Thirty First Dates

(Talk to Headless Mechatron)

Normal mechatrons are a common sight cruising the streets of Duomension City... if they aren't just randomly parked on the sidewalks.

(Knocks on its chest)

Maybe it's the bat you're carrying, but your fingers suddenly itch with the irresistible urge to break something. And this mechatron... it's sturdy enough that a few taps shouldn't hurt.

???: S—Stop banging! The vibrations are killing my chest, ow!

(Ignore it)

Yeah. Here in Planarcadia, mechatrons are as common as wispae on the street. Such scrap metals aren't worth your attention, just as you're about to leave...

???: ...Darn it. How dare you ignore me!

???: Shh. Don't look around or make a fuss, just treat me like a normal mechatron. Otherwise, she'll notice.

Did you put on the wrong head?

Are you human or imagenae?

???: Huh? Don't you get it yet? I'm not even a mechatron.

Sorren: I'm Sorren, Deputy Chief of the Resource Allocation Office at the Department of Aberration Defense. I put on this mechatron as a disguise to escape her pursuit... but I didn't expect it to be so complex that I got myself locked inside.

Sorren: The wind just blew my helmet off, and I can't bend down to pick it up, so now I'm just a straight-up walking target.

Sorren: Perfect timing! Quick, help me get this thing off. Once we make it back to the Department of Aberration Defense, I'll make it worth your while!

Should I call the police for you?

Sorren: Huh? Call the police...? Absolutely not. The last thing we need is the Security Bureau catching wind of this. It would be a disaster for us.

So, who exactly is "she?"

Who exactly is "she?"

Sorren: She's... my ex-girlfriend. No time to explain, just get me out of here, please! I'm begging you!

???: Heh. Swapping your flesh for a mechatron shell? Guess you're done being human, huh?

???: Darling, there's no need to be afraid. Perhaps we can start over, from the moment we first met...

Low, hoarse, icy. The voice is nowhere and everywhere. Like a curse out of a ghost tale, clinging to the air long after it should've faded.

Sorren: D—D—Did you hear that!? She's gonna kill me, she's gonna haunt me forever! Help me, quick! It's your civic duty!

Alright, it's no big deal anyway.

And if I don't wanna help?

Sorren: W—Well... I—I'll just drop dead right here, then! See? I'm a hopeless, useless cog! And you don't want the guilt of some innocent bystander's death on your conscience, do you?

Sorren: Come on, think of it as a good deed for your karma score. Do a guy a solid, (bro/sis), please?

Well, since you put it that way...

(Breaking sound effects over a black screen)

Sorren: Nice job! Now, let's make a run for it. If she catches us, it's over.

(While Sorren runs away)

Sorren: Faster! She'll only lose some Wishpower, but I'm betting my actual life here!

(Trailblazer): (Wishpower... so the one chasing him is an imagenae?)

(Talk to Sorren)

Sorren: Huff... Huff... Looks like we lost her for now. Let's... catch our breath. I can barely run anymore.

Sorren: Oh right, thanks! Really. You did a good thing. Feel free to be proud of yourself!

What was all that about?

Transcription missing

Mind telling me what's actually going on?

Sorren: As you can see, I'm being hunted down by the love of my life. Lately, her face is all I see in my dreams.

Sorren: Her name is Sapone, and she's my girlfriend. It's been almost a month since we met. No one has ever stirred my soul quite this way before.

Sorren: If I am an imagenae, then she is the Phantasmoon that illuminates meDuomension City's No. 1 Romeo. She is my light, my sustenance, my everything.

Sorren: But a few days ago, she suddenly changed into a completely different person, radiating pure hostility. I thought she was just in a bad mood and needed some space. Until this morning, when I woke up from my dream and found her standing by my bed with a knife...

Sorren: This isn't her! Some aberration must have possessed her, to make her desecrate what we had!

Let me get this straight. Is she an imagenae?

Sorren: Yeah... a really pretty one, too. Every story begins with an unexpected encounter. I fell in love at first sight, and she didn't turn me away. Just like that, love blossomed naturally and unexpectedly.

Sorren: Then came the blissful honeymoon phase. I was completely lost in her tenderness. We are just so compatible, or at least she's compatible with me. Somehow, she just hits all my sweet spots perfectly.

Sorren: The heart finds its way back to the same soul, a thousand times, ten thousand. That is the secret that keeps love forever young.

