Ef: The First Tale

Ef: The First Tale is a story of heartbreak, memories and romance. It is also a tale of memories and finding your path in life. The tale opens with Yuuko Amamiya, a mysterious woman, telling a story to a man in church. Yuuko has been waiting for the man for a long time and the story is about a group of students that she crossed paths with.

The first story is about the reclusive manga artist, Hiro Hirono. After a chance encounter with Yuuko at the church, and then a run-in with a girl named Miyako, Hiro’s world is turned upside down. He is already struggling to balance his job as an artist with school and not doing a very good job of it. Hiro finds the free spirited Miyako to be a nuisance initially, but gradually starts to fall for her advances. This happens much to the dismay of his childhood friend, Kei Shindou, who is secretly harboring feelings for Hiro. The whole love triangle is viewed with bemusement by Kyousuke Tsustumi, a friend of Hiro who finds himself drawn into the tale as well.

Ef is set in the fictional town of Otowa, where the characters attend Otowa Collegiate. The town experienced a devastating earthquake that destroyed nearly everything, but the locals rebuild everything in a European style. This makes for a very unique and beautiful setting which is brought to life by the detailed backgrounds