Episode 6: Our Bonds are Already in our Hearts
In a closed-off area of the old schoolhouse, Aoi and her friends discovered the gigantic mandragora.
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Aoi
W-Wha, wha... Why did it grow so big...
Yuni
It's in a different environment now. The nutrients in the soil and the mana in the air here are different from the Elven Forest. ... Take a good look at its head.
Chelle
Whoa. There's a super poisonous-looking flower there. It doesn't look cute at all.
Chloe
Pff... Well, that sucks. The flower growing there means that it's in the process of maturing.
Chelle
What happens when it finishes maturing?
Chloe
... St. Theresa's will be screwed.
Chelle
Is it that bad!? Ahh, I'm not good with this kinda stuff...
Yuni
Because its environment is different, its maturation process is also different. In truth, this would be quite fascinating to study, but...
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Yuuki
1. "Watch out!"
Chelle
Whoa, it's attacking!? Those vines look nasty!
Chloe
This guy's way too uppity for a plant... Man, this is getting bad.
Yuni
Ladies and gentleman, as I explained previously, that mandragora possesses a strong poison. In layman's terms, don't get hit by those vines!
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Chelle
It's flailing wildly!
Chloe
It's impossible... Wait.
Aoi
Hah, hii, huh!
Chelle
Whoa!? Aoi's awesome!
Yuni
Mm, what incredible reflexes.
Aoi
U-Um, I... I've mastered life as a loner, so I'm pretty good at fleeing... Hah!
Yuni
... How incredible, aside from the way you learned it.
Aoi
I'm sorry for being here! I'm sorry for wasting so much oxygen! I'm sorry for causing so much trouble!
Yuni
Those movements...! Amazing, Aoi -- exemplifying the skills of a loner.
Chelle
Amazing... Wait, is it amazing? Should we really be trying to be like that?
Chloe
No way. It's impossible.
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Aoi
Yuuki, watch out, it's attacking...!
Yuuki
1. "I'm sorry for getting lost so often!"
2. "I'm sorry for eating that money!"
Option 1.
Chloe
I mean, yeah, you do. You really do. Why apologize for it now?
Option 2.
Chelle
What kind of confession is that!? I'm really curious who you're even saying that to!
End of branches.
Chloe
This might work, though.
Chelle
Yuuki's really dodging the attacks...
Yuni
... I feel like perhaps we can do the same.
Chelle & Yuni & Chloe
... I don't really want to, though.
Yuuki
1. "Everyone, follow your coach's lead."
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Yuni
Ahh, we'll just have to try! I'm sorry for being too genius for my teachers to comprehend!
Chelle
I'm sorry my face is so pretty!
Chloe
Dunno what, but I'm sorry for something!
Aoi
A-Amazing, everyone! This is like a Loners Anonymous meeting!
Chelle
Am I being complimented? Am I supposed to be happy with this? Whatever, yay!
Chloe
Whatever. I guess we've gotten the hang of those vines now.
Yuni
Yes. Then, it's time for all of us to...
Yuuki
1. "Start our counterattack!"
Chelle & Yuni & Chloe
Yeah!
Yuni
Ohh, what is the fascinating sensation, welling up through every cell of my body...!? With this power...!
Yuni
Pardon my audacity, but I'm going ahead! Hiyaah!
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Chloe
Wow, that's hilarious, seeing our uppie trying to swing that axe thing around. Seriously hilarious.
Chelle
Yuni, don't go too far now! Chellulun!
Aoi
To push back that giant mandragora just like that... Incredible, Chelle!
Chloe
Crap, my share of the win is decreasing. I'd better get a little fired up, too.
Aoi
Chloe, how'd you get so close so fast!?
Aoi
Everyone, you're all so strong...!
Yuni
You needn't compliment me so. This is nothing to cause such a fuss over, ehehehe.
Chloe
She can't contain her happiness.
Chelle
Even stronger than I am cute -- isn't my versatility just frightful?
