Valentine Timeslip Epilogue

Narration picks up to talk about how all the time you spent in the overworld shift Echo created amounted to not much time at all when you return to Tokyo. Gyumao starts talking about how Heracles isn’t around and wonders if he didn’t make it out of the shift. Snow brings up that Heracles came in through Olympus, so it’s possible he was sent back there. Barguest brings up that he contracted with you though, but now it’s like he was never there.

 

Echo says she wanted to talk with Heracles some more. Snow tells Echo she’s being a bit hasty in getting depressed and reminds her that this is Tokyo, where Transients come wandering in. You realize what he’s getting at and say Heracles might be here if he thought about wanting to come and feel that must be it.

 

Barguest says that it’s possible there’s a fate or connection that could bring Heracles here. Gyumao agrees as he says anything can happen in Tokyo, then says he’ll need to tell his receptionists his featured characteristics. Barguest is taken aback and says Gyumao doesn’t need to tell them everything and asks if he runs a business that snaps up Transients that just came in.

 

Echo starts laughing at what Gyumao said, which Snow finds interesting. She apologizes and says it just came out. You say it’d be nice if that happened, and that you’d be happy if you could see Heracles again. Echo agrees, then looks a bit surprised. She’s about to say something when Volos starts coming over asking why you’re there. He then tries to call out to everyone else that he’s found you guys when Ryouta and Shirou cut him off.

 

Ryouta says you suddenly disappeared, so they went looking for you. Shirou sighs about how you’re always making him them worry, but he gets cut off as Kenta pops up in front of him to ask Barguest to look at his picture.

 

Barguest is surprised and then relieved to see Kenta as he says he’s back. He then goes over to hug him, which confuses Kenta into asking if he got lost and scared. Barguest tells him that he got caught up in some weird shenanigans, so it’s sorta like that. Everyone else starts breaking into smiles as they watch them.

 

Title card pops up, and the chapter is simply Epilogue.

 

Things tune back in to Shirou being relieved that he found you safe and sound since he was worried you got caught up in something again. Ryouta teases Shirou for being a worrywart and says you couldn’t possibly have done so, even considering it’s you. They then start looking concerned when you say some things happened, mention going to a spring, and/or say you’ll tell them later.

 

Echo is standing by quietly, and Shirou notices as he starts to ask you who she is. You say you’ll introduce her as you became her acquaintance under unusual circumstances as you turn to Echo. Echo takes a deep breath before she starts talking, introducing herself and saying that she’s your friend. She fumbles a little towards the end, but Shirou thanks her for her manners and introduces himself. Ryouta introduces himself next and Kenta as well. Kenta greets Echo and introduces Inugami to her.

 

You tell Echo she did good at introducing herself and now she’s made friends. Echo nods as she repeats what you’ve said. Narration says she was trapped in her own memories, and that she wanted to break out of them but couldn’t. The fact that she has the courage to take a step now is thanks to someone giving her a little push. It’s also due to her resonating with someone who had the same kind of bitter memories she does. Now her world is expanding.

 

Barguest sighs as he says he can finally settle down now, commenting on how long the day felt. Snow says he’s glad that Echo is opening up to your school friends. Gyumao laughs and says it’s finally time for a breather, then starts talking about what comes next. At this point you apparently get a text message or can hear Hakumen’s theme start playing as you wince at her incoming arrival.

 

Hakumen bursts into the area, dramatically greeting you and everyone around as she calls herself the beauty cutie ultra sexy Hakumen. Ryouta is shocked she wasn’t just calling you on the phone and asks why she’s there. Hakumen says it’s because you went looking for cacao for her sake, so once she heard about that from Xolotl she couldn’t sit still. And now she’s here.

 

Volos is taken aback but then seems to recognize Hakumen. Hakumen notices him in turn and says she recognizes Volos as the bear in the straw hat supplying her traditional Japanese restaurant with vegetables all the time. She takes this to mean you already have the cacao and is happy about that, suggesting you guys start working on it together.

 

Rumbling interrupts Hakumen, and Aizen runs in yelling about indecency. Echo freaks out a little at recognizing him, and Aizen rants about coming here after hearing that you’d be involved with the event the Tycoons would be running. Now he’s found out that you’ve got not just the flawless Ophion, but Hakumen wrapped around your finger too. You shameless hussy he was right to call you a love singularity. He then tries telling Hakumen she shouldn’t get involved with a messy love affair with you.

 

Hakumen however thinks that sounds great since a free for all for love is her specialty. Aizen is aghast that he’s too late and curses you for being a whore. Barguest sighs about one thing happening after another when he hears wings flapping and asks in alarm if that flying dragon is coming too.

 

Ophion yells about waiting for you as he flies above. He then sets down and talks about having laughed at the idea of a festival about sweets, but he’s surprised to cross paths with you here. He decides that he’ll change his mind and make the festival a hit for your sake. In fact, he suggests making a show of your honeymoon with him for all the guests.

 

Melusine and Licht run in at this point and Melusine notes that things are in an uproar already. Licht freaks out and begs Hakumen, Ophion, and Aizen to go back to the event area because they’re causing trouble for the facility. They finally manage to get the three to go after some desperate persuasion.

 

Some time later Shirou apologizes for the fuss and says he thinks it’ll probably be fine now. Echo comments on how forceful they all were in terms of sounds and presence. Snow jumps in front of Echo and says the storm has passed, then says their power and passion isn’t to be underestimated. Barguest asks which would be which from the view of commoners like them, what with all the jumping out from nowhere and hiding in tall trees.

 

Gyumao jumps in next laughing and talking about how he can’t miss out on any opportunities for his machine. Kenta talks to Inugami and says being an adult sounds hard, and Inugami barks in response.

 

Anyways, Barguest notes at some point that it’s getting late, and since Kenta’s homework is done they should get going soon. Ryouta notes that you guys should get back soon too. It may be late, but he wonders if you guys will make it back for dinner. Gyumao decides to invite you guys to dinner if you don’t have any plans.

 

Shirou thanks Gyumao for the invitation but is worried that the sort of places Gyumao might take you guys may be out of your price range. Gyumao in turn assures you he won’t be making you guys pay and urges you guys to come along. It’ll be a give and take sort of thing, and he says that if you guys enjoy it he’d love to hear your feelings on it all.

 

Echo says she’s happy to have some good food but asks if it’s really okay. Gyumao says it can be a celebration for Echo taking her first step forward. Snow apologizes and says he can’t go this time. Gyumao accepts that and asks him to give his regards to Claude. Snow says he will, and Echo seems disappointed Snow is leaving. Snow says he has things he needs to do.

 

Echo decides that she should say what’s on her mind now while Snow’s still there. She steps forward a bit and turns around to face everyone. She blushes, then raises her voice. Echo starts talking about how much she’s been helped by everyone, and she says she’ll do her best here on in. She thanks everyone for everything.

 

Gyumao says Echo doesn’t need to thank him since it’s his business’s mission to help customers with their problems. Barguest says Echo got past her problems with her own power, saying she did great and wishing her luck going forward. Snow says that if he was any help, then her smile is thanks enough. Echo nods back.

 

Snow then remembers that he has something else he should talk about. He walks over to Echo and whispers to her, asking if she’s noticed she’s already walking with pride. She’s shocked by this at first before saying that yes she does seem to be confident now. Snow smiles in satisfaction and quietly leaves. You ask Echo what they talked about and if it’s a secret, or comment on Snow leaving. In A and B, Echo smiles and says it is a secret. In C, Echo also notes that he’s left but she sure she can talk with him again.

 

Scene shifts outside the gardens as Gyumao asks what you guys want to eat. He says it’ll be a free and easy gathering fit for a banquet at the Flaming Mountains. Everyone else still around says they’ll go with him, and you all leave the area.

 

Scene shifts over to Claude’s office several hours later. Snow walks in and informs Claude he’s come back from his meeting. Claude says he’s reached a good stopping point too and apologizes for leaving things to him. He also remembers Snow was trying to talk to him about something the other day and asks what that was about. Snow says it’s nothing and asks him to forget about it since Snow is still inexperienced about whatever it was.

 

Claude decides to let it be. He mentions being worried about it but figures it was nothing then, and at that point Snow hands Claude some hot chocolate. Claude calls it the customary chocolate and mentions being so busy lately he thought he’d never have it again. When he smells the hot chocolate, his expression softens.

