Live A Hero Book 2 Chapter 1 Episode 11: Cover-Up Compensation (Abridged)

Evil Hideout or something
???: Chuo and Fukushima Wards terminated. Only the main group in Kita Ward is left.
Shin Ashihara Leader X: UGH, those stupid "good ol' day" types and their shenanigans. They caused all this shit and now this is the only way we can stop them from messing up the organization.
????: Our media agents have gotten their story together and are claiming this was all terrorism by some conveniently unknown conveniently alien villain group.
Leader X: Good. Get that out once we finish eliminating the group in Kita Ward. It'll suck to lose the target, but better them than us.
????: ...same. By the way, all those Observers we let lose in the Wards? We lost contact with them after they opened the Paths and brought Monsters over.
Leader X: Meh. Acceptable losses.
????: Our remaining Observers have news. When the other Observers disappeared or whatever, the Paths they made started vomiting Monsters out like hell and growing and merging together.
Leader X: wait what

Osaka
Monsters: REEEE
Evil Purple: AAAA--
Evil Yellow: NO PLEASE I--
Somewhere a vore fetishist is getting off on all these mobs getting eaten up.
Later
Big Monster: SHRIEK
Ryekie: Another one! (punch)
Ryekie: Get out of here, now! And take your friends with you!
Evil Blue: AAAAAA
Ryekie: What the hell is going on with all these Monsters popping up!?

Seiichirou: ...I have somehow figured out that Monsters are appearing in the center of Umeda. The police (again for some reason) and the hero agencies in the city are moving to contain them, but they won't be able to stop them since the Monsters are spawning infinitely.
Exio: This has to be deliberate, but it can't have been just one or two people. A whole bunch of Observers must have forced a Path open.
Huckle: But which group would do that? Would there be any group that'd try to cover up the Shin Ashihara's work? And why would they use Monsters? Sure it's easy to clean up threats doing that, but that causes even more damage to the city. Wouldn't it be better to use heroes...?
Akashi Alter: ...no, they have to be a Shin Ashihara ingroup.
MC: What? Friendly fire? But why...?

Akashi Alter: Like I said earlier, they aren't a monolith. That means there's cliques inside the organization that disapprove of the hardliners acting out here, and I'm pretty sure this is their doing. The run the group like a secret organization, so this situation is Bad for them.
Santetsu: ...oh, they're trying to erase the portions threatening the organization and silencing anyone who'd still remember and manipulate information to clean things up.
Danzo: Looks like they wanna erase us and MC too. Seems like they really wanna make it look like nothing ever happened.
Akashi: Like I'd just sit there and take it! Selfish assholes!
Akashi Alter: ...are they spiting me by sending Monsters near me? ...whatever, works for me. I still have a part of my dream left: crushing and destroying the Monsters, even just one more of them. Every single one I see dies.
MC: Um, Akashi? / Do you hate Monsters?
(B) Akashi Alter: ...yeah. Just thinking about how they're bumming around where They aren't makes me sick.

Evil Blue: H-HELLLP
Monster: EEEEE
Ryekie: Thunder Fist!
Monster: OOF (pop)
Ryekie: Investigate later! The bad guys are gonna get eaten up if things go on! Let's save them while keeping ourselves safe too!
Party reaction shot!
Akashi: WHAT? They literally were attacking us not even five minutes ago!
Ryekie: They're still being attacked by Monsters! If there's someone I can save someone in front of me, I'll do it regardless of how I feel about them! That's the justice I believe in!
Party scrolling shot! Huckle looks sad for a second.
MC: Ryekie...! / That's so like you.

Huckle: Sorry, he's not the type to listen after he's said his bit. But I agree with saving people, especially those under threat of being erased by evil.
Santetsu: ...it's a threat to us either way. We can handle it.
Roiker: Yeah. I'm not so tired as to throw in the towel yet.
Seiichirou: ...oh, no time to make sure we're all agreed.
Monsters incoming!
MC: Oh no! Attack!
Seiichirou: MC, Exio! Let's split up the operation! This is gonna go on for a while, but look sharp!
Exio: Right. I'll never hear the end of it if I don't make it back in one piece.
Everyone readies to fight, and the Monsters attack!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Monsters: Lovely! (poof)
Akashi: Okay, done!
Ryekie: No we're not! Here come more!
Monsters: REEEE
MC: Goddammit!
Huckle: How many people did they have opening Paths?
Roiker: So they had a bunch of Observers on hand then, apparently. I didn't know anyone besides us had the ability to control Monsters via the Path.
Exio: ...I don't think they're being controlled. The ether in the atmosphere is in a mess, which means the nearby Paths must be expanding. The Observers who opened them probably didn't know how to control those. (looks up into the sky)

A giant black hole is growing in the sky!
MC: WHAT
Akashi: Hey we did this before!
Ryekie: Yeah it's smaller than what happened at Mt. Fuji, but still!
Santetsu: It feels like it's absorbing and growing something...
Seiichirou: With the people who opened the Path to control it gone, the Path is fusing and growing. Either they ran or got eaten by Monsters, but they still left a bunch of Paths open.
Akashi Alter: ...it's possible. The Shin Ashihara hate anything that wasn't in Japan's good old days. They still have to use heroes and Observers though, but they treat them horribly. You can see how it is. Observers have it bad enough as it is.
Exio: They weren't taught how to use their powers and forced to summon Monsters. It's just terrible. Why'd they think that would work without knowing how Paths are?
50 Shades of Danzo!
Danzo: ...do you guys see that?
MC: See what?
There are eyes peeking out from the black hole, just like what happened back at Mt. Fuji
MC: OH NO!
End of Episode

Kabukicho Night Festival Episode 3 Part 2 (Abridged)

[Note: I'm stopping the Kabukicho Night Festival writeups here because I don't particularly enjoy writing this one anymore. The story's fine, but translating it is turning into a drag. I might come back to it at some point, but who knows?]

Puzzle time with Kresnik and Sandayu
Sandayu: ...this riddle ain't literal, yah?
Kresnik: Last I checked, there's no mirror in here. It could be hidden. Or...
Nope, no mirror. But there is a big bowl with water in the corner!
Sandayu: Oh! I'mma look over here then.
Sandayu checks the other corner. There's another bowl with water there. Sandayu sticks his hand in.
Sandayu: Hmm...
Sandayu pulls up a ninja-to. Kresnik finds a bloody sword in the other one.
Kresnik: Oh, so that's what that meant.
Kresnik's reflection turns into an image of his old appearance as a vampire hunter.
Kresnik: ...dick move.

