Virtual Summer Memory Episode 2 Part 2

Narration starts by talking about a time in Algernon and Charlie's past before their arrival in Tokyo, and in the next line Charles takes over to say this time also takes place after he and Algernon fused together and became the test subjects for the time travel experiment. This specific time is about a job where Charles was cleaning a concert hall and happened to have a chance to listen to the orchestra. The song they were playing was a symphony whose main subject was the flow of time, La Mer.

 

When the musicians finished their performance, they were greeted with applause as their faces expressed a certain joy and fulfillment. Charles felt a strange sense of jealousy, but he couldn't figure out why. The symphony spoke of how no one could escape the passage of time. People are born, grow old, and in the end die alone. That's why people will use any and all technical innovations in their wish to escape from time. Charles and Algernon were the test subjects for that goal, and the machine that's been buried into his spine is the traces left from that.

 

As a result of the experiment, Charles and Algernon have sped up, fast enough that no one is likely to surpass them. No one in this world can pass them by, and go on fast enough to leave even time behind in their dust. Still, they must fear the price they have to pay and live in isolation with each other. They run on uncatchable by anyone, and Charles mentions feeling a strange chill on his back.

 

Back to the present Talos is carrying almost everyone in the party as his legs have transformed into jets, propelling him up and towards the Dragon Palace. You can either ask if it was always so big, comment on how fast Talos is moving, or be confused and ask if this is the ideal body. In A, Talos says the concept of distance gets vague in a virtual space, so the same probably applies to the Dragon Palace. He also suggests that maybe your feelings have an impact on things, so if you're having fun then a long distance won't feel like a pain. Shennong then wonders how much time has actually passed as he says it feels like it's both been a long time and no time at all. In B, Tiger Man notes that you're in a good mood and yells about his enjoyment of flying like this. You tell him to stop yelling in your ear, so he apologizes and says his Olmeca blood from the land of rubber got excited. He's taken aback when you look upset and promises to make it up to you later. In C, Talos says this is what Hephaestus has set up for the summer with some appropriations of the simulation data. After all, isn't cutting through the water freely like a dolphin the ideal? Talos is surprised when you tell him that it feels off to you, so he says he'll note that for reference.

 

Anyways Charles announces that he's gotten something on his optical sensors, which would be the area that Otohime put on lockdown. Narration mentions that Algernon is slightly ahead of you guys and is pointing out said area, where you see an unnatural black dome covering the place. Talos agrees with the assessment and says that while it's possible to break in, it seems like it's impossible to break out from within. Algernon starts talking about it being a problem if the Dragon Palace's security system is unable to perceive the bug slime, since it it's inside the area then Otohime's servants can't do anything about it. And if battle is still prohibited inside it'll be tough to figure out a way around that.

 

Yamasachi asks if that means everyone is in danger of being eaten by the slimes and shudders at the thought. Algernon says it's doubtful that the slimes really are looking for something to eat, but it is true that the slimes are after Yamasachi for some reason. Charles then hits upon an idea and suggests using Yamasachi as bait so you guys can clear up everything at once, and Yamasachi predictably is shocked by this. You either agree that this would be a quick solution to things, say this is a bit too hasty, or ask him why he's in such a hurry. C gets an extra line where Charles answers that he's not in a hurry, he just places an importance in doing work efficiently.

 

In any case, Charles says that as a cleaning committee member and as a cleaner, he just does his work quickly yet efficiently. He then seems kind of surprised by you as he asks if you have some sort of problem with his work ethic. You either say no and thought that he's passionate about his work, ask him to slow down and have some fun, or say you want to spend some time with him in a more leisurely way. A gets a few extra bits where Charles is confused as to whether you're complimenting him, then calls you weird after thinking on it for a bit.

 

Either way, Charles tells you that cleaning is not playing around, and that you should deal with it in the most efficient manner possible. He won't tell you to agree with him since he doesn't expect anyone to keep up with him. That's just what he does, and he decides to end the conversation there as he says you guys are nearing your destination. You say you still wanted to talk, say you guys should go together regardless, and/or ask Talos to bring you guys in. Talos acknowledges the request as he asks you to hold on tight to his arm. Both he and Charles then speed up towards the target area.

