El Dorado Treasure Hunt Episode 4 (Abridged)

Party streamers! Honk honk
Tiger Man, Shennong, Yasuyori, and Tanetomo: Congratulations on your new body!
MC: WHAT
Shennong: haha, sorry about tricking you
Tanetomo: Surprised? Shall I explain what's happening? (closes fan)
Tanetomo: So plot twist! We originally went to Nomad's agency to hire him to prepare this party. I never would have believed he's that rumored fixer in Ikebukuro.
Nomad: >8C (cooks angrily)

Tanetomo: Then both of you suddenly came in. I was worried you saw through our plans.
Tezcatlipoca: Yes, that was surprising! (laughs louder than usual)
Tanetomo: I thought Yasuyori or Tiger Man might have blabbed about it. We pretended to leave, then went back to order the party ready.
MC: WHAT
Shennong: That's why we were so late to getting to the ruins. We joined together, but then we ran into some of the other Warmongers by coincidence.
Tanetomo: We couldn't waste any time because of the party, so I made a suggestion!

Flashback!
Teda: Did you say deal!? What's in it for us?
Tanetomo: I hear there's a secret treasure from El Dorado here. I propose a hostage trade.
Marduk: What? Why?
Nezha: Sounds good to me!
Tanetomo: Allow me to explain...
Tanetomo explains the party they're throwing for Tezcatlipoca.
Tiger Man: The original plan was for me to put on a mask and attack him!
Tanetomo: I'm sure he'd go along with that and follow us to the party place, but then I realized I was sick of his nonsense enough that I wanted to scare him a little.
The other Warmongers seem interested. Also...
Yoritomo: Interesting.
Tanetomo: Sir!?
Yoritomo: I'd like to cooperate with you on that since it doesn't get in the way of my own plans.

Present
Tiger Man: So we've been hanging around here the entire time. I wish I could have gone with you guys.
Tezcatlipoca: Ha! Nice job doing that!
Tiger Man: Si Señor!
MC: You gave the treasure away as a joke!?
Tanetomo: Aww, is that how little you think of the commander? He's ALL about even stevens!

Elsewhere
Yoritomo and Mephistopheles leave the ruins. The minute they step out the statue blows up into smoke!
Yoritomo: (picks up phone) ...hello, guildmaster?
Bertro: HELLO COMRADE!
Yoritomo also hears loud noises in the background from Bertro's end.
Yoritomo: How loud. Are you already at the party place?
Bertro: Yep! One moment while I step outside.
Bertro: Okay, so have you noticed anything about Tezcatlipoca?
Yoritomo looks at Mephistopheles. Mephisto shrugs.
Yoritomo: ...are you referring to the "incurable disease" all us World Pillars have?
Bertro: Interesting. Thanks you two! I'll tell you these funny stories next time. It'll be great! Heywaitdon'thangup--

Present
Tezcatlipoca: That's what it was BRRRROTHER. The statue I gave was a piece of my power! We may all be fellow World Representatives, but it wasn't easy seeing through them.
MC: Huh. You DID hand it over pretty easily now that I think about it.
Tanetomo: Never mind that now, let's start the party! I taste tested all the food for poison. It was delicious!
Nomad: Dammit I should have tried poisoning you.
Tanetomo: Are you embarrassed and trying to hide it? Aww, that's cute.
Nomad: WHO IS THIS SASSY LITTLE CHILD

Tiger Man: I helped cook too! You got a new body now, so try some pasta!
Tiger Man tries feeding Tezcatlipoca, who surprisingly doesn't get annoyed at this.
MC: Well okay then
Shennong: C'mon MC, go ahead and eat too.
Yasuyori: Please feel free to join in even if the rest of us are all Warmongers!
Tezcatlipoca: BRRRROTHER!  Dance with me!
Shennong: Duty calls, MC! Unless you'd rather dance with me?
Tanetomo: Would you like to dance with cute little ol' me?
Tiger Man: Bailamos, amigo! I'll lead!
Yasuyori: Excuse me, MC. Could I invite you to dance too?