Kresnik (narrating): I've been hunting vampires ever since I gained awareness. My nemesis was the black wolf that ran across the lands of Kitezh and harmed people, Kudlak. I spent my days fighting against the monsters that harmed society. When I fought others of my kind, only one of us would survive. Kitezh is a world of diffusion, and harsh battles and blood pools spread out. As things continued, my enemies included other nightfolk as well. I've killed many until I became known as an anti-terrorist hero. This bloody sword is like the one I had back then...
Jeut: (Ha ha! Who will thou turn thy blades of thine own memories on? Yourselves, or the other? Sacrifices must be made! Those who enter my sanctuary must feel my sadness!)
Kresnik: ...I see, I have to show who I am. I'll get to it then. (turns to Sandayu)

Kresnik: Looks like we'll have to go back to being enemies and finish some unfinished business. Now die for Kabukicho and its students.
Sandayu: Aww, Krezzy! You realized only one man can get outta here? Ya know, dyin' on the job like a good teacher suits ya!
Jeut: ...wait
Sandayu: So how about we go right at each other?
Kresnik: Go back to the shadows, creeper.
Jeut: (Wait what, I bothered to make totally safe fake weapons! They weren't supposed to try to kill each other! I have to stop them but telling them to use the fake weapons would spoil the riddle!)
Jeut could just stop them by cancelling the sanctuary himself, but racial pride says that's not an option. Letting things out of a trap he set just isn't his style.
Jeut: AAAAAA
Kresnik and Sandayu: COME AT ME
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Sandayu pulled out some random ass straight sword out of the water. Nothing special, just some random tool a ninja would use. It's just that Sandayu associated this sword with a certain memory. He had a foolish student he taught much to, who then stabbed him in the back. He called himself a great thief and took something important to Sandayu from him for the sake of some organization or castle lord.
Present
Kresnik and Sandayu are squaring off like they agreed beforehand. No repeating of old regrets! No getting trapped by old grudges!
Sandayu: ...whoops.
Kresnik cut down Sandayu!
Jeut: AAAAAA

Kresnik grabs a part of Sandayu and starts talking to Jeut.
Kresnik: Okay so that's probably harmful for minors to see, but did I do it right?
Jeut: ...y-yes! T-t-the door is...!
Kresnik: (Man, Sandayu doesn't miss a beat. He managed to send me a signal by flying his wrist to me while looking into the mirror. And he came up with the plan to use his body split technique to pretend I cut him to pieces.)
Sandayu: HAHAHAHAHA
Jeut: ZOMBIIIIIEEEE!
Kresnik: (Goddammit you dumbass, the door's still not open yet!)
Sandayu: (Hey! I can't keep it down if you're grabbing the side o' my torso, Krezzy!)

Time to keep the act going! Kresnik tosses the piece of Sandayu's body he was holding as his upper half pulls together.
Kresnik: Damned youkai! Die when you're killed!
Sandayu: wait what? HEY WAIT STOP
Jeut: ...um, you can stop now. I already opened the door. You didn't die when you used the weapons I made, but I didn't expect you to actually fall apart to pieces.
Kresnik: PAYBACK FOR ALL THE CRAP YOU'VE CAUSED ME! HOW DO YOU LIKE BEING WHALED ON, SUPER AGENT!?
Sandayu: NOOO AHAHAA STOP TICKLING!
Jeut: I said you can stop now! You win, okay!?
Kresnik and Sandayu are too busy/loud to hear. Abandonment issues activate!
Jeut: WAAAH! Don't leave me alone and ignore meee!
The room poofs back to its original form.

Meanwhile, the party reaches the first floor.
Tsukuyomi: Hey Sphinx, do you know where the sanctuary is?
Sphinx: That way, where those words are written!
Suzuka: The staff room? Maybe the teachers are stuck inside.
Sphinx: ...huh? The sanctuary disappeared!
MC: Let's check it out / Did they get out? / (run wordlessly)
(B) Tsukuyomi: That'd be nice. Let's go.
(C) Suzuka: Hey wait! Oh damn it all. After them!

A huge light comes from the office door!
Kresnik: What, still not enough Sandayu? Time to vent everything I've pent up!
Sandayu: Krezzy nooo! I can't take anymore!
Shocked reactions from the party!
Suzuka: W-what? Is that what they had to do to get out?
Ellie: ...hmm.
Tsukuyomi: Wow they seem to be having fun. Maybe we should look away?
MC: Let's pretend nothing happened / How ~~fun~~ terrible / Me too!
Suzuka: Should we open the door? We're not gonna get stuck in the sanctuary too, right?
Sphinx: No, it's gone. Let's open the door already.
Tsukuyomi: !! ...okay, let's step back and let the Queen handle it.

Ellie lifts up the hem of her dress and kicks open the door!
Kresnik and Sandayu: !?
Ellie kicked the door all the way to the wall! Kresnik and Sandayu are on the floor with Sandayu resisting while Kresnik's hand has slipped into Sandayu's clothes.
Kresnik: Ellie? ...the sanctuary! When did Sphinx disappear!?
Sandayu: ...welp.
Ellie stands arms crossed and puts her foot down. The sound echoes.
Kresnik: ...could you hear us out?
Ellie: Okay. Make it quick.
Sandayu: I got tickled and got students starin' at me! What the hell is up with today!?

One explanation later
Suzuka: Wow, I don't think anyone besides you two could've made it out of there.
Ellie: Yeah, all we had to do was play.
MC: Yeah, same with Eret / Personal differences? / Is there an aggressive Sphinx?
Sphinx: ...Jeut means sadness.
Tsukuyomi: You know something, Sphinx?
Sphinx: Those are ritual words from my home world. Eret is eye, Mereut is love, and Jeut is sadness.
Sphinx walks into the room and picks up a fallen mask.
Ellie: Isn't that the mask I broke?
Suzuka: ...no, it's probably like the extra pen we saw.

Sphinx puts the mask on and sees a flashback!
???: I don't want to see people off to the underworld if this is what's going to happen. Nobody who comes back remembers our promise, the times we played together, or even who I am. And this has to happen forever? They say it's needed...but do I really have to bear all this alone?
Sphinx (narrating?): I remember now. They aren't fakes; they're me. They're fragments of my memories of trying to run away from my role and life.
When people grow old enough, they journey to the underground subrealm of Duat. Those who finish the journey come back changed. This is System Aaru, the world that does not end by death based on the cycle of the sun.
Sphinx's role is to observe the correct cycling of the sun. He greets the people and sun who finish their journey to the underworld before seeing them off as they go underground, meaning there is only separation. Sphinx can never see any of them again. All cycle through equally, no matter their relations.
Present
Sphinx: ...oh.
The mask disappears. Sphinx starts crying.
MC: Sphinx?
Sphinx has to tell everyone how this incident happened, but then the castle shakes before he can say anything!
End of Episode

Kabukicho Night Festival Episode 3 Part 1 (Abridged)

Tsukuyomi: Almost done with the block puzzle!
MC: Let's do it! (push)
MC and Tsukuyomi work together to push the last block. It moves surprisingly easily, and now there's a bridge to the castle.
MC: Well that was easy / Thanks for telling me how to do this, Tsukuyomi / I didn't get any of this!
(A) Tsukuyomi: Wow, MC. I just watched most of the time. I guess you're good at these kinds of things.
(B) Tsukuyomi: Aww, thanks. I'm here to give you your due.
(C) Tsukuyomi: You solved it out of pure instinct? Honestly I didn't know how to solve it either, Moon joke!