 

Claude says it’s pretty bad timing to say so now, but looking at the hot chocolate is making him excited. Snow thanks him and promises to serve as best he can. Claude thanks him for his work as always. After a moment Claude decides to ask Snow about having lunch or something together sometimes. It’ll be a little something as a return gift for his consideration during the day. Snow agrees, saying he’ll do so if that’s what he wants.

 

Scene shifts back to your end after your meal with Gyumao is finished and everyone is heading home. You talk to Echo and either comment on how the food was nice or ask if she got closer with everyone. Going B, Echo says yes and that everyone is so nice. Either way she lets everyone move further ahead a little as she hangs back to talk quietly to you.

 

Echo tells you she still feels a slight throbbing in her chest, which hurts a little but also feels exciting. She still loves Narcissus, and she says that’s why she’s okay with stepping away from him now. She’ll always remember him, and her first love will never disappear. You tell her she did good, say she got stronger, or keep quiet and listen.

 

Echo says that love was only for that moment. But since she has it, she can go looking for love again. She wants to be in love again, in a kind of love that would make Narcissus jealous. You either express faith that she can do it, tell her to make him jealous for sure, or suggest to her that you guys make a better relationship than before.

 

Going A, Echo smiles and nods beneath the starry sky. She suddenly stops as she starts speaking naturally to you. Echo is quiet at first, but she eventually asks if you ever confessed to anyone before. She says it’s wonderful to convey those feelings to the one you love. This time, she says she’ll cheer. Her voice carries into the sky, quiet yet with a firm strength to it. And then...

 

Elsewhere, underneath the starry sky, a voice starts talking at Shinjuku in some park. He agrees, saying he’d like that sort of love too. He also wants to live together with you guys, smiling and crying and all over in Tokyo. That’s the sort of trial he wants to take on alongside you all.

 

Heracles then notices he’s been transported elsewhere, and he starts asking where he is. He initially asks if this is a new trial before it occurs to him that this may be Tokyo. Narration takes over to talk about how the one who was once known as a great hero in Olympus will now start a new love here in Tokyo. He’ll find new meetings one after another, just as how threads are sewn together. And so Valentine Timeslip ends.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 5 Part 3

Things tune in mid battle with the mobs fusing together in an attempt to stop your progress and force a reset. They form into a giant wave again, and Snow steps forward to face them. Snow says he’ll be presumptuous and clear them out, then tells Echo to get behind everyone. Echo obeys and says she’ll be counting on him.

 

The mobs yell, and Snow picks up his chakram as he tells them to cross the world and beyond before calling his NP. Snow carves up the approaching waves of chocolate shoggoths, telling them that it’s boorish to stand in the way of love. He then turns to tell you guys to go on ahead without him as he prays for the fortunes of war to favor you all. Echo asks him to be careful before you pull her along, and another wave of slimes coming together attempt to stop you guys.

 

Snow is about to intervene, but Gyumao gets there first. He laughs and points out that Snow is rather fired up for once, though he also says he’s not trying to poke fun at him. Snow laughs too as he says the passions of love might have affected him too. Gyumao nods as he agrees, mentioning that there’s a burning feeling in his chest he almost can’t stand. Seeing you guys go all in for love means he can’t shrink back himself.

 

Gyumao laughs some more about how the Flaming Mountains burns in his chest and says he can’t let you guys have all the cool parts. He then activates his NP declaring he’ll help open the path for you guys. He gigantifies himself as his laughs reaches as far as Mt. Olympus itself, and the mobs suddenly switch targets towards him.

 

Heracles is surprised and says Gyumao is big enough to hold up the sky now, then wonders if this is also the power of a charm. Barguest says Gyumao does this when he gets excited. It’s fine for battles, but it’s a problem when it’s at work. Echo seems shocked at how big he’s gotten, and Barguest urges you two to get going while Snow and Barguest are drawing the enemies away.

 

Chocolate Aizen slides in yelling about indecency while Chocolate Nomad attempts to run a jazzercise class, which causes Barguest to call them problematic as he clicks his tongue. Aizen starts swinging a whip around, but Barguest promptly uses his own chains to stop it. Nomad and his backup dancers start crowding the way, and Heracles asks what can be done about them as he notes that they’re surrounding you. Echo is flustered into joining the dance routine.

 

Aizen rants about sensing Valentines chocolate on you before frothing at the mouth some more about how scandalous you are. Barguest yells to you, Echo, and Heracles and says he’ll take care of the two doofuses. He’s in the middle of trying to tell you guys to move on when he trips over the iron ball at the end of his chains. You try to call out to him about the danger, despite it being too late.

 

Barguest yells out as he loses his balance, but he also says he’s used to this level of bad luck and rolls with it to crash into Aizen. Aizen seems shocked and a bit happy about this as he calls this a shameless, lucky, and indecent turn of events. Barguest picks up on it and calls him a weirdo before telling you guys to go and leave things to him. He and Aizen then continue snowballing as they roll towards the dance crew.

 

Nomad yells at them to stay away since he can’t stop dancing on a dime like that. Barguest and Aizen crash into him, which then leads to a domino effect knocking down the randos as well. Heracles calls out to you and Echo saying now’s your chance to get to Narcissus. You two nod and start running, and Echo asks Barguest to be careful.

 

You and Echo are nearly at the end when you start noticing some sort of shaking. Chocolate Ashigara pops up yelling about fundoshi again as he’s flanked by the chocolate shoggoths. He insists that fundoshi is worthwhile as he yells the word a few more times, and the mobs fuse into him to make him a giant.

 

Gyumao comes in yelling about anger management as he attacks, but Ashigara is able to hold his ground. Gyumao notes that Ashigara has some real power despite being a bootleg of the real person. Ashigara doesn’t understand the engrish coming out of his mouth but seems happy to fight as he starts pushing Gyumao back. Gyumao is surprised by this, and you say there’s only a short distance left but there are cracks forming on the ground now. You also ask if the corrective force is getting stronger.

 

As Ashigara and Gyumao wrestle it out, more choco mobs appear and fuse together. They start threatening to engulf you guys, and you try to call out to Echo and Heracles and tell them to run, though it looks like you won’t be able to get away. Heracles stares in surprise, then says he now understands why he was summoned to this world. He had always been looking back at that one day with his regrets, and now is the time for him to be punished for it.

 

Heracles says he’s also glad that he still has things he can do for Echo. He yells out as he starts releasing his power under his own volition. Since he isn’t doing so under his master’s command, pain and madness start wracking him. Lightning seems to flash as a dark burning aura flares up. Barguest asks if a living person can put out this much power and compares it to a disaster.

 

Snow is surprised at Heracles releasing what looks to be his true strength, then says the sense of danger he felt before was right. He starts saying it’s the given glory by the rulers of Olympus when Heracles springs forward. It’s the moment he knows everything will be finished and the moment he knows he’ll drag you all in with him if it keeps up, so like lightning he slams into the giant mob and drags it with him into the spring. Narration points out that he has chosen without hesitation the path of thorns that anyone would recognize.

 

Echo calls after Heracles, and just as Heracles falls into the water he sees his reflection. What he sees is truly the hero picked by the heavens that everyone in the world would approve of. His actions would also likely be described as natural for a slave who offers themselves to their master. Yet for a moment, Heracles looks ready to cry as he says that in the end, there was nothing he had ever chosen for himself.

 

Heracles starts sinking into the spring, and you call out to Heracles. The mobs he dragged in with him quickly burn away, and narration notes it was never a match against the glory of Hera. Maybe the world of nymphs awaits him, or maybe it doesn’t. Either way he might not ever get to speak with you guys again.

 

Heracles starts thinking back on his life. The days he spent doing trials he was given as a hero were easy. The days he spent as a slave fulfilling his orders were also easy. He lived without having to think. He lived without having to hurt anything by his own choice. And now not being able to think of anything after tiring out from surpassing his limits and dwelling on his suffering was also easy.

 

Heracles thought nothing of sacrificing himself to protect other people like a true hero. To him, having free will was much more terrifying. Heracles then takes over narration and says he feels his distortion can only be his narcissism as a hero. He says the reason he never chased after Hylas back then was because he was afraid of being hurt, because he prioritized himself. Back then he was already a slave to other people’s judgments even before he was given his oracles.

 

At this point, Heracles hears the sound of something falling from above, something coming after him. He thinks to himself about how he knew that you would come after him. He looks up, ready to cry at the one chasing after him. You call out to Heracles and tell him to grab your hand as you hold it out.

 

Heracles thinks to himself that he knew. He knew that you would come, which he says was something you chose to do yourself instead of being told to do so by someone else. The brilliance of it makes him want to shed tears as he compares it to how he acted when he didn’t go after Hylas. He wonders why you’d come for someone like him.

