Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 8 (Abridged)

Borealis: Time for the grand finale! Playing my ultimate sonata!
Borealis spreads his arms wide and raises his baton. The concert's climax goes dramatic and VP surges in like crazy.
Mokdai: Thanks, Borealis! My turn! Help me people!
Mokdai smiles for the camera, then gets into his sleigh where all the amassed energy in it gets dumped onto Narihito.
MC: Alright, take it down in one shot! The enemy is weakened!
MC fiddles with their phone as they look towards Narihito. Narihito nods, then thrusts out his right arm.
Narihito: Borealis, Mighty Knuckle! Thanks you two! MC, help me out! Firing super move, Recollection "Memorial Heroes"!
Narihito turns his arm into an arm cannon and fires a charge shot at the giant Monster's core.

The Monster lashes back in one last ditch unavoidable attack at Narihito's cannon arm. The attack is parried, hitting the area with a shockwave and heat.
Borealis: Gh! I won't let you stop my music!
Mokdai: W-whoa...! Narihito, you can do it!
Narihito: Everyone cheering me on is here! I can't...fall here! MAXIMUM OUTPUT!
Narihito fires a beam that pierces through the Monster's core, looking like a shooting star.
MC: You did it! Enemy core destroyed!
Monster: L-l-lovely... (stiffens up and poofs into bits of light)
Narihito: YES! The big one is done for!
Mokdai: (huffing) G-good...only Megas is left...!
Borealis: MC, how's the VP situation!?
Micros are still falling in, and the party has no time to breathe before squaring off against the mobs.
MC: U-uhh, lemme see...
MC is getting tired too, mentally and physically. Their heat resistance robe is falling apart and sticking to them too, just like the heroes'.
MC: Yeah this is kinda rough! / I can still do this...! / Everyone else is hanging in there...!
(A) Mokdai: Just a little more, MC! I'm here too, we can do it!
(B) MC still has hope, and they make a solid click with their shaking finger.

MC sends a firing signal to the R&D team.
Hisaki: Signal received, thanks! Sis, energy converter filled!
Crowne: Copy! Firing up the Pseudo Parallel Weapon!
MC: Guys, the second shot is charging! Don't get blown away by the blast!
Mokdai: Thanks! You be careful too!
Narihito: Understood! The Micros over here have been eliminated!
Borealis: Time for the finishing touches! MC, let me hear your sound!
MC: FIRE ROUND TWO!

Everything gets flooded with a flash of white as the light of hope of people fighting for happiness fires forth. The shot strikes directly into Megas's core and destroys it from within with overwhelming force.
Narihito: ...YES! WE'RE SAVED NO--
The burning shooting star is falling towards the stage.
MC: YOU GUYS
Megas is falling to Earth faster than it is disappearing, and MC yells heedless of how the effort of doing so after all this fighting is making their throat bleed.
MC: FIRE OFF THE REST OF THE VP! NOW!
Party: !!
The rest of the party readies their weapons. There is no time to think, but everyone heard the same sound: MC's sound. It was a melody their hearts knew was worth believing in. And everyone pulls all their strength together to fire off their attacks into the sky.

The clash of lights block off all else in the party's vision, and a powerful shockwave hits the stage. The party's attacks became a force that pushed back Megas, with sparks of light grinding off in the clash before Megas disappears completely into light before crashing into the ground. And then, Borealis's drones play one last music like it was all choreographed like so.
MC: ...w-we win.
MC flops faceup onto the ground, but the rest of the party quickly runs over to pick them up.
Mokdai: MC, are you okay!? Hang onto me! ...we did it, we really did it...! We saved the city and Christmas! Thanks MC! Sniff...
Mokdai turns away and hides his face in his robe. Borealis briefly side-eyes him.
Borealis: ...excellent judgment, MC. I heard your sound. The stream has ended, but I still hear the ovations of everyone celebrating the planet's salvation. We really have saved it from the meteor...hm?

Borealis looks up to see countless shooting stars streaming through the night sky. The used up cannon darkens, leaving only the Christmas lights to shine on the party.
MC: How beautiful... / So many shooting stars!
Borealis: ...are these the falling fragments of Megas? ...it's different from that day. Ahh, yes... This is a lovely starry sky...
Borealis looks up and enjoys the view.
Narihito: ...it really is pretty.
The pale lights gently illuminate Narihito's profile as he looks up.
Narihito: ...MC, did I become a super hero that could thwart any threat?
MC: You're the hero who saved the city! / You're always my superhero
(A) Narihito: Thank you. I'll remember what you said whenever my cowardly self starts peeking out.
(B) Narihito: ...uhh, heh, thanks. I'm gonna try even harder.

Narihito takes a deep breath of the chilly air, and Mokdai wipes his eyes before holding his hand out to MC.
Mokdai: Whew, sorry about that. That was a little embarrassing, but...thanks.
Mokdai is holding a box of pale light from his Parallel Weapon.
Mokdai: ...y'know, I like Christmas the most out of the year. It's an exciting, heartwarming day. We just used up our VP back there so this is all I can do, but...Merry Christmas!
Mokdai hands the present over, which gently melts like snow in MC's hand.
MC: ...thanks everyone. Good work, and Merry Christmas!
A bell rings in the distance signaling midnight, and the song that saved the city echoes out into the beyond.

Title card: Melodic Merry Christmas

The next morning
Borealis: ...
Borealis is standing around in front of the stage from yesterday, arms folded, eyes closed, earplugs out.
Borealis: ...how quiet. What a comforting rhythm. The sounds of birds and the wind...I protected this planet.
Borealis turns around and heads for his spaceship. Just before he gets in, he stops and gives a small smile.
Borealis: ...but the sounds you all make never settle down, do they?
MC: Borealis, wait!
Borealis: MC, why all the noise? I thought I told you you don't need to see me off.
Narihito and Mokdai also run up.
Mokdai: Borealis...are you continuing with your villain work?
Narihito: Yeah, you'll still be treated as a criminal if you don't register with an agency. But after saving Earth, maybe they'll give you amnesty or lower your sentence.
Mokdai: Yeah, and then you can do your thing out in the open.

Borealis shakes his head.
Borealis: ...I suppose I can tell you. (turns around to face the party properly)
Borealis: I've told MC already, by my birth planet has been destroyed. I suppose you know that already though... I was also at fault for not being strong enough to save my friends and family's homes. I'm sure everyone is still alive somewhere, scattered though we may be. And I will use every means I have of finding them until I see them again.
Borealis: I will spread my name throughout the universe, and if any of them see me...it doesn't matter if my title is hero or villain. Joining an agency will only saddle me with work that takes time away from searching for them.
Narihito: If you're looking for information, maybe the Broadcasters can help?
Mokdai: I'll help too! Is there really no way you'll reconsider...?
Borealis: ...unfortunately, I will go find them all myself. Besides, I do not like how agencies conduct themselves. There are only...two people in this world who can operate and harmonize with me. (stares at MC)
MC: ...thank you.

Borealis smiles kindly.
Borealis: ...MC, my meeting with you has been filled with loud and lively sounds. It was all so sudden, but I've enjoyed our time together.
MC: Thank you so much for taking time out of looking for your friends and family to help us. (bows)
Borealis: MC...stop bowing. I was the one who said I would help. And...I remember a bit of how I felt while I worked as a hero.
Borealis closes his eyes and thinks back on the time he fought on the field with his best friend. If he listens, he can hear similar sounds.
Borealis: MC, I know you aren't my best friend. But thanks to you, I got to re-experience some old sounds and feelings, enough to make me want to see them all again. I am the one who wants to thank you. I know, let me invite you as a VIP to my concert next time.

Borealis gives MC a ticket. Nobody says anything for a while, but everyone can feel everyone's sounds.
Borealis: ...well, it should be about time for the citizens to return. I must leave before then. I have things I should do, and you should go back to where you belong.
Borealis turns around.
Narihito: Thank you so much Borealis! Let's meet again! And have an interview because I wanna tell the world what you're like!
Mokdai: I want to see you again too! I'll keep studying on producing until then, thanks for your conducting!
MC: I'll come see you again for sure! / Please listen to my sound again sometime. / I hope you find everyone.

Borealis walks ahead while listening to the party, boarding his ship quietly before it starts up. It kicks up a strong wind, and it disappears as its stealth function turns on before flying off.
Narihito: ...he wasn't persuaded, but I feel like I understand Borealis a little better now.
Mokdai: Yeah. I'm sure we'll meet him again! And I hope we'll see his friends and family with him then.
Narihito: Right! We should go home soon. Lots to do!
Mokdai: Yeah! Got a city to rebuild and people to guide back!
The rest of the party heads back to Orient City, their breaths white in the winter air. It's the triumphant return of the heroes who saved the city and its people, the place of unfading smiles and unchanging happiness.
Borealis (narrating): Even if everyone one day parts ways, the memories of this day will warm them. And so I will continue playing my melodies until we may see each other once again. Merry Christmas.
The End

Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 7 (Abridged)

Flashback
Christmas Eve the year before in Taiyou News's Far East Main Office, Hero News Department
A communal computer brings up a visitor alert.
Narihito: Hello, welcome to Taiyou News! Name and business plea--
Kalaski: S'up Narihito. Got a favor to ask and--
Narihito: Ooh, Kalaski! You came back to Earth? What's up? Hot new scoop!?
Kalaski: I came back for a bit from my stay on Tenteres for an ongoing report on supplies and business. Don't have anything you'd like, sorry. But anyways can you unlock the office for me? My ID card expired.
Narihito: Oh okay, gimme a sec to go to the door.

Later
Kalaski: Thanks Narihito. The guard was an asshole treating me like a kid even after seeing my ID. I'm kicking his ass the next time he does that!
Narihito: Haha, gee I wonder what happened out there. Why didn't you call me ahead of time if you were coming back? I could have gone to pick you up.
Kalaski: (stares) ...remember how last time I called, I asked if you needed a camera man and you dragged me directly to your next interview gig?
Narihito: Uhh, n-nope! Haha, couldn't be me!
Kalaski: Nerdyhito you fight using your memories of how other heroes work you can't pull that one over me. Ugh. Also I know it's rich coming from me, but are you like ever here in the office much?
Narihito: Okay point. Hero scoops await me across the galaxy! 