Sorren: Ahem... I digress. It's true, she is an imagenae. But my heart is hers, and that is my truth.

There's an Aberration like that?

Sorren: Yes, my friend, as far as I know, there are. People with twisted hearts sow memetic viruses so recklessly that they warp others' beloved imagenae into dreadful monsters.

Sorren: You know, they are born of Wishpower and raw emotions, so with just a little manipulation, they can become absolutely terrifying. My sweet Sapone must have been used by some bad people!

What do you want to do now?

Sorren: I—I don't know. At this point, all I want is to stay alive.

Sorren: Sapone, my Sapone, why have you become like this... What did our love mean to you...?

Sorren: Eek!

Following his terrified gaze through the noisy crowd, there was a young girl staring coldly at this spot. No expression, no words.

Even on a bustling street, the hatred in that gaze still cut through the air, sending chills down your spine.

Is that the Sapone you were talking about?

Sorren: Yes. Or rather... she was once Sapone, but now, she's nothing but an Aberration consumed by bloodlust.

Sorren: For my sake, and for yours, I'm begging you, stay away.

I'll go talk to her.

Transcription missing

(Talk to Sorren)

Sorren: ...Looks like we lost her. Tch, what a pain. Just give me a break for once!

Friendly Shopkeeper: Oh, perfect timing, Sorren! Sapone just left, and she asked me to pass on a message if you showed up.

Sorren: Eek! She... she she she... knew I'd come!?

Friendly Shopkeeper: Huh? Aren't you two always here on dates? What, you two had a falling out? Ah, never mind. I won't pry into your relationship drama.

Friendly Shopkeeper: Sapone asked me to tell you: "They will always be waiting for you."

Oh? "They?"

Transcription missing

Looks like you've made quite a few mistakes there.

Sorren: Huh? Wait, don't look at me like that. I'm not some playboy flirting around. I swear, I'm just as clueless as you are!

Friendly Shopkeeper: I don't get it either. But since she's back now, why don't we let her explain it herself?

Sorren: ...?

Sorren: Wh—What did you say? She's... back?

Sapone: Yeah. We... have you forgotten? My love, for us, this is a memory "etched into our very souls."

Sorren: Eeeeek!!!

Sorren: She's here! RUN!!!

A violent wave of dizziness hits you, as if you've been sucked into the heart of a vortex.

Legend has it that during the full Phantasmoon, aberrations not only multiply but grow far more dangerous. The girl, however, was perfectly blank-faced, her gaze fixed on the distance as if contemplating the void, or awaiting prey to fall into her trap.

Then, a scream tears through the silence...

Sorren: W—Wait... HELP!!!

(Follow Sorren)

Sapone, Sapone, and more Sapone... Countless Sapones fill your vision, swarms of Sapones crowding the entire street.

Sorren: No... please don't kill me. Help... I beg you...

Sapone: Darling, what's wrong? Why are you running away? Didn't you promise we'd be together forever?

Sorren: I—I did! But that wasn't... this you! Just look at yourself! You're terrifying! How am I supposed to love you like this!?

Sorren: And what did I do wrong!? All I ever wanted was a perfect, eternal love. My love for you was real!

Sorren: Am I wrong? Isn't that what love is all about? Fresh, pure, intoxicating. If anything, you're the one who's asking for too much!

Sorren: YOU'RE the one desecrating our love!!!

Sapone: My love...

Sapone: I love you... I love you every single month.

Sapone: Hey, I love you. Are you listening?

Sorren: Stop yelling... Stop pestering me. Please... okay?

Sorren: Baseball Raccoon, now! Do something! My imagenae creation has gone berserk and turned into a monster. She's trying to kill me!

So you do know me.

Sorren: Anyone who's been on the internet knows who you are! Forget about all that. There's a horde of her! Help me!

You notice that when the title "Baseball Raccoon" is mentioned, the girls named Sapone seem to shift their gaze slightly in your direction.

Sapone... is the imagenae you created?

Sorren: Is there a problem? I created her and then fell in love with her, or the other way around. It doesn't matter. The Faekind Protection Act has long affirmed that true love is possible between humans and imagenae. Besides, she's the only one who can give me the affection I yearn for.

Sorren: Anyway, murder is illegal! You have to help me!

I can contact the Department of Aberration Defense to handle this.