 

Barguest complains about how everyone is so quick to jump into the fire and how that makes him avoiding people pointless. He sighs as he says he’ll sink into misfortune together with you guys as he calls out his NP. Narration describes it as an artifact with the power to reveal the focal points of other worlds, and Barguest uses it to catch you two as you guys fall towards another world.

 

Gyumao laughs as he says Heracles doesn’t understand him yet. He tells Heracles he should know that Gyumao isn’t one to let skilled workers just leave for another company, then activates his NP to grow big again to use his strength to pull you guys up with Barguest’s chains. Echo tries to help pull you two up as well, even though she’s described as being weak.

 

Snow addresses Heracles and says he really was called an unparalleled hero in Olympus, and his voice carries over to you guys. Narration says it’s either because of Echo’s artifact, Echo’s curse, or the chains. But anyways, Snow says Heracles’s show of strength and determination earlier were commendable. Even so he doesn’t accept him, and he apologizes for how harsh he’ll sound.

 

Snow says that Heracles is undoubtedly a slave to others, but this isn’t something that was decided upon by other people. He points out that Heracles isn’t being the master of his own fate, then asks if he lived so far constantly running away from his own voice. Snow declares that as Heracles is now, he’ll never accept that he’s a hero. Echo looks questioningly at Snow unable to articulate her thoughts, but he smiles back as if to say he had a goal in saying all that.

 

Back to Heracles, he agrees with what Snow said. He admits that he is a coward who was unable to decide to run after the one person who was supposed to be important to him. He kept sitting in his regrets, and was never able to move forward with love. He says people should laugh at him, the coward who would never do anything if he didn’t have being forced into doing something as an excuse.

 

An echoing voice calls out to Heracles, saying that they’re a coward like he said. The voice resonates through Heracles’ whole body, and he asks who the voice is. The voice says they wouldn’t have ever stepped forward if they were alone and had to decide themselves. They’re a pathetic one, needing help to confess.

 

Heracles figures out that it’s Echo’s voice but argues that the two of them are different. Echo’s voice asks what difference is there, and Heracles doesn’t seem to have an answer. Echo’s voice names everyone, even Heracles, saying it’s thanks to all of you pushing her from behind that she could move again. She asks him to laugh at her for hesitating so much.

 

Heracles argues back saying no one would laugh at Echo as he points out she had the strength to keep facing forward even after bearing Hera’s unfair wrath. Even if someone else would laugh at her, Heracles says he knows how strong she is. Echo’s voice thanks him for not laughing at her and repeats this fact to herself. She also repeats back to Heracles what he said about knowing how hard he fought against unfairness.

 

Heracles nods, and you call out to him and tell him to come with you and/or say he’s supposed to be cheering on love. Narration says you yell for him even as his light starts burning you even stronger. Heracles is touched as he asks if you’d say so to him, and he reaches out to grab onto your hand.

 

Back to Snow, he addresses you and asks if you remember his lessons. It may have been a short time, but he says intends to beat the main points he can teach into you. Snow also comments that madness’s lightning given to Heracles is about as strong as Olympus’s System. It might be a thing unequaled and unchanging rooted in an unbroken chain of history. It’s something no normal person can hope to stand against.

 

Snow then mentions a teaching from One of His Home Worlds about the universe. That lesson is that there is no world in the universe that never changes. It also says that the world is a giant void that just looks unchanging, gathered together from many moving and shifting wills. Snow then asks Heracles to think and decide who it is he should actually be cutting off.

 

Back in the water, Heracles is shocked as he sees you swinging your sword while burned by lightning as he sees the shadow of a sickle in it. It belonged to the Eradicator who existed even before the creation of Olympus. It is the power of Gaia, who birthed the creator of the world Eurynome and the bloodline of Cronus who conquered things after. It is the unbreakable thing said to be lent out by Gaia to her beloved children, the sickle of Adamas the Unconquerable. This is the one blade that can cut away even the connection of madness to Hera. And at that point you call out your NP.

 

Some time later you and Heracles are pulled out of the water, and the party all watches Echo as she looks over by the spring, where her Shadow is. Shadow Echo asks why she’s trying to bring her first love to an end and says she doesn’t understand. Behind her, Narcissus is looking into the water. Echo says that since her Shadow is herself, they can speak freely to one another. She comments on how strange it feels to talk to herself.

 

Shadow Echo starts talking about how it’s her fault what happened to Narcissus. Narcissus was struck with the curse of narcissism, then fell in love with his reflection in the water. He tried to touch it, and so fell into the spring. Shadow Echo says she shouldn’t have fallen in love and that she shouldn’t have gotten herself hurt. She says she could have just watched him for forever.

 

Echo asks if she really would have been okay with just watching Narcissus the whole time. Shadow Echo is confused by this. Echo talks about how lonely he looked, so she wanted to get closer to him. She was lonely too after all, and she says that’s not a lie. Whether this would have made him happy though, she doesn’t know. If nothing else she wanted to tell him he wasn’t alone. She wanted to let him know he wasn’t the only one feeling isolated. Echo says it’s fine whether or not she actually became lovers with Narcissus because she loves him.

 

Echo smiles as she starts taking steps towards the spring. Shadow Echo starts getting distressed as she asks Echo to not destroy her memories and regrets. Echo says she won’t, and that what she intends to destroy is the shell trapping her. Cracks start forming in the memory world, like an egg about to hatch.

 

Heracles talks about how he heard from someone that Olympus was born from a cosmic egg. He thought it was strange. Even if this was a memory world, it was so convenient and allowed so many retries after all the failures. But he says that maybe the creators of Olympus are watching over you guys from Somewhere. He also wonders whether the world should be done over. You wish Echo good luck and tell her to send all her feelings as you watch her with a smile.

 

Echo agrees as she says she’s going, then runs up to Shadow Echo to the latter’s shock. She grabs her hand, and the both of them fly over to Narcissus. The shadow protests and asks her to not advance time forward. Echo however says she won’t stop, and that she’s going to quit staying still in the same place. Shadow Echo begs her to not destroy her first love. Echo says she won’t because she’s here, and because her regrets from that day are here. She declares those reasons are why she can move forward.

 

Time starts advancing, and Narcissus moves to kiss his reflection. Echo stands next to him and starts talking to him, even though he doesn’t even spare her a glance. Echo calls out to him, saying he might not see her and that he might really believe that no one will love him. Even if either of those things are true, she says it’s okay as she starts to get into her feelings.

 

Heracles comments from where he’s standing about how he, or rather the both of them had love. He cheers her on to voice her private feelings aloud such that it’ll reach them one day. Back to Echo, she takes a breath before she starts up the invocation spiel. Echo’s class is Convict and her concept is Repetition.

 

Echo says she wants her inner voice to reach Narcissus as she casts her NP. A moment later, Narcissus falls into the water. Maybe it was his conceit, or maybe it was the trickery of the water nymphs. No one knows anymore. He tired of words of shallow love, and eventually he tired of responding to love. Narcissus had given up, believing that no one could truly love him. But as he sinks down, he hears something come after him from above.

 

A tiny tiny reverberation rings out in the water from a little gift: “...I will always, always be wishing for your happiness...” Narcissus’s eyes, which had always been turned towards himself, makes a small movement to turn towards that voice.

 

Everyone is transported away, and you ask what happened, where you are, and/or where Echo is. You open your eyes and see you’re back at the botanical garden, though you ask if it’s real or ask where everyone is. But anyways you push your upper half up as you still feel some unease, having almost literally woken up from the ground.

 

Echo wakes up, then calls to you as she sees you. She notes that you guys seem to have returned to Tokyo. You ask her if she confessed her feelings and got them through. She shyly tells you yes after a while. Barguest calls out to you and Echo and ends up banging his head one more time for good measure as he tries asking if you two are okay.

 

After Barguest processes the pain, he takes it to mean he’s not dreaming, which then means you guys really did come back. Snow and Gyumao walk over, and the former comments that everyone seems well. Gyumao suggests Barguest go get his head looked at, then has a feeling of deja vu about saying so. You can call out to either Gyumao, Snow, or Barguest.

 

In A, Gyumao laughs about you all getting back safely and suggests having a celebration party with everyone together. In B, Snow says he’s here and says everyone seems alright. In C, Barguest asks if you two are alright though he admits he’s not the best person to be asking what with that bump on his head.