Tsukuyomi: Okay Sphinx Eret or whatever. We can cross the bridge, right?
Eret: Well done...oh my gods you guys did great! You solved that WAY faster than I expected! And yeah, you can cross the bridge. Wanna solve some other puzzles!?
MC: Sorry, we're in a hurry / Hmm... / Wanna come with us?
Tsukuyomi: ...huh? Eret, your body--
Eret is starting to disappear into light. He doesn't seem to notice.
Eret: I've got even harder ones I can--(poof)
Eret turns into a ball of light that flies into the castle.
Tsukuyomi: ...welp
MC: He disappeared? / Was he Sphinx's Shadow? / Was he the shift core...?
(B) Tsukuyomi: Same brain! But if he is, his sense of self was way too clear for a Shadow...
(C) Tsukuyomi: Hmm...if he was, it'd be great to solve things early. But it doesn't look like anything's happened just now.

Tsukuyomi: The next possibility is that he's a memory fragment, but from what I've heard from other Aaru people, this isn't what Aaru would look like. That said, normal people caught up in these things don't disappear like that...so I've never heard of what's happening here before.
MC: Aaru's supposed to be all desert-y / Where'd the other Sphinx go? / What the hell is going on?
---
(A) Tsukuyomi: Oh thanks for telling me. You've been there before?
---
Tsukuyomi: Welp, we solved Eret's riddle, but there's still more around. I wonder if Sphinx is here? He must be related somehow, but what is that connection? If this isn't Aaru, then where is it? And who's the core? There's stuff to think about, but how about we go inside for now?
MC: Okay! / Let's follow that light / (nod)

Elsewhere
Ellie: I'm gonna get you, little boy~!
Mereut: HEEEELP
Sphinx: Ha ha! Better you than me.
Suzuka: Sphinx what the hell! And Ellie, stop scaring the little kids already!
Ellie doesn't hear anything.
Suzuka: Ugh, fiiine. I guess I'll look at this riddle or whatever. (Can't really just cut my way through but...)
Suzuka's swords have the power that allows it to cut the guards of hell.
Suzuka: (Well this seems to be a graveyard, so if I cut Mereut then...)

Suzuka: Never mind. Slashing kids is no good. So Sphinx, you figure anything out about the riddle here?
Sphinx: Hell yeah I have! It's babby's first riddle in here.
Suzuka: It IS!?
Sphinx: Sanctuaries are made so that you can't leave without fulfilling specific conditions. Sometimes there's conditions to take actions, sometimes you gotta solve preset tricks. There's ways to cheat, but I'm not telling how.
Suzuka: So, this seal we're in is the second case?
Sphinx: Yeah, Mereut said the puzzle was hidden earlier. Come on, stand in the center and look around.
Suzuka does so and notices that part of the wall is sticking out.
Suzuka: !! Whoa...

Suzuka presses on the wall button. A tile falls out.
Suzuka: I guess it'd be too easy if that was it.
Sphinx: Yep! Now figure out where to use the tile to solve the puzzle. Ellie, stop chasing the dingus over there and help out!
Ellie: Wait, you're not gonna do it?
Sphinx: I mean yeah I could solve it in a jiffy, but where's the fun in that? Come on Sis, show you've got some brains! I'll even give hints!
Ellie: Meeeh, fine I guess.
Suzuka: Ellie, we are in an emergency.
Ellie comes over and Suzuka explains the puzzle so far. Sphinx and Mereut watch with popcorn.

Sphinx: Wow you two are doing really good!
Ellie: I'm just doing whatever, but that usually makes things happen.
Suzuka: And we cover for her after that. The Outlaws too. We have to stand up front when the Queen's gone a lot, but I'm good at helping like this.
Ellie and Suzuka solve the rest of the puzzle. The stone floor grinds as it opens up!
Mereut: Well done!
Suzuka: Whew, we did it...
Sphinx: You had my hints, so of course you did!
Ellie: Thanks, Sphinx. That was a fun puzzle, Mereut. Wanna come with us? We can play more later.
Mereut: Really!? I've always wanted someone to play wi--
Suzuka: ELLIE!

A bright light fills the room as it disappears. Mereut turns into light and goes into Sphinx. Sphinx has a flashback of some kind.
Somewhere Not Aaru (it's Olympus)
???: Why is everyone afraid of me? I don't care about the others of my kind! I just wanna play battle of wits! Who needs souls? Who needs to grow? I just want--
End of flashback as the group gets back into Sort Of Kabukicho
Ellie: ...oh, we're back?
Suzuka: Apparently. It's good we got out of that sanctuary, but... (looks around and doesn't see Mereut)

Ellie: Sphinx, you okay?
Sphinx: ...huh? O-oh, yeah I'm fine. So, about Mereut...
Suzuka: I think he disappeared with the sanctuary.
Ellie: What WAS his deal?
Sphinx: ...dunno. (avoids the uncomfortable truth)
Sphinx: (I don't think they saw, but I did. Mereut went into me. And that memory. I don't remember it, but why was I there?)
Suzuka: Well, let's go back to looking for MC and Tsukuyomi.
Ellie: Okay. Let's go, Sphinx.
And so the three left.

Elsewhere, MC and Tsukuyomi enter the castle. The entrance looks like a normal Japanese school entrance.
MC: This incident is weird.
Tsukuyomi: Right. It's strange inside and outside the castle. I can and cannot grasp what's going on here, just like I did with Eret's light.
Tsukuyomi points at some floating lost light ahead.
Tsukuyomi: Tokyo has plenty of places with overlapping world spaces, but I've never heard of one that only affected the outside. Even if an overworld shift occurs in a space that has an empty room in the center, it would still look the same but we wouldn't be able to enter that room. Or castle in this case.
Tsukuyomi approaches the light. By the time he reaches it, there's foot steps coming from above. The light starts flying in that direction. MC and Tsukuyomi follow along, only to run into Ellie, Suzuka, and Sphinx!
MC: Ellie! / Suzuka's there too! / Sphinx is here...?
(A) Ellie: MC? Oh, you're here too. Huh, so's the Night Emperor...which means everyone in school got caught up too?
(B) Suzuka: Yep. I see the Night Emperor's with you. I guess we're all stuck in this.

