The Manga Club Sets Its Sights on Summer Comitia
The episode starts with the club discussing their recent visit to Comitia, a convention dedicated entirely to original self-published manga. Everyone is amazed by the enormous number of artists and independently created books on display. The experience leaves the group inspired, convincing them that publishing their own manga there would be the perfect way to share their creativity with readers beyond their small island.
The excitement quickly meets reality when Miss Teshima explains why participating will not be easy. The students have nowhere near enough completed pages, travelling to Tokyo requires money and overnight accommodation, and every parent must give permission. On top of that, their school grades cannot suffer. Although she strongly opposes the idea, she reluctantly agrees to think about allowing the trip if the club proves it can handle every responsibility.
Rather than becoming discouraged, the members immediately begin making plans. They decide to complete a twelve-page manga, study seriously for their upcoming examinations, earn enough money for the journey, and secure permission from their families. Their optimistic attitude surprises even Miss Teshima, who secretly prepares application forms despite repeatedly insisting that she is still against the idea. Her actions reveal that she quietly wants the club to succeed despite her strict attitude.
Parents React to the Club's Ambitious Goal
The episode then follows each student's attempt to gain approval at home. Some parents immediately support the trip after hearing that it is an official school activity, while others only agree after reminding their children that academic performance comes first. Every conversation reflects a different family dynamic, showing that pursuing creative dreams often requires earning the trust of the people closest to you.
Back at the rental bookstore, Miss Teshima confirms that almost everyone has returned their permission slips. Only Kokoro Fujimori has not submitted hers, forcing the club to delay its application. Before leaving, their adviser gives one final warning: impressive results in the final examinations are now expected from every single member. The challenge has officially begun, and no one can afford to fall behind.
Kokoro's Secret Is Finally Exposed
Determined to prepare for the exams together, the friends search for a place to study. Since everyone's home has different problems, Kokoro quietly offers to host the session at her family's inn. The invitation seems ordinary at first, but it soon becomes clear that she has never actually told her mother she joined the Manga Club, leaving her trapped between fear and honesty.
The situation quickly spirals out of control the moment Kokoro's mother discovers the truth. Furious that her daughter secretly joined another club while already belonging to the art club, she scolds Kokoro in front of everyone, criticises the familiar hairpin she always wears, and refuses to let anyone interrupt. Her overwhelming anger leaves Kokoro completely unable to explain her feelings, exactly as she feared would happen.
Watching the confrontation unfold, Hikaru Sekiryu refuses to stay silent. Although she usually struggles to communicate with people, she firmly tells Kokoro's mother that Kokoro's feelings belong to Kokoro alone. Afterward, Hikaru honestly admits she is not naturally good with relationships and often worries about hurting others. She explains that manga has always been her closest companion because expressing emotions through stories feels much easier than speaking face-to-face.
Kokoro Pours Her Heart Into a Manga Instead of Words
Unable to express herself through conversation, Kokoro Fujimori chooses the one method that has always given her confidence—drawing manga. She asks her mother to read a short comic instead of listening to an explanation. Through its pages, Kokoro finally reveals emotions she has hidden for years, explaining that every argument leaves her so frightened she cannot even speak. She compares the feeling to sinking beneath the ocean, where every word disappears before reaching the surface.
The manga continues by explaining why the small hairpin her mother dislikes means so much to her. It was a precious gift from her father when she was still a child, making it something she treasures every day. Kokoro also confesses that the classmates her mother shouted at are the very first real friends she has ever made, making their support far more valuable than anyone realizes.
As the heartfelt story continues, Kokoro lovingly introduces every member of the Manga Club. She praises Ai Yasumi's limitless imagination, thanks Akafuku for keeping everyone focused with honest advice, and describes Hikaru Sekiryu as an incredibly talented manga artist she deeply respects. More importantly, she explains that being with them allows her to relax, smile naturally, and finally become herself without fear or pressure.
Instead of reacting with anger, Kokoro's mother quietly finishes reading every page. She realizes how deeply her daughter has struggled to communicate and finally understands why manga means so much to her. Although she jokingly complains that Kokoro wrote the comic instead of studying, she gives her blessing to continue drawing, even offering rooms at the family inn whenever the club needs a place to work together.
The Club Clears Another Major Obstacle
With the missing permission slip finally submitted, the entire Manga Club celebrates another important milestone on the road to Summer Comitia. The emotional moment becomes even more memorable when Kokoro excitedly thanks Hikaru Sekiryu, who awkwardly accepts the appreciation before asking everyone to simply call her Hikaru instead. Little by little, the normally distant artist begins opening her heart to the group.
