Opening: The Troubled Rino and the Mysterious Book
A busy day in downtown Landsol. Walking through that scene was Rino, looking down.
Rino
... Sigh. The town sure is lively today...
Rino
Compared to all of this, I'm in such a slump. It's like everyone else is singing and dancing around me...
Rino
The designer school... I got rejected from it again...
Rino
(I tried my absolute best... But I guess I didn't work hard enough...)
Yuuki
1. "Hello."
Rino
Eh... Big brother...? A-Ah, what a coincidence, meeting you here!
Rino
(No, no. A little sister always has to be lively around her big brother...!)
Hiyori
Ah, it's you, Rino! It's been a while!
Rino
And you're... Hiyori! Yeah, long time no see!
Ayumi
U-Um, nice to meet you! My name'sh Ayumi! Ooh... I flubbed it again...
Rino
Um, nice to meet you, too. Ayumi... Got it. My name's Rino.
Ayumi
T-The truth is, I kind of already know you. I've seen you around a few times.
Rino
Eh? You have?
Ayumi
Yes. You're Yuuki's little sister, and you sometimes watch him from far away... And also, sometimes, you and his big sister with the long hair walk around with him, too.
Rino
Um, that's right...
Ayumi
A few days ago, you bumped into Yuuki right around here, right?
Rino
T-That's true, I think... Um, but why do you...?
Ayumi
Ah, t-that's, um...! I was just keeping tabs on Yuuki from afar! And then you showed up, so...!
Rino
Keeping tabs on him from afar... Um, Ayumi, is there any chance that you're what they call a stalker...?
Ayumi
N-No, I'm not! I'm just a normal person who likes looking at Yuuki!
Hiyori
Actually, Rino. Ayumi isn't a stalker -- she's just an amazing ninja!
Ayumi
That's wrong, too!
Rino
A-Ahaha... Hah.
Yuuki
1. "Why do you look so glum?"
Rino
Eh...! O-Oh, no, it's nothing! C'mon, quit worrying, big brother!
Ayumi
Ah, it's almost time... Rino. We were about to help Yuuki with some shopping -- do you want to come with us?
Rino
Eh, is that all right...?
Rino
(... This might be just what I need to clear my head. I... don't want to think about clothes for a while.)
Rino
Okay. Then, if it's okay for me to come along.
Hiyori
Yay!! Okay, everyone, let's go!
Later.
Shopkeeper
... So that's the entire order. Just a minute, let me check what we have in stock in the warehouse. It'll take a little while, so feel free to come back later.
Ayumi
So, we've got some free time now...
Hiyori
What should we do? Why don't we get lunch somewhere?
Rino
......
Rino
(No good... No matter what I do, I just don't feel any better. So much trouble...)
Inori
Ugh, I'm tired of looking for this thing! There's no way a run-down store like this one would have a book like that!
Homare
That's naive of you, Inori. Looks can be deceiving, don't you know?
Inori
If you think so, then you can go search on your own. This kind of dull work isn't meant for me!
Homare
......
Inori
D-Don't give me that silent intimidation! Ahh, okay, fine! I'll look! I'll look for it!
Rino
Those horns and tails... Are they draconians?
Hiyori
Amazing! I think this is the first time I've ever seen a real draconian up close!
Yuuki
1. "Long time no see, you two."
Homare
Oh, my? How nice to see you here!
Inori
If it isn't Yuuki. ... Living a life of leisure, aren't you?
Hiyori
Leave it to Yuuki to count draconians among his friends!
Homare
I'm pleased to meet you, you two over there! My name is Homare. It's a pleasure! And this girl here is...
Inori
Hmph. I'm not giving my name to a bunch of strangers.
Homare
Now, now, such bad manners will leave a bad impression, won't they? ... Perhaps I'll take away your dinner... Or spank you... Or, where you sleep...
Inori
I-Inori! My name is Inori!! There, I said it, so you can stop muttering those cursed things now!
Rino
Ahaha... Ah, my name is Rino.
Hiyori
I'm Hiyori!
Homare
Rino and Hiyori... I see.
Homare
... My, my, what's this? You two give off quite the interesting presence. I wonder if your friend...
Ayumi
U-Um... My name is Ayumi! Pleased to meet you! ... I finally said it right!
Inori & Homare
Eh...!?
Hiyori
(For her presence to go undetected even by draconians... Ayumi sure is amazing!)
Homare
P-Pleased to meet you. Rino, Hiyori, and... Ayumi?
Inori
... S-She had no presence at all, and she blended in perfectly with her surroundings... She's definitely no ordinary person!
Ayumi
So, what were you two doing?