The flying light floats over to Sphinx and turns into a feather pen.
Sphinx: Huh? ...what!?
Sphinx touches the copy pen, which then fuses with his own.
Tsukuyomi: Hmmmm...
Tsukuyomi observes everyone. Everyone seems worried.
Tsukuyomi: Well anyways we're all good. That's nice, right? If we were at my bar I'd treat you all to drinks, haha.
MC: Yeah.
Tsukuyomi: Well anyways, how about we share information? What happened with you guys?

Everyone is brought up to speed.
Suzuka: So that pen was Eret?
Tsukuyomi: Yep. We followed him in here and found you guys.
Ellie: The one we saw was Mereut. He disappeared at some point.
Sphinx: (frown)
Suzuka: Tsukuyomi, I think this is an overworld shift. Your thoughts?
Tsukuyomi: Hmm... (looks at Sphinx)
Tsukuyomi: Well I was wondering if Sphinx was the shift core until we came into the castle. He doesn't seem to be though since the inside is still Kabukicho Academy mostly. A shift would have changed it. And Sphinx, there's no castle like this in your home world, right?
Sphinx: !! Nope!
MC: Figured / So what's going on? / ...

Tsukuyomi: It's best to think this castle and Sphinx's divided memories were caused by different things. And for now at least, none of the Sphinx Memories we met intend to hurt us. This all seems to be an accident.
Suzuka: ...oh, I get it.
Ellie: It's okay Sphinx.
Sphinx: !! I-I'm not worried or anything! Come on, let's go! Those other Sphinxes are connected to my artifact, and while I dunno what that MEANS there might be one making a sanctuary at the bottome.
Tsukuyomi: So someone's stuck inside?
Ellie: Okay, let's go to the first floor.
Suzuka: Ellie! Don't run off by yourself!
MC: Let's go too. / Ellie, wait! / YAAAS QUEEN
Tsukuyomi: We should hurry. Sphinx, can you lead the way after we catch up?
Sphinx: Yeah!
Flashback
???: Playing the board game Senet or watching you solve my riddles is so fun! Let's play more! ...where you going? Where the sun sets? Okay, I'll wait for you until the same sun comes back!
Present
Sphinx: (I remember that one. It happened in Aaru. But who did all this and why!?)
End of Episode part

Live A Hero Book 2 Chapter 1 Episode 10: Chaotic New Capital (Abridged)

Evil Blue: The target and traitor are running for the surface from an emergency tunnel near East Umeda Station! We need backup!
The Evil Ninja's voices echo through the emergency tunnel as the party runs through.
Seiichirou: This is bad...and we're getting chased into the center of Osaka.
Akashi Alter: Bad route choice I guess...there's still another option, so let's go there. We can't avoid fighting though, so be ready.
Akashi: ...I can tell you're making this up as you go. You do seem smarter than me, but we still gotta fight when we get out? Welp that makes it easier for me! Bring it! I'll fix things no matter what!
Akashi Alter: ...don't lump me in with you. But it's true the situation is what you make of it.
Danzo: Whoo, they vibing on the same level because they're the same person? Coolio.
Santetsu: Please stop joking...there's the exit! ...it's not opening. Is it locked?
Roiker: ...stand back. I'll take care of it. (readies his gun)

Roiker: Solar surface, 1/2. Fire!
Roiker shoots a bullet at the door covers the whole thing in a fireball.
MC: You vaporized it with your gun!? How!?
Roiker: My Parallel Weapon has the power to recreate the environments of celestial objects I know of within limits, and I just shot a bullet that's half as hot as the sun. I've limited the radioactivity and heat, but you should still stay away from it.
Akashi: ...damn.
The door eventually melts into a ball of melted iron that falls to the ground. There's a circular hole where the door was now.
Roiker: Don't touch that. Now let's go.

The party exits into an empty shopping district. Smoke hangs around while explosions go off in the distance.
Seiichirou: How awful. They went this far over one person...
Roiker: Pulling back isn't an option anymore. Now that they've found us, the continued destruction is meaningless.
Akashi Alter: (looks conflicted)
???: There they are! Gather everyone who's nearby!
Evil Ninjas flood in!
Danzo: That was fast! Over here, MC!
Whoops, the party's surrounded as more Evil Ninjas come out of the underground tunnel.
Akashi: Goddammit!
Santetsu: It looks like there's 50 of them. Bad luck.
Roiker: We still can't surrender though. So, what now...?

One Evil Ninja steps forward and glares at Akashi Alter.
Evil Red: OUTSIDER! You disappointed us.
Akashi Alter: You've disappointed ME, bitch. Your plan sucks, you've caused tons of casualties, and your goals aren't aligned at all. You can yammer about making Japan great again all you want, but I don't need you guys for my goals. I'm not handing MC over.
Evil Red: RRGH! Fool!
Evil Red signals with his hand, and all the other Evil Ninjas ready to fight.
Evil Red: No turning back now that things have gotten this big.
Akashi Alter: ...what do the moderates in the group think of this plan? I can't believe they'd know about it.
Evil Red: Do I LOOK like I care!? Peaceful methods aren't making Monsters and aliens go away anytime soon! The tool we've been waiting for to change things is right there! We're taking them by force if we have to!
Seiichirou: Here they come! MC, engage!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Evil Blue: OSHIIIII
Evil Yellow: Damn yo--AAA
Evil Red: Goddammit! Group 2, forward!
MC: There's STILL more of them!?
Seiichirou: We've been trapped in place!
Akashi: ...!
Akashi Alter: Did you break your arm or something? Pace yourself or you'll die.
Akashi: Shut up! This is nothing! Breaking an arm's still better than letting MC get taken away!
Akashi Alter: ...(sigh)
Santetsu: ...Akashi's almost out too. At this rate...
Roiker: We'll be overwhelmed. Maybe I should fire my biggest shot into the enemy group...
Santetsu: Do you even have enough energy for that?
Roiker: I can keep going...!

Danzo: Things are bad man...whoa!
Evil Purple: Give us MC!
Danzo: No! Whoops!
Evil Purple and some other mobs start attacking Danzo! Danzo grazes them all while holding MC.
MC: OH NO
Danzo: Okay yeah, protecting someone while surrounded is KINDA rough f--
A sword hits Danzo's arm!
Danzo: !?
Danzo drops MC! Evil Purple grabs MC!
MC: OH NO! Let go of me!
Akashi: MC!
Evil Purple: I did it, Boss!
Evil Red: Good! Now hurry and--what?
Danzo: Hands off of--!?

