If Her Flag Breaks, also known as Gaworare, is a Japanese light novel series written by Tōka Takei, with illustrations by Cuteg. Kodansha has published 16 volumes from December 2011 to September 2016. A manga adaptation and two spin-off series have been serialized in Kodansha's magazines. An anime adaptation produced by Hoods Entertainment aired in Japan from April to June 2014, and is licensed in North America by NIS America.
Plot
Souta Hatate, a new transfer student to the Hatagaya School, has the ability to see the futures of those around him in the form of flags. He is able to affect those flags based on his interactions with the person in question. He ends up living in a small dorm with many beautiful girls. When he finds a flag of death on himself, Souta learns that in order to be able to change his fate, he has to find and bring together four people: a princess knight, a magician, a cleric, and a shinobi.
Characters
Media
Light novels
If Her Flag Breaks began as a light novel series written by Tōka Takei, with illustrations by Cuteg. The first volume was published on December 2, 2011 under Kodansha's Kodansha Ranobe Bunko. Kodansha has published 16 volumes.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Nagian began serialization in the December 2011 issue of Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Rival magazine, published on November 4, 2011. The first tankōbon volume was released on March 2, 2012, and seven volumes have been released altogether. The seventh volume was published simultaneously with a limited edition, bundled with a drama CD. A spin-off series also by Nagian is published in two parts: in Monthly Shōnen Rival and online on Kodansha's Magazine Lab service. The series is titled Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara: Ō Yūsha yo, Flag o Tateteshimau to wa Nanigoto da!?, or Gawoyū for short, and its serialization began in Monthly Shōnen RivalJune 2013 issue sold on May 2, 2013. The series shows Souta and the girls as characters in a fantasy role-playing game world. A second spin-off series, titled Kanojo ga Flag o Oraretara: Root Love, or Gaworabu, by Kazuki Ayasaki, is serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius and on Niconico's Niconico Seiga service. Its first chapter was published on July 26, 2013, and its chapters have been compiled in one tankōbon volume.
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network wrote that the anime was a "fairly classic harem show," but that each episode throws something unexpected at the viewers to keep their attention. She criticized the overuse of pastel coloring, the female characters having either generic designs or annoying personality traits and felt the ending was rushed. Brittany Vincent of Japanator was immediately put off by the first episode which she described as boring, with "awful animation bizarre clothing".