 

Once the party actually enters the dome, Shennong voices his surprise as you guys are somehow on a ship instead of the Dragon Palace, and Kengo, Agyou, and Gunzou who has evidently joined in at some point all freak out. You can talk to any of the three listed in that order. In A, Kengo recognizes your voice and tries to excuse himself by saying things happened as he begs you to not look at him like that. He's totes ain’t afraid of no ghost he says before screaming at something. In B, Agyou realizes you're there and is almost too upset to speak as he asks where you went. He starts talking about how things got out of hand over here and starts to say everyone was worried about you before he screams. In C, Gunzou is still freaking out as he notices you and tries to ask for an explanation. He was expecting something else when he saw a invite link to a virtual beach and screams midcomplaint about how this isn't what he came for.

 

Narration briefly picks back up to describe how you guys found a ship upon entering the area and that Kengo, Agyou, and Gunzou are crowding together cowering in fear. Tiger Man asks in surprise if there was some attraction like this inside the Dragon Palace. Algernon answers that there wasn't and supports this statement by saying they cleaned/scouted out pretty much everywhere. They theorize that after the area was blockaded, something caused the virtual space to change when they notice something.

 

Ghosts start popping up asking for a ladle, which would make these spirits specifically funayurei. Kengo, Agyou, and Gunzou lose their collective minds over them showing up, and narration says the ghosts have you guys surrounded. As the ghosts bug you for a ladle so that they can start dumping water in to sink the ship with, Touji jumps in to cast a barrier and drive them back. While the ghosts are beaten back, Touji notes that this is getting rough, then notices that you're there. You either say you came to save everyone, ask where Shirou and Ryouta are, or ask if Touji used a barrier just now. B has an extra line where Touji says Ryouta will be here soon but something is wrong with Shirou. C has a different extra bit where he says yes and tried casting the barrier since weapons are forbidden. It's working a little bit, but it's also pushing Touji to his limits.

 

Ryouta runs up at this point calling your names as he sees you, then attempts to tell you something happened to Shirou. The instant you try to ask him to explain, thunder drowns you out. A familiar voice starts speaking soon after, seeming to narrate about you guys as it talks about sailors heading out to the open sea without checking in with some villagers only to start hearing voices asking for ladles. Possessed Shirou reveals himself as he keeps narrating about how the voices get clearer and clearer as they surround the sailors. You either react in shock to Shirou being this way, be surprised he's accompanied by ghosts instead of Evils, or freak out in fear.

 

Ryouta tells you that Shirou suddenly started telling a ghost story like he's been possessed. When he did so everything went dark, and once they could see again they saw that they were on this ship. Talos asks for a moment as he conducts a search. After he's done with that he reports that he's found some bug slimes, guessing that they're reading Something out of Shirou's consciousness and using that to affect the local virtual space. You ask in alarm if Shirou really is possessed and say you guys need to do something.

 

Hephaestus pops open his chat window to stop you from doing anything hasty as he tells you that forcibly tearing the program from Shirou runs the risk of damaging his mind. Thankfully he's conveniently just finished making his countermeasures for that, and he commands Talos to open their comm link and run it as soon as he gets it. Talos follows the order as he runs the vaccine program Hephaestus sent, which puts Shennong, Tiger Man, and Algernon through a magical girl transformation apparently to their combined bafflement after the fact. You express shock that the program somehow became armor and/or say you can feel power overflowing.

 

Talos announces that the vaccine program has been extracted and the Emotion Synchronize System is running with no issues. Hephaestus starts explaining that this is the vaccine program he made on short notice from analyzing the bug data that's been put in his sandbox. The armor will defend against the bugs' external attacks, and Hephaestus mentions that the Dragon Palace has a function that changes itself in response to its visitors' emotions. This system runs the same as ever even if it gets blocked off and other things get changed, which he calls the backdoor of the emotional reading system. If you take the backdoor you should be able to fool the security measures. You either comment that it doesn't seem to cover much which makes you nervous, or you say it looks awesome.

