Episode 5: The End of Paradise

---

Scene: A cave on the desert island.

Tamaki, Mifuyu, and Yuuki were discussing the diary they had just read.

Mifuyu
What do we do now... It looks like we have two options.

Mifuyu
One is to allow the Shimakujira to fulfill our wishes, and to live in luxury for the rest of our lives, short as they might be...

Tamaki
And the other is to either defeat or persuade the Shimakujira, and return to the real world, right...?

Mifuyu
I wonder which would make us happier...

Tamaki
The only thing I can say is... Our lives here are clearly more comfortable!

Mifuyu
Yes, here, we can do whatever we'd like and live easygoing lives. It's a perfect world.

Tamaki
I guess... we should just stay here forever, huh...?

Yuuki
1. "But it's all fake."
2. "It's like you've been possessed."

Option 1.

Tamaki
It doesn't matter! I couldn't bear to give this life up...

Mifuyu
To be honest, I feel the same way.

Option 2.

Tamaki
That's not it! Yuuki, don't butt in!

End of branches.

Mifuyu
Anyway, let's stay a bit longer on this island and think about it! Heh heh...

Tamaki
I agree! For now, let's head back and enjoy the rest of the day. Yuuki, you can take your time heading back, too. Heh heh...

Mifuyu
That's right, heh heh... I'm off to train some more, and then, off to the bargain sale! See you, Yuuki!

Scene: On the beach of the desert island.

After parting ways with Tamaki and Mifuyu, Yuuki made his way out of the entrance to the cave, all the while wondering what to do.

Akino
Pant, pant... What a broad island... Huh? The one standing there, it couldn't be Yuuki, could it?

Yukari
Ahh, it's you, Yuuki! I'm glad we ran into you!

Akino
What are you doing in a place like this? Are you not together with Tamaki and Mifuyu?

Yuuki
1. "The truth is..."

Akino
Hm, hm... So the "island where dreams come true" is in reality a monster called the Shimakujira. I understand the situation.

Yukari
The two of them have fallen under the influence of this island, and you were wondering what you should do... In that case, allow us to handle it from here! All right?

Two hours later...

Tamaki
Nya, I'm all tired out. I should go hire some cats to carry me back to Tamaki Palace...

Tamaki
Little kitty over there! I'd like you to carry me back to my palace for this Catcoin!

Tamaki
Huh? This coin won't do? W-Why? Huh... There's someone on the beach!? Is that... Akino!?

Akino
Ahh ha ha ha! With that, all of the assets on this island now belong to me! I've bought up everything, so these coins can no longer purchase a thing!

Akino
From now on, rather than Catcoin, the elegantly named Akinocoin will be the sole legal tender!

Tamaki
Ahh, the value of Catcoin has collapsed because of one insanely wealthy speculator!

Akino
Oh my, Tamaki! So you were here after all! I'm relieved that you're all right!

Tamaki
Akino... Why are you here!?

Akino
Of course, I came to rescue you, Mifuyu, and Yuuki! Yukari is here with me!

Tamaki
Yukari? I don't see her, where is she?

Akino
Yukari went to the Desert Island Market! She went to snap Mifuyu out of it!

At that moment, at the Desert Island Market...

Mifuyu
Heh heh, which store's sale shall I check out today? The swimsuit shop, or the pharmacy...

Mifuyu
Huh? What's is... I hear some noise coming from the "Bubbly Beverages" store...

Mifuyu
Someone's inside... Is that... Yukari!?

Scene: Inside the store.

Yukari
Whooo... These "Bubbly Beverages"... really make me feel bubbbbly... Aren't there any more!?

Mifuyu
Yukari is... totally drunk!?

Yukari
Ahhh, Mifuyuuu! Where'd you go? I drank allllllllll of the drinks at t' shops around here! Get me s'more, wouldja?

Mifuyu
More... No way! You seriously drank every single drink in this shop!? That's unbelievable...

Yukari
Also, this shure is a cute shtore, inn'it? It's got walls n' pillars n' bottles n' casks...

Mifuyu
Y-Yeah. It's a nice store, and this one part of it serves beverages. It's not really my type, but...

Yukari
I jusht couldn't shtand wondering what they all tasted like, sho... I drank allll of those, too!

