Himmel On Fire!

Huh? Where'd Himmel go? This sucks. I wanted to film their response to the scandal for my channel!

I'm so disappointed! Hearing Himmel yell in that gruff voice... I can't believe it was all just an act.

So Himmel's a boy after all?

And he's not even gonna address it? You think maybe Himmel will take a hiatus and retire?

My viewers NEED to see this content! Let's search for him on Route 99!

We lost him.

What now?

There's no rush. Let's just wait and see what happens.

Phew, that was close! Those hounds just came out of nowhere!

Himmelites, I can deal with. But hounds? And those gawking leeches? Ugh, I must be allergic to animals.

It's been this way ever since that strangling video leaked online.

My natural, low voice is out there for the whole world to hear. And with it, my cutesy image is in tatters. The whole internet's ablaze with upset fans, haters, and onlookers just here for the spectacle. And now that my address has been leaked online, those stupid time hounds have my house marked. I can never go back to my streaming room. Worse, I can never go back to being Himmel.

But you post videos in other time layers too, right? Why don't you just take a break here...

And hide out in another time layer while things cool off?

Yeah, that's what I usually do when the hounds've sniffed me out. And I don't know if you've noticed, but the cyber pitchforks are out for me right now!

I won't be taking a break in the middle of this firestorm, I've got too much pride for that!

I see... Then what are you going to do?

I just gotta make my natural voice high-pitched again, like it was before my voice broke. Then I won't have to worry about putting on an act or being accused of being fake.

Besides, I really let my Himmelites down with that video. And they'll continue to be let down unless I find a way to make it so I can use that voice for as long as I want.

And you think you can do that?

There's a famous throat doctor with a private clinic in Elzion. He's a specialist in vocal cords and voice quality. Rumor has it he even performed surgery to restore the vocal cords of a patient who wanted to un-break his voice.

Thing is, it's been getting harder and harder for me to do the whole high-pitched voice thing anyway... So I wanna get him to check my throat out and see if he can work his magic on me.

Fair enough. Whereabouts is his clinic?

Theta District. But if you're coming with, you're gonna have to keep a low profile. You were in that video, too.

And just now I got recognized because they recognized you. Do you get me?

Right. I'll be careful, I promise.

Please do... My disguise is absolutely flawless, so follow suit.

(Maybe "flawless" means something different where he's from?)

Great! My voice is gonna be so sweet in my comeback video that even haters will turn into Himmelites!

Okay, I'll call you when you're up!

I really don't wanna be here too long. I hope I get called soon...

Thank you so much!

Hm?

Ah!

Huh? Aldo?

What a surprise! What are you doing here?

Oh, I was just here for a check-up. Gotta make sure my throat's in tip- top shape for tonight's performance!

Who's this? Your sister or something?

No, erm... Where to start...

Ah!

A-Are you...

Are you Himmel?!

Oh, um, ahem! Yeah, that's me! See ya Himmelater!

Oh my goodness, it's actually you!

I'm such a big fan, or should I say, I'm a total Himmelite! I watch all of your videos!

Aww, thank you so much!

You know, you inspired me to start doing videos myself! Me, I mostly sing...

See? This is my channel. I don't have much of a following yet.

Oh, the numbers don't matter! All that matters is if you enjoy it!

Oh, totally! Hey, maybe we could collab sometime?

(Has she SEEN how many subscribers I have? Please, I'm way out of her league...)

Yeah! That would be amazing!

Yay! Thank you so much!

Ciel! Please make your way to the examination room!

Got it!

Huh? But I just saw the doctor?

Oh, I do apologize for the confusion. I meant the Ciel wearing the mask.

Huh?

Your name is Ciel, too? Not Himmel?

Um...our little secret, okay? Wait, you're called Ciel?

You have the same name? What a weird coincidence!

(Is this just a coincidence? But she looks so familiar...) (Is this Ciel me from this time layer? She's definitely a girl though, right?)

(They look too alike for this to be pure coincidence...)

(Are they the same person, just from different time layers?)

(They have the same name and even look kind of similar ... That can't happen very often.)

Ciel?

Y-Yes! I'm coming!

Hmm. I see...

Well?

Well, you certainly won't be forcing yourself to reach a higher pitch for much longer.

Really? That's great. So what happens now?

Your throat has been strained quite badly.

But luckily for you, the inflammation is still in the early stages.

Take this medication and rest up, and your sore throat should get better in no time.

That's great!

