One evening ten years ago on Wehrmalt, this one little boy stares at nothing as he sits in bed while a doctor leaves his room.
Boy: Aww...I can't go out today either. I wish I'd be better tomorrow. (Asian Drama heavy cough)
Another boy hears and peeks in.
Lilac: Japanese Tree Lilac Syringa Reticulata Big Bro Hashidoi, are you okay?
Hashidoi: ...oh Lilac, yes I'm okay.
Lilac: I'm glad you're better! Let's go into the forest tomorrow! I brought you this! (gives a white flower on a branch)
Hashidoi: ...a moria flower? You knew I like this one?
Lilac: Yeah I heard you say that before! (tosses himself next to his brother) I like that small blue flower you gave me before, but there was a yellow one in the middle! You like that one, right? The one that always has a scent on it!
Hashidoi pokes at the flower and sniffs it.
Hashidoi: ...thanks Lilac. Moria flowers have a sweet scent when they bloom. I can't see very well, but I'm sure it's beautiful.
Lilac: The prettiest! I found it inside the forest entrance! It was great! I wanna go even further, but we promised to go together! So I'm waiting for you to get better! And I have the sword you gave me! (pulls out a vinebound wooden sword)
Hashidoi: ...sorry Lilac, I don't think I can go tomorrow. The doctor told me to take my medicine and rest for days...
Lilac: B-but you said we'd go on an adventure together... You promised! I worked so hard at school, helping mom, and picking that flower!
Hashidoi: ...I'm sorry. I want to, but I can't keep our promise...
Lilac: But you promised! You said you couldn't go before because you were sick!
Hashidoi: ...I'm sorry. I thought I could go when I got better.
Lilac: Noooo! What is this sword even good for!?
Lilac throws the wooden sword at a table, which it bumps off of and rolls by the bed.
Lilac: Liar! I don't care about you OR the sword anymore! (sticks head under his own blankets ready to cry)
Hashidoi: ...I'm really sorry.
Lilac: ...
Hashidoi keeps apologizing. Lilac never responds.
The next morning in this flashback
Lilac: ...I said some really bad stuff to Hashidoi. Mom says we shouldn't fight, and he apologized...why did I say all that?
Lilac sighs and looks at the other bed. Hashidoi is still asleep, so he quietly gets out of bed.
Lilac: I have to apologize. I hope he forgives me. What do I do...? ...oh, I'll go find a basketful of moria flowers for him! (grabs a basket and leaves the room)
Hashidoi: Lilac, I'm sorry about yesterday. I feel a little bit better today and...Lilac?
Hashidoi feels Lilac's empty bed.
Hashidoi: ...where'd he go? Is he still mad? (picks up the wooden sword)
Hashidoi: Huh? The basket is gone...did he go to the forest alone? I really disappointed him... I should bring him the sword. I hope he's feeling better. I think I can go outside. The doctor will get mad, but oh well, it's just for a little bit.
And so Hashidoi leaves for the forest.
Title card: Uninterrupted Memories
Present
Gorou: Oh my god this hazy thing is actually hitting back! But we have an Observer that can actually see it! MC!
MC: Flamier, up ahead! Lilac, step back! Sui, it's coming from your right!
The party follows the commands to avoid attacks and wait for a chance to strike back.
Sui: It's too foggy! It's hard to fight someone hidden in the fog, but I'm an experienced hero now! Cinderella Needle! (stab)
Flamier: Amazing, Sui! I should keep up too! (sidesteps the Monster and pulls her Parallel Weapon out of her skirt) Bombs away!
Flamier throws a bunch of fireworks at the foggy part of the area, and the explosions blow the fog away.
Flamier: Now everybody!
Gorou: Right, I'll help! Lilac! (plays his accordion Parallel Weapon, using the music to break the creepy mood and cheer the party on)
Lilac: Thank you, this is incredible! Now it feels like I won't miss! Here I go, Formal Ikebana "Niemals Vergessen"!
Lilac's scissor Parallel Weapon spin in the air and quickly cut down and stab the Monster!
Monster: LOVELY...! (poofs into a black shadow)
Lilac: ...phew, looks like it's over for now. The fog disappeared.