Aoi
I-I'll do my best, too! I'll make sure not to shoot any of you...!
Aoi
(I-I know... The mixture I made for the special course!)
Aoi
It's a little dangerous, but if I dip the arrowhead in this...!
Mandragora
Roaaaar!
Aoi
Eek!? Ah...
Aoi
Did I put on too much? U-Um... I-It'll be fine... Right?
Yuni
Now, let's press on to the end, Chloe, Chelle! Our dream is only one more step away!
Chelle
I'm raring to go!
Chloe
For our impending triumph over capitalism.
Aoi
They've created an opening for me...! This is the moment!
Aoi
Everyone, please fall back! I'm blowing it up...!
Yuni
What? Blowing it... up...
Yuni
Huh?
Chelle
Wait?
Chloe
Wha?
Aoi
With my bow, I will protect everyone!
Begin animated cutscene.
Aoi
Haaaah!
Chelle
W-Wait!
Aoi shoots an arrow at the Mandragora, causing it to explode.
Chloe
Ahh... That was a bigger explosion than I'd expected.
Chelle
The source of our money...
Yuni
The mandragora's scream was just as piercing as was rumored. I think we've been able to experience something quite rare.
Chelle
I'd rather have the money instead of that experience! The money! Hasn't the source of our big payoff just vanished into this air!? Not a root or a leaf remaining...
Chloe
There's not a trace of it left... What to do now...
Aoi
Everyone, are you okay?
Chloe
We're good, we're good. Well, I mean, our big payoff has vanished, but...
Yuuki
Big payoff?
Chloe
Oh, umm... Yeah, what was that all about anyway, Chelle?
Chelle
Oh, um, I didn't know anything about that at all... I'm sure that our Dr. Yuni knows, though!
Yuni
Ah, um, we simply were planning to deliver some samples of this specimen to Landsol for research purposes...
All Three
Ha ha ha ha...
Aoi
Um... Research...?
End animated cutscene.
Chelle
Yuni, you're really terrible at coming up with cover stories...
Chloe
Ah... No, we're sorry. I'll be honest, we were thinking about selling off that mandragora after we'd caught it.
Yuni
How shameful. Our souls were overflowing with ulterior motives...
Chelle
Big business, also known as what makes people go insane.
Chelle
So, um, the whole reason we were so chelly-chelly about doing this was for our own sakes. So, uh... we were lying. I'm sorry, Aoi.
Aoi
... S-So that was all?
Chelle & Yuni & Chloe
Huh?
Aoi
If that's all, then it's completely all right.
Aoi
I was incredibly nervous when I came to St. Theresa's School for Girls.
Aoi
But then Yuuki brought me to the BFFs Club and all of you. I was scared at first, but now, I'm really glad about it.
Aoi
I'm glad I got to meet you all, and that you helped me out with so many things.
Aoi
I think I understand all of you.
Aoi
Yuni knows a lot of things, and she's also kind of like me in some ways.
Aoi
Chloe can be a little scary, but the truth is, she's the kindest person there is.
Aoi
Chelle is so bright and dazzling, but she can get along with someone like me without any trouble.
Aoi
So, even if you had your own motives, it's totally fine. On the contrary, I'm sorry for making it all go to waste...
Yuni
Aoi... You're so...!
Chelle
So nice!
Chloe
......
Chelle
Oh? Why's Chloe's face all red?
Chloe
Shut it. It's nothing.
Yuuki
1. "Are you blushing?"
Chloe
I'm punching the next person who says that. Hard.
Aoi
Hee hee...
Chelle
Aha! Chloe, you really are easy to read!
Yuni
Mm, you've allowed us to observe a glimpse of those very deep feelings of yours. Ha ha ha, you truly must be happy, Chloe.
Chloe
Okay, all of you line up. You'll be swallowing your teeth soon.
After having taken care of this major problem, at least for a while, Aoi and her friends stood in a circle, smiles on all their faces.
Chelle
What a nice story!