Inori
Huh? Why would we spill that kind of classified information so...
Inori
Eek!? W-What did I do to make you yank my tail like that!?
Homare
We'd heard that this pawn shop had come into possession of some ancient literature. There's a chance that it has something to do with draconians, so we thought we'd come take a look.
Inori
But we haven't found anything like that at all... And there's been way more stuff to go through than I'd thought, and I'm already sick of it!!
Yuuki
1. "Shall I help?"
Homare
Will you really? That would be much appreciated!
Hiyori
If Yuuki's helping, then I will, too!
Rino
Then, I will, too...
Ayumi
And I'll try my besht too! Ooh... I flubbed it again...
Homare
How very kind of all of you! Let's start by looking for any books with titles or pictures related to draconians on the front cover... If you find any, then please take a quick look inside, too!
Hiyori
All right, I've got this! Hey, Ayumi, let's race to see who can find one first!
Ayumi
H-Hiyori, wait up!
Rino
All right, let's get looking, too.
Later.
Rino
... This book's called "Magical Tools for Dummies," so it's probably not what we're looking for. And this one... What kind of book is this?
Inori
... It's called "The Romantic Aspects of Airships." It's going to be all about machinery, so we don't need to look inside.
Rino
Thank you, Inori.
Rino
......
Inori
... What are you staring at me for? Have you never seen a draconian before?
Rino
W-Well, yeah, that's certainly true...
Inori
(... She's never seen a draconian before, and she can't hide her urge to stare. Ugh, I'm fed up with this.)
Rino
Um...
Inori
Hmph, I'm only gonna say this once -- you're not gonna learn anything about the secrets of the draconians from...
Rino
That pattern on your arm... You're pretty stylish, Inori.
Inori
... Huh!?
Rino
Ah, sorry, I shouldn't waste time chatting... I'll get back to looking.
Inori
... She wasn't interested in draconians, but she was interested in me... How weird.
Later.
Rino
Hmm, I haven't seen any books about draconians... That book isn't one, and this book... Huh? Is this... a fairy tale?
Rino
Wow... The girl on the cover is so cute...
Rino
And this picture of the scenery from this mystery world is incredible... Ha ha, there's a bunny holding a clock, and this see-through cat is funny, too...
Rino
But the one I like most is this main girl. Her clothes look really cute.
Rino
(... Wait. Why did my eyes go to this one? I said I didn't want to think about clothes for a while...)
Hiyori
Rino, did you find something?
Rino
Ah... No, just a book I was a little curious about.
Inori
......
Homare
Ha ha, what is it, Inori? You've been watching that girl for a while. Are you curious about her?
Inori
Huh!? N-No way, I'm not curious at all!
Homare
Well, certainly, there aren't many young girls back at home. Perhaps you've gotten interested in girl talk? Or, perhaps... you're interested in Rino?
Inori
I-I'm not interested at all! It's just... They said they were going to help, so I thought I'd keep watch to make sure they don't slack off!
Homare
Ha ha, then, why don't I accompany you to go see them? I'd love to see you make some new friends, Inori.
Inori
I-I already said that isn't it! Ugh, don't come with me!
Rino
I just thought this protagonist's clothes were really cute. Let me just look inside for a moment.
Rino
Hmm, I wonder what kind of story this is... Huh?
Rino
The book is... glowing!?
Hiyori
Rino, what's this...!?
Ayumi
W-What's going on!? What on earth could this...!!??
Rino
I-I don't know!! This light just started shining...!!
Hiyori
The light is getting brighter and brighter! I-It's blinding...!!
Rino
Big brother! What do I do...!?
Yuuki
1. "Close the book!"
Rino
R-Right! If I close the book... Huh, it won't close!?
Inori
You all! How long do you plan to slack... Wait, what's going on!?
Homare
This... seems to be getting quite interesting!
Rino & Others
Ahhhh!!
Inori
Whoa, Yuuki and the others disappeared!? A-And at this rate, we'll also... B-Boss! We've gotta do something!
Homare
We need a plan to get out of this situation, hmm... Well, there's only one thing to do, right?
Inori
Wow, you really are reliable in times like these! Then, what is it...?
Homare
... How about we give in and let the light swallow us up? It seems like it'll be fun!
Inori
That's not getting us out of the situtaion! You hedoniiist!!
Shopkeeper
Hey, I'm back from checking the warehouse. It looks like the literature section was... Huh?
Shopkeeper
Nobody's here. They must've gone out to lunch, right? Well, they'll come back soon enough.
The pawn shop was silent. Rino and the others had vanished, and nobody suspected anything.