"Mr. Boothill, you're back?" Seeing the triumphant return of Boothill and March 7th, Robin's face lit up with joy.
"Actually, Mr. Micah helped a great deal. Many of them don't trust me, and they trust the power of harmony even less. But… they're willing to trust Mr. Micah."
Micah smiled in response. "I'm afraid it's not trust in me. They just never imagined giving up this place. Everyone's been holding in a lot of energy. Solving everything without relying on the Family—this is a first for Dreamflux Reef."
The only one still completely in the dark, March 7th scratched her head. "So what exactly are you guys planning to do?"
Thinking about what was about to happen, Micah couldn't help but curl his lips upward. "You might find this… a little hard to believe. I can't believe I actually agree with that method. I must be crazy."
Boothill gave Micah a heavy pat on the back. "What's there to be afraid of! Every once in a while I gotta do something crazy enough, or I'll go nuts myself. Let's get this party started! When it hits the peak, I'm buying everyone a round. Your people here ain't half bad."
"Thank you in advance, Mr. Boothill." Micah gave a respectful salute in return. "But I have to remind you on Jessie's behalf—those seven drinks from before still haven't been paid for. Though… I'm happy to cover them all."
"I've hosted plenty of performances, but this one might be the most special. Will it really work?" Robin was slightly nervous about what was coming next.
"Relax, big star. Let me tell you something funny. See this body of mine? Right after the mods were done, the memory storage module just up and broke. You didn't even touch it. Guess what? Baby, I remembered for days and nights straight! Now I know why those memory modules always fail—they've got way too much to carry."
Robin looked puzzled. "But… why bring that up?"
"Ha—simple! Because I'm telling you, right now you don't need to believe in yourself. You need to believe in them."
With that, Boothill pointed toward the growing crowd on the open-air stage. "Every single person standing here—their memory modules ain't broken. They grew these tough brains not to forget everything and turn into monkeys! How's that sound?"
Robin murmured in a daze, "Mm… let's begin."
"Ha—you said an absurd crisis should be solved with absurd means? I don't quite buy that.
The songs of Dreamflux Reef should be free and wild! Let's get started, big star—no… 'Disc Jockey.'"
After greeting March 7th, Boothill moved to the edge of the stage and found a spot to sit.
"Very good, very good… Music truly is the finishing touch for a great film."
Mr. Reca suddenly appeared beside Boothill.
"Baby your leg, kid—you're not wrapped yet?" Boothill jolted, clearly startled.
"Correct. So right now I am no longer an actor—I am here purely as a 'director' to observe on set. I'm also extremely curious what kind of 'Harmony' song this will become.
There are moments when I genuinely feel deep in my heart that a masterpiece is about to be born. And most of those moments are stitched together from scenes of ensemble casts.
Most people in this film can't be called protagonists. They rarely get the chance to show a complete arc in the conventional sense, yet they still carry soul-lights capable of saving hearts.
And when they've lost everything, what do they need most? Guidance from the wise? Aid from the strong?
Neither. In my view, what they need is simply a shot. Then the people sitting in front of the screen can witness the most brilliant drama in the world."
[Director Mr. Reca is amazing!]
[I can declare Mr. Reca is a good person—no, perhaps he's just not a bad one.]
[This line just broke the fourth wall.]
[Even side characters get their moments to shine. Gotta say, miHoYo does this part pretty well.]
[For example, you and me sitting in front of the screen.]
[This is what the masses are like!]
[Every life has its own kind of brilliance.]
Boothill crossed his arms over his chest. "Ha! Ain't that complicated, director buddy. If you ask me—baby, this is just 'life'!"
Mr. Reca closed his eyes, focusing. "Mm… can you hear that faint prelude approaching?
'The minor third weeps like a complaint, the diminished sixth sighs without end.'
'The suspended note asks: Must we die?'
'And the seventh comforts: Life can continue—give it a try, who knows.'"
With that, the camera cut to a close-up of Robin.
"So, Miss Robin, is there anything else you need me to do?" Micah asked with concern from the side.
"No need to stay with me anymore. The nervousness from earlier… it's completely gone now."
"Was it the party atmosphere that got to you ahead of time?"
Robin shook her head and smiled in reply. "I'm afraid not… I just… discovered something I'd overlooked before."
