Do as you like

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Miyako

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

Miyako

Huh...?

Illustration

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Miyako

Candy...?

Nonoka

Miyako-chan!

Miyako

!?

Nonoka

Three-second rule!

Miyako

Huh...?

Nonoka

Timer starts now!

Miyako

W-Wait, people are watching...

Nonoka

One, two, three!

Miyako

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

Nonoka

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

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Nonoka

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

Nonoka

Operation Candy Trail~! Go!

Arale

She told me to wait here, but...

Arale

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

Nonoka

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

Arale

!

Nonoka

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

Miyako

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

Miyako

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

Arale

Y-Yako-sensei!

Miyako

Nakamachi-san...?

Arale

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

Arale

Ms. Manager told me...

Miyako

W-Wait! That sticker in your phone case!

Miyako

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

Arale

Yako-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...!)

Nonoka

Arale-chan! You've got this!

Arale

R-Right!

Arale

F-Fujimi Yako-sensei!

Miyako

Y-Yes?!

Arale

The 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!

Arale

It 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...!

Arale

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

Arale

Your 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!"

Arale

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

Arale

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

Miyako

...

Arale

...

Arale

(I... messed...)

Arale

Uuuuuuuuuuuup!!

Nonoka

Arale-chan?!

Miyako

The stories I write...

Miyako

...

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Arale

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

Arale

Nnnnngh...!

Arale

Whoa! I'm sorry!

Ritsu

...

Arale

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

Arale

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

Arale

...!

Ritsu

Ah...

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...)

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Arale

...

Nonoka

Morning, Arale-chan~!

Arale

Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm~

Nonoka

Is your mouth all zipped up?

Arale

Mm-hm.

Nonoka

I see.

Arale

Mm.

Arale

Mmph!

Nonoka

Hm? Oh!

Nonoka

Morning, Miyako-chan~!

Arale

Mm...

Miyako

Thank you for what you said yesterday.

Arale

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

Miyako

?

Nonoka

There!

Arale

Pwah!

Arale

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

Miyako

Not at all.
Nakamachi-san, your thoughts on my work truly touched me.

Miyako

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

Arale

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

Miyako

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

Arale

Th-Thank you so much!!!

Nonoka

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

Arale

Yeah!

Miyako

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

Nonoka

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

Miyako

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

Nonoka

Whoa~!

Arale

That's so cool~!

Arale

Oh, the elevator's here.

Nonoka

Let's hop in~!

Miyako

...

Miyako

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

Miyako

(I just can't handle her!)

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Manager

How's it coming along?

Yuno

Which one?

Manager

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

Yuno

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

Manager

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

Yuno

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

Manager

Knew I could count on you!

Yuno

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

Manager

Thanks! You're a lifesaver~!

Yuno

Then that wraps up the meeting...

Manager

Waaaaait!!

Yuno

Whoa!?

Manager

Be honest. What do you think of MewType?

Yuno

W-What do you mean...?

Manager

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

Yuno

Well...

Yuno

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

Manager

Nakamachi-san?

Yuno

Yeah. She never sings.

Manager

Right...

Yuno

Band 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.

Manager

She's got her reasons.

Yuno

Reasons?

Manager

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

Yuno

Then why put her in a band...?

Manager

Because 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

...

Manager

Look out for Nakamachi-san, okay?

Yuno

I'll... think about it.

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Arale

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

Nonoka

Arale-chan!

Arale

Eep!! W-What is it?!

Nonoka

To a super-fun lunch~

Nonoka

You are inviiiiited!!

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Nonoka

A red bean bun shop~!

Arale

Not just that! I've got tons of clear files too!

Nonoka

A red bean bun and clear file shop!

Arale

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

Arale

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

Nonoka

?

Arale

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

Nonoka

I looove them~~!

Arale

Eeeeeeeee!!

Arale

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

Arale

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

Nonoka

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

Arale

Yaaaaay!!

Miyako

...

Arale

What about you, Miyako-san?

Miyako

I'm fine, thank you.

Arale

Ooh~

Miyako

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

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Miyako & Arale & Nonoka

Let's dig in~!
Let's eat.

Arale

Nom!

Nonoka

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

Arale

♡

Nonoka

Mmm?!

Arale

?

Nonoka

Look! Yuno-chan has a new song out!

