 2016 (2016-09-18)[41]
The episode begins with the story of Kakeru moving to the area, and covers the day of his mother's suicide, and some of the events that led to his eventual suicide in the future timeline. While most of the details are hashed out in notes from the future, the end of the flashback of the future timeline shows when Kakeru found his mothers phone and the unsent message that he never received from her. He learns things that he didn't know about her situation, including his father's violent past that led to the divorce that he blamed his mother for. It allows him to gain resolve needed to commit suicide to be with his mother again. After a brief visit to Naho's future timeline, the story resumes in the present. Naho read in the letter that she never was able to talk the same way with Kakeru again, and she makes a point to apologize to him for what happened on New Years, which her future self was never able to accomplish. While she does accomplish this goal, there is still a rift between the two that she can't seem to get through. The future selves of the 5 group members meet at the designated spot, where they lament inviting Kakeru to go with them on that day. They discuss that a researcher believes that there is a black hole in the same location as the Bermuda Triangle, and they decide to send letters out to see in hopes of reaching their past selves. The episode concludes with Naho telling Kakeru to wait until valentines day. Her thoughts suggest that she remains committed to seeing him through his troubles, regardless of whether or not he likes her or hates her.
13"Last Letter"
"Saigo no Tegami" (最後の手紙)		Keiko OyamadaYūko KakiharaSeptember 25, 2016 (2016-09-25)[42]

Leading up to Kakeru's final day, Naho struggles with being able to deliver her chocolate to Kakeru. The future letter outlines the four different chances that she will have, but the first three times she missed her opportunity. Her last chance she has Kakeru leaves earlier than anticipated, and she hurries to catch up. On the way there, she collides with Ueda and drops the chocolate and it gets stepped on. This does not change her resolve to chasing after Kakeru. She meets him in the locker room, where he attempts to decline receiving the chocolate. She confronts him about avoiding her, and he suggests that he felt like he hurt her on New Years Day. She delivers the message sent by text in the future "I'm not hurt". Furthermore, she expresses her commitment to Kakeru regardless of fights that occur, and apologizes again to Kakeru. He admits that he was trying to distance himself because he didn't want to hurt her anymore. He admits every time she wanted to be with him, it made him happy, and that he struggled to keep his distance. She finally expresses her desire to go out with him on a date, and reminds him that if she asked him if he would go out on a date he'd do it. Despite his attempts to avoid Naho and the date, she eventually gets her point across that she is ok with all of his faults, and embraces him in a hug. After a brief scene, he requests the chocolate that Naho has behind her back still, and the rest of the group onlooking cheers them on in much the same way they stood up for Ueda earlier on. Kakeru's last day in the future timeline finally occurs. Each member of the group gives Kakeru gifts in attempt to lift his spirits as high as possible. Naho provides him a lunch for the first time since the Ueda issue a months earlier. Kakeru even turns down the walk home, suggesting he is going to the hospital with his grandma (this was something he had refused the opportunity to do in the future timeline).

Small changes occur throughout the episode that differ from the letters, but the group is still worried about 8pm that night. The future group talks about the paradox that would occur if the timelines were connected, and further convince themselves that they have said goodbye to Kakeru for the final time in their own time. But they are satisfied with sending the letters knowing that if there are parallel timelines that they save him, that it is more than worth it to them to try it. The present timeline returns, and Kakeru looks at his mother's phone in the current timeline just like future timeline. This was the event that pushed him to commit suicide previously. While he lasts beyond the 8pm timeline that the even occurred in the past, he makes the same effort to take his own life again, walking in-front of an oncoming truck. However, this time he couldn't bring himself to do it and got out of the way at the last moment, citing that friendship made him reconsider. Specifically, the friends he had made had led him to consider their feelings as well. The group all shows him the letters that they received from the future, and suggest that they had attempted to make amends for previous mistakes. They also provide letters from their future for him to read. In the end, Suwa tells him it's his fault for trying to die and that he won't forgive him if he does, and then apologizes for inviting him to join them during the opening ceremony. All of the friends embrace. Afterward, they walk back and learn that someone vandalized his bike (Hagita...), which is why he walked instead and was late. He writes a letter to his future self for the capsule that differs from the future timeline, and occurs on a day beyond when he otherwise would be living in the future timeline. The group takes the time to put together a time capsule in much the same way they had earlier in the future's timeline. This breaks the chain of events, and the future world suggests that they will ensure it never happens as they will always be there for Kakeru.

Film

An anime theatrical film, titled Orange: Future (オレンジ -未来-, Orenji -Mirai-), was announced at the end of the television anime's final episode. The film will retell the series' main story from Suwa's viewpoint, and will also feature an original story written by Takano which is set after the anime and manga series. It is scheduled for a 2-week premiere in Japanese theaters that premiered on November 18, 2016.[43]

Reception

Volume 1 reached the 30th place on the weekly Oricon manga chart and, as of July 29, 2012, has sold 31,451 copies;[44] volume 2 reached the 31st place[45] and, as of December 2, 2012, has sold 68,977 copies;[46] volume 3 reached the 20th place[47] and, as of September 7, 2014, has sold 111,934 copies.[48]

On manga-news.com, it has a staff grade of 17.5 out of 20;[2] volume 1 was chosen by the staff as one of the top manga of the week as a "new [release] crush"[49] and volume 2 was also chosen as one of the top manga of the week.[50] On planetebd.com, it has a staff grade of "good, nice".[51] It was number 23 on the 15th Book of the Year list by Da Vinci magazine.[52]

The English release was reviewed favorably by Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network, who gave both omnibus collections an overall A− score. She praised the "poignant and moving" story, but warned the issue of suicide may make it a difficult read for some people.[53] Eva de Gans of Dutch magazine Aniway recommended the series, praising its visuals and "endearing and relatable" cast of characters, while criticizing Naho and Kakeru's characterizations as passive, timid characters and the "unconvincing" explanation of the time travel.[54] The series was nominated for the 2017 Eisner Award in the "Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia" category.[55]

The second omnibus volume reached number 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list for manga on June 19, 2016, where it remained on the list for four weeks.[56]

See also
  • Yume Miru Taiyō, another series by the same author

References
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