—Now, let's move on to the magic scene.
Is everyone ready?

Yeah!

Yeah!

Thank you for helping us out today.
We really appreciate it.

It's our pleasure. We owe you all a great deal, after all.

Besides, this is valuable practice for us too, while we wait for the next training period with the Morinomiya Revue.

By the way, do we have the bags of beads for the magic effect?

Ah! I left them in the wings. I'll go get them!

That magic effect is so fun!
All the pretty beads just pouring out of the box!

It's just a hopper hidden by the tablecloth, though. You can even hear it running if you listen closely.

Right. In the story, the protagonist knows he could get found out at any moment, but he's working to make his highly skilled friend's magic look good...

And... Hup☆
I brought the beads♪

Oh, you brought the backups too? Thank you. Weren't they heavy?

Hehehe♪
Not at all! I just lift them like this, and it's totally fine♪

Ah! If you swing them around like that...

Krsssh...?

Aaaah! T-The bags ripped!

Oh, no! The beads are going everywhere!

Oh dear. They've even started rolling backstage...

Let's not just stand and watch it happen!
Come on, start picking up beads!

Ah, Rui, there are some by your left foot there.

Look at that. Well spotted.

I'm so sorry, everyone...

It's okay, Miku! With all of us working together, we'll have them all picked up in no time.

That's right. Besides, it may be my fault to begin with. I may have overfilled the sacks with regard to their tensile strength.

Len... Rui...!

When you have friends, you have the whole world!
I swear I'll make this up to you someday!

Huh, was that...

Hehe. A line from Miku's character, the protagonist's friend, who ends the show having taken a big step closer to his goal thanks to the protagonist's help.

(When you have friends, you have the whole world...)

Now, we're almost done here. Let's make one last push—

“Huh... I don't really get it, but that's cool, I guess.”

Rui? Did you say something?

No, it wasn't me.

“Aw, man. Why's Teach only ever say nice things to Rui?”

“That's just how it is. It's 'cuz he's a genius. That's what my mom says.”

“I wish I was as smart as you, Rui.”

(I know these voices. These are...)

Over there...

Ah, Rui!

“I'm not doing this just because you think it's fun!”

“Yeah! What's wrong with you, Rui?!”

The voices are coming from... There.

Hm? This is some kind of...fragment?
It's glowing...

(We did find those round “fragments of feelings” before. I wonder if this is related...)

Rui! What are you doing over here?

Did you hear those weird voices earlier?

Perfect timing, you two. Could you have a look at this for me?

I found this fragment over here.
Could it possibly be—

Oh...

Whoa, it's bright!

This is...

Perhaps we've wandered into another fragment SEKAI.

Hmm, it does seem kind of similar...

...

This place...is a little creepy...

Yeah... I'm a little scared too...

I can see why.

(The air feels stagnant here...
No, not just stagnant. The very atmosphere is heavy and oppressive.)

(And there's a sharp edge to it...)

It feels like there's someone here stewing in rage.

That's right.

...!

Huh?! Isn't that...?!

Little Rui?!

Well, don't you look like you're having fun.
Nowadays, at least.

When you were always all alone, before.

...

Miku. Len. Do you know what that is?

Um... It's some kind of feeling that's taken form, I think.

B-But it's a bit different from the feelings we know, and the fragments of feelings too...

Don't move from this spot.

Ah, Rui!

Your business is with me, yes?
Could you tell me what it is you want?

...

No, there's no need for that.

Huh...?

Rui?!

Huh? There's...another me?

No, that's not it.
I've...

I've become smaller?!