The cheerful atmosphere changes again after Miss Teshima privately reminds Hikaru about her poor academic record. The younger students are shocked to discover that Hikaru is actually one year older because she previously repeated a grade after focusing too heavily on drawing manga instead of studying. Her honest confession becomes a powerful reminder that chasing creative dreams also demands responsibility and balance.
Motivated by that lesson, the club throws itself into preparing for the final examinations. Their hard work pays off as everyone successfully passes, bringing another wave of excitement. With their grades secured, they can finally turn their complete attention toward producing their first original book for Comitia, making the long-awaited convention feel closer than ever before.
Planning the Club's Very First Manga Release
The next meeting focuses entirely on practical publishing decisions. The students choose the name Oshima South High School Manga Club for their circle before discussing printing costs, prices, page counts, and pen names. Their excitement briefly gets carried away after hearing Hikaru casually mention printing one thousand copies, only for Miss Teshima to reveal that she once sold just a single copy from a similar print run.
After everyone laughs at the embarrassing story, they settle on printing only twenty copies to avoid unnecessary expenses. The discussion then shifts toward choosing author names, eventually combining parts of their own names into the shared pen name Sou Akafuku. Before ending the meeting, Miss Teshima firmly reminds the students that every page must be completed before they leave for the convention, making the production schedule incredibly tight.
Later, one of the students finds Miss Teshima working quietly and asks whether she really used to create storyboards inside family restaurants. The teacher smiles and confirms the story, recalling long nights spent staring out the window whenever inspiration disappeared. She remembers waiting patiently until a fresh idea appeared before returning to draw page after page through the silence of the night and the first light of dawn, memories she still treasures today.
Miss Teshima's Memories Inspire the Next Generation
The teacher's nostalgic story leaves a lasting impression on the club. Inspired by her memories, Ai Yasumi enthusiastically finishes another manga while Kokoro Fujimori receives heartfelt praise for her expressive artwork. The encouragement gives everyone fresh motivation, proving that even experienced creators still remember the excitement, uncertainty, and joy of producing their earliest original stories.
The Journey to Comitia Finally Begins
With their books completed and preparations finished, the Manga Club finally boards a ferry for the long-awaited trip. Every new sight fills the students with excitement as they admire the famous Rainbow Bridge and the enormous city skyline ahead. For teenagers who have spent most of their lives on a quiet island, the scale and energy of the metropolitan area feel almost unbelievable.
The excitement continues after arriving at their hotel, where nearly everything feels extraordinary to the first-time visitors. Comfortable beds, bright city lights, and unfamiliar surroundings make the overnight stay feel like an adventure before the convention has even started. Their constant amazement creates several light-hearted comedy moments, balancing the emotional scenes that dominated the first half of the episode.
Ai Yasumi Explains What Truly Makes Manga Special
That evening, Ai Yasumi shares one of the earliest manga she ever created with the group. Although Miss Teshima once criticized it for lacking something important, the others genuinely enjoy its free-spirited style and charming characters. The conversation soon grows deeper as Ai explains that technical perfection alone cannot create a memorable manga if genuine human emotion is missing from the pages.
Ai admits she has never had many close friends, but manga has always connected her with people in ways ordinary conversation never could. After reading her work, the others reassure her that they now feel connected to both her stories and her emotions. The touching exchange perfectly mirrors Kokoro's earlier experience, reinforcing the episode's message that creativity allows people to communicate feelings words often cannot express.
Unable to sleep because of the anticipation surrounding Comitia, Ai asks herself what the heroine of a manga would do in such a moment. Her answer is wonderfully simple—create another manga. Inspired once again, she spends the quiet night writing while imagining herself following the same creative routine Miss Teshima described earlier, transforming nervous excitement into fresh inspiration.
An Unexpected Surprise
The episode ends with the friends enjoying an all-you-can-eat breakfast before heading to Summer Comitia. Their excitement reaches another peak until Miss Teshima casually reveals an amusing detail—they are not actually staying in Tokyo. Because nearby hotels were fully booked, the group spent the night in Maihama, Chiba Prefecture. After a brief moment of confusion, the students simply redirect their excitement toward Chiba, laughing together as they prepare for the biggest day of their manga journey.
Draw This, Then Die Episode 5 delivers one of the series' strongest emotional chapters by balancing heartfelt family drama with the excitement of creating manga. Kokoro Fujimori's honest confession to her mother provides the emotional core, while Hikaru Sekiryu continues to grow into an inspiring mentor for the club. The quieter pacing allows every character meaningful development, making the upcoming Summer Comitia feel like a well-earned milestone rather than just another destination. Instead of relying on dramatic twists, the episode celebrates friendship, artistic passion, and the courage it takes to express feelings through creativity, leaving viewers eager to see the club's long-awaited debut at Comitia.
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