Gorou: Nice job, MC! Now that it's gone, everyone should--
Gorou looks, but none of the townspeople have actually snapped out of their trances.
Flamier: Is everyone okay!? Please let us know if you are hurt!
Sui: Please evacuate to the managerial tent since there still may be Monsters around!
Nobody reacts.
Flamier: ...what's wrong with everyone? I don't see any signs of anyone being hurt...
Sui: ...yeah. I guess we can say things are fine then...?
MC: It should be since I don't sense Monsters anymore. I'll revert the suits now to save everyone's energy.
Lilac: Everyone is acting strangely...did the Monster do this?
Gorou: Didn't we just destroy it? And when Monsters are destroyed, the people and memories they ate get returned right away.
Flamier: Yes, maybe it's a little different this time. They weren't directly attacked by the Monster, so maybe something else is causing this.
Sui: But given the timing, I'm sure the Monster must be related somehow.
Flamier: MC, was that fog really a Monster...?
MC: ...definitely. It looked like a sheet ghost.
Flamier: ...I see. Earlier, it looked like someone human shaped to me. The fog seemed to be moving around, but I saw someone inside it. I couldn't tell who, but it looked like a tall man. I feel like I've seen him somewhere before...
Gorou: What, you too? It was the same for me, MC. I thought I saw a little kid for a second...it was shocking, honestly.
Lilac: I saw someone in the fog too...I couldn't tell if they were a child or an adult, though...
MC: Really? I didn't see anything like that though. Something's weird...
Sui: Um...MC, I--
Sightseer: ...excuse me. Did anyone...see my wife go somewhere in the fog?
Sui: Your wife? Sir, the fog's gone, but who's your wife?
Sightseer: She was...in the fog. I always wanted to see her...why...?
MC: There were Monsters in the fog! / But I didn't see anyone in there...
Sightseer: Oh...she came to see me...that must be it...I can finally see you.
Lilac: ...did you come to the festival with your wife? I can call HQ if you two got separated and--
Sightseer: Festival? Oh right...I think I've heard of that... Did we...come together? Maybe we did... (wanders off)
Sui: ...what was that all about? But I guess other people also saw someone inside the fog.
Lilac: Yes, but he talked about the flower festival like he didn't know about it.
Flamier: Indeed. He talked like his memory was hazy...doesn't his state resemble the memory confusion of people rescued from being eaten by Monsters?
MC: Oh god it does! / Uh...?
Gorou: Wait are you saying that guy just got spit out from being eaten by a Monster?
Lilac: Wouldn't that mean we saw someone getting eaten when the Monster appeared? Only MC could clearly see anything in that dark fog...
Everyone turns to MC.
MC: Far as I could see, I don't think he was eaten...
Flamier: At the very least, the fog is the only commonality we understand at the moment. It's odd for it to have appeared all of a sudden on a clear day like this.
Sui: Maybe it's a sign of the Monster approaching. We should probably stay away from the fog since we can't see the Monster anyway.
Gorou: Yeah, and it'd be safer to warn the tourists about this.
Lilac: Indeed. I'll let the other heroes know to start evacuating civilians when the fog appears.
Sui starts talking to MC while Lilac makes a phone call.
Sui: ...hey maybe we should call the office about this too. I know we're on break, but we saw a Monster type we never saw before, so maybe we should consult them. Maybe Ryekie or the director fought something like it before.
MC: Okay I'll call now / You're so dependable!
(B) Sui: ...stop with the clumsy flattery and call, geez.
Ring ring.
???: munchmunchmunch (gulp)
Mokdai: Hello, Parallel Flight! ...oh, MC! How's the festival?
MC: Are you eating on the job???
Sui: Mokdai I heard chewing sounds just now
Mokdai: OH NO did you see me!? Please don't tell the others!
Sui: I won't get into it, but be careful about eating when you pick up the phone. What if something important comes on the line?
Mokdai: I-I will! And I was working hard up until now! Oh yeah, I finished the work you left, MC! Also I'm glad you two made it okay to Literal Space Germany Wehrmalt!
Gorou: Nice subject dodging. But I'm glad you're doing okay.
Flamier: Hello Mokdai, I'm glad to see you haven't changed!
