A few minutes later
Shoebill Habitat

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Minori

Listen

Pardon me!
I'm here to clean your habitat!
2

Schubert

...
3

Minori

Listen

*Wince*
(His gaze feels so cold... But I can't give up!)
4

Minori

Listen

(Anyway, I'm used to cleaning on the animal caretaking committee. I'm gonna surprise Schubert by making this place spotless!)
5

Minori

Listen

Starting with his pool.
He drinks from it, so I need to make it really clean!
6

Minori

Listen

Let's see... I have to drain it first, by pulling this plug...
7

Schubert

...
8

Minori

Listen

Oh, and I can use this water to make everything nice and clean! Two birds with one stone!
9

Minori

Listen

Or two Schuberts with one stone!
Just kidding!
10

Schubert

...
11

Minori

Listen

Oh, he's still staring at me.
12

Minori

Listen

Actually, I think he's been slowly walking towards me...
13

Schubert

...
14

Minori

Listen

I'm sure I'm just imagining things!
Anyway, I need to work on making this place spotless.
15

Schubert

...

Sound Effect: Play

16

Minori

Listen

Huh?!?!
He's so close! Does this mean we're friends now?!
17

Minori

Listen

Y-Y-Y-Yes, how can I help you?!
Why are you poking me with your beak?!?!
18

???

Listen

<Oh, this bird's so big.>
19

Minori

Listen

Huh?
That sounded like...

Sound Effect: Play

20

Luka

Listen

<And it has a lovely beak.
It's so cute how it's poking you, Minori. I'm really jealous♪>
21

Minori

Listen

Luka?!
What are you doing here...?

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

22

Luka

Listen

<After you told us you'd be going to a zoo today, I was curious what animals they have.>
23

Luka

Listen

<So...
I decided to drop in♪>
24

Minori

Listen

O-Oh, okay...!
25

Minori

Listen

Still, you really startled me!
Thank goodness Shiho and Mr. Nakazawa aren't here.
26

Luka

Listen

<I made sure to wait until they were both gone, so don't worry♪ I'll hide when they return.>
27

Luka

Listen

<Also...
This shoebill's name is Schubert, yes?>
28

Luka

Listen

<He looks so big and powerful. I feel like he could gobble me up whole.>
29

Minori

Listen

He probably does look really big right now because of how little you are on my phone.
30

Minori

Listen

I'm sure you heard earlier, but he's really docile! He did start poking me with his beak just now for some reason... But he was as still as a statue when I was feeding him!
31

Luka

Listen

<Yes, you're right.
Even when I popped out, he didn't seem bothered at all.>
32

Luka

Listen

<He may have what it takes to become an idol.>
33

Minori

Listen

Wait, what do you mean?!
34

Luka

Listen

<Even the most experienced idols feel a little nervous when they take the stage, no?>
35

Luka

Listen

<But nothing seems to faze Schubert. His poise is really remarkable.>
36

Minori

Listen

Y-Yeah...!
I could learn a lot from him...!
37

Luka

Listen

<Hehe. At the same time, he'll need to learn how to smile a little more before he can become one.>
38

Schubert

...
39

Minori

Listen

Is it just me or does it seem like he wants to say something to us?
40

Luka

Listen

<Oh, where are my manners?>
41

Luka

Listen

<How inconsiderate of me. I completely forgot to introduce myself before evaluating you like that.>
42

Luka

Listen

<My name is Megurine Luka. Pleased to meet you, Schubert.>
43

Schubert

...
...

Sound Effect: Play

44

Minori

Listen

Huh...?!
45

Minori

Listen

D-Did you see that...?
I think Schubert just bowed to you.
46

Luka

Listen

<Yes...
It certainly looked like a bow.>
47

Minori

Listen

It just looked like one...right?
Although, he—

Sound Effect: Play

48

Nakazawa

Ah, Ms. Hanasato, it seems that you and Schubert have worked things out!

