*Yawn* Morning, Rui.

Hello, Nene.
Thank you for meeting with me so early.

Actually, it's okay since I was planning to practice on my own this morning...

So, what is it that you wanna talk about?

Ah, remember how we agreed to help Tsukasa figure out his character?

Yeah...

(I was totally blown away by Seiryuin's performance...)

(Tsukasa felt the same way... No, he's been practicing opposite her, so he must feel the skill gap even more clearly.)

(But he still refuses to give up...)

So, what do you need me to do?

It's simple.
However, what I'm about to ask of you is likely not going to be easy.

I built this Robo-Phoenix based on the bird robots I made for one of our shows. I'd like you to help me bring her to life.

Bring it to life...?
Wait, that thing's huge!

The birds for that show fit in the palm of your hand. This one's at least three times as big!

Hehe. She should make for a good practice partner in terms of chasing a phoenix around.

I made this one bigger and reinforced her quite a bit so that a person can physically grab onto her.

And don't underestimate her.
After replacing the parts with more lightweight ones and optimizing her performance, she can do significantly more compared to her predecessors.

I've even programmed a new algorithm that should make it much harder to catch her.

So, what do you need me to do exactly? You said you wanted me to help you bring it to life...

I'd like for you to play the phoenix, Nene. I need to take some recordings for Robo-Phoenix.

Wait, me...?

Simple, no?
But difficult at the same time.

Y-Yeah...

(Me...? Playing the phoenix...?)

(But I can't do what she did...)

(I...)

O-Okay, I'll give it a try...
I mean, I did promise to help.

Thank you. I appreciate it...

“How does what feel...?”

(This is how I imagine the phoenix...)

“I think nothing of it.
I have long since gotten used to all that...”

(I feel like I'm capturing how she really feels...)

(But is this gonna be good enough...?)

Nicely done, Nene.
Robo-Phoenix should be ready to use during practice later today.

Sure, you're welcome...

...

Anyway, now that we've finished recording... Oh!

Huh? Hey, she's moving on her own...!

What have I done...?! I was trying to play back the recordings, but powered her on instead!

I'm sorry, Nene.
Could you help me try to catch her?

Alright, fine...

Nene, she went that way!

Got her!
No, she flew away...!

“Oh, done already...?
You sounded so confident about catching me just now.”

(Wait, that line...)

“Too slow.
Honestly, where are you looking? Are you not going to catch me?”

(I sorta feel compelled to keep trying...)

(But it's not her...
All I'm hearing is a person talking.)

...

(As I currently am... I can't do what she can...)

(But I should at least try to sound more like a phoenix by doing what I can to capture how a bird moves and behaves...!)

Ah, that reminds me! I can send her a signal to stop in case of emergencies! There we are.

Huh? How can you forget about something like...?

(No, wait... He wouldn't...
That means he powered her on to...)

Sorry, Rui.
Would you mind if we rerecorded everything?

I'm not happy at all with my portrayal of her. What we have right now isn't going to help Tsukasa much.

Of course I don't mind.
We can keep trying until you feel satisfied.

Thanks...!