Mokdai: OH NO this is so embarrassing! I'm so sorry about that! Also is that Lilac behind you guys!?
Lilac: W-what? Nice to meet you. You know about me?
Mokdai: Yeah you're the flower scent loving hero who mainly works over there! I saw your last battle video, it was awesome and beautiful! I can't believe I'm actually talking to you, I'm gonna cry!
Lilac: O-oh, thank you...
MC: Mokdai calm down so I can get to the point
Mokdai: O-oh, right sorry! Something must've happened if you're calling on your break and you have a bunch of heroes with you, right?
Sui: Yeah we have WEIRD stuff going on and...
One explanation later
Mokdai: Hmm...well Ryekie and the director are out right now, but I'll give them a call now.
Lilac: Thank you, we could use the information...
Mokdai: Okay, I'll go ask people who know more about Monsters! Oh yeah, MC. Can you show me your battle records?
MC: Okay, I'll send them after this. / Sorry to interrupt your work.
---
(A) Mokdai: Cool thanks. I'll check the archives too!
(B) Mokdai: Nah, it's cool! It's good you contacted us so quickly.
---
Mokdai: I'll call back if I find anything out. Bye!
Sui: Thanks Mokdai.
Click. MC then sends the battle records to Mokdai.
Sui: Okay, we've done what we were gonna do so...should we strengthen the patrols now?
Flamier: Yes, we should continue our rounds in case the fog appears again.
Gorou: Yeah, the Monsters this time gives even us trouble. Best not to involve civilians in this.
Lilac: Yes... and there's also something else that bothers me. The flower festival happens every year, yet this has never happened before.
Gorou: So we don't know why these Monsters are showing up only this year? Also, I know MC said they saw a Monster in the fog, but I'm worried about that I saw a little kid and Flamier saw a tall dude. How can we all see such different things?
Sui: Oh, about that. I also saw someone, but... (looks at MC) I thought I saw a woman. It might have been my imagination but...it looked like my mother.
MC: Your mother? But Shizuku is...
Sui: ...yeah. She's gone. I've said goodbye to her too, so this shouldn't be possible.
Flamier: Sui...thank you for telling us. I'm sorry to bring up painful memories, but the Monster from that time appeared with your mother's appearance then, didn't it?
Sui: Yes, so maybe some Monsters have mimicry abilities. But back then, everyone saw the same thing. This time it feels kind of different, though we still don't know much.
Sui looks at where the fog appeared.
Sui: ...I'm a hero too now, so I don't want anybody to go through the same emotions I did then. Never.
MC: Me too.
Sui: ...thanks. I'm doing my best to accomplish my dream.
Lilac's phone beeps!
Lilac: Oh, excuse me. HQ must be calling. I've asked them to inform us if they discover anythi--
Lilac looks surprised at the text message he got.
Lilac: ...everybody, we've been messaged about what seems to be a tourist in a back alley. They're acting dazed and muttering to themselves. There's also fog spotted nearby, so we should hurry!
Flamier: It's much like before, so it's likely Monsters will appear.
Gorou: Right. MC, transform us so we can go.
MC: Okay. Here goes, everyone!
Beep beep!
Flamier: There we go. Thank you MC. We should go.
Gorou: Alright, I'm used to this new form now. Let's kick ass!
Sui: Let's hurry! Lilac, please lead the way.
Lilac: Please follow me!
The party hurries over to that one alleyway.
Sui: There! That's the man from earlier!
Sui points at the man who was looking for his wife while stumbling around. Thick fog is around him. It pulses, concentrating and dispersing until it changes color.
Sightseer: ...ah...I finally found you...it's been so...long...
The man reaches out, and the fog quickly changes shape.
MC: I sense Monsters coming!
The willies!
Ghost Monster: Eheeheeheehee!
Sightseer: !? M-Monster! Help me!
The Monster wraps a cloth and chain bit around the man's arm and starts dragging him into the fog.
Gorou: Hey wait I can see the Monster now!
Lilac: This scent...I won't let any Monsters get away!
Gorou and Lilac ready their weapons.
Flamier: I can see it too now! MC, your orders!
Sui: Let's go! Careful of the fog!
MC: Right! Wave battle, ride on!
BATTLE START
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