Di(e)ce

di(e)ce
The cover of the first tankobon of the Japanese manga
ｄｉ［ｅ］ｃｅ -ダイス- (di(e)ce -daisu-)
Genre	Action (fiction), Mystery, Supernatural, Tragedy, Sci-fi
Manga
Written by	Saki Otoh of naked ape, Kana Yamamoto
Published by	Ichijinsha
Magazine	Comic ZERO-SUM
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	2007 – 2010
Volumes	6

di[e]ce or di(e)ce (ｄｉ［ｅ］ｃｅ-ダイス-, di[e]ce –daisu-) is a manga written and illustrated by naked ape and Kana Yamamoto. Since 2007, it has been serialized in a shōnen manga magazine, Comic ZERO-SUM. The story covers two best-friends, Kazuki Naruse and Haruki Koutake, which is on the advanced track of Seitoukou Academy. Though they are not connected by blood, these two whose faces are so similar coincidentally have their 16th birthdays on November 11. However, on that fateful anniversary, the game of fate—killing and surviving, which is called di[e]ce, started, revealing that they are the two kings that is supposed to kill each other in order to finish the game. The manga chapters ended on November, 2011, and the series has 6 collected volumes published by Ichijinsha.

Plot

In the Seitokou Academy, one arcade-game king, Kazuki Naruse, is best friends with the student council, Haruki Koutake. Both have similar faces, and coincidentally have the same birthday dates, which is on 11 November. On their 16th birthday, an unfortunate game of survival, di(e)ce, started. In the game, Kazuki and Haruki, were revealed to be the kings of the game, and as there can’t be two kings in a game, one have to kill the other. Meeting various other players such as Sion and Gara, the two best-friends find their way to kill each other.

Characters

• Kazuki Naruse, a freshman in Seitokoh Academy who is revealed to be the king of the game di(e)ce. Outside di(e)ce, he is well-known as the KING of game arcades and good at P.E activities. He often shows a big loyalty to his feelings especially in friendship, and a brave-hearted one. He is very caring, but sometimes also short-minded.
• Haruki Koutake, a freshman in Seitokoh Academy whom is Kazuki's best friend since childhood and also the school president in Seitokoh Academy. He is also revealed to be the other king in the game di(e)ce. He is very attached to his works and his responsibility is very high. He is very wise in acting, but sometimes too naive in making decisions. He is also shown to be very caring.
• Sion Saiguuji, an upperclassman in Seitokoh Academy, which appears in the game di(e)ce as Kazuki's bodyguard, the protector of the King. He is very silent but very obedient, though he actually doesn't really like eing ordered by Kazuki.
• Gara, a man who appears in the first game of di(e)ce as Haruki's protector. He shares the same position as Sion, and is equal in strengh to Sion. He is very wild, though he is wise in making decisions.
• Yuki Shiragawa, a freshman whom is Haruki and Kazuki's best friend since elementary school. He is partially involved in the game di(e)ce. He is very clumsy and is easily scared.

Media

Manga

• First volume was released on 25 September 2007.
• Second volume was released on 24 May 2008.
• Third volume was released on 25 March 2009.
• Fourth Volume was released on 10 September 2009.
• Fifth Volume was released on 24 April 2010.
• Last (sixth) volume was released on 25 November 2010.

Drama CD

On 25 December 2008, a di[e]ce's drama CD was released. It consists of eight tracks of seven story and one after record comments.

External links

1. di(e)ce @ Naked Ape's official website (in Japanese)