"Oh?" Micah's interest was immediately piqued.
"Everyone assumed that after going through such a drastic change, my life should have changed too. But… it hasn't. When it comes to birds and flight, I still haven't found a better answer.
Even if I think of something, it would take a very long time to ponder and many attempts to prove… I think my brother is probably doing the same thing right now."
[Why do birds fly?]
[Why do trash cans fly?]
[So come back, Sunday—the world can't go on without Sunday!]
[Come back, One-Day-Seven-Rests bro!]
— —
"So… are you going to start from today?"
"Not exactly. But thinking about what's going to happen next, I suddenly realized—hymns always demand that the choir maintain unity with a devout heart.
But in the center of the dance floor, when people stand under perfectly placed lights—even if each person is different, it doesn't stop them from looking indistinguishable.
Perhaps the real problem with 'Harmony' lies in the lighting, not the audience. Just like right now…
People don't have only one choice: unison singing. Even if the voices are different, they can still link together… that's 'tuning.' I believe this 'Harmony' song can even embrace dissonance.
I will bring forth… the voice that belongs to Dreamflux Reef."
As they spoke, Robin stepped up to the microphone.
The next moment, the intro of the background music began. Robin fired a phantom shot, tossing the mic aside, then opened the gift Mr. Reca had brought.
Robin became the DJ…
[Mic: I'm free!!!]
[So this was Mr. Reca's gift? I thought it was gonna be plaza-dance speakers.]
[Gathering to rave in the galaxy.]
[Gathering to groove in the galaxy.]
— —
In this moment, everyone was swept up by the pulsing music. Bodies couldn't help but sway to the beat.
March 7th moved like claws, like devilish steps—one step, two steps.
[Hahaha, March 7th is so cute!]
[Little March is going so hard!]
[After all, she's Sunny Cheerful March 7th!]
Even Boothill, who had been sitting off to the side drinking, was dragged into the dance floor.
Director Mr. Reca picked up his assistant director—a clunky old thing—and kept snapping photos in twisted poses, recording the scene while exclaiming, "Good, good!"
[Hahaha, as a Memokeeper you gotta witness extraordinary moments—Mr. Reca is having the time of his life.]
[What even is an assistant director? Can it double as a camera?]
[Did you see Boothill's confused face?]
[No way, fam—I see this photo-obsessed Mr. Reca and just wanna laugh.]
[Sparkle next door is drooling with envy!]
[If Sparkle finds out she'll be stomach-aching mad.]
[Mr. Reca's gap moe is too strong.]
[I wanna see Director Mr. Reca and Director Sparkle together!]
[High-end Memokeepers often use the most plain and simple recording methods.]
"Finally, all the conditions for reaching the plot climax are in place. Now, let us welcome the magnificent finale."
— —
"Rappa classmate, is your 'Ninja • Science' not done yet?" Dan Heng asked.
Rappa wagged her finger. "Please wait a moment. As the Galactic Ninja Scrolls say: 'Quick hands weave no fine cloth; hasty fire stews no tender meat.'"
[So what kind of manga is the Galactic Ninja Scrolls anyway?]
[Feels like the Galactic Ninja Scrolls has every phrase imaginable—like a dictionary.]
[Actually my favorite are the people who say "there's no such thing as X in my dictionary," like they don't even have a dictionary.]
[Galactic Ninja Scrolls, pretty amazing, huh?]
[I suddenly kinda wanna read this Galactic Ninja Scrolls.]
[Gotta admire Master Kucha—where in the vast cosmos did he dig up a book like that?]
[This manga rivals the Lüshi Chunqiu!]
Rappa's blurted line even left Dan Heng speechless.
"Done! The Galactic Ninja Scrolls contain endless transformations—this is the 'Super • Ninja • Scroll'!" Rappa held up a spray bottle. "I have infused the memory • ninja technique from earlier into it. If the Toad • Ninja spoke true, this is the blade that severs evil spirits."
"Mm. As long as we inject these memories containing the 'ninja' memetic virus into the synesthetic dreamscape, we can overwrite the existence of the sleep-banana little monkeys within the dream."
With that, Dan Heng quietly let out a breath of relief.
