Days Spent in Peace? Priceless

Saki! Hey!

How's it goin'? Are you hanging out with Aldo today?

Hey, aren't you Saki's friend... Wait, how do you known my name?

Saki can't stop talking about you whenever I see her. How could I not remember your name?

W-Wait, that's totally not true!

Aldo, I didn't say anything weird, I swear! Just ignore that, seriously.

Haha, no worries. It's fine.

"Anything weird," huuuh?

C-Cut it out, come on!

You know, Saki, you've really changed lately. You're so much more cheerful and relaxed.

Huh? Really?

Sure. Compared to when I met you, you're almost like a totally different person.

I haven't really noticed it, but... I'm pretty sure my brother said something kinda like that recently.

Hey, speaking of Jade, remember when your friend thought he was your boyfriend?

Omigosh, yes! That was so funny!

Guys, please! Can you not bring that up again?!

Haha! Sorry, sorry.

Seriously though, it's good to see you just being a regular student. Well, regular except for the fact that you're in IDEA now. Congrats.

Uh?

Huh?

U-Um, thanks...Yeah. I'm actually kinda proud of myself.

What was that?

Oh! I just remembered what I wanted to ask you, Saki! Do you wanna come with me to the Garden of IDA a little later on? There's this really good crepe seller that's stopping by there today, apparently!

Um...

That sounds nice. I think you should go. Live a little, right?

If you want you can totally come too, Aldo! Everyone's saying those crepes are reeeally good, y'know!

Sure, I'll tag along.

Awesome! Let's go, then!

You can't be down if there's dessert to be eaten!

What'd she mean by that? Have you been feeling down lately, Saki?

*sigh* I guess I can't hide anything from her. I mean, not like I was trying to in the first place, but...

She's a really great friend, isn't she?

She is. I know it sounds kinda corny, but I don't know what I'd do without her.

Well, let's not keep her waiting long then. Off to the Garden of IDA!

Ooh! Look, Saki! Over there! They must be shooting a movie here or something!

I feel like I've seen that woman somewhere.

Uh, who hasn't?! That's ONLY the lead actress from "Etta's Holiday," duh!

Oh yeah, it totally is! Maybe they're shooting for the sequel or something.

Hey! Between you and me, my friend caught a glimpse of the front of one of the scripts and that's totally what it looks like!

So the rumors that they were making a sequel WERE true! But filming it in IDA City too? I never would've thought! Omigosh, Saki! I totally gotta ask the star actress herself for an autograph!

I don't know, she looks really busy... We probably would be just a bother to her.

Come on, you're only scared to ask out of politeness. But not so deep down you totally want an autograph too, don't you? Hmmm?

W-Well, I...Okay, maybe a little.

I knew it! You can try and hide it but everyone gets a little starstruck sometimes!

No, it isn't that! It's just, Mayu said she really liked that movie she was in so...

Oh, Mayu? Yeah...she'd like that a lot, huh?

CUT! All right, people, next scene is...

Oh! OH! YOU! The strapping young man in the costume-y getup! Our next scene involves a time slip in which the main characters are taken back to an era when man still lived entirely off the earth. You'll make a perfect extra!

Wha? Who, me?!

Omigosh, you're so lucky, Aldo! I'm totally jealous!

Go for it, you'll do great!

Y-Yeah...

So, Saki. I was wondering... Is everything going okay at IDEA?

Wait, what?!

Uh, everything's fine. Really.

Just fine. I guess that's the problem. It's like... everything's too fine, and it's making me kinda anxious.

Huh. How do you mean?

Someone once said to me that people with power have a duty to protect those who don't. All the other members of IDEA know how they should go about fulfilling that duty and they're doing their part. But then there's me with no clue what or how to do any of that.

Hmm...

It's not like I know that much about her, but... I get the feeling that Isuka, being the Head IDEAlist, like, sees things in people.

What things?

I think she sees things in people that maybe even they don't see. And she picks them based on that potential.

So stop being such a worrywart, okay? You're in IDEA because you add something to the organization that other people can't. I'm sure of it.

Hey, thanks. Hearing that actually made me feel a little better.

Oh man, that was rough... Just because I'm from the past doesn't mean I can talk all fancy like that.

Wait, what's up? Were you guys just in the middle of something?

Nope! Bravo, Al!

Hehe, yeah! Good job!

That sounds kinda interesting.

I bet it will be, we should SO go! And if it's good we can go again with Mayu sometime too!

Great idea. Guess we're heading to the Clock Tower next!

...Damn those fools. "Etta's Holiday," huh? I'll show them! I'll show them all!

Ooh, I can't wait to see all the juicy behind-the-scenes tidbits!

We need to get tickets. Let's see, since Aldo's not a student he won't get the school discount that we have...

We need to get tickets. Let's see, we can get the school discount...

Remind me what this exhibition is about again?

