Friday, October 23, 2020

Fortune Festival's Happy Illusion Episode 3 Part 1

Things tune in at the inn where you are talking with Mononobe as he comments on the coincidence of staying in the same place. He also comments on you having come together with Shirou and the others to play, with narration saying he called you to his room to talk. You either say you've sent in the paperwork to spend the nights away or admit you've spent the whole time playing around before trailing off on a mumble.
 
Mononobe laughs and tells you to relax since this is both a vacation and outside the school, so he's not planning on lecturing you. He tells you it's fine if you don't mention to the gang that he's here, and he came to step away from being a teacher for a bit to enjoy the festivities. You either say you understand, be disappointed and say you figured everyone would be happy, or call it a secret between the two of you. A has Mononobe says that's good. In B, Mononobe wonders about that as says he can see Kengo sulking. Still, he's happy you'd say that. In C, Mononobe comments that sounds like a romantic line and guesses you want him to overlook your vacation homework.
 
Mononobe talks about spending some time to stretch and relax here, saying that having been a teacher for so long his joints are getting old. You either ask him to take it easy, say you don't think he looks that old, or say his job must be rough. B has an extra line with Mononobe expressing surprise at you saying that and wondering if he looks younger than he thinks he does. Either way, Mononobe says he's been a called a teacher for a long time and seeing a lot of young kids off. He doesn't know if he looks it, but he feels like part of himself gets shaved off every time it happens. He laughs and says it's more pronounced when he's in charge of a problem student in a given year. Still, he'd always known since before becoming a teacher that guiding someone would be hard work. You ask him why he still became a teacher anyway and if he'll keep at his job.
 
Mononobe takes a moment to consider both questions, then says it's been so long he might not remember anymore. He makes a point of saying he isn't teasing you as he says memories fade with time. Getting older means it's harder to remember what's important to you, but even if you do forget it completely it doesn't mean that the fact it happened disappeared as well. There are times when forgetting sad and painful memories is what lets you move forward. Just as you can gain something, you can also hold something you've lost as dear to you. These things are what shapes you.
 
Mononobe tells you that he hopes what you've gained in your student life will one day help you. And if you ever lose anything, he hopes it'll become strength for you too. Mononobe then laughs that he lectured you after all, then says that's how teachers are. He tells you to go take a bath and wash up, then head to bed. He'll be doing so too. He'll be in this room during the duration of the festival, so if anything happens you can go to him. He then bids you good night. When you leave Mononobe's room, you talk to Solomon and suggest either going back to your room or taking one more walk. But then you notice he isn't there, so you wonder where he went off to.
 
Scene shifts to elsewhere in the inn where Tezcatlipoca and Tvastar are. Tezcatlipoca asks if Tvastar is ready, and Tvastar says it's time for the first test of Tezcatlipoca's artificial body. He starts by having Vritra transform, then tells it to convert the gathered happy power into life energy. Tvastar rattles off some status reports as the work goes on, with the energy circulation being all clear and the false nerve network being at 76% done. He stabilizes the scope of the apoptosis planned to happen, and all joints are working perfectly. Then he gets to inputting the energy into the body. Right arm, left arm, and left leg are fueled up. It's when he gets to the right leg that Tvastar stops Vritra since they don't have any energy left. That was all that was collected on the first day, and Tvastar comments on needing more. As it stands there's only enough to move the body for half a day at most, and he apologizes for not having it done in time for the next day.
 
Tezcatlipoca tells Tvastar that he doesn't mind and actually Prefers It This Way. Tvastar is surprised to hear this since he was expecting a ton of complaints instead, but if Tezcatlipoca says so he feels he shouldn't argue with him about it. Tezcatlipoca points out that it'll almost be dawn, so he ought to rest since it's not quite Day 2 of the festival yet. Tvastar sighs as he checks the time, and he decides he'd better sleep normally instead of taking a stamina drink. Tezcatlipoca laughs and asks him to do so since the festival will be heating up most likely.
 
