Shuffle!

- Season 1

(2005)

Ten years ago, the gateway to the Realm of the Gods and the Realm of the Demons was opened. Soon afterwards, the gods and the demons began migrating to our world. Now there are places where gods, demons and humans all study together... Such as our school, Verbena Academy. Meet Rin, a normal high school guy who is the envy of every other man in town. You see, he's lucky enough to live with and be pampered by the sweet, beautiful Kaede. It's just a day like any other when two new transfer students show up in class: Sia, Princess of the Gods and Nerine, Princess of the ...

Heaven and Hell broke loose a few days ago, and poor Rin's still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing! According to Itsuki, he's supposed to feel lucky. Being an object of jealousy is a badge of honor for a man. But now he has overbearing fathers for neighbors and three sets of groupies hot on his trail, not to mention a strangely silent new member of the family. Cradle robbing!?!

As if adapting to life in this realm of existence wasn't hard enough, now Sia's faced with final exams! And if Rin doesn't help her pass her tests, it could mean the end of the world. Literally! While there's nothing so nice as snuggling up with a good book and a pretty god, these two make for nervous study buddies as they find themselves alone for the first time. What's a guy to do?

Rin and Nerine get to spend some time alone and the jealous hordes take note. As rumors run rampant and gossip flies, the Princess doesn't just blow her top, she takes out a chunk of the school! Meanwhile, the group's planned a picnic to celebrate the end of exams, but Nerine can't cook. How far will the poor little thing go to keep the others from finding out about her secret?

Poor Kaede can't keep up with the competition, so she'll do everything in her power to take care of Rin around the house. From cooking to cleaning to crying herself to sleep, her only witness the ever silent Primula. But as soon as her workload takes its toll, it will be Rin to the rescue. And his selfless bedside manner should definitely get rewarded!

It's hard for cute little Primula, she wants to spend time with Rin, too. Day after day she watches as Rin and his friends head off for school, her age and her awkwardness leaving her stuck home alone. She's never complained, but then again she never really seems to open up about anything. While the girls plan a trip to the lingerie shop, Rin may have a more fitting solution.

Rin might seem like the only guy in school, but there are others out there on the prowl... And one of them has eyes for Asa! Can this chipper senior student accept another's confession of love, when she's got her own secret crush long harbored? As a minor tragedy strikes and forces the girl to depend on Rin, some alone time with Mr. Popular and the other guy won't stand a chance.

It's summer break and Sia is itching for a date with Rin. A horoscope magazine foretells true love for the lucky Leo if only she becomes more assertive, thinks positive and most importantly, wears the right pair of lucky panties! Better choose wisely, young Sia... For the wrong pair could lead to a date fraught with wacky mishaps and familiar faces popping up at the worst possible times!

The sun is shining, the water's crystal clear and the beach is supposed to be relaxing, but the beauties surrounding Rin are going out their way to keep his temperature up. Aside from the tantalizing assortment of swimwear, the girls all have their ploys to get their boy: Nerine wants a hands-on lesson in swimming and Asa goes top-off in the waves, but Sia trumps them both when she and Rin get a little private time...

Having survived their scary adventure on the beach, Sia's over-excitable father is already preparing for the big wedding! No pressure, Rin! Word is getting out and Mayumi isn't helping with her desire to get the scoop. It's big news, that's for sure... Even to the rumored lovebirds! But Nerine isn't going to take it all lying down, sneaking the hapless would-be Romeo away for some quality time of her own.

Mayumi is finally done with summer school, and now the fun can begin... One would think. Instead, the cub reporter ends up waiting tables to pay off an ice cream debt. No sweat, right? Actually, it's more like no panties! It's getting drafty as Mayumi navigates the busy dining room while trying to salvage her modesty, and the patrons are getting something a little extra with their food besides a side of fries.

Summer's been going pretty good, especially for Sia and Rin. But the heat is on as the gang struggles to complete their summer homework. They're so focused on the task at hand that no one notices when Primula starts having some serious health problems. After a little investigating, Rin uncovers an amazing secret about the little girl... And if the gang doesn't act soon, poor Primula might not make it through!

