Episode 6: Recollecting Precious Memories
Chika
After unraveling many myths and searching many places, I came to the place where Foggy had been sealed away.
Chika
However, after calling out to him many times without any response, I was suddenly attacked by the rampaging Foggy.
Chika
All of my memories were stolen away... Leading to the state you see me in now.
Chika
In the beginning, I was little more than a beast, with all of my memories of humanity having been stolen away.
Chika
Instinctively eating when I was hungry, I was like an animal.
Chika
I have some resistance to the powers of spirits, so some of my memories had been spared and were hidden deep within me...
Chika
But they were not able to breach the surface, and I could only watch myself stumble about so wretchedly.
Chika
After that... Somehow, Puukichi's powers leapt into me, and I was able to regain just a few of my memories...
Chika
But everything beyond that had already been taken, so I was reduced to acting like the infant you saw. Ahh, I'm truly embarrassed.
Nozomi
Ahaha. It wasn't embarrassing -- it was adorable. With how cool and mature you always are, I never thought that you were so pure and innocent as a kid!
Chika
P-Please forget about that! Ah, Foggy, if only you could erase those memories right now...!
Nozomi
I'll never forget. All of my memories of you are precious treasures, Chika. And not just of you, but of everyone I know.
Nozomi
I couldn't treat those memories so carelessly. And I can also understand why you would've wanted to help Yuuki out with his memories, too.
Chika
Yes... Ah, but no matter what, it's still so embarrassing.
Chika
A-Anyway... If nothing is done about Foggy, then my memories will be lost once more, and this version of me will recede into the depths of my mind. I'll become a burden on all of you again.
Chika
That being the case, please, you must defeat Foggy somehow. It would be enough to drive him somewhere distant and seal him away once again.
Chika
Please, you must stop Foggy's malicious attack on me. I know that, as the one who lifted the seal and awakened him, I may never be able to live this down.
Chika
But I don't want to forget. My memories of all of you are treasures to me as well. I don't want a single one of them to be taken away.
Nozomi
But... As much as I want to blast this guy into the sun for making you suffer, Chika, we don't have any idea where this Foggy actually is.
Nozomi
We can't set off without a plan. Do you think we'll run into Foggy if we go back to the place where he was sealed?
Chika
No, there's no need to go find him. Foggy is already here.
Chika
I'm sure he is laughing at the pathetic state that I am in now.
Chika
I can feel it. As a songstress, I can detect the presence of spirits.
Kurumi
Eh, he's here...!? W-Where...? I'm scared...!
Chika
I can't tell his exact location. Foggy is a spirit with no physical form, so he can only affect this world by possessing material objects.
Chika
He should be residing within something right now. Once you find him, please, hold back none of your attacks.
Chika
Then, I will call upon the spirits to destroy his true form.
Chika
He knows I have the power to do this, so he should be hiding withing some safe object to avoid me.
Chika
He will be defenseless once his true form is exposed, so he's surely inhabiting some object for protection.
Ayane
Eep, he's hiding inside something? He couldn't be inside me, right?
Chika
Is there anything that seems different from usual? An object that is possessed by Foggy might show some changes in color or shape...
Nozomi
Hmm? Kurumi, Ayane, Yuuki, you all live here, so you would know best, right?
Ayane
Um, I wonder what? We've got Christmas ornaments hung up everywhere, so everything is a little different from usual, but...
Kurumi
Ah... Yuuki, from the way you started moving, do you know where Foggy is...?
Yuuki
1. Get close to Chika.
2. Get close to Puukichi.
Option 1.
Chika
Eh? M-Me? Certainly, I look different today than I usually do, but...?
Chika
H-He's not within me! As a songstress, I'd know when a spirit was inhabiting me!
Chika
So, Yuuki... Huh? Are you listening to me? Hey, don't pat me down like that! Ahaha, ahahaha... That tickles!
Nozomi
Hey, hey! That's absolutely not allowed! Cosplay isn't consent!
Option 2.
Ayane
Eh? Big brother Yuuki, why do you have such a scary look on your face...?
Ayane
D-Do you think it's me? Am I different from usual? You think I'm a fake...?