Kalaski: (frowns) ...are you pushing yourself? You look tired.
Narihito: (mildly surprised) ...you can tell? I can't slip anything past you.
Kalaski: People's emotions come out in subtle ways on their face. I'm just good at spotting those. So...what's up? Did you bomb an interview or something? (reactivates ID through phone)
Narihito: ...nothing like that. I've just been so busy lately that I haven't followed up on things and missed out on an appointment I finally managed to set up because I had to do other stuff... Also I finally got an article written but another agency got their article on the same thing out first. I'm just down because of all the things like that happening. It's not anyone's fault. (sighs)
Narihito: ...being a journalist is fun and important to me, but hero work is just as worth doing. I think you know how it is.
Kalaski: Yeah, I can tell from how you usually are. It's your life's work. If this were last year you'd be yelling about a Christmas hero show, so I thought it was weird you were quiet. Take it easy.

Kalaski turns to leave now that his ID renewal is done, but then Narihito jumps up.
Narihito: WAIT WHAT DAY IS IT!?
Kalaski: W-what? It's Christmas Eve. I figured you'd know at least that much with how good your memo--
Narihito: It doesn't matter how good my memory is if I'm not thinking about it! Can I still make it!?
Kalaski: ...well it's still daytime so I guess. I'm not helping. Gotta get back to work on Tenteres.
Narihito: I-I know! I can handle it on my own! Let's get lunch together sometime the next time you get back! Okay bye! (runs off with his bag and notebook)
Kalaski: Okay coo--oh he's already gone. That much is like him at least.

Outside
Narihito is looking up nearby hero shows and the participating heroes.
Narihito: I can't schedule an interview appointment at this point. It'd be nice if I could get a meeting without an appointment...
Narihito stops at a traffic crossing. He can see families, groups of students, and people on dates talking and having fun.
Narihito: Oh right, it's Christmas Eve. I've been so busy lately I hadn't noticed.
Christmas songs can be heard in the distance, and everyone around looks happy.
Girl: Mommy I want a hero doll for Christmas and I'm gonna ask Santa for it!
Mom: How lovely! Is it from the show you always watch? Which hero do you like?
Girl: Uhh...ooh, ooh, this one Mommy! (points to a display in a toy shop window)
Narihito looks over and sees his tired reflection.
Narihito: ...I remember when I did that too.

Narihito stops and stares at the figurines. He thinks back to how he looked at them all bright-eyed and excited like that little girl is now. He looked at the superhero who protected the city, saved the weak, and promised to always win. The superhero was decked in red and gold super armor, an invention of Doctor X he used to face off against giant enemies.
Narihito: ...kids nowadays like way different shows than I used to watch.
Now that he's grown up, Narihito can see how unrealistic his old show looked, but he still loves it. That one Christmas morning he found that figure in a present by his bed, and he was so happy he ignored the cold to show it off to his family.
Narihito: ...I wonder if I still have that thing? It's probably stored in the closet.
Narihito then walks off again to do his thing, feeling excited.

Title card: As Fast as Stars Fall

Present
It's been a few hours since the Christmas concert started. Night has fallen, and stars are beginning to appear.
MC: Mokdai, there are Micros on the backstage! Borealis, incoming attack! Narihito, go after the one in front!
And so the battle continues.
Borealis: ...an attack that weak cannot interrupt my performance.
Narihito: Ugh, what can I use in this place...!? This one! Legends, lend me your power!
Mokdai: ...okay gottem! Careful everyone, there's more Micros!
Mokdai sounds resolute, but is starting to audibly tire. Everyone is weakening over this battle of attrition.
Mokdai: I wonder if the heroes in the other areas are okay? It's been a while since things started...
orealis: ...Mokdai, you are breaking up the rhythm. Focus on the battle and concert here.

MC is checking status updates while operating the team.
Narihito: Enemies cleared over here! ...this is getting kind of rough! There's really no end to them all! I can't believe the big on is falling while all this is happening...
Just as Narihito wipes off some sweat...
MC: ...Narihito, behind you!
Narihito: wait what
A Micros Narihito took down earlier jumps up and stabs him!
Narihito: OWW THAT'S HOT! I can't believe it's still alive!
Mokdai: A-are you okay!? Don't move, I'll heal you!
Borealis: Narihito, close your eyes and steady your breath. I'll lend you a hand.
Mokdai and Borealis step in between Narihito and the Micros.
Borealis: Now my esteemed audience, listen to the sounds of the brilliance and lives of heroes! Heed the supreme tones! Sonata "Grandioloqua"!

Borealis raises his baton, causing his music drones to bring the music to a climax. The sounds amplified by his Parallel Weapon causes the VP count to surge.
Mokdai: W-whoa, this is Borealis's power! Thank you very much! Okay, I'll help Narihito too!
Mokdai releases the power of his Parallel Weapon and summons a sleigh filled with a mountain of energy presents.
Mokdai: Everyone has the right to be happy on this night, so I'm giving presents to everyone! Festival "Megaton Slider"!
Mokdai scatters the presents into the sky and they all make it to the other heroes fighting wherever they are. One also goes to Narihito and covers him in a gentle light.
Narihito: BURRRNIN--o-oh, wait it's healing!
After looking at his healing stab wound, Narihito slowly looks up to see Mokdai.
Mokdai: Good, it looks like it got to everyone! Now to take care of the Micros...charge!
Mokdai runs the Micros over with his sleigh. Narihito starts projecting someone else over Mokdai, a familiar hero who never gave up and fought with his own hands even if he had no other ways to act.

Narihito: Oh...it's just like the superhero from that one anime...
MC: Narihito are you okay!? / I'm glad it wasn't serious.
MC runs over to Narihito after watching Mokdai run the Micros over.
Narihito: Oh, MC. I'm fine thanks to Mokdai. I guess I was just a little tired from how long the battle's been going on...
Narihito slumps to the ground, but MC pulls them back up.
MC: Yeah, it's hard...but let's keep at it a little longer!
Narihito: I realize this isn't the best time to be talking about this, but...do you think it's possible for me to be a superhero that can solve any problem and save everyone like in cartoons too?
MC: Well that was sudden / You already are / Those are fictional
(B) Narihito: ...thanks. Maybe I was leaning too much on your kindness by asking that way. Sorry.
(C) Narihito: ...right. Well, I know they don't really exist. But still...

Narihito looks over to Borealis and Mokdai doing their things.
Narihito: ...seeing Borealis and Mokdai fighting they way they do makes me feel out of place here. Parallel Weapons are a reflection of your wish, and I'm sure it's a manifestation of your dreams to fight against reality.
Narihito takes a step back towards the fighting again.
Narihito: ...my power is borrowed power, nothing more than a recreation of other legends. I know I look strong in front of a camera, but I know myself best. I can't do anything on my own. I'm just a coward who deflects people's attention away from that with what I borrowed from legends. Maybe big things like lives, the city, and the future are getting a little heavy for me...
Narihito looks down and MC fails to come up with anything to say. But then their phone beeps.
MC: ...what's this popup message?

Message A: Hang in there you guys! I'm watching you!
Message B: Mighty Knuckle, Great Memorias! You guys are the MVPs today!
Narihito: !
Message C: This is my first time watching a hero show and it's so exciting! Please win!
Message D: Great Memorias are you okay!? Don't give up!
Message E: OMG SO COOL
MC: W-whoa...
More messages stream in with the cheers of the audience. MC sends them to be played on the big screen.
Narihito: T-there's this many people watching us!?
The number of messages shine on the concert and battle stage, and the cheering voices reach Mokdai and Borealis too.
Mokdai: W-wow, thanks everyone! I'll do my best!
Borealis: ...what a wonderful harmony. It's surprising how such intricate sounds can become so beautiful!
MC: Whoa, look at these View counts on the main and secondary channels!

MC quickly checks the VP counter on their phone, and that count is rising like crazy. Borealis's Parallel Weapon starts glowing white with the VP charge.
Borealis: ...t-this is...! My baton is shining! I can hear it! A great flood of sounds! Are all these cheers playing a song...!? MC, Mokdai, Narihito! Can you hear it too!? This is their sounds that I hear!
Borealis waves his baton, and the rest of the party can hear the sounds go right through their hearts.
Narihito: W-wow, what!? I-I'm getting tears in my eyes...!
Mokdai: I-I can hear them...!
Borealis redirects and spreads the intense emotional sounds, and inexpressible wishes join with the music he plays.
Narihito: ...
A little girl's face comes to Narihito's mind, desperately cheering on the superheroes. He had the same feelings she did towards the superheroes he admired at her age.

Narihito: ...MC.
Narihito looks up, all the worries in his eyes gone now.
Narihito: ...I'm all grown up now, and I know cartoon superheroes don't exist. But right now, I want to be that kind of superhero, even if they're fictional! I'm going to BE that hero!
Beep beep
Narihito: I have to protect this city's happiness! I can't believe I almost lost sight of that! I can go facing the legends like this! I am a HERO!
MC: Narihito, you pushed past your worries!
Narihito: Yep! Thanks to all those messages!
Narihito looks over at Borealis. Borealis closes his eyes and flows with his music playing, then opens his eyes to look at Narihito.
Borealis: ...nice sound, Narihito. It's crystal clear. Is that how you truly sound like? My melody is harmonizing with your sound. You can do it now.
Borealis hasn't actually spoken aloud. The notes he's playing are conveying his thoughts.

