As We Change

The concert's been canceled?

I'm sorry, even we don't know what's going on yet. All we know is Genakamla suddenly decided to cancel today's concert...

Such a last-minute decision... I wonder what happened.

Who knows. What timing too, the whole Remulia Ruins thing had just cleared up...

You think Delamair's gonna launch another attack or something?!

Hey, did you hear why the concert was canceled?

Huh?

Yeah, I heard the drummer Horgclun quit the band.

I wonder what happened to make him leave so suddenly...

Creative differences, maybe?

Whatever the reason, it's a real bummer. I can't believe we'll never see the three of them perform together again...

Did you hear that?

Yeah... But I can't believe Clughorn would ever leave Paradream!

Maybe it's because of what happened...

I'd believe it. He's harder on himself than anyone else. If he feels responsible for the god faction, forget Paradream, he might even leave the Chrono Clan...

......

I'm sorry, Mildy. I'm sorry, Kam. I know that leaving the clan isn't enough to make amends for what happened. But I must take responsibility for what I've done.

Heh... Come to think of it, I don't even know where to go now. I have nowhere to be and nowhere to return to. Wandering aimlessly is my only calling now.

Hey, you there.

Huh?

I knew it was you!

Long time no see, Cluggy.

Huh?!

You...

Talk about an unwelcome blast from the past, right?

That's right! I'm your old classmate.

Or...was, I guess.

......

Yes...I remember you. How could I forget? After how you treated Mildy.

Yeah, understandable. And look, I realize there's nothing I can say now that will make up for what I did. But hey, maybe it gives you some satisfaction to see how far I've fallen.

Weren't your parents executives at KMS?

Yeah, that's right. I used to use their authority to boss everyone around.

But after that incident, my parents disowned me. I lost my home, and my bright future as the eldest son of an elite family.

But when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose! So it's not all bad.

......

I am sorry though. Back then, I felt like I was being crushed by the weight of my parents' expectations. I felt like my only outlet was to pick on someone lower down the chain than me.

I'm sure you had your reasons. But that won't earn you my forgiveness. You got what you deserved as far as I'm concerned.

That's fine, I don't expect you to forgive me. So what are you up to these days? I heard that you joined some sort of organization...

No, I'm like you now. I have nowhere to go. I am a man who's lost his purpose and lost his place in the world.

Wow, is that so? Hard to believe Mr. Popular could ever lose that much. 'Specially considering your crazy powers.

......

Well, I won't pry. If you're at rock bottom, you're at rock bottom.

Listen, why don't you come with me?

You can't be serious?

Hey, I'm not gonna force you. Just that you've hit some hard times, right? I can tell by the look on your face that you're just another loser like me.

...Pardon the phrasing, but if I have anything in common with you, I must have truly fallen far from grace.

No hard feelings. It's kinda like fate that we're running into each other, don'tcha think? And I can show you a good time. Of course, if you keep your complaints about my methods to yourself.

...... The old me would have refused you no question...

But fine. I will accompany you.

Heheh. That's the spirit. Off we go, then. We're heading to the surface, to Angal.

Angal? Why would you want to go there?

And come to think of it, how do you even know about Angal?

When your parents are KMS execs, you get to hear all kinds of juicy secrets.

Fine...whatever.

Man, what a dump! They weren't lying; that contamination sure did a number on the surface, huh? But you know, that makes it the perfect place for a street rat. It's probably not so bad, living here.

What?!

Who're you callin' a street rat? You take that back!

What's this, a little beast kid? Never seen one before.

Livin' here ain't easy, but we're proud of it! Cowards who abandoned the surface and ran away to the sky don't have no right to insult us!

I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.

Hmph! I dunno why you're here, but don't go wanderin' off outta town. You'll get yourselves killed from contamination.

Oops, I totally screwed up there. I really didn't mean any offense.

If you truly wanted to turn over a new leaf, you'd learn to choose your words more wisely. Why did you do it?

I told you, the pressure of my fam...

No, not that. Why did you target Mildy?

I was scared. When she looked at me, it was like she could see right into my heart. Like she'd exposed my rotten nature.

She always kept her distance from others for that exact same reason. But that's no excuse to gang up on someone and hurt her.

