Things continue on as normal as nobody around is aware of Yamasachi's presence. Macan starts talking to you and notes there's someone with you that he doesn't recognize. Tiger Man realizes Macan is talking about him and greets him, introducing himself as the passionate luchador and giving his name. Macan cannot wrap his head around the name Hombre Tigre as he gives up two letters in and doesn't know much about lucha libre either. He does pick up on TIger Man being strong though, but he doesn't like how he doesn't carry himself like some sort of starving animal.
Tiger Man says that's not the kind of person he is, describing himself as the type who'd happily give his flesh and blood and even his heart if it would make a lot of people happy. He's not the type who lives for himself. Macan calls him his complete opposite, then wonders how he'd taste. He starts asking TIger Man to let him have a taste, and Tiger Man comments that it's a heated invitation to a one on one battle and that it better not bore the audience. You either express excitement, alarm that a sudden battle may be happening, or some surprise at Tiger Man actually seeming to go with it.
Some of Otohime's servants turn up and note that the two are about to come to blows, then ask them to refrain from doing so. They remind them that due to Mikuratana Otohime's policies, no fighting or violence is allowed in the Midnight Stage Dragon Palace. This is a place meant to help those with injured hearts, so they ask for their understanding. Shennong is surprised and glad that the battle didn't go anywhere, then asks you if Macan is always Like That. Kengo however pouts that the fight was stopped since he wanted to join in too.
The merman suggests some of the workout facilities available as an alternative and offers to show the way. Macan thinks that sounds nice enough and tells Tiger Man to come with him since he wants to see how good he'll be at it. Tiger Man thinks aloud about whether to go along, calling himself a jaguar of the jungle that serves the sun. He'd rather be complimented on being good and skillful rather than good and tasty, and he's more interested in seeing if Macan can keep up with his performance. He then turns to you and tells you he'll be going and that he'll see you later. Shennong thinks about how sweating it out at the workout areas and bathing after that would feel nice. He's also worried about Tiger Man pushing himself too hard, so he decides to go watch him. You either wish him luck, be disappointed since you finally became alone with him, or ask if he's that friendly with Tiger Man.
In A, Shennong says you should rely on him more since he is the school doctor. In B, Shennong sighs and tells you that's not the sort of thing to say in front of someone, especially not when you're talking about the school doctor. That's why people call you the problem child, and Shennong also teases you about being a bit young for him yet. In C, Shennong figures Tiger Man sees him as a meddler who sticks his nose in one-sidedly. He understands his feelings of wanting to do lucha libre until he hits his limits, but that's also why he wants to stop Tiger Man. Even if they argue back and forth forever, Shennong can't just leave people who keep hurting themselves alone. Though he might lose out to a certain somebody, isn't that right you problem child you.
Anyways Shennong notes that Talos is coming back around this point, so he chooses to head off then. Talos asks if he just passed by someone as he walks up, but he hopes that everyone is having fun. Talos also reports that he's back from his investigation that Hephaestus sent him on, and as of this point he feels that there isn't a threat to any of you from the Dragon Palace. You can comment that you think you guys can trust Otohime, suggest being careful for a bit longer, or say you want to play around a bit more.
In A there's extra lines where Talos pauses but agrees after a moment
that he feels the likelihood that Otohime will be a problem is low.
Hephaestus however is a perfectionist, which Talos supposes is why he's
still worried about you. If anything happens, he swears to protect you
because his role is to maintain the link between you and Hephaestus. In
B, there are other extra lines where Talos says Hephaestus can prevent
problems from happening in events where he doesn't have control himself.
With a bit more information he's come up with a counterplan where he
can transfer power from Otohime to him. If he does gain authority over
the virtual Dragon Palace then that would reduce any possibility of
danger to you to zero.
In any case, Talos says you should put your worries aside for now and recommends enjoying yourself as best you can for your ideal summer. He offers to escort you around, then asks you to wait a second so he can switch modes. Talos gets into character and asks you to take his hand, but then he goes still for a second which prompts you to ask if he's okay since he froze in place.
When Talos gets back online he drops character and apologizes, saying he froze since he ran out of memory for his math and logic processing for a sec. He tells you he doesn't have enough data inputted to figure out how to best show you around for your ideal summer, so he asks you to provide that for him. You either agree to go around together with him but worry if you can get it across to him, or you can nod to yourself about teaching him so many things. In C there's an extra line with Talos thanking you and talking about getting even closer to Hephaestus's ideal that way. But anyways you guys then head to town.
