Part 29: Episode 29: Dramatic Interlude

Episode 29: Dramatic Interlude

Goodness! I don’t know if we can live up to a title like that. I mean this is just going to be a bunch of silly scenes.
We’ll just have to punch it up or something. Now, on Neptune…



My big syringe? These are common weapons in my particular industry.
Is that true? I thought hospital workers would use something more weapon-like… A scalpel, for example.
Only doctors may use scalpels.
Besides, syringes are easy to use. You can whack, thrust, or inject something into your opponent.
I wouldn’t want to get a shot from the same needle after you stuck it into a nasty monster.
I won’t inoculate you. This medicine is just for bad people.
If you give them a dose of this or even a puff of air, it’s very effective at shutting them up for good.
Th-That was a completely inappropriate comment to make as a nurse!
In short, the syringe is the perfect weapon with a variety of uses. Would you like to see how it feels?
I absolutely refuse.
Teehee. I’m kidding, Ge-Ge. I’ll never give you an injection unless you’re sick or a bad monster.
I’ll be extremely careful no to get sick ever again. I’m pretty sure it’ll be easy to not be a bad monster.

Quick, Rom, act like that scene was all dramatic!
Huh? But Ram, that was just a dumb thing about Compa’s pokey thing.
We’re already losing people, though! And this next one is about fishing!
But…I like fish.



Goodness, again? Aww, she’s the only one getting any bites today.
This is the result of my honest efforts.
Oh, so I just had some beginner’s luck?
Such things can happen, I suppose. Sorry about the other day. I showed an immature side of myself.
Please don’t concern yourself about it. I was a little surprised because I had never seen you in a bad mood before.
Falcom, you must really love fishing.
I do. I was forced into it by someone else at first, but at some point it became my favorite pastime.
You were…forced?
Yeah. A village in the countryside… A girl appears before me, clutching onto a small beginner’s fishing rod.
She was bright and energetic like the sun and sported twin pigtails.
She approached me with caution and after shuffling her feet, blurted out, ‘Why so depressed? Here, try fishing!’
Depressed? I really can’t imagine that.
Do I look that easygoing?
Oh, no, that’s not what I mean at all!

That’s beside the point! I mean look at this, it’s dull as dirt. It’s all Nepgear’s fault, too.
What the goodness?



At the time, I was in big trouble. Lots of life obstacles. Thanks to her and fishing, I managed to pull through.
I see. I’d love to meet this inspirational little girl. Where’s she from?
I don’t remember. My memory’s pretty fuzzy from that time. I even forgot her name.
Still, I’d love to see her again…
How about this? Once we’re done with our journey, let’s both go look for her. I’m interested to meet her, too.
Not a bad idea. The three of us can cast our lines into a babbling brook while sitting just a bit too close together…
I must brush up on my fishing technique before then, or she’ll be upset with me.
Ah-haha. I should try harder, too.

If you were more interesting we wouldn’t have to work so hard at this.



Like I said, Iffy, don’t play with your phone in the middle of a street.
I know. Just one more stage.
Citizen: Hey, move it, short stack.
Bump! Thump!
Gah!
Citizen: Careful, kid!
Whoa!
Are you okay, IF?
I warned you about this.
My cell… It’s broken…
Goodness, the screen is cracked.
…Hic…
W-W-Wait, why’re you starting to sob?
B-Because, without my phone… Without my phone…I can’t…
When her cell phone is taken away, she turns into a helpless crybaby. It happened once before. It’s scary.
Oh…really?
Wahh… *sniff, snort *
Don’t cry, IF! We can take it to a repair shop and they’ll fix it up.
Hmmmmmmm… Thanks, Ge-Ge.
Ge-Ge!?
Okay, to the cell phone store! I’ll hold your hand, Iffy-poo.
‘Kay…
I’m shocked IF got like this. If her phone never gets fixed, will she be this way forever?
No! She needs to get her cynicism and confidence back. Though it’ll be a bit sad to see this version of her go.

G-Goodness! I’m very interesting!



It was your own mistake!
Citizen: Yeah, ‘cuz of your stupid name! Stupid!
Who’s stupid!? Hey, get back here!
Is Gust fighting with someone?
What’re you doing shouting in the middle of the street?
Nothing! He picked fight with me!
That random guy?
Yes. When he heard my name, he lost his cool immediately.
He said our food’s crappy, or something.
You don’t serve food, do you?
Nope. He said I should train better waitresses, he got frozen steak this one time, and so on.
No idea what he was talking about!
F-First, let’s calm down a bit.
Gust must vent her stress somewhere! I’m going to throw a bazillion unis at small animals in nearby forest!
Sounds like some random and unreasonable complaints.
Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gust lose her temper like that.

And it’s not like you’re the only boring one. This’d be way better if it had more of me and Rom.
H-Hey!



In the interest of full disclosure, it’s quite the daunting task to finish all of this work myself.
Then why are you saying that out loud? Are you trying to guilt trip me?
It’s not my intention, though if you feel guilty, perhaps you feel you’re not being helpful, deep down.
W-Well, I can’t help it! I don’t have time for paperwork right now, you know!?
Noire successfully juggled both.
Don’t compare me to my sister.
You’re striving to surpass her, right? Comparisons are inevitable.
Geh…
If that is indeed your desire, you shouldn’t limit yourself to battle training. Widen your regimen to-
Shut up! I know, I know… But right now, my priority is saving my sister.
I meant to encourage her, but maybe that wasn’t the most effective pep talk.
This is far beyond the scope of my duties. Oracles are not meant to be CPU Candidate caretakers.
Perhaps I should consult Lowee’s Oracle on this matter, as she is the expert.

