Vol. 2 Ch. 1 Ep. 15: A Spreading Danger

Activate all the confiscated robots!

I originally wanted to repurpose them into cleaning machines...

...but right now we've got more pressing messes to deal with!

I hereby transfer their command to Akane and the Maid Club!

Understood. I'll use these robots to sweep up the Game Development Department.

Argh!

Dang, she's so strong.

So this is what C&C agents are capable of...

Heh heh.

(Hmm. They aren't that strong on their own, but I have to give them some credit.)

(It's their teamwork. They move in sync, like one person with two bodies. Even most veterans aren't capable of that.)

So, this is the advantage of being twins, is it? How marvelous.

*pant* I never expected we'd run into Asuna here.

Sis, I can't keep going. Let's run for now!

I guess we don't have a choice.

Trying to retreat? I don't think so!

Eek!

Th-Those shells are huge! D-Do you think...?

Karin? No way. D-Did she beat Utaha...?

...

Why am I on my back? And whose butt is right over my head?

That would be mine.

For getting hit as hard as you did, you woke up much faster than expected.

Sorry, but you never stood a chance.

I see... You hit me through the gun smoke, and now you're staying close to me on purpose.

That's right. The mortar girl will think twice before launching another shell. She seems rather fond of you.

Heh. My calculations definitely didn't account for this. How did you manage to hit me through all that smoke?

C&C snipers don't rely on sight alone.

Anyway, stay close to me. I don't think my heart or your body can take any more of this.

...

Can you do me a favor? I really feel like I'd rather just get hit with a mortar shell, so please, get your butt out of my face.

Then just don't look at it!

Update from Hare! Karin is back up, and Utaha's been captured!

We can see that!

Maki has an update too! Akane has blasted through the shutters and escaped!

Also, a group of giant robots is headed this way!

*gasp*

I'm not sure, but I've got a feeling that we're winning. And not only that...

...something tells me you girls are in trouble.

Ugh!

Did we fail?

...No.

Not yet.

Gah. Every time we get to this point in the run through, the plan always falls apart.

Getting everyone's attention is easy enough.

Trap Akane and Asuna. Isolate Karin. Take on the Student Council's security robots. After all that is the easy part, getting into the storage room.

But, if any part of that falls through...

...then it's game over. Nobody at Millennium can go head-to-head with an opponent as prepared as the Maid Club.

Even using Himari's name to sow confusion can only get us so far. It'll buy us some time, but we'll probably still end up getting cornered.

So by minute 2, we trap Akane and Asuna. By minute 5, Karin is isolated. At minute 11 we defeat the automata... We secure the Mirror at minute 13...

And by minute 20, we'll all be arrested.

...

...But what if it wasn't ALL of us?

What do you mean?

To win, some of us have to lose.

And then...

M-Midori, what are you saying?

I'm talking about turning the bug of the plan failing...into a feature.

Oh.

A blackout. So that means...

The EMP went off and Hare hacked the system settings. Which means the doors and shutters in the Student Council building should be open.

All right.

Jail break time.

And the next quest marker is at...

...the Student Council contraband storage.

No matter how vigilant they are, there's no way they'll be thinking about Aris when things are happening.

Even if we get caught, and assuming they only put us on probation, we could still use the G.BIBLE to secretly create Tales Saga Chronicle 2 in the club room.

I can't hear when you're whispering, but it doesn't really matter.

You don't seem as desperate as you were before. Not giving up just yet?

It'd be for the best if you gave up now.

Ugh. It's Yuuka.

I have to congratulate you for fooling us thus far.

But you've gone too far this time.

I can hardly believe the sheer audacity of you to attack the Student Council with the help of terrorists.

And to think I gave you a grace period to try and save your club. I guess I've been too soft.

Don't even imagine trying to escape punishment. You'd better be prepared to be confined or suspended for no less than a week.

W-Wait. What?!

B-But the Millennium Prize will be over in a week!

Lucky for you that your friend Aris is already in custody. I felt bad about locking her up alone, so I'm sure she'll be happy to have some company.

Ugh...

S-Sis!

I thought we could make it work even if we got caught, but...

But if we're caught...it's over! Even if we had the Mirror, Aris and Yuzu can't make the game alone.

So we have no choice. We have to get through this no matter what!

Oh? You want to go through us?

*huff puff* ...Phew, barely made it. Why am I so out of breath...? Ugh, could it really be my weight...? N-No way! C-Couldn't be!

Huh?!

I-It's Akane and the combat robots!

Ha. We've reached the end of the line.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Momoi, Midori.

You should know that despite our reservations, Maki and Kotori still have a chance of being forgiven.

But anyone who's come this far is beyond forgiveness.

Also...

You should be expecting a stern letter to Schale, Sensei.

Ugh...

Is this...really how it ends...?

Sis!

I'm sorry, Sensei. You tried so hard for us, but we ruined it! Our best wasn't enough!

Thanks, Sensei, but...it's already over.

Millennium's strongest forces, C&C and the Student Council, have us in a pincer.

How are we supposed to have hope in a situation like this?!

Sensei...

Thank you...

...but it's finally over now.

D-Do you hear that?

Sis! Get on the ground!

Hmm?

Huh?

...?

Gah!

Agh!

A-Asuna?! Are you okay?!

Definitely not! Whoa! Wh-What was that?! Ahaha! I'm hit! And it hurts like hell. I can't move a single muscle!

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Ugh. It's not just Asuna, half the robots are down too! I can't believe this!

And all with a single attack...?

Karin! Status update! What was that laser beam...?

...Karin? Karin?! She hasn't provided fire support in a while!

A light? It's coming from the roof!

Ahhh! My eyes! The mortar can launch flash grenades too?!

But of course. My sweet little protege would never risk exploding her dearest Utaha.

She's a clever girl.

Damn it! I can't see anything, let alone support Akane. Why are you going so far out of your way to do this?!

Why? To protect that club, of course.

I'm no gossip, but even I've heard the rumors.

I don't know much about the Engineering Department, but the Game Development Department is a pitiful excuse of a club.

They're just a bunch of selfish brats. Why would you go so far for them of all people?

They aren't selfish.

Those kids are giving it everything they have against impossible odds, all for the sake of each other.

They don't even need a club to make games together!

You're not wrong.

But you see, while just working as friends is great...

...having a place to be, and people to be there with, is a special thing.

That's what they're fighting for.

The place where they all belong together.

But still!

Again?!

Haha.

That wasn't in my calculations, but it sure was funny.

Momoi! Midori!

Now!

Aris?!

What are you doing here?!

I did a lot of thinking on my way to the contraband storage room.

Final Fantasia, Dragon Crest, Tails of Destiny, Chrono Digger, The Fable of Heroes, Pyre Emblem, and...Tales Saga Chronicle.

No matter which game you look at...

The heroes never, ever, leave their friends behind.

So I will not, either.

We will get through these trials, together!

Aris...

If we'd gotten caught, it'd all be over anyway.

All right, Game Development Department, move out!

Right!

Ah! We can't let them escape!

Ahaha! It hurts so bad, but I'm having so much fun! This is the best!

...Are you sure you're in pain? More importantly, Karin stopped shooting. Do you think something happened?

M-Momoi and Midori are getting away!

They're not going anywhere.

Asuna, step back.

Now engaging the enemy!