Monday, March 9, 2020

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.

1 comment: