Beach
Nene
(Wh-What's Yuka Kazamatsuri doing in a place like this...?!)
Nene
(I... I really want to talk to her but... What should I do?! I'd hate to interrupt if she's in the middle of practice or something...!)
Nene
(Geez... I'm so nervous, I'm getting drenched in sweat...!)
Yuka
Again, can I help you?
You've been staring at me for a while now.
You've been staring at me for a while now.
Nene
Huh?!
Nene
I...!
I... Uh, th-that is...!
I... Uh, th-that is...!
Yuka
Hehe. I like your outfit. It's very cute.
You look just like a mermaid.
You look just like a mermaid.
Nene
Huh? I, um...!
Nene
(I was so busy cleaning up that I forgot to take this thing off...!)
Yuka
Wait, it sounded like somebody was putting on some kind of performance just now too... Were you by chance a part of that?
Nene
Y-Yes! Yes, I was!
Nene
I, uh... I work as a cast member for an amusement park called Phoenix Wonderland, and my troupe performed here today as its ambassadors...!
Yuka
You're a cast member for an amusement park? That must be quite a bit of fun!
Nene
Th-Thank you very much...
But more importantly...
But more importantly...
Nene
What are you doing in a place like this, Ms. Kazamatsuri? I thought you weren't supposed to return to Japan until much later...
Yuka
Hm?
Oh, you know who I am?
Oh, you know who I am?
Nene
Y-Yes, of course!
I... I've been a huge fan since I was little...
I... I've been a huge fan since I was little...
Yuka
You are? Really?
Yuka
Hehe.
I never imagined that I'd meet one of my fans way out here.
I never imagined that I'd meet one of my fans way out here.
Yuka
I was actually just practicing for my performance for that return to Japan you just mentioned, and staying here in the meantime.
Nene
Oh, I didn't realize that...!
Nene
I promise to go and see your show!
I'm really looking forward to it!
I'm really looking forward to it!
Yuka
Hehe. Thank you very much.
Good luck to you too.
Good luck to you too.
Nene
Th-Thank you...!!
Nene
I still can't believe that I'm talking to you right now, Ms. Kazamatsuri...
Nene
It's just that... You're the reason I decided to try to become an actress, Ms. Kazamatsuri...
Yuka
Because of me?
Nene
Yes! My dream is to become an actress who can touch people's hearts by singing just like you...!
Nene
Your performance in the Little Mermaid ten years ago is still one of my absolute favorites!
Yuka
The Little Mermaid from ten years ago?!
Hehe. That really takes me back.
Hehe. That really takes me back.
Yuka
That was actually the first time I landed the lead for a show. I managed to win the part but still didn't have much experience.
Yuka
But really I'm glad that you liked my performance so much...
Nene
I really did! I joined a children's theatre group right after that to learn how to sing like you!
Nene
There were some points where I felt like giving up...
Nene
But now, I'm doing shows at one of the stages in Phoenix Wonderland!
Yuka
That's wonderful.
Hehe. It's almost as if us meeting like this isn't just a coincidence.
Hehe. It's almost as if us meeting like this isn't just a coincidence.
Yuka
By the way, how long are you here for?
Nene
Us? Well, we're here for three days, so until the day after tomorrow, and we're doing two shows each day at 11 am and 4 pm.
Yuka
Then I might just be able to catch your last performance!
Nene
Wait, does that mean...?
Yuka
Do I need to buy tickets for your show?
If so, I'd like to buy some right now.
If so, I'd like to buy some right now.
Nene
N-N-No, that won't be necessary!
It's free to begin with and making you go out of your way to buy tickets doesn't seem right...!
It's free to begin with and making you go out of your way to buy tickets doesn't seem right...!
Yuka
Oh, then I should be able to head straight over after I'm done practicing. By the way, your name is...?
Nene
N-Nene!
My name is Nene Kusanagi!
My name is Nene Kusanagi!
Yuka
Hehe. I'll be looking forward to your show, Nene.
Emu's Voice
Neneee! Where are you?
Nene
Oh...
Yuka
Ah, that must be your friends.
Break a leg tomorrow, okay?
If you'll excuse me...
Break a leg tomorrow, okay?
If you'll excuse me...
Nene
Y-Yes, we'll do our best...!
Emu
Aha, there you are!!
Nene, I just finished cleaning up so I decided to come and get you...
Nene, I just finished cleaning up so I decided to come and get you...
Nene
Emu...
Emu
Nene?
Nene
Wh-What do we do, Emu...?!
She's coming to see our last show...!! What do we do...?!
She's coming to see our last show...!! What do we do...?!
Emu
W-W-Wah?!
N-Nene, please! Try to calm down!
N-Nene, please! Try to calm down!
Tsukasa
You actually talked to her?!
Rui
Well, they say truth is stranger than fiction.
Rui
Nene, that's so amazing.
What did you talk about?
What did you talk about?
Nene
I told her that I've been a big fan since she performed as the Little Mermaid and how we'll be doing our show for a couple more days.
Nene
Th-Then...
Emu
She's coming to see our show, right♪
Tsukasa
No way!!
Nene
Yes way... She said she'll try to catch our last performance...
Tsukasa
Then, that's great!
What an incredible opportunity! We get to perform for your hero!
What an incredible opportunity! We get to perform for your hero!
Robo-Nene
Let's do our best, Nene!
Tsukasa
Agreed!
Our show's going to make her smile from ear to ear!
Our show's going to make her smile from ear to ear!
Emu
Yeah!! It's gonna be super duper maximum wonderhoy!!
Tsukasa
Alright, let's do a quick debrief to make sure tomorrow goes even better than today! I'm sure we all found some things challenging being away from home like this.
Rui
I agree. I believe we can make the final scene more dramatic by having a slightly stronger fan creating wind for us.
Emu
Oh, I wanna make a bigger splash with everyone during the last dance scene too!
Nene
Hehe...
Nene
(I can always count on the three of them.)
Nene
(They were willing to go with my idea, so I need to keep doing everything I can for them too.)
Nene
(I want more people to come and visit our park. I want the audience and Ms. Kazamatsuri to smile and laugh. As ambassadors...)
Nene
Let's do our absolute best...!
Next Chapter: A Disastrous Final Show