Early morning
Nonogi Park
1
Character icon
Nene

*Yawn* Morning, Rui.

2
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Rui

Hello, Nene.

Thank you for meeting with me so early.

3
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Nene

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

4
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Nene

So, what is it that you wanna talk about?

5
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Rui

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

6
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Nene

Yeah...

7
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Rui

To be honest, getting on the same level as Seiryuin as she is now will be incredibly difficult...

8
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Rui

But you still wish to go through with this regardless...?

9
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Tsukasa

Yes...

10
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Nene

...

11
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Nene

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

12
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Nene

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

13
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Nene

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

14
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Nene

So, what do you need me to do?

15
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Rui

It's simple.

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

16
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Rui

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.

17
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Nene

Bring it to life...?

Wait, that thing's huge!

18
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Nene

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

19
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Rui

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

20
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Rui

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

21
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Rui

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.

22
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Rui

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

23
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Nene

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

24
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Rui

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

25
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Nene

Wait, me...?

26
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Rui

Simple, no?

But difficult at the same time.

27
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Nene

Y-Yeah...

28
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Nene

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

29
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Nene

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

30
Character icon
Nene

(I...)

31
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Nene

O-Okay, I'll give it a try...

I mean, I did promise to help.

32
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Rui

Thank you. I appreciate it...

33
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Nene

“How does what feel...?”

34
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Nene

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

35
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Nene

“I think nothing of it.

I have long since gotten used to all that...”

36
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Nene

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

37
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Nene

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

38
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Rui

Nicely done, Nene.

Robo-Phoenix should be ready to use during practice later today.

39
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Nene

Sure, you're welcome...

40
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Rui

...

41
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Rui

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

42
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Nene

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

43
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Rui

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

44
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Rui

I'm sorry, Nene.

Could you help me try to catch her?

45
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Nene

Alright, fine...

46
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Rui

Nene, she went that way!

47
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Nene

Got her!

No, she flew away...!

48
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Robo-Phoenix

“Oh, done already...?

You sounded so confident about catching me just now.”

49
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Nene

(Wait, that line...)

50
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Robo-Phoenix

“Too slow.

Honestly, where are you looking? Are you not going to catch me?”

51
Character icon
Nene

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

52
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Nene

(But it's not her...

All I'm hearing is a person talking.)

53
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Nene

...

54
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Nene

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

55
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Nene

(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...!)

56
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Rui

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

57
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Nene

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

58
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Nene

(No, wait... He wouldn't...

That means he powered her on to...)

59
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Nene

Sorry, Rui.

Would you mind if we rerecorded everything?

60
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Nene

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

61
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Rui

Of course I don't mind.

We can keep trying until you feel satisfied.

62
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Nene

Thanks...!