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A 3D Angel From the Heavens
Oh, yes, I have everything... but I hope you remembered to bring your phone charger this time, Uncle Barry.
Ohhh nooo! Gah, I'm so dumb! Guess I forgot to bring it today too!
*Sigh* Not again. I don't need mine for the rest of the day... Here, you can borrow it.
Oh, thank you, Mamori! You truly are a real live 3D angel from the heavens!
An angel? I don't know about that.
Mamori, isn't it time for you to head back to the studio? Ayaha's waiting for you.
Oh, I almost forgot!
Come on, Itsuki, send her off with a good word.
Good luck with the recording. I'll see you later.
Thank you. I'll do my best! Goodbye then.
You don't have to say it like that!
Can you believe him, Itsuki? Barry keeps "forgetting" his charger on purpose so he can borrow Mamori's.
Wh-What's wrong about that!? I'm the founding member of the Mamori Minamoto unofficial fan club!
I'm pretty sure a fan club doesn't really have anything to do with this...
That pure innocence, that heartwarming smile, and that cuteness that just makes you want to protect her...! Mamori is too good - too pure - for this world, and her unofficial fan club will shield her from the world's corruption!
...
Oh, I just heard about that recently. It's the show that Mamori's on, right?
Mhm. It's really doing fantastic in the ratings.
It's all thanks to Mamori. She's the most popular child star on the air!
As you can see, she's getting a lot of fans like...this. What I'd LIKE to do is use her popularity to give her a chance to sing, but...
Now that you mention it... I remember Mamori saying that she wanted to work jobs in which she can sing.
She's a good girl and a hard worker. She does like the job she has...but I'd like to get her some singing gigs.
Mamori makes a great hostess, but she really loves to sing... I can't wait to see her shine onstage as a singer! Which is why, as the head of the unofficial fan club, I swear I'll find something I can do to help her!
Yeah, I noticed...
You'd never believe he used to be that incredible guitarist... You know, he even used to be a Mirage Master.
Wh- Really!?
Yes. But during a battle with a powerful Mirage, he ended up sacrificing all the power he had, and he lost his Mirage...
Barry felt responsible, and he fell into an awful depression... That was about when he quit the band. And then... Well, a lot happened in between, but now he's ended up our instructor.
I never knew Barry had a past like that... So... Since Mamori works with this company, does that mean she's a Mirage Master too?
Mamori's not a Master. She has the potential to be one, however.
Potential? Then does she also know about the Mirages?
No. I haven't told her anything yet.
She does have the aptitude... but I don't know if I want someone that young mixed into this fight. So, Itsuki... if the worst happens, I want you to be there for her. Okay?
Understood.
Oh... it's about time I head out, too. See you later, Itsuki.
Given everything else so far, Barry being a former master isn't much of a surprise. The obsession over Mamori is a little creepy though.
A few days later...
O-Oh no... Now I'm getting all nervous thinking about how many people actually saw me in it...
What're you so anxious for...? You're in show business. The whole point is to get everyone's eyes on you.
Wha-!?
Mamori?
What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
L-Live on TV! Special feature! I've been chosen to be on "Serenade"! It's been my dream to get to perform on it!
Uh... "Serenade"?
"Soulful Serenade"! Um, most people just call it "Serenade." It's an hour-long show on Daitou TV for traditional Japanese ballads, but they want to do a special two-hour show.
Oh, "Serenade" is so amazing! All my favorite artists are going to be performing!
So...you're saying you'll get to perform in this show you really like?
...Barry did?
He said he was friends with someone on the show. Apparently his friend watches "Microwavin' with Mamorin," too!
That's great that you get to be on such a big show... Congratulations, Mamori.
Thank you! Oh, I'm so excited! I have to go to rehearsal now. I'll do my best!
Mamori left the office...
Huh. So Barry does have some connections that are worth a damn. I guess being the president of the Mamori fanclub isn't entirely showboating.
Barry's with her, so she should be fine. I'm sure she's relaxed and enjoying being on the show.
Putting that aside... Itsuki.
Yes?
There's... actually something that we were able to find out during that whole Horinozawa incident. Apparently he started acting differently when he took a job from Daiba TV to shoot some promotional photos.
Daiba TV... That's where I had my audition...
So that network was involved in both cases: Tsubasa's audition, and the incident with Mr. Horinozawa... That's a little suspicious. Do you think Daiba TV is involved in some way...?
Seems plausible. I think there's a good chance the one behind all this is someone within the company.
You think so too, huh? I don't want to jump to conclusions... but we don't exactly have any other leads.
Why would it be a bad thing?
People go in and out of those stations all the time.
Oh, right... That is true...
Then again, we may have our winning ticket here. I'll just have to make sure all our numbers line up first.
quote:
Currently working hard!