Ayane
Ooh, don't pull on Puukichi, big brother! What are you doing, quit bullying Puukichi...!
End of branches.
Chika
... Ah, perhaps that's it! I know! It's Puukichi!
Chika
Foggy is within Puukichi -- by which I mean, within that hammer!
Chika
Because of Foggy's possession, Puukichi's mind... His soul? It was ejected from that hammer, and it wound up within me, as I happened to be nearby by chance!
Chika
That's it, right? All the facts line up! I know where you are, so come out now, Foggy, the Spirit of Memories...!
Foggy
Roaaaaar!
Ayane
Eeeek!? No, no, no, my hammer is moving on its own! Is Foggy really inside it...!?
Kurumi
Eeek, stop it, Ayane! Stay away, don't hit me...!
Ayane
No, no, the hammer is moving by itself! Waah, run away, Kurumi!
Kurumi
Big brother!? You protected me...!
Ayane
Waah, I'm sorry, big brother! Are you okay? I wasn't the one who hit you, it was Foggy...!
Kurumi
Ayane, let go of the hammer! Run away! If you keep holding on, then if it starts aiming for you, you won't be able to avoid it...!
Ayane
B-But! I'm always supposed to be together with Puukichi!
Puukichi (Chika)
... Miss Chika! Sorry, but let me borrow your body for a moment!
Puukichi (Chika)
You there! I don't care what kind of spirit you are -- I won't let you scare my Ayane like that!
Nozomi
Whoa!? Those beastlike movements are so unlike Chika...!
Puukichi (Chika)
Ayane! That isn't me -- I'm right here! Let go of the hammer and come here!
Ayane
Y-Yeah! Puukichi! You're there, I know! We're always together, so I can feel it!
Ayane
You're always cuddling me, always cheering me up, always protecting me! You'd never try to hurt a precious family member like me... That's how I know this hammer isn't you!
Kurumi
Ayane! Throw the stuffed animal over here...!
Ayane
W-What? I don't know what you're thinking, but I'll do as you say!
Ayane
I'm the big sister here, so I've got to do what people ask of me! Ahh...!
Kurumi
Thank you...! I know that's how you've always thought of me, Ayane! That's why I love you!
Kurumi
Person who's scaring Ayane, go away...!
Nozomi
Ohh, nice batting! Kurumi used her hammer to bat away Ayane's hammer!
Foggy
Roaaaaar!
Kurumi
... Eeek!?
Nozomi
Ah, some kind of mist is coming out of the hammer! Is that the true form of Foggy, the Spirit of Memories?
Nozomi
(Ah, no! Foggy is moving towards Kurumi, and she's still off-balance from swinging her hammer at full strength... She can't get away!)
Kurumi
A-Ahhh...!?
Nozomi
(Ugh...! No, I'm too far to save her!)
Nozomi
... Yuuki! Perfect timing! Boys like you are pretty tough, huh! Powering us up while you're holding onto Kurumi!
Chika
Yes, you're a great help as always. Always kind, always reliable... That's exactly why I wanted to return your kindness.
Chika
I'm sorry that my efforts ended in this... No, let's leave the recriminations for later.
Chika
Foggy has broken through the walls and headed for the town center. We need to hurry after him.
Ayane
Yeah. Big brother Yuuki, let's hurry!
Begin animated cutscene.
Foggy appears in the town square.
Nozomi
Is this Foggy's true form!?
Foggy
Roaaaaar!
Kurumi & Ayane
Eeeek!
Kurumi
I'm so scared!
Ayane
I-I-It's okay! Our big brother will protect us!
Nozomi
Let's go!
Nozomi slices through Foggy, but does no damage.
Chika
Spirits have no physical body, so striking them with weapons like swords will have no effect.
Chika
But... if I do this now...!
Chika
Oh, spirit of the wind
Please, hear this song now
Cloak our souls with the blue sky's blessing
And be together with us
Chika
Spirit of the wind, hear my voice, and answer!
Chika
Everyone, please, lend me your power!
Chika
To reclaim our normal lives!
End of branches.