Things begin over at Gammei's office, where he hears a knock and tells whoever's there to come in. Barrel then enters, greeting Gammei and thanking him for all his work so far. Gammei does the same for him, saying it's thanks to all you guys that a lot of information has been collected. Barrel then asks Gammei for some directions on where to investigate now, since he felt things were going smoothly but now he feels like he's hit a wall. Gammei comments that it feels more like you guys hit a dead end, and Barrel says he'd like to find Procy for Gomeisa's sake.
Gammei tells Barrel he doesn't need to rush things since doing a search investigation is like fishing in that things tend to go slow and steady. He also brings something else up as he pulls out some papers from his desk, saying he hasn't been sitting around on his end and has found some info. Barrel is impressed and says he admires him, then asks what the papers are. Gammei prompts him to read through them, saying there's something surprising and something he expected in there. Barrel's brows start scrunching as he looks over the materials. Barrel is about to say something, so Gammei comments on his reaction and how natural it is. After all, the case has now become one that's much more suspicious.
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Shadows of the Past.
Camera then tunes back in on your end at Parallel Flight where you sigh about being stuck and your irritation at that. Mokdai sympathizes, noting that the city police haven't called yet. Even if there is some information on hand, you guys can't do anything right now. Huckle says there's no point in you guys panicking about the investigation since that's normally police work anyway. You guys are just working with them, and all you can do is deal with what work comes your way. Also, even if you guys went out, the heroes aren't here at the moment anyways.
At the mention of heroes, you ask where Akashi is. Mokdai answers that he's at school today and will be coming in during the evening. He notes that until he gets there, Huckle is right in that there's not much to be done. Gomeisa then returns from the office kitchen telling everyone he's put on tea and food, inviting everyone to have some. Mokdai thanks him, then asks how he's feeling given how he fainted yesterday.
Gomeisa says he's fine thanks to you guys and apologizes for the trouble. He says there are times when he can't hold himself back, which leads to things like that. That usually causes Procy and everyone around grief and worry over him, so he does his best to thank people and make up for it when it happens. Anyways, what Gomeisa has brought over is black tea and some sandwiches, stuff that looks like they'd come from a cafe. The sandwich bread has been lightly toasted, and one of them is ham and veggies. Another is a simple egg sandwich, and then there's a fruit jam sandwich that's redder than strawberries or raspberries. You ask about that one, commenting on the bright color and nice smell.
Gomeisa explains that it's his handmade jam using a fruit known as wahyatisomun, which resembles cranberries. There's a greenhouse built on the roof of the building the pub is in, and Gomeisa says he lives there together with a bunch of flowers and trees. Sometimes they bear fruit and drop it, and that's where he got the ingredients for the jam. Huckle talks about how Gomeisa raises a lot of plants in there, from those common to earth to fruit bearing plants not native to the planet. Gomeisa says it's a lot of work to make sure the pollen doesn't escape the greenhouse, but it's nice how his work gets him some delicious fruit. Procy and his customers have told him how great they taste.
You and Mokdai decide to try out that sandwich, and you say it's great, say it's sweet but not cloying, or say it tastes fresher than you thought it would. B and C has Mokdai agree as he says he thought it'd be more sour, but the sweet freshness is great. Gomeisa is highly pleased to hear so, saying he'll tell the tree you thought that. At this point Huckle realizes what time it is and says he needs to leave for some other stuff. You ask about him not sticking with you guys today, so he explains he promised to be with Ryekie for his rehabilitation today. He had been insistent on getting better as soon as possible so that he can fight again. Since Ryekie is stubborn, Huckle figures he'll be out all day and asks you guys to lock the door behind you. He then excuses himself and thanks Gomeisa for the food. Gomeisa in turn is glad and tells him to have a nice day.
After Huckle leaves, it's down to you three. Mokdai says Akashi will be at school for another three hours, and he says it looks like the day will end with you guys having done nothing. Gomeisa reluctantly agrees but says all you guys can do is wait. You decide to ask where Barrel is, and Mokdai starts telling you he's meeting Gammei when the bell rings. He then goes to answer the door.