Tvastar decides to take the moment to ask Tezcatlipoca if it's okay to ask him about something. Tezcatlipoca finds this surprising but permits him to do so, saying it's because he lives like a mirror, giving aid to aid and repaying violence with violence. Tvastar then asks Tezcatlipoca why he refused his offer when he first asked Tvastar to make a new body. Tezcatlipoca says nothing, reluctant to answer, so Tvastar adds that he offered to make him the strongest body. Tezcatlipoca had turned him down on that, and Tvastar says it was more like he Chose the Opposite. Tvastar then says he's a little different from a warrior, but if he were to have a body that goes to war, he'd figure it'd be best to have the best and most abilities. It'd be the logical thing, and at the very least That's How It Was Around Him. Does Tezcatlipoca really not want those things? Or is it that he wants to die?
 
Tezcatlipoca laughs and comments on how those are Tvastar's thoughts. Tvastar pleads for Tezcatlipoca to tell him, asking not as one of the Kamata Crafters, but as someone once known as the Creator of Life in his homeworld and praised as the sun of Deva Loka. He gently pats Vritra as he talks, looking right into Tezcatlipoca's eyes. Tezcatlipoca laughs as he says it feels like he'll be able to have an interesting relationship with him. He then agrees to tell Tvastar his beliefs on what it means to live.
 
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Festival Uproar! A War Show Starting at the Shooting Gallery!?
 
Time skips a little to the dawn of the second day, with light coming up in the distance in the sky. Everyone else in the gang is asleep, tired from the events from yesterday. Solomon pops up, mumbling sleepily. You greet him good morning, comment that he came back at some point, or demand to know where he went last night. Solomon answers that he left early and went to go talk with Cait Sith. By the time he came back you were already asleep, so he flopped down besides you. That said he comments that you're up early as everyone else is still asleep. You say you woke up for some reason, so you'll take a walk while Solomon can sleep some more. Solomon takes you up on your offer and asks you to wake him when it's time to go to the festival again. You then take care to get up without waking anyone, but then you notice someone is in the hallway.
 
As it turns out, Tezcatlipoca is outside your door, commenting on how early up you are just like him. He greets you good morning and actually takes care to keep his voice down. You greet him back and note how early he's up too, or you can ask him to let you pet him. C has Tezcatlipoca laugh and ask if you're sure since it'd probably put you back to bed. But anyways, since you're both up Tezcatlipoca invites you to go on a walk with him. He explains it's hard to walk with his current body, so if he were to go walk alone now, he demonstrates by getting stepped on by an Evil. Shirou apparently wakes up and figures the Evil just wants to go to the restroom, so he calls it over so they can go together. Tezcatlipoca gets stepped on again, and you react in shock to all this.
 
Tezcatlipoca gets back up and asks if you understand now. He can't brace his legs in the doll body, and if he were to go outside alone, birds and animals would come after him. Honestly speaking that happened to him a bunch of times already yesterday. Tezcatlipoca then asks if you'll hear out his request. You either tell him you aren't planning on saying no, shrug and say fine, or ask if you can hold him.
 
Time passes as you and Tezcatlipoca are outside, and Tezcatlipoca comments on how nice the wind feels and how long it's been since he's walked with you. He laughs when you look surprised, saying he has his sentimental moments too. He then says he wants to stay like this a bit longer, held in your arms. You say it's fine to keep going like this and that you wanted to start walking again, or you ask how it feels to be carried by you. A and B has Tezcatlipoca thank you.
 
Tezcatlipoca talks some more about the nostalgia he's feeling and hopes you'll feel it too one day, but he takes it back and says you're feeling it now since Both of You are in different bodies. He says it's like you're both Starting Over, which he says is blasphemous For Him to be thinking that. But it's fine, Only For This Time here and now. You eventually reach a bridge and stand on it as the wind brushes through you, and the sounds of water flowing reaches you. You put Tezcatlipoca over the handrail but not so far that he'd fall in, and both of you enjoy the moment in silence.
 