Ryekie: JUSTICE PUUUUNNNNCH!
The mob holding MC gets blown away!
Danzo: MC, sorry! You okay!?
MC: Y-yeah...just now...!
Ryekie: Sorry I'm late! It's okay, Justice is here!
MC: Justice!
Akashi: !! You're here!
???: And it's not just him.
Huckle: MC, I'm glad we barely made it. We're here and regrouping.
Exio: Fighting while protecting yourself is hard, so I'll be helping out again too.
MC: You guys!

Seiichirou: I'm glad you're all alright.
Exio: I'm not one to do badly when I'm with two veteran heroes. And while it's only three more people coming back, we've got the power to cover you guys.
Ryekie: Yeah! Don't forget we're S Rank Heroes!
Huckle: Ex-S Rank Hero for me since my license expired for a bit...hmm? (looks at Akashi Alter)
Akashi Alter: ...
Seiichirou: No time to explain in detail, but for now he's allying with us. He's unlikely to turn against us because of current circumstances.
Ryekie: ...well okay then!
Santetsu: Wait what? No questions at all?
Ryekie: You guys accepted him, right? Good enough for me! A friend of a friend is my friend!
Roiker: ...I didn't know you were so simplistic.
Huckle: Haha...it does make it easier to deal with him though.
Akashi Alter: ...
Akashi Alter: heh

Evil Purple: Justice is here. We're in deep shit, aren't we?
Evil Yellow: Yep. He just destroyed the squad at Nakanojima with just two other people with him...
Evil Red: So WHAT if he's here!? Righteousness is on our side! Stop being chickenshits and start grabbing the targ--
???: AAAAAA
A scream comes from past the enemies.
MC: What now?
Evil Green: HEEEELP
Evil Blue: NOOO STAY AWAY
The enemy ranks thin out as mobs start running away in a panic.
Evil Red: What's going on!?
Monster: REEEEEEE
Evil Red: OH N--(chomped)
Party reaction shot!
MC: MONSTER!
Akashi Alter: >:C
End of Episode

Live A Hero Book 2 Chapter 1 Episode 9: Another... (Abridged)

Awkward silence as the party follows Akashi Alter down an underground tunnel.
Roiker: Is this...a subway tunnel?
Seiichirou: Yes, it was made 200 years ago during the subway construction boom. It ends at Osaka, and 300 km north is Kyoto. Not a bad escape route.
Santetsu: Maybe, but is it really okay for him to come along? He did help us, but he was fighting against us before that too...
Seiichirou: ...I sent Danzo ahead just in case. He'll call if anything's up.
Akashi Alter: ...relax, I broke off with the terrorists. There's no point in giving MC to them anymore. I'll help you guys until we get out of the city as my way of making up for things.
Akashi Alter doesn't bother to look back at MC at all.

Roiker: ...why the sudden breakup? Weren't you sorta up there with them?
Akashi Alter: ...not really. I was just better at fighting than most other trash mobs, so they just let some stuff slide. I used them like they used me. But now that they're terrorists, I bailed on them.
MC: ...um.
Akashi Alter: ...what? Stop staring and make it snappy if you got something to say.
MC: So are you really...a parallel world Akashi?
The party stares.
Akashi Alter: ...
Akashi Alter: Yeah.
Akashi: !!

Akashi jolts back. Akashi Alter snorts at this.
Akashi Alter: How does a difference in my life make me so different from an idiot asshole like you?
Akashi: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
MC: Akashi!?
Akashi attempts to grab Akashi Alter's collar, but Akashi Alter swats his hands away.
Akashi Alter: What? You get pissed on reflex at being called an idiot?
Akashi: NO! You know what I wanna say if you're really me! Why would you ever attack MC!?
Akashi Alter: Did you not listen to me? We were using each other for our own goals.
Akashi: "Just following orders" is no excuse! MC's a childhood friend that means everything to me, so there's no way I would ever attack MC!

Akashi Alter looks Highly Displeased.
Akashi Alter: ...that's YOUR childhood friend over there. The one I know is totally different...and they disappeared one day. I'm out looking for them.
MC: wait WHAT
Akashi: WHAT? What happened!?
Akashi Alter: Try thinking, peabrain. I said my MC and yours are different. I checked. The beginning was the same, as was their being a childhood friend. But everything else was different. Name, voice, appearance...things look similar but don't.
Akashi Alter looks coldly and contemptuously at MC.
Akashi Alter: MC's a total stranger to me. But I don't sense any urgency from you or my other self. It's like you don't know you're on thin ice. I always thought you survived out of sheer dumb luck ever since I investigated you. And seeing you guys this way pisses me off.

Akashi Alter: You're totally different, MC. Yet you haven't tried to figure out how much danger you're really in. Seeing you like this makes it hard to keep down my emotions.
MC: I-I do have a sense of urgency! / That's unfair. / ...
Akashi: ...! (unable to bring himself to say something)
Seiichirou: ...I understand you're a parallel world Tamamura Akashi and that you detest these two. But then...why did you save them? If you're just rebelling against that villain organization, you could've just abandoned us.
Akashi Alter: ...I just don't like their current policies. I wanna destroy Monsters, from all possible parallel worlds. The final goal of the Shin Ashihara from what I heard was to make a Japan where no Monsters can appear. It's a secondary goal for them, but it's close to what I want. If they can get a theory and plan for that together, works for me. It's why I worked with them, but...
Akashi Alter's brows wrinkle a little.
Akashi Alter: ...their goal wasn't just eliminating Monsters. They want to bring Japan back to its days before it started fighting Monsters and get rid of all aliens that have peacefully settled here.
Roiker: ...wait, that sounds like they're saying aliens brought Monsters here.
Akashi Alter: ...that's just what they said. I have my doubts on that idea.

Akashi Alter: The Shin Ashihara's a huge group, so of course there's differences in beliefs and goals from the leaders. I was fine with things if we kept a delicate balance and they helped with my own goal. But things changed once they heard about MC.
Akashi Alter: The city-based leaders, especially the warlike ones, wanted MC. I wasn't in a position to hear what their plans was, but I know it wasn't any good. The leaders wanted to box off MC and snatch them up with guerilla tactics. The details are crazy. No concern for collateral, and they assumed they could use MC later to make things even. They started talking about capturing MC, where the only part that mattered was their ability to use their powers. MC's ability to move was acceptable losses to them.

