Things begin somewhere in the Japanese sea close to the coast out in the Pacific Ocean on the dawn of February 13. Some unseen evil sounding criminal leader addresses his underlings and says that tomorrow is the day they start taking a step towards fulfilling their dearest wish. Whatever it is they plan to do, the leader says the effects will show themselves to the twenty million rats living in Orient City. The incarnation of evil Raidark will pay for the humiliation they suffered long ago, and while these guys are at it, why don't they all sit back and enjoy the birth of a new era on the Unified Earth as the idea of mutual trust collapses? And once everyone's done killing each other, why don't they move in and take over all the broken land for themselves afterward? The speechifying man raises his weapon up, then declares to his enthusiastic underlings that it's time to show the world the most terrifying weapon that is the heart!
Title card pops up, and this episode is called The Day of Reckoning is 2/14.
Camera then tunes in to Hisaki as he's proudly holding a presentation of his new product to a bunch of media reporters. You are watching this through a livestream of this, and the video is showing these reporters sitting down as they listen to Hisaki. A pop up window is hanging above them displaying their questions and replies as the event goes on. The presentation then shows the image of some hospital bed, and a patient incapable of speaking has a window above them and is using that to communicate with their friends and doctors instead. A final example scene of this product in action then has a planet in development where the natives who do not speak Common and negotiaters that do using the window to conduct business.
Hisaki then explains that his product can make it so that people can communicate just by thinking, with an AI collecting your thoughts and putting them into order. With this, we can now enter an era where people who can't speak Common for whatever reason can communicate without issue! Hisaki's company plans on developing the system some more and release it for commercial sale by the end of the year. A reporter asks if they can ask Hisaki a question, and when Hisaki gives the OK, the reporter brings up how society currently already has brain scanning technology that scans the frontal lobe and cerebrum to project a hologram of you. Hisaki's tech would be building on this tech further to create a pop up conversation window, so the reporter asks if there are any ethical problems or dangers associated with this even with the brain tracing happening. Does it have any preventative measures from, say, accidentally outing yourself about something?
Hisaki explains that his tech system works by reading a person's short term thought processes, and he compares this to it reading only the memory portion of a computer's processing. Anything a person wants to keep private will not be picked up on by this tech. On the off chance that something like that might slip by, an adaptive learning AI filtering system will be running simultaneously while active. Since Hisaki intends for the product as a conductive assistant tool for business negotiations, he's developing it to shut out irrelevant thoughts from displaying.
The reporter thanks Hisaki for the explanation, and others in the audience start talking aloud about how this could actually be useful if it does word your thoughts before you've finished putting them together. They also express amazement that Yodobashi Industries might actually try branching out into the networking business. Hisaki looks pleased with himself and laughs a little as everyone talks among themselves, but then one of the thought windows expresses doubt about this product working out well since Hisaki's so young. Hisaki is surprised to see this, and the reporter the thoughts belong to tries to explain it away in a panic.
Some other reporter's thoughts pop up and say the first guy is rude, since you can't say those things on live TV. They do sympathize with him, but they also think about how Hisaki looks fun to play with ever since they saw him. Reporter B freaks out about this, then remembers seeing something like this before and concludes this must be Hisaki's system at work. Hisaki attempts to deny it by saying that the system isn't actually on in the presentation site, and a window pops up demanding an answer as to why then. Meanwhile, someone else turns out to have mentally checked out as the window blabs their thoughts about wanting to leave since they had a date today.
Hisaki freaks out as he tries to figure out what's going on since the windows are displaying thoughts that he's sure people aren't having right this moment. He then realizes the system is tracing thoughts from the whole brain, which he is in disbelief about since it should only stick to scanning the frontal lobe. In his panic, Hisaki fiddles with his arm mounted terminal, which causes a bunch more windows to pop up. He figures out it's not on at all, which he can't understand since he says he's supposed to be the only one to know how to activate it. He doesn't even know why this is happening either since nothing like this has happened before.
As all this goes on, the presentation turns chaotic with all the wailing of the seventh circle of hell. One reporter tries their best to empty their mind while another worries about getting chewed out by their old geezer of a boss, which gets laid out to see by window pop ups. The two freak out upon noticing this, and one of them yells about not being able to go back to their office now. Hisaki freaks out some more about this being impossible even if it were a malfunction, and he repeats his disbelief to himself a few more times before the feed cuts out.
Scene then tunes in over at Parallel Flight where you guys are watching
and eating take out burgers as the TV announcer uncomfortably cites
technical difficulties before switching to commercial. Akashi comments
on things turning into a mess towards the end and wonders if everyone
over at the presentation is okay. You either agree that the thing was a
trainwreck, ask Akashi to pass you some ketchup, or say Hisaki might be
your type. In A, Akashi calls it a broadcasting accident and worries
that something like that might happen to him tomorrow too now that he's
seen it. In B, Akashi is disappointed you aren't paying attention, but
he complies and warns you it's already open. He also asks if you want
mustard. In C, Akashi is shocked that that's what you were paying
attention to as he says you never do change.
