Part 2, Episode 2: Cat Strike!

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Scene: The amphitheater in Muusa.

In order to rescue those who had been captured, the group drew close to Little Ueki.

Uzuki
Muusa... Not long ago, this town was so lively.

Mio
But now, there isn't a person in sight.

Pecorine
It's understandable. Little Ueki is right there, towering over the city.

Kokkoro
We nned to rescue all of the people who have been imprisoned inside of Little Ueki...

Rin
The real problem is that pollen. It causes sneezing, of course, but... It also seems to have some magical effects.

Uzuki
Covering your mouth with cloth doesn't protect against it, and if you breath in too much, you'll start feeling lightheaded. How troublesome!

Kokkoro
Firing arrows and the like at it from afar... does not seem like it will do much. Its outer skin seems even tougher than it appears.

Pecorine
It really stings that Kyaru, the only one of us skilled with magical attacks, was taken away...

Rin
If we use attacks that are too powerful and destroy it, the people inside might also be caught up... I think that would be too dangerous.

Kokkoro
Hmm... What trouble. We can't carelessly draw too close, and we can't use attacks that are too destructive... What on earth are we to do?

Pinya Colata
Pinyaaa...

Yuuki
1. "Hmm..."

Mio
Then, what if we try singing!?

Uzuki
Ah, I see! Little Ueki should react somehow to our singing!

Rin
Mio, Uzuki, hold up. If that causes Little Ueki to grow bigger and bigger, then it'll only make the situation worse.

Mio
Aha, I guess so...

Uzuki
Heh heh...

Pecorine
No... No! That just might be it!

Rin
Huh?

Mio
Peco?

Pecorine
If Little Ueki really does grow bigger from your songs, then... Let's make it grow to its limit!

Uzuki
Ehhh!?

Pecorine
Look at how tall and narrow Little Ueki is. If it keeps getting bigger and bigger...

Uzuki
... Ah! Then it'll lose its balance...!

Pecorine
Yes! And then, timber! It might fall over just like that!

Rin
Huh...? Could something like that really happen...

Kokkoro
Lady Rin's concerns are quite reasonable...

Uzuki
But it sounds like it could be fun!

Mio
Yeah! Nothing will get done if we just sit and think... Let's give it a try!

Rin
... Sigh... If you insist. If we're doing this, then I'll give it my all.

Mio
Well said, Shiburin! Then, music, sta...

???
Heeey, hold up, nya!!!

Mio
Huh!?

Kokkoro
That voice...!

???
Nobody wants to hear your absolutely me-awful singing!

???
Yeah, yeah!

Uzuki
Huhhh!?

Kokkoro
...! Everyone, there! By Little Ueki's mouth...!

Kyaru
Kyaru-kyaru! Kyaru the Idol makes her meow-tiful appearance, nya!

Pecorine & Others
Kyaru!?

Kyaru
Starting this moment, this is the stage for "Prosperity Cats," nya!

New Idols
Yeah, yeah!

Kokkoro
The people to her left and right are those two girls who participated in the audition earlier...

Rin
D-Doesn't something seem strange about them?

Pecorine
Kyaru, why are you dressed like that?

Mio
Don't you look like an idol!?

Kyaru
Hah! I'm not "like" an idol -- I'm already an idol, nya!

New Idols
Yeah, yeah!

Rin
An idol... You, too, Kyaru?

Pecorine
But, Kyaru! I knew that you were a cat-type beastperson, but to think that you'd lean into your catgirl appeal by adding "nya" to all your sentences...!

Mio
Yeah! It's too much, Kyaru-kyaru! It's too sly!

Uzuki
Um, that is... Uh, you've really changed your image, haven't you? Kyaru...!

Kyaru
S-Shut it, nya! I've gotta boil everything down to one character trait if I'm gonna be an idol, nya!

Rin
I'm not sure that's how it works...

Kyaru
No use complaining, nya! I'll shut you all up with this meow-nderful song!

New Idols
Yaaaay!

Rin
Ugh...!

Kokkoro
Uh!

Pecorine & Others
Kyaaa!

Kyaru
Ahaha! Die by my song!

Pinya Colata
Pinyaaa!?

Mio
W-What's this!?

Uzuki
It's like an electric shock!

Rin
Kyaru and the others' song is like a shock wave...!

Pinya Colata
... Pinya! Pinya pinyanya!

Pecorine
What is Pinya Colata saying, Yuuki!?

Yuuki
1. "Umm... The song works together with the pollen."

Kokkoro
The magic-infused pollen is activated by the song and gains striking power... That's what it means.

Uzuki
Kyaru, please, stop! Why are you attacking us...!?

Kyaru
Nya, nya, nya...!

Rin
It looks like she's so entranced by her own song that our words can't reach her...

Kokkoro
Look, everyone. Kyaru... No, not just her. All three members of "Prosperity Cats" have small copies of Little Ueki growing on their bodies...!

Mio
Ah... You're right!

Uzuki
I'd thought that Kyaru was acting strangely earlier. To think that she'd attack us...

Rin
Does this mean... they're all being controlled by Little Ueki?

Mio
That's right! Kyaru-kyaru would never attack her friends unless she was being controlled!

Pecorine
... Uh, well...

Yuuki
1. "Um..."

Kokkoro
Well... We can't very well explain the circumstances that led to that...

Kyaru
Don't just stand there looking confused! Hurry and die! Kyaru kyaruuun!

Pecorine & Others
Kyaaaa!

Rin
A-Anyway...! Whatever the situation, we need to get Kyaru back to normal, quickly!

Kokkoro
If their singing attacks won't stop coming...

Uzuki
Then if we sing back, maybe we'll be able to drown out their song!

Mio
Right, we were planning to sing, anyway. Let's try it!

Kokkoro
So, a battle of songs... That's what this has come to.

Pecorine
Ah! A live battle!

Mio
Watch our performance!

Rin
... When it comes to singing, I won't hold back.

Uzuki
I'll... give it my full power!

Kyaru
Hmph! I'll kill you before it comes to that, nya!

New Idols
Yeah, yeah!

Kyaru
Kyaru kyaru, kyaaarurun! Full power, nya!

Rin
Ugh...!

Uzuki
I thought we'd be able to drown out their song with ours...

Mio
Seems like it's not that easy...!

Rin
But it looks like it wasn't a complete waste!

Uzuki
(We just need one more opportunity...!)

Kokkoro
This seems to be a close fight. Is there anything we can do...

Pecorine
Kokkoro! Yuuki! Let's cheer on everyone from New Generations!

Kokkoro
Yes...! Pinya Colata, you too!

Pinya Colata
Pinya!

Yuuki
1. "Everyone, do your best!"

Three
...!?

Uzuki
I can hear it... All of their cheering voices!

Rin
Yes! I can feel incredible courage building in me. From this...

Mio
I don't know what this is, but... it's amazing! Is my power rising, too!?

Uzuki
Let's use this power to push through!

Rin
Yes!

Mio
Three, two, one!

Kyaru
Nyaaaa!?

New Idols
Kyaaa!