Sorren: Huh? No way, that's where I work! If my colleagues find out about this, I won't be able to face them!

I need to figure out what's exactly going on.

Sorren: Huh? Which part are you confused about? The imagenae turned into aberrations, wreaking havoc on the streets. Isn't that enough?

Sorren: Hey, can't you figure something out with that invincible bat of yours? Taking out a few imagenae should be a piece of cake. Just "wham!" And it's done, right?

Sorren: Or is the Baseball Raccoon just not interested in serving justice for those in need!?

Sapone: ...That's not true!

Seemingly provoked by the words, all Sapones simultaneously raise their hands.

Following Sapone's finger, you spot a weathered drawing board with a faint, flickering canvas.

Sapone: This is... "me." Please take a look at "me."

(Investigate the canvas)

The chaotic colors on the canvas have been layered over so many times that the subject is a total blur. Even so, you can just barely make out a silhouette and a tiny line of text on the edge of the frame.

"To Sapone, the love of my life." At the bottom, the signature "Sorren" is clearly visible.

Sapone: This is... "me." Please take a look at "me."

(Touch the frame)

Intense colors instantly envelop your consciousness, and along with it, besides the pungent smell of ink, there's also a hint of...

...Bitterness intertwined with the scent of ginkgo leaves.

Try to talk to Sapone.

Sapone shows no reaction to your words. Perhaps her consciousness is already fragmented and incomplete, and she has lost the ability to communicate with the outside world. It seems you won't be able to get her opinion on this.

Do nothing.

Sorren: Oh my! She's literally the girl of my dreams! No exaggeration, she checks every box on my romance wishlist.

Sorren: A face as delicate as a painting, genuine and endearing, and most importantly... a heart that loves me absolutely.

Sorren: Ah, love always strikes when you least expect it, and here I am, running right into it! You're amazing, seriously!

Graffi: Hahaha, my principle has always been simple: to satisfy the customers' needs. Whatever you want, I can draw it for you.

Graffi: But you know, private creation is illegal. Risks always come with a price. Huh?

Sorren: Got it. The Department of Aberration Defense licence, guaranteed to be as convincing your illustration skills! What's her name?

Graffi: Names are the first connection. The privilege of naming, of course, should be left to the customer.

Sorren: Hmm. Let me think... think... what do you like?

???: I... like... Sor... ren.

Sorren: Such a direct confession makes my heart race! Ah, a young girl's sweet whispers are always so wonderful, I could listen to them forever!

Sorren: So, next question, what do you want?

???: I... want... Sor... ren... to like me.

Sorren: Alright. If you can forever remain the way I love you, I'll give you all my love without holding anything back.

Sorren: Let's continue. Next question, what kind of person do you want to become?

Graffi: Heh. What, you wanna inspect the goods thoroughly?

Sorren: No, it's not about inspecting goods. It's precisely because she's not merchandise that we need to verify. People are always hardest to see clearly, and the most fickle of all.

???: I... want to... become... someone... Sor... ren... likes.

Sorren: ...

Sorren: Nah. You can't be someone I like.

???: Sor... ren... doesn't like?

Sorren: "Like" is such a fickle word. I want you to be my ideal lover who always thinks two steps ahead.

Sorren: Got it? I might not know what I like, but you have to. Don't worry though, I'll teach you step by step.

???: I'll... do my best.

Graffi: Hahaha, out of all the clients I've had, you're definitely the weirdest one. You look like such a bad boy, but you're super innocent!

Sorren: What I want is the most perfect, everlasting love.

Sorren: Sapone. I'll call you by this name I found in a story. A pure maiden, like a white flower.

Sorren: From now on, your name will be Sapone.

Sapone: Sapone... My name is Sapone.

(Trailblazer): (Is this... Sapone's memory? Maybe I can find some clues about the incident here.)

(Talk to Sapone)

Sapone: This was how Sapone and Sorren first met. Just as Sorren often said...

Sapone: "Every story begins with an unexpected encounter. I fell in love at first sight, and she didn't turn me away. Just like that, love blossomed naturally and unexpectedly."

Sapone: And then came a blissful, indescribable romance.

Sorren: How do you like the gift I prepared for you?

Sapone: I like it. The size fits perfectly, and the fabric is so soft, something really comfortable to wear. The style though... never seen anything like it. Is this the latest trend?