 

In any case, Gyumao notes that you guys are back and starts to ask Echo if she confessed her feelings. Snow stops him partway through saying that would be rude to do. Gyumao agrees and decides all’s well that ends well. As everyone basks in the happiness of returning, Echo eventually asks you where Heracles is. No matter how much you all look, no one can find him anywhere around. To be continued in the Epilogue!

Valentine Timeslip Episode 5 Part 2

Heracles starts narrating about how in the middle of one of his trials, he destroyed some kingdom and took in an orphan from there as his servant. This was the first time he had ever picked up something by his own will when his strength, name, and spouse were given to him. This was Hylas, his servant, his slave, and his special companion.

 

Heracles then talks about how he didn’t know how to treat the first person he chose himself, and this continued when they were separated. Eventually he learned of the rumor of the nymphs, which said that Hylas would be united in happiness with the nymphs in the world at the bottom of the springs. That was the day he gave up on Hylas, and he had planned to give up decisively, pragmatically like a hero should. He didn’t have time to stand still when he had another trial to attend to, yet the memories from that day stuck within him.

 

Eventually, Heracles came here where he finally figured out that what he had never been able to understand might have been love. He takes it back after thinking on it some more though, saying that he was afraid of understanding. He wonders what it was that Hylas was thinking of when they parted ways. Heracles says he was more afraid about thinking of that than he was over all the trials he had to do. He might have thrown Hylas away, and in his inability to confront this idea he drowned himself in his work.

 

Heracles talks about how the people in his home world came up with the phrase the choice of Hercules as an expression for purposely choosing the harder path. He notes that he himself knows better than anyone how unfitting his is for it since he always followed the will of others.

 

Heracles starts wondering what would have happened if he chose to chase after Hylas with everything he had, telling him to ‘come with him.’ What if he had said that he was in love? Now that he’s standing in Hylas’s position as a servant, he’s thought of doing it over. He says he wants to support that girl who’s working so hard, that he wants to do something. He wonders that maybe, just maybe he’s trying to support himself from that time.

 

Back to the present, time skips to the next day as everyone gathers at the spring. Heracles notes that Narcissus doesn’t seem to be here yet, and Barguest wonders if this will finally be the last time they see this scenery. Gyumao says that’s rather optimistic for him and points out that it’s not a sure thing yet that they’ll be returning to Tokyo yet. Barguest says Echo can do it. If they don’t believe in her, then what are they going to do? But that said, Barguest looks up with a bit of worry at the spreading crack in the sky.

 

Heracles guesses that the corrective force will make its greatest resistance yet. It’s Hera’s curse after all, so it can’t be broken that easily. Snow adds that Echo has expressed that she doesn’t want to destroy her memories, and he wonders how that will manifest. This is all conjecture though, so he suggests everyone stay alert until the end.

 

You come by with Echo and thank everyone for waiting. Echo follows suit as she shows up in her default clothes instead of her old dress. Gyumao asks if she’s okay with not changing since she did so before in hopes of not shocking Narcissus. Echo confirms that she’ll go as is since this is who she is now.

 

Barguest asks how her chocolate came out and if Echo poured her feelings into them. Echo says yes as she shyly opens her box. Gyumao compliments the chocolates saying they came out perfectly in shape and color. The berry decorations look wonderful too. Snow says the smell of cacao is comforting and comments on the nice seasoning. Echo agrees, saying that she made them a little bittersweet since she wanted Narcissus to know what she likes.

 

The chocolates are described as heart shaped and simple, and Echo smiles as she covers the box again. Barguest comments on the scarf Echo has too and is amazed she knitted it in one night. Echo says she managed to do since the night was long. Heracles says she put her feelings in it, so it’s sure to look good on Narcissus. You either say Narcissus will be happy with it, say you’re sure things will work out, or wish her luck.

 

Echo nods, then steels herself as she turns to face the spring. She starts heading over to where Narcissus is supposed to appear when ripples start running on the water. A voice starts calling out from the forest, asking where everyone is.

 

Heracles is shocked by this since this has never happened in the other loops in here. Narcissus shows up, repeating his question of where is everyone. You wonder whose voice it is or ask if it’s Narcissus’s voice. Narcissus repeats himself again, at which point another Echo responds that she is there. He asks who she is, and this ‘Echo’ in her old dress answers with her name and that she is someone he doesn’t know.

 

The party is surprised to see her, and Copy Echo plays out their old conversation while giving her actual answers from the flashback. She then walks up to Narcissus and touches his cheeks, at which point he and the entire scenery freeze in place.

 

Snow goes on alert, and Barguest asks if Copy Echo is the corrective force. Gyumao tells everyone to calm down saying that acting rashly would be risky. He suggests watching what happens but being ready to move at any time.

 

Copy Echo says she shouldn’t have fallen in love and wonders why she has to suffer so much just for loving him. She voices her thoughts about being unable to do anything for him, not even string words together. Even if that were possible, nothing would have changed. She then diverges from the previous monologue by saying that if that’s the case, she wants to wallow in her regrets forever. That way her love will never end, she says as she asks Echo if she thinks so too.

 

Echo is shocked and asks her doppelgänger who she is and what she did to Narcissus. Both look at each other on silent stillness, and Shadow (by almost all appearances) Echo speaks first to say she’ll introduce herself. She is ‘Echo,’ her mental state from that time back then in her memories. She also says it’s possible to describe her as the personification of her regrets. Echo doesn’t respond, and you ask if she’s the core of the overworld shift as you start to comprehend things.

 

Shadow Echo nods, then looks at her present self with sad eyes. She seems to voice Echo’s thoughts about having caught everyone else into her world, so she needs to return them back. Shadow Echo says she understands because she is herself. And since she’s the same, she wants to say one thing.

 

Echo attempts to stop her, but Shadow Echo goes on to say “please don’t end my love.” The party reacts with shock, and Echo starts holding herself as her Shadow looks at her. Shadow Echo talks about how lonely Narcissus looked, so she always wanted to speak to him. She was lonely too. She was always surrounded by friends, singing and dancing with them, yet she still felt lonely.

 

Shadow Echo asks why that is, saying she tried so hard to fit in with everyone else. Heracles asks if that was why she chose to take on the curse, which would then be why she couldn’t achieve what she hoped to do. He suggests that maybe she shouldn’t have accepted the curse by herself.

 

Shadow Echo shakes her head. She says she loved everyone and thought that was fine. She tries to insist that it’s true, though she seems ready to say it isn’t. Echo doesn’t bring herself to say anything, and she starts crying at what her copy says.

 

Shadow Echo says she loved Narcissus because he was beautiful and wonderful. She then takes it back and says it’s because he seemed lonely. He was loved by everyone, and yet he always seemed lonely. She wonders that if she filled in that loneliness, maybe she’d also stop being lonely. Once she started thinking that, she couldn’t stop thinking about Narcissus. At the very least she wanted to start as friends, so she tried to talk to him.

 

The freeze on the surroundings stops, and Narcissus recites his line about asking Echo to entrance him with ‘her own words.’ Shadow Echo says that due to her curse, she could only say ‘entrance me.’ Narcissus recites his next line about how that would bore him before bidding her goodbye and being disappointed in her.

 

Shadow Echo says Narcissus has a lonely smile then, then went to the other side of the spring. She agrees that she’s boring, which is why she didn’t have a connection with him to start with. You try to argue that that’s the curse’s fault, it isn’t Echo’s fault, and that Narcissus understands her.

 

Shadow Echo insists that the curse doesn’t have anything to do with Narcissus and that everything was her fault. She could have tried better to talk to him. She could have loved him better. She could have kept Hera’s mood up better. She could have kept Zeus better covered. Shadow Echo says she loves everyone, so she doesn’t want to say it’s anyone’s fault. She yells that if she were to make the result of an action she did for everyone else all their fault, she’d start hating them all.

 

Shadow Echo’s lamentations turns into a sudden gust that starts shaking the memory world. Echo reacts silently, and Shadow Echo says she doesn’t want to hate anyone. She doesn’t want anyone to hate her either, so she repeats her request that no one brings her love to an end.

 

Shadow Echo then says she can use the corrective force to reject everyone and send you all back home. She knows she won’t be looked at, so she’s fine with things not changing and not being connected. Gyumao questions whether she really would be fine with that and asks if she plans to live in a static world forever. Shadow Echo says yes. She wants to always love Narcissus, so she asks you to leave her be. Echo in turn starts grabbing the edge of her clothes, standing silently stock still.