Eventually Tezcatlipoca draws your attention to look at the river and all the fish swimming in it. With no one's hands in it, he compares it to a scene of a world just after it has been created, and he starts to ask if you remember before he decides to take it upon himself to talk as he brings up how naughty you both were back in the day. In the beginning you both tread mountains, parted rivers, and felt the world you created with your bodies. And then you both fought, which Tezcatlipoca says was fun as he laughs. It seems like you're about to say you don't remember this, and you ask how that fight ended. Tezcatlipoca is surprised at the question and says you both cried and made each other cry. You were born together, spent time together, laughed together, and competed together. Looking back on it now, he feels you were both quite mischievous. You comment on them being fun memories and are about to ask him something else when you decide against it.
 
Tezcatlipoca laughs and says it's fine for you to say what you think in response to him, since returning favors is what he likes. But if you choose to not respond as a strategy for countering him, that's fine too. He then thanks you for listening to him talk and says he's had fun on this walk. You tell him the walk isn't over yet until you actually get back, and he agrees after a moment, commenting on how this is reminding him of so many things from before.
 
When you get back to the inn, Ryouta welcomes you back, noticing that Tezcatlipoca is with you and saying it's already time for breakfast. Tezcatlipoca says it was a meaningful walk and is about to excuse himself when Ryouta invites him to join you guys for breakfast. Tezcatlipoca is surprised by this, and Ryouta says this is just in case he hasn't eaten yet. It'll be fun to eat together he says. Tezcatlipoca doesn't give an answer right away, and you either invite him as well since he's already here or ask if a doll even can eat. He thanks you for the invite, but turns it down since he already has to be somewhere else, then leaves as he excuses himself again. Ryouta is a little disappointed as he says he wanted to take a picture of him, but he decides to try again another time and hurry you to breakfast.
 
A bit of time passes as you join everyone, and Kengo says everyone was waiting for you. Agyou says he's hungry and invites you to sit next to him, prompting Kijimuna to complain since he wants to sit next to you too. The Evil screeches, and Shirou tells everyone to pipe down, saying seating arrangements can be discussed next time. But now that everyone is present, Shirou is about to start going over the schedule for the day when Kengo blows him off to start eating before things get cold. Everyone else follows his lead.
 
Touji starts commenting on his very Japanese breakfast of rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables and how that's the perfect way to start the day. Kengo asks Ryouta to pass over a container of cooked rice since the one near him is almost empty, but Ryouta says so's his, so he decides to go get more. R-19 processes this and offers the one near him, and Hanuman thanks him as he grabs some rice too. Touji then yells at everyone to stop making so much noise and to eat in peace.
 
Agyou talks to Moritaka and asks if it's okay to feed rice to a goldfish. Moritaka tells him the fish should already have been fed, so he ought to just enjoy the meal for now. Agyou says he'll do it after feeding the fish and turns to R-19 for backup. Shirou asks if everyone's calmed down and picks back up with going over the schedule like he tried earlier. So, his proposed plan for the day is to spend the rest of the morning working on homework so they won't have to deal with it later, but Hanuman and Kengo immediately attempt to bail on this as Ryouta points out in shock. Shirou then chases after them to make them stay.
 
Some time later, everyone is getting ready as Shirou tells Kijimuna it's his turn and prompts him to raise his arms. Kijimuna does so, and Agyou tries to hurry everyone along before the festival ends, but Shirou says you guys can't go there naked. He asks him to wait a bit longer as the happi and fundoshi are almost done. Shirou then helps Kijimuna change into a yukata, then nods and says he looks good in it. Kijimuna talks about how fun Tokyo festivals are, and while the yukata is kind of hard to move in he still likes it. You agree that Kijimuna looks good in it and talk about how it really gives a festival feeling, then you wonder if you can wear one too.
 
Solomon pops up and says he'll help you change, then prompts you to raise your arms. Touji comes over and tells Shirou everyone else is finished changing. Shirou thanks him, then turns to you as he looks up the assignments for the day. You'll be in the same area as Kengo, so Shirou asks you guys to keep things handled. Cait Sith comes by at this moment saying he's come to pick you guys up, and Moritaka notes he's in a good mood as he asks if something happened. Cait Sith is surprised at this despite not making any effort to hide his feelings and confirms as such, then tells you he was complimented on his work as the festival head. Since the back elevators were put to use, the traffic issues have been alleviated, and he's glad Tezcatlipoca and the others helped out to make it work. You congratulate Cait Sith and can try to take advantage of things to pet him. If you do go with C, Cait Sith says he'll graciously forgive you before he decides to ask for more. Solomon follows up crying and begging you to pet him too.
 
