Mercenary: Oh no they're strong! Ahh!
Mokdai: Mokdai Pun--OH MY GOD I ALMOST BROKE AN EXPENSIVE STATUE! Guys let's just calm down and talk it out...
Narihito: Yeah we're heroes, but we didn't come to catch Borealis! We came to ask him for a favor! MC, help me out!
MC: Look, my VIP ticket Borealis signed! (waves the ticket)
Mokdai: Borealis gave us the coordinates to his ship himself!
Narihito: Tell him MC is here! I'm sure he'll understand!
Mokdai and Narihito stand in front of MC like bodyguards.
Mafia: What? The boss would never invite a hero! Show me that ticket!
The guards check the ticket, then start looking at each other as their faces pale.
Guard: ...we will go confirm this signature with our employer. Please excuse our reactions. Due to this sudden visit we will go ask if he can see you. Please have a seat.
The guards revert out of battle mode, bow, and walk past the gate to go further inside. MC turns off Mokdai and Narihito's hero forms too.
MC: Well they left fast / Alright...
Mokdai: That sure blew up. Didn't seem like they were gonna talk.
Narihito: Borealis is just as cautious as rumors say. I guess we should have seen this coming. Maybe it was a mistake to be honest about us being heroes.
Mokdai: But now we might have a chance to talk to Borealis! He should recognize his own handwriting, and from what MC said he'll want to see them again.
The gate opens and Borealis walks out.
Borealis: Hello MC, it's an honor seeing you again so soon. Your sound is pleasant as always. I don't have a concert today, but please make yourself at home. And...I see you brought two guests with you. I suppose it's fine... I apologize for my guards' rudeness.
MC: Hi / Yeah it was just the other day, huh? / I can't believe we got attacked all of a sudden!
MC gets up to greet Borealis. When they look back, Mokdai and Narihito are whispering to each other.
Narihito: I-it's really him! His aura is making me nervous!
Mokdai: Wow he's really dignified for a villain!
Borealis: ...I can hear you two. You seem to know me, but who are you two?
Mokdai: I-I'm sorry! I'm Mokdai. I work in the same office as MC.
Narihito: My name is Narihito. I normally work as a reporter, but today I'm with these two as their driver. I'm so glad to meet you Mister Borealis! Pleased to make your acquaintance!
Borealis: Yes, so my guards have told me. You being the reporter must mean Mokdai is the video editor?
Mokdai: Yes, normally I edit and publish hero videos.
Borealis: I'm going to skip my introduction since you know who I am...now, MC. I still don't know much about you, but you came all the way here before my concert. I suppose you have business with me? It can't be a social visit if you brought heroes with you. And with how your tone is keening, it must be an awkward topic or causing you anxiety?
MC: You can see through everything... / I have a favor to ask.
One explanation later
Borealis: ...I see. A meteor...? ...so what benefit is there in my helping with your operation? From what you've said, it sounds irrelevant to me. Nor does it explain why you would need to ask a non-hero like myself. You should be able to gather Views with VP specialists through your agency networks without me.
Narihito: W-well... no wait, I guess this is what we get for being vague.
Mokdai: MC, maybe we should tell him everything, including what Crowne told us. If we aren't honest here I doubt he'll trust us.
MC: We need way more VP than normal and we don't know anyone else who can swing that.
Mokdai: Also, other heroes are working on either evacuating the city or developing the new weapon. We could lose our city if we don't stop the meteor Monster!
Narihito: We want to protect the city as both heroes and on a personal level! I think you know how that feels!
MC: Please help!
Borealis: !!
Borealis has a flashback to a time his heard the sounds of his friends and family.
Flashback
Borealis: I have to go on ahead today, and I need to hurry since the Operator is already there.
Borealis's Siblings: ...are you okay big brother? You aren't hearing too many things or pushing yourself?
Borealis: I'm fine, thanks.
Borealis's Siblings: ...okay. Well you're a hero! I'll tell Mom and Dad. Bye! ...and don't push yourself too hard.
Borealis: ...I will. Tell them I'll be back later. Bye.
Later in the flashback
Borealis: Sorry I'm late. Are all the civilians up ahead?
Operator: Yeah. No riots yet, but they're getting paranoid...
Borealis: Understandable when it's possible to lose your home and home planet. But that's exactly why people need to be calm...
Operator: ...right. I hope they get that...
Borealis: In other news, I sent a request to our agency HQ for reinforcements, but I haven't gotten any favorable responses. They've prioritized sending heroes to places with more Monsters.
Operator: ...doesn't that mean we won't be getting help? But...