More Micros crash into the stage, announcing that the bigger Monster will be here soon.
Narihito: Borealis, I understand! Leave it to me, I'll give it my all! MC, can you send me some VP!? Any legend can cut through this situation. I want to try doing so with my own power!
MC: Okay! Here we go!
Beep beep!
Phone: New Path detected. Subject: Narihito. Connectivity: Very High
MC: I hear your new wish!
MC connects the new path, and Narihito starts shining as light gathers into him.
Narihito: I'm gonna follow up on all the memories of the legends I can recreate now! "A believing heart will protect the future! I'm gonna be a super hero!"

Narihito steps forward in a new suit of red and gold when the light fades, looking just like a shooting star cartoon super hero.
Narihito: ...wait what!? Oh wait, did I get a new power like Mokdai just did!? Oh my god, wow! MC, promise me you'll do an interview with me later!
Mokdai runs over after destroying some Micros.
Mokdai: Narihi--Narihito you got a new suit too!? It's so cool! Can I touch it? Hey, isn't this...!?
Narihito: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the super hero I once saw in my dreams following my memories. If this is that suit Doctor X invented then...I was right, my right arm can turn into a cannon!
Mokdai: Oh my god that's so cool!
Borealis: Impressive. With that power, you should...hmm?
Borealis hears a discordant sound and frowns as he looks up. Then Hisaki calls in.

Hisaki: MC, can you hear me!? I'll get to the point! Giant meteor type Monster incoming in five minutes! We figured out its landing point, which is where the Pseudo Parallel Weapon is! If we don't change its trajectory somehow it'll destroy the cannon before we can destroy Megas! Do something!
The R&D heroes are going crazy behind Hisaki trying to do something. Narihito can hear the call and takes a step forward.
Narihito: I'll go! Actually, let me go! I have a chance at winning this!
MC: What? You have an idea!?
Narihito: I can't explain in detail, but I'll definitely--no, I WILL destroy that Monster! Mokdai, Borealis! I'll need your help for that! Mokdai, can I borrow your sleigh Parallel Weapon's power? I want to get close to the cannon's firing hatch! Can it do that?
Mokdai: I-it can, but it's dangerous going that high, ri...no wait, okay I believe in you! If you say you can do it, I'll help however I can!
Narihito: Thank you, Mighty Knuckle! I believe in you too! MC, I want you to send me as much of the VP Borealis got us until I get to the highest I can go! Then leave it to me!
Narihito looks up into the sky with all the falling stars.

Narihito: That's the plan! Hisaki, we'll handle the big Monster! You handle Megas, please!
Hisaki: ...okay. Three minutes incoming! Careful out there!
Narihito: Okay, let's do this Mokdai, MC!
Mokdai: Roger! Ready!
Mokdai summons his sleigh, and Narihito sits up front.
Narihito: Yeah...oh, Borealis! If you don't mind me asking for a favor, I'd love a battle song here!
Borealis: Heh, very well. Have one to boil your blood!
Borealis shifts the song tempo to be more passionate and stirring.
Narihito: ...yep, we so got this. MC, please keep your eyes on me!
MC nods.
Mokdai: Time to fly...3! 2! 1! Take off!

Mokdai's sleigh blasts off, soaring quickly up to the cannon's mouth. Narihito hangs on, and the presents sitting in the sleigh fall over and turn into light that covers him.
Narihito: I WILL save this city. I am a hero, and everyone is waiting for me. That's good enough for a reason.
The sleigh flies past the cannon, and Narihito jumps further up into the sky.
MC: NOW!
MC sends in tons of VP the moment the sleigh goes out of sight.
Narihito: Change! Buster Mode, deployed!
Narihito charges the VP into his right hand cannon, charging a ball that gets larger and larger like the Pseudo Parallel Weapon did. Then...
Narihito: It'll all work out! Sacred power, save the world! Holy Cannon!
Narihito fires a beam of light into the sky that blasts into the giant incoming Monster. The Monster releases high heat into the surrounding area as it continues falling.
Narihito: G-gahh! M-my arm!
Narihito continues firing even while tanking attacks from Micros and the big Monster fragment, causing lights to shine in the sky.
Narihito I-I can't lose here! I'm gonna save the city with everyone's power!!

Narihito fires his charged shot at the big Monster.
Narihito: Yes! I can clear a path like this!
Narihito uses up all the VP sent to him and closes his eyes. In his mind, he sees that little girl smiling at the superhero figurine.
MC: The meteorite Monster's trajectory has changed! Narihito did it!
Mokdai: Oh no he's falling!
Mokdai calls his sleigh and flies to where Narihito is falling and uses his present bag Parallel Weapon as a cushion.
Narihito: OOF! Wow I never thought a bunch of presents would catch me like this. But I'm getting healed!
Mokdai: S-sorry this was all I could think of! But I'm glad you're okay...!! And thanks to you we won't be taking a direct hit!

Mokdai brings Narihito back to the stage for everyone to regroup. And then the meteorite Monster drops into the audience seating area.
Borealis: ...so I want to say you two did good, but that seems premature.
Narihito: ...agreed. I doubt the Monster there is gonna sit quietly and enjoy the show.
The Monster starts floating over.
Mokdai: ...is anyone else seeing it coming this way!?
Borealis: Look closer. It's actually going toward... (looks at the cannon's gun battery)
Borealis: Huh...did it instinctually perceive a threat towards Megas?
Mokdai: Do they even have instincts!?
Narihito: Whatever, we can't let it get to the cannon! MC, how's our VP collection progress!?
MC looks at their phone.
MC: We're almost there!

Mokdai: ...so we need to hold off the Monster until the second shot is ready!
Borealis: Yes, and we need to prevent it from destroying the cannon. And we still need that last bit of VP to gather.
Mokdai and Borealis take battle stances.
Mokdai: ...it's a big boy, but...I'm gonna save Christmas's peace time and give everyone the gift of victory!
Borealis: Any rude guests that stand up in the middle of my concert must leave immediately. This is a perfect development for the climax of the performance!
MC: Time to hold the line! Operation ready!
The rest of the party nods. Narihito takes a step forward to glare at the Monster.
Narihito: I won't stand for any creeps messing up Christmas! I'll protect everyone and the city with a super hero's power!
BATTLE START

Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 6 (Abridged)

Narihito: Dammit they keep coming! Mokdai, behind you!
Mokdai: Ow, hot! My robe got a little burned! Borealis, MC, are you two okay!?
Borealis: ...ugh, these things are getting in the way. It's somewhat hard on the ears, but not enough to be a problem for the concert.
MC: I'm okay! / S-somehow!
Mokdai and Narihito are dealing with the Micros on stage while Borealis continues performing. The battle and music are coming together like it's all one show.
Borealis: ...oh, nice sounds Mokdai. Go help Narihito, I'll gather Views.
Mokdai: Okay! Present for you, Narihito!
Mokdai pulls out a shining present box out of his bag Parallel Weapon and gives it to Narihito.
Narihito: What?
POOF
Narihito: Wow, I feel power flowing through me!

Mokdai: Eheh, my Parallel Weapon's meant to give people hope and courage!
Narihito: Cool, lemme interview you after this! But first, time to pull this out for the Micros! (activates his notebook Parallel Weapon to Mega Man Mokdai's default power glove)
Mokdai: I-isn't that mine!? Oh right, Narihito Great Memorias you can do that!
Narihito: Ditto power activate! Megaton Crusher! (high jumps and slams the fist into the Micros)
Micros: HISSSS (shatter)
MC checks the VP collection status while operating.
MC: Great comboing everyone! The Views are coming in, so I'll call Hisaki!
Mokdai: Okay! Our suits won't cancel out if you're looking away for only a little bit, so we'll handle the battle!

MC nods and calls Hisaki.
Hisaki: MC, nice timing! I was about to call you myself! We'll have enough VP to fire the cannon in a few minutes, and it'll fire as soon as that happens! There might be a shockwave, so grab onto something!
MC: WHAT
Hisaki: The heroes should be fine, but tell them just in case! Make sure you don't get blown back either! ...okay, VP charge complete! Changing phases, confirmation that the artificial satellites have--(click)
MC: Guys, the cannon's about to fire soon! Get ready for the shockwave!
Borealis: ...understood. Mokdai, Narihito! Time for a grandiose performance! Make it brilliant, we are doing all this for Views to begin with.
Mokdai: R-right! Camera drones switching over to cover mode! Switch to the low angle shot! Get Borealis and the cannon behind him in the shot!
By the time Mokdai finishes his inputs, light gathers at the top of the cannon. The ball of light gets bigger and bigger from all the VP pouring in.
MC: MY EYES! / Fire round one! / I need to grab onto something...

The cannon fires off the shot like a giant lance of light, paired with a surge in Borealis' music. The shot pierces Megas, putting a giant crack on its body and exposing its core.
MC: The shockwave!
MC manages to grab onto something, but the force of the shockwave still blows them away.
MC: AAAAAA
Mokdai: MC! A-are you okay? Are you hurt?
Mokdai catches MC, and Narihito and Borealis turn to look.
Narihito: MC! ...oh good, you seem to be okay. Watching the cannon fire was amazing...I'm still seeing stars.
Borealis: ...I wasn't expecting the cannon to be quite so loud. Maybe I overdid the performance? Still, not bad Mokdai. All my music drones are okay. Time for Act 2.
Borealis grips his baton again, and the drones restart the concert. Suddenly, Crowne calls in.

Crowne: You guys okay? I kinda saw it coming, but it's still my first time seeing a cannon blast off like that.
Mokdai: Honestly I was almost blown away too...for now, we're all okay. Anything happen, Crowne?
Crowne: Right, news update. We've succeeded in making a huge crack with that shot just now. That was some pretty thick armoring. Next is the pinpoint shot to take it down. Calibration will take some time, but that's why we have high precision optical weaponry. Everything is going as planned. But... (frowns)
Crowne: That fragment we shot off? It's falling this way and it's bigger than the Micros.
Mokdai: A huge Monster is coming this way!?
Crowne: Yeah, you gotta hold it off while getting the VP for the next shot. Here's a picture of it. (shows a picture of the giant meteor piece along with a ton of Micros.)
Borealis: ...Wha-!?
MC: ...Borealis?
Borealis's hands stop, and then so does the music.

