Season: Winter
Location: Downtown?
Hehe. Now, now... Whatever shall I do...?
I should've expected this when I heard of the news, but seeing it firsthand truly pains me.
Tenshouin-senpai!
Ahh, I'm so glad you're hereeee! Someone that I finally know! So, just what the hell is this place?! Do you know anything about it?!
Oh my, what a surprising reaction.
Hmm... Since Wataru's skilled in mimicry, I thought that he would immediately recognize me with the slightest change...
......?
But Wataru is acting quite unusual right now. I've recorded both of your actions up to this point, and I'd say that his behavior has been nothing like his usual self.
I guess what Gatekeeper said was true after all, but...
Why would Wataru ever suggest such a thing?
I have several theories on this, yet I truly never imagined that Wataru would do such an absurd—
Uhm...? Huh? Tenshouin-senpai? Can you hear me? Helloooo?
Oh. Sorry, Mashiro-kun. I didn't mean to ignore you. I just got a little too lost in my thoughts.
I can't afford to be so careless, since I promised Hajime-kun that I'd unite with you two.
Hajime...? Did something happen to him? Don't tell me that the others are also lost in this weird town!
Not at all. They're all safe and sound in a sanctuary I've built where no evil can enter.
I can take you there too, if you wish. Where Hajime-kun and your other friends are, that is.
That was the initial plan. Rather, I must ask you this: Why are you in the Dark Side? It's still under construction.
Dark...Side?
Hmm, I see you don't know anything... I thought Wataru would at least explain it to you.
Oh, about that! Apparently, Hibiki-senpai has amnesia, and that's why he couldn't even recognize me!
So it seems. Looks like what Gatekeeper told me lines up with everything.
Hmm. That means all of his answers were straightforward and true...
Was he doing this in good faith so that we could continue working together in the future? Or does he really not care about idols?
...? Is this "Gatekeeper" person that scary dude? The president of the SS Administration Committee?
So that's the impression you got, huh. I assume you haven't interacted with him much, then.
Alright. I think I've got the gist of it now♪
B-But I still don't understand! Don't just keep everything to yourself—explain it to me too!
Hmm... Whatever shall I do? I despise you a little for stealing Wataru away from me. Maybe I should belittle you a bit.
Excuse me? I didn't "steal" Hibiki-senpai! He just happened to lose his memories, so I ended up protecting him!
You "just happened" to find and protect Wataru? In this large, unknown town? Really...?
No. You were chosen by fate.
What are you talking about...? God, can't you just talk in a way where even an idiot like me can understand?!
You're not an "idiot," you're "pure." Just like Nito-kun. This is exactly why you are all essential to SANCTUARY.
Or rather, this magnificent experiment that is taking place in SANCTUARY.
Like I said—
Let's see... According to Gatekeeper, one has to chant this spell in order for Wataru's memories to return.
Wataru was probably the one who came up with it. Have we talked about something like this before?
So this, um, "spell" will bring Hibiki-senpai's memories...back?
Yes. I wish this were a tale where love and affection would bring his memories back, but...
That would be rather dull, don't you think? Unlike Wataru, I don't like plays without an audience.
"Ah, still delay—thou art so fair!"
......!
Whoa?! Uh, Hibiki-senpai? You alright? You're shaking a whole bunch!
- ↑ Remember the police officer in "Circuit of Happiness (15)"? Well, here he is: Eichi Tenshouin.
- ↑ This is a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, translated into English by Bayard Taylor. It's a take on the classic German legend about a scholar named Faust who makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles: that Mephistopheles will do anything Faust desires while he lives in exchange for Faust serving him in hell for eternity. This line is a snippet from Faust's response to the deal, where he's confident that he'll never be satisifed with what Mephistopheles gives. Faust tells him that if there ever is something that the devil gives where he's is so satisifed that he'd want stop time and revel in the moment forever, he will drop dead instantly. It's considered the most well-known and quoted line in German literature.
Earlier, Eichi mentions that it felt like he and Wataru talked about something related to the quote before. He has—in !-era's main story, "Chapter 123: Military Order," Eichi tells Wataru, "You're just like Mephistopheles. Sometimes, it's even terrifying to me." It positions Eichi as Faust to Wataru's Mephistopheles, which is why it's so significant that Eichi was the one to quote Faust.