Huh? What was that light?
Ah! Rui, where are you going?
I'm not going anywhere.
Huh?! S-So you're the Rui we came in here with?
Yes, that's right.
I'm Wonderlands×Showtime's director, Rui Kamishiro.
That being said, what is this phenomenon?
I initially thought I had just shrunk, but now that other Rui looks like I usually do. Which means it's likely more accurate to say that we switched bodies.
It's difficult to say whether this constitutes evidence in favor, but my memories up until now are consistent. I suppose it could be some kind of perceptional manipulation—
Hooray! It really is our Rui♪
Yeah!
My apologies. This is such a fascinating phenomenon that I got carried away.
That's okay! We can definitely tell you're the real Rui.
But why did you turn small?
There are too many unknown factors to hazard a guess right now. I need information before anything else.
First, this place. Do you two know anything about it?
Yes! I think you're right that this place was born from feelings♪
Yeah! It feels more unstable than a SEKAI born from a fragment of a feeling, though...
If I recall, unlike ordinary SEKAI, SEKAI born from fragments of feelings only allow one to connect with their feelings for a short time.
Does that mean that if we wait long enough, we'll be able to return to our own SEKAI?
Sorry, I can't really say. Oh, but!
I do know that the emotions the other Rui was feeling do belong to you!
I see... So this was all born from some feeling within me.
I suppose the next step is to determine what feeling that was.
I'm sure there will be clues somewhere in this SEKAI! Let's go look around!
Right.
Oh, look at this! There's a bunch of photos?
There are lots of little Rui, and lots of bigger Rui too!
Is this one here from a school trip?
This one looks like a sports festival♪
And this one's from Wonder Stage!
(My age, who I'm with, and the locations appear random. The order doesn't suggest a pattern, either.)
(In that case, the content itself is likely what's important.)
Well, don't you look like you're having fun.
Nowadays, at least.
When you were always all alone, before.
(From the way my other self was speaking, I think...)
Yes.
Oh, this one only has Rui in it... Wait, huh?!
These photos all have cracks in them!
(The “cracked” photos are all from the period between elementary school and junior high.)
(But the ones from the same period that show Nene, or my family, have no cracks...)
(It's as though it's denying the times in my life when I felt alone...)
(No. I have it backwards.)
('He' feels as though I, myself, have rejected the person I used to be.)
(And that feeling of rage... His true identity must be...)
I understand now what feelings gave birth to this place.
Really?!
Yes.
This SEKAI was born from my feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Ack!
Rui?!
I'm back...
(The air feels less heavy somehow, too.)
Is it because you understood how the other Rui feels?
I'm glad to see that you understand.
Ah! It's the first little Rui we met... And?
You must be me from junior high, yes?
Hello. Does it make sense to say, nice to meet you?
Hehe. What a strange feeling, hearing that from your own self.
I have no strong attachments to what's happening here, but it's been interesting enough, so I've been watching from the sidelines until now.
I see...
That does sound like me.
Are you not angry anymore?
...
...I thought you'd forgotten.
You have so many friends now, after all.
I've never forgotten. Not once.
I could never forget those long and lonely days.
But...
Your heart keeps on filling up with happy memories with your friends and teammates.
It feels like there isn't any space for us, anymore...
It's true that I don't feel nearly as alone as I used to, thanks to Tsukasa and the others.
But I've never wanted to forget those days, nor do I think I should.
Huh?
It's true that those days left marks that will never fade...
But it's because of them that I know now.
...Just how much of a miracle Wonderlands×Showtime is.
Rui!
Rui☆
Rui!
It was because of those lonely, painful days that I was able to take that step forward.
I didn't want to make the choice that would split us apart.
Even if it would put us on the shortest roads to each of our dreams.
It drove me to search furiously for a way for the four of us to carry onward together. To cling to that miracle we had found.
...
At the very least, I don't believe there's such a thing as a memory one is better off without.
Knowing suffering can make one kinder. Knowing sadness helps you treasure the warmth of a smile.
It's exactly the same.
Knowing loneliness has shown me the value of companionship...
And that Wonderlands×Showtime is my most priceless treasure in the world.
Treasure...
Yes.
You don't have to go anywhere.
You will always have a place here.
...
So... We can stay there?
Because I found a very special treasure.
Mm...
We're back in our SEKAI!
Thank goodness...
Maybe the fragment of a feeling, the little Rui, is a part of you again now♪
I see...
Rui! Miku, and Len!
Where have you been?!
You just vanished!
We've been looking everywhere!
Heeeey! KAITO, everyone!
We found them!
What happened? Are you okay?
I'm just fine.
There was no problem at all.
(Because I have you all.)