We begin with an unseen and unlisted Umisachi telling Yamasachi that he can't accept the replacement hook he's offering to him because the one he lost is Irreplaceable. He agrees that he did say that you should take responsibility for your actions, but he refuses to take an alternate hook as compensation. He then orders Yamasachi to go look for the thing.
Umisachi then starts using an unaddressed letter stuck in a bottle thrown out into the open sea as an example. No one knows who it's going to or where it's going. Even then, it contains Someone's memories that are far too heavy to be kept within one person's chest, riding the waves and currents. It's someone's cut away memories, memories that won't disappear even when cast away. These memories of days that once were are stored on that ark that drifts to the far end of the ocean, not knowing where or even if it'll ever reach its destination.
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Prologue.
Things then tune in with a news channel panning to various seaside areas and making its morning newscast. The newscaster prompts viewers to look at all the flotsam and jetsam that's washed ashore, enough that there's no room to stand on the beach. Fortunately at least, there have been no confirmed cases of personal injury so far. The station has been in talks with the management groups, and since they feel there's some dangerous stuff mixed in all the junk, the beach is closed until things are confirmed safe.
Over at the guild's safe house the news is playing as well, and Ryouta reacts by throwing a little tantrum about how he had been ready for summer since forever. Shirou sympathizes but asks him to calm down a little. Touji says that the police have been busy since the first reports came in, but now he figures the assessment has been escalated from incident to disaster. Kengo turns to you and asks what's everyone talking about as this is somehow above his head. He admits to not knowing any details and asks you to explain. You can either say you don't know either, say it's been on the news every day, or say you're too distraught to explain.
In A, Shirou is baffled you wouldn't know. He accepts that Kengo doesn't know since he doesn't listen to the news, but he tells you to pay attention some more since what happens in the world might affect your summer plans. Kengo pouts that he doesn't need to watch the news himself if Shirou will do it for him. In B, Kengo complains that the news is too stiff to keep his attention, and that just listening to lectures puts him to sleep. Shirou laughs that Kengo would never watch the news before sighing about that fact. Kengo tells him to stop looking so disappointed and does twig onto him casually putting him on blast. In C, Ryouta agrees and says he's so down he's getting hungry. Shirou points out that those two things shouldn't be related, though he still understands the disappointment.
Anyways, Touji takes it upon himself to explain that people have been calling the police about all the flotsam washing ashore since the past week. Touji thought it was just illegal dumping at first, but now that he's heard the news he says the currents of Tokyo Bay has shifted and stuff on the sea floor has been turning up. Unidentified things have been found among all the stuff, so several investigations have been launched. You wonder if this is an overworld shift, say you're getting a bad feeling about things, or get excited and say you think it'll be fun.
In A, Touji says it's possible as he's heard that it's easier for overworld shifts to occur at the bottom of the sea. There is a chance that a shifted area and the mysterious flotsam may be related. If so, he supposes the beaches will be closed until it's solved. Ryouta then pops up from underneath to whine about hating that idea since he wanted to have a beach barbecue. In B, Shirou says you guys might have to change your plans which prompts Ryouta to whine that he doesn't want that since he wanted to go to the beach hut to have some curry and yakisoba. Kengo asks in confusion if Ryouta had any intentions of swimming. In C, Kengo agrees and says he thought you'd say that. Swimming like normal is all well and good, but that just isn't thrilling enough. Shirou smiles and calls Kengo by his last name as he asks if he's thinking of something dumb. Kengo quickly gives in as he's creeped out by Shirou's behavior.
Anyways, as everyone discusses the news, a voice calls out from the door. Hanuman comes over and reports that all the pools everywhere are destroyed. Not literally, but private pools and leisure resorts have resorted to raffling off entry tickets, so going to a pool as a Plan B isn't likely to work out. Shirou thanks him for going out to check and comments that it looks like you guys will have to drastically alter your plans.