Mifuyu
... What? You drank... the walls and pillars of "Bubbly Beverages"?

The building begins to shake.

Yukari
An' like, ever shince I did that, it'sh been shaking like crazy! Seems like it'sh gon' fall down a' any moment...

Mifuyu
W-W-Waah, Yukari, run away -- it's coming down! Ugh, with her like this, I'm gonna have to carry her out of here! Ahhh, c'mon!

Yukari
Ahh, Mifuyu, dunn move so shuddenly, it makesh me feel baaad...

The two of them run outside.

Mifuyu
Ahhhhh! The Desert Island Market is falling over like dominos!?

Yukari
Whoaaa, all the shtores fell over...

Mifuyu
My... bargain sale to end all bargain sales... Ooooh... The market of my dreams is...

Ten minutes after that, Akino and Yukari made Tamaki and Mifuyu sit in seiza across from them.

Akino
Ha ha ha. I feel like this has happened before -- Tamaki across from myself, and Mifuyu across from Yukari, both sitting in seiza.^[1]

Akino
But now, it seems like Mifuyu's position has been reversed. Ah ha ha ha!

Mifuyu
For me to end up on this side... What a blunder...

Tamaki
Ooh... When you put it that way, it seems like I haven't grown at all since the last time I had to sit like this...

Yukari
And thish time, the one acting as the lecturer ish me... Well, all right.

Yukari
Tamaki, Mifuyu, a little longer and you two would've been in mortal danger. What do you have to shay for yourshelves?

Tamaki
......

Mifuyu
......

Akino
Well, in any case, it's fortunately that we were able to find you two and Yuuki. Let us depart this island right away.

Tamaki
N-No!

Yukari
Tamaki?

Tamaki
A-Akino, Yukari! The two of us are living like queens on this island! We're happy with that! Don't butt into our business!

Mifuyu
That's right, we would've been happy just like this...!

Akino
Tamaki, Mifuyu... I am... sorely disappointed!

Tamaki
D-Disappointed...?

Akino
Indeed. Your desires should not be so cheap so as to be satisfied by just this!

Tamaki
Our desires...

Mifuyu
Should be more than this...?

Akino
For your desires to be so piddling that they can be fulfilled on a tiny island like this... You are thinking at entirely too small of a scale.

Yukari
That'sh riiiight. The "Bubb'bb Beverages" from this island were... totally, totally, totally, totally not good enough for me!

Akino
Why did we create our Foundation? We created it because, if we work together, we can multiply our profits many times over! Our ambitions together should be far greater than just this!

Tamaki
Honestly, you two sure are pushy... But... What you're saying makes sense.

Tamaki
This island isn't enough! I want to play with even more cats, as far as the eye can see!

Mifuyu
I also can't be satisfied with 90% off of 90% off. There might be a bargain sale somewhere in the world with 90% off of 90% off of 90% off!

Akino
Moreover... We truly came here because we were worried about you, Tamaki, Mifuyu. We were truly... worried.

Mifuyu
Akino... Yukari... You were that worried for us...

Yukari
Ooh... We were sooo worried...! Tamaki, Mifuyuuuuu!

Mifuyu
W-Wah! Yukari, you shouldn't grab me so suddenly...

Yukari
I'm soooo relieved... Waaaah...

Mifuyu
Yukari...

Akino
We couldn't sleep well at night because you two were gone. We couldn't bear to lose a single person!

Tamaki
Ha ha... You really were worried, huh. We're sorry for scaring you.

Mifuyu
Having you two come and smash our kingdom to bits... has really opened our eyes...

Mifuyu
Making all that noise, and causing so much trouble...

Tamaki
You guys really keep things exciting...!

Tamaki
The Mercurius Foundation really is at its best with all four of us!

Yuuki
1. "I'm here, too."

Yukari
Yeaaah, you're right. Yuuki, you're here toooo! Like they say, five heads are gooder than one! Heh heh!

Mifuyu
Ha ha, what are you even talking about, Yukari? Ha ha... Ha ha ha...! Oh, the salty air is getting to my eyes, ha ha...

Due to the chaos wrought by Akino and Yukari, Tamaki and Mifuyu's kingdoms were destroyed -- and yet, the two of them were wearing happy smiles on their faces.