Later
MC: I'm a little tired from dancing with everyone. I wish these days would last...
Tezcatlipoca: BRRRROTHER! Are you tired? You're popular as ever, enough to make me a little jealous.
MC: Is it okay for you to leave a party for you? / Well you are too / I wanted to feel the breeze
(A) Tezcatlipoca: I wanted to talk to you but didn't notice from all the noise. (walks up next to MC after they nod)
(B) Tezcatlipoca: Ha! Yes! I must thank them for the party!
(C) Tezcatlipoca: May we talk after your rest?

Tezcatlipoca: First, let me thank you for accompanying me when I only planned to ask your opinion. We never really did talk much on that, but I've gotten ideas for the presents.
MC: Cool, what are they?
Tezcatlipoca: How about a sumo mawashi for Yasuyori? And how about we all go cheer for his next match? It's been a long time since I haven't gone to watch.
Tezcatlipoca seems to show a different side of him for a second.
Tezcatlipoca: ...I really do need to thank them. This party for me would fill my long lost heart. And I should also feel that crushing pain that comes with it.
MC: ...what's wrong?

Tezcatlipoca: It may be pointless to tell you, but will you listen to me? And keep this a secret from my soldiers.
Tezcatlipoca: ...this party has been thrown for me more times than I can count. Sometimes the big and small details differ, like bumping into them at the detective's office.
MC: What? / ... / The loops...
Tezcatlipoca: I am the only one who remembers. All the sounds and sensations happened for the first time for them, but for me it is all deja vu.

Tezcatlipoca: I show the appropriate surprise, but it can't match their genuine feelings.
Tezcatlipoca prides himself on giving more than anyone, but his new body has no sense of experiencing things new.
Tezcatlipoca: I am too empty to respond to their devotion in kind.
MC: Tezcatlipoca...
Tezcatlipoca: You understand this better than anyone, but I have not spoken about this for your sympathy or forgiveness. I say this because I strongly feel what's left of what truly makes me myself.

Tezcatlipoca looks at MC.
Tezcatlipoca: It won't be long before the loop comes where we pick off from that day. I won our last battle, but you disappeared soon after. I've regretted it ever since, so this time I will be sure there will be nothing left to regret... (looks down)
Tezcatlipoca: There aren't many days where we can spend them like this.
MC: I'll be waiting / ... / Do what you want. I'll be doing so too.
---
(A) Tezcatlipoca: Thank you, Quetzalcoatl.
(B) MC wants to object aloud but can't bring themselves to do so because it would hurt Tezcatlipoca.
(C) Tezcatlipoca: Haha, yes! That's my BRRRROTHER! That's why it has to be so...
---
Tezcatlipoca: Thank you for listening. I feel like I can take a step forward now. I need to go back. Don't look sad when you come back too. Hahaha!
Tezcatlipoca: ...thank you again for putting up with my dull concerns. You can rest here some more.

Inside
Tezcatlipoca: ...
Balor: ...bitch what did you tell MC?
Tezcatlipoca: HA! Are you jealous?
Balor: Fine, I'll say my own piece. I don't like it, but I'll work with you on anything. I owe you, and I'm the only one who can think like you.
Tezcatlipoca: Heh, the Fairy Land has a lot to thank me for. Fine, I'll use you. Our goal is in sight now.
Balor smiles and walks off to grab a drink.
Tanetomo: Oh, Commander where have you been? We just got to the good part.
Tezcatlipoca: HA! Interesting! Next, I will--

Later
MC has returned to the party going smoothly.
Shennong: Nutritional balance!
Yasuyori: T-thank you Doctor, but--
MC: (wipes tears and calms self down) / (try really hard to be happy)
(AB) MC tries avoiding conversations, especially with the observant Tanetomo.
Tiger Man: A-amigo? Shouldn't you cheer up?
(C) Tiger Man: Si, amigo! That's how it should be!

MC: R-right...
Tiger Man: Oh! I wanna talk to you about something! (pulls MC to a corner and whispers)
Tiger Man: I really wanted to thank you since you're why the Boss is enjoying himself so much today! I couldn't fill the space in his heart on my own, but together we can do anything!
Tiger Man is unaware that Tezcatlipoca is not genuinely smiling from within. He is just reflecting another's expression.
MC: This is too awful... / What do I do...? / ...
Yoritomo and Mephistopheles walk up.
Yoritomo: May we speak?