Ryouta sighs about having to call people to cancel the plans and says he can imagine how they'll voice their disappointment. Shirou asks him to not be so down as he's trying to come up with other ideas, then says he'll be heading out for a bit. Shinjuku Academy's cleaning committee is helping with the beach clean up, so Shirou is planning to take some food over to them. Ryouta asks to come along saying he can't feel like he can accept what's happening until he sees for himself. You either say you want to come along too, just say you'll join, or say you might pick up something cool.
In A and B, Ryouta is excited at the idea of you coming along as he finds that reassuring, saying the shock and hunger might cause him to keel over on the side of the road. Kengo joins in to say that if Ryouta really did faint, it'd be an issue to carry him back for even you and him. In C, Touji is surprised and discourages you from bringing anything back since there really might be something nasty in the junk. Plus, since specialists are going to investigate it might be harder getting close anyways. Kengo calls Touji a square and says if something does happen you guys can cross that bridge then.
In any case Kengo says he and the others might come along too since there might be something interesting. Shirou tells him to not bother the cleaning committee and figures he just wants to be a rubbernecker. Ryouta moans to himself and thanks you guys, and he suggests having ramen at the beach house before coming back if it's open. He slumps his shoulders as you all head out for Kasai Coastal Park.
Touji says everything looks ominous and didn't expect it to be this bad. Ryouta asks about the whirlpools, saying it looks like they'll suck you in if you go swimming. Shirou notes that it looks like some of the wreckage might break at any moment, so he tells Kengo not to get near them so recklessly. Kengo is surprised Shirou saw through him but agrees to it since he'd rather not be a pancake.
Ryouta sighs about how it really does feel like he needs to give up on the beach plan, then has another fit asking why things had to be this way. He accepts after a moment that whining won't get anywhere, so he turns to the beach house in hopes that the trip isn't a complete bust. He finds out soon after that they're all shut down for now and flops over in shock, which prompts Kengo to freak out about him fainting and asks you to help him pick Ryouta up.
While all this is going on, someone approaches. A voice calls out comparing you guys to lost rats and says that entry has been prohibited before throwing in some squeaks. Algernon turns up, with the mouse's voice described as oscillating and innocent coming from the helmet before Charles speaks up, telling him to shut up and explaining that you guys are his schoolmates. Shirou is surprised to see him, and you can either refer to them as Algernon and add senpai after a second, the sweeper pair from somewhere, or ask who Algernon is.
In A, AI-gernon greets you guys and says they're still doing cleaning for work every day. Not that they mind, since they like spending their summer by cleaning. The AI also says Charles is the type who can't chill if he sees a mess. In B, Algernon comments that you make it sound like they're mercenaries and says that's a misunderstanding. They might have done so before, but that's a secret. They also ask you to think of them as humble cleaners. In C, Shirou introduces him as your senpai at school and part of the cleaning committee before asking if you've never seen him before. Algernon says they just like cleaning and don't plan on standing out. On that note even he's heard rumors about you and what you do.
Shirou thanks Algernon, calling him the representative of the cleaning committee and telling him he brought him some coolant and sports drinks. Algernon is glad for the consideration and thanks everyone on behalf of Charles. He then changes the subject to talk about how the cleaning job this time could lead to broken bones. Even with the special investigators around working, there are some things that they probably can't examine. There's also all the junk that shouldn't be coming from Tokyo Bay normally, but Charles speaks up at this point to cut AI-gernon off. The AI goes 'whoopsies' and tells everyone that you guys shouldn't come here unless you have permission to do so.
Ryouta floats the idea of asking the investigators how long they think the current situation will continue since he'd rather not have your summer plans go to waste. A voice answers him saying they can't say right now because they don't have a grasp for the scale of this problem. Amatsumara and Dagon show up, and you can talk to either of them or gasp at the sex appeal of adults.
In A, Amatsumara greets you and asks how you're doing before saying that 'that sucks' is all anyone can say about the beach thing. In B, Dagon is a little surprised to meet you here and says it must be destiny. In C, Amatsumara sighs that you're the same as ever and wonders if the heat melted your brains. Dagon however is pleased and talks to Amatsumara about how showing the composure of adults is what they do.