Narihito turns out to have come over and greets you all, and you either say his name, yell that you were waiting for this, or demand to know how he got the office's address. B has Narihito be taken aback by the reaction as he asks what's going on. C has him protest that he didn't get it through any shady means or anything since he's come here once before. Anyways, Narihito explains he just came from the police station where he exchanged notes. He's learned some stuff, so he came to tell you guys directly. You ask if that means he has new information.
Narihito confirms that, saying he's turned up a bunch of things while investigating some things he had on his mind. He's got into contact with Gammei through Barrel, and when they shared their info he's started to get an idea of the whole picture. It seems like it'd make for a good article. Gomeisa immediately gets into Narihito's business and presses him for answers as he asks where Procy is. He also starts shaking Narihito hard, alarming Mokdai into telling him to ease up on him. Gomeisa does so and apologizes for getting worked up.
Mokdai asks Narihito why he didn't just text you guys since that ought to be easier. He's a news reporter, he ought to be great at writing things out. Narihito says that he is good at communicating through the written word, but with what's going on there's too much of a risk if texts leak. Mokdai is surprised and asks further into that, so Narihito asks you guys to let him go over things in order. It might take a while since it also concern's Procy's past. You ask about that, confused.
Camera jumps back to the police station as Barrel reads out the name Meridian Eyes, a multi-planet spanning mafia organization. Gammei says that Procy had dealings with them in the past. He used to do a lot of dangerous work that was one step away from the line of villainy. He did anything for money, even take on jobs for the mafia. Barrel asks if that means Procy was a mafia member himself. Gammei says he wasn't as he just stayed as a close collaborator. Plus he had cut ties with them for a long time now.
Barrel takes note of how Gammei phrased that and asks if that means the relationship has been opened up again. Gammei doesn't know how close they are now, but his impression is that there's no benefit to them realigning together again. Gammei then says he found a letter inside Procy's room, which says "we need to talk about That Guy you took with you."
Scene switches to your side again to continue with the exposition as you ask about the guy referred to in the letter and wonder who it is. Gomeisa reacts with comprehension and shivers, but doesn't say anything. Mokdai and Narihito both notice, with Mokdai asking if he's okay. Narihito meanwhile watches intensely in silence before he returns to his notes. So even if you leave aside the person mentioned in the letter, Narihito says chances are high that Procy has gone to see the letter writer. Narihito says he's found information saying that the mafia has come to Earth just recently. Conveniently, they have come to this city here, in Japan. You ask about this.
Mokdai asks if that means Procy is likely to be somewhere in the city too. Narihito says he thinks it's probable. Gomeisa then says you guys need to go get him Quickly, but Narihito reminds him that they're talking hypothetically. Gomeisa is disappointed by this, and Mokdai notices something might be significant in Gomeisa having said 'quickly.' Narihito says that the mafia is spread through the galaxy, so he thinks it's unlikely they're sitting still in one place inside the city. If you guys are to find out for sure, he says you'll need to see them directly. You react in disbelief at the suggestion, and Narihito comments that he's gotten involved in something big. He tells you he's got info on a hidden base and asks if you're mentally ready for it. And back at the station, Gammei tells Barrel this is an infiltration mission, so he better be prepared.
Time skips a bit to you guys getting to the location and Akashi has been briefed on what's new. Mokdai apologizes for having him run there and for being late with the explanation, then asks him to be quiet. Narihito says the guard's eyes have turned away, so he prompts Gomeisa to move forward. Gomeisa does so.
Akashi asks why Gammei isn't here given that this is probably his main job. Barrel says the mafia knows what Gammei looks like, so if you guys make a wrong move while he was with you it'd be dangerous. Mokdai says it must be tough to be a detective, then says the guard left. Gomeisa moves forward again, and Akashi wishes you guys didn't have to sneak into a mafia meeting. You either ask if he said something or agree with him.