 

In A and B, Hephaestus asks that you let it be since this is the best he could do. In C, the guys look embarrassed as Shennong says you've got a lewd look on your face and asks you to hold it in. Either way, Hephaestus asks that you guys put up with it since he says making the data too dense would impede your movements. He also starts talking about not liking anyone else looking at you with dirty looks in their eyes before he catches himself and stops. Hephaestus quickly changes the subject by explaining more about the armor.

 

So anyways, Hephaestus tells you that according to his analysis, this subrealm puts joy as the most important thing of all. That's why he's made the cubes everyone has to collect joy energy through song and dance. Once joy pushes past the critical point, it'll be released all at once causing the Dragon Palace's receptors to open whereupon the vaccine will be put in. And once that happens, the self-diagnostics should clear out the bug and the problems they're causing.

 

Yamasachi is staring, so you ask him why he looks like he wants something or comment that you can feel the passion. Yamasachi reacts in surprise and tries to claim you're imagining it, then turns to Hephaestus asking where his armor is since he likes it. Hephaestus tells him to get bent since he's a total stranger to you and he'd never make anything for someone like that. Hephaestus also brings up the possibility that the unexpected error that's happened might have come up because of Yamasachi popping in without warning. And if that's true, it's his fault you're in danger and he won't even give him the time of day. Yamasachi protests that he doesn't have the brains to pull that off and just wants to find that fishing hook. You either try to calm them down, tell Hephaestus he shouldn't doubt people for no reason, or say you want to see Yamasachi transform.

 

B has an extra part where Hephaestus is surprised you'd defend someone you don't know and says he just prioritizes keeping you safe. He then cries and apologizes, then actually asks you to spank him. C gets an extra line where Yamasachi says he wants to see it too, though he admits to being worried that his important parts won’t be covered. Anyways Tiger Man asks if all you guys need to do is collect joy energy, then says that suits him perfectly as a luchador. You point out to him that things might be a bit too cold for that as Shirou keeps muttering while the ghosts have gotten ladles from somewhere and are pouring water into the boat.

 

Kengo, Agyou, and Gunzou all scream as Kengo yells for the ghosts to stop dumping water on the back of his neck, and also that dude's scary stories really get to him. The expressions Shirou makes when reading them out just makes them that much scarier. Gunzou just screams about ghosts and how he freaks out just as he's getting sleepy when he sees spectral photos on late night TV. Agyou begs Ungyou to come save him. Tiger Man is taken aback by this, then says nothing is impossible before wondering if it'd be better if things were warmer. You either robotically say things could be fun that way, say fear is in control of this place, or ask where the hell joy is supposed to be found here.

 

Charles tells you guys to step back if you're just gonna drag your feet and says they'll clean things up quick. He declares the beginning of his work as he points his broom at the slimes and turns on the thrusters so the exhaust will blast them. The slimes ignore this, and Algernon observes that regular attacks aren't working and the joy thing looks to be real before sidestepping the slimes' retaliation. The ghosts start rushing him, so Charles quickly dodges out of the way. A high speed chase occurs as he kicks the gears up a notch.

 

Yamasachi asks what's going on as he says no one can keep up with things visually. Charles starts talking about how in the end, it always ends up being only him and the rat being the only ones to finish the job. Algernon shrugs and says they can't do anything about that. He starts to talk about how things would be even if someone sought the same speed they had, but then get surprised by some ghosts appearing behind them. You jump in to defend him, and the two of them are shocked that you managed to keep up. You either say you'll help, say working together would be fastest, or ask him to teach you to clean.

 

Charles is unable to come up with a response, which Algernon laughs about and suggests accepting your help. He's not sure how you can keep up, but since you are able to do so he agrees that working together would be faster. Charles decides to agree since it would be the more efficient thing to do if three is faster than two. And as the senpai in the cleaning committee, he says he'll show you how to clean things.

 

Talos announces that he's done with his analysis and reports that joy is indeed the best way of getting rid of the slimes. If during cleaning you can combine that with dancing, then Talos calculates that would be the best way to collect joy. You express shock at that suggestion, wonder how to pull it off, and ask Charles if he's good at dancing. Charles is quiet for a second before ordering Algernon to put on some music. If the job needs him to do so, then he'll dance. Algernon sighs at how professional Charles it but says he has the perfect genre for him, something with a jazzy rhythm as he gets the external speakers set up.