Santetsu: ...they really do see MC as just a tool.
Seiichirou: I know people don't understand much about Observers, but I can't believe they'd go that far...
MC: Damn...
Akashi Alter: ...I've said you guys piss me off. I'll do anything for my goals, but their goals started turning into messes that weren't helping or usable for me. I'm not gonna smash the ice you're on for them, even if it's gonna break eventually.
Akashi Alter looks down with a sad expression and mutters like he's talking to himself.
Akashi Alter: ...that's the only reason I'm helping you guys. Things will blow up one day, but it doesn't have to be now.
Akashi: ...you...

Plot twist!
Danzo: You guys, I know you're busy but listen!
Seiichirou: Danzo? It's unlike you to come back without calling.
Danzo: Terrible news! Turn to the right this instant! The villains are coming up ahead from East Umeda Station! There's not that many of them now, but they could call for reinforcements!
Santetsu: But...do we go up or turn back...?
???: There they are!
Whoops, here comes the Evil Ninjas!
MC: OH NO
The Evil Ninjas come with weapons drawn and all of them focus on Akashi Alter.
Evil Red: Traitor!
Akashi Alter: ...
Evil Blue: Get out or get MC for us!
Akashi Alter: (stares in edgelord)

Akashi Alter: ...you people are BEYOND stupid. Haven't you guys realized you've been cut off from the group too?
Evil Green: WHAT
Danzo: Milord! We have to transform now! Breaking through is our only option!
Akashi: I agree! MC!
Seiichirou: ...I guess we have to! MC, ready!?
MC: Okay...! / Guess it comes to this again...!
Seiichirou and MC transform the party!
MC: ...oh right.
MC looks at Akashi Alter.
Akashi Alter: ...!?

MC transforms Akashi Alter!
MC: You're helping us, right? Will you fight with us?
Akashi Alter: (stares in shock)
Santetsu: ...wow. Well he did say he was helping out.
Roiker: I know he's really Akashi, but I'm impresses you still connected a Path for him...
Seiichirou: ...heh. I suppose it's true it's fine to count him as an ally for now. In that case, Danzo! You defend MC! Everyone else, cut us a way through! Akashi Alter, you follow our commands if you're allying with us!
Akashi Alter: ...hmph. Don't waste me then. (smiles a little)
Evil Red: You uppity bitch, getting carried away because the bosses like you!
Akashi Alter: And you're a dumbass who never thought about why they liked me. I can't see you winning against me.
Evil Red: HRRRRNNNGH! Smash the traitor and capture MC!
BATTLE START

Kabukicho Night Parade Episode 2 Part 2 (Abridged)

While MC and Tsukuyomi are solving block puzzles...
Suzuka: So Sphinx, you met MC earlier?
Ellie: Oh right, they start class today so they could've met the little kitty boy.
Sphinx: ...stop calling me that. My name! Is! SPHINX!
Ellie: Okay okay, geez. Well in that case, you can call me Sis. Orrr Big Sis Ellie? Hey. Hey. Will you do the sad puppy look and call me one of those things?
Sphinx: ...how stupid ARE you?
Ellie: Oooh~ this is fine too.
Suzuka: Okay that's enough Ellie. Anyways, maybe MC and Tsukuyomi got stuck in this nonsense too. Maybe they went to the teacher's office.
Ellie: Then I guess we'll head over and look for them?

Suzuka nods to Ellie, then looks to Sphinx.
Ellie: ...you wanna come too? It's dangerous to be alone.
Sphinx: HEY! I'd be fine if I stay here by myself! And I know what MC and Tsukuyomi look like, so I can find them for you! (runs off)
Suzuka: Wait!
Suzuka grabs Sphinx before he gets far, wanting to keep him in view to both watch and watch over him.
Suzuka: (Hmm...)
How DOES someone handle uppity kids trying to act big...?

Suzuka: ...Sphinx, will you come with us? Ellie and I might not be able to get things done by ourselves, so having you along would be a huge help.
Sphinx: Me? O-oh, well...
Ellie: What? I'm fine on my ow--
Suzuka: (Shut up and play along! Besides, we can't leave him by himself right?)
Ellie: ...oh. Yeah. We'd. Be. Happy. To have you along.
Sphinx: Hmmmm...
Suzuka: Ellie totally wants you along! Right!?
Ellie: Yep. Plus you seem way smarter than me.
Sphinx: ...o-oh...well okay then I guess. I'd worry about you having to get on with your trash brains, so I'll come help!
Ellie: (Ooh~...he's so simple.)
Suzuka: (Don't let him hear you!)
And so they went on to investigate.

Meanwhile, downstairs...
Boy R: OMG what happened outside!?
Girl G: All the trees died!
Boy G: Hey I saw this before in Akiba before! That Somethingverse???
Kresnik: ...okay, looks like all the students we found have gathered in this room.
Sandayu: Okay y'all! Be good and wait here, ya heard? Lil' ol' me and Kresnik-sensei are gonna search around the school and see what's up. Be back soon, don't go outside!
None of the students seem worried right now. Kresnik and Sandayu are thinking of collecting as much information as they can before they need to chaperone the students when they realize how serious things are, so they started with checking the attendance records near the entrance.
Kresnik: Hmm...so Suzuka and Ellie are the only ones on this list we haven't seen yet. And MC and Tsukuyomi are supposed to arrive today.
Sandayu: So we gotta find them and then we'll have everyone accounted for. Any ideas where they could be, Krezzy?
Kresnik: No. I can only think of our classroom, but they must have gone somewhere. MC and Tsukuyomi...would probably head for the teacher's office if they made it.
Sandayu: So we just missed them? Not like I got any better ideas. Let's go figure out all these shenanigans goin’ on!

Later
Suzuka: Hey Sphinx, where'd you see MC?
Sphinx: I bumped into them outside somewhere while trying to figure my phone. I was near this huge gate?
Ellie: So, right in front of our school gate? ...hey Suzuka, how about we go into that classroom and look outside?
Suzuka: Yeah, we might see them around if they did get caught in this.
And so Team Ellie walks over to a window to look outside.
Suzuka: ...why are there walls in the way!?
Ellie: Is it supposed to isolate us and trap us here?
???: Yes, hehehee...
Ellie: Sphinx, did you just say something?
Sphinx: N-no?? I heard something by the door and--AHH
Suzuka: The classroom is changing!
The room warps into a room inside a pyramid!

Elsewhere
Kresnik: wait what
Sandayu: Yeeeah, I'm pretty sure we came in through the teacher's office door. This your doin'?
Kresnik and Sandayu are also in some pyramid room.
Sphinx: Hehehee...I am Sphinx Lone Wolf!
Kresnik and Sandayu: WHAT
Somewhere Else
Extra Sphinx: Fear me and my sanctuary, intruders!
Sphinx: Copycat! Whomst!?
Extra Sphinx: This is MY mask! You're copying ME, jerkface!
BANG
Sphinxes: AAAAAA
Ellie: Whoa, I kicked the wall and it didn't break.