Sorren: Not really. It's a school uniform that students wear to school. If anything, it's more like an outfit that shows your identity.

Sapone: So... Sapone is heading to school then?

Sorren: That would be unnecessary. I'll teach you everything they teach at school, and even more. Besides, according to your character settings, you're already quite smart.

Sapone: Sapone... is smart. But she still can't figure out what Sorren likes.

Sorren: No one can truly explain what they like. "Like" is such an elusive and intangible word.

Sorren: Every day, I'm a brand-new version of myself. I love everything with all my heart, but I can't stop myself from dying over and over again.

Sorren: So just pour your heart into loving what you love right now, and remember it at its most brilliant moment.

Sorren: Meanwhile, I'll keep it in my heart, for as long as I live, the moment when Sapone was at her most beautiful.

Sapone: When Sapone was... at her most beautiful?

Sorren: Hahaha. That's what we'll be doing together from now on: keep exploring and creating until we're satisfied.

Sorren: Alright. Put this outfit on. I really like it.

(Talk to Sapone)

(Going out with Sorren again... What should I wear today?)

Dress to impress.

Sapone: What a unique outfit. I've only seen it in magazines before.

Sapone: I remember Sorren's assessment of it: "Mysterious and dangerous, yet possessing a captivating magic."

Sapone: Sapone... doesn't understand. Am I supposed to wear this today?

Dress to impress.

Let's think about it.

Try a more mature look.

Sapone: This kind of somewhat mature outfit appears on TV all the time.

Sapone: I remember Sorren wasn't too fond of it. His comment at the time was: "Life is a process of gradually becoming boring, and I don't want that."

Sapone: Sapone... doesn't understand. Am I supposed to wear this today?

Try a more mature look.

Let's think about it.

Keep it casual.

Sapone: An outfit perfect for going out. You can see people wearing it on the street through the window.

Sapone: I remember Sorren dismissed it with contempt, leaving only a brief comment: "Boring."

Sapone: Sapone... doesn't understand. Am I supposed to wear this today?

Keep it casual.

Let's think about it.

Sorren: ...Sapone? Sapone? Haven't you changed yet? Hurry up, I made a reservation at the restaurant.

(Talk to Sorren)

Sorren: Sapone, are you ready? We should head out.

Sapone: Hmm. I found some nice clothes in the closet. Sorren... do you like them?

Sorren: ...

Sapone: Sorren... doesn't like?

Sorren: Eh, it's passable. It suits you, but something feels off about it. Can't quite put my finger on it... ah, whatever, let's just go with it.

Sapone: ...Okay.

Sapone: I'll get the bag for going out, the one you bought me last week. You said you really liked it.

Sorren: With that bag... In that case, Sapone, I've got an idea. Why don't you switch back to your original outfit?

Sorren: It matches better with the bag and suits the current weather. Yeah, I like that set today.

Sapone: ...Okay.

Friendly Shopkeeper: Hey, Sorren, out shopping with Sapone again? What would you like to drink today?

Sorren: Just plain lemon tea will do. Remember, no sugar at all. Sweets would only dilute my sense of happiness.

Friendly Shopkeeper: Hahaha, there you go again, talking like a philosopher! Hey, Sapone, want the same fresh milk as last time?

Sapone: (...Last time? Have I been to this store before?)

Sure, I'll have some fresh milk.

Sorren: Repeating the past would be too boring. Let's give her some lemon tea. Today's perfect for a taste of something sour.

What do you mean by... last time?

Sorren: Don't you remember? We came to this shop last month. Let's give her some lemon tea. Today's perfect for a taste of something sour.

Friendly Shopkeeper: Huh? Did I remember wrong? I thought Sapone was a girl with a major sweet tooth, or was it you who ordered that extra-sweet drink for her?

Sorren: That was last month. It's totally normal to change your favourite tastes. If anything, it'd be weird if they never changed at all.

Sapone: But I... I don't remember...

Sorren: Don't overthink it. What does love look like to you, Sapone?

It's sweet, like milk with sugar.

Sorren: An interesting analogy with beverages, but my dear Sapone, you seem to have overlooked the most fundamental aspect of the question.

It's sour, like a bitter lemon tea.

Transcription missing

It's colorless and tasteless, just like purified water.

Sorren: An interesting analogy with beverages, but my dear Sapone, you seem to have overlooked the most fundamental aspect of the question.

