Arakawa, Hiromu

"With no goals of his own, Hachiken is devoted to helping his friends--especially Mikage--achieve theirs. To prepare her for the college entrance exams as promised, Hachiken swallows his pride and calls in a ringer: Tokyo U dropout and academic genius Shingo Hachiken. But collecting his brother's old notes means returning home for the first time since he started high school . . . Has everything he's learned at Ezo Ag readied him enough to face his past . . .?"--Back cover.

"November 30 looms large on the horizon-a day that will determine the path of Hachiken's and Mikage's futures! With their pasture-raised pork and meticulously selected ingredients, Silver Spoon is ready for their public pizza debut! Creating a good first impression is critical to securing new customers, not to mention certain investors! Meanwhile, Mikage's preparations (and nerves!) are tested to their limits as she sits for the college entrance exam. If only all the questions could be about horses!!"--Back cover.

"Funding continues to be a major obstacle as Hachiken tries to get his business up and running. Ookawa--still unemployed--has pinned all his hopes on Hachiken's new venture, so when proposal after proposal comes back rejected, he suggests a new source of funding: good, honest hard work. Picking up whatever part-time jobs he can, Hachiken pours every ounce of energy into realizing his goal. The year seems to fly by, but when spring comes again, will his efforts finally blossom into reality?"--Back cover.

"As their second year looms large, the first-years of Ezo Ag are taking a serious look at their future plans. A casual remark about starting a business gives Hachiken a spark of inspiration. He's already passionate about helping his friends achieve their goals: Could that become his goal? With only a half-formed not-quite-an-idea, Hachiken sets off to create a business plan that will meet not just his father's strict standards for approval, but also those of his equally fearsome consultant-Tamako!!"--Back cover.

"Year's end is traditionally the time when students return home to ring in the new year with their families--the very last thing Hachiken wants to do! He'll be the only one staying in the dorms, but after all, on a farm, someone always has to stick around to care for the animals. Little does he know that when the students are away, the teachers have their own tradition: a year-end feast of the bounties of Ezo Ag! Happy New Year, indeed!!"--Back cover.

While dabbling in alchemy, Edward Elric lost an arm and a leg and his brother Alphonse became a bodiless soul trapped in a suit of armor. Now, the brothers are agents of the government, dealing with evil alchemists and on a constant search for the Philosopher's Stone, the fabled alchemical treasure that is their only hope of being returned to normal.

When Alphonse is kidnapped by a group of outcasts seeking the secrets of his alchemical creation, Ed and Izumi must travel into the Devil's Nest to rescue him, but they find that the inhabitants of the Devil's Nest are not human either and find themselves fighting a homunculus, an artificial human being.

When the laboratory explodes, Edward is injured and forced to re-start his investigation of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy; Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes stumbles upon a terrifying secret; and, Ed and Alphonse go south in search of Izumi Curtis, their alchemist master.

Hohenhein has the opportunity to stop the doppleganger "father" who rules over Central City, but surprise may not be enough to help him defeat the powerful homunculus. Then, King Bradley's triumphant return may turn the battle in the military's favor.