Extra Sphinx: STOP TRYING TO BREAK THINGS DAMMIT
Sphinx: oh gods she didn't even blink when she tried that kick
Suzuka: Yeah she's stronger than most people so now she just tries brute forcing everything...anyways, who are you? Is this sanctuary thing part of your powers?
Extra Sphinx: Oh thank the gods there's someone reasonable. AHEM! I am Sphinx Mereut and I made this sanctuary with my power! What thou calls a riddle exists not, and thou cannot see it if thou cannot grasp its true form. My power collects riddles from the world to the bottom of our hearts to manifest them. If you cannot solve my riddle, you may not leave my sanctuary. And don't be cute and try to break out violently, that won't work either. Show your wisdom!
Ellie: Uh, Sphinx? Is he your brother?
Sphinx: Dunno. Sphinx is also the name of my race so he could just be someone I never met... (But he totally looks like me! But how?)
Suzuka: He doesn't seem to be a Shadow, but I doubt he's someone who came in the same time you did.
Ellie: I know one thing for sure though.
Suzuka: What?
Ellie: We have MORE cute boys!
Sphinx: what

Ellie casually walks up to Mereut.
Ellie: Hi little boy~. I'm Ellie, sorry to scare you. I throw hands and feet by accident but that's no big deal! Oh should I not call you little boy? I'mma just call you Mereut then. Your mask is cute. Can I touch your wings? Let's sit down and talk. You can sit in my lap if you want~.
Mereut: I NEED AN ADULT!
Mereut backs away. Ellie keeps approaching Mereut.
Ellie: Cool room you got. You said we can't leave until we solve the riddle? Does that mean we can stay forever if we don't? That's fine! Let's play tag!
Mereut: HEEEEELLLLLLP
Sphinx: welp
Suzuka: ...she does this every time she sees little kids. I guess we should solve that riddle to help Mereut out. Sphinx, can you lend a hand?
BATTLE START (more happens later)

Kresnik: ...hm. Seems like Lone Wolf isn't lying.
Kresnik tried slashing and shooting at the sanctuary walls. Nothing happened.
Sphinx Edgy: I SAID it wouldn't work earlier!
Kresnik: Ouch, I got told off by a little kid. Also you're acting way differently than before.
Sandayu: ...Sphinx Lone Wolf is a stupid name, y'all.
Sphinx Edgy: I-it is!? I thought it'd be cooler than Sphinx Jeut...
Sandayu: Uhh, different strokes for different folks! It's cool. Anyways, you said we gotta solve your riddle to get out?
Jeut: Heh, indeed. The riddle is already before you.
Sandayu: Wait what? We gotta find it!? Aww man, we're screwed.

Jeut: H-hey, don't try to give up so quick!
Sandayu: But I dunno where to even start, kiddo. Be a pal and gimme a hint~?
Jeut: Urrrrgh!
Kresnik: (Oh, his goal isn't to imprison us. Sandayu's act looks like it's meant to make Jeut solve the riddle himself...)
Jeut: FINE! I'll give you one hint! ONE hint, okay!? Start looking for a message!
Kresnik: (Sandayu's a veteran provocateur, but Jeut really does act like a child. Maybe he is one? ...does that mean this is just a game to him?)
Sandayu: HMM, what have we here? Look, this wall!
Sandayu found a papyrus scroll in the wall.

Sandayu: ...uhh, how do I read this?
Jeut: W-wait, you can't read it!?
Kresnik: No, sorry. Housamo Translate isn't working on it either.
Kresnik: (Hey wait, why isn't it working? Is it because Jeut's not contracted, or...)
Sandayu: Welp, we're screwed now.
Jeut: W-wait, gimme a sec! I'll translate it for you okay!?
Sandayu: Tee hee, thanks kiddo!
Jeut is annoyed as he somehow knows how to write the message into Japanglish. Sandayu and Kresnik whisper to each other in the meantime.

Kresnik: (Aren't those the same symbols we saw just before the school got shifted?)
Sandayu: (Yep, so short stuff has to be our l'il intruder. He musta used hieroglyphics. Can't see why he'd do all this, so we gotta ask after we solve the puzzle.)
Jeut: Okay, there! No more hints ever, okay!?
Sandayu: Thanks y'all! We gots this in the bag now!
Jeut: Jerkface! If you can't solve this, I'll eat your souls.
Sandayu: ...wait.
Kresnik: ...what was that?
Jeut: I said I'll eat your souls. That's a thing with us Sphinxes. What thou calls riddles and puzzles are things that do not exist and cannot even be seen unless you understand them. Mine power collects riddles from the world and people's hearts and materializes them into a sanctuary. If you step inside one, you must show your wisdom or forfeit your souls.
Sandayu: I think he's serious...guess we better hop to it.
Kresnik: I've never felt so unthreatened, but I guess. Can we see that message now, Lone Wolf or whatever?
Scroll: The key is inside the mirror. The mirror does not speak. Reveal the key.
End of Episode

Kabukicho Night Festival Episode 2 Part 1 (Abridged)

Ellie: ...how's this?
Dress reveal!
Suzuka: I was expecting you to look good in that dress and I'm still surprised!
Ellie: Thanks. This dress is so light, your designer friend is amazing. I could probably wear this all Fes time.
Suzuka: Aww, cute. But you're only trying it on for today.
Ellie and Suzuka carried on with their stuff after Sphinx left.
Ellie: I'm gonna walk down the hallway with it on to see how it feels.
Suzuka: Sure, whatever you want Queen.
Ellie sure likes that dress. Suzuka smiles wryly as she opens the door for her.

Suzuka: Why'd you order a white dress anyway? I figured you'd go all dark colors as a vampire.
Ellie: A lady in a picture book I saw once wore this dress and I wanted to wear it as a costume. She was frail and dainty, lonely and always thinking about someone she walked together with.
Suzuka: Well that's adorable. So I helped your dream come true?
Ellie: I guess. Next time I'll show you a place that sells lit cosmetics and clothes as payback.
Suzuka: Wow, thanks. Don't tell anyone else!
Ellie: Hmm~
Suddenly the floor shakes!
Suzuka: Earthquake! Ellie, you okay?
Ellie: Yeah, I'm fine. But was that really...
BIG FLASH

Suddenly the castle has changed!
Suzuka: wait what
Suzuka is surprised as she looks out the window, then hurries to open the door. Ellie is only mildly perturbed.
Ellie: I don't think we're in Kabukicho anymore, Suzu. Is this projection mapping or whatever? Wow it feels so real.
Suzuka: STOP BEING STUPID
Suzuka shows Ellie what used to be the clothing room.
Suzuka: We were just in there and now our stuff is gone. That means we're probably in another world now...we should go look for anyone else around. Can you move?
Ellie: Yep. This dress is tough enough that I can run in it.
Suzuka: Good. Then let's head for the teachers' off--(suddenly stops)