Title card: Starlight Elegy

Flashback
This was the home planet Borealis was born on, the place he spent with his friends and family. And this was the day its fate was decided.
Operator: ...it's finally time. I'm nervous.
Borealis: ...yes, but don't be too tense you snap.
Operator: ...yeah. I have a bad feeling though...
Borealis: ...how unlike you. You usually smile at times like these.
Operator: ...right. It's because it's time like these I should smile! (pumps himself up and pats down his chest)
Operator: Oh right, here's a present!
Borealis: For me? ...what is this?
Operator: Earplugs! I had to get them from another planet since there aren't any here. You can still have normal conversations with them on, but they'll block out ambient noise. It was hard finding large size ones! You can hear heartbeats right? I thought that could be tiring...
Borealis: ...thank you, I'll treasure them.

Borealis puts the earplugs in.
Borealis: ...how do I look? I've never had anything like these before.
Operator: Great! I'm glad they fit perfectly.
Borealis gives a small smile back, then pulls his sleeves up and puts his conductor baton out.
Borealis: ...our help request for heroes of other planets went through. You and I will need to hold out against the meteorite until they arrive. This planet WILL have a future. I'll need to get you a return gift after it's saved.
Borealis puts his serious face on.
Borealis: ...I'm going to do another check. The smaller meteorites will be coming in first. First we should protect the only terminal building on the planet and our home. I probably cannot handle the giant meteorite on my own, so we will need the reinforcing heroes all together to stop it. If they can't make it in time...if we see the light of the meteorite, this operation has failed. In that case, you should take the remaining residents to safety and tell the ones with the spaceships to get as many of them as possible off planet.
The planet's tech level was unable to keep up with the rest of the galaxy, so there is no large scale refuge ship available for the citizens.

Borealis: ...okay, time to start the hero livestream. My concert's sound waves should be able to slow down the meteorite's falling velocity and even destroy the smaller ones.
Operator: ...okay. Activating the transformation!
After transforming, Borealis starts focusing on sounds. The earplugs block out the sounds of the blizzard and the Operator's heart...
Operator: Let's go! We have to protect this planet!
Turns out Borealis can still hear the Operator's heart but pretends not to because they hoped for that. Most of the time things are background noise, but Borealis can pick it out if he tries. And right now, Borealis can hear bits of anxiety and discord coming from his friend.
Borealis: ...right. Beginning the concert.

Several hours pass as Borealis and the Operator continue the fight alone. Fatigue sets in as Borealis keeps it up.
Borealis: There's so many! But I won't let you stop my melody!
Operator: Incoming from behind! At this rate they'll collide with the Terminal Building's central sec--we don't have enough VP, we won't make it!
CRASH
Borealis: What!? Dammit! W-what is this sound!?
Loud noise is coming from the hero-operator connected phones because the comm facility has been destroyed.
Operator: No! The phone is down! Can you hear me!? Video streaming errors are happening! We'll lose all VP at this rate...!
VP leak sprung.
Borealis: We need to fix it, fast! Reinforcements will be here soon!
Borealis attempts to call the reinforcements. The call fails to connect, but the meteorites keep coming. Then a giant meteorite falls in between Borealis and the Operator, creating a giant chasm they can't jump over.
Borealis: No!

Borealis grabs his phone hard enough to crack the screen.
Borealis: Can you hear me!? Go on ahead and lead everyone else to safety! Get as many of them as you can out of here! I'll go around this hole and head to the space port as soon as I--
Meteorites crash into the ground one after another, and many shooting stars cross the sky.
Operator: B-but I can't leave you like this...!
Borealis: LEAVE! NOW!
The Operator cannot bring himself to say anything else, so he nods reluctantly, tears in his eyes as he looks at Borealis one more time before running to the space port.

Borealis: ...
Borealis collapses to his knees, tension cut from his body. His friend's heartbroken expression is seared into his mind. The Operator disappears from view shortly, and all he sees anymore is snow and falling meteorites.
Borealis: ...what good is being a hero anyway?
Borealis's phone says he only has 1 VP left. And now that last person watching him is gone. What can a hero with no Views do?
Borealis: What was the point of being a hero!? I couldn't save my friends, family, or home! I'M POWERLESS!
Borealis's rage is drowned out by the meteorite impacts. The VP counter drops to 0, and Borealis's suit cancels out.
Borealis: Why can't I protect anything!? Why am I...!?
The endless rain of stars destroys Borealis's home planet, smashing it to pieces. Borealis takes out his earplugs and holds them to himself.
Borealis: I...! I...!
Borealis's wordless laments echo across the ruined world. So ends Borealis's hero career.

MC: Borealis! The music's stopped!
Borealis: !!
Borealis snaps back to the present, then makes a grand sweep of continuing the concert while hiding his emotional state. Things continue organically like he had just adlibbed the blank section in. Only he hears what MC says next.
MC: O-oh, was it supposed to be like that?
Borealis: No, I had to play that off as an improvisation. Sorry for losing focus, and I want to ask you to handle the operation again. We will continue the concert and battle like so. You may have instructions for Mokdai and Narihito, but keep me on the line too.
MC looks back at the falling Micros. Mokdai and Narihito are still keeping on top of things with the livestream.
Mokdai: They're coming from above! Here's another present!
Narihito: Thanks, Mighty Knuckle! Time to get aggressive!
MC: Mokdai, fight hard! Narihito, over there!

Borealis: ...
Borealis watches the rest of the party fight while he continues performing, projecting his old memories onto what's currently happening.
Borealis: MC, that image I saw earlier reminded me of my past.
MC: Back when you stopped conducting? ...did something happen?
MC: When I first met you in that back alley, I heard a familiar sound from you. A very unique one...oh, and I don't mean what we normally think of at the word "sounds." I can hear the tone of your very being. If I listen closely, I can tell how someone is feeling to some extent. I have better hearing than the average person, so it's something of a special skill of mine.
MC: Wow! / I see. So when you say familiar...
Borealis's shoulders rise in surprise.
Borealis: ...you believe me. Of all the people I've told, the only others to understand so quickly were...my best friend and family.
MC: Well you don't have a reason to lie about it, and I don't think you're a bad person.

Borealis: ...no, I am bad and aware of that.
Borealis keeps his focus on his conducting so his attention doesn't slip while he keeps talking.
Borealis: I was a hero once, but I failed to save my family, my friends, and my home planet. It was then that I realize how powerless heroes...or rather, I was. I only talked to you because your sound resembled my friend's... I've treated you rudely. I'm sorry. I know you and he are different people, of course...that's all the resemblance between you two, and it made me think he was alive here.
Borealis adjusts his grip on his baton. The Micros are still falling. There's a sadness somewhere in the intense war song playing.
Borealis: ...it was terrible. A crumbling planet truly seemed like hell. Stars were falling then like this too. If I were stronger...if I were able to gather more views...maybe things wouldn't have gotten as bad as they did then. I can't help but think that.
MC: I see... I'm glad you're okay.

Borealis: I was saved by the heroes I asked for backup who came late just before the planet completely collapsed. I don't actually remember much from that period, yet the part I want to remember least is the bit that's clearest. After I recovered, I looked everywhere on a nearby planet, but I found nothing about my friends and family... That's why I decided to devote all the power I had into finding them.
Borealis scoffs at himself, like he's okay with you laughing at him.
MC: You aren't powerless, Borealis.
Borealis: ...MC, there's no need to console me. I failed at being a hero. I am only helping here because it would benefit me. I told you, I am a bad person. You can think of my talking to you as an apology for my rudeness towards you. That's all.
MC: ...I see. What if I had an ability to know what other people feel like you do?
Borealis doesn't hear this over his earplugs.

Borealis: ...it's natural you wouldn't understand, but these ears aren't as great as you think they are. There are times when I hear thing I don't want to...it's like a curse. Sometimes I wish I could plug them up.
Borealis lightly touches his earplugs.
MC: But if you do that you can't hear the things you DO want to hear.
Borealis makes a small frown since MC's serious operation voice has a bit of kindness mixed in.
MC: Try listening. There's great applause happening!
Borealis: What? (turns off the noise blocking function of the earplugs)
Mokdai: We're gonna win this battle! Here's a cool video present for everyone watching! The highlight of this battle is Great Memorias's attack, Millennium Fist!
Narihito: Haha, thanks! I'll protect everyone with the borrowed power of legends!
Mokdai and Narihito turn to talk to the camera.
Narihito: Okay, all you watchers! You too can be superheroes with believing hearts that protect the future!
Mokdai: Right, I gotta step up too! Cheer for me, guys! We'll put up everyone's messages on the secondary channel! Don't touch that dial, folks!

Mokdai: Woo, nice recording there Narihito! Also that line you said earlier...
Narihito: Oh you got the reference? It's from an old hero cartoon I love! I was hoping I could be a cool superhero like that!
Mokdai: Yeah, I got it! Awesome! Maybe I should put that episode on the channel later...
Borealis: W-what!? What's going on!? I haven't heard anything about a secondary channel or hero show being shown... Mokdai, you aren't ruining the concert mood, are you?
Mokdai: I-it's okay Borealis! The secondary camera is shooting somewhere else from the main camera!
Narihito: Yeah! There's tons of different people enjoying the concert and hero show on both channels! Great editing, Mokdai!
Mokdai: Look at all the messages cheering us on!
Mokdai and Narihito start streaming these messages on a holographic screen visible on the stage from all sorts of people.
Message A: I'm so happy I can listen to Borealis's concert in real time!
Message B: My family's cheering you guys on! Go heroes!
Message C: This is the most moving Christmas ever, I'm in tears! Good luck!
Message D: Thank you for the great Christmas present! Best wishes to the heroes of Orient City!
Borealis: ...w-what...!