This next scene is totally interesting, I promise!



Let me do it, too! I wanna fight at your side!
I give you my gratitude, sidekicks. Since I’ve been fighting alone until now, it makes me happy to have allies.
All right. As your mentor, it is my duty to impress my apprentice.
Monster: Grrr!
An evil monster! Prepare to be purified!
My body is so light… I’ve never fought a battle with such exhilaration!
I have nothing to fear. I am no longer alone, as I once was long ago…
This shall be the final blow!
Monster: Gwaaah!
How’s that, my heroic entourage? Pretty cool, right?
Nisa, watch out behind you!
Huh?
Monster: Omnomnom! Crackcrackcrack… * the crushing of bone and sinew *
Nisa, no!

A dream! See, this is what I’m talking about!
I-It is sort of lame, Miss Nepgear.



Well, the dream was sort of dumb. But this next scene is pretty funny, I promise!



Buh-whaaaaa!?
Yipes! Goodness!
Oh, Nepgear. You startled me.
That startled me, too. You’ve got an ear-bleeding shriek.
I’m…I’m sorry. I’m so helpless. I thought I’d gotten better lately.
Were you ever more shy than this?
Sure, that’s part of it…
Your power became insurmountable the more you allowed your energy to rise.
When did you get here?
Sheer happenstance. I was nearby and heard a distinct shrill cry. I arrived as quickly as possible.
Shall I regale you with tales of Lyrica’s past shyness?
Yes, that sounds like fun.
Whoa, no! P-Please don’t! That’s so embarrassing!

This is actually looking up, wow.



Um, yes. I’ve heard of it.
It was commonplace at her concerts.
Her new guitars would always get broken onstage. After the show, she would weep and try to repair them with glue sticks.
Wow, I didn’t know music artists were still hardcore enough to do that.
P-Please stop right there! Oh, man…
Another incident made me question her sanity. She became a legend by playing guitar with her teeth for four hours.
Just her teeth?
Literally. She would strum her guitar using her teeth. Biting the strings.
Goodness…wouldn’t that hurt a lot?
I would imagine the pain is agonizing. Afterward, some of her teeth had chipped and she had to see a dentist.
Ugh… Imagining that makes my teeth hurt…
P-Please, I’m begging you to stop… You’re being a huge jerk!
Wh-Whoa!
Ah. Hmhmhmm. Did my innocent teasing cause her too much distress?
I feel kind of bad for her. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
Do not fret. To make true friendships, one must reveal their most embarrassing past adventures to another.
Is that so…

Hey, and you get beat up in this one!
Th-That’s not a plus!



Don’t wander off, Gear.
O-Of course I won’t!
…And I’m lost already. What do I do now? I’m going to be claimed as a lost child.
I have located you. Are you unharmed?
Cave, I’m so glad you found me!
Searching in this crowded area has proven a daunting task. You must cling tightly to us.
I’m sorry. I’m really bad with crowds. Cave, how can you move around in places like this so easily?
I envision crowds of this size as a hail of bullets launched by a novice artillery.
Come, we must rendezvous with the others. I will clasp your hand in mind. Do not let it go.
O-Okay.
Splendid. Let us move. Hah!
What? C-Cave, you’re moving so fast. Goodness!
Clotheslined!
Ouch! I-I’m sorry.
Trample!
Double ouch! You stepped on my toes.
Trample, trample, trample!
This really hurts… I can’t get through here…
Yoink!
Wh-Whoaaa! D-Did someone just pinch my bottom!?
If you speak so much, you may bite your tongue by mistake.
I don’t know what to say to that… Yikes! Ouch, it hurts!

I mean, it really hurt!



Here they are.
What’d I tell you, Gear? Wait, why do you look so worn out?
Yes, why the exhaustion? We merely traversed a small crowd.
Ugh… That wasn’t ‘merely’ anything…

Oh, I almost forgot, there’s something you all need to listen to.



Sure, we can’t make you stick around. You sound like you have some plans.
Yes, I’m hosting my Hi-Five Radio broadcast next week.
A radio broadcast? Are you a celebrity DJ, too?
I guess. Hi-Five Radio is an internet radio program that airs on a pretty infrequent basis.
Still, that sounds so lovely. Wow! I’d really like to listen to it.
It makes me feel a little self-conscious if I know a friend of mine is listening.
Please don’t say that. Tell me how I can listen!
Um,
I’ll write the website’s URL down. There’ll be a release schedule and some contact information and other stuff.
Thank you so much. I’ll listen to your next broadcast.
Um, okay. I have to go now. Stuff to do. See you later.
Her own radio program, huh? Maybe I’ll tell the others to listen in. It’s not fair if I’m the only one.

Oh, cool. And, it looks like we’re done.
Finally! I’m so tired, carrying this is such hard work.
Ice cream.
Agreed! Ice cream, now!
O-Okay. Next time on Hyperdimension Neptunia, Mark Two: Judgment in the Gamindustri Graveyard! Goodness, is this about to get serious?