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After School

Kanda Shiroyama Academy - Entrance

MiyakoOnce I'm home, revise the character art, work on the manuscript until dinner, then keyboard practi...

MiyakoHuh...?

MiyakoCandy...?

NonokaMiyako-chan!

Miyako!?

NonokaThree-second rule!

MiyakoHuh...?

NonokaTimer starts now!

MiyakoW-Wait, people are watching...

NonokaOne, two, three!

MiyakoUgh... Why am I the one doing this...?

NonokaKeep picking 'em up~! One, two, three!

NonokaI'll go get Miyako-chan! You wait right here, Arale-chan!

NonokaOperation Candy Trail~! Go!

AraleShe told me to wait here, but...

AralePut my "love" into a "mwah~"...

NonokaOne, two, three, and up! One, two, three, and up!

Arale!

NonokaMiyako-chan! I found it! A house made of candy!

MiyakoHuh...? Miyanaga-san, what is all this...?

MiyakoShe's gone... What is going on here...?

AraleY-Yako-sensei!

MiyakoNakamachi-san...?

AraleIt is a fine day, and I humbly apologize for summoning you here.

AraleMs. Manager told me...

MiyakoW-Wait! That sticker in your phone case!

MiyakoThe Yodoshima Big Electronics exclusive sticker! I nearly died lining up after an all-nighter, only for them to run out right before my turn...!

AraleYako-sensei, that's the legendary Toshima Spa Highland exclusive sticker! Every guest was meant to get one, until anti-scalper measures made it ultra-rare!

Arale、Miyako...

Arale(I-I want to talk to her...! About Magilulu...!)

NonokaArale-chan! You've got this!

AraleR-Right!

AraleF-Fujimi Yako-sensei!

MiyakoY-Yes?!

AraleThe first time I saw your work was in sixth grade, when my friend's older sister showed me one of your Magilulu illustrations, Yako-sensei!

AraleIt was love at first sight! Then I got a phone for my birthday, practically lived on art sites... and found your piece with the most likes under the Magilulu tag...!

AraleI don't even know how to put it...!

AraleYour linework was unlike anyone else's! Every single line seemed to say, "This is what makes this character cute! This is what I love about them!"

AraleYou conveyed all of that through linework alone! It blew me away!! Before I knew it, I was following every piece you posted!

AraleOh! And your series! I really love the stories you write...

Miyako...

Arale...

Arale(I... messed...)

AraleUuuuuuuuuuuup!!

NonokaArale-chan?!

MiyakoThe stories I write...

Miyako...

Arale(I weirded her out! I made things awkward! I knew I should've kept my mouth shut!)

AraleNnnnngh...!

AraleWhoa! I'm sorry!

Ritsu...

AraleW-Wait, you're... Ah!

Arale(I forgot I wasn't supposed to use this station!!)

Arale...!

RitsuAh...

Ritsu(I started using this station after running into her at the other one. But the more I try to avoid her...)

Ritsu(Back then, I...)

The Next Day

Arale...

NonokaMorning, Arale-chan~!

AraleMmm-mmm-mmm-mmm~

NonokaIs your mouth all zipped up?

AraleMm-hm.

NonokaI see.

AraleMm.

AraleMmph!

NonokaHm? Oh!

NonokaMorning, Miyako-chan~!

AraleMm...

MiyakoThank you for what you said yesterday.

Arale!? M-Mmph?! Mmm-mmm-mmmmmm?!

Miyako?

NonokaThere!

AralePwah!

AraleI-I wasn't... bothering you?!

MiyakoNot at all. Nakamachi-san, your thoughts on my work truly touched me.

MiyakoHere... I'd like you to have this.

AraleThis is... the legendary Toshima Spa Highland exclusive sticker!!? You'd really give this to me?!

MiyakoIf anyone should have it, it's you, Arale-san.

AraleTh-Thank you so much!!!

NonokaYaaay~! Operation Make Miyako-chan Better was a huge success~! Talking really did the trick~!

AraleYeah!

MiyakoThe publisher will issue a statement in response to the comments targeting you, Miyanaga-san.

NonokaThank you~ But don't push yourself too hard, okay~?

MiyakoRest assured. Now that I, Miyako Fuji, have chosen to wear two hats, I am prepared to see both through to the end!

NonokaWhoa~!

AraleThat's so cool~!

AraleOh, the elevator's here.

NonokaLet's hop in~!

Miyako...

Miyako(Pretty platitudes, the cutesy act, all that bubbly extrovert energy...)

Miyako(I just can't handle her!)