It's about the movie that famous actress we saw starred in, "Etta's Holiday." The director is organizing the event.

Does that mean if you're someone like me who hasn't seen the film before you won't understand any of it?

Are you for real right now?! You haven't seen "Etta's Holiday"?!

Sorry. I guess I'm a little out of touch with that sort of stuff.

You won't enjoy this exhibition even half as much if you haven't seen the movie.

Is there somewhere I can go see it first?

Sure, it's always showing at Meteo Cinema in City East.

You could go see it at the Elzion movie theater!

Awesome! Let's do that first, then come back here.

Lockdown engaged.

Huh?

Does this mean we can't leave?

Nobody move! I'm takin' over!

Say what? Are we being held hostage here?!

We aren't gonna sit and wait to find out. Right, Saki?

I told you to stay where you are!

And you expected us to listen? What's going on here?!

You're asking me?

You should be asking the guys who ripped off my screenplay to make "Etta's Holiday"! Everything in their cheap knock-off, from the plot to the scenes to the direction were exactly as I wrote them, all of it! And yet they're passing it off as their own original piece and taking all the credit. Not if I have anything to say about it! I'm bringing the rainclouds to this rotten little parade of theirs and taking my revenge!

But like, dude...it's a super standard story. There's probably a ton of others out there just like it.

What was that? Think you can stand there and make fun of me like the rest, huh? Well, think again!

Wh-What?! No way!

That's what they said...That's what they ALL said...But you're all wrong! And now I'm gonna show you how wrong you are!

Go! Go! P0W-4 Drones!

Don't even think about it!

Saki! Oh gosh...!

It can't be! That uniform, !

That's right. And you know what? I'm proud to wear it because it means I get to protect my friends from jerks like you!

This wimpy-looking girl was an IDEAlist all along?!

Darn right she was, bozo!

Leave this one to me, okay? I'll protect you. I promise.

Okay!

Come on, let's get him while he's reeling! Let's do this, Saki!

My drones, no! CURSE YOU! If it weren't for you meddling IDEA brats, I...

You wouldn't have gotten away with it because I wouldn't have let you. Give up.

Grrr...Never! Don't forget, I still have the hostages and...

Don't move! We have the tower surrounded!

What...Who...Where did you come from?!

The roof. Was pretty easy, actually, since our new recruit had your attention the whole time. Good job, rookie.

We also had time to release the exit locks. It's over for you now.

My movie...Damn it! DAMN YOU ALL!

Good work, Saki. I've been observing your heroic efforts here with the utmost admiration.

Good work, Saki. I've been thoroughly briefed on your efforts here. Your heroism deserves commendation.

O-Oh! It wasn't that big of a deal, really. I sort of just acted without thinking and...

No need to be modest. I really do feel there's no-one who could have handled this incident better. I'm glad you were here.

Yes, ma'am! Thank you!

I...I think I've found out what it is. What I want, what I should do, as an IDEAlist.

I know, I can see it in your eyes: a glint of confidence where there once was worry. My time now is short as there's much to do in the wake of a messy case like this, but meet me in the Operations Room later. We'll be able to speak at length then.

Sakiiiiii...!

Listen, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for you to be put in harm's way. You could've got hurt...

Oh, stop it! You didn't force me to come here, did you? That was my choice. And besides, you saved me. Thanks, by the way!

What I wanted to say was that your white IDEA uniform really suits you. I'd never seen it before and when you're wearing it your face gets all focused and cool and...

It was SO totally awesome! So don't ever lose faith in yourself again. Anyway, I'll be cheering you on, okay?

Hehe, I won't. Thanks.

Wait, the movie! I completely forgot that we were meant to go see it!

Forget about that, we can go see it whenever. You should go see Isuka. That's way more important, right?

Okay. Promise I'll make it up to you though.

Aldo?

Let's go. She said she'd be in the Operations Room.

Allow me to congratulate you once again on your handling of this case, Saki. Without you we wouldn't have been able to wrap it up as cleanly as we did.

Thank you, Isuka. But I really just did what anyone should've.

That is all we ask of every IDEAlist: to judge their situation and act accordingly to the best of their ability. Even so, it's a task easier said than done. That's why I must thank you for it.

......

I was really unsure of myself.

What Claude said about the strong having a duty to use their abilities to protect the weak really stuck with me. I knew that's what I had to do but I had no idea how.

But the moment I felt the need to protect another it was like my body just moved instinctively.

Then hold onto that and never forget it.

Each and every IDEAlist, more or less, has their own reasons and motives that simply push them into action.

At its core, IDEA is an organization that operates because of the individual motivations of its talented members, not in spite of them. Or at least, that's how we want it to be. And you, Saki, are a welcome part of it all.

Yes, ma'am! Thank you!

I swear, I won't let go of that feeling. As a member of IDEA with priceless friendships and peaceful days that I want to protect... Now I don't think I'll ever lose it.