Borealis can hear the kind notes coming in through the screen.
MC: Look at all that support!
Message E: My home planet was eaten by Monsters, so I hope this time the heroes win! Go, fight!
Mokdai: This one came from a refugee camp! How nice! Right...heroes are hope to people from destroyed planets. I don't remember much of anything of my home planet, but I painfully know how that feels! ...okay, let's take down Megas and make those kids happy!
Borealis watches as Mokdai thumps his chest.
Borealis: ...
Borealis: ...I see. So this is the sound you wanted me to hear.
MC: Yes, even if they're away we share the same feelings...so we have to protect this planet!
MC smiles. Their heart is worried and nervous, but there is an honest will inside. It's similar yet different to the sound Borealis heard from his friend that day, and hearing it makes him smile a little.

Borealis: ...very well. I have no plans on cutting any corners of course. It is my belief to play the best music, whether this is a concert or a hero show. Also, I will not permit a performance to be stopped partway through... you will be staying with me until the last note ends, MC.
MC: Of course!
Narihito: MC, Borealis! More Micros incoming!
MC and Borealis nod without looking at each other, but they feel both is feeling the same.
Mokdai: I can keep going too! It's back to back, but we're counting on you to operate, MC!
Narihito: I'm good too! I'll try holding out a bit longer to live up to those cheers!
Borealis: ...of course. I still need to think of an encore. Time for a splendid melody!
BATTLE START

Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 5 (Abridged)

Several days later, the party has been staying at the Countermeasures HQ. The battle group has called over new heroes, shared intel, and spar. The R&D groups are doing last minute adjustments to the Pseudo Parallel Cannon.
Hisaki: Hotfix incoming! Sis, check the startup later!
Crowne: Yep! Let's see...no problems! Good work people! We can go to bed tonight until showtime tomorrow!
Others cheer as Crowne starts heading for her room.
Hisaki: Dang it's down to the wire! Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, huh. That was pretty fast. Doesn't feel real to me.
Crowne: Yeah, but Megas won't be waiting for us so we can't let our guards down.

Mokdai and MC walk in from further inside.
Mokdai: Hi guys! How are...actually are you guys okay?
Crowne: Yep, we just finished with things. I just got to take this all out to the site and put it together, and then I can take a break. Aren't you in the production group? Kinda weird for you to be here, so what's up?
Mokdai: Borealis and I finished the prep for the concert tomorrow, so I came over for a bit, but... (looks over at the mountain of cannon parts behind Crowne) Borealis says he wants the cannon to look like a Christmas tree...
Crowne: what
Hisaki: B-but this is a cannon it's not really meant for that
MC: Yeah he's serious, Crowne / We need it for the concert Hisaki / Borealis said so...

Mokdai: I told Borealis how Christmas is a big event here on Earth...
Flashback
Borealis: You said Christmas is a day you spend with friends and family, yes?
Mokdai: Yes, it was originally a festival for a saint, but here in Japan it's especially held to spend time with those you care about. I've always loved this event since it feels like everyone can be happy on this day! It sounds like the perfect time to have a concert since it'd interest tons of people!
Borealis: ...Christmas is good civilization. I've researched other planets, but none of them have a warm event like this. Since it has a lot of attention drawn to it, let's make Christmas the theme for the concert. We'll have to change a part of it, and since you're a part of this you'll need to think about the battle scene production.
Mokdai: O-okay, I'll try!
Borealis: Oh, and make the cannon look like a Christmas tree.
Mokdai: what
Borealis: An inelegant weapon will bore the audience, same as the stage decorations. Add more Christmas lights to the stage so people will enjoy things. The concert is for my audience! I will check on things later, so get ready for the polished production. Now get to it, we have little time.
Mokdai: O-okay!
Present
Mokdai: ...so I think decorating the exterior should be enough. I'll make sure it won't interfere with the functionality, so you think it'll work?
Crowne: Oh okay, no objections. I'm looking forward to seeing how much you'll pretty this up.

Borealis's concert has been announced everywhere in the country. Megas has also become a topic and even nearby planets know about its approach. Then on Christmas Eve, heroes who will be defending battle lines near the concert area have gathered nearby.
Crowne: Huh, so that's the cannon. You really did decorate it like it's Christmas.
Hisaki: And it's not blocking the VP loading and firing functions. Good job, Mokdai!
Mokdai: Thanks! It was really hard getting that giant ribbon ready.
Crowne: Yeaaah, kind of a but much for a concert that's only for one night.
Hisaki: But if you put it that way, so's the cannon. We need to do the last minute checks and prep it for its max charge shots.
Crowne: Oh right. Okay, we're going backstage to get it ready. Mokdai, MC, get us all the Views once the show starts!
MC: Right! We rehearsed a lot for this.

Crowne and Hisaki go.
Mokdai: The stage decor seems fine. Now we just have to do it...I'm getting nervous!
Narihito: Hi Mokdai, there you are! A ton of stuff got delivered and they asked me to bring it here.
Mokdai: Thanks Narihito. That must be the super heat resistant robes the government sent us.
Narihito: Oh okay. We should open it up and distribute them quick.
A sudden wind blows in, and the party turns to see a large spaceship come in.
Mokdai: Looks like Borealis is here. I thought so before, but wow his ship is big...
Narihito: Yeah, private ships aren't that big! I think it's as big as mobile public facility ships? We only saw the entrance, but I bet there's streaming halls inside.

Borealis walks out to general surprise.
Borealis: ...hmm. Not bad. The lights and cannon look brilliant.
Mokdai: Thank you! I asked for the stage to be made of resistant materials that could survive through the battle. And just as we planned earlier, once the broadcast starts we'll be supporting this area.
Narihito: If any Micros fall near the stage, you'll be directing us while we get rid of them and stop them from disrupting the concert. That's where these robes come in.
Borealis looks at the robes. They definitely look like they were produced with defense and functionality as the main priority.
Borealis: What? You plan on fighting in the concert dressed in THAT?
Narihito: B-but the Micros will be falling around here after hitting atmospheric entry speeds. We need the robes even with our hero suit protection!
Borealis: Rejected. Those robes do not have the visual design needed to please viewers. Is there no fashion designer here? Can't you get these robes remade with a Christmas design?
Mokdai: Now??? But...

MC: How about we ask Sui? / We have to call Maculata!
Narihito: W-well they are designers, but can they get through all of these robes now...? Then again I can't think of any other ideas at this point...
Mokdai: Sorry, I didn't think about the design of the fire resistance robes.
Narihito: It's not your fault! We all did what we could! And I don't think Borealis is saying that to pull our legs. If we have the perfect production along with Borealis's directions, we'll have a soul shaking performance. Getting all the details sorted out is how we get all the Views we can. There's not much time, but let's try calling them!
Borealis quietly closes his eyes while Mokdai looks inspired.
Mokdai: You're right! If the outfits are eye-catching we might get even more attention. Getting Views is my job today, so I can't get down. We should call now!
MC: Let's split up the work. I'll call now! Mokdai, you carry the things! 

Borealis opens his eyes upon confirming that Mokdai and MC are working on things. He looks at Mokdai's back.
Borealis: ...we have only a few hours left. I'll do some last minute checks on my instruments and drones. Inform me as soon as possible if problems arise since they may affect the concert. Also, MC? I want to leave the operation and my transformation to you this time. Can I count on you?
MC: Wait, me? / Well okay... / Of course!
Borealis: Normally I would ask a collaborator, but right now since I must cooperate with others it may be wiser to streamline the operation to one person. Also, I'd like to try fighting while experience your sound. ...Narihito, where do I reach the backstage from here?
Narihito: Oh! I'll show you the way! I'll help with anything you ask me to! I'll even carry your things!
Borealis: W-what? I don't need an assistant...but do as you please, as long as you don't get in my way. Mokdai, get those robes sorted out.
Mokdai: O-okay! I'll bring them to the designers myself!
Borealis nods to Mokdai, puts in his earplugs, then heads to the stage.
Narihito: Yay I can have a personal interview with Borealis backsta--I mean I can personally help him myself! Then I'll go to the streaming site!
And so everyone splits off to do their thing.

Title card: Many Happy Returns

Mokdai and MC bring the robes to Sui and Maculata. On their way back to the concert site, other heroes start going to their assigned places. Once they get back to the concert area...
Mokdai: ... (sigh)
MC: Mokdai?
Mokdai: ...oh, MC. Something up?
MC: Oh, not really... / You seem down
---
(A) Mokdai: O-oh, sorry. Were you worried about me?
(B) Mokdai: N-no I'm not! I'm just nervous about today!
---
Mokdai: Hey can we talk a bit? Things are gonna start soon. (scoots over on his seat in the stands to make room)
Mokdai: ...when I look at the sky it doesn't really hit me that meteors and Monsters will be falling soon. Aren't you nervous, MC?
MC: Not really / Totally nervous right now
(A) Mokdai: ...oh, I wish I were like that. I'm super nervous now, and now I feel kinda lame as a senpai.
(B) Mokdai: ...yeah, same. I feel lame as a senpai now...

Mokdai stares at the sky with a weak smile.
Mokdai: I've been thinking about things...like how to get people to pay attention, or how to make a beautiful video. I've never been on a stage this big before. It's a battle and a concert, on Christmas to boot... It's a new challenge for me to try putting so many things together, and once I start fighting I won't be able to handle any video details in real time, so I have to get as ready as I can in what little time's left. But... (sigh)
Mokdai: I keep worrying that I might mess something up or miss something. Can I really pull things off if I'm feeling so uncertain...? And here I thought I'd gotten more confident since becoming a hero. Sui and Maculata are working hard on a rush job while Crowne and Hisaki were building things on no sleep. Huckle's been training hard, and I'm sure Akashi and Ryekie did all they could to help people. And now I'm worrying that I'll waste everyone's efforts after we got this far. (puts hands on chest)
MC: You were worried about that? You could've talked to me about it.
Mokdai: Hehe...I didn't want to worry you. I was really happy when Borealis put me in charge of the battle production. It felt like he approved of my work, and I never even did anything like this before. And of course I'd want the leads to look even better here. I never thought about how messing that up could mean the end of the city.
MC: Yeah, you really can't mess up here...but you always do such good work. I know you've worked hard!