ManagerHow's it coming along?

YunoWhich one?

ManagerYou know, the one we had to bump up because of the client's teaser schedule.

YunoYeah... The one whose deadline got moved up so much it's almost funny...

ManagerI said I was sorry about that. Want me to stop taking new composition jobs for a while?

YunoIt's fine. I'll make the deadline.

ManagerKnew I could count on you!

YunoI just sent the melody draft. Pass it on and get their sign-off on the direction.

ManagerThanks! You're a lifesaver~!

YunoThen that wraps up the meeting...

ManagerWaaaaait!!

YunoWhoa!?

ManagerBe honest. What do you think of MewType?

YunoW-What do you mean...?

ManagerYou never seemed all that into it, Sengoku-san...

YunoWell...

YunoShouldn't you be more worried about someone else? Like the vocalist.

ManagerNakamachi-san?

YunoYeah. She never sings.

ManagerRight...

YunoBand or whatever, it's still a job, so I'll do it. But if the vocalist won't sing, the rest of us can only do so much.

ManagerShe's got her reasons.

YunoReasons?

ManagerShe used to be in another group under the name "Elea," but something happened there, and she's still dealing with the trauma from it.

YunoThen why put her in a band...?

ManagerBecause she felt, "I want to change" and "I can't keep going like this." That's why she agreed to sign with the agency.

Yuno...

ManagerLook out for Nakamachi-san, okay?

YunoI'll... think about it.

Kanda Shiroyama Academy - Classroom 1-B

AraleHee-hee~ Hee-hee... I snagged so many~♪

NonokaArale-chan!

AraleEep!! W-What is it?!

NonokaTo a super-fun lunch~

NonokaYou are inviiiiited!!

NonokaA red bean bun shop~!

AraleNot just that! I've got tons of clear files too!

NonokaA red bean bun and clear file shop!

AraleThat's right! There's a convenience store promo right now: buy any two eligible items, and choose any Magilulu clear file you want!

AraleAnd get this! One of the hot snacks is a recreation of the High-Power Meat... Oh!!

Nonoka?

AraleUm... Nono-chan-san, do you like red bean buns...?

NonokaI looove them~~!

AraleEeeeeeeee!!

AraleI-I got carried away and bought way too much food just for the clear files...

AraleSo I was wondering if you could maybe help me eat some...?

NonokaOf course, of course! Leave it to Nono-chan!

AraleYaaaaay!!

Miyako...

AraleWhat about you, Miyako-san?

MiyakoI'm fine, thank you.

AraleOoh~

Miyako(Guess I'm living on frozen bread till next week...!)

Miyako、Arale、NonokaLet's dig in~! Let's eat.

AraleNom!

Nonoka*Munch*... *Munch*... So yummy!

Arale♡

NonokaMmm?!

Arale?

NonokaLook! Yuno-chan has a new song out!

AraleWhoa, you're right! It's a new project announcement!

MiyakoShe wrote it for someone else...

NonokaHave either of you ever met Yuno-chan in person?

AraleNo, I haven't.

NonokaMe neither...

Miyako、Arale?

NonokaNono-chan loves Yuno-chan, so I've sent her loooots of messages!

AraleLike what?

NonokaA pineapple...

NonokaA pigeon... And then~

NonokaA swamp!!

NonokaAnd she replies almost instantly every time!

NonokaNono-chan has uncovered the truth.

NonokaThat's right... the singularity...!!

AraleSingu... singu-what...?

MiyakoThe point at which advanced AI surpasses human intelligence...

NonokaYes...! Clue one... We've only ever seen her on V-Flo...!

NonokaClue two... She's buried in work...! Clue three... Instant replies with zero warmth...!

NonokaWhich means Yuno-chan is really...

NonokaA high-spec songwriting AI built by some super-advanced company!!

AraleW-W-Whaaaat?!!!

YunoAchoo!

YunoAm I coming down with a cold...?

Arale*Staaaaare*...

NonokaHmm, I see~

Yuno...

AraleNono-Holmes-san! She really does look human to me!

YunoYou're in the way...

NonokaNow, now. Take a look at this.

YunoWhat's this...?

NonokaSelect all images with traffic lights.

YunoHuh...?

NonokaSelect all images with traffic lights.

Yuno...

NonokaFinally, select all the Mokeeme aliens.

YunoMoke... what?

AraleHer hand froze...

NonokaSo she really is a robot...

MiyakoN-No way...

Miyako(If Sengoku-san really is an AI... then maybe it won't be long before there's an AI that can draw manga too...!)