Ellie: What's going on Suz--
Suzuka puts her finger up to her mouth to signal Ellie to be quiet and indicates that someone is there.
Sphinx: OH NO I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED! Did MC lie to me!? No, no wait. Gotta chill. Deep breaths, calm down, take it slo--huh?
Ellie: Baby. Baby boy.
Sphinx: AAAAAAA
Suzuka: D-dammit Ellie, stop scaring him so much!
Ellie has snuck up behind Sphinx and hugged him.
Ellie: Oh, sorry. I didn't think you'd react that much. I'll put you down, so don't run okay?
Sphinx: I-I wasn't scared or anything! Who are you anyw--AAH! It's the monster strong pharaoh!
Suzuka: Her name is Ellie...oh wait we never told you our names earlier, huh? I'm Suzuka. So why are you here? You got stuck in this crap too? Why don't you tell us why you're panicking so much?
Sphinx: ...fine, I guess I can tell you if a queen and her attendant are asking me.
Ellie: Wait little boy, what's a pharaoh anyway?
Sphinx: I'm Sphinx, not a little boy! And do I really have to explain!? You go to this shrine, right!?
Ellie: Suzuka, why is he calling the school a shrine?
Suzuka: ...maybe we should explain Tokyo to him first.

Elsewhere, Tsukuyomi and MC have been plopped in front of the transformed school castle.
MC: Where are we!? / Weren't we just at school...? / Oh did the Fes start?
---
(C) Tsukuyomi: Heh, you used to bloodbaths like this if you can joke like that?
---
Tsukuyomi: I know for sure we went through the Kabukicho school gate, but somehow we're in another world now. Well less we went to one and it shifted itself over this world. An overworld shift, you could say. You've been through those, right?
MC: Huh... / Yep / (wait for an explanation)
Tsukuyomi: Okay class, an overworld shift is when some other world's area overlays itself over somewhere in Tokyo using someone's memories as a core. And usually, no one can get out until it's resolved. Since this one includes the whole Kabukicho Academy, it could be a student from there. And if the theme for the Fes is vampire castle, then...
MC: A vampire did this? / Ellie!? / But isn't Ellie--
---
(B) Tsukuyomi: Hmm. She's still a native though.
(C) Tsukuyomi: Same brain! Yes, she's still a native even if she's a vampire.
---
Tsukuyomi: I doubt she has the memories causing this shift, but I can't say it's impossible... But anyways she and Suzuka should be here already. They're probably inside if they got caught up in all this.

Inside
Sphinx: Ooh, I get it now. So in order to make Tokyo natives and otherworld people get along better, there needed to be a way to socialize everyone towards the same social rules, so the app was called a game for everyone to play. And since Transients needed to learn how things work anyway, they put them together with the educational systems. Put needing to manage Transients and educate them together and that's why this school is so big.
Ellie: ...did we say all that?
Suzuka: No, he just figured it out from the bare basics we told him. He's crazy smart.
Ellie: Wow, so you're not just a cute little boy.
Sphinx: Stop calling me a kid, you're all just stupid.

Ellie: ...so anyways, why were you panicking here earlier?
Sphinx: Oh that. Somebody named MC showed me how to use the app and I tried it out, and suddenly this is my life now...OH NO!
Sphinx: T-this isn't my fault! Probably! My power can't do all this! I know it happened when I activated my artifact, but it's all a coincidence! I'M INNOCENT!
Suzuka: Relax, we aren't going to judge you. And even if you did do it, it doesn't explain you panicking.
Suzuka: (Yeah, he can't have intentionally done this or else he wouldn't be acting like that. What did Tsukuyomi say before...?)

Outside
Tsukuyomi: Welp, how about we get searching. Maybe there's other people besides Ellie and Suzuka?
MC looks around. The school gate is now a tall lattice gate. The grounds look rough with dead trees, and there's a lot of water surrounding the castle. A blood moon shines in the sky.
MC: (check the gate) / (check the lake) / (look for an entrance) / (talk to Tsukuyomi) [only after choosing at least one of the other options]
(A) MC shoves the gate. It doesn't budge an inch. Nothing that could open the gate can be seen nearby.
Tsukuyomi: Oh. The whole fence is the border that enclosed the whole school and that's why it all shifted.
(B) MC looks into the water.
Tsukuyomi: Whoops. (gently pulls MC back) You're brave, but you best stay back from that ocean. It's deeper than it looks, and you might get attacked in there.
(C) There's no bridge anywhere to get into the castle.

Tsukuyomi: Hmm, blocked by an ocean if we want to get in. Oh, you thought it was a lake? That's understandable, but I recognize it as an ocean, even if that's impossible for Tokyo. Maybe I just see it that way because I'm believed to be an avatar of the moon and night in Takamagahara. Maybe I'M the core, haha.
He jokes, but he looks coldly at the moon and water.
Tsukuyomi: (I sense something in that ocean similar to something back home. Which means that down there must be--)
Earthquake! A water pillar slowly rises!
MC: WHAT/ What is that!? / wait what
???: HAHAHAHAAA

Sphinx turns up with a bunch of rocks!
Sphinx: I am Sphinx Elet! Eret! I dunno! I am the guardian of the world!
MC: WHAT / Didn't I just bump into you? Did you get caught up in this too?
Eret: FOOL! This is my first time meeting thee!
Tsukuyomi: ...so stranger, can I ask you something? How'd you get here and what do you mean by guardian of the world?
Eret: Allow me to dumb it down for you simpletons! I am Sphinx Initiative Defense!
MC: WHAT / ooh cool / (stare)
(BC) Eret: ...thou could stand to look afraid, thanks.

Tsukuyomi: Sooo, you gatekeeping us from the castle then? If you could let us in that would be real easy nice, thanks.
Eret: I abhor violence, so I shall grant thee passage...IF thou can solve mine riddle! Make a bridge with these stone steles!
MC: what / I love block puzzles! / meeeeh, I'll swim
---
(B) Eret: inorite!? I came up with this totally awesome puzzle so--(violent coughing) Ahem.
(C) Eret: Wha, b-b-but no... (shakes)
Tsukuyomi: ...why don't we play along, MC? If he'll lower a bridge for us, than that's convenient for us. (Also we should avoid getting into the water. It's gonna be a bad time if something down there pulls us under.)
---
Tsukuyomi: Welp, I don't like working much, but I guess I can't complain right now. Puzzle time!
BATTLE(?) START