Borealis: That's still uncertain but...I'm going to continue asking for people to be sent here.
Borealis walks over to the crowd. It's not that big of one, but it's still more than half the residents on the planet.
Citizen A: Hey! Is the rumor about the meteor true!?
Citizen B: Fake news, right!? Like, no way can it be true!
Citizen C: We're doomed...we don't have the tech on this planet to get help from other planets.
Citizen D: Are we all gonna die!?
The crowd gets louder when Borealis shows up.
Borealis: Everyone, calm down. It's true a meteor is on a collision course here, but all us heroes are doing our best to keep you safe. So please...
But all Borealis hears is torturous noise of negative emotions coming from the crowd.
Borealis: ...please, keep calm. I'll explain in more detail later.
Citizen A: Are you ditching us!?
Citizen B: Yeah! Tell us your plans then!
Citizen C: Do something already, hero!
Operator: PLEASE STOP! All of you, calm down! This is an unprecedented calamity for us, but that's why we should work together to solve the problem! We're doing everything we can! Please, help us!
Present
Narihito: ...and this should work out well for you, Borealis!
Borealis tunes back in.
Borealis: ...what do you mean? What does it matter to me if a meteor or Monster crashes into Earth?
Narihito: Not that. This is a chance to hold a huge concert with a national government sponsor, something you shouldn't have had before now if your goal is getting Views. I don't really know why you're doing what you're doing, but this will allow you to get the greatest amount of Views in the Earth space region! And since this is a life or death situation, I can say we can guarantee a huge viewer turnout.
Borealis closes his eyes and clears his ears. He hears Narihito's sound, a calm but lively sound with no ulterior motives.
Borealis: ...I suppose I'll believe you aren't hiding anything. But I will still insist on conditions. First, I take command on the day this happens, and I will run the direction and performance. Second, I will not be restricted in my actions in this part of the galaxy. There will be other things, but I'll summarize them and present them. Is this acceptable?
MC: D-does this mean... you're saying yes!? / Thank you Borealis!
(AB) Borealis: W-what!? Don't just suddenly hug people when there are others around. You came to negotiate, yes? Sort that out first. Calm down.
MC: S-sorry!
Borealis: Anyways, I will cooperate with you all... plus, I still haven't repaid MC for their help.
(C) Borealis: Yes, I will cooperate with you all... plus, I still haven't repaid you for your help.
Borealis: If we're holding this concert, you will of course be listening to it.
Narihito: Yes, MC! We made progress on the Anti-Meteor Monster plan!
Mokdai: Thank you, Borealis! Hooray, MC! I gotta tell everyone else!
Borealis: ...oh yes, Mokdai. You're familiar with hero shows? Have you done anything like this before?
Mokdai: Uhh...does editing recorded hero livestreams count?
Borealis: This upcoming concert is very different from my usual ones, but I will not cut corners on any performance I direct, not even a concert battling against a Monster. I'll need more knowledge on stream uploads, so show me some of the work you've done.
Mokdai: O-okay, please wait a moment! I'm getting nervous! (starts pulling up videos on his phone)
Narihito: Ooh, I remember this one!
Borealis: ...not bad. The editing makes you feel as though you're actually there as people arrive, and the battle scenes are so dramatic. Very nice.
Mokdai: T-thank you very much! All this work was so worth it! Did you hear Borealis compliment me, MC!?
MC: Awesome!
Borealis: ...
Borealis remembers how his whole family used to laugh together wholeheartedly as he watches Mokdai celebrate.
Borealis: ...very well. Mokdai, I'm leaving you in charge of part of the concert's production.
Mokdai: Okay! Wait what!?
Borealis: I said I'm leaving you in charge of part of the production. I'm still doing the main parts. You aren't saying you can't do it after coming all this way and presenting your work, are you?
Mokdai: B-b-b-but meeee!?
Title card: An Etude for Heroes
Later, at Parallel Flight after everyone left Borealis's ship
Huckle (over the phone): I see, thanks for your report MC. I'll inform Okitaka about Borealis's conditions for helping. Now there's something I want to tell you guys, but where's Mokdai...?
MC: Well...
Mokdai: Oh no can I actually produce for Borealis's concert? I've never done this before, I have to cram!
Narihito: I-it'll be fine! Borealis decided on that because of the work you showed him! I think your video editing is cool too!
Mokdai: Narihito...thanks. Sorry to bother you, I feel a little better now. I can't mess this up, and since it's Borealis I'm doing this for I'm getting nervous...
Mokdai nervously fiddles with his phone. He's been like that ever since leaving Borealis's ship.
