Ben-To is a Japanese light novel series written by Asaura, with illustrations by Kaito Shibano. The first volume was published in February 2008, and nine volumes have been released by Shueisha as of July 2011. A manga adaptation titled Ben To Zero: Road to Witch, also illustrated by Shibano, was serialized in 2011. An anime TV series adaptation produced by David Production began airing in Japan in October 2011.PLOT
While innocently reaching for some half-priced bento, Yō Satō finds himself beaten up on the floor of a supermarket. He soon learns that getting half-priced bento is an all-out brawl between students. Yō is invited to the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club by one of the top fighters, Sen Yarizui, in order to train to compete in these battles.After collapsing in the street bloodied and battered, You Satou has no recollection of what happened to him – the only thing he remembers is going to the supermarket to buy a bento lunchbox. After having bizarre encounters the entire following day including a stern warning to stay away from the store, You returns that night to buy dinner. But when he spies the shelf of half-priced bento and reaches out for one, the penniless teen finds himself thrust into a world where the rush to get a good deal becomes an epic battle in which only the strongest survive…
Characters
- Yō Satō
- The main character, a high school freshman who finds himself dragged into the battle for half-priced bento. He enjoys playing retro video games, particularly Sega games. Though at first shown not able to even hold his ground in a bento brawl, he soon shows remarkable strength, enough to be recognized as an equal by Yū, the Wizard, and win a one-on-one fight against Ayame.
- Sen Yarizui
- A second year student who is the president of the Half Priced Food Lovers Club. Her skill in bento brawls has led her to be known as the Ice Witch (氷結の魔女 Hyōketsu no Majo).
- Ayame Shaga (著莪 あやめ Shaga Ayame)
- Voiced by: Emiri Katō
- Yō's first cousin who is an avid gamer and will often use her wily ways to get him to do what she wants. She is also a bento brawler known as the Beauty by the Lake (湖の麗人 Mizūmi no Reijin).
- Hana Oshiroi
- An easily excitable girl who joins the Half Priced Food Lovers Club. Her hobby is writing yaoi erotic novels, having its characters inspired on other bento brawlers. Not a fighter type at all, Hana usually resources to sneak past the other bento brawlers while they are fighting to grab a bentou for herself.
- Ume Shiraume
- The student council president and a lesbian who constantly abuses and slaps Sato due to her jealousy of Hana for whom she has feelings, despite also being prone to flirt with other girls like Ayame.
- Yū Kaneshiro
- A third year student and a veteran bento brawler who is known as the Wizard (ウィザード Wizād). He is also the former president of the Half Priced Food Lovers Club.
- Asebi Inoue
- A schoolmate of Shaga who is also in the gaming club at their school. She is cursed with bad luck which spreads to anybody she touches, though she is oblivious to her curse and has a happy-go-lucky and childlike personality otherwise.