Anyways, Huckle thinks aloud about having a window that writes out your thoughts for you would be an interesting development in technology before commenting that his burger is spicy today since there's a lot of onions in it. Ryekie on the other hand is on the phone and says he'll pass it over, then tells you Mokdai wants to talk to you. You react with surprise as you pick up the phone from him, then start talking. Mokdai apologizes for calling during your break and says it's nothing important. He's out on a four day vacation to go back home, though he started to worry about the office. You can either call him a workaholic, tell him things are fine, or say you're sad when he's not there. In A, Mokdai winces but says that might be true, though he knows how important it is to have a private life. In B, Mokdai laughs and thanks you. He saw your battle earlier while he was on the train and says you did good out there. In C, Mokdai blushes and considers coming back a little early, so Akashi tells you to stop joking since Mokdai's the type to take it seriously.
Mokdai tells you he just got off at Hakata Station, and he's about to
meet up with his friends to go eat out at the Tenjin area. He promises
to bring back souvenirs and offers to take requests when one of his
friends calls out to him to hurry it up. Mokdai tells him to line up
ahead of him in the local dialect, which he keeps up for a moment when
he turns back before remembering to switch to Tokyo Standard. Since a
friend is waiting he'll be hanging up, and he asks you to send a message
if anything comes up, then ends the call. Akashi asks you about how
Mokdai is doing, so you say he's fine, say he worried about how the
office was doing, or say his accent was nice. In A, Akashi is glad and
hopes he enjoys his time off. In B, Akashi is surprised but says that's
like him, but he hopes he relaxes on his break. In C, Akashi nods along
for a second before he stops and says that wasn't what he was asking.
Ryekie talks about how Mokdai is from Fukuoka and brought back mentaiko/cod roe once, which he'd like to have again. It goes great with booze, and it really gets him raring to go. Akashi sputters scandalized at this and asks what Ryekie saying there in the agency. Ryekie doesn't get what he means and asks what what's so weird about talking about what gives him the energy to work. Akashi goes oh at finding out that's what he meant, so you either ask what Akashi thought he did mean, tease him for being at that age, or call him dirty minded. A has Akashi claim it's nothing as he tells you to stop asking him since it embarrasses him. B and C has Akashi get really flustered as he tells you to stop looking at him like that.
Huckle points out to Akashi that some pie is sticking to his clothes, and after Akashi looks he gets surprised and mentions how much chocolate gets into things. Ryekie is surprised to hear that there's chocolate pie before remembering that Valentine's Day is tomorrow. Akashi says chocolate pie was added as a seasonal item because of that, so he picked it up for dessert. Huckle talks about how the smell of chocolate is everywhere in the city at this time of year, which can be distracting. It also reminds him of his surprise back when he first came to Earth and heard of the custom of giving chocolate and gifts to those you care about and want to thank. You either ask Akashi if he's giving chocolate to anybody, ask Ryekie if he can eat chocolate, or ask Huckle if he has plans tomorrow.
In A, Akashi is surprised to be asked that, but he admits he probably will. He asks if you will be giving chocolate to anyone yourself, and Huckle laughs to the side about how caring about that is a sign of youth. In B, Ryekie answers that he can, though he likes spicy things more than sweet things. He then talks about eating all the chocolate his fans send him, only to be thrown off by your expression and asks why you're making a face at him. In C, Huckle says he'll be going to work here as usual. If you want to give him something he says he's ready to accept whenever, only to say he was joking as he asks that you not take that seriously. In any case, the day then comes to an end without issue.
The next day, you get up and walk up to the mirror to get ready for the day, and you comment that it looks nice out, hope that things will be peaceful today, or mumble about being sleepy still. Whichever you pick gets repeated by a pop up text window that appears above your head like a speech bubble or chat window, and it takes a moment for you to process that in surprise. You think about how it popped out with what you were thinking before trying to make it go away. The window disappears after it finishes displaying your thoughts, and you start remembering that disastrous presentation you saw the day before. You wonder aloud as to why this window is happening to you now, but at that moment your phone alarm starts ringing, which reminds you that you need to get ready to go.
Outside, the thought window is affecting other people as well. One person thinks about being hungry despite having natto rice for breakfast, another person thinks about a hole opening in their sock and hopes no one noticed, and someone else is thinking about someone next to them being caked in makeup. Said person notices that thought and takes offense, so the original person protests about them reading their thoughts. Some storeowner gets mad at something thinking his veggies are expensive, so the guy he's talking to says it just came to mind when he saw the price tag before getting mad he read his thoughts. You worry about things turning to hell as the window problem isn't just happening to you as you continue making your way to work.