Mokdai: ...thanks MC. But I think I need to think about this. Feels like I've gone back to being a total newbie.
Mokdai seems to ooze impatience and anxiety.
MC: Huh. Were you different back then?
Mokdai: ...I wasn't a hero then, so I thought supporting Huckle and Ryekie was my job. I may have studied up on video editing and production, but before I took the job I was just some other civilian who liked watching streams. Thinking back, maybe that was why I was able to cheer heroes on without feeling responsible. Like if I failed, the heroes would still help me. ...maybe somewhere in my mind I thought I wasn't part of the battle.
Mokdai stares into the distance, and MC thinks carefully on their word choice.
MC: You may have been like that in the past, but has your thinking changed since?

Mokdai: Hmm...it's hard, but now I can think I can protect everyone as a hero. There's lots of times I've thought I had to do something, thanks to all the battles I've been in with you...but deep down, I don't think I've changed much for better or worse. I've always wanted people to enjoy the videos I put up. If I were in the audience I'd want a video that'd blow my mind. Now the big show is about to happen and I'm losing heart again... (sigh)
Mokdai: ...even after all those battles I've fought, the hardest one is facing myself. There's times when all your weaknesses come bearing down on you, even though now's the one time I want to believe it'll be okay while I prepare as best I can.
MC: I think everyone feels a little afraid trying something new.
MC stands up and stretches. Mokdai looks over, and MC looks back.
MC: But you got past some hurdles back when you were new. Let's do our best together this time too.
Mokdai: ...MC
MC: ...maybe that sounds kind of uppity to say to a senpai?

Mokdai: ...nah, thanks MC...that's right. I've gotten past problems before, so I can't be losing heart now!
Mokdai also gets up and stretches, then takes in a deep breath.
Mokdai: Maybe things were just too convenient for me when I made someone happy while not being confident. Making everyone happy comes from a bunch of efforts coming together, which I'm confident about. Plus, this is a great chance! I can't be afraid of messing up the whole time! It's Christmas! I have to enjoy it with everything I have, and I'll make it so everyone can enjoy it!
MC: There's the Mokdai I know! Let's keep it up!
MC's phone gives off a faint light.
MC: Huh? Is this...!?

Later
Narihito: There you guys are! Sui and Maculata just sent the Christmas robes backstage! Since the livestream will start here, we should put them on first. Here you guys go.
Mokdai: Wow, thanks! They really pulled it off in that short amount of time!
Narihito: Borealis is done with his prep too. I think we're starting soon. I hear everyone else is already suiting up, so we should get transformed and stand by.
MC: Already!? / Okay, let's do it! / I'm transforming you two both at once!
MC transforms Narihito and Mokdai.
Mokdai: Okay, time to put the robe on...wow this design looks like Santa!
MC: You guys look great! Now to put mine on.
Mokdai: You look great in it! So warm!
Narihito: These have been made to match our races, so they fit perfectly! Time to get ready for showtime!

Flashback, at least ten years ago at the refugee camp at Fukuoka
Mokdai: (happily hums) Hey, think the soup is ready yet?
Kid A: But they said they were starting on it like five minutes ago!
Mokdai: Aww...smells good though! Hey, wanna sneak a taste?
Kid A: Yeah! But we're not sneaking a taste, we're checking if it's done yet!
Adult B: I can hear you guys! Settle down for Christmas already! If you don't be good Santa won't come! Ya hear, Mokdai?
Mokdai: Ow, my ear! Yah I hear, leggo!
Mokdai's first memories is of life at that camp. He doesn't remember his home planet, but it doesn't bother him much. Everyone at camp is like one big family. They may have been poor, but life was so busy.
Adult B: Mmm, soup's good. Mokdai, call everyone over!
Mokdai: Okay!
There wasn't that much, but the adults never forgot to celebrate Christmas. They adapted quickly to the Earth custom hoping the children would at least have one wonderful day out of the year.
Mokdai: Wow! C'mon let's all sit down and eat! ...ahh, it's great! I helped cut the veggies! Isn't that awesome!? Hehe, is Santa gonna come this year?
The place was dimmer than the city's bright lights, but even here people were excited and happy. Mokdai loved how everyone would smile on that day.

Present
Borealis: MC, transform me too. Can you help me?
MC: Okay! Execute!
MC transforms Borealis.
MC: It's just like back then! / You're so cool!
---
(B) Borealis gives a small smile before returning to his default expression and walks towards the stage.
---
Borealis: Mokdai, the preparations are ready. How's the broadcast? (pulls out his baton)
Mokdai: Ready. The audience waiting for things to start is alre--OH MY GOD LOOK AT THEM ALL!
Narihito: That's a ton! I know how they feel, looking forward to Borealis's concert!

Crowne calls.
Crowne: Mokdai, you read me? Megas is coming in as scheduled. Time to start battling! Megas will land in exactly ten minutes! Get that VP rolling in!
Mokdai: Got it! Guys, time to get started!
Narihito: Leave it to me! I'll give my all to defend Orient City!
MC: It's time... let's do our best, people!
Everyone nods.
Borealis: ...let us begin the directions. Mokdai, start the broadcast.
Mokdai: Starting broadcast in 3... 2... 1... action!
Mokdai checks the stage monitors, then signals to Borealis. Borealis bows to the camera, then begins the music. A flick of his fingers, and his drones start playing. The music starts quietly and softly, and cameras point at Borealis from various angles.
Narihito: Oh my god, a live performance by Borealis my mind is blown!
Mokdai: It's pulling me in...but we need to help support the show.
Narihito: Right. View count is going as predicted. Mokdai, keep checking the monitors! I'll go backstage and stand by on the other end! I'll come up on stage if any Micros come by!
Mokdai: Okay! MC, check the stream's view count!
MC: Okay!

The three nod to one another, and Narihito runs off. Mokdai talks to MC while checking the backstage monitors.
Mokdai: ...hey MC, I just remembered a Christmas time when I was little at the Fukuoka refugee camp. We didn't have much, but I loved spending Christmas with everyone together. The city was bright with lights, and we all had warm soup. I'll never let Monsters ruin all that.
Snow starts falling.
Mokdai: Today's Christmas Eve, so I'm sure there's tons of people looking forward to it. But people are stuck evacuating and suffering because of the Monsters, so I want to produce a video that will make them happy for today at least!
Mokdai looks over, smiling with determination.
Mokdai: Hero lives really do need to make people smile and give them courage! ...and I can't forget to have the courage to face myself. I want to be proud of myself, even when I was just a newbie who could only watch!
Beep beep
Phone: New Path detected. Target: Mokdai. Connectivity: Very High
MC: WHAT / Let's make that wish come true!
Mokdai: Yeah, I'll do everything I can! I'll make the best video as the best present, so I'll protect Christmas!
MC: Contacting new Path!
A different light than usual covers Mokdai, and when it goes away Mokdai is in an alternate hero suit.
Mokdai: WHAT hey wait is this a new hero suit!? Wow! Santa really came! Now it's my turn!
MC: It's a fluffy suit! / You look great in it Mokdai! / C-can you actually fight in that
(AB) Mokdai: Hehe, I have to be Santa this time and give people the present of happiness!
(C) Mokdai: I'll be okay! I feel like I can summon a sleigh!

The concert is starting to crescendo.
Mokdai: ...it's almost time for our part. I'll do my best with the new power you gave me, MC!
Mokdai flexes and smiles, and MC nods at this. Hisaki starts calling Mokdai in another conference call.
Hisaki: Mokdai, Narihito! The first wave of Micros is coming in a few minutes! The Views are coming in, so try to hang in there until it's firing time!
Micros start falling down the sky like shooting stars.
Narihito: Got it! Guys, I'm ready over here! The heroes at the other Micros fall sites are starting up their streams too.
Mokdai: Understood! Focus on defending the cannon! Borealis, can you hear us?
Borealis: ...yes. Time to begin our war ballad!
Borealis raises the tempo, adding string instruments to the bells. The performance changes to a new tune along Mokdai's setup. Stage lights shine like a parade, and even the Micros look like a part of the performance.
Mokdai: Perfect! Now Narihito, Borealis! Time to beat the Micros in tune with the music! MC, I'm going in too! Operate for us!
MC: Right!
Mokdai leaps into the fray!
Mokdai: It'll be okay! We'll have a great Christmas for sure!
BATTLE START

Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 4 (Abridged)

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

Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 3 (Abridged)

Orient City, Anti-Meteor Type Monster Committee Meeting Room 2
Hisaki, Crowne, and a bunch of unnamed engineers are discussing something.
Hisaki: Okay, time to sum up everything we've brought up. We ditch the idea of using the HFCM nuke and make a Pseudo Parallel Weapon Cannon powered by high density VP, right?|
All present agree.
Crowne: Yeah, we'll be cutting it close on time if we make the cannon, but it should work. If we consider the VP transfer functions on our phones, we have a base to work with and a bunch of people who know how to use it already.
Okitaka: Yeah, they're working in another room but we should tell 'em. Also, why did we never come up with a perfect like this before? Wouldn't the Space UN have got on this already?
Crowne: People have been coming up with this idea on and off the past 100 years. It's just that when they looked into the energy decay rate, they couldn't figure out how to make a bunch of these things work consistently. We'd have to think of it as a one-time thing. Plus there's tons of other problems.

Okitaka: Aww, so this is just an emergency thing? Well fine, we'll just have to deal with the other problems. So the biggest worry is this cannon's shot dying before it actually hits the Meteor Monster... (sigh)
Crowne: We'll need a control system that can handle that much energy, but the bigger problem is how we'll get all that energy to begin with.
Hisaki: Yeah. And even if we get that much power we can only hold the converted VP for so long.
Okitaka: Right. With a normal Observer, conversion efficiency drops sharply when they stop watching, which means we'll need to get all that VP right when it's time to fire. Which means we need a bunch of people watching on command. Super.

