One ordinary morning changes everything for Sheena. As another classmate is quietly mourned, an unexpected encounter introduces a mysterious girl whose arrival immediately begins turning the academy upside down.
The episode 1 of I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day starts with Sheena reflecting on what should have been an ordinary morning. Her messy hair, a bowl of warm soup, and bread make the day feel routine, but that illusion quickly disappears when the class is informed that one of their classmates died during a raid near West District, Third Point the previous night.
Rather than reacting with shock, the announcement is delivered as if it were another daily report. Some students are surprised that someone so capable could be killed, while others barely react at all. The teacher simply praises the fallen student's bravery before reminding everyone to focus on training and improving their magical abilities. For Sheena, the most unsettling part isn't just the death itself—it's how quickly everyone returns to class as though nothing has happened.
The story then explains the harsh reality of the National Warfare Sorcery Weapon Training Institute. Although it functions as an orphanage for children with nowhere else to go, its true purpose is to train boys and girls between the ages of ten and seventeen to become soldiers. Every student possesses some level of magical ability, and their education is built around mastering that power for combat. In the simplest terms, the institute exists to teach children how to kill in war.
During class, the students prepare for magical training by placing their wands on their desks. When Sheena is called, she realizes she cannot summon hers. The teacher reminds everyone that Sheena was recently injured because of another mistake, making it clear she has struggled with practical training. After learning that the classmate who died had been Sheena's roommate, the teacher excuses her from afternoon lessons and instructs her to clear out the deceased girl's belongings.
Not everyone responds with sympathy. One student even comments that Sheena is lucky to skip class, prompting Seiran to angrily defend her before being stopped by the teacher. The exchange shows just how differently the students cope with constant loss. For some, death has become routine, while others still refuse to accept that attitude.
Alone in the dormitory, Sheena carefully sorts through everything her roommate left behind. She organizes the items that need to be returned to the school before quietly cleaning every corner of the room. As she works, she wonders why everyone else seems completely fine with treating another student's death as just another task to complete. Even after finishing, she continues speaking to her absent roommate as though she is still there, promising to leave everything neat one last time.
With the room finally cleaned, Sheena realizes how hungry she is. She finds that a few rice balls remain and decides to eat one outside instead of waiting until she reaches her room. Sitting alone, she can't stop replaying everything that happened. She questions whether this is really how life should continue after someone dies—packing away their belongings one day and attending class as usual the next. The memory of another student calling her "lucky" because she's too weak to fight only deepens her frustration, and Sheena quietly rejects that idea, insisting she doesn't feel fortunate at all.
Her lonely meal is suddenly interrupted when a small girl unexpectedly appears and asks if she can have one of the rice balls. Sheena, caught off guard, agrees without hesitation. The cheerful stranger happily asks for the second rice ball as well, and Sheena gives that away too, creating one of the episode's first genuinely lighthearted moments.
The conversation quickly becomes stranger when the girl notices blood on Sheena's arm and eagerly examines the injury. Sheena explains that the wound is already three days old and no longer hurts very much. The little girl finds that fascinating before Sheena notices that the girl's own clothes are covered in blood. Assuming she's badly hurt, Sheena asks if she's alright, only to receive an unexpected answer. The girl calmly explains that none of the blood belongs to her—it belongs to other people.
Before Sheena can process what she has heard, a nurse named Ms. Fran rushes over and scolds the girl for wandering around instead of reporting directly to the infirmary after returning. She complains about constantly having to clean her up while dragging the energetic child away. Even as she's carried off, the girl protests that she was still talking to Sheena. The brief encounter ends almost as suddenly as it began, leaving Sheena with more questions than answers.
Afterward, Ms. Fran privately questions the girl about approaching one of the students despite repeated warnings not to do so. Instead of talking about the rice balls, the child explains that Sheena herself smelled familiar, reminding her of her mother. The comment catches Ms. Fran's attention, while the girl jokingly insists her real mother certainly isn't "some old man." The conversation offers only another layer of mystery surrounding the unusual child.
That night, Sheena returns to her room hoping to rest, but she can't escape the memory of meeting the blood-covered girl. She feels as though the smell of blood has soaked into her skin, making sleep impossible. The following morning, her exhausted appearance draws concern from classmates, but Sheena's thoughts remain fixed on one disturbing question. Looking back at the girl's bloodstained clothes, she silently wonders just how many people someone would have to kill to end up covered in that much blood.
Just as class begins, the teacher announces that a new student will be joining them. The room buzzes with curiosity before an unexpectedly small, cheerful girl walks inside and introduces herself with a bright smile as Mimi. Sheena freezes almost immediately. To her complete surprise, the mysterious child she met while eating rice balls the previous day is now standing at the front of the classroom as her newest classmate.
