Episode 3: Feelings of Hope

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The group headed for the Queen of Hearts' castle. However, the journey there was hindered by monsters.

Alice
Ayumi! Hiyori! That way!

Monster
Roaaaar!

Ayumi
T-Time stop! H-Hiyaaah!

Monster
......

Hiyori
Nice one, Ayumi! Time for my follow-up attack... Unyanyanyaaa!!

Rino
And I'm up last! Take this arrow of light!!

Monster
Roaaaar!

Ayumi
W-We did it...!

Hiyori
Ehehe, we pulled it off!

Alice
It looks like you all have gotten pretty adept with my power.

Hiyori
Yeah! Though, we're not at Rino's level yet...

Ayumi
Rino is amazing. She's totally mastered Alice's powers!

Alice
Oh? Is that so? As I see it, she still has a ways to go, though.

Rino
A-Alice, why are you being mean!?

Alice
Ahaha, I'm only kidding. Now, come, shall we hurry?

Later.

Alice
Hey, hey, Rino, what kinds of things do you like? Like, any interests?

Rino
Eh? W-What's this about, all of a sudden?

Alice
Don't worry about it, just answer. We don't have much else to do during our walk to the Queen of Hearts' castle, right?

Rino
Um, well... Nothing much.

Alice
You know, that wasn't a very good lie. The fact that there's something is written all over your face.

Rino
T-There's nothing on my face!

Alice
There totally is. Come on, I won't laugh at you, so just say it.

Rino
Um, you say that, but...

Rino
......

Rino
Um... I like... clothes. Or, well, I liked them...

Alice
Why the past tense?

Rino
Something bad happened, and I want to forget about it for a while...

Alice
Hmm. But it's not something you can easily forget. Right?

Rino
... Yes.

Alice
Then, it'll be fine if you don't try to forget, either, won't it?

Rino
Huh?

Alice
Because, you know, I think it's great that you're into clothes! It means you can recognize how wonderful I look, right?

Rino
......

Rino
H-Ha ha. Ahaha...!

Rino
Yeah, you're really wonderful, Alice! I'd love to be able to make clothes that look like you one day!

Alice
Why, thank you very much! Ha ha, how nice. I finally got to hear you laugh from the heart.

Rino
Huh?

Alice
Ever since we met, your expression has been strangely moody. That's why I was curious.

Rino
Huh? Ah, ahaha... What are you talking about?

Alice
There's no use hiding it. I already said earlier that, right now, you and I are two hearts beating as one, didn't I? So I can see through anything you try to hide.

Rino
... Thank you, Alice. I feel a little better now, thanks to you.

Alice
Really? Then, I'm glad. Any doubts in your heart will sap your power as the savior, after all.

Rino
... Is that true?

Alice
The source of the savior's power is feelings of hope. The only thing that can resist the Dark King's despair is those feelings of hope, the feelings of never giving up on one's dreams.

Rino
... The feelings of never giving up on one's dreams... Feelings of hope.

Rino
... Um. Alice, why are you protecting this world?

Alice
Eh? ... Ha ha, ahahaha! What a weird question, Rino!

Rino
I-Is it that weird?

Alice
It sure is... Enough to make me laugh!

Alice
I would've understood if you'd asked why a being in a picture book like me would understand these things.

Alice
But there's only one thing I can say...

Alice
It's because I love this world. I truly love it.

Alice
The lively voices of the people. The songs of the birds. The bubbling of the rivers. Everything about the world in this book... I love it all.

Rino
Alice...

Alice
That's why I want to protect this world. I want to protect it from the Dark King.

Rino
... I understand. And I want to protect it, too.

Rino
I was surprised at the start, but I've really come to love this world, too. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to such a wonderful world...

Alice
...!! Thank you, Rino! I'm so happy to hear that you've come to appreciate my beloved world, too!

Rino
......

Rino
Alice, you're so cool. I wonder if I could ever become like you...

Alice
Eh? Of course you can...

Yuuki
1. "You absolutely can."

Rino
Eek!? B-Big brother!? Did you hear all that!?

Hiyori
I think so, too! I mean, you're already the adorable, cool savior of this world, Rino!

Ayumi
I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop...!

Rino
Hiyori! Ayumi, you too!? All of you, quit bullying me!

Alice
Ahaha! So you've finally noticed! Everyone's been listening to you for a while, now.

Rino
Really?

Hiyori
Yeah, sorry. I just heard you talking about being the savior, and all.