Okitaka: Okay, so people can't pay attention for that long even though it's another planetary crisis. If all of Orient City isn't(?) enough to make that much VP, we can get throw in our Views too. But there's still a huge number of people who'll think this is someone else's problem. We need them to watch too to shoot down the meteor, but if asking them to tune in was enough we wouldn't be having crimes still.
Hisaki: So we need to announce when we need them to watch? Hmm... well we still need to consider everything else we need to do. We'll have to recalculate how close we can have the meteor fall in.
Crowne: We'll need to minimize the cannon shot's power loss too.
Hisaki: Yeah, raising the shot's power lowers the range...but I doubt one shot will be enough. I think we'll need at least two.
Crowne: Two shots is the most we can probably manage. The VP conversion and charging will probably take minutes. Even if we shoot the meteor several thousand km up in the atmosphere, the Monster will be falling down in seconds. We'd be dead before the next shot is ready.
Okitaka: Hmm...

Hisaki: It doesn't matter if the odds are less than 1%! We have to do everything we can to bump it up! Right Sis!?
Crowne: ...right. Let's tell the people in Room 1 the plan and figure out the base for the Pseudo Parallel Weapon. We have to start on what we can do, or we'll never make it in time!
Okitaka: Y'all said it. I'mma go fill in the Space UN and other Anti-Meteor departments about this! It's almost time for the emergency evac order to go out too. Hisaki, tell everyone else!
Hisaki: Right! I'll go talk to the research and battle groups! I bet Huckle and the other heroes are on edge about the big plans. And I gotta get control system done quick...this is gonna be so awesome!

Title card: Combine with that Sound

Parallel Flight
MC and Mokdai are the only ones in.
MC: Hmm...do I go, or not go?
MC takes out the ticket to stare at it. Do they go or not go with the bear they barely know?
MC: He's a villain and it's bad to associate with villains, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy. (sigh)
Mokdai: What's wrong? Wanna talk about it over tea?
MC: Thanks Mokdai / Eh, it's nothing big / Well...

One explanation later
Mokdai: B-Borealis? The conductor villain is Borealis? (looks at ticket)
MC: Yep, he said so himself. Is he famous?
Mokdai: SUPER famous! He's a galaxy-wide ex-hero conductor! He may be a villain now, but he's not the kind of villain who actively commits crimes. I saw that he quit being a hero after a past incident.
MC: ...what incident?
Mokdai: Well there aren't many news articles from that time period so I don't know much...but the incident cost Borealis his home planet. I saw that he stopped contact with his agency after that. He was put as MIA for a bit, then recognized as a villain when he popped up again.
MC: Huh / What a rollercoaster of a life he's had. / Why won't he go back to being a hero?
(AB) Mokdai: People have wondered if he's got some personal objective to do instead of coming back, but he's the only one who knows for sure.
(C) Mokdai: I dunno...but maybe he wants to use his abilities for some other thing instead of being a hero?

Mokdai: (sips tea as he thinks back on things about Borealis) Well, people who aren't registered in an agency using hero powers are considered criminals. It doesn't matter how famous you are. Oh, but it's different if you sign a form saying you won't use your powers like retired heroes do. Borealis sounds like he's still using his though, so hero supervisory organizations have apparently marked him as uncooperative or self-righteous. But if I ever get to fight together with him as a hero, I wish I could go hear one of his concerts! Only his guests know when and what channel to see them though. He's still super popular, so when a concert starts there's gonna be tons of views in minutes. Look, here's one of his archived concerts!
Mokdai streams a video from his phone to a computer for MC to see.
MC: So that's the view count log...wait, it feels like this is two magnitudes higher than regular livestreams.
Mokdai: ...right? Borealis's concert tickets are super valuable! He's still a villain, so I can't recommend you going alone...but since he gave them to you as a thank you, I doubt he'll hurt you? He wouldn't have given it to you otherwise.
MC: Right, thanks Mokdai / Thanks for your insight / Wow you know a lot.
(C) Mokdai: Hehe, well I know some stuff. I'm glad I could help! Feel free to talk with me if you need to.

Ding-dong!
Crowne: Dammit I worked for like two days straight and my shoulders are stiff...
Huckle: Yes, I'm really tired two after all that training...
Crowne: Hey you two. Seen the news lately?
Mokdai: Hi guys. And what's on the news?
Crowne and Huckle look at each other before sitting near MC.
Crowne: ...you know the newsflash about that giant meteor the other day? We were called in about it.
Huckle: They said the risk of it colliding with Earth has gone up and the expected impact zone will be given evac orders. And one of the possible sites is the center of Orient City with a radius of 100 km.
MC: It's gonna crash here!? / Well damn...

Huckle: The silver lining, if you can call it that, is that it hasn't been that long since the city got flattened by the kaiju Monster earlier in Mt. Fuji, so there's still tons of people who haven't come back yet. The call is to send them straight into refuge instead. Every hero agency is helping out with the evac, and I've called Ryekie to go work on that.
Mokdai: Oh, so that's why he left for an emergency summon this morning.
Huckle: Yes, having an S Rank Hero around will help convince people to go. If you believe me, that is. Everything we've said so far is just the declassified stuff for the news. I wanted to tell you guys earlier, but I apologize for being late on that.
Mokdai: Oh, there it is now on my phone. But shouldn't Akashi, Sui, and I be helping citizens evacuate t--
Crowne interrupts by holding a hand up. Huckle nods at this.

Crowne: There's more to the story. That meteor? It's a Monster, and Okitaka called me and Hisaki to research a way to shoot it down.
Huckle: Once the evacuation is done, I expect the government will tell everyone that part. Keeping that quiet for now is meant to prevent panic until everyone gets there.
MC: OH NO! Is it gonna eat the whole city!?
Crowne: Hello, we're trying to prevent that here. I know I just became a hero, but I wanna keep everyone safe too. Have a little faith here.
Crowne smiles, but she looks tired.
Crowne: ...still, we're pressed for time but still have tons of problems to solve. Things are tense over there.
Mokdai: What sort of problems...?

Crowne and Huckle explain about the Pseudo Parallel Weapon Cannon's development and it's problems. The biggest one is...
Crowne: We need enough VP to power the thing in that instant, or else it won't be strong enough. We need like a million times more VP than usual or something.
MC: That much!?
Crowne: An S Rank Hero's livestreams clocks in at the tens of thousands on a good run, so we keep seeing how unrealistic that goal is.
Huckle: Still, we're continuing on hoping that there's some hope we can grab onto.
Crowne: We need someone with supreme charisma or some sort of event the whole world would watch. It's not like we have another kaiju coming to threaten the planet or anything. And if someone or something like that is around, we'd still have to make contact somehow. (sighs)
Mokdai: ...oh! MC, what if we ask him!?

Later
Huckle calls Okitaka to explain Mokdai's idea: ask Borealis to help and throw a concert on a dedicated channel to get them views.
Okitaka: ...I see. The conductor villain Borealis? I've heard o' him. He might be the best man for the job as a guy stubbornly pursuing views.
Huckle: It's not often we ask villains for help, and it'll depend on whatever conditions he demands. We don't even know if we can negotiate well enough with him...
Okitaka: I've heard he's in deep with big wigs everywhere, but he's famous here for not doing anything that won't benefit him. Kind of a long shot here...
Okitaka agrees to the idea of trying to ask anyway, and Huckle ends the call.

Huckle: We're back you two. I've told Okitaka what's going on. Thanks for suggesting this idea.
Mokdai: So, we can go try asking Borealis for help?
Huckle: ...MC. This is repeating myself, but I want to ask you to negotiate with Borealis for this plan since we don't really know anyone else who can speak with him directly before his concerts and has one of his tickets. If Okitaka or I were to go to his location, he'll obviously put his guard up. You'd potentially be at risk in that case, and negotiations would be impossible then.
Mokdai: I guess...but MC definitely has a VIP ticket. Even regular tickets never get shown, and this one's been autographed...
Crowne: He likes you? He even wrote his spaceship coordinates. You could sell it for a ton, and if you wanna catch him that could be possible.
MC: Hmm. That'd be scary. I wonder why he likes me? He said something about my sound...?

Crowne: Your sound? What's that mean...? Well I guess you'd just have to ask him directly about it. He's not hostile to you, right? We don't even know that much about him.
Huckle: Right, if he agrees to help then we'll be fighting together in the same place. It's important to know each other well. And while you're negotiating, I'll inform you a little bit about what's going on. Right now, a bunch of heroes and engineers including me and Crowne are gathered at the emergency countermeasure department to develop that cannon and doing Anti-Monster training. Since time is limited, our communications will be limited too unfortunately. Ryekie's already working on his assignment, and Sui and Akashi will help with evacuations later. Mokdai, can you go with MC as their bodyguard? We can't send MC as a lone Observer to a villain's location.
Mokdai: Okay. MC, feel free to count on me if anything happens!
MC: I'm worried... / I have an exclusive bodyguard! / Let's do our best, Mokdai!
(A) Mokdai: Just do things like normal and it'll be fine. Relax!
(B) Mokdai: Haha, yeah. My fists of justice will fly when you're in danger!
(C) Mokdai: Yeah! Let me know if I can help with anything!

Crowne: We gotta head back soon, but you two should get all your prep done. If you don't know much about the other party, it'll be hard to get an edge in negotiating. Even if he's following his own justice or whatever, he's not obligated to help strangers like us.
Huckle: Right. If only we knew someone who's informed about him to explain things... Under normal circumstances I'd want to go with you two as well, so I'm sorry to leave it all to you. I'll wish the best for your negotiation.
MC: Understood. / It'll work out! / oh no, I'm getting nervous...

Huckle and Crowne pick up their things and leave.
Mokdai: ...right! We need to finish up our work here and get ready quick! It hasn't sunk in yet that we have a meteor Monster coming this way, but we should go as fast as we can!
MC: You say that, but what do we even do to prepare? We need info first.
Mokdai: Hmm...I wish we knew more about Borealis. I've looked him up myself, but maybe we need a investigative specialist. Someone who knows a lot about heroes and villains, their activities and backgrounds...
MC: ...so, a journalist then?