Picking up from Mimi's surprise introduction, the teacher explains that although she enrolled at the institute at the age of ten, she had never been assigned to a regular class. Starting today, she will officially join the fourteen-year-olds despite her youthful appearance. The announcement leaves the class confused, especially after Mimi immediately recognizes Sheena as the "rice ball girl" from the previous day. Their unexpected connection only makes the other students even more curious.
The surprises continue when the teacher announces that Mimi will move into student number seven's room—Sheena's room. Having only just cleaned out the belongings of her late roommate, Sheena suddenly finds herself preparing to share the same space with someone entirely new. Unlike the quiet atmosphere surrounding Sheena, Mimi is overflowing with energy. She eagerly asks about their room, wonders if it has bunk beds, asks whether there's a shower, and barely pauses long enough for Sheena to answer. Their personalities couldn't be more different, making the new roommate arrangement feel both awkward and unpredictable.
As the students head toward the auditorium, Mimi innocently asks why everyone is gathering there. Sheena explains that it's time for the memorial prayer held for students who have died. During the ceremony, flowers and personal belongings are placed inside empty caskets while prayers are offered for the deceased. When Mimi points out that there isn't even a body inside the coffin, Sheena quietly explains that the bodies of fallen soldiers disappear immediately after death so enemies cannot recover information from them. Even surrounded by classmates, Sheena can't help remembering the painful words that called her lucky simply because she wasn't strong enough to fight.
After the ceremony, the mood briefly lightens during lunch. Mimi discovers that bread is being served instead of rice and reacts with the same innocent curiosity she has shown since arriving. She happily enjoys her meal while drawing attention from nearly everyone in the cafeteria. Ari and Seiran soon join Sheena and warmly introduce themselves, welcoming Mimi into Class Fourteen. Before long, Ari gathers the courage to ask the question everyone has been wondering. Is this cheerful little girl actually the legendary "Mimi" whispered about throughout the academy?
According to the rumors, "Mimi" is the name given to a secret weapon personally trained by the teachers. Students believe this mysterious fighter possesses extraordinary abilities, and some even claim that "Mimi" defeated numerous enemies during the previous day's battle. Before anyone can reach a conclusion, a deployment announcement echoes through the cafeteria. To everyone's surprise, one of the numbers called belongs to Mimi herself. She casually realizes the number is hers, cheerfully says goodbye, and heads toward the front gate without hesitation. Her calm reaction immediately makes the rumors feel much more believable.
The cafeteria erupts with excitement after she leaves. Ari and Seiran become convinced that Sheena has somehow ended up sharing a room with the academy's legendary secret weapon. Sheena, however, doesn't seem nearly as interested. She admits she has never cared about battlefield reputations, who defeated whom, or how many enemies someone has killed. Yet after everything she has witnessed, she quietly wonders whether ignoring the reality of war is something she can continue doing.
Later that day, Ms. Fran asks Sheena to help carry Mimi's belongings into their shared room while explaining that Mimi should return before nightfall. As they organize the few possessions, Sheena finally asks the question that's been bothering everyone. Is Mimi truly the legendary secret weapon? Ms. Fran avoids giving a direct answer, simply replying that "Mimi is just Mimi." Instead of discussing rumors, she shifts the conversation by saying she'll make sure Mimi actually takes a shower this time. Although Sheena receives no confirmation, the evasive response only deepens the mystery surrounding her unusual roommate.
While walking through the building, Sheena stumbles across two students pressing their lips together. Embarrassed, she assumes she's witnessed a romantic kiss, but another student quickly explains that it's actually restoration magic. By directly transferring magical energy into another person, injuries can be healed, though the technique only works effectively when the two people are on the same wavelength. Sheena listens with fascination, realizing there are still many things about magic she doesn't fully understand.
That evening, Mimi finally returns and quickly falls asleep as though nothing unusual happened during her deployment. Watching her peacefully resting only makes Sheena more anxious. She realizes they'll now spend every day together, and with all the rumors surrounding Mimi, they're bound to attract constant attention. The stress becomes so overwhelming that Sheena develops a stomachache and quietly groans in bed, hoping the discomfort will pass on its own.
The episode ends with Mimi waking up after hearing Sheena's quiet groans. Believing her new roommate is in pain, she gently leans over and uses restoration magic by pressing her lips against Sheena's. The unexpected act instantly leaves Sheena stunned. As the pain fades, she notices that Mimi's kiss carries two unforgettable sensations at once—the faint scent of fresh soap and the lingering taste of blood, bringing the episode to a memorable and mysterious close.
Episode Verdict
I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day Episode 1 delivers a surprisingly emotional opening by contrasting everyday school life with the constant reality of war. Sheena's quiet grief makes her an easy protagonist to sympathize with, while Mimi's cheerful personality creates an intriguing contrast that keeps every scene involving her unpredictable. The episode balances somber moments with gentle humor before ending on a mysterious note that naturally encourages viewers to continue. Without relying on large-scale action, the premiere succeeds by building curiosity around its characters and the strange world they inhabit, making for a strong and memorable first episode.
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