I should be able to make it back before Mamori's part starts... but just in case could you record it for me?
So that's our setup for Chapter 3. If "The Next Generation" wasn't subtle enough for you, it's mostly about Barry and his relationship to Mamori, so we'll see how that ends up unfolding.
Anyway, we're given control back here, but it lasts for literally five steps before the next cutscene starts. At least there's a good reason for it this time.
Explaining Myself to the Incompetent
Well, look who decided to make a house call.
So... this is it.
Huh? Y-Yashiro!?
What exactly are you doing here...?
Hm. No sign of her.
Tiki!?
Ah - you mean...the Uta-loid Tiki...?
You know Itsuki, call me crazy but I don't think playing dumb is going to work here.
No. Not the Uta-loid Tiki - the Mirage Tiki. I know Fortuna is hiding her here somewhere.
...What do you want with her?
It's not your concern, and I doubt you'd understand. Explaining myself to the incompetent is a luxury I do not have.
I'm not going to take someone to see my friend if they won't tell me their intentions.
"Friend," is it...? Ludicrous. Hand over Tiki - that is my one demand.
Sorry, but I can't do that.
I see... Then I hardly need waste any more time on you.
There...
I can't believe hiding our secret spirit garden in the closet wasn't a fool-proof plan. How did he see through our cunning security measures?
...What do you plan on doing to Tiki!?
I warn you: do not try to stop me. I can't afford to waste any more of my time on your delusions. If you mean to stand in my way, you shall suffer the consequences!
Wait, what?
Oh. Well then. We could be here for hours dissecting this Nomura-ass outfit, but that's kind of secondary to "Oh yeah, we have to fight Yashiro now."
Yashiro's a Mirage Master too!?
...You will stand down.
No... I refuse to!
So Yashiro is L35 and is a boss in all but name, including getting multiple turns and whatnot.
His primary method of attack is to toss out a pair of Cleaves. He doesn't hit particularly hard, so this is what you want to see whenever possible. After all, he has far more damaging attacks up his sleeve.
Like this one. 
Yeah, he's an event boss you're supposed to lose to. I don't know what the exact trigger is, but it's either a couple turns or knocking off about a third of his health.
Do you simply not understand the difference in our strength? Hand Tiki over. Immediately.
Guh... Everyone all right...?
S-Somehow...
H-He's tough...
Hm. Insufficient, even with Kurono.
Guh...
Who... Who are you? How do you know who I am?
It's me - Yashiro Tsurugi. ...You don't recognize me? We met that day... Five years ago!
I-I'm sorry... I... don't remember... anything.
Nngh...
Big brother!
So... Tiki truly has lost all her memories?
Y-Yeah...
...I see. Then...I suppose it was all for nothing.
For nothing? What do you mean?
...
And with that, he just walks out. It's not entirely clear what this was about or what Yashiro wants, but one thing has been made abundantly clear: Yashiro is *not* our friend.
How did Yashiro know about Tiki...?
He was involved in the disappearance five years ago as well. Although I'm not too clear on the details...
What?
His father, Chikaomi Tsurugi, disappeared onstage. That trauma might be why he only fights alone...
Are our strengths...really that far apart? How humiliating... I thought I'd be evenly matched against Yashiro...but I didn't stand a chance. If I only were stronger...
We just have to do it our way. We'll get stronger together, Kiria, and we'll win next time.
Yeah... Guess you're right. There's no point getting depressed over it.
Suddenly, Ellie runs in. Sure would have been nice to have you here five minutes ago!
I finally found you guys! Something awful's happened!
It sure has, Ellie. 
The "Serenade" studio is being attacked by Mirages!
O-Oh. That's uh, less good. Also yeah, surprise, we're already at the Chapter 3 dungeon.
What the hell!? Itsuki, what do we do?
...Let's head back to the office.
Punching Out the President
Is that who I think it is? 
The recording studio for "Serenade" was Daitou TV...
So a Mirage incident occurred somewhere other than Daiba TV...
Yeah. Looks like we probably shouldn't focus on them after all.
It sure is, Tsubasa. It sure is.
Yeah. There's no mistaking it...
Barry's not a Master anymore...so he must have not been able to stop the Mirage, and it took him over.
This isn't good... Wait, that means that Mamori's also-
She's in danger... She's still at the "Serenade" studio.
I'm worried about them. Let's head to the TV station!
Sounds like a plan!
You too, Ellie?
I'm a Master as well. Or did you forget?
Oh, right... You are...
Wha- Don't tell me you ACTUALLY forgot!?
Anyway, if our friend's in danger, we save them, even if it means punching out the president - THAT's Hollywood! And who knows? Maybe Virion and I will get to show you some flashy sharpshooting archery, too.
I'll be counting on it.
All right, onward to Daitou TV. We're rescuing Mamori!
