It's a Wonderful World of Bugs

How strange... Where did I use up such a huge amount of resources?

What's wrong, Fukahire? Trouble with something?

Oh... Hi, Aldo!

I see ya cleared my game all the way through! Ya really are mighty sweet!

Yeah, this was my first time playing a game, but it was fun.

I see... Wow... Those words hit me right in the feels! Thank ya, seriously.

Sure... But I feel funny being thanked. All I did was play a game.

Heyyy, don't be shy. Besides, I ain't only said it once?

I-I didn't know...

So, Fukahire... Something's troubling you?

Ya, that's right. There's still a big bug I can't find.

A big bug?

Do you mean... the kind with buggy eyes?

Yeah...really big, and serious.

No! Ain't a bug like that!

I did some digging, and there some resources get used up when they shouldn't. It don't compute.

......

I don't really get it... Is there some monster that eats... Reese-horses?

Ya could say so! Aldo, ya understand more than ya think! Maybe ya can help me debug it?

Sure. I just need to find that monster and defeat it, right?

Yeah, but...

It ain't gonna turn into a battle. It ain't the monster-level of a bug. Hasn't eaten that many resources. It's probably in the town or on the field... It's that class of bug.

That's pretty much everywhere! I'll have to wander around a lot.

But...I looked around for so long and couldn't find it. You ain't gonna ever find it the normal way.

It pains me to ask this, but... I'm countin' on ya, Aldo!

What is this place?!

How strange. I didn't enter the game world... But maybe this is the big bug Fukahire told me about?

What should I do? Should I tell Fukahire? But Fukahire said this bug ate Reese-horses...

I guess I'll look a bit more...

Mana... Are you doing well? I truly am a lucky mother, to be able to watch you grow like this.

Mmm... No, I don't see anything out of place.

What's this?

WHERE...?

Hm? Did the light just talk to me?

WHERE...IS SHE... MANA...MOM...IS RIGHT HERE...

Did it just say...Mana?!

Could this be...

(Even so...) (We did use some gray methods to bring Mana here...) (Is this really okay?)

This presence...

Mom? Is that really you?

Wait!

It won't open?!

That's right, Mana! The Castle Town is off somehow. We can't go inside the Castle!

That... That can't be?!

We need to find a way to follow that light!

Huh?! An entrance suddenly appeared?

Now we can go inside! Let's follow it, Aldo!

O-Okay...

Wait! Don't go!

You're Mom, aren't you? Why do you keep running from me?!

...... I DIDN'T...MAKE YOUR... WISH COME TRUE... IN THE END... SO YOU MUST BE... ANGRY WITH ME...

I'm not angry!

Mana! I think you should speak more gently...

I understand, Aldo.

Can you...listen please?

You returned me to the real world, didn't you?

And thanks to you... I'm able to travel the world with Aldo.

DO YOU...MEAN IT?

Yes, I mean it. Thank you, Mom.

I'M SO...RELIEVED... NOW I...CAN TRULY HAVE CLOSURE...

Mom! No! Please, don't go!

TAKE CARE...MANA...

No... Mom!

Mana...

......

I...won't give up!

I will...bring Mom back!

This is...the same Gate as the last! Did you make this one, too?

Mana...maybe you are just like Saki. Having been in a Dream World once before has awakened new powers within you!

I did it! Mom!

Mom! It's me, Mana! Do you remember me?

......

Mana...? How... am I here?

I worked hard to bring you here!

You...have that ability?

Hehehe... Thanks, Mana. You've grown up into quite a strong young lady while I wasn't looking.

You mean it? Hehe, aw, thanks.

Come here, Mana... Let your mother hold you once more.

Sure, Mom!

I truly am so happy...

Well...I've done plenty of research. It's time to report to Fukahire.

Hmmm? So that happened?

Thanks, Aldo! Now I finally know the cause of that bug!

Nee-hee-hee! I think I'll just transform this into the super-hard "Bug Stage"! Maybe the bugs could instantly kill players who've maxed out their levels? Mwahahaha! Oh, what fun for me!

Uh, please go easy on us?

...... Haha, just kiddin'.

What?

If I did make that happen, I'd be interferin' with mother-daughter time, right? There ain't no big bugs! That's what you discovered, Aldo! Understand? The resource-consumption ended in a mystery! I'll take this secret with me to the grave!

That way...this Mana-girl can see her mother as much as she wants.

I'm just like her... I also lost my mother. I know what it feels like to miss her.

Fukahire!

Thanks... I'm sure Mana will be thrilled. Fukahire, you can be pushy sometimes, but you're a really nice person.

Th-That ain't no compliment! I'm busy workin' on the official release of my game anyway! If yer finished, then git out!

Haha! Okay.

I look forward to seeing the finished game. Keep at it, Fukahire.

Mmm... Now it really feels like the Dream World Incidents are finally over.

IDA School, huh... So much has happened here, but I made some precious memories.

I'll come back...even if there aren't incidents to fix. I am a student here, after all.