Later at some restaurant
Narihito: Hi guys, long time no see!
Mokdai: Sorry for the sudden call. Thanks for coming!
Narihito: Any reporter would come if you said you had some special scoop!
MC: Wow you're a great model of a reporter!
Narihito: Aww shucks. It's just a coincidence I was on Earth and came by so quickly. I see Orient City's been rebuilding fast. Excuse me, coffee please!
Narihito sits across from MC and Mokdai.
Narihito: There's been news lately about a meteor swarm colliding with Earth, right? I heard it might be a giant unmanned ship developed for planetary probing. Its old flight functions broke off so it absorbed smaller planets and turned it into a meteor. Sounds like a dream! I'm here to get material on that, though I just finished earlier.
Mokdai: O-okay...we came to talk to you about the meteor actually. There's something we want to ask first though, so can we get started?

Narihito: Haha, I'll answer if I can. But not for free of course.
Narihito smiles as he starts drinking his coffee.
Mokdai: Thanks. So what do you know about Borealis? Do you know why he's a villain, or what his personality is like?
Narihito: ...huh. (quietly puts his cup down)
Narihito: ...I've always wanted to learn more about Borealis. I've tried pulling every string I've got, but I've never gotten a chance to talk with him directly so far. All I have is what's general knowledge, like how something happened to his home planet and how he stopped being a hero after that. That's all I can say free of charge.
MC: And that means...?

Narihito: Heh, sorry. It's difficult to tell you everything since I don't know why you need to know. Even one bit of information can change positions and situations, and keeping confidentiality is part of my work. But if you guys are bringing up Borealis, it might benefit me too. If it can get me closer to interviewing Borealis, could you tell me more about what's going on?
Mokdai and MC look at each other.
MC: Think it's okay? / Well Narihito's a hero too / Nobody said we couldn't talk about it
Mokdai: Yeah we're in a hurry, and we can probably trust Narihito. Okay so here's the simplified explanation of how we got here...
One explanation later
Narihito: ...I see. If that's true, then you guys need Borealis for the plan to stop the giant Monster to work. Plus that explains a lot about what I heard about it originally being an unmanned probe.
MC: What do you mean? / Aha, I see
(A) Narihito: Well, it's something I've learned through my investigation...
(B) Narihito: Whoa, you sure are insightful!

Narihito: In the past there was a giant unmanned space probe launched, but all records and evidence of it has disappeared. It may have been 100 years ago, but I still thought it was weird how nothing was left of all that.
Mokdai: Oh, did they disappear because a Monster ate it?
Narihito: That's what I suspect. And if they turned the ship into a new base to wander the universe, then it fits. Thanks you two! This is gonna help my article a lot! (puts down empty coffee cup)
Narihito: Right, my turn now to talk. But first, I have a request...CAN I COME WITH YOU GUYS TO THE NEGOTIATION!? (slams head into table)

Mokdai: Wait WHAT!? Calm down!
Narihito: Impossible! You're a huge hero nerd too, so you know how I feel right!? It's a chance to talk to Borealis, even if he is a villain now! I HAVE to go!
Mokdai: I-I guess...
Narihito: If I let this pass by I may as well give up my career! And if you take me with you I'll tell you anything about Borealis!
MC: Oh right. Narihito you can drive spaceships, right? Mokdai doesn't have any experience.
Narihito: ...GENIUS! I can drive if it's a smaller model! Look, my license! How about I be your personal driver!?
MC: What do you think, Mokdai? He seems happy about that...
Mokdai: Y-yeah! I don't think we can stop him...I'll go tell the director. Having another hero along would be reassuring, so thanks Narihito.
Narihito: You can count on me! Okay, lemme get my notes on Borealis... (taps on phone)

Narihito: So as you know, Borealis has specialized talents for collecting VP. Some suggest even his concerts could be an abuse of his hero abilities, but the essential thing is that he doesn't seem to be doing anything with it all. It's like he's focused on the act of getting Views itself.
MC: He's after Views? He's not using them for anything?
Mokdai: Maybe getting Views with his concert is the goal in itself.
Narihito: It seems to be. I hear he invites government and police officials and other such influentials from every planet to them. Which would mean even with unpermitted use of his abilities, he doesn't cause real harm or attack.
Mokdai: Why hide his concerts instead of going to the media then if he just wants Views? He wouldn't be chased for being a villain if he kept up his hero contract.
Narihito: Hmm. Maybe he has a reason he can't go back to being a hero? Or maybe he thinks there's no point to it. Maybe having guerilla concerts helps with his motive somehow. It could also be that he doesn't like taking orders from someone else. And maybe it has something to do with that incident with his home planet. It's just my reporter's intuition talking though.

Mokdai: Hmm...it's gonna be hard getting him to help then. Do you know anything more about that incident?
Narihito: Sorry, I looked into it before but I couldn't find anything. I'll try again later since it's related to Borealis's past.
MC: Thanks! Guess we'll just have to ask directly.
Mokdai: Right, you have talked with him in person once already. Let's try asking for his help first and avoid bringing up anything he dislikes and see how that goes.
Narihito: Nice! That sounds like how I regularly ask for interviews with heroes I don't want to let get away!
MC: Eh, it'll work out somehow!
Mokdai: Let's go see Borealis tomorrow! I'm getting excited!
Narihito: Me too! I should go to bed early tonight. Oh, when should we meet tomorrow? Mokdai, does your office have a spaceship? If you don't, I'll go get a charter!
And so the party get up and get ready for tomorrow.

The next day, at the spaceport
Narihito: Morning, MC! Thanks for having me!
Mokdai: Good morning MC. Let's do our best with the negotiation!
MC: Morning! You two are up early.
Narihito: I just got the key to the spaceship from Mokdai! Let's get going!
Narihito starts moving first. Mokdai and MC follow after.
Mokdai: Narihito's been like this since I got here. We've been talking about heroes all morning! It's so great having someone with an interest in common to talk to!
MC: Nerd~ / That sounds like Narihito
Narihito: Here's the space car! Get in guys, we're going to see Borealis! I promise to drive safely! Whoo!

Inside the spaceship
Narihito: (getting the space car ready) MC, can you tell me the coordinates to put in?
MC: Oh, right. Here, it's on the back of this ticket.
Narihito: Oh my god is that really one of Borealis's VIP tickets!? Can I touch it!? Holy crap, it has his autograph! I can't believe you really got your hands on it...
Mokdai: I know that feeling... When I first saw it I was shocked inside too.
Narihito: Yeah...thanks, MC. Okay, time to head out. (sighs and starts the car)

Narihito: Oh right, I looked some more into that incident yesterday.
Mokdai: Oh thanks. Did you find anything?
Narihito: It's true that Borealis's home planet was destroyed for some reason. I didn't find out why, though it was already a pretty small planet with a small population count. Apparently it was extremely cold, and it was declared uninhabitable after the incident. No one who says they're from that planet has been seen outside of Borealis. (pulls out notes)
Narihito: It seems safe to assume Borealis is the only one to know much, but he seems to be hiding his location from other villains, terrorists, or people who want to use his abilities. Hardly anyone gets invited to his surprise concerts, and there's no way to ask him directly. I know it's not much, but I hope it can help somehow.
MC: No, it's fine! Even a little bit more info is better.

Mokdai: Still, I wonder what happened to make the planet inhabitable? It can't have been eaten by Monsters if records still exist, right?
Narihito: We're almost there. Oh wait, I can see it now! I guess we're close enough that the stealth function's no longer working on us. (points at a giant ship on standby mode suddenly appearing)
Mokdai: That's Borealis's ship...? I-it's huge!
Narihito: Just what you'd expect for a ship bigwigs get invited to. Time to dock! (flies the spaceship to the docking gate)
Narihito: Okay, now we just need to wait for it to open.
Mokdai: But will it let us since we came without an appointment? Oh wait, we were only given the ship coordinates so we wouldn't be able to arrange an appointment anyway...
Narihito: I doubt they'll turn us away if we show MC's ticket.
Mokdai: Hopefully... oh, they've confirmed us. It's almost time, MC!
MC: Let's go guys! / I wonder how this will work out...? 

Inside Borealis's ship, the party walks into a gorgeous parlor.
Mokdai: W-whoa...the tables and carpets all look expensive... Oh, there's a piano over there. Think Borealis is interested in Earth music?
MC: Oh no we better not make anything dirty! / How many paychecks would it take for me to pay for that...?
A gate opens as guards come out while the party gawks around.
Guard: ...welcome. Can you please show us your ticket, then tell us your names and occupations? There weren't any planned guests for today.
MC: I'm MC. Here's the ticket, and I'm a Hero Operator.
The guards look at Mokdai and Narihito before they'll take the ticket.
Guard: You two, please show your tickets. We cannot let anyone without a confirmed invitation from our employer in.
Mokdai: U-us too? We came as MC's plus two...
Narihito: Yes, we don't have tickets ourselves. Can we come in together?

The guard looks suspicious.
Guard: ...excuse me, might I know your names and occupations first?
Mokdai: I'm Mokdai. Uhh...I'm a hero as well as video editor and uploader.
Narihito: I am Narihito. I'm also a hero, and a reporter for Taiyou News.
Guard: ...heroes? And a video uploader and reporter and Operator?
...
The guards transform.
Guard: You bastards got some nerve coming onto this ship!
MC: They transformed!? / W-wait, please hear us out...!
Guard: The boss said no troublemakers. Get out!
Mokdai: P-please wait! We aren't here for th--
Guard: Did I stutter? Anyone would say that in this situation! Now that you know this ship's coordinates, don't think you can go home in one piece!
Narihito: ...MC! They don't seem like listening, so transform us!
MC: Okay!
Mokdai and Narihito transform.
Mokdai: Thanks MC! I don't want to be rough, but we need to make you listen!
Narihito: No time to talk! Get ready!
BATTLE START