Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku

Now and Then, Here and There follows Shu, an ordinary Japanese boy distinguished by his unwavering optimism and strong sense of justice. Despite being thrown into difficult situations, Shu refuses to abandon his belief in kindness and hope. His life changes dramatically when he encounters a mysterious girl named Lala-Ru, whose strange, ancient eyes hint at secrets far beyond his understanding.

After trying to protect her, Shu is suddenly transported to a harsh and unfamiliar desert world ruled by violence and despair. In this bleak land, he is confronted with the brutal realities of war, including suffering, oppression, hunger, and the exploitation of children as soldiers. Unlike the world he came from, survival here often comes at the cost of humanity, testing Shu’s ideals at every turn.

Determined to save Lala-Ru, Shu becomes entangled in the struggle against Hamdo, a cruel and tyrannical dictator obsessed with power and control. Along the way, he forms fragile bonds with other victims of the regime, forging friendships under extreme circumstances. As Shu fights to protect those he cares about, the series explores whether hope, compassion, and moral conviction can endure in a world consumed by cruelty.