Miyako(It could analyze trends and churn out whatever sells, never sleep... and even talk, sing, and dance... I-If that happened...!)

MiyakoHumanity's doomed! We're all gonna be joblessssss!?

AraleNono-chan-san! Miyako-san's in trouble!

NonokaHmm!

NonokaDark-circle check starts now!

AraleStarts now!

NonokaAll right, just relax~!

AraleDoctor, this is...!

NonokaHmm... A mild case of dark circles! I'll write you a prescription~!

MiyakoU-Unemployed... career over...

YunoSo... are we about done here? Let's start practice.

Minetsuki House - Ritsu's Room

RitsuThank you for watching the stream, and for leaving so many comments.

RitsuNow, for the next song...

Ritsu"Please play Roselia's Determination Symphony!"...

RitsuSorry, but the setlist had to be cleared in advance, so I can't change it now.

Ritsu"Even just the chorus"... I'm afraid I can't do that either...

Ritsu?

ViolaYou've already accepted their tip, so you should play it for them.

Viola

Ritsu...!

ViolaMs. Manager isn't watching the stream anyway.

ViolaKeeping the fans happy is important ❤️

RitsuAll right... Just a little, then...

ViolaGood girl♪

Viola

Yuno...

Yuno!

YunoAnother one...

Yuno*Sigh*...

YunoI'll let the AI handle this one, too.

YunoCopy, paste... Done.

YunoAll right, back to work...

YunoHuh...? I'm not getting any sound.

YunoPower? Connections? Still nothing after reconnecting... Why now, of all times?!

YunoGaaaaah... Fine!! I'll swap out every cable!!! The spares should be in the drawer...

YunoNothing... O-Okay, online stores...

YunoThey won't arrive until after the deadline...

YunoGaaah... That shop might already be open...

YunoNo choice... Guess I'm going to Akiba.

Akihabara Station

Ritsu...?

ViolaLet's go over yesterday's stream, okay?

Viola

ViolaI'll be waiting for you at school~!

Ritsu...

Ritsu!

Ritsu(Arale-chan...)

Ritsu(I'll take another route...)

Ritsu!?

RitsuOw... What just fell on me...

YunoS-Someone...

RitsuA person?!

RitsuAre you okay?! Can you tell me your name?!

RitsuNo response... She has a pulse. Is she breathing...?

YunoT-Take the 10,000 yen... Buy food... Get a receipt...

YunoMake the receipt out to... whatever...

RitsuY-Yes!

YunoThe receipt is made out to... "Whatever"...

RitsuYes. You said to make it out to "Whatever."

YunoWhatever...

Ritsu?

YunoFried chicken, a sausage... You went all meat, huh?

RitsuI thought it'd help you get your strength back!

Yuno...

RitsuDo you like the chicken breast?

YunoMmm...

Yuno*Gulp*... Thanks. You really saved me.

RitsuI'm glad.

YunoDon't you need to get to school? That's an Ageha uniform, right?

RitsuOh... Right. I should be going... but...

Yuno(Where have I seen her before...?)

RitsuYou've gotten so far away...

Yuno...

YunoAh... You've got some history.

Ritsu!

YunoSome kind of relationship trouble...?

Ritsu...

RitsuWhat do you think of model students?

YunoHuh...? Where'd that come from?

YunoI don't really care... That's their choice.

Ritsu...!

YunoThough being around one might be kind of a pain.

RitsuRight... I thought so.

RitsuThis is... about a friend of mine.

YunoPeople actually use that line...?

RitsuA friend of mine had a friend.

RitsuMy friend's friend was in a group with another friend, and then my friend was invited to join them...

YunoSorry, I have no idea who anyone is. Can you make this easier to follow?

RitsuAll right... My friend is the bear, and her friend is the fennec.

YunoA fennec...?

RitsuIt's a kind of fox.

YunoOh.

RitsuThe bear was a model student. A boring nobody who always just went along with everyone else.

RitsuEven when the fennec was suffering all alone... the bear couldn't do anything.

RitsuShe was a coward. She chose the coward's way out. And the fennec lost everything...

YunoSo their friendship ended too.

RitsuEnded...

Ritsu...

YunoSo what? Do whatever you want.

RitsuHuh...?

YunoSomething being over and not wanting it to end are two different things, right?

YunoIf you could just let go that easily, you wouldn't be struggling with it... You don't want it to end, do you?

YunoAnyway, eat that meat and cheer up. See ya.

RitsuThank you... Um...

RitsuMiss Bone-In-Meat...!

YunoEat up...