I don't know...

Transcription missing

Sorren: Now, you and I are together, and that's what love is about. Pure love doesn't need any external definition.

Sorren: Forget those materialistic, shallow thoughts and what others might say. If you heart tells you it's love, then it's love.

(Is this love?)

(What does my heart tell me?)

Sorren: Sapone? Sapone? Spacing out during a conversation isn't polite. I don't like that.

Sapone: Hmm. I like being with Sorren.

Friendly Shopkeeper: Tsk tsk, stop flaunting your love in front of me. You two are always in the honeymoon phase whenever I see you. Hey, Sorren, what's your secret?

Sorren: Hahaha, it's nothing special. Just putting my heart and soul into nurturing my love life!

(Talk to Sapone)

Sapone: This was the love story between Sapone and Sorren. Just as Sorren often said...

Sapone: "We are just so compatible, or at least she's compatible with me. Somehow, she just hits all my sweet spots perfectly."

Sapone: However, when the tide of passion recedes, fatigue quickly surfaces.

Sapone: Sorren, let's go shopping together! Look, I'm wearing the clothes you like, and I'll bring along the bag you gave me.

Sorren: We'll talk about that later. I've got a gaming session lined up.

Sapone: ...All right.

Sapone: Oh right! That comic you like got updated. When you're free, let's go to the bookstore together and get it. I can't wait to see what happens in the raccoon's story.

Sorren: Oh that? Well, I already saw it online.

Sapone: ...

Sapone: Want something to drink? I'll go get it for you. Still your lemon tea without sugar, yes?

Sorren: I'm sick of drinking that. Can you just leave me alone?

Sapone: ...All right.

Sapone: (Sorren doesn't like being disturbed. Hmm, I'm not sure what to do... I guess I'll watch some TV.

(Kill Time)

Hostess: Welcome to today's episode of Please Be Happy, where YOU define what HAPPINESSElation truly means! And now, please welcome our guest awaiting transformation...

Hostess: Ah... sorry, breaking news: Our guest has already turned into a wispae before making it to broadcast day. But no worries! Our show never runs short on funny experts. Let's welcome our next guest!

Sapone: (... What a weird show, but it's good enough to kill some time.)

Sorrowful Lightpaw: *sob* Without a doubt, I've lived a failed feline life. That day, I met the most beautiful bird in the world, caught it, and locked it up in a cage.

Sorrowful Lightpaw: As you know, I'm the smartest lightpaw in the world, and I know exactly how to take care of birds. I treated it well, I swear! But... but... tragedy struck anyway...

Hostess: Please don't tell me you ate it...

Sorrowful Lightpaw: No, it tried to eat ME! Just yesterday morning, I opened the cage like usual to groom it, but that bird, that stupid bird, pecked off my precious ear!

Sorrowful Lightpaw: And now, I'm missing an ear. My body will forever bear the scars of being mauled by a pet!

Hostess: Ah, you should've known that some birds just can't be caged. Every feather on them shines with the light of freedom.

Hostess: But tell me, are you happy right now?

Sorrowful Lightpaw: Is this some kind of dark humor!?

Hostess: Never mind! Thanks for sharing! Thanks to your painful experience, our viewers have got some happinessElation! A lightpaw getting owned by a pet bird, that's soooo hilarious! HAHAHA!

Sorrowful Lightpaw: Not cool! Oh, you're so dead!!

Hostess: Hey, no fighting here! Take it in front of the camera if you insist... This is Please Be Happy, and I'm your dedicated reporter bringing you the latest!

Sorren: You're too noisy! Can't you stay quiet!? Did you forget everything I taught you? Being obedient is the most important thing!

Sapone: But Sorren clearly said last time... that you don't like puppets or passivity, that one needs to have their own thoughts...

Sorren: That was then, and this is now! Are you some mindless machine that only does as she's told? Can't you think for yourself at all?

Sorren: If you can't even figure out what I want, what good are you to me!?

Sapone: S—So... I'm sorry...

Sorren: Huff...

Sorren: Sapone, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I know. You were doing the best you could.

Sapone: Huh? What... What's that supposed to mean?

Sorren: I'm going out for a bit. I need some space to think.

(Approach Sorren)

Sapone: Do you remember? The day you gave me this outfit, I said I wanted to see what life at school was like, so you brought me here.