Akashi asks what all this is as most of what you see is darkness with light coming out of little holes in the wall. Narihito signals Gomeisa to raise the ceiling, creating a space between the wall and floor. Each time the wall moves, so does the party slowly, and this process repeats. Mokdai says you guys are in a cargo shipping container, the ones you see at stations and harbors. Akashi says he meant his question in the sense of what are you guys even doing. Then he sneezes. You ask him if he's okay since he's been sneezing for a while now.
Akashi apologizes, saying that when he was showering after practice, the water heater broke. Narihito hushes him, saying people might be around. Akashi apologizes, then asks why you guys are moving so slowly. Mokdai says that's what you guys have to do since the shipping container was the only thing big enough to hide Gomeisa in. Barrel says you absolutely need a box to hide in when you're on a sneaking mission. Akashi argues that a box isn't that necessary and says you guys agree on the weirdest things. Narihito says there should be tricks to keeping Gomeisa hidden and moving with his huge body. He feels moving around using a container as a disguise would be a lot easier to pull off. Akashi is in disbelief over this, and Barrel says to be quiet since someone is coming.
One mob reports to his leader that their regular patrols are done. The lead mob asks if anything weird was dropped, and the underling says no before asking if that guy really is going to see the boss. The leader shrugs, saying Procyon isn't one to bend on things. Akashi takes notice that they're talking about Procy. Narihito wants to listen in more but figures it might not happen. Akashi starts feeling a sneeze coming on, so you tell him to hold it in.
Akashi barely manages to stop himself from sneezing, which Barrel is relieved about. Narihito then sneezes himself, which startles Gomeisa into giving you guys away. He knocks the container over, which of course makes a ton of noise. Narihito awkwardly apologizes, to which Akashi says is not going to help. Mobs then start rushing over to investigate, and when they see a giant around they move to surround you guys. Mokdai panics a little at you guys getting cut off, and you either react in alarm or sigh in frustration and look at Narihito. The latter gets an extra line where he apologizes again saying he couldn't hold it in.
Anyways, Barrel says there's no choice but to break through now. Akashi says you guys should make the mobs tell you where Procy is since it'd be a lot faster than what you were doing. The two of them both ask you to transform them, and you proceed to do so. Narihito mentions not liking violence, but he decides he should take responsibility for this turn of events and calls in for his transformation. You react in shock at this.
Light covers Narihito, and when he's done transforming he announces himself as Great Memorias, ready to make up for his blunder. Narration notes how he looks like an old school movie hero, and Akashi asks in shock why he didn't help out earlier if he was a hero too. Narihito apologizes, initially saying he was scared before he takes it back and says that to pay his respects to the legends that lend him their power, he tries to not transform and fight too often or else it'll cheapen them. Barrel asks what he means by pay respect, but Narihito says he'll explain his power later since you guys should deal with the villains first. Akashi agrees with the point.
With battle about to break out, Gomeisa looks around again in a daze. The villains laugh at there only being three heroes put up against them, and they threaten to kill you all. Gomeisa mumbles about how it's the same as before back then. He makes his decision as he balls up his fists, and he asks to be allowed to fight too. You react to this in surprise and ask if he's sure or okay. Mokdai tries to talk him out of it, and Gomeisa admits to being bad at fighting and of being scared. He often forgets to bring his comm device to contact his agency, and he has so this time. But he says if he curls up and cries like That Time Procy saved him it'll be the same thing over again. This time it's his turn to save Procy, so he asks to be put forward. Your phone beeps about finding Gomeisa's parallel path and asks if you want to open it. You either agree or ask if he can do it. B has him say he can and asks you to transform him.
You tap the message window and go through with the transformation. Gomeisa says he's ready after he changes, then says he'll do his best. The mobs recognize Gomeisa now and are mad that he's going up against them, so they threaten to make him cry like he did back then again. Gomeisa says he won't cry, and This Time he won't run until he gets Procy back. Barrel takes note of Gomeisa making these temporal references and asks if he's connected to the mafia too. Narihito doesn't say anything, and the villains start to attack. Mokdai wishes you luck, and you nod as you say you'll have to do it and/or wonder if you can handle supporting this many people as the episode battle begins.
No comments:
Post a Comment