I know that. After you gave up your chance at a diploma to beat some sense into us... The school found out about the bullying, my parents disowned me... And everyone I thought was my friend abandoned me. And that's when I realized. I'm a worthless piece of trash.

......

But...still... Am I really the only one to blame for how my life turned out?

Where are you going?

Out of this settlement. You coming with me?

To the Wasteland?

Wait! How far are you planning to go?

We're almost there. The contamination isn't that bad around here.

Look, if you have a death wish, I'm not going to stop you. But if you go any further, you'll be exposed to high levels of contamination.

If you're scared of dying, you can keep your mouth shut and hightail it on home. You hate my guts, anyway.

......

You've never once looked me in the eyes. You've never even called me by my name.

No, just hearing your name makes me want to throw up. Why did you bring me here? To join you in your suicide mission?

Hey now, I never forced you into this. You tagged along of your own volition. I mean, you've lost everything too, right? Just the same as me.

Don't you wanna leave your mark on the world, Cluggy?

My mark? What are you talking about?

This is the only way now. The only way for failures like us to be special.

Wait, do you mean...

Follow me, turn back, it's your choice. Just don't get in my way.

The only way to be special... I suppose such thinking has always had a grip on me.

In the end, I...

I can't see him anywhere. But the boy definitely said they went into the Wasteland.

Yeah, where could he be?

Is that...Amy?

And Aldo? You followed me?

Clughorn! You went out there?!

What were you thinking?! Don't you know how dangerous it is out there?!

Who are they? Are they your friends, Cluggy?

Yeah, we are. We heard you left the Chrono Clan, so we came looking for you. Why did you go to the contaminated zone? And are you doing okay? Are you feeling unwell or anything?

My health is the least of my issues. What you should really be worrying about... Is why would a person who's lost everything risk his life to go to the contaminated zone?

What do you mean?

Oh...

Hey, stop giving the game away! Let's go!

If you will excuse me.

Wait! Are you really...

Do you know what they're up to, Amy?

I don't know for sure... But Clughorn definitely wasn't acting like himself just now.

Really? He seemed the same to me... But the guy he was with sure had an air of desperation about him.

I hate to even think about it, but if we assume the worst...

No way!

Let's go after them! They should be back in Eeza!

Did you see that guy?

I know, eww! What a total mess! Probably a vagrant, the vile creature...

Scum like him shouldn't be allowed in this beautiful city. They should just do us all a favor and disappear.

Heh. Did you hear that? They think I should just disappear. Do you think they'd still say that if they knew I was the son of KMS executives?

Judging others based on prejudices and preconceptions is an appalling way to live. And you were once guilty of the same crime. What goes around, comes around.

Ugh, you really won't drop that, will you? I already said I was sorry, okay? Now can you please stop scolding me when I'm about to have my moment of triumph?

You're really going to go ahead with this? You're really going to release the contamination into the city?

Oh relax, no one's gonna die. Such a tiny amount will just disperse into the air without causing any harm. Well, except to us. Since we were exposed to the radioactive material down there, there's no saving us.

Ah, you realized that, huh?

I may not look like it, but I know a thing or two. Anyway...I figured I could spook the jerks who made a fool outta me and left me to rot.

I'm gonna teach them what a failure like me is capable of. It's the only way I can prove my stupid life had a special meaning. Even if it's as petty as this.

......

Well enough talk. Time for some action.

...I'm glad I got to see you in the end, man. Y'know, Cluggy... There's something I've been wanting to tell you...

I'm afraid we can't always get what we want.

Huh?

You see, I've actually been to Angal before.

By the way, where are those Imp Clan guys, anyway?

You'll find their stronghold if you leave Angal and go deeper into the Wasteland, in a place called the Contaminated Pit.

The Contaminated Pit, huh? Well, let's get going!

Be careful, Amy.

We'll pray for your safety.

I hate that we have to leave such an important mission to them.

I know, but if we can't use our ESP out here, we have no choice.

But perhaps we could find a way to make ourselves useful in the contaminated zone.

Okay, leave that to me. I'll look for a way to neutralize the effects of contamination.

