Protocol: Rain

Protocol: Rain (僕らの雨いろプロトコル), also known as Our Rainy Protocol, is an original anime television series created by Team Kitsune and animated by Quad. It aired from October to December 2023.

Plot
After an accident that killed his father and left his sister with a disability, Shun Tokinoya's mental duress has led to him refraining from online gaming. Now a model high school student who feels remorse over his past lifestyle, Shun works part-time in the cybercafe owned by his childhood friend Nozomi Inatsuki in order to support his family.

Despite this, an incident pushes Shun back into the world of online gaming. Following the sudden retirement of all players of FOX ONE—Nozomi's father’s esports team—Shun learns that the Inatsuki family is in severe debt. In order to repay the money they owe, Shun reluctantly agrees to participate in an online game tournament: Xaxerion Championship.

Joined by their classmate Akito Sendou, the three of them scout for talented players to rebuild the team. Although they are lucky to find two promising additions to FOX ONE, it is too soon to celebrate: if Shun does not let go of his guilty conscience, the makeshift team stands no chance at winning the tournament.

Characters

 * Shun Tokinoya (時野谷瞬)
 * The protagonist. He is currently a second-year high school student. His father was killed in a car accident three years prior to the events of the series, which also severely injured his younger sister Mio. He currently works part-time at childhood friend Nozomi's family's gaming cafe. Wanting to help out the cafe get out of its debt, he joins its esports team.
 * The protagonist. He is currently a second-year high school student. His father was killed in a car accident three years prior to the events of the series, which also severely injured his younger sister Mio. He currently works part-time at childhood friend Nozomi's family's gaming cafe. Wanting to help out the cafe get out of its debt, he joins its esports team.


 * Yū Saegusa (三枝悠宇)
 * A 16-year-old actress who has recently become popular. She previously played with Shun and Nozomi, playing under the username Explosion-kun (ばくれつ君). Because of her popularity as an actress, she wears a mask while playing with the Fox One esports team, much to the chagrin of her manager. She later reveals her identity to the public after rumors about her participation in Fox One spread
 * A 16-year-old actress who has recently become popular. She previously played with Shun and Nozomi, playing under the username Explosion-kun (ばくれつ君). Because of her popularity as an actress, she wears a mask while playing with the Fox One esports team, much to the chagrin of her manager. She later reveals her identity to the public after rumors about her participation in Fox One spread


 * Nozomi Inazuki (稲月望)
 * Shun's childhood friend who is one year older than him. Her father runs a struggling gaming cafe named Fox One. She cares deeply for Shun and acts like an older sister to him.
 * Shun's childhood friend who is one year older than him. Her father runs a struggling gaming cafe named Fox One. She cares deeply for Shun and acts like an older sister to him.


 * Mio Tokinoya (時野谷美桜)
 * Shun's younger sister who was injured in the same accident that killed their father. As she was disabled by the accident, she needs his assistance moving around. She is later offered a chance to participate in a rehabilitation program but appears to be against the idea, only agreeing to the offer if Fox One is able to defeat Sleeping Owl.
 * Shun's younger sister who was injured in the same accident that killed their father. As she was disabled by the accident, she needs his assistance moving around. She is later offered a chance to participate in a rehabilitation program but appears to be against the idea, only agreeing to the offer if Fox One is able to defeat Sleeping Owl.


 * Akito Sendō (仙堂暁斗)
 * A childhood friend of Shun who wears glasses. He has a crush on Mio.
 * A childhood friend of Shun who wears glasses. He has a crush on Mio.


 * Ryūsei Nagamine (長嶺 流星)
 * One of Team Fox One's recruits. He is a fat otaku who collects computer accessories such as keyboards and mice.
 * One of Team Fox One's recruits. He is a fat otaku who collects computer accessories such as keyboards and mice.


 * Mutsuki Naitō (内嶋 睦生)
 * The leader of the Sleeping Owl esports team. He develops an interest in Team Fox One and in his opponent Shun in particular.
 * The leader of the Sleeping Owl esports team. He develops an interest in Team Fox One and in his opponent Shun in particular.


 * Seshiru Satō (佐藤 星詩流)


 * Emiko Takanashi (小鳥遊 恵美子)

Production and release
On July 8, 2023, TV Asahi announced a new original anime television series titled Protocol: Rain, also known as Our Rainy Protocol. The series is created by Team Kitsune and animated by Quad. The anime is directed by Daishi Kato, with Yasutaka Yamamoto serving as chief director and overseeing series scripts based on an original story draft by Kotsukotsu, along with Katsuhiko Takayama, Kanna Hirayama adapting booota's original character designs for animation, and Satoru Kōsaki and Monaca composing the music. The series aired from October 8 to December 24, 2023, on TV Asahi's NUMAnimation programming block and its affiliates, as well as MRT. The opening theme song is "S9aiR" by SennaRin, while the ending theme song is "Another Complex" by Somei. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.