But anyways, Cait Sith brags that as the next king of cats this is expected of him. Ryouta agrees excitedly and figures that Cait Sith's magic show on the last day should be a big success with a full house. At least, that's what he heard from someone else at any rate. Cait Sith realizes he totally forgot about that and flops over in shock. Kengo comments on Cait Sith not having any chill for swinging between happy and depression so fast, but it's still funny as someone watching it happen. Ryouta then prompts Cait Sith to get back up and go with them to the festival since he came to pick you guys up. Cait Sith jumps up with a gasp, saying he doesn't have time to be a downer. Things are even busier than yesterday, and he says that in times like these big crowds are dangerous. Moritaka asks what he means by that, so Cait Sith tries to explain it as the situation making it easier to go wild and crazy. Excitement is fine, but maybe it'll get to be too much.
 
When you guys reach the festival, most of the Yoyogi jocks are together with Yasuyori enjoying the festivities. Cait Sith points them out as an example of what he was talking about, but he notes that nothing's wrong here. You agree on them getting excited, say you recognize some faces there, or apologize and say they're your friends. Ashiagara laughs and points at random things, talking about how fun or delicious they look. He then greets you and expresses some thanks for Ryouta for letting him know about this. Wakan Tanka couldn't make it since he had other things to do, but they'll have fun without him.
 
Yasuyori is feeling embarrassed for reasons I'm not quite sure of, and Ashigara asks what there is to be embarrassed about and tells him to lighten up, offering to treat him to something. Yasuyori says he's not in a bad mood or anything since he's used to being dragged around by him. Durga jumps onto Ashigara's offer and tries to finagle it for the rest of them too, which Kyuuma and Gunzou join in on. Ashigara reacts in shock at his money being taken advantage of like this, and Yasuyori laughs at him.
 
A voice calls out to Yasuyori, saying he doesn't need to pay for anything either as his superior will take care of it. Yasuyori recognizes the voice in surprise, and Tezcatlipoca shows up in his new body, enjoying the laughs and saying it's been a while since Yasuyori looked relaxed. You react in shock that he's not in a doll body now. Tezcatlipoca laughs himself and asks if you're surprised at his new body. Yasuyori asks about it already being completed, and Tanetomo shows up annoyed at not being informed of this either, commenting that Tezcatlipoca is always doing things arbitrarily. Tezcatlipoca calls Tanetomo harsh as he says he's acting the way he always had, and Tanetomo says it's his job to observe him. You ask about these things and ask what Tezcatlipoca did.
 
Yasuyori is not following the conversation any better than you are as he asks Tezcatlipoca and Tanetomo for an explanation. Tanetomo sighs and says he knows things will get worse later, then tells Tezcatlipoca to not get too crazy. Durga asks if Yasuyori knows them, saying that Tezcatlipoca sounds like a bigwig and someone fun. Gunzou guesses from how they're speaking that they're Yasuyori's senpais and therefore alumni of the sumo team. Kyuuma somehow gets the idea this means that they are their gods as athletes. Ashigara stands there not saying anything.
 
Tezcatlipoca addresses the Yoyogi students and tells them to follow him. As thanks for them taking care of Yasuyori he offers to pay for all their food and games. The jocks all cheer and say they'll come with him as they refer to him as Yasuyori-senpai. Yasuyori is taken aback by this generosity and asks if it's okay, and Tezcatlipoca says it's fine since they're his friends. Yasuyori is moved by this and thanks him, and Tezcatlipoca mentions wondering since the day before where Tiger Man went. Tanetomo is mildly surprised as he realizes he hasn't seen him either. Yasuyori hasn't seen him either and figures he must be at a performance, and the section ends with Tezcatlipoca thinking on it.
 
 

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