"Flying Dragon • Ninja, Baseball Bat • Ninja. I ask you both to accompany me and put an end to the Evil Spirit • Chief's Inverted • Dream!"
The three arrived at a camera—this was the final set!
An ordinary-looking camera. If it weren't crafted by a Memokeeper, it would be hard to imagine this thing could send everyone into another dreamscape.
Stelle looked into the viewfinder. There seemed to be the eye of an amphibian staring back—it was watching you.
A familiar voice rang in your ear—
"… (croak)"
"Actors, are you ready to begin the final performance?"
"ACTION—let's go, banana!"
— —
"Banana… one piece—a small island overgrown with bananas, the love nest of the sleep-banana little monkeys!"
The all-too-familiar banana cry sounded. The little monkeys already stirring in Stelle's mind began to screech.
A sudden chuuni shout rang out.
"Dazzling • Ninja Art • True Awakening Color Ink Burst!"
Dan Heng and Stelle opened their eyes. "The banana cry from just now… disappeared."
Rappa joined them. "Everyone, I used ninja seals to break the evil spirit's illusion. Are you awake now?"
"Looks like Mr. Reca didn't lie—your memories really can neutralize the sleep-banana little monkey influence… Our speech has returned to normal too. So this is the 'Moment of Banana Sleep'? Sleep-banana little monkeys are everywhere. They must all be the banana fans from Origami Academy and Dreamflux Reef."
Stelle looked at the familiar scene and sucked in a cold breath. "I've been here before!"
"Correct. This is undoubtedly the illusion I once visited with Baseball Bat • Ninja, but back then there weren't nearly so many evil spirits. It seems more and more people are falling victim to the sorcery…"
Rappa's gaze locked onto a hiding spot. "This is all your doing, isn't it—Evil Spirit • Chief."
"Banana banana banana." The long-absent Banana Professor emerged from the shadows. "Too bad. If not for so many disruptive variables, this place could have become even livelier."
Dan Heng's lips curved slightly. "There's something even more unfortunate coming up—your experiment is about to fail."
"I suppose you plan to use the virus in her brain to destroy this place. But look at these little monkeys. Do you really think an outdated old comic can overpower the hottest trend in the dreamscape?"
Rappa explained, "Of course not. I have no intention of forcing ninja disciples to walk the Dazzling • Ninja Path. What we aim to do is awaken these disheartened common folk, so the raging tide of evil spirits may return to calm."
Dan Heng, worried the audience wouldn't understand, gave a literal Chinese-to-Chinese translation:
"We don't need to replace the sleep-banana little monkeys with ninja stories. We just need to wake up the dazed and lost people—the power of the memetic virus will be greatly weakened.
And once they stop blindly chasing the sleep-banana little monkeys, we can easily shatter this dreamscape."
[Hahaha, my literal Chinese-to-Chinese.]
[So that's the secret reason Teacher Dan Heng came along.]
[Galaxy Ranger's one and only strategic translation partner—Star Rail Train's official interpreter!]
[Royal Translator.]
— —
"Looks like that Memokeeper banana taught you some things you shouldn't have learned. In that case… I can only hand you all your 'final exam.'"
The Banana Professor looked at the three with an evil grin.
Rappa readied herself to strike at any moment. "Then bring it. I am always ready to accept your challenge."
But in the blink of an eye, the Banana Professor had vanished?
"Why declare war and then flee immediately? How despicable!"
At that moment Stelle planted her hands on her hips. "You offend the Nameless and think you can run? Not that easy!"
"Though we don't know what he's planning, let's clear out the surrounding sleep-banana little monkeys first—after all, the biggest threat is still the memetic virus."
Dan Heng stopped Stelle, who was about to charge off.
"Flying Dragon Ninja speaks wisely. I have entrusted the 'Super • Ninja • Scroll' to you all. Use karate to awaken the ninja disciples who have strayed onto the path of evil spirits!"
With that, Rappa pulled out a skateboard from… somewhere, placed it on the ground, and her signature BGM—No Chaos, No Break—blasted in the background!
"Follow me!"
Rappa hopped on the skateboard and sped forward. The sleep-banana little monkeys were no match at all—they didn't even get a chance to play dead and collapsed instantly.
Wherever she passed, a dazzling rainbow trail was left behind.