The house is feeling empty with the mysteriously ill Primula returned to the Realm of the Demons to heal. The whole gang is worried sick, waiting for news... And the information they finally receive is disheartening, causing real tension among friends, family and would-be lovers. Now Rin's beating himself up for forcing Primula to return home, and Asa seems to be the only girl interested in soothing his pain.

The waves of emotion felt after Primula's sudden return to the Realm of the Demons are rocking the hearts of Rin and his friends. The heavy truth about the poor girl's sad life is unveiled, and Nerine shares a story with Rin that only makes the whole ordeal even sadder. The smallest girl in the gang is suffering, and everything is confusing enough even before Asa suddenly takes ill!

Primula is in bad shape, the sweetly sad little girl hanging on by a thread. Rin and the girls travel to the Realm of the Demons, hopefully to help Primula to heal. But stern warnings are issued and the dire consequences of the proposed last ditch effort loom darkly over the proceedings. Just remember... Miracles do happen, and no greater seed than love can cause a flower to bloom in the desperate void.

Life seems to be getting back to normal, or as normal as life can be when a handful of cuties are all chasing the same clueless guy. With Asa back to her spunky self and Primula feeling better after her ordeal, Rin has a little spring in his step. He and Asa seem to be growing quite close. The other girls are taking notice of this change, and the ladies that love Rin take it in stride... Save one. And she's just losing it!

Something is up with Sia? The girl has practically kidnapped Rin, forcing the lad to miss school to satisfy the newly aggressive redhead. The sudden shanghai has also caused him to miss out on some quality time promised to Asa - That'll be a slapping! Rin would be advised to play along with the strange happenings because Sia isn't being herself... In fact, she's being two of her selves!

It's becoming obvious that after all of the attentions Rin has received from the girls fighting for his love, the guy might finally be leaning towards one of the ladies.

Rin can't win. On the one hand he's got more attention from the opposite sex than he can handle... On the other hand? He's got more attention from the opposite sex than he can handle! Girls are complicated enough without worrying about Asa'a recurring health problems, and Kaede's become increasingly erratic with her jealous behavior. Two of the girls finally meet in physical confrontation. The results are shocking!

For such sweet girls, there sure is a lot of suffering going on these days. Asa is suffering from a strange illness. Kaede is suffering from an attack of guilt and loneliness. Friendships are suffering from doubt and longing. As Rin stays at Asa's bedside, nursing the young girl back to health, Kaede simply can't handle it... In fact, people are starting to get hurt. It's time for Rin to take a stand.

Rin has finally made a move towards happiness. Unfortunately it will bring sadness to one of his oldest and dearest friends. Kaede's house will soon have a vacancy after the young man decides that he's been treating the redhead all wrong. Rin finally makes it all real with a confession to his true love... Every competition has a winner, and sadly, that means that everybody else loses, even those with the purest hearts.

When the competition's over, you'd think a little peace would follow... But while all of the girls appreciate his newfound affection for Asa, this turn of events only spurs their desire on. Rin, however, is determined to move on, getting a cheap apartment, a place to call his own. But as the sun sets on a tumultuous period of his crazy life, a new commotion comes. Asa is very sick, and Rin has every reason to be worried!

After so many battles already won, Rin faces his biggest battle yet... His new love, Asa, is very ill and only she holds the cure. The problem? The spunky girl is too stubborn to do the right thing no matter how much Rin begs her to help herself. But in the middle of the night, the crisis escalates toward a very sad ending. Love finally found, only to potentially be lost under the cold, uncaring moon.

Asa has vanished into the night, escaping from the stuffy hospital room as her illness escalates dangerously. Her true love Rin sets out on a maddening quest, combing the streets looking for his sweetheart. What can a guy do when the girl he cares for won't listen to reason? What will a man do when the one he wants won't face the facts? Rin finds a drastic answer to the hardest question he will ever have to consider...