Sound Effect: Play

49

Minori

Listen

H-Huh...? We have...?
50

Nakazawa

Shoebills bow as a display of affection! So if someone he considers a friend bows, he'll return the gesture.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

51

Minori

Listen

R-Really...?!
I didn't know shoebills did that...!
52

Nakazawa

Hehe. Fascinating, aren't they?
There are actually some other things they do to show their affection.
53

Nakazawa

I'll bet he was trying to thank you for cleaning his habitat!
54

Minori

Listen

H-Hehe...
But I'm not sure that bow was meant for me...
55

Nakazawa

No?
56

Minori

Listen

Oh, uhh... I think it just happened to look like a bow...!
57

Minori

Listen

I mean, he didn't eat any of the fish I offered him!
58

Nakazawa

Yes, I gave that some thought...
Shoebills are very careful and deliberate by nature.
59

Nakazawa

Which makes me believe that he was mulling over whether or not he could or would eat your fish, whether he was allowed to eat it yet and so on.
60

Minori

Listen

Y-You think so...?
61

Nakazawa

Yes. When you waved that fish in front of him, I'm guessing he was thinking about how he was actually going to eat it.
62

Minori

Listen

(Yeah... Come to think of it, I think Shiho kept her hand completely still when she offered him that fish.)
63

Nakazawa

In any case, he probably feels grateful that you cleaned his habitat for him.
64

Nakazawa

Try bowing to him now. I'm sure he'll bow back when you do.
65

Minori

Listen

He'll bow back...?
66

Minori

Listen

(I sure hope so...
But I still think that other bow was meant for Luka...)
67

Minori

Listen

(Still!
If there's a chance, even a tiny one, I should give it a try!)
68

Minori

Listen

W-Would you like for us to be friends?!
69

Nakazawa

Hehe. That wasn't quite a bow, but I'm sure he understands.
70

Schubert

...
71

Minori

Listen

(Oh... I guess I can't inspire Schubert...)
72

Schubert

...
73

Schubert

...
...

Sound Effect: Play

74

Minori

Listen

*Gasp*
Grassland Area
75

Shiho

Listen

Minori's taking pretty long...
76

Shiho

Listen

(To be fair, Schubert's habitat is a lot bigger...
I kinda feel bad about making her clean it.)
77

Shiho

Listen

(And he didn't seem too fond of her.
What if he pecked her with that big beak and—)

Sound Effect: Play

78

Minori

Listen

Shiiihooo!!!

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

79

Shiho

Listen

What happened?
You seem really happy...
80

Minori

Listen

Hehehe. Schubert and I are super duper good friends now!
81

Minori

Listen

No, more than friends...
We're totally a crew now!
82

Shiho

Listen

A crew...? Not a word you hear much lately...
83

Shiho

Listen

But hey, I'm happy you're both friends now.
84

Minori

Listen

Me too!
That was so amazing!
85

Minori

Listen

Anyway, Shiho, how'd things go on your end? Are you all done cleaning?
86

Shiho

Listen

Yeah.
It was pretty easy since they were so friendly.
87

Shiho

Listen

And...they were really cute.
88

Minori

Listen

Hehe. That's great to hear!

Sound Effect: Play

89

Nakazawa

Thank you two very much for all your hard work! Both habitats look completely spotless now!
90

Minori

Listen

Oh, Mr. Nakazawa!
91

Shiho

Listen

Thank you for teaching us everything.
I think we both learned quite a lot.
92

Nakazawa

Actually, I was very impressed by how the animals took to you two so quickly. I think you both have what it takes to become zookeepers.
93

Nakazawa

Anyway, this concludes the part where you work with the animals. Please come again to help if you ever get the chance!
94

Minori

Listen

Yes, thank you!
95

Nakazawa

Alright, let's take our break here.
After that, you'll need to head over to the room where you were given the rundown of today's program.
96

Nakazawa

Oh, the second half mostly involves seeing what goes on behind the scenes in the back offices, so you can change back into your normal clothes.
97

Shiho

Listen

Okay.
98

Minori

Listen

Mr. Nakazawa, thank you again!
Next Chapter: Idol Aura Overflow