 

You decide to ask Shadow Echo if that’s how she really feels. She’s surprised by the question. Gyumao says everyone may have been brought in by accident, then asks why Shadow Echo hadn’t booted everyone if she could already. He then turns to Echo and asks if she really does want to move forward after all.

 

Shadow Echo isn’t able to answer, and Snow talks about how she couldn’t accept how things went no matter how many repetitions had happened. That was why she wanted to change the ending. Snow suggests that even if this doesn’t change what happened in reality, Echo wanted to accept what she had done. Snow acknowledges Echo’s regrets and says what happens next depends on her.

 

Barguest sighs as he says it sounds like Echo wants to blame all the ills in the world on her insufficient effort. He denies it saying that she doesn’t need to shoulder it all. Even if she carries the misfortune, she doesn’t need to claim responsibility for why it happened. He says he’s like her in that lots of unfairness and unhappiness rains down on his life. That said, it’s okay for her to pick her own reasons to carry on what she does. He also says she should treat herself sometimes for living through it all. If she’s going to watch over everyone, she should also watch out for herself. If you can’t love yourself, no one else can either.

 

Shadow Echo is shocked and asks why you guys are saying this. You turn to Echo and ask her what she wants to do. Echo stops gripping onto her clothes as she starts to answer, looking straight at her regrets as she struggles to speak. She says she wants to move forward, to Shadow Echo’s astonishment.

 

Echo thinks back to everything that she’s learned. Gyumao has taught her to not compromise in love. Snow taught her that a confession is for her own sake. Barguest taught her that love comes in many forms. Shadow Echo starts to argue about how Narcissus is, but Echo says he might never turn her way. Still, that’s okay because she loves him.

 

The clash between both Echos’ feelings collide and shake the world. Shadow Echo decides that she’ll make the present Echo a thing of the past. Barguest asks if Echo’s past self is going to try to overwrite her present self. Shadow Echo confirms that and says she doesn’t care how that will turn out since she wants to stay in her regrets for eternity. Both Echos are her after all, and she intends to sink you all to the bottom of her memories too.

 

A bunch of choco mobs materialize and surround the party. Echo apologizes and admits that the other Echo is definitely herself. She however still wants to go on, surpass who she used to be, and walk towards the future. She then asks for all your help in getting to Narcissus. You agree and call on everyone to get ready. Shadow Echo says it’s time to repeat her endless first love, then begins the final battle.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 5 Part 1

Flashback starts off right away with the same flashback of Narcissus and Echo talking. Narcissus asks where everyone is, and Echo repeats it back. This time however we are shown her thoughts as while she repeats his question, her intention was to answer that she is there.

 

Narcissus: Who are you? 

Echo: Who are you? (I’m Echo...someone you don’t know.) 

Narcissus: You’re lovely. 

Echo: You’re...lovely. (Yes...you are a lovely person.) 

Narcissus: Hehe. Everyone says that about me. It’s like everyone is entranced by me. 

Echo: ...it’s like...entranced. (I’m sure...I’m also entranced by you.) 

Narcissus: You too? Is that why you’re ‘mimicking’ my words like that to get me interested?

 

Echo doesn’t respond at this point as a new theme starts up. In her mind she denies that. She thinks to herself that she doesn’t just want to get his interest. She thought he was lonely, so she wanted him to smile for real. Echo then questions this as she asks what she can do for him.

 

Back to the original flashback, Narcissus says that’s just as dull as everyone else and asks Echo to put him in a daze with her own words. She repeats that last bit back, but within she thinks that this is wrong. She takes that back after another moment and admits she does want to be entranced by him some more. She believes this to be true as she internally insists that she can’t do anything for him.

 

Narcissus chides Echo saying it’s boring for him to be the one putting Echo in a dream the whole time. Echo can only repeat the word boring, so Narcissus thinks she’s referring to him and decides to end the conversation. He bids her goodbye as he mentions thinking she’d entrance him some more.

 

Echo thinks to herself that she shouldn’t have fallen in love. She liked him, so why does she have to suffer so? She can’t do anything for him, not even put together words for him. It frustrates her the way she has to squeeze the words out from herself, but she feels that even if she could speak normally, the ending waiting for her and her broken heart wouldn’t change.

 

Echo says she’s always thought that way, that no matter what she did nothing would change in the world. She was sure that was correct, but she then says there isn’t only one correct thing. Even if she can’t change the world, she wanted to change herself. The rainbow light of summoning came for her, and so she went to Tokyo.

 

Title card pops up, and the final chapter is called Goodbye Regret.

 

Things tune back in with everyone returning to the base and getting ready to make chocolate again for the fifth time running. Snow however takes a moment to go outside to investigate. Once all the prep work is sorted out, Snow gathers everyone sans Echo into another room to talk about what he saw and to discuss their future course of action.

 

Snow talks about the rapid growth of the cacao and the chocolate making tools and how they didn’t originally exist in Echo’s memory world. He hypothesizes that their memories may be having an effect on Echo’s memories. Barguest asks if it’s like their support for her took form and materialized.

 

Snow says if that’s so, it’d explain why other things have been brought back. Essentially, Echo’s curse affects only herself. But that said, that would also mean that there are things that didn’t originally exist in the memories based on the past. Snow talks about how he party’s support for Echo’s feelings over wanting to move on and the corrective force are clashing, which is then causing seams to tear in the world.

 

Snow brings up that he and Barguest saw a seam last go around, and that he went to check on them this time. If another reset happens, he supposes the breach will reach the forest and spring, the basis of this world of Echo’s memories. And if that were to happen, the world’s natural order may go awry and be destroyed. You ask if this means Echo’s feelings or heart might be destroyed.

 

Barguest points out that Echo is trying hard to face forward and asks if it’d happen despite that. Gyumao says that when it comes to the heart, there are times when not even you would understand your own. You may think it’s fine, but if setbacks keep piling up...

 

Heracles speaks up to say that the chocolate making is ready to go whenever and that they could have started production already if they wanted to. Snow says that Echo is outside at the moment staring at the sky. He doesn’t know what’s on her mind, but he’s worried. Barguest says there may not be much time until Narcissus appears, but you guys will have to do something.

 

Snow agrees as he wonders why you guys have talked about there being a next time. If Echo keeps trying but failing, Snow says that could leave a mental mark on her. She may start to fear trying things, become cowardly, and stay cooped up in the memory world forever. Gyumao says they may have stressed Echo into thinking of a confession as a once in a lifetime thing, and he suggests you guys are arguable at fault for the seams opening up. Heracles expresses concern for Echo.

 

Snow says that even if the natural order of the memory world is broken, Echo’s past regrets that caused it to form to begin with will still be there. In which case, it’s possible that you guys will lose any way of returning to your original worlds. Snow supposes this will be the last chance to make the confession happen, so Echo has to get her feelings across this time. You either suggest not giving up until the end, say Echo will be okay, or say you shouldn’t rush things in times like this.

 

Going B, Snow agrees with believing in Echo and says the group’s impatience can not be allowed to put pressure on her. Heracles says he’ll help you guys get back and brings up that he wants to see Echo’s love reach its conclusion. Outside the window you see Echo sitting on the ground and looking at the sky. Her transparent wings flutter in the breeze. You decide to go talk to her and see how she’s doing as you ask everyone to let you two be.

 

Echo notices you approach, and you can either ask if she’s okay at the moment or ask to sit next to her. Going A, she says yes, and you take her smile as permission to sit down next to her. You then ask if she’s forcing herself, ask if she’s decided on her next chocolate, or comment on how nice the sky is.

 

Going A, Echo answers that she isn’t...or that she intends to at least. She asks to talk with you a bit more. Echo starts talking about how strange she feels, where she’s a little scared but also excited. Gyumao, Snow, and Barguest have taught her things. You and Heracles have helped her and worked with her on a lot of things. She’s had a lot of fun, though she’s not sure her words are getting through.

 

Echo closes her eyes as she thinks back to all the things she’s been taught and talked to about. You keep quiet to let her go on, and Echo says she wants to confess to Narcissus, even if it’s just her memory of him. You either tell her to make sure she’ll have no regrets, offer to advise on her anything, or say you’ll be cheering for her.

 

Echo tries to thank you, though she loses her tongue partway through as she nods. She struggles to say something afterwards, so you ask if she has a question or say she can ask whatever she wants. Echo confirms that she has something she wants to ask you.

 

She talks about how everyone’s shown her things and how she made all sorts of chocolates. She also made a lot of mistakes, but she doesn’t think it was wrong to learn. This is something she decided on her own instead of something someone told her, and she says she’s decided it’s not wrong to think on things.