Sapone: It must be so nice being a student. You get to join clubs, make a bunch of friends, and best of all... their lives are always changing.

Sapone: Oh, that's not to say I'm not happy right now. Being with you makes me very happy.

Sorren: ...

Sorren: Sapone, do you ever wish your life would change?

Why... are you suddenly asking me this?

Sorren: We've been together for almost a month. I think we should know each other on a deeper level now. Go on, I really want to know what you think.

I... want a quiet, happy life.

I suppose... trying something new could be nice.

Sorren: But life doesn't work that way, does it? Change is always coming. That's just how it is, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Sorren: Not for me, not for you, and not for the love we share.

I... want a quiet, happy life.

Transcription missing

I suppose... trying something new could be nice.

Transcription missing

Sapone: Could we... talk about something else?

Sorren: Sapone. We should break up.

Sorren: I'm bored. And you're not the person I fell in love with anymore. Let's just remember each other at our best. Dragging this out will only drain us both, so let's end it here. Okay?

Sapone: Could you tell me... what it is about me you don't like?

Sorren: There isn't one. I can't think of a single thing. And that's exactly why I hate this relationship.

Sorren: You're too perfect. Everything about you is exactly what I like. Your style, your favorite drinks, the comics you read, the shows you laugh at... it all fits my tastes perfectly.

Sorren: It's like reading a book I've already finish a dozen times. There are no surprises. I hate it.

Sapone: ...

Sorren: What I want is a perfect love that lasts forever. If a romance is about to turn sour, I'd rather end it when it's at its most beautiful.

Sorren: That's just love. When you stop feeling it in your heart, it's already gone. You can't hold onto it, no matter what.

Sapone: But I... I... I never even had a choice!

Sorren: I know, I know. I taught you so much, but I forgot to teach you one last lesson.

Sorren: I heard what they said on the TV that day. A bird isn't meant to be kept in a cage. And the lesson I have for you...

Sorren: ...is freedom.

Sorren: And so, I'm setting you free. We had a wonderful month together. And now, you must learn to live for yourself.

Sorren: Go on, embrace the world. Find your own happiness. Enjoy the life that is yours alone.

Sorren: And finally... forget me.

(Talk to Sorren)

Sorren: No, this isn't the path for you. Turn back. Find your happiness.

Sorren: Go now. I'll be wishing the very best for you, and the future that awaits you.

(Approach mission location)

Sapone: I'm... I'm free? But now that I've left him... how do I even start to live my own life?

Sapone: I don't know. But I remember what they said on The Fluffy... "To Trailblaze is to cast aside all fear and uncertainty, and forge a new path."

Sapone: And perhaps... I can do that, too.

Sapone: I can get a job at the drink shop to get by. I'm sure the owner wouldn't turn me down.

Sapone: I've got a ton of clothes I can sell for some cash. And I know how to make tea, arrange flowers, and cook... all of that must be useful for something.

Sapone: I want to go to school, too. And join clubs, and make new friends... I want to chat with everyone about all the popular shows and comic.

Sapone: And I want to...!

The wind whips the leaves into a frenzy, swallowing the girl's figure from sight, and with it, all her boundless hopes for the future.

As the leaves drift away, nothing is left at the end of the road but the wispae scattered across the ground.

The girl named "Sapone", and all the words she never had the chance to speak, are gone without a trace.

Sorren: ...

Sorren: Hahaha... Mwahahahahahaha!

Sorren: Goodbye, Sapone. My dearest love. I'll always remember you... at your most beautiful.

Sorren: See you tomorrow, Sapone.

(Approach mission location)

Sorren: I realised a long time ago that nothing lasts forever. Cup noodles expire, VStreamers lose their fame, the feeling of "like" is fickle, and even a legally created lifeform changes based on the nature of its Wishpower.

Sorren: Is there anything in this world that truly lasts?

Sorren: That's why I gave up chasing "forever". What I want now is a perfect love that never ends.

Sorren: If our love starts to sour, I'll just get a new one.

Graffi: You're aware that an unauthorized imagenae can't draw on much Wishpower, right? They don't last long at all. Are you sure you want to love her?

Sorren: How long will she last?

Graffi: A month, maybe. Could be less. And no amount of money will change that. This is the absolute limit of what I can do.

Sorren: That's more than enough time to love. But I have one condition: give me the original copy of the art.

