Show time day!
There's a crowd of people in front of the big top, with stalls selling circus stuff and Burn Striker merchandise. Seats inside are filling up, and a sign saying same day seat tickets are sold out now.
Akashi: Damn, were circuses always this popular?
Mokdai: Everyone's come for the special hero show they're doing today! I came early because I wanted to buy the limited edition Burn Striker stuff! Hehe, I'm gonna put them on display when I get home.
Akashi: Is that why you were the only one to not meet us at the office? Nerd. Is buying the collection that awesome?
Mokdai: Yep! What kind of fan would I be if I didn't come because I was too busy? Look at this clown costume figure that UEHA would never officially put out!
Akashi: OKAY OKAY, GOD. Man you sure are happy for a work function.
Sui: But this isn't mandatory participation. You could have stayed home just fine.
Akashi: Hey, I'm a part of this agency too! It's not like I had any reason to not go!
Mokdai: ...Akashi, MC is going to be in the back and won't come on stage FYI.
Akashi: W-why would you bring that up!?
Exio: ...how very tongue tied of you.
Mokdai: He's just like that, please understand.
Akashi: HEY
Exio: Well we aren't here entirely for fun and games. We're here to help in case that one rumor on social media is true.
Mokdai: The one that said UEHA asked them to stay on guard through a top secret request? But why a circus? The director said there's someone suspicious here, but why hide in a circus? What would they have that Vulpecula would want?
Monomasa: ...the Yatomi Crystal, an old recording device that shines like the rainbow.
Mokdai: ...what's that? And how do you know about it??
Monomasa: ...you hear about a lot of things among villains. This one's an old rumor. No one knows who the current owner is, but there is this circus that shares a name. UEHA hasn't said anything, but maybe Vulpecula is here for that. It'd fit with all the pieces.
Mokdai: I...guess? But--
Honk honk, show time is starting.
Monomasa: ...they're starting. We'll know if we're right sooner or later, so stay on guard.
Mokdai: O-okay...also you really like that marshmallow bag they gave us up front.
Monomasa: ...it's good.
The smell of marshmallows is everywhere. The lights dim, and now it's show time!
Title card: Showtime
Yasuhiko: Come, Bogdan!
Yasuhiko summons a translucent tiger with his whip. A circus member rides the tiger, which then starts jumping through fire rings.
Yasuhiko: Good job, Bogdan! Now for the next part!
Bogdan disappears into crystal fragments midair, leaving the performer flipping through the air. Bogdan then reforms on the ground to catch him.
Yasuhiko: Big round of applause, everybody!
Lots of loud cheering! The tiger starts cuddling with Yasuhiko, and Yasuhiko pets the tiger.
Backstage
MC: Things are going great!
Green: Yeah!
Yellow: It's been so long since it's been like this, I'm tearing up...
Melide: Whew...we managed to pull it off. I told him that was pushing it... MC, it's your turn. Furlong, you're up next. Are you ready?
Furlong (in the corner talking to himself): I can do this... I can do this...
MC: He's all nerves... / Furlong, time to go! Focus
---
(A) Melide: Sheesh. Furlong, get your head in the game and get out there!
---
Furlong: !? Oh, right! I practiced for this day! I can handle the trampoline! I can't back down now!
Furlong: Okay MC, please transform me!
MC: Let's go!
Front Stage
Yasuhiko I guess: Okay, time for the special guest you've all been waiting for! Burn Striker!
Furlong: BAM!
Furlong does like 7-8 flips onto the stage to make his entrance though some smoke. Once he hits center stage, he jumps high over to the trampoline and poses there.
Furlong: Burning fire is in my eyes! Burn Striker is on the scene! See my smoldering charms!
The crowd roars with applause!
Akashi: Hey wait a minute, Furlong's got a different costume than usual!
Sui: W-whoa...it's really sexy...
Mokdai: Did MC do this!?
Exio: Interesting...
Furlong: Wow...!
Furlong smiles for a moment out of relief, then focuses again to crouch down so the trampoline can bounce him even higher.
Yasuhiko: Okay let's go. Knock 'em dead, Furlong!
Furlong (speaking into a radio piece): Here I go, MC!
MC: Okay, good luck!
Furlong: Right! ...!?
But then Furlong looks down.
Furlong: Oh no!
Furlong passes the point where he's supposed to start flipping.
Yasuhiko: Oh no, he missed the timing!
MC: Furlong, it's okay! Everyone's watching!
Furlong: (Oh right I'm being watched! They all believe in me, so...!)
Furlong; MC! My super move!
MC: O-okay! / Now!?
---
(B) Furlong: Yes it has to be now! Please!
---
MC approves using the super move through the phone.
Furlong: Special Move "Acróbata de Acuario"!
Shining crystal wings flap as Furlong spins 2-3 times and twists some more.
Melide: D-did he practice that?
Purple: ...oh! Good thinking, he's correcting his posture!