Elsewhere, Yamasachi is talking to himself wondering where he dropped that fish hook, then reminds himself that he shouldn't get depressed. Being unable to find one thing that he's looking for would be inexcusable to his brother. Narration describes how Yamasachi is crawling around looking for that hook, but still has no luck with finding it. Yamasachi eventually starts commenting how weird the place is, what with how light and floaty he feels and the fish swimming in the sky above him. He figures that must mean he's at the bottom of the ocean, so his brother's fishing hook ought to be around somewhere. He doesn't understand why he can breathe, but he shrugs it off and refocuses on his search. A moment later he picks up some weird thing that he describes as soft, flexible, and tingly, and said thing burbles at him.
Scene shifts back to your side where you have taken a break with Talos after hanging out with him for some time. Talos gets pinged, so he informs you that Hephaestus wants to speak to you. Hephaestus opens up the vid chat window and asks you if you're okay and if anything is wrong. You can either say you're having tons of fun, say Talos is great at giving you support, or you can invite Hephaestus to join you guys.
In A, Hephaestus laughs and says that if you're happy, he can relax. In B, Hephaestus gets pissy at Talos for supporting you more than he has, then orders Talos to protect you with his body if anything happens. In C, Hephaestus says he wants to join you, but he has to stay in the physical side of things just in case he has to pull you all out. He does however bring up the possibility of him improving the virtual machine and setting up some automation, and if he does manage that he suggests you two spend some time in the sea of memories.
Algernon walks in at this point noting that you're on the phone and apologizing for interrupting. He tells you that while Charles was cleaning he was gathering info on the surroundings since they're cautious of Otohime too. They came to compare notes and figures that will be better for your chances to handle things. Hephaestus is surprised about them but isn't against the idea. He orders Talos to accept Algernon's info and to send it to him after that.
Algernon comments that it looks like Talos is getting feedback from Utopia technology. He asks if someone from there taught them that technology, then figures they wouldn't be able to interface with each other otherwise. With that setup it should be possible to directly send the info, and they say not to sweat the details. There are plenty of things kept clean between people who don't know each other that well after all. Talos and Algernon then take each other's hands, and the lights of their eyes flicker as they exchange data.
Algernon then asks about how to log out from the virtual world since Charles has been wondering about that. Talos explains that when you want to log out, a confirmation message window will pop up. If it comes to it, it's possible for Talos to force a logout using his authority. Charles says he understands, though he wants to stay around a bit longer. You can either ask if he's having fun, say you're glad he seems to be enjoying himself, or bug him to spend more time with you. In A and B, Charles gets shy and tells you to think what you want. In C, Algernon comments on you taking an aggressive approach and pesters Charles to say something. Charles says he unfortunately prioritizes his work, but he wishes you luck if you want to follow him. Algernon teases him for being smooth saying a normal human shouldn't be able to keep up with him.
Tiger Man and Shennong walk over at this point as Tiger Man talks about how hot that match they had was and how Shennong had a cool and refreshing expression. Shennong comments on them coming all this way and ended up playing table tennis, then sighs that this isn't supposed to be a hot spring resort before noting that you guys are here. Just as you're about to greet them, a scream tears through the town. You ask what the scream is in alarm and wonder if something happened and what that pitiful voice was.
Yamasachi turns up yelling for help as as the bug slime makes some glitched babbling noises. Narration briefly describes him as an Unknown Transient running down from the other end of the street. Hephaestus is surprised as he wonders what the slime looking object is as he says he didn't add any data about something like that. Shennong is the one to comment on not seeing Yamasachi before and asks if you know him. You can either say you don't know him, say you don't have any memory of him, or you can say you think he's a wild looking nice guy.
Hephaestus is shocked you don't know Yamasachi since anyone who's a stranger to you shouldn't be able to come in here. He demands Talos explain since he was supposed to be keeping watch, and Talos says there's no logs about anyone logging in without having accepted your invite link. Yamasachi keeps screaming in the meantime and tries to tell the slime to not slip into his clothes and make him all slippery and tingly. Tiger Man says you guys ought to help him before the slime eats him, and you attempt to get your sword ready when Otohime's servants pop up yelling for you to stop.
The servants ask you to behave as they note that you seem ready to go into battle and repeat that Otohime has forbidden violence and fighting in the Dragon Palace. They ask for your understanding when you try to protest or realize that your sword won't move. Everything seems to be frozen in place as nothing you do budges your sword. Everyone else also seems to be frozen midstance as well, and Shennong asks if you guys get restricted if you are recognized as getting ready to fight. The merfolk attempt to distract you by dancing, but Shennong says that this is not the time for that. Yamasachi continues screaming, and you either ask if anything can be done, say he'll be in big trouble while you guys are stuck, or you can say how horribly off Yamasachi is looking.