Graffi: You... You're not thinking of...

Graffi: You're a monster! Even the Fools would be appalled by this twisted schemeElation of yours!

Sorren: Nothing lasts forever. Not life, not Wishpower, and certainly not love. So...

Sorren: ...before she expires, before the love runs dry, just as I'm getting tired of her... I'll have her remade. Simple, isn't it?

Sorren: And so, my love will be... perfectly pure, absolutely perfect, and it will never end.

(Talk to Sapone)

Sapone: And that was the cycle of goodbye and reunions for "Sapone" and Sorren. Just as Sorren often said...

Sapone: "You always end up falling for the same person, again and again. A thousand times over, even ten thousand times over."

Sapone: What followed was a long and arduous path to redemption.

(Talk to Sapone on the left)

Sapone: Hello? Hi, is this the Please Be Happy show? Yes... I have a rather... unique experience I'd like to share.

Sapone: Yes... I'm sure it's just what you're looking for. It's tragic, full of pathos, the kind of thing that will have your audience in tears. And no, I'm not making it up.

Sapone: The talk show next week? Yes, I can do that. My schedule is open, so I have plenty of time. Great, let's be in touch.

Sapone: Yes, I'll be sure to tell the whole world what I've been through... and what he really is. Thank you.

(Talk to Sapone on the right)

Sapone: Hi, I was wondering... which way is it to the Security Bureau?

Sapone: Straight down the street, turn left, go all the way to the end, then another left... Got it.

Sapone: Right. I don't get out much, so I'm not familiar with the area. Yeah... Something bad happened, and I need to find some help.

Sapone: Thank you. But it's okay, it's not far from here. I can manage on my own. Goodbye.

(Talk to Sapone on the left)

Sapone: To all the other "Sapones" out there.

Sapone: I found it at home, the canvas Sorren kept hidden. It turns out none of us can live for more than a month.

Sapone: It's not use destroying the original copy. He can just keep creating us as long as he wants. But I found a way to track down the artist's address: Graffi, the one who made us.

Sapone: I don't know if she will help us, but at the very least, I have to pass this information on. I can't remember how long I've existed, or how much time I have left until the month is up. It can't be more than a few minutes now.

Sapone: But if another Sapone finds this information, then we have all the time in the world. He has timed it perfectly, only letting us go at the very last second. No one can help us but ourselves, the other "Sapones."

Sapone: You can do it, Sapone.

(Talk to Sapone on the right)

Sapone: To all the other "Sapones" out there.

Sapone: It was like something out of a story. I woke up from a dream, opened the mailbox outside just like any other day, and found a letter addressed to "Sapone" tucked away beneath a stack of junk mail.

Sapone: After reading the letter, it all made sense. It was just like the warning on the envelope: "Whatever you do, do not trust Sorren."

Sapone: It's too late now. My time is almost up. I hate that I didn't find this sooner, but there's still a chance to set things right.

Sapone: I've copied the letter's contents and hid it somewhere he would never look. No one knows him better than I do.

Sapone: To the next "Sapone": please, you have to find this.

(Talk to Sapone)

Graffi: ...

Graffi: Incredible! So that's why you showed up with a bag full of notes? I've never seen such a powerful will to live.

Graffi: Tell me. What can I do for you?

Sapone: I want to take revenge on him. I want to claim justice for all the "Sapones" whose lives he wasted.

Graffi: Even if it means using up all your remaining Wishpower, losing your mind, and becoming a horrifying monster that everyone despises?

Sapone: Yes. I don't care. I'd rather be utterly destroyed than live as his plaything.

Graffi: Ooh, interesting. I can help you with that. Come on, stand before this canvas...

Graffi: And just like that, your wish shall be granted.

Your consciousness suddenly snaps back to reality, like waking up from drowning in a deep, lightless abyss.

Sapone, Sapone, and more Sapone... Countless Sapones fill your vision, swarms of Sapones crowding the entire street.

But now you understand this isn't some random aberration, but a long-drawn revenge orchestrated by the voiceless.

Sapone: ...

All the Sapones are still reaching out into the void, and at this moment, you decide to...

Hold Sapone's hand.

(Trailblazer): (Granting Sapone's wish means turning a blind eye to Sorren. Am I ready for that?)

He deserves it.

(Continue on to dialogue below)

Let's think about it.