MC: Mokdai, you okay? The director is calling!
Mokdai: ...oh, sorry MC. Hello Director, what's new on your end?
Huckle: Hey Mokdai. Is that Narihito next to you? First off, let me thank you.
Narihito: Long time no see, Director Huckle. Sorry for forcing myself into things.
Huckle: No no, thank you for offering to drive. But back to the topic...Okitaka has formally asked the three of you to take part of this operation.
Mokdai and Narihito sound surprised.
Huckle: Narihito, the Broadcasters HQ may have contacted already, but you're planned to come over here.
Mokdai: Whoa!
Narihito: Is that really okay? I just drove this time...
Huckle: Yes, for this operation Borealis's concert will be of the utmost importance. If Borealis is helping like MC has said, the government will want you guys to join the department's HQ and share intel since you guys can make direct contact with him. Mokdai, I'll send you the address. Can you three come after? The operation is planned to start late on Christmas Eve. We'll need to hurry.
Mokdai: Understood, we'll be there soon. Narihito, can you keep going?
Narihito: I'm good. I'll contact Broadcasters HQ on the way over.
Huckle: Okay, I have to go. See you here at HQ. (hangs up)
Mokdai has received map data!
Mokdai: Kind of a bit away, but it'll probably take half an hour to get there. Let's go.
Narihito: Right! I wonder what sort of place the Emergency Countermeasures HQ is?
Mokdai: Ohh! Ohh! Maybe it'll be a giant underground research lab filled with scientists like in toku hero shows! With a training zone for fighting against evil organizations and--
MC: Time to go Mokdai. / This is gonna be a while, Narihito.
Mokdai: W-wait! I can get ready while I talk!
Narihito: Haha, it's fine to have dreams! I like 'em too! A secret hideout for heroes!
And so everyone packs up and leaves the office.
The party takes a taxi to HQ since trains aren't running normally yet.
Narihito: So you like tokusatsu sentai hero shows too, Mokdai? That takes me back.
Mokdai: Yeah! I like anime and manga heroes too! What about you?
Narihito: I did when I was younger. I prefer real heroes over fictional heroes. I'm so lucky to get a job where I can learn a lot about heroes!
MC: Yeah. So you don't watch anime and manga heroes anymore?
Narihito: Well, not right now. Too busy with work. But Christmas, huh...? I got presents of them when I was younger... There was an anime superhero I loved once. He overcame every hurdle he came across,, though I guess that's nothing new. Santa gave me his hero figure, and I was so happy all day. I wonder if it's still at my old home? Heh, now I wanna see it as I am now.
Mokdai: Nice, I love anime too! There's something great about the classics!
Narihito: Yeah, like shining red and gold hero suits. It might be a memory, but it was still so cool! You have any Christmas present memories, Mokdai?
Mokdai: (looks up into the sky) ...hmm. I was born and raised in the Fukuoka refugee camp. Oh, and refugee camps mean places where people whose home planets were destroyed by Monsters were accepted.
MC: wait what / Your home planet is gone, Mokdai!?
Mokdai: Oh, did I not tell you? Well it's been destroyed for over twenty years, and I hear there's no trace of it left. The earliest I can remember is being in Fukuoka though. We had no fancy presents or dinners because of it being a refugee camp, but we all made soup together for the holiday. I loved that soup... I can afford tons of good food now, but I start wanting that soup when Christmas comes!
MC: Nostalgic soup, huh? I kinda want some now.
Mokdai: I don't remember the recipe, but I did make it with everyone. I was taught how to use a kitchen knife, I chopped veggies, and I snuck tastes of the soup with my friends! I wonder how everyone's doing?
Beep beep, you have arrived at your destination.
Mokdai: ...oh, we're here. It looks like...it should be up ahead?
Mokdai points at something that looks like a research lab or college with a gate up front.
Inside
Hisaki: Hi guys, it's been a while! Heard you were coming soon, so I went on break and waited here.
MC: Long time no see, Hisaki! / So I heard you're developing a new secret weapon / Touch the fluff!
---
(A) Narihito: Yes, it's been a while since I saw you too! I think last time was when I interviewed you for the Hero Fest?
Mokdai: It's about the same for me. Thanks for coming to our stall back then.
Hisaki: Has it been that long? Time flies when you're having fun researching.
(B) Hisaki: Yep! Sis and I are working on the Pseudo Parallel Weapon team together! Awesome, right?
Narihito: You are such a genius inventor! If we weren't pressed for time I'd want to interview you now!
Hisaki: I can make time to talk once the city's been saved! Think of a headline in the meantime!
