Arale Nakamachi and Ritsu Minetsuki

Oh, Ricchan! Morning!

Morning... Hm? What happened to your hair?

Well... I overslept.

By the time I woke up, I knew I'd never make it if I took the time to tie my hair. So I just tamed my bedhead and sprinted to the station!

Nice work on that all-out sprint this morning. You must be exhausted.

Thanks~ Though I did bring it on myself.

Actually, yesterday I got the sudden urge to clean my room. You know, as a break from studying.

Hm? Okay...

Then, while I was cleaning, I spotted a complete manga set... and thought it'd be perfect for a little break from my study break.

So you started reading it. And of course, once you start, you can't go to sleep until you've finished the whole set.

Ehehe... Exactly~

So, Ricchan! Could you maybe help me tie my hair...?

Of course. Here, sit down.

Thanks~!

Let's see... Found the brush. I'll comb your hair first.

Yes, please~!

Come to think of it, Arale-chan... you've always worn your hair in pigtails.

You wore it that way when we first met, too.

Oh, yeah... I guess I have?

My hair was still pretty short back then, but I kept begging my mother to make it look just like Kururu-chan's...

Maybe wanting to be like Kururu-chan had something to do with it... or maybe not~ Ehehe.

It suits you. It always has.

W-Whaaat? You really think so~?

Yeah. Now that it's this long, though, you could probably style it all kinds of ways.

You're right! I've never really thought about that.

For example... a ponytail.

That could be cute! I could wear it high and sleek, or low and loose!

Or maybe a bun.

One bun, two buns, or even three!

Then you'd be a three-color dango.

I'd look delicious!

Oh, maybe a braid, or even a French braid! I could do a half-up style too...

Hm? Hmm... Mmmmmmm...!

Arale-chan...?

Ricchan... I don't think I'd feel like myself without my usual pigtails after all!

Then~ your usual it is.

There. All done.

Wow, perfect~! Thanks, Ricchan!

You're welcome.

Yeah... It really does suit you.

Hehehe. Ehehe.

(Maybe I'll practice guitar when I get home. Oh, right, I have homework too. I could get an early start on that...)

*Huff*... Haaah... *Huff*... Haaah...!!

N-Not yet... I still have somewhere I have to be...!!

That voice... Could it be...?

Don't give up, Arale Nakamachi...!! Run! You have to keep running...!!

I knew that was you, Arale-chan!

Ricchan...!?

That's a lot of bags... Have you been running this whole time with all of that?

Y-Yeah...!! Even if my arms rip right off, I'm getting all of it home...!!

Because today... I can get the Magilulu Complete Album a day early!!

Oh...!

Then those bags are full of...!

That's right... CDs, along with the bonuses from each store.

I still haven't finished making the rounds. A lot of the bonuses are first-come, first-served, so at this rate...

You'll find a sign saying, "Bonus Items No Longer Available"...!

Ngh... If only I weren't a student, I'd have more time...!

Arale-chan...

But this is no time to despair... I have no choice but to keep running.

You can't keep going in that condition...! Look at your arms. Those bags have already left marks.

This is nothing.

But...!

For Magilulu, no injury is too much to bear...! I have one goal: to collect every last bonus!

Yeah... That's just who you are, Arale-chan.

Ricchan... I have to go. I'm sor...

Can I still pick up the bonuses without a preorder?

What...?

Which stores do you still need to visit? I'll carry half the bags, too.

You mean...!?

Yeah. I'll help.

Ricchaaaaaan!!

Honestly... You could've just asked.

Ngh... B-But I thought I had to do this all by myself...!

Come on, there's no time to cry. Which stores were you planning to visit next?

*Sniff*... You're right...! Um, this one and this one, and this one over here too...

Then I'll head that way.

I'll go this way. Arale-chan... let's meet back here.

Yeah...! And when we meet again...

We'll have every last bonus in hand!!

Yeeeeah!

Wooo~!

Everybody! Are you fired uuuup!?

Yeeeah!

Arena floooor~!

Aaaah~!

Balconyyy~!

Arale-chaaaan, you're the beeeest!

Thank yoooooou!!

Phew... Ahh, I feel so much better!

Hehe, the whole room's going wild.

That's because I've got the best audience!

Still, sorry for dragging you along. I just really needed to sing my heart out today.

Don't worry about it. It's fun listening to you sing, Arale-chan.

Ah... Wait! Ricchan, you haven't sung at all!

Ahhh, I'm so sorry! Now it's your turn. Queue up as many songs as you want!

Here, take the tablet!

Hmm... I'm okay. I can't think of anything I want to sing.

Aw... okay~ But I really wanted to hear you sing, Ricchan.

Oh... I might be able to rap.

Rap!? Why!?

I used to think rapping was kind of cool...

Y-You did...?

(Come to think of it... Ricchan did something like beatboxing at the beach...!)

(I wanna hear Ricchan's bars...!)

Let's rap!!

Huh? But...

I'll lay down a beat, so jump in and freestyle!

Okay. I'll try.

Boom, boom, clap♪ Boom, boom, clap♪

...

Ay, YO!

My name is Ritsu Minetsuki♪ Saw a woodpecker recently♪

First-year at Kamiuma Academy♪ Lightning! Onion! Bold with family, YO♪

MC Ritsu in da house! Check it out!

...!!

So... how was it?

Ricchan... You're a genius!!!

Y-You think so...?

That was insanely cool! You completely blew me away!!

Hehe... You're exaggerating... YO.

Rapper Ricchan... No, MC Ritsu! You're the beeeest~!

Yeeeah!