Arale

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

Miyako

She wrote it for someone else...

Nonoka

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

Arale

No, I haven't.

Nonoka

Me neither...

Miyako & Arale

?

Nonoka

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

Arale

Like what?

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Nonoka

A pineapple...

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Nonoka

A pigeon... And then~

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Nonoka

A swamp!!

Nonoka

And she replies almost instantly every time!

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Nonoka

Nono-chan has uncovered the truth.

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Nonoka

That's right... the singularity...!!

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Arale

Singu... singu-what...?

Miyako

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

Nonoka

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

Nonoka

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

Nonoka

Which means Yuno-chan is really...

Nonoka

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

Arale

W-W-Whaaaat?!!!

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Yuno

Achoo!

Yuno

Am I coming down with a cold...?

Arale

*Staaaaare*...

Nonoka

Hmm, I see~

Yuno

...

Arale

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

Yuno

You're in the way...

Nonoka

Now, now. Take a look at this.

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Yuno

What's this...?

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Nonoka

Select all images with traffic lights.

Yuno

Huh...?

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Nonoka

Select all images with traffic lights.

Yuno

...

Nonoka

Finally, select all the Mokeeme aliens.

Yuno

Moke... what?

Arale

Her hand froze...

Nonoka

So she really is a robot...

Miyako

N-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...!)

Miyako

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

Arale

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

Nonoka

Hmm!

Nonoka

Dark-circle check starts now!

Arale

Starts now!

Nonoka

All right, just relax~!

Arale

Doctor, this is...!

Nonoka

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

Miyako

U-Unemployed... career over...

Yuno

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

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Ritsu

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

Ritsu

Now, for the next song...

Ritsu

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

Ritsu

Sorry, 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

?

Viola

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

Ritsu

...!

Viola

Ms. Manager
isn't watching the stream anyway.

Viola

Keeping the fans happy is important ❤️

Ritsu

All right...
Just a little, then...

Viola

Good girl♪

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Yuno

...

Yuno

!

Yuno

Another one...

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Yuno

*Sigh*...

Yuno

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

Yuno

Copy, paste... Done.

Yuno

All right, back to work...

Yuno

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

Yuno

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

Yuno

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

Yuno

Nothing... O-Okay, online stores...

Yuno

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

Yuno

Gaaah...
That shop might already be open...

Yuno

No choice... Guess I'm going to Akiba.

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Ritsu

...?

Viola

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

Viola

I'll be waiting for you at school~!

Ritsu

...

Ritsu

!

Ritsu

(Arale-chan...)

Ritsu

(I'll take another route...)

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Ritsu

!?

Ritsu

Ow...
What just fell on me...

Yuno

S-Someone...

Ritsu

A person?!

Ritsu

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

Ritsu

No response... She has a pulse. Is she breathing...?

Yuno

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

Yuno

Make the receipt out to... whatever...

Ritsu

Y-Yes!

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Yuno

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

Ritsu

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

Yuno

Whatever...

Ritsu

?

Yuno

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

Ritsu

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

Yuno

...

Ritsu

Do you like the chicken breast?

Yuno

Mmm...

Yuno

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

Ritsu

I'm glad.

Yuno

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

Ritsu

Oh... Right.
I should be going... but...

Yuno

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

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Ritsu

You've gotten so far away...

Yuno

...

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Yuno

Ah... You've got some history.

Ritsu

!

Yuno

Some kind of relationship trouble...?

Ritsu

...

Ritsu

What do you think of model students?

Yuno

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

Yuno

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

Ritsu

...!

Yuno

Though being around one might be kind of a pain.

Ritsu

Right... I thought so.

Ritsu

This is... about a friend of mine.

Yuno

People actually use that line...?

Ritsu

A friend of mine had a friend.

Ritsu

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

Yuno

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

Ritsu

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

Yuno

A fennec...?

Ritsu

It's a kind of fox.

Yuno

Oh.

Ritsu

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

Ritsu

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

Ritsu

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

Yuno

So their friendship ended too.

Ritsu

Ended...

Ritsu

...

Yuno

So what? Do whatever you want.

Ritsu

Huh...?

Yuno

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

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Yuno

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

Yuno

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

Ritsu

Thank you... Um...

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Ritsu

Miss Bone-In-Meat...!

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Yuno

Eat up...