 

Music starts playing on the ship, and you either turn to Charles questioningly or comment on the music playing. Charles starts banging away at his brush, forming a conventional beat that soon turns to music. Algernon tells you that one time when they got a job to clean up a concert hall they happened to see this performance. They noticed that Charles seemed to really like it, so they recorded the music. He never thought it would come in handy like this, and as they point out to you, Shirou and the ghosts are dancing along to the beat, which Ryouta is shocked to see. Yamasachi joins in on the dancing too, and you ask Charles to dance with you as you imitate him in playing air guitar or whatever with your brush.

 

Charles expresses surprise at how high the heat conversion rate of the dance energy is, and he notes that your movements aren't bad either as he calls you newbie. Algernon compliments you as he also calls you newbie and wonders if this officially makes you a trio instead of a duo. Hephaestus say the cube is gathering joy, so he orders start the synching. He also tells you that this can work as he asks you to dancing and push the energy level up. You call out to Shirou and say it's time for the ghost ship dance battle as the episode battle begins. More story comes afterwards.

 

After the battle, we tune back in to Shirou and the ghosts dancing while you and Charles are playing your brushes while stamping on the deck to add to the rhythm. The tones are rough and crude, yet they mix in with a delicate touch that creates a complex harmony. Eventually a wave of delight surges, instilling a sense of encouragement into everyone listening. Talos says he's confirmed the resonance and increasing of the emotional energy. The critical point has been surpassed, so he releases the vaccine. Everyone's energy cubes flash in an explosion of light, and the ghost ship area reverts to what it was previously.

 

A little time afterwards, Shirou thanks you and says he understands the situation now, though he admits there are still a lot of things here that he doesn't. He asks if getting possessed by the bug slime made him cause a huge problem for everyone and apologizes, though Gunzou says he's also a victim here since the slime made him do it. Gunzou is more concerned that Shirou is such a good storyteller that it's still freaking him out, and Shirou picks up he's also talking about how their plans to swim in the ocean got thrown out. Shirou had tried thinking of something else to do and decided upon doing some reading. He picked up on the story of the funayurei and started reading aloud without thinking about it. Algernon wonders if that has some connection with the bug slimes, but he shrugs and says bugs are defined by doing unexpected things. You shrug and are glad everyone's okay and suggest going to the next place, or you comment on the way Shirou is looking at you.

 

C gets a little bit extra where Shirou stumbles over himself as he tries to explain himself and note that you're wearing something more open than usual, so yeah Hephaestus put you in a magical cyber costume too. Anyways, even if you don't go that way Kengo is the one to comment on what you're all wearing. The rest of the party looks embarrassed until Tiger Man shouts out "ISN'T THIS SO COOL!?"

 

Kengo is surprised by the loud question and quickly says he's got no problems with it if you guys are that positive about it. Agyou goes up to Charles and Algernon, introducing himself and thanking him for the help. He comments that they looked like they were having fun while they were cleaning and says he wants to be like that too. Charles is surprised and asks if that's how it looked like to him.

 

Talos reports to you that he's confirmed that the local area has been restored. The security has also been updated, so he feels it should be safe now. Shennong suggests heading for the next area then as he figures the same thing may have happened. Charles turns to you and says that your movements weren't bad, so he figures it's okay as a senpai and a cleaning committee member to say you worked efficiently. A moment passes before he tells you to spit it out if you have something left to say. You ask if efficient is all he has to say about what you did, say you're happy, or say you had fun doing things together with him.

 

Charles doesn't say anything in response, and narration talks about how there was music here. Three played better than two, and two played better than one. There was resonance with someone else, a rhythm that lifted the core of the body. Algernon comments that he thought that was a pretty interesting jam session, saying he found something fascinating and asks you how you did it. You express confusion as to exactly what he means by "it."

 

Algernon teases that you have no self-awareness, then asks Charles what he thinks about observing you from by your side. Charles seems to sigh as he says he'll keep guiding you if you want it for the sake of a more efficient cleaning. Algernon turns to you as he goes welp and asks you to play along with that excuse. He teases Charles for being so shy that he can't just come out and say it was fun being with you, which pisses him off as the episode ends with Talos leading the party to the next lockdown area.