Title card: Early Morning Truth
It's almost the day of show time! MC leaves home early so they can stop by the office, but they finish their stuff there and end up heading the the Yatomi Circus an hour earlier than the meet up time.
MC: Welp
The surrounding area is empty. There isn't even a convenience store around!
MC: Okay fine I'll go inside.
MC unlocks the front and walks past the sleeping animals.
MC: Cute!
The place is quiet, but then there's somebody talking over by the stage.
MC: Is somebody here?
MC sneaks closer.
Yasuhiko and Totally Not Vulpecula are talking to each other.
MC: I wonder what they're talking about?
Vulpecula: Why the sudden interest in your father? I can't stay here too long because I'm wanted, you know.
Yasuhiko: No I still hate him and I'm not interested in the family stuff either. But...
Flashback!
Furlong: Yasuhiko I want you to care about the things your family left because I've lost things relating to my family that I can't get back.
Present
Yasuhiko: I'm starting to feel guilty for our three cooperators. I just happened to talk to MC about the Yatomi Crystal, and maybe that's why...
MC: What?
Vulpecula: So you're backing out of our deal? That means I can just beat the crystal's location out of MC.
Yasuhiko: !?
Vulpecula: But I'm not going to. Know why? (leans in closer and lowers his tone) It goes against my aesthetics. You hold up your end of the deal, and I'll hold up mine. Who knows what will happen if the deal falls through?
Yasuhiko: ...fine. I promise I'll give it to you when the conditions are met. So you better keep your word, VULPECULA.
MC: OMG!?
MC accidentally knocks a mop over.
MC: oops
MC grabs the mop to keep most of the noise down. Yasuhiko and Vulpecula still caught something and look towards the entrance.
Vulpecula: ... (sigh) Fine, it's almost time for the big performance. Stay focused. Bye.
Vulpecula walks off some other direction.
MC: Whew...
MC drops the mop loudly.
Yasuhiko: WHOMST
MC: oops (walks out)
Yasuhiko: ...did you hear all that?
MC: ...yes.
Yasuhiko: ...oh. (deep sighs)
Yasuhiko: Yep, Johann is Vulpecula and he's here for the Yatomi Crystal.
MC: Knew it / Why? / Call the police!
---
(AB) Yasuhiko: ...will you hear me out?
(C) Yasuhiko: No wait, listen!
---
Yasuhiko: So back on Valentine's, Vulpecula turned up over here. The news said he didn't, but he came here to the circus.
Yasuhiko: He was after the Yatomi Crystal of course. It's a space magic crystal that saves memories against Monster erasure, of course he'd be all over it!
Flashback!
Vulpecula: This place is dark and empty. How do you even put on shows like this?
Mercenary: Sir, no police are coming. We intercepted a signal though. They seem to think we're somewhere else.
Vulpecula: Sad. I thought they were better than that. The circus boss was eaten by a Monster and only heroes remember him. Seems like there's no one here as good as that bird detective.
Vulpecula walks into the tent in disappointment.
Vulpecula: So, it's here?
Mercenary: Yes, here in Yatomi Circus.
Vulpecula: How depressing. Circuses could be a relic of the past too. I hear they used to be the kings of amusement, but now...hm?
Vulpecula notices some juggling tools left around.
Vulpecula: Hmm...
Vulpecula picks one up.
Mercenary: S-sir?
Vulpecula: This brings back memories.
Vulpecula starts playing around with the tool, looking sad and affectionate about it.
Yasuhiko: NOW!
Trainees: YEAAAAAH
Vulpecula: !?
A bunch of lights converge on Vulpecula as a net of light.
Mercenary: Sir! I'm coming to help!
Vulpecula: ...no, stand down.
Mercenary: But...!
Vulpecula: I said stand down.
Mercenary: ...yes Sir. Fall back, men!
Vulpecula makes no attempt to resist as lights turn on.
Vulpecula: ...so there are no cameras around. Which means your associates are the only ones watching and allowing your powers to work? How weak. Even a barely trained hero could break out of this.
Yasuhiko: Wow you really DID come here. Setting that trap was the right call. Well anyways, I've been waiting for you Vulpecula.
Vulpecula: You really thought you could catch me with babby's first trap?
Yasuhiko: You still fell for it.
Vulpecula: (detransforms) ...so what's your angle? Here to catch me and hand me to the police?
Yasuhiko: ...no. I wanna make a deal.
Vulpecula: ...with me?
Yasuhiko: Yes. If you're here after posting that video, that means you're after the Yatomi Crystal?
Vulpecula: ...go on.
Yasuhiko: I'm the only one who knows where it is, but I might bring it to you depending on your answer. Sell it, break it, whatever.
Vulpecula: !!
Yasuhiko: So, what's it worth to you?
Vulpecula: ...so this is a monetary trade? This is going to sound weird coming from me, but don't you care about the crystal? Isn't it a family heirloom?
Yasuhiko: No. I may be a member of the family, but I was never treated like one. I even hate my father. But I need money to keep the circus running, so I'll sell it to you. How about it?
Vulpecula: No attachments to your lost family? How wonderful. Yet contradictory! Isn't this circus also something your family passed down to you? Can't you abandon it too?
Yasuhiko: ...no. I may not care about family connections, but I love the circus and want to keep this one going no matter what. If we sell as many tickets as we did last month...it'll be time to shut down for good...
Vulpecula thinks to himself as he looks around. The tools are old and the stands have a dust layer on them.
Vulpecula: ...hmm. (clap)
Vulpecula: How about I direct next month's production?
Yasuhiko: What?
Vulpecula: I'll be your consultant Johann. I'll make your next show a smash success and you pay me with the Yatomi Crystal. (puts his hero suit back on)
Vulpecula: And then I'll stream me breaking the crystal! Win-win. What do you say?
Yasuhiko: Uhh...
Present
MC: So then you cut a deal.
Yasuhiko: ...yeah. I dunno what Vulpecula's real motives are, but I was grasping at straws at that point. He knows how to put on a show, so I couldn't say no. The circus was riding on it... (looks down)
Yasuhiko: Please don't tell anyone about Vulpecula right now!
MC: But he's a criminal!
Yasuhiko: I know! Furlong's speech got me rethinking the giving Vulpecula the crystal part of all this again, but I can't break off the deal! I don't want to lose the circus and I don't want to put my troupe and animals onto the streets! I beg you!
MC: ...
And MC said...
End of Episode
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