Over at the train station, one person thinks about how crowded the place is and wonders if the train is coming yet. Someone else is thinking that some lady next to them is wearing a lot of perfume and wishes they'd go away. She gets mad and tells him to go away instead, but he argues that she shouldn't yell from so close to him. A station worker attempts to break the fight up, but his thought window reveals he feels he's not paid enough to deal with this nonsense.
The guy the station worker is talking to complains that he had to pay an arm and a leg for a season pass, so he doesn't want to hear about it. The station worker apologizes profusely over this, an announcement is made on the speakers informing everyone that the entire train line is delayed due to conflicts happening between passengers. Random passengers have pop up windows expressing their frustration at the train workers over this, and tensions rise among the morning rush crowd. You worry about how bad things are turning out and think about taking a taxi to work instead, and as you turn around you almost slip on something.
It turns out you slipped on what would have been a nicely wrapped up box of chocolate, but so many people have stepped on it at this point that the box has broken and chocolate has spilled out. What would normally be a day full of positive emotions like gratitude and affection as presents are given is now filling with negative emotions pointed at other people. You comment aloud about things turning into a mess, and things aren't any better outside as you end up late for work.
When you do make it to the agency, you throw out a greeting and an apology for your tardiness as you say you're dead tired. Huckle greets you back, a bit tired himself as he says it's fine since he knows why you're late. He sighs as he goes back to his phone call, and he repeats what he was told about Sui locking herself in her room so the delivery will be late. Huckle says it's fine since Mokdai is out on vacation, then asks Maculata how things are with her. Huckle's pop up window has him internally sighing some more about what a mess everything is, and you note that Huckle is bothered too, think about this place being affected too, and think about Sui locking herself away.
Akashi is sitting over on the sofa, looking gloomy as he greets you. You either greet him back or ask about him looking depressed. A has Akashi ask if you got caught up in the chaos before saying it was rough. B has Akashi deny being down in some surprise and say bothered is more correct in his case. Either way Akashi questions what the pop up window is, since while it doesn't show up all the time it does come out at the most inconvenient times. He remembers how it's like what happened at that TV presentation when he glances at your face, at which point his thought window blabs that he feels better when he sees you. Akashi freaks out in embarrassment at this and tells you to stop looking at him as he desperately tries to hide it. You either casually accept this, claim you saw nothing, or tell Akashi you're happy to hear that. In A, Akashi is confused by your reaction but tells you to stop looking. In B, Akashi calms down a little but wonders why he's feeling conflicted about this now. In C, Akashi gets shocked as he accuses you of teasing him.
Ryekie loudly announces his return as he slams the door open. Huckle is taken aback at this and tells him to consider that he might be on the phone, though thankfully he just ended his call. Ryekie apologizes about this and says he never thought about it. You either greet Ryekie or ask if he came back from some sales work. In A, Ryekie greets you back and notes that things are rough out there. In B, Ryekie confirms as such and says that while it was tough, he shouldn't break promises.
Huckle thanks Ryekie for his work and asks how things were at the job site. Ryekie answers that it was also a chaotic mess over there, and his accompanying thought window repeats exactly what he's said. You and Huckle are surprised by this, and the window continues doing so as Ryekie talks about how everyone's thoughts getting broadcasted is throwing a wrench into the company workflow. Talks did progress but at great strife, and he sighs about being unable to think quietly.
Akashi reacts with amazed shock that Ryekie's thoughts and words are completely unchanged from each other, and Huckle starts calling Ryekie simple minded before thanking him for not being two-sided. Ryekie is taken aback at this and asks if this is supposed to be a compliment, and Crowne walks in, announcing her presence and saying it's bad out there. You either welcome Crowne or ask curiously about her not ringing the bell. A gets an extra line where Crowne greets you and notes that you still seem alright.
Crowne gets irritated as she turns to Ryekie and says it must have been him who left the door open, and she asks what would he have done if someone awful walked in. Ryekie apologizes about this and says he's made a lot of mistakes since he had to think about a lot of things at the sales job. Huckle greets Crowne and notes that she seems to be doing okay, or perhaps more accurately is the same as ever. Crowne says she's the type to speak her mind as soon as she thinks something, so the current incident isn't particularly an issue for her. She then talks about bringing a job to you guys, one that comes from the person with the biggest problem in this incident even with all the problems happening now.
You ask who this person could be, so Crowne gets a little irritated and prompts them to stop standing there and come in already. A slightly cowed voice answers back before entering, and Hisaki walks in and introduces himself by his full name. Akashi recognizes Hisaki from the televised presentation, as do you as you react in shock to him being here. Alternatively you cheer about Hisaki being fluffy, which brings up an extra bit of him being surprised by you suddenly touching him before enjoying how good you are at it. Akashi gets shocked as he tells you to stop and apologizes to Hisaki saying you're just like that.
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