Later
Yoritomo: No need to be vigilant, I came to talk to you about Tezcatlipoca. You're thinking that war hawk can't enjoy anything from the heart anymore, aren't you?
MC: You know? What am I suppose to do then? / Yeah, I'm lost for ideas / ...
Yoritomo: ...you misunderstand his true nature. He is literally a mirror. A mirror reflects everything before it, and a mirror that reflects nothing is worthless. If you cry, he cries. But, if you smile then he will smile.
MC: !! Did you come to advise me?
Yoritomo: I've seen what happened today play out from afar as well. Outsiders see things better than the players involved do.
Minamoto no Yoritomo is a man who believes the appropriate distance brings good results.
Yoritomo: ...if you understand that, I believe you know what you should do next. Correct?
MC: ...thank you big brother! / Oh my god are you actually nice? / (hug Yoritomo)
Yoritomo: STOPSTOPTOOCLOSE
Yoritomo: ...ahem. You should go, MC. 

Mephistopheles: Aww, how kind of you. Is this brotherly love, Sir Yoritomo?
Yoritomo: You know not of what you speak, demon. If he goes down with Tezcatlipoca it will be too soon.
Mephisto: Hmm. And you believe this will happen?
Yoritomo: FOOL. If Yoshitsune went down that easily I wouldn't have such problems with indigestion.
Yoritomo thinks about all the times he sent Yoshitsune on suicide missions yet somehow Yoshitsune actually succeeded and returned alive. The way he came back with the enemy's head smiling was more chilling than the winter cold. Did he not know he was being cast away? When he died, Yoritomo disbelieved it more than anyone and came to Tokyo to see for himself if it was true.
Yoritomo: My little brother is the only thing I do not understand. What did he want?
Mephistopheles: Maybe to please yo--I MEAN this model butler said nothing!

Later
Tezcatlipoca: Hmm?
MC: Tezcatlipoca! Let's dance, have cake, have fun together!
MC grabs Tezcatlipoca and starts running.
Tezcatlipoca: What???
MC: You said that this was a party you had a bunch of times already, and that was the first time you opened up about that right? There's still plenty of things that are new to you!
It may have been a party repeated ad Infinitum, yet they can't have been All the ways a party could go. Even if every possibility were thought up brought together, they would never reach All futures. When you say you've done everything you could think of, it's then that you can do something new.
MC: I'm sure there's more you haven't done based on stuff you've already did. C'mon, let's go!
Tezcatlipoca briefly shows shock...then shows what surely must be a genuine smile.
Tezcatlipoca: You really are the best, BRRRROTHER!
Tezcatlipoca sees his smile reflected in MC's eyes.
Tezcatlipoca: Very well! I'll accompany you a while longer!
Tezcatlipoca grabs tighter onto MC's hands like he's committing to memory how that sensation feels.

Later
Bertro: War's about escalation. It comes to a point then goes. That is the driving force of the world and our most efficient path to artificial progress. That top is the place I'm aiming for, and we are its stepping stone.
Party's over by the way.
Bertro: I believe you've already hit that point. You've already started taking different steps compared to past loops, right? I've already calculated it would only end in your destruction.
Tezcatlipoca: HA! Is that what you came to say? You could have just said "I'm worried about you!"
Bertro: Haha! I can't believe you'd say that to me!
Tezcatlipoca: ...I now realize we never concerned ourselves with each other. At least, I didn't before. We were just rivals scrambling over the trophy.
Bertro: Yes, that is how warmongers are. Are you saying it's different now?
Tezcatlipoca: Yes, I thought so until yesterday. Now I think differently.
Bertro: Hmm! I wanna see what you'll show to someone who can't become anyone like me.
Tezcatlipoca: You may be resigned but there may be a surprise for you yet.
Bertro: ...I look forward to it.
And so the two laugh as they clink glasses. A toast to endless endings and blessings for one another afterwards.
The End