 

Echo says she doesn’t think she cut corners anywhere, but somewhere within she started thinking there was a next time. Everyone has been dragged through the resets over and over, but Echo doesn’t want that to be seen as wrong. Since she’s been taught so much she wants to find her answer. On another note, she has one last question for you: what sort of chocolate would you want to give to someone you love?

 

You ask Echo to keep it a secret as you tell her. She listens to your answer, then thanks you for telling her as she stands up. You decide to tell Echo that as long as she puts in her feelings as she is now, any chocolate she gives will be fine. Echo agrees that she’ll do so. She says she’s decided on her chocolate, and she feels that this may be the last chocolate for this world. You either wish her luck, express faith in her, or suggest getting started. She smiles and nods in response.

 

Time skips to the part where you two return to base. Echo bows to everyone, as if to say ‘I think this will be the last time. Thank you for everything.’ The party smiles back, as if to say ‘good luck on giving him your feelings.’ Heracles comments on how brave she is and how bright her strength is. He also comments that he couldn’t do that himself.

 

The party begins making the last chocolate, though there is no trace of impatience, moaning the state of things, or negativity. It’s a peaceful time as Echo enjoys the process of making the chocolate with everyone. Gyumao comments that Echo’s gotten good at putting the cacao beans and that she seems to have gotten bolder. Echo agrees to that, and Gyumao laughs as he suggests perfecting love and work. He then asks her to put her mind into things when she hits the on button.

 

Echo obeys, then says she bit herself after hitting the button. Gyumao laughs and says she showed good spirit like his employees. He also says the machine will definitely answer her feelings. Echo nods as she talks to the machine for a second.

 

Barguest looks at some recipe or something as he asks about the milk chocolate being next, then asks Echo to pour the milk out slowly. Echo moves to do so, but Barguest has to tell her to slow down even more and to relax as he prompts her to take deep breaths. She gets flustered a little as she follows along.

 

Barguest says she’s doing good, then invites Echo to make chocolate with Kenta when they get back. Echo mumbles a bit before saying she’d like to meet Kenta. Barguest says he’ll bring them together and is sure Kenta would be happy to meet her. While thinking on it, Barguest then suggests they make a cake together when the time comes and put on some tea. Kenta will be having a lot of milk in sugar for his. Echo asks to have less sugar in hers because she worries about getting fat.

 

Later on Snow coaches Echo on decorating the chocolate casually, then asks how her image is coming along. Echo says Snow’s example is too high level for her as she freaks out a little. Snow denies it and says the trick to it is just a bit of guts. Echo quails a little as she feels that the thing she has the least of. Snow says she already has it within her though.

 

Snow brings up the courage she had to try to confess multiple times and not buckle under failure. She also had the confidence to keep standing up, and those two things are what make up guts. He then prompts her to try and asks for her hand. Echo makes the attempt, and after she does it she sighs happily about how she did.

 

Snow says she did a great job and says it’s the expression of her guts and confidence. If she can perform like this, Snow says she’ll succeed for sure as he calls it his promise. Echo thanks him. Snow suggests having a break later and getting some tea, along with some spiced chocolate.

 

Scene shifts outside to later on as Heracles comments on how delicate knitting is, then makes a mistake on it. He feels he isn’t concentrating enough and wonders if this is a trial. Echo says he doesn’t need to use so much force as she demonstrates for him. He’s taken aback by the display. You ask how things are going, ask if the chocolate is done for now, or ask about Echo knitting.

 

Going A, Echo says things are fine and that the chocolate is okay. She’s in the middle of making a scarf for spring that she’s thinking of giving to Narcissus. Heracles asks you to look at Echo’s handiwork as he says she’s got great technique. The scarf he’s knitting is turning out stiff while Echo’s is all soft and fluffy.

 

Echo suggests Heracles may be better at knitting by hand as she shows him how to do it with her fingers. He’s shocked by this as he wonders whether his own fingers could do the same thing. Echo says she thinks so and shows him some more, so he follows suit. He’s surprised at the results as he shows you afterwards how soft his scarf came out. You either comment on them being friends now or be mildly envious of how they’re getting along.

 

Going A, Echo says she’s happy to have become friends with everyone. Either way she admits that she didn’t make many friends when she came to Tokyo because she couldn’t speak well. Heracles comments that his madness ended up destroying all his friendships. He starts talking about how he thought he could keep going by being a slave, and he starts mentioning some other possibility before deciding against saying it. Anyways Heracles asks Echo to teach him some more about knitting by hand since he wants to make one more thing of some kind. Echo nods, then slowly begins reaching him how to do so.

 

Some time later you guys return to the base as Snow says he has tea ready for a break. Barguest comments on how peaceful things are this time, though it is better than being in a hurry down to the wire. Gyumao thinks on things and agrees. It’s not bad to be busy, but sometimes it’s necessary to relax. Echo starts getting flustered about the tea as moves to grab a box she put in a storage cabinet.

 

Heracles asks about the box, so Echo says she wanted to give everyone chocolate as a thank you for everything. She says she tasted them, then asks everyone to have it together with the tea. You thank her and take one right away. Barguest says it’s great and is frankly the best of everything she’s done so far. Snow chides Barguest by saying the frankly bit is rude, but he also says the chocolate is delicious. Gyumao says it’s a simple taste, but that’s what makes the real taste of chocolate come out. You also say it’s great.

 

Echo says she’s happy if any of her thanks got through. She then asks what Heracles thinks of them. Heracles is amazed at the sweetness and says it may be a bit much for a slave like him. He’ll accept it for now though and and thanks her for treating him to her gratitude.

 

Time passes as everyone is all smiles. Almost everyone goes to sleep when the night comes as it turns out that Echo is working hard to finish something in time. The night is noted to be long, long enough for her to finish and go to bed herself. It’s a kind quiet night, as if someone were watching over her. Heracles comments that she’ll be okay, believing that she’ll surpass her trial. The episode ends with him talking to himself about what he’ll need to do afterwards.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 4 Part 3

Things pick with us making it back to base, whereupon Barguest notices and promptly calls you guys over to help. He’s in the middle of carrying around a bunch of molds and shapes around, and Heracles asks what happened while you two were out. Echo walks over and welcomes you guys back before saying they’re making chocolates. You either say you’re back, ask what the hustle is for, or comment that a sweet smell is filling the place.

 

Gyumao comes over laughing and saying he was surprised to find out that Echo may have a talent for making chocolate. He then holds out Echo’s sketchbook and tells you to take a look at everything she’s drawn. Snow brings up two kinds, raw chocolate that hasn’t been solidified, and a milk spice chocolate that melts in tea. He also mentions an airy melt-in-the-mouth chocolate based off the most chocolate and and some decorated chocolate with a soft woven center or something. He’s impressed by all the ideas.

 

Heracles voices his amazement that Echo thought it all up in a short amount of time, and she’s even using her past failures and remaking them into something better. Barguest says Snow’s been looking over the recipes and that the chocolates look like things he could find in a store. He asks you guys to get to helping as soon as possible since there’s so many it’s a race against time.

 

Heracles is taken aback by that and asks how many chocolates are being made. Echo admits she couldn’t figure out which to leave out, so she’s doing all the chocolates. She repeats herself loudly at that, shocking Heracles. You point out that Echo has gotten serious, say the old guys are getting into it too, and say you two should get to helping too.

 

Heracles points out that there’s a bunch of papers with chocolate designs all over them and asks if you guys are really making them all in one night. Gyumao says having 100 to 200 pieces for development is only natural, and that you guys may as well try so long as the machine is working. Barguest admits he was the one to say to try out whatever you can, so he’ll be helping all the way through. Snow says that as a butler he can’t hesitate, even if he thinks it’ll be difficult. He prompts Echo to keep going and says they’ll be there with her. Echo agrees and thanks everyone for their help.

 

Time skips to the next day as the party assembles at the spring again. The older guys are yawning as they try to keep awake. Snow apologizes for doing so and offers to make some coffee to wake up. Barguest says he’s used to rough work conditions though it’s a first to be making chocolate like that. Gyumao asks Snow for some coffee too and says he used to shrug off an all-nighter or two. You say you’re sleepy too as you yawn.

 

Snow wonders how Echo will handle things and what she’ll pick out of everything made. Barguest says her ideas were fine in and of themselves, but when it came to making them he started seeing a lot of problems. Gyumao says that while he thinks the plans are masterworks, he say that there were parts that were unacceptable when it came to making it. He figures Echo is probably sorting out which ones would be best though.