However. You can't keep putting on that high-pitched voice forever. The older you get, the harder it will be to reach a higher pitch. You need to start listening to your body.

......

But I don't wanna! That's why I came here in the first place.

Ah. You want me to un-break your voice?

I'm afraid I cannot do that.

Wh-Why not? I thought you were able to un-break people's voices here?

It's true that I was exploring medical procedures for restoring the vocal cords as part of my research.

But the news that I performed such surgery is just a rumor that took on a life of its own. The more I explored the possibility, the more convinced I became that it was not feasible. Such a procedure could cause your respiratory system to shut down under the strain...

Look, I don't care about any of that! Unless I do something drastic, I'm gonna have to stop the high voice.

And if I can't be the Himmel that everybody wants, I might as well be dead. So please, Doctor! Help me!

I'm sorry, but no. My research isn't even tested, let alone safe for patient use.

Then I...

For now, let me prescribe you some medication for that inflammation of yours. Your voice is an important part of who you are. You're going to have to learn to live with the changes.

......

Hey, wait up, Ciel! Don't just grab your medication and run off like that!

Leave me alone!

What's wrong? What happened?

Oh my gosh, I... Oh, forget it! I'm quitting being Himmel!

What? But...

Huh? Is that Himmel?

Oh no, not this again!

Tsk!

Excuse me, coming through!

I've been looking for you, Himmel, the star streamer! Poor thing, you look so lost!

Huh?

Shannon!

Who is this? A friend of yours?

Shannon?! What is going on here?

Wait, your name is Shannon?

I'll explain later, okay?

I've taken a room at a hotel in the Gamma District. How about we go there and talk.

Oh. My. Stars. Miss Elzion AND Himmel?

Are KMS and Himmel gonna collab or something?

You'll just have to wait and see!

This is a valued guest of KMS! Everyone, clear the way!

Okay, let's go.

Thank you so much for your help, erm, what did you say your name was?

This is Shannon, my eldest sister.

Well, it's nice to meet you, Shannon. I'm Aldo.

Thanks for your help, Shannon.

Hey, isn't that Miss Elzion?

Yeah! This is Shannon, my eldest sister.

Your Sister? (...Makes sense, I guess.)

(Heh, dunno what I was expecting...)

Ahem, ahh, my voice...

Oh, you don't have to put on an act for me. It's nice to finally meet you, Himmel!

...Why did you help us?

What else do you expect me to do when I see my dear Ciel's friends in trouble? And...

I saw that video of you strangling that man, and well, what can I say? You got yourself a new fan.

Because of THAT video? What is this, some kinda joke?

Oh, but you were so cool! Anyway, you just try and relax, okay? Lay low for a while.

And don't you worry about that crowd of fans outside the hotel. I'll give them something else to focus on.

Aldo, sweetie, would you mind lending me a hand?

Sure!

......

Sorry for shouting at you before. And for using this crude voice in front of a Himmelite...

Oh, don't be silly! Don't worry about it!

We're off-stream now, so you can be frank with me.

Shannon seems like a good sister.

Yeah, she's the best! I'm so proud to be her brother!

It's good that you get along so well. You both seem so...

Wait, did you just say...brother? BROTHER?!

Y-You're a guy?

Erm? Yeah?

(Same name, same sister's name, same gender. Ciel really must be me from this time layer...)

Hey, erm...

Yeah?

Are you really gonna quit being Himmel?

Yeah. It's hard enough to speak in that high-pitched voice as it is, but one day, it'll be totally impossible. I had hoped to get treatment to un-break my voice, but it turns out that's not an option.

......

You're not gonna believe me, but I come from another world.

Huh?

When I came to this world, I was fascinated with the idea of streaming and making videos... So I started streaming as the cutest, most charming version of myself I could be. Enter Himmel. But part of Himmel's charm is that cute, squeaky-high voice. Everyone accepted Himmel, and 'cause of that, I was able to find my place in this world.

But now...without maintaining the image of the Himmel everyone expects, I feel like I have no purpose or place here.

If nothing else, no one wanted to see Himmel talking gruff and choking fans like I was in that video, did they? No one needs that Himmel.

That's not true! I thought it was cool what you did.

It was obvious to me that you were just trying to help that Himmelite. Sure, maybe that video wasn't what people wanted, but that doesn't mean nobody sees what you have to offer!

Easy for you to say...

How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot?

When the time comes for your own voice to drop, will you embrace the change so readily?

Huh?

Think of all those songs you won't be able to sing once you can't hit the high notes. You'll lose some of your appeal, don't you think?

