Chapter 11: Same Result

Go forth, my cutie.

It's time for you to reveal the truth behind them now.

Thank you all for coming!

Now I will introduce to everyone the flagship product of this conference!

See these fortune rings on your hands?

Fortune rings?

Like the toys they sell in magazines for teenage girls?

These aren't your average fortune rings!

They can bring you luck for the whole day!

(Muttering) No way, is the Phoenix Group just dabbling into superstition now?

Before you run into something really unlucky, it will warn you and let you avoid it!

The rings everyone will be receiving today is our classic version!

We will also take custom orders to tailor the ring's appearance to your liking. You can also have a blessing of your choice engraved on it!

The ring on my hand is a one-of-a-kind exclusive. Besides the power to predict good fortune, it also has a little easter egg.

And now, I will personally put it on Phoebe.

(Whispering) Hey, here it comes! Miyuki's surprise!

(Whispering) The ring's turning dark! Are there Nightmares appearing?

But I don't... feel any Nightmares?

What's going on? An easter egg?

Hey! Look! Phoebe's face is turning dark!

Is this part of some sort of internal struggle within Phoenix?

We've got a headline for tomorrow now!

...

Calm down... Deep breaths...

Well, looks like my luck today isn't too great, Miss Miyuki!

Maybe you got a Nightmares on you!

...

I may need ten minutes to take care of the Nightmares.

Let's take a break for ten minutes. Then we'll present to everyone our most important product this year: the Connect app.

Meow!

(Whispering) What's going on?

Gigi, get someone to take the cat away.

!

Look!

A Nightmare Lord...

I can feel the aura of a Special Lens!

Nanalie, go evacuate the guests. Gigi, come find the core of the disturbance with me.

Affirmative!

Hey everyone! Come with me!

We have delicious snacks for everyone while we set up the hall for the next presentation! Please follow me!

(Pointing at the screen) I remember the last data disturbance came from here as well...

Got it. Keep monitoring here, I'll go check it out.

What would you do if you were the leader of Phoenix, Phoebe?

Me?

I want to bridge the gap between the Dream World and reality. I want to create a world that makes everyone smile. A world with beautiful dreams!

A world with beautiful dreams?

That's right! That way, you'll be able to make your little toys as you please! I will realize my dream world step by step!

Really? Then let's make a promise! I'll help make your dreams come true!

Alright! Pinky swear!

This dream feels off...

It feels too... quiet.

Why can't we find the Nightmare Lord? Where are you? Come out and face the judgment of the great hero!

Yeah, you're right!

Are we in a cat's home?

Maybe the cat we saw is the Nightmare Lord!

The data shows that cats cannot become Nightmares.

Maybe the data influx we detected was foreshadowing this?

That cat had a Special Lens on it that serves as the catalyst to the birth of a Nightmare Lord.

But just who is the Nightmare Lord?

Did she get taken away by the Nightmare Lord?

Impossible. Miyuki is too strong to be controlled by a Nightmare Lord!

It's just... Forget it. We have to find her for now. Let's split up.

Purr... Who are you?

(Scooching close) What a familiar smell. Is it a toy?

Come and play with me!

Nooo! Why won't you play with me!

I want my little phoenix!

Leader! Have you found Miyuki?

Huh? And who are you? You aren't my little phoenix! Hissss! I want my phoenix!

Leader, what- what's going on?

(Nudging) I want to play with my little phoenix!

Little phoenix... Do you mean Phoebe?

They really are in a love-hate relationship...

Miyuki, I need you to calm down. We need to take care of this Dream.

Do you know anything about the Nightmare Lord here?

Nightmare Lord? What's that?

Is it like a ball of yarn?

Yarn! Yarn! Miyuki wants to play with a ball of yarn!

Hmm... Miyuki isn't in her right mind. We need to find the Nightmare Lord and take care of this Dream quick.

Let's split up, Leader. We have to find the Nightmare Lord.

Alright. Leave it to me.

Are you all leaving me now? Just like she did?

No! Don't go! Stay with me and play!

Play with me! Play with me!

Miyuki wants somebody... to play with me...

Nobody will stay around for me...

Aren't promises made to be broken?

What are you waiting for?

No! Nobody leave me! Stay with me!

Nobody will stay with you. It'll be just you.

Let the hate flow through you... You are alone...

Shut up!

Silence, you rat! Don't mess with Phoenix!

Who do you think you are to criticize my people!

Hey, why are you all on the floor? Come play with me!

Phoebe, you're here...

Yay! My little phoenix is finally here!

Miss Miyuki, what are you up to now?

(Whispering) Hey... The Nightmare Lord has been taken care of, but why hasn't Miyuki gone back to normal?

Could she be... just pretending?

!

My phoenix, I miss you so much! (Nudges)

What are you doing, Miyuki! Let go of me!

Come on meow, play with me!

I've been waiting for you for so long, but you didn't come, I was so sad!

You said that we would play together! I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for you at the Phoenix Group...

But now that you're here, you don't want to play with me... I'm so sad... Sniff...

Have you been... waiting for me?

Yeah, didn't we make a promise?

You promised that we would build a world with beautiful dreams...

You liar! Boo hoo hoo!

Stop crying, I'm back now, aren't I?

Will you be by my side?

... Yes.

Woah! What's that?

Look! What's that?

Is that a phoenix?

It's so... stunning...

Woah! So was this the surprise that Miyuki-chan was talking about?

That was beautiful! What an unforgettable conference!

It was like there was a real phoenix! What a blessing!

Did you like the surprise, Phoebe?

... Hmph! Don't try to weasel your way out of this.

But my product left a very good impression!

Even if the results were alright, I will still need to review the investment value of the product!

That's alright, I know Phoebe will always be by my side to back me up!

(Phoebe with her hair standing on end looks so cute! I love her so much!)

...

???

! Were you playing a trick on me?

(Serious) What do you mean? What happened, Phoebe?

Hmph!

Woah! So Phoebe's big data analysis merged with Miyuki's fortune rings?

So it seems. Now that we need to promote it to more people, so we'll track down new Nightmares quicker!

What an incredible feat! Radiants or not, people will be benefiting from it!

Yeah! Maybe, everybody's dreams will come true soon!