(C) Hisaki: OH MY GOD MC not in front of so many people! L-later, okay!?
Mokdai: ...Hisaki what do you mean by "later"? Isn't there something important we have to get to?
Hisaki: Exactly what it means! I haven't had time to brush down between all my work! I'm not in any condition to be touched like that and--don't tell Sis!
---
Hisaki: Anyways, come this way. There's stuff we need to tell you and something I wanna ask you guys to do.
Hisaki talks to the party as everyone heads underground.
Hisaki: ...first, lemme explain the place. This is Orient City's Emergency Countermeasures HQ for the Meteor Monster. Up above is the research area. Down below is the living area and training area. Sis and I are generally in the meeting and research rooms. I see Huckle a lot downstairs.
MC: Have you guys been here the whole time? It's so huge.
Mokdai: Oh my god it's just like I imagined! It really is just like a secret hero hideout!
Narihito: Yeah! It's not too far from Orient City's Central District and the big disaster, but it doesn't look damaged at all.
Hisaki: Yep, that's what you can expect with goverment funding. The underground section doubles as a shelter too. Take a look at this monitor, the boss Monster is on it.
MC: That's a Monster!? It's huge! How grotesque...
Hisaki: It's estimated to be about 8 km in diameter, about the same size as the meteor that caused the extinction event of the Cretaceous period. So if it falls, it's gonna be a bad time man. A normal meteor would be shot into tiny pieces by the Space UN's defense systems, but they don't work on Monsters.
MC: That sucks / Oh right, because it's a Monster... / What about hero attacks?
---
(A) Hisaki: It's just like the Monsters that appear in town. Regular space weaponry can't hit their cores.
(BC) Hisaki: Yep. Normal weapons don't work.
---
Hisaki: It'll just regenerate if we don't destroy the core.
Hisaki: ...okay, time for some updated intel sharing. When the giant Meteor Monster comes, the horde of smaller Meteor Monsters orbiting it will attack first.
Hisaki seems to be rushing something.
Hisaki: We've designated the big Meteor Monster "Megas" while the smaller ones will be "Micros".
Mokdai: It's just like one of my anime and manga...
Hisaki: And unfortunately we're in reality. And hypothetically if we can't destroy it in one cannon shot, it's possible Monsters fragments bigger than Micros will spawn from Megas.
MC: You managed to figure out that much? Pretty dangerous...
Hisaki's phone has a new message.
Hisaki: Whoops, excuse me. Uhh... oh! Good news everyone! Ryekie and the others have called in to HQ saying civilian evac is mostly done! And since we've avoided causing extra panic, the government will announce what's really happening soon.
Mokdai: That's good! But we're still in danger if we can't do anything about Megas.
Narihito: Yes, it looks like heroes will be needed at all the possible landing sites. I guess we'll need to get ready to move to the next step.
Hisaki: Yeah, I think arrangements to send out heroes who can go from every agency to the sites are in place. But Orient City being Megas's predicted landing site makes it harder than all the others...
Mokdai: Oh, we'd have to deal with Megas and Micros at the same time...
Narihito: Yeah, there's protecting the cannon from Micros and getting it ready...
Hisaki: And since we need to convert all the Views quickly, the concert area will have to be here. All of you guys plus me will be in charge of this place. Get psyched, everybody!
Hisaki claps his cheeks. Bags are visible under his eyes.
Mokdai: ...Hisaki, are you okay? You look tired.
Hisaki: Hah, this is nothing compared to my academy research presentation days, but thanks! Oh right, there's one other thing I need to tell you. Since Micros is coming through the atmosphere on landing day, you'll need to fight while wearing super heat resistant robes. It might be a little different than fighting like usual, but keep that in mind. Now as for why I'm talking about this...
Hisaki stops and opens a door to a training room. Something like a Monster is suspended in the center.
MC: What's that? It looks like a Monster but doesn't feel like one...
Hisaki: That's a data recreation of Micros based on our investigations we made for battle practice. That's why you guys are here. It's not real, don't worry. I know you just got here, but we need data, so can you try fighting it?
Narihito: A mock battle! Okay, I'll do it if it'll help!
Mokdai: Same here! MC, can you change us?
MC: Okay! Here we go!
Beep beep.
Narihito: Great Memorias is ready to go! MC, think of this like the battle of the day of!
Mokdai: I'm okay too! I'll do what I can! Hisaki, we're counting on you!
Hisaki: Right! The battle will start when you get in. I'll be in the monitor room. Feel free to go all out on my sim robot, it won't break that easy!
MC: You two ready? Let's do this!
BATTLE START
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