Origin Stories Anime

Origin Story: Mev Gardenia 2017

In bustling Japan, during the vibrant year of 2017, lives Mev Gardenia—a passionate student whose love for collectible figures knows no bounds. Always on the hunt for the latest rare edition or must-have merch, she spares no expense to expand her beloved collection, much to the exasperation of her friends who struggle to keep up with her obsession.

One spring day, at the height of cherry blossom season, her life takes an unexpected turn. On her way home from school, a sudden and powerful gust of wind whips through the streets, sending a flurry of pink petals swirling around her. The scene is breathtaking. But amid the storm of petals, something peculiar catches her eye: a single flower, standing perfectly still, unaffected by the wind. Drawn to it, Mev steps closer and discovers a beautiful white gardenia.

Without hesitation, she plucks it and tucks it into her hair. Instantly, the wind dies down, and calm returns. Shaken but intrigued, Mev continues on her way home. As usual, she checks her mailbox—and finds a package from Derive Figurine, her favorite store. Excited, she rushes to her room and tears it open.

Inside? Just a simple card. Initially disappointed, she takes a closer look... and her eyes widen with surprise: the card features her own likeness! Before she can react, a brilliant light erupts from both the card and the gardenia flower in her hair. Mev shields her eyes, overwhelmed by the glow.

When she opens them again, everything has changed.

She’s no longer in her room, but in a bright, lush world filled with sprawling green plains under a peaceful blue sky. Her clothes have transformed too: now she’s wearing a black skirt, a white blouse, a stylish red vest, and asymmetrical gloves. But the most shocking thing is the strange floating box bearing her image, connected to her left hand. Spinning it, Mev quickly realizes that she can summon... figurines!

Suddenly, a soft light on the ground catches her eye—it’s the same card. Turning it over, she reads the inscription:

“You are now in Gardenia Imperialis.
An artificial world created from scratch.
Yet people here are in grave danger.
A malevolent creature rules this place. Thanks to your gardenia flower,
only you can change their fate. Your true potential has just awakened.
The flower grants incredible powers—but they are shaped by what lies deep within you.”

Mev Gardenia 2017’s Powers:

• She can materialize collectible figures from her box and summon them for battle: warrior girls, monsters, machines, and more.

• She can only control a limited number of figures at once.

• Her power relies solely on her summons, making her physically vulnerable.

• She can switch her active figure by spinning her own figurine connected to her finger at high speed.

• The back of her box displays numerous slots, each representing a figure. Most are locked at first (99%) and unlock as she progresses.

• Some figures can evolve or merge through experience and growth.

• The gardenia flower is the key to her power, but overusing it comes at a cost—it weakens Mev over time.