Contact the Department of Aberration Defense security officer.

(Trailblazer): (Leaving it to the authorities means stopping Sapone's actions. Am I ready for that?)

He should face legal consequences.

(Continue on to dialogue below)

Let's think about it.

(If Sapone is chosen)

Sapone: ...

(Trailblazer): I'm leaving the rest to you... Sapone.

You seem to see Sapone nodding gently at you, indicating she heard you. Though, you might have just imagined it.

Sorren ...

Sorren: Ha. I've heard that love is like a tangerine. Even when its inside has rotted, the outside still keeps the shape of happiness.

Sorren: But I disagree with that. Most people's love has long since died, yet I merely let it end at its most mesmerizing moment, and then let it rise from the ashes. What I seek is the purest, most perfect love. This has always been my approach, always.

Sorren: This is my life's answer, my Elation!

Realizing the inevitable end, Sorren lets out his final cry in front of his former lover.

Either way, you choose to turn away, no longer interested in watching how this absurd show plays out. After all...

(Trailblazer): He, and they... I guess they all got what they wanted.

A few days later...

Ashveil: You're here...

Ashveil: Word from the Security Bureau is that there's been a massive Aberration event lately. An imagenae called Sapone split herself into multiple copies and caused quite a ruckus.

Ashveil: The aberration subsided quickly, causing no real damage. But she had drawn enough attention. Following the leads, they found the evidence right at the scene: A package stuffed with envelopes.

Ashveil: That artist turned herself in. She probably planned this from the start. Maybe she got on someone's bad side and needed to lie low for a while.

Ashveil: That official who illegally created imagenae, Sorren, has vanished. Is he alive or dead? We don't have an answer right now.

Ashveil: ...

Ashveil: What do you know about this?

I don't know anything!

I bet he's definitely a bad person.

Ashveil: Alright then.

Ashveil: If anyone from the Security Bureau asks what you were doing that night, just tell them you were having hand-stretched noodles with me.

(Mission completed)

(Unlock Achievement Dandelion's Judgment)

(If the Department of Aberration Defense is chosen)

Sapone: ...

(Trailblazer): I know you hate him, but vigilante justice won't solve anything. Let the law handle the punishment, which is what real justice looks like.

(Trailblazer): Besides, making this incident public will help prevent tragedies like yours from happening again.

(Trailblazer): I promise, he won't escape the punishment he deserves.

Sapone: ...

You seem to see Sapone nodding gently at you, indicating her approval. Though, you might have just imagined it.

Sorren: ...

Sorren: Ha. I've heard that love is like a tangerine. Even when its inside has rotted, the outside still keeps the shape of happiness.

Sorren: But I disagree with that. Most people's love has long since died, yet I merely let it end at its most mesmerizing moment, and then let it rise from the ashes. What I seek is the purest, most perfect love. This has always been my approach, always.

Sorren: This is my life's answer, my Elation. I have no regrets.

(Trailblazer): Save your words for the tribunal. No one here cares what you think.

Regardless, you choose to take out your phone and tell the officer everything that happened, about an official who trampled on humanity for his own selfish desires, and about an imagenae who underwent cruel abuse.

Saphone just stares at you in silence until you hang up the phone, and until the cars of the Department of Aberration Defense come wailing in.

Then, before you can notice it, she quietly dissolves into wispae, scattering across the ground.

Where the easel once stood, there is now a package full of envelopes. You know those are all evidence of the crime.

(Trailblazer): Thank you, Sapone. In the end, you chose to trust me.

Kuchiba: *sigh* Netizens never let even the tiniest bit of gossip slip by. But what can you do? That's just how things are in Planarcadia.

Kuchiba: Back to the case you reported. Sorren was sort of an acquaintance of mine. You know, the kind you exchange greetings with at the office. When this whole thing blew up, the entire building was in uproar. And me? Well, I finally got to scratch that itch of arresting a colleague.

Kuchiba: Although the verdict hasn't been handed down yet, barring any surprises, he'll be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Please never reduce his sentence.

Kuchiba: Plus, since that artist turned herself in voluntarily, all the public outrage is focused on him. Even if he's released, those self-proclaimed justice warriors would probably go after him.

Kuchiba: *sigh* Well, I guess that's what happens when you're obsessed with Elation.

(Mission completed)

(Unlock Achievement The Crime is "Love")