I got this device from a certain organization. The range is limited, but it can neutralize contamination on the surface. I used it when we were walking through the Wasteland. In short...

Those contaminants have already been purified. You and I are as healthy as ever.

You...tricked me?

Oh, I get it. This is how you get your revenge! You wanted to get back at me for bullying Mildy!

Don't delude yourself. If I wanted revenge, I would have simply kept my mouth shut and watched you die.

Then why don't you? I know you'd take pleasure in seeing me dead.

I don't deny that I hate you. So much that I never want to see your face nor say your name.

But still...

Here is the purifier. It can purify contamination and neutralize the radiation effects around it.

Then we can use our ESP in the contaminated zone?

Thank you, Clughorn. But you should take it.

Why me? Logically speaking, it should be either you or Mildy who takes it, not me.

No, Kamlanage is right. You should take it. Out of the three of us, you're the one who can put it to best use.

I am who I am today because of those two. I am only alive because of them. I can now even accept those parts of myself I've always hated.

You've lost me, Cluggy...

Listen to your heart. You wanted someone to stop you, didn't you? That's why you reached out to me.

No, you're wrong!

KMS battle robots?

Always good to come prepared! Even you can't beat these guys!

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Your little toys are no match for us.

You!

(Mildy?! Oh no!)

You know me? Are you a fan of Paradream or something? I don't know the details, but I won't hold back if you're planning on trashing Eeza.

Interesting... Blocked me outta your memory, huh?

(She's forgotten him? Impossible...)

Looks like we made it just in time!

Kam...

Aldo asked us to stop you. But there was never really any need, was there?

There never was, no. But I'd appreciate your help all the same.

Hey, don't forget about us!

Of course. Thank you.

Now then... Let's take care of this before things get out of hand.

Dammit... Why are you stopping me? Are you trying to say you're different from me after all? That YOU'RE special?

......

Mildy.

Right. Amy, Aldo, you come too.

I...never could stand my own mediocrity. I was frustrated...furious with myself for not being special like Mildy.

It was excruciating standing beside them and drowning in my feelings of inferiority.

You felt inferior? You?

That fury and weakness drove me to make an unforgivable error. The error of leaving those two behind. Spending time with you made me notice...there never was such a thing as a "special" person.

...... But you hate me. So why did you help me?

Because Neohumans are evolved enough to set aside petty grudges. Or at least, that is what I would like to say. In reality, it is more because of the fact that I was able to finally accept my mediocrity, which ironically, made me feel special.

I'm sure it's the same for you. It may be a life of mediocrity and frustration... But you'll still live. After all, we were able to meet again.

Is there anything more special than that, Regré?

C-Cluggy!

I...I always wanted to apologize...to you and to Mildy...

I told you already. You can apologize all you like, but I'm still not going to forgive you. Not if you insist on calling me "Cluggy," at any rate...

Oh... Yeah, wow...

I'm really...really sorry, Clughorn.

Only one hour till the show! Are you ready to set some souls ablaze?

Of course! Let's go all out today.

We always do!

I'm sorry, Dilmy.

It's not like you to apologize... Besides, if you're talking about the thing at Remulia Ruins, you were just staying true to your own beliefs.

And I still don't believe that what I did was wrong. But I left the clan in order to make amends... Except I didn't. I just ran away. A traitor like me has no right to be by your side.

So that's why you did it?

I've spent my whole life trying to catch up to you, Mildy. I wanted to catch up to you and your amazing gift...your strength to endure, no matter how much pain you felt. I always say "the right person for the right job," but really, that's just how I try to excuse it. All I ever wanted was to be worthy of standing by your side.

You give me far too much credit. I'm not strong. I'm just numb to it. I'm so used to being mistreated, I've learned to block it out.

I was the same in school, too. I couldn't let myself rely on you, even though you're my friend.

I had no idea that would end up being the thing that hurt you most.

......

Besides, I'm just like you. I have fixations and complexes of my own... I'm not the perfect person you think I am.

Heh. Looks like we haven't fully evolved after all.

Nope, but that's what makes it so fun! Now quickly, let's get on stage. Our fans are eagerly awaiting your comeback!

Okay, let's go.

Okay, guys! Let's rock!