Wonderland SEKAI
1

Doggie Plushie

C'mon! I can do better than this!
2

Kitty Plushie

No, it's too dangerous...!

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

3

KAITO

Listen

I see... So that's what brought you here.
4

Rui

Listen

Yes.
I'm at a loss as to what to do.
5

Rui

Listen

I'm not consciously holding back or anything either...
6

KAITO

Listen

Holding back...?
Has this ever happened before?
7

Rui

Listen

No, not really.
8

Rui

Listen

If anything, I've always done the opposite.

Sound Effect: Play

9

Little Rui

Listen

And for the finale, we'll all jump down from the wall. How does that sound?
10

Friend A

It does sound fun... But it also seems a little dangerous.
11

Friend B

I don't want to end up getting hurt or anything...
12

Little Rui

Listen

But it's going to be fun...! Everyone watching will love it and we can even place a trampoline for us to land on!
13

Friend A

Ask someone else.
I'm not doing it.
14

Friend B

Me neither. If I get hurt, my mom will get so mad at me.
15

Little Rui

Listen

Oh...
16

KAITO

Listen

That paints a vivid picture...
17

Rui

Listen

There were a few kids who would get excited about my ideas.
18

Rui

Listen

But sooner or later, even they became fed up with me.
19

Rui

Listen

It kept happening again and again. Eventually there was no one left that wanted anything to do with me.
20

Nene

Listen

...
21

Junior High School Nene

Listen

Rui...
22

Junior High School Rui

Listen

Oh, Nene.
It's been a while...
23

Junior High School Rui

Listen

I heard you're going to be the lead for a show. Congratulations!
24

Junior High School Nene

Listen

Oh, yeah. Thanks.
25

Junior High School Nene

Listen

And, um... How are you...?
26

Junior High School Rui

Listen

I'm working on a solo project... But I haven't found anyone else like you that's willing to help.
27

Junior High School Nene

Listen

Oh, I see...
28

Junior High School Nene

Listen

Then would you like to join the troupe I'm in...?
29

Junior High School Nene

Listen

I mean, uh...
30

Junior High School Rui

Listen

Hehe. It's nice of you to invite me, but there's no need to pity me. I'm doing okay on my own, and it's for the best anyway.
31

Junior High School Rui

Listen

I've got to go. I still have plenty of work left for my show. Good luck with yours, Nene.
32

Junior High School Nene

Listen

R-Rui...
33

Nene

Listen

I know you're actually very considerate of others. I know this for a fact...
34

Nene

Listen

Your ideas sometimes sound crazy, but you take steps to make sure they're safe.
35

Nene

Listen

As long as they trust you and follow your instructions, they'll be fine. I know this because we used to try your ideas when we were little.
36

Rui

Listen

Hehe. Thank you, Nene.
37

Rui

Listen

These shows mean everything to me. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you, Tsukasa and Emu having fun while bringing what I wrote to life.
38

Rui

Listen

That's why the thought that I'm holding back doesn't make sense to me.
39

KAITO

Listen

Yes, I understand.
40

KAITO

Listen

Rui, you feel like you've found a place where you belong.
41

Rui

Listen

Huh?
42

KAITO

Listen

You finally found a group of friends who let you unleash your full potential. Isn't this how you feel?
43

Rui

Listen

Well...

Sound Effect: Play

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

44

Tsukasa

Listen

But you need to challenge yourself to make extraordinary performances! And I aim to be the world's greatest star!
45

Tsukasa

Listen

If it's for the sake of entertaining my audience, I'll pull off even the most dangerous stunts with elegance and grace!
46

Tsukasa

Listen

If it's to put on a good show, then I'll do anything!
47

Tsukasa

Listen

Aaargh!!

Sound Effect: Play

48

Rui

Listen

...!!
49

Rui

Listen

...
50

KAITO

Listen

It looks like you've figured it out.
51

Rui

Listen

Yes...
It started with that accident.
52

Rui

Listen

On a subconscious level, I must have been so afraid that Tsukasa would start hating me and leave, like everyone else did...
53

Rui

Listen

Somewhere along the way, I started to press the brakes out of not wanting to lose what took me so long to find...
54

Rui

Listen

I'm honestly surprised.
This never occurred to me...
55

Rui

Listen

Hehe...
56

Rui

Listen

I disappointed my friends, who are working so hard, over these fears. I let them down as their director...
57

KAITO

Listen

Rui, your concerns are nothing to be ashamed of.
58

KAITO

Listen

I'd like you lot to hear about this too.
59

Plushies

Us?
60

KAITO

Listen

You genuinely love these shows, so it's only natural that you'd want to preserve this place you've found.
61

KAITO

Listen

Of course, nobody wants to see their friends get hurt in the process.
62

KAITO

Listen

But you all share the same goal of wanting to put on great shows that will delight your audience.
63

KAITO

Listen

Which is why it becomes important to find a balance, so that you can all move ahead together.
64

KAITO

Listen

I'm sure Tsukasa will understand where you are coming from.
65

Nene

Listen

I think so too...
66

Nene

Listen

We can find a way to work things out.
I'm sure Tsukasa will come around too.
67

Nene

Listen

He's kind of a nutcase.
A show maniac if that even makes sense.
68

Nene

Listen

But I mean... You're one too, right?
69

Nene

Listen

I doubt he'll turn his back on you like this.
70

Rui

Listen

Hehe...
I really have found something special.
71

Rui

Listen

Which is why I need to make sure you guys can count on me.

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

72

Emu

Listen

Tsukasaaa! Calm down already...!
...Bwargh!

Sound Effect: Play

73

Emu

Listen

Ugh... Don't stop so suddenly like that...!
74

Tsukasa

Listen

Emu, please tell me....
75

Emu

Listen

Hm?
76

Tsukasa

Listen

Do you think Rui's shows are good?
77

Emu

Listen

Yeah! I LOVE them!
78

Emu

Listen

They remind me of Grandpa's shows!
79

Emu

Listen

Like they're super exciting from start to finish, and make you feel all fuzzy inside!
80

Tsukasa

Listen

Exactly, I like that about them too.
81

Tsukasa

Listen

And that's why I got so angry...
82

Tsukasa

Listen

The four of us teamed up to create shows that are fun for everyone, but it was like Rui forgot what we were trying to achieve...
83

Tsukasa

Listen

Well, it's not entirely his fault...
84

Tsukasa

Listen

If that accident never happened, Rui wouldn't be like this now.
85

Emu

Listen

Huh...?
86

Emu

Listen

You mean you weren't just mad at Rui?
You were mad at yourself too?
87

Tsukasa

Listen

Of course! I still am too! I killed the director's confidence, didn't I? I'm not a star, I'm a disgrace!
88

Tsukasa

Listen

A real star inspires their director to entrust them with any role! To unleash their imagination and try new ideas!
89

Emu

Listen

Hehe♪ There's the Tsukasa we all know and love!
90

Tsukasa

Listen

Hm?
91

Tsukasa

Listen

Anyway, this is what I'm going to tell Rui tomorrow. The last time we spoke, I was at a loss for words...
92

Emu

Listen

Yeah! I'm sure he'll hear you out!
Next Chapter: Everything We've Got