 

Barguest notes that Echo isn’t there yet and wonders if she’ll make it in time. Snow says Heracles volunteered to carry things when the time comes, though he’s not sure if he meant Echo or the chocolates. Barguest suggests they get some sleep while they wait for them since his head is spinning.

 

Time passes some more, and eventually there’s a change at the spring. Narcissus shows up, and Barguest notices as he asks if this means time is up. Gyumao wonders the same thing and says the moment when Narcissus kisses the water is when they lose. A rumbling starts up, and you wonder if this is it, ask if anyone else feels the shaking, or wonder if it’s just you falling asleep on your feet.

 

The water in the spring starts shaking when Snow speaks up. He says it’s not an earthquake happening, but something coming closer. Gyumao sees something and Barguest points it out. Everyone sees a giant heart coming from the entrance of the area and go speechless at it. Snow recovers first and points out something beneath it to everyone.

 

Over in the distance is Heracles, who is carrying both Echo and a giant heart shaped box tied up with ribbons and all. Echo says Narcissus is already over there. Heracles says he’s running as hard as he can but it doesn’t seem like enough. He apologizes and says he should have gone faster. Echo denies it says he’s amazing to carry both her and the chocolates.

 

You ask what that thing is and point out it’s bigger than Heracles and/or say you can’t see Echo anymore. Barguest asks if Echo ended up bringing everything, and Gyumao says it’s totally possible. Since everyone worked hard to make them there’s considerable thought put in them. Snow admits that he can’t deny the possibility.

 

Heracles says he can see you guys now and asks if Echo wants to try meeting with everyone. Echo decides against it since they’ll never make it in time if they stop. Heracles acknowledges that and says there’s only one thing left to do. Echo agrees.

 

Gyumao notes that Heracles is moving faster, and Barguest asks if they plan on going like that. Snow brings up that Echo is the only one able to pass the invisible wall though. You get a message through the App, which is either from Echo or Heracles.

 

Echo says she sent you a message and hopes you noticed. Heracles says he’s sure you did but tells her it’s more important she hold onto the present. Back to your end, you see the text message from Heracles asking you a favor. He says he can’t use his full power due to the power of the collar he has on, but he can if you order him to do it. He also wrote down the lines for it, so you read them off as you issue the command. It’s kind of similar to the invocation line as it goes “Heracles, upon my name as thine master, I command you!” You then command Heracles to throw Echo’s chocolates towards the spring.

 

Heracles starts calculating the angle and things he needs to throw, saying he can do it with his knowledge with the bow and spear. He also says he’s not doing this for battle, but for Echo and her love as he refers to her as a hero worthy of respect. Heracles then addresses his power, saying it’s released upon his master’s orders before calling out his NP as he flings the box of chocolate. You point out that he did so, along with Echo herself as you call her name.

 

Echo zooms by screaming, and she’s been thrown so hard the ground is shaking. A giant splash arises as her chocolates hit the water, and it drags Narcissus with it. Echo flies back minutes later sopping wet, apologizing for failing to hand over the chocolate. Heracles apologizes for messing up his calculations, but you either say that’s not the issue, say that was more lively than awkward, or say if those two are okay then it’s fine.

 

Snow compares it to the impact of a meteorite and says the invisible wall and the water absorbed the impact thankfully. Echo says it’s her fault for not being able to make a decision and having brought all the chocolates. She couldn’t decide since it was the first time she made such chocolates with her feelings. She wanted to give Narcissus all her feelings, so she ended up sticking all the chocolates into the box. You say that’s physically heavy, ask how many she made in shock, or say she did well to stick them in those heart shapes.

 

Going C, Echo says it was a little off, but she wanted to put her feelings into the heart shapes. The chocolate maker worked hard too, and she’s surprised herself at how much was made. Anyways Gyumao comments on how incomprehensible the world is, though he’s sure it’ll respond to Echo’s feelings. You ask about Narcissus and whether he’s even safe.

 

Echo says Narcissus sank into the spring, and that’s all she was able to see. Barguest wonders if he sank or was sunken, though it’s impossible to tell now. Echo says the chocolates sunk too. Heracles starts to apologize to Echo about his misjudgment, but Echo waves it off since she feels she’d never have been able to even give her present if she weren’t flung like so. She’s finally managed to get to the giving part, so all that’s left is making sure he accepts it.

 

You call out to Echo and ask if she’s okay or not pushing herself. Going B, Echo says it feels like something’s been caught, but she doesn’t know what yet. She says that next time she’ll figure it out and properly convey her feelings. Barguest says it looks like she’s really onto something, and he feels she’ll be okay if she keeps facing forward. Gyumao suggests withdrawing for now and assures Echo that next time it’ll work out. Snow compliments her courage in moving on and says she did good.

 

Everyone gets ready for something to happen, and eventually something approaches from the bottom of the spring. Barguest speaks up that he’s getting a sudden bad feeling. Some voice moans about Valentines and chocolate, and then Ashigara shows up yelling and asking about what meaning it has. You are shocked by his presence, say someone looking for popularity showed up, and note that there’s still more coming from behind him.

 

Ashigara starts acting offended at how much you guys seem to be enjoying the holiday, and as a bunch of other guys turn up, he starts proclaiming Feb. 14 isn’t Valentines Day, but Fundoshi Day as almost everyone changes. You need a moment to process all this, and Barguest stops Echo from repeating the word fundoshi.

 

Barguest starts asking Chocolate Ashigara why he’s here. Ashigara says everyone is going crazy for chocolate so he came to correct things. He explains how 2/14 can be read as fundoshi in Japanese, and Snow stops Echo from repeating the word this time. He says it’s dangerous and notes that they’re still pretty strong.

 

Choco Ashigara gets mad at how excited everyone is about Valentines chocolate, then whines about wanting to be popular and wanting chocolate. Choco Kengo is unimpressed Ashigara just wants chocolate and mentions not understanding why he’s there. He tosses the thought aside to say chocolate is great and that someone picked some nice ones. Choco Moritaka insists that they’re supposed to be there to spread the greatness of fundoshi. Once they do that, the chocolate after work will be especially nice. Ashigara is shocked they got chocolates.

 

Chocolate Nobuharu agrees that 2/14 is Fundoshi Day and says he’ll cheer it on. Chocolate Eita says he wants to be popular. Chocolate Musashi says Valentines is nice and all, but he’d rather sword fight. Chocolate Tadatomo seems embarrassed to be seen by you in a fundoshi, and he compares it to feeling like a piece of chocolate in a fire. You comment that their group is already falling apart, say something similar happened on New Years, or say you do like fundoshi but uh...

 

Ashigara insists that their group is all about the fundoshi. Forget about Valentines and look at their fundoshis already! Echo is about to try repeating fundoshi again when Gyumao steps in to stop her. He comments on this being really impactful direct marketing as he tells everyone to get ready as the episode battle launches. The story continues afterwards.

 

After the battle, things pick up around the point you beat down Ashigara and the fundoshi gang. Barguest comments on the outrageousness that’s popped up in Echo’s memory world. Snow wonders why it’s all them and asks if they’re from Barguest’s memories. Barguest says he does know Ashigara but doesn’t know anyone else. He starts suggesting someone else might know them when you admit that they might have come from your memories.

 

You start talking about something that happened awhile ago as a flashback kicks in. Ashigara is yelling happily about Valentines, and Gunzou notes he’s really excited and asks if he’s that happy you came over. Ashigara tries to play it cool and says he is happy you’re there, but he has other reasons this time. Kyuuma asks if he’s talking about the chocolate in his desk, asking if it was good and saying it’s his thanks for every day.

 

Ashigara is shocked to hear it came from Kyuuma and says he’s happy for a different reason. But also yes it was good. Gunzou goes back to asking why he’s in a good mood, and you ask as well since you’re curious. Ashigara laughs, saying you guys will know when it’s time but offers to give a sneak peek. Kyuuma and Gunzou applaud.

 

So anyways, Ashigara says Durga told him something the other day, so he’s mail ordered some really cool clothes. Gunzou asks if he’s going to wear it to get more chocolate for Valentines. Ashigara is offended Gunzou saw through him so quickly and starts using sabaori on him, and Gunzou pleads for mercy. You either say you want to see those clothes, say having popular clothes sounds nice, or pester Ashigara to show you.