Furlong: MC, switch forms!
MC: Okay, your normal form!
MC slide transforms Furlong to his default outfit before he lands. Light and crystals cover him, and when he hits the ground he kicks off and...
Furlong: Burn Striker is here again!
Silence...and then thunderous applause! Wild cheers!
Furlong: Y-yay! I did it!
Furlong is audibly tearing up.
MC: Don't cry in front of the audience, smile!
Furlong: O-oh! Right! Thank you everybody! Keep supporting us! (wipes eyes and waves to crowd)
Yasuhiko: ...you did great, Furlong.
Meanwhile, in the sky outside
Mercenary: Sir, Burn Striker's act has finished. The finale will be starting soon.
Vulpecula: ...very well. Begin the operation.
Mercenary: Yes Sir. Team A, move out!
Back inside
Yasuhiko is standing under the spotlight.
Yasuhiko: Hello, finale time everybody! The Yatomi Circus has been going on for 314 years, and now we will show you the true heights of our hopes, dreams, and love to--
BOOM
Yasuhiko: WAIT WHAT
An emergency alarm is ringing!
Purple: What the hell is happening man!?
Furlong: I-is it a fire!? Where'd it come from!?
Melide: No wait! Look above the stage!
MC: There's a hole in the ceiling!
Vulpecula walks into view.
MC: Vulpecula!
Yasuhiko: W-what!?
Vulpecula: Good evening, pastbound Earthlings! It's time for my big entrance! Now we're going to have a special act by me!
Vulpecula's fans start cheering.
Akashi: He really showed up!?
Exio: Wow that net rumor was right.
Mokdai: Stop being impressed by the villain!
Monomasa: ...hey, he's holding something.
Sui: ...you're right. What is that?
Vulpecula: Look! It's the Yatomi Crystal, the secret treasure of the Yatomi Circus leaders!
Green: We had something like that!?
Yellow: I never heard of anything like that!
Furlong: When did he do this...!?
MC: Oh no it was hidden! Did he find it!?
Vulpecula: This is no mere rock. It is a memory storage device that has recorded Earth's history for ages. It is a symbol of the past and a sad forget-me-not filled with the poison of the past. It shines like a rainbow when replaying memories, and now I'm going to make it rain rainbow shards!
Yasuhiko: !! NO WAIT!
Yasuhiko is yelling into a mic.
Yasuhiko: The crystal is...!
Vulpecula: Oh, what's wrong ringmaster? You actually care about this thing?
Translation: [You breaking our deal?]
Yasuhiko: ...I mean...please stop! That's mine! Stop, or else...!
Yasuhiko strikes the ground with his whip, summoning four animals with them: a lion, a tiger, an elephant, and a giraffe. The animals stare down Vulpecula.
Vulpecula: Hmm. I see... (signals to somewhere)
Mercenaries rush onto the stage!
Yasuhiko: ...! Vulpecula!
Vulpecula: Break through my subordinates and pull it out of my hands if you want it so much.
Green: Boss, we are here to help!
Yellow: We won't let you get away with this, villain!
Furlong: I'm fighting too! I can't let his connection to his family be destroyed!
The agency comes in to help too!
Akashi: Parallel Flight is here! We'll stop you, Vulpecula!
Mokdai: I don't know what's going on but we can't let the circus people lose!
Sui: You're a horrible person for destroying memories!
Monomasa: I will destroy anyone who revels in the misery of others.
MC: You guys came!
Exio: Hello Melide, MC. Can you hear me on the phone? I'm in the audience seats and we're going to back you up. With all these heroes between us, let's split the operations between us.
Melide: Yes Exio! Let's go, MC!
MC: Right!
Vulpecula: Come at me!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Mokdai: Mokdai Punch!
Yasuhiko: Bogdan, Lennart! Go!
Mercenaries: UGH!
Vulpecula: I'm impressed you pushed us this far.
Akashi: Are you really just going to stand there and watch!? Got you!
Mokdai: No Akashi! Vulpecula has...!
Vulpecula: (warps) Whoopsie.
Akashi: What!? Where'd he go!?
Sui: Ack! Akashi, you almost hit me!
Akashi: S-sorry! But I thought I...!
Vulpecula: Hi, I'm over here.
Vulpecula is standing on a beam up on the upper side of the big top.
Akashi: What!? When did he...!?
Mokdai: That's his power!
Vulpecula: Oh, you seem to know what I can do.
Mokdai: I know all about it!
Monomasa: ...the power to bend time? How fearsome.
Vulpecula: Well that was fun, but time's up. I can't stay any longer, and the audience is getting bored.
Vulpecula pulls out the Yatomi Crystal again.
Yasuhiko: No!
Vulpecula: Bye Yasuhiko. Time to end this show and my charade from the past few days. (tosses the crystal up and readies his weapon)
MC: !!
Yasuhiko: NOOO!!!
The crystal shatters into shards of rainbows.
End of Episode
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