How're you gonna deal with all those people who want the old you, and the old songs?

I-I'll accept it! Maybe my old songs will stop, but there'll be new songs a lower range will open up!

I'll just have to do my best to make sure everybody likes the new me.

......

I wish I could be like you.

Huh?

You're right, of course you are. But only someone who's truly loved, who's truly happy could think like that.

Only someone confident that any changes will be embraced with open arms could think like that.

......

Where are you going?

The crowd'll have gone by now. I need some time to myself.

...... Is there nothing I can do for Himmel? As a Himmelite...I wish there was something I could say...

...... *sigh* (A new me, huh...) (I get what they were trying to say, but...)

Found you, Ciel.

Tch! Talk about bad timing! Oh, go pester someone else, you filthy hounds!

Darn!

You filthy animals! Manipulating the synths' memories to make them obey? That's pretty low.

That godforsaken place is NOT where I belong!

What did you just say?

You absolute...

(Wrong? Yeah, I guess it is...) (I was born in a world with no entertainment. How could I ever expect to entertain anybody?) (That's what's causing this whole mess.) ......

Wait!

Ciel! Are you okay?

Aldo! And you two! What are you doing here?

Your Himmelites in town told us you were being chased. They said to look for you here.

Oh...

Even at a time like this, your Himmelites are so worried about you!

And...look!

Hm? What is this?

I, um...I wanted to help you somehow. So I set up a crowdfund!

It's called the "Himmel Comeback IRL Event"!

What?!

You said to me that I was only confident because I knew I was truly loved and accepted.

And I wanted you to know that there are people out there who still love you, no matter how you change.

But I never asked you to do that! Why would you do that?

I'm so sorry! But look! The page was so popular, we exceeded our goal in the first half hour!

And you got so many messages, see? "I'm loving the low voice!" "That fan was so lucky!"

See? Everybody's waiting for you, whatever form that may be.

Haha... What is wrong with my Himmelites?

Ciel, do you remember when you said to me... "Every one of my Himmelites dreams of me, and thanks to them, I am able to dream."

Maybe this is them letting you dream?

Aldo...

Oh, and there's something else I wanna apologize for!

I know I said I'd be fine with my voice dropping, but the truth is...

I'm totally terrified of it happening! I'm sorry for acting all tough when I'm really not.

......

Teehee...

I guess that settles it.

It's my job to encourage and embolden my Himmelites. Whether my voice is high or low...

I'll be the most attractive and charming Himmel I can be! And all those Himmelites who were appalled by that video, I'll make 'em fall in love with me all over again!

'Fraid so. It's time for me to take a stand. No more threats from that rotten time layer, no more haters, and no more stupid puberty!

(What the? Isn't that my obsessed fan from the other day?)

ACK!

Thank you! You really saved my skin!

(Haha... I think I know who that might be.)

(Hmm... someone helping from the shadows, eh? Interesting...)

Thanks, you guys. And Ciel... I'm sorry for what I said...

Don't sweat it! I was pretty careless with my words as well...

I'm just glad you got the message the Himmelites and I were trying to convey!

Now, about this whole comeback event...

Ah, my Himmelites will be waiting! Time to make some dreams come true!

Right!

Teehee...

But you know, you really owe me one now. Maybe you could make it up to me by plugging KMS at your event?

WHAT?

There's so many people!

I know! It's making me nervous.

What a crowd! Looks like there's no risk of having to cancel the event...

But can I just say one thing?

Oh, erm... Maybe you should say it to the crowd instead.

*sigh* Fine. Here goes nothing!

Oh my gosh, you guys! Thank you so much for coming!

HIMMEL! You're baaack!

So, um...

Are you guys willing to accept me for what I am?

ABSOLUTELY!

Yay, thank you! But I'm gonna keep doing this cute, high-pitched voice as long as I can!

Well, sometimes I might slip into my cool, low tone...

Like so...

Oi! Listen up if ya know what's good for ya! Lemme welcome you to the Choke Party!

Brave name choice, Ciel.

H-Hey, don't look at me!

The Himmelites all seemed to love that choking video...and, well, one thing led to another...

Screw handshakes, I know what you all want!

Oh, you think this is fun? Do you even know how much I've been through? ...Hehe.

I can't believe... Welp! I mean, you all are asking for it, so...

Ahem!

Looks like I'm choking all my Himmelites!

Hey, guys! How's everybody doing? Guess what? I have a special guest joining me today! Look who it is!

Hey there all my Himmelites!