 

Kyuuma also wants to see the clothes and asks Ashigara to make a cool entrance with them. Gunzou says that if Durga helped him with this then they must be awesome, and he bugs Ashigara to show them too. The two applaud, and Ashigara goes quiet before complaining that the pressure is getting to him and that it’s embarrassing. Kyuuma tries to ask Ashigara to not implode from the pressure, and Ashigara starts moaning about how 2/14 is fundoshi day.

 

Back to the present, Heracles asks about whether Ashigara did or didn’t want to show off his new clothes. You either say he’s a complicated guy, say he’s sensitive, or say there’s a lot of things going on.

 

Going A, Barguest wonders if the popularity clothes that Ashigara was too embarrassed to wear was ‘that’ after all. Ashigara stops making much sense as he stammers out fundoshi and popularity again before he eventually asks if you like fundoshi more than chocolate. You can say you like chocolate or fundoshi more or you can like them both. You then point out that Ashigara is technically not wearing a fundoshi but a mawashi. Ashigara is shocked by this observation for some reason, and he yells about Fundoshi Day one more time as the light falls. And so the episode ends.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 4 Part 2

Things pick up with Echo walking back to base by herself, carrying her sketchbook in both her hands while confidence is shining off her face. She’s happily humming to herself when Gyumao pops up in her personal space commenting on her return and saying he was worried about how late she was coming back. She’s surprised into dropping the sketchbook over this, so Gyumao apologizes for scaring her and saying he just started shouting when he saw her.

 

Echo says she’s back and apologizes for coming back late. Gyumao comments that it looks like her going to the spring was a good idea, saying he can see that good expression on her face. Echo agrees and thanks him for his ideas earlier. Gyumao is glad to hear that and says that while it is his advice, in the end you have to be appropriate and flexible. Echo agrees.

 

Gyumao changes the subject to ask if Echo has issues with his voice since he has a habit of speaking loudly. Echo is a bit embarrassed he noticed, and Gyumao says it comes from being someone higher on a corporate chain. When you spend days with someone you start noticing things. Echo stammers out and admits that she’s not good with voices that are forceful. She also makes a point about something not being Gyumao’s fault, then admits she’s not good with bovines.

 

Gyumao is shocked by that remark, and Echo explains that it’s because someone she has bad memories of uses a bull as a symbol. She’s quick to say that Gyumao is a good guy and apologizes for bringing up this topic. Gyumao tries to keep calm as he says it’s important to express yourself. He can’t help it if Echo has bad memories, and he figures he can just be the one figure who can counter her perceptions.

 

Snow and Barguest walk over as Barguest suggests Gyumao start by keeping his voice down as he says they could hear him from inside the base. Snow welcomes Echo back and asks where you and Heracles are. Echo says you two are going to be at the spring a little longer and notes that you two seemed to be enjoying things.

 

Barguest accepts that and says he was thinking of getting you two before dark, but if you two are together he figures that’s okay. Snow agrees that it should be fine, but if it gets really late then he’ll go fetch you guys.

 

A moment later, the rest of the party is inside the base as Barguest asks how Echo’s brainstorming went. Snow laughs and says he probably wouldn’t need to ask based on how Echo and her sketchbook look. Echo says she got lots of ideas, and that Gyumao’s sadeschons and ahdeas were helpful. She shows off the sketchbook to the three of them, and they react with amazement at what they see.

 

Scene shifts over to your side as night has fallen, with the moonlight shining down and making the place look fantastic. Heracles wakes up with a start embarrassed that he fell asleep. You either ask if he’s up, say you fell asleep too, or say Echo already went ahead.

 

Going C, Heracles goes oh and asks if it was okay for her to go alone. He says you could have just ditched him and went back too. He then asks why you’re making a face at him since it’s making him uncomfortable.

 

Anyways, Heracles suggests hurrying back to base when the flowers by the spring gets his attention for some reason. You try to ask him what’s up, though he doesn’t answer right away. Heracles then says he had a dream of an old friend. It’s been a long time since he had a dream, since most of the time he was so busy he’d just flop over dead when the day was done. Heracles then asks if you’d be willing to hear him out about a regret he remembers, though he thinks it may bore you. He says it’s of feelings about something he wasn’t able to do.

 

You agree to listen to him, say you can do it if he’s okay with telling you, or ask him about his regret. Heracles sighs before he gets started, then looks up at the moon. He starts talking about how he used to work for A Certain Prince who lost his royal authority and helped with his trial to get it back. He got onto a boat with like fifty other people on a journey for the Golden Fleece.

 

On this journey there was a certain follower who went with Heracles everywhere. That person was Hylas. He was the only person to follow him by his own will. Most people lionized Heracles while secretly fearing him, so Hylas stood out as unusual for following him in a different way. And now that he thinks about it, Heracles thinks his time with him was a time of peace like the time he spent with you guys.

 

Heracles says that when he looked at Echo he started thinking about his own things again. He thought about why Hylas devoted himself to him. He’s only now possibly thinking that he might have been in love with Hylas. You either say he only noticed after learning what love is, say Hylas sounds like he was a wonderful person, or quietly keep listening.

 

Going A, Heracles says he still questions it since he still doesn’t understand much. He smiles, though not in a happy, sad, or bright way. Heracles talks about how many people in Olympus have a value system of love, a quick and reliable way of making connections like lightning. People have wanted him for his blood connections, but Heracles says they probably didn’t actually want a connection with him personally.

 

To Heracles, anyone wanting a connection with him just meant more work set to him by his bloodline. However, you and Echo and everyone else have taught him that this alone isn’t love. Because of that, he’s Remembered Hylas. You either ask about his phrasing of remembering and ask if Hylas is dead, or you quietly wait for him to go on.

 

Heracles says that Hylas disappeared in front of him. When the ship went to port one day, Hylas went to a spring to get water, and that was the last he saw of him. When he didn’t come back, Heracles went looking for him in the forest. He called for him over and over, but echoes were the only thing to answer him. In the end, he was unable to find him, and the ship left without Heracles as well. Heracles had to give up and find his own way back. When he asked about Hylas on the way, he was told that maybe he was taken by the water nymphs.

 

Heracles looks right at the spring, where the shining Narcissus flowers sway gently in the breeze. Heracles says a lot of time passed, and then he heard a rumor while doing his work as a slave. It said that a certain beautiful person was taken away by the water nymphs, and for some reason that interested him. You ask if this rumor was about Narcissus.

 

Heracles describes the love in Olympus as the impulse of passion that goes like lightning in which one seeks pleasure. Because of that, it was common for those with good looks to be stolen away. And yet for Heracles, this one thing stuck out to him. Next thing he knew, he came to visit This Spring to ask the nymphs what happened. He thought that if he learned what happened to Narcissus, then maybe he could find out something about Hylas. You either hope they can reunite one day, say they definitely have a connection, or say it’s not definite that they’ll never see each other again.

 

Going A, Heracles says that would be nice, but he feels he doesn’t have the right to see him again. He Gave Up on him, and he feels this would have cut off their connection when he did so. He never even made it to the point of considering whether it was love or not. You either call his name sadly, say he was awkward since back then, or comment that it might have been his first love.

 

Heracles says it’s because of this that he wants to see how Echo’s love pans out. He wants to see how two people separated in the same way might end up. Heracles smiles as he gets up, then holds his hand out for you. He says it’s about time you guys return since everyone will be worried about you. Heracles laughs as he wonders why he dreamed about his days on that boat, then talks about how he has the strange sense of feeling the Sea from you. Or maybe he feels a fickleness in you that might disappear to the bottom of the sea one day.

 

On the way back, Heracles talks to you some more. He says he has a wish for you, then asks you to listen to him. You either ask him to say what’s on his mind first, ask if he has some sort of favor to ask, or say you’ll do it if you can. Heracles asks for you to have a formal contract of master and servant with him. He’s okay with it lasting only as long as the overworld shift exists, and he asks you to consider it. As much as Heracles refers to himself as a slave, you can still feel the spirit of a hero brimming from him.

 

Heracles talks about how he can’t use his power under his own judgment. The only way he could use it is if someone he recognizes as master commands him to do so. Heracles says he believes there will be a time when he’ll need to use his strength for you, Echo, and everyone else. When it happens, he wants to borrow your power. He feels that if it’s you, he can trust in things. You either agree, say you hope you can become friends one day, or hope that you guys can become lovers one day.

 

In C, Heracles is surprised by the suggestion but eventually says it’s not like he’s never thought about the idea of a master loving their servant. But for now, he’d like to just leave things at that. Anyways the connection is established, and Heracles says the contract is made. He swears to give you his heart and body, then thanks you as the episode ends.