But anyways, you ask the pair to explain what's happening. Dagon acts a bit coy as he goes all "welp I guess I have to tell you then." He starts talking about how Amatsumara is cooperating with the researchers at Toyosu Marine Academy to investigate the area. They already know that overworld shifts are more likely to happen at sea and at the bottom of the sea, but in this case, they've confirmed the appearance of a giant trench in the ocean using sonar provided by the Crafters. Dagon stops to think aloud about whether it might be more accurate to call it an undersea canyon that was hugely expanded. They aren't sure if this is due to an overworld shift yet since there's no commonality among the things that drifted to shore.
Shirou thinks on the sea trench and asks if that’s why the sea has been so rough lately. Dagon confirms that the currents have changed drastically and adds that they don’t know the trench’s depth. Amatsumara says Hephaestus is getting a submarine ready, but they don’t know if it’ll work for the investigation. So long as things can’t be dealt with, no going to the ocean for anyone. Ryouta reacts by dramatically fainting onto his back.
Kengo tells Ryouta in exasperation to watch where he’s doing things, then notices something on the ground. You observe that something is buried in the sand and dig it out, and you unearth a beautifully decorated black box. Algernon is surprised to see it, and Ryouta immediately perks up to comment on how pretty it is and that you’ve found treasure. Touji is surprised at how quick Ryouta is to change gears before admitting the box is nice to look at.
The box gets passed around to everyone in the gang, and narration notes
that it’s made of a mysterious and somewhat familiar material.
Amatsumara asks to look at it next, then observes it from several
different angles. After he’s done with that he says he has to confiscate
it since it’s dangerous, or to be more precise the material it’s made
from is. You either freak out about having touched it or be disappointed
that you have to give the treasure up.
In A and B, Amatsumara assures you it’s not like some sort of contact poison; it’s just that things made of this material tend to be dangerous. He starts thinking that the decorations on the box means it’s used in some sort of ritual before cutting himself off. In C he’s baffled by your reaction and says it won’t be pretty if something happens to you.
Anyways Amatsumara turns to Dagon and says the box falls under their jurisdiction. Dagon agrees and says it should be looked after by someone familiar with that material. He then turns of you guys and says there’s still too much unknown about it, asking for your understanding that it’s just too dangerous. You express disappointment about not being able to play at the beach and say you’ll come again another time.
Ryouta nods as he says you guys have an explanation you can give to others and sighs that summer vacation plans really will need to change. He quickly shrugs and apologizes to Amatsumara and Dagon about interrupting their work, thanking them for telling you guys about stuff and warning Algernon to be careful of the heat. You guys then leave, and Hephaestus talks to himself about your disappointment in not going to the beach. He gets offended on your behalf saying he won’t put up with you getting turned away from there, glaring at the junk crowded sea line from far away.
That night in his secret workroom, Hephaestus has opened up the storage in Kamata without anyone knowing and is examining that box from earlier. He notes that it’s made of Dark Matter, the thing that holds light, memories, and information. He doesn’t know what sort of faith is put into it and says it’s a literal black box. He reasons it should have sea memories given where it was found though.
Hephaestus looks a bit more closely at the box again and how it’s put together. He narrates aloud about accessing the surface layer memories on the thing, then linking his app up to your address. Hephaestus declares that there’s no ideal he can’t make, swearing to make your Ideal Ocean for you.
Scene shifts to your room some time later and you are asleep. Your phone starts ringing, and you sleepily wonder who it could be at this time of night. When you open your phone a video call starts up as Talos appears. You either ask if it’s Hephaestus or Talos.
Either way Talos claims to be Hephaestus as per usual, then remembers he shouldn’t be getting to introductions as he says Hephaestus ordered him to call you. He apologizes for the lateness of it, then tells you there’s something he wants to let you know about. You’re curious about that, though you take more of an interest in the fact that Talos looks to be underwater somewhere.
Talos laughs as he says Hephaestus HE just completed something to make your ideal summer, then invites you over. You just comply as if this were a dream and tap on the screen. The next thing you know you’re in some place that seems half like a dream and half like reality, and Talos is happy as he welcomes you to your ideal sea as the episode part ends.
What?!
ReplyDelete