Ayumi
It sounded like you were getting excited, and I couldn't help it...

Rino
Ah... I guess I've been making all of this about myself... I'm sorry.

Alice
Hey, come on, Rino. 'Sorry' isn't the right thing to say right now, is it?

Rino
Huh? Oh, yes, you're right... Thank you so much! Everyone!

Alice
There you go! It's good that you have such close friends with you!

Alice
Rino! Ayumi! Hiyori! And Yuuki! It's very reassuring that all of you are here, too. I'm counting on you!

Hiyori
Of course! I'll do all I can, Alice! Rino!

Ayumi
I'll also give it my all...!

Rino
Yeah! Having you all here makes me feel like a million trucks! ^[1] I'm really excited that you're here!

Alice
Huh...? Huh? That's not a real expression, is it? What is that?

Hiyori
Ah, I can see it! Isn't that the Queen of Hearts' castle?

Rino
All right, let's bust in there!!

Later.

Rino
... Whoa! It looks way bigger from up close!

Ruffian 1
Go, go!!

Ruffian 2
Hurry, hurry! The queen is heading out!!

Ayumi
T-Tons of people are coming out!

Alice
It looks like we're just in time for one of the queen's outings. Everyone, be careful!

Inori
I refuse to believe that there are no sweets for me to eat! What a failure of a subordinate you are!!

Ruffian 1
I-I apologize, Your Highness!! They were sold out of the sweets that Your Highness likes...

Inori
That doesn't matter! If I grow hungry in the middle of this outing, what am I meant to eat!?

Ruffian 2
B-Bread, I have bread here!

Inori
I have a second stomach for sweets!! Is that not common in this world!?

Ruffians
Eeeep! I'm sorry!!

Rino
... S-Somehow, this feels like it's getting out of hand. She's way more domineering than we'd heard.

Ayumi
Huh? If you look closely, isn't that girl... Inori?

Hiyori
Eh!? Does that mean Inori is the Queen of Hearts?

Inori
Boss... I mean, Minister! This man is guilty! Off with his head!

Homare
So it seems... Munch, munch... Food is certainly important.

Inori
Yes, yes, exactly... Hey, wait. What are you eating... Wait, that's my bread! What are you doing!?

Inori
U-Ugh... I'm the queen, you know!? Sigh... Fine, I'll overlook this just this once. Now, you brutes, go out and find food for me!!

Ruffian
Yes!

Ayumi
H-Homare is there, too... So the two of them came to this world, too.

Hiyori
F-For some reason, it feels like it'd be difficult for us to talk with them here...

Rino
But we won't be able to do anything if we don't talk to them. ... Inori! Homare!

Inori
Huh!? That voice...?

Homare
Oh? My, it's been a while, everyone! You all have quite the cute outfits on!

Homare
... You're all so adorable, would you allow me to hug you later?

Ayumi
H-Huh...!?

Homare
Ahaha, just kidding!

Inori
... Please, stop making creepy, non-joking jokes like that.

Homare
Eh? Oh, very well. I'll just have to make do with hugging you instead, Inori.

Inori
That smile! That smile is scary!! I can never tell what she's thinking, so for the boss to do something like that, it's so creepy... Eeeek! H-Help meee!!

Homare
My, Inori, it's all because you're so easily embarrassed.

Hiyori
... Homare seems to be the minister here, but their actual relationship hasn't changed.

Ayumi
A-Ahaha...

Inori
Pant... pant... I thought I was gonna die... A-Anyway, you all! Wait right there, I'm coming over! Come on, all of you, hurry and...

The ground starts shaking.

Inori
Wait, wha... What's going on?

Homare
What's this gas...?

Ruffian 1 & 2
......

Ruffian 2
... Whee hee!

Rino
What was that tremor just now... Ah, big brother! Someone's coming this way!

Ruffian 1
......

Yuuki
1. "Hello there."

Ruffian 1
... Take this!

Hiyori
Yuuki, are you okay!? What's this guy doing, attacking all of a sudden...!

Ayumi
P-Please be careful! He has an insane look in his eyes!

Ruffian 1
I'll send you all into the darkness...!

Rino
T-This feeling... It's the same as before...!!

Alice
... Yes, there's no doubt. All of these people have been possessed by the Dark King!

Ruffian 1
Ha ha, everyone, follow me... Take them all out! The queen, too!

Rino & Alice
Ah!!

They had finally reached the Queen of Hearts, who turned out to be Inori. But then, everything was thrown into chaos.