Algernon is the only one able to move and approaches Yamasachi with mop in hand. He then whacks him, prompting Yamasachi to ask him to be gentler. The merman is shocked by what Algernon is doing, and Algernon says that they're just attempting to clean off that slimy thing sticking to the guy. Algernon then repeats that Charles is a neat freak and that cleaning is what he finds relaxing, so he asks that they let him do so. The merman reluctantly allows him to, and you figure out what to do as you tell Charles you'll help clean too.
Algernon laughs at how quick you are on the uptake, then says it's the beginning of the midsummer cleaner trio. They comment that the mop doesn't seem to be working at getting the slime off, so they suggest it ought to be Cut off. As the restraints holding you are released, you get into stance again. Algernon then turns to Hephaestus saying he wants to get rid of the trash data but doesn't know where to dispose of it. Hephaestus orders Talos to open the sand box saying he doesn't mind if it's thrown in there.
The slime becomes aware of the danger it's in and splits off into new copies. Tiger Man says he can't let them stand out more than he does, then says he's stepping in to help too. Shennong sighs about what a handful you all are, but that's what makes you guys cute. Shennong also takes a moment to tell the merfolk servants that he's going to be dancing a sword dance from his home world. He reasons that should be okay since they were dancing earlier too. Charles challenges you to try and keep up with him, and Algernon teases that him not rejecting you means he's nice to people who are interested in cleaning. Charles says that if you can keep up with him, then he'll teach you the basics of being a cleaner as he calls you a newbie. Holes start opening up at Talos's command, which causes the slimes to come attacking. Talos says he's moving into virtual cleaning mode as he starts the episode battle, and more story happens after that.
After the battle, the bug slime gets thrown into the sandbox as Talos closes the portal up and says there are no signs of anything like it around. Shennong figures that you guys are done with getting rid of it and asks Yamasachi if he's okay. Yamasachi is relieved as he says things were looking awful there and asks what the slimes were, but then he realizes he has something else more important in mind as he asks if anyone's seen a fish hook lying around. The rest of the party is baffled by this, and you can be as well as you introduce yourself and ask Yamasachi's name, or say he has his cute points despite looking wild.
In C, there are extra lines where Yamasachi is shocked you'd say that of him when everyone else kept saying there was nothing cute about him at all. Charles tells you to save it for later since communication needs to be clean and concise. Algernon takes the opportunity to tease him about having impure motives for saying that, but when Charles goes silent Algernon whines for him to say something.
Anyways, Yamasachi apologizes as his mind catches up to him, saying he got carried away at noticing there were people around before introducing himself as a man of the mountains and giving his name. He thanks you all for saving him, saying he owes you a lot and has to pay you back for it for sure. The talk of repayments and stuff reminds him of something, so he asks again if you've seen a fish hook anywhere.
Talos notes that Yamasachi's rather attached to that subject and asks if it's important to him. Yamasachi says it is, and that he can't go back to his home world until he finds it. He's dropped it into the sea and has been combing the beach for it ever since. Algernon nods at this and refers to it as some flotsam he's supposed to have lost at sea while Charles says nothing. Algernon then says it's a pretty rough story since normally something lost at sea is probably never going to be found again. Tiger Man agrees as he says you'll never move forward if you're always facing down. Even if you're looking for something important to you it'll be even worse if you lose track of something even more important. Yamasachi says he still has to look for it since it's irreplaceable and trails off before saying any more. You think aloud about a fish hook lost at sea, think about it being irreplaceable, or ask if it's possible to find it in a virtual area.
C has extra lines where Talos thinks on it and is about to say no when he figures it's possible it came in with the Dragon Palace data. Yamasachi comments that the words Dragon Palace sounds familiar to him somehow. In any case before anyone says anything else happens, a siren starts ringing. You are alarmed and wonder what's happening as you ask Hephaestus to explain.
Otohime sends a projection to announce to everyone that an irregular program has been detected, and she says that for everyone's safety, emergency lockdown is going into effect. Partway through her message the announcement gets corrupted, and Otohime asks everyone to wait until things are all clear. Hephaestus's comm link is also starting to bug out as he links in and asks if you can hear him. He informs you that the Dragon Palace has cut off his access, so now he can't intervene. All he's gotten back up is his link to you through Talos, and he orders Talos to put in a forced logout command while they can. Talos gets the command queued up, but you ask them to wait as you're concerned about what will happen to Otohime and Yamasachi. Suddenly light floods everything you can see, and the episode ends with Talos making the unfortunate announcement that the exit command has failed.
Oh no!
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