Blue Archive story · Volume 5, Chapter 1, Episode 22
Vol. 5 Ch. 1 Ep. 22: Street in Flames
2 scenes, 134 lines
1. Part 1
64 lines"*pant pant* The stage is..."
Careful, Sensei!
"There's no end to them!"
Ugh. We can hardly get past these Artifact Spirits, let alone save Yukari.
(Our destination is right there, just out of reach. But I can't do it... I can't do it alone!)
Hey there! Looks like we made it in time.
It's us, Sensei.
"Those are two unexpected faces I'm very happy to see!"
President Niya said we needed to help Sensei.
"Niya did?"
Well, we're helping you help us, really.
Our communications are jammed, and we couldn't get through to the Festival Operations Department. So here we are!
We saw the live stream hacker earlier...
It's her, isn't it? The one who sent the letter?
"Yes. From Nature's Beauty."
...As I thought.
The streets of Hyakkiyako are being reduced to rubble.
It seems I really did miscalculate here. If I could turn back time...
"It's both our burdens to bear. Let's focus on what we can do now."
Correct as always, Sensei. We can't change the past by cursing our luck now.
It looks like we both have some debts to repay after this, Nagusa. But for now, we have much bigger problems looming over us.
Ah, yes.
I've gotten a general grasp of the situation.
Yabuki Shuro of Nature's Beauty is the mastermind behind this entire situation, as well as the one who took your Yukari hostage. Am I missing anything?
...No.
We need to get you to that stage one way or another.
From the front, to the back, left, and right... Monsters are everywhere.
How do we fight them? President Niya.
The two of us aren't exactly the attack force you needed...
It would be a miracle and a half if we lasted until the Yin-Yang Club's reinforcements arrived...
...!!
"No! We don't need any reinforcements!"
Hm?
What are you saying...
Secret Weapon, Exploding Shurikens! HIYAH!
Hah! The Ninjutsu Research Club...
...has...
...arrived! Nin nin!
"Izuna! Michiru! Tsukuyo!"
You are...the Ninjutsu Research Club?
Hello, everyone.
Your timing is impeccable, but I'm slightly confused.
Hm? Oh, how did we know?
Sensei asked the Ninjutsu Research Club...to help!
Yes! My lord requested our assistance, and come rain, come fire, or even scary ghosts, we will always answer my lord's call!
Yes! Through rain or fire!
L-Let's back up for one second! I never agreed to run through fire or anything remotely like that!
W-Well, if you put it like that...!
As the president of the Ninjutsu Research Club, we will run through fire to help!
Yes! That's our president!
"You three are the best."
I see...
The Ninjutsu Research Club really knows how to pull through, don't they?
Well then. Shall we open up a path, you ninjas?
I'm here too. Sensei, please watch. I have been practicing very hard.
...Yes!
2. Part 2
70 lines
Um... What's happening?
Hah! You're awake!
My apologies... Have we met?
I'm wounded! You don't remember me?
Consider me your representative!
I am your bard! I deliver your feelings to the masses!
My...feelings? What do you mean?
To make them suffer as you've suffered!
I don't desire...
Look upon the chaos, miko. Isn't it simply stunning?
Hahaha! I know! It's inspiring! Beautiful!
Truly the epitome of elegance.
How...could you? Why would you do this?
Please don't disappoint me with that kind of talk.
After all, we did this together.
...What?
I only did what you wished me to do, in your heart of hearts.
Look all around you!
This is all yours!
All your emotions bursting out from your soul!
You can feel it, right?
The fuel underneath all this flame and smoke...
All of it is being fueled by anger and hatred, loneliness and fear.
And I couldn't have done it without you, miko.
Without...me?
Yes. Don't worry. I understood how you felt.
No one thought your words meant anything.
They trampled all over your feelings, took away any agency you had.
What have you heard your whole life? Fulfill your duty. Meet expectations. Everyone, everyone using you for their own ends.
You pitiable little thing. Didn't it feel so unfair? Wasn't it so tiring?
I...um...
Imagine how it would feel to finally be free.
You would no longer be chained down by expectations, free of those who have belittled and oppressed you.
I want everything to burn.
Isn't that how you feel?
I... I...
Hahaha! Good, good!
That's the manifestation of your hate! Your despair!
What to call it...
Ah! Let's call it Faceless Katashiro. Your very own representative.
With its strength, you can give everyone who's hurt you what they deserve. Let Hyakkiyako BURN!
It is the essence of elegance!
Ah.
The streets are on fire.
I hear a voice from afar. It screams in agony as the flames burn its flesh away.
The streets flow with crimson.
The fault...lies with me.
My naive ideals gave birth to destruction.
I attempted to escape from expectation, from my duties. I chased my dreams at the Hyakkaryouran.
This is my punishment for dreaming. The Hyakkaryouran was never mine to claim.
(Ah... I understand now.)
(I was never allowed to dream.)
The streets are burning with my flames. How could I ever atone for this despair?
Waaah. Did she just faint?
Right when the party was really starting to get going.
Whatever. She did what I needed her to do anyway.
It's my turn now. Everything is as it should be.
I've fulfilled your wish, Kokuriko.
At long last!
Witness the creation of my ghost story!
"I won't let you take this any further, Shuro!"
Give me back Yukari!
...Pests.