Dear My Fellows - 1: Signs of Growth?

Wonderland SEKAI

Harbor

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1

Tsukasa

N-Noooooooo!!

2

Tsukasa

We failed again...

3

Tsukasa

I saw this coming...
But it seems that we're still not able to reach Star Island.

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4

Rui

We were able to get slightly closer than before, but we couldn't fight that current we encountered...

5

Emu

Yeah, it was like a rip-roaring tide!

6

Rin

But the Pegasus Special Deluxe Wonder tried super duper hard to fight it...

7

Nene

Seriously, we're really sticking with that name...?

8

Tsukasa

Hmm... Shunmeiza, Mikazukigumi and the Morinomiya Revue...

9

Tsukasa

I was under the impression that we'd grown at least a little after training with such renowned troupes...

10

Len

Cheer up...!
I know you've grown a ton, Tsukasa!

11

Tsukasa

I appreciate you saying that...
But that doesn't change the fact that we haven't even been able to catch a glimpse of that island.

12

Tsukasa

Which means the road to Star Island is going to be a long and treacherous one.

13

Rui

Yes, we may not be able to cross the sea, but this city may have undergone some changes...

14

Nene

Huh?

15

Rui

I also believe that we've all grown after training with those other troupes.

16

Rui

So, the possibility of changes occurring within SEKAI isn't zero.

17

Luka

I agree.
Another city might have appeared somewhere without us immediately realizing it.

18

Emu

Oh, does that mean we'll get to meet lots and lots more new plushies?!

19

MEIKO

Hehe. That'd be lovely!

20

KAITO

Then, why don't we try visiting the city?
The plushies there may be able to tell us something.

21

Tsukasa

Agreed.
Asking around town seems like an excellent idea!

22

Tsukasa

Let's get off the ship and... Hm?

23

Nene

What's wrong?

24

Tsukasa

Oh, it's just...
That part of the harbor seems unusually crowded.

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25

Rin

Hey, he's right!
A bunch of plushies are gathered over there! What do you think is going on?

26

???

Stop right there! Quit resisting arrest!

27

Monkey Plushie

No, you caught me...!

28

???

Alright, now you're going to tell me what you were doing to that tree over there!

29

Tsukasa

Wh-What's going on?
That plushie's talking like...

30

Robo-Nene

Someone from the Edo period... He is even holding a jitte... Based on his attire, he must be...

31

Rui

A detective.

32

Emu

Wow, he even has an adorable little topknot☆

33

Nene

Is this happening because of the detective story we did with Mikazukigumi...?

34

KAITO

That's certainly a possibility. However...

35

KAITO

They seem to be arguing about something, so why don't we try talking to them for a bit?

36

KAITO

I see... You were chasing after our monkey here because you thought he was doing something to the tree by that ship.

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37

Tsukasa

But that was all a big misunderstanding?

38

Monkey Plushie

*Nod*
That tree looked different from usual, so I was just worried...

39

Detective Plushie

I'm sorry...
I ended up chasing you because I'd convinced myself that you were the culprit.

40

Rin

Wait, what do you mean about the tree looking different? Can you tell us more?

41

Detective Plushie

It looked covered in black and rock hard!

42

Miku

Covered in black... And rock hard...?

43

Detective Plushie

It'll be faster just to show you...
Come with me, everyone.

44

Emu

Okay, let's go!

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45

Tsukasa

Wow...

46

Tsukasa

It's become black all over...!

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47

Miku

Wh-Wh-Wh-What happened...?!
All the leaves and branches are wilted!

48

Luka

And these black flecks...
They look like fragments of some kind.

49

MEIKO

Yes, not only that...

50

MEIKO

They sort of resemble fragments of feelings.

51

Nene

Oh, now that you mention it, they kind of do... But they also seem a little different...

52

KAITO

...

53

Emu

Hey, Rui, what do you think we should do about the tree turning all black...?!

54

Len

Oh, that's right.
Rui's on that committee that takes care of plants!

55

Rin

Tell us what to do!

56

Rui

Well...

57

Rui

If a plant's roots aren't doing so well, one might adjust the amount of moisture in the soil... But this appears to be a different situation entirely.

58

Rui

I'm not sure if what I know applies to plants in SEKAI, but let's take a closer look and...

59

KAITO

Wait, Rui, you shouldn't touch it...!

60

Rui

Huh?

61

Tsukasa

Whoa!!
What's happening?!

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62

Miku

Oh no!
Y-You guys!

???

Next Chapter: Setting Out