Episode 3
"The Revival"
Ding-Dong!
"Did you hear that, everyone? The votes are in! Time to see who gets the special prize!" A red curtain appeared around the group onstage, and Yumemi took center stage again. The group would find
all powers and weapons gone once again.
"It's too bad I can't give everyone a prize…every act was fantastic! We have such talented people here! But, there can only be two winners, and they are…"
I-No snapped her fingers, and a drumroll played, as smoke appeared on either side of Yumemi, when the smoke cleared, there stood…
"Maria Ushiromiya and Yumeko Jabami! Let's give them a hand!"
The audience went wild, cheering and hollering for the two girls.
"Good job, girls! Maria, that magic act was so much fun! And Yumeko, that memory trick of yours was something else! Now, I-No will present you both with your special immunity-"
"Actually…about that."
Yumeko stepped forward.
"If it's okay…I would like to use that prize now."
"Eh? Really?? But you haven't lost a game yet!"
"No…I haven't. But, if this power can be used to give someone a second chance at life…would I be able to bring someone back from the dead with it?"
The crowd erupted into a fit of gasps and murmurs. Even Yumemi was stunned speechless.
"U-Uh…I don't know…"
On I-No's face, however, was a smile.
"Ooh, a challenge. I like it. Tell me, sweetheart, who would be getting a reprise here?"
"On the plane here, my friend died in a crash. She never knew what hit her... More than anything, I would like Mary Saotome to return from the dead!"
"And you're okay with giving up your immunity over this?"
"Absolutely! Besides…immunity is quite boring, don't you think? Sitting on the sidelines…it's more like a punishment to me than anything. In fact, it makes the threat of death when losing much better by comparison."
"I mean, if you say so…" I-No shrugged.
"But whatever. One resurrection, coming right up."
Taking the stage, I-No began shredding on her guitar.
That same neon electricity everyone had witnessed on the plane returned, surrounding them all. A cloud of blue and black began to form onstage, growing stronger and stronger with each note I-No played. The audience, the group, Yumemi…all were completely mesmerized by the musical spell-even Leeds in the back watched with his jaw slightly ajar. I-No cut the last note off abruptly, and the cloud vanished, in its place a person fell to the ground. Could it be…?
"MARY!!!"
Yumeko tackled her friend to the ground, hugging her tight.
"I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Wha-Yumeko! What's going on?!" Mary shoved her friend off, a look of pure shock on her face.
"Where have you been?! Do you have any idea what I had to go through-"
"I know! Dying must have been quite the ordeal! Does this mean there truly is an other side?"
"Wait...what did you say?"
"Hm? Oh, you know, like Heaven or Hell-"
"No no no, before that. What do you mean I died? I never died!"
Now Yumeko was the shocked one.
"What? But I saw your body myself!"
"That can't be right! I was suddenly alone, then forced to babysit some little turtle thing, and…a-and…oh, come on!"
Yumeko frowned.
"…it's your memory, isn't it?"
"What else would it be?!" Mary groaned and rubbed her temples.
"This is getting ridiculous…"
"Oh dear…how sad! But at least you're alive, Mary! That was incredible!" Yumemi turned to the group.
"You all have some boats to catch, so I'll let you all go. But thank you again for blessing us with your amazing talents!"
The audience echoed with a round of applause as the Pianta police ushered the group offstage. The sound of pop idol music could be heard as they headed back to the boats-with some powerful guitar added in.
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"Whew, what a show! I feel like I need a cigarette after that one…" In Yumemi's dressing room, I-No stretched, before taking a seat on Yumemi's vanity. Everywhere else was loaded with flowers and gifts from her fans, and Yumemi sat on the only chair available.
"That's the regular life of an idol! Hard work day in and day out…but it's all worth it in the end!"
Materializing a nail file, I-No idly started to file her nails.
"I bet. Maintaining that little persona of yours must be hard, too."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, honey. The only person that chipper all the time is a cartoon character. I wanna see the real you."
"…" After a moment, Yumemi smiled. It wasn't like any smile she'd given before; this one was cruel.
"Fine then. You want the true me? Here I am!" Her voice changed as well-deeper and far less inviting.
"God, I needed a break! It was so hard to be nice to those freaks! Those damned weirdos…no wonder we're killing them off. Well…not really kill, I guess…" She snickered.
"But they'll wish they were dead, once they know the truth! If they ever get to know the truth...which they probably never will! Hahahaha!"
"Oooh, you're a feisty one. I think I like the real you a lot more than that fake persona you put on."
"Yeah, well, those fans of mine like fake me. And if I'm going to get anywhere as an idol, I need to make that as real as I can." She picked up a present on her vanity and started opening it.
I-No examined her nails.
"You did a good job, dear. I mean, I was convinced. Us girls have to play nice if we want to make it in the world…"
"Oh please, give me a break. You're not nice at all. You have those powers to help you. I don't have that-all I have is a charade." The present turned out to be a jewelry box, which had a choker inside. Yumemi put it on, admiring herself in the mirror.
"Mmhmm…" I-No read the little card Yumemi had carelessly tossed to the floor with the wrapping paper.
"Well, considering the next game host, I look like a saint. Remind me, how many people are dying?"
Yumemi turned to look at her, a sadist smile on her face.
"Six people are dying next. And none of them have any idea."
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This time, there was one big boat for the group to get on and one smaller. "Today, we'll have you go to two places:
Gelato Beach, and
Sirena Beach. The only place needing cleanup is Sirena Beach-after the work you did earlier, we wanted to give you all the option to take a break!"
"That's very kind of you! Mary, maybe I can help you understand our situation if you come with me!"
"Fine by me. Considering someone is toying with my mind, I could use all the help I can get. Everything is so confusing…" With that, Mary and Yumeko boarded the small boat to Sirena Beach. Where everyone else decided to go, however, was up to them.
(Tag
@Yun Lee for Sirena Beach, and
@Mason Moretti and
@thatguyinthestore for Gelato Beach.)
Starring:
@Archmage Jeremiah as
Risky Boots (Shantae)
@Bucky as
Honoka Kousaka (Love Live!)
@Cromartie Sarkissian as
Tony Stark (The Superior Iron Man)
@Crow as
Ernesti Echavalier (Knights & Magic)
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as
Kars (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
@dark as
Colonel Mael Radec (Killzone)
@Gummi Bunnies as
Maria Ushiromiya (Umineko no Naku Koro ni
@J A Y F R OM T H E 6 I X as
Toshinori Yagi (Boku no Hero Academia)
@Jeremi as
The Fourth Doctor (Doctor Who)
@Kaykay as
Hina (Hinamatsuri)
@Kentucky as
Peter Parker (The Amazing Spiderman)
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as
Yusuke Kitagawa (Persona 5)
@LuckycoolHawk9 as
Rita Hanson (Groundhog Day: The Musical)
@Mari as
Yamashiro (KanColle)
@Midnight Maiden as
Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
@Minerva as
Ritsuka Fujimura (Fate/Grand Order)
@Otto as
Talon (League of Legends)
@ShiroKiyoshi as
Kusanagi (Phantom of the Kill)
@Takumi as
Yato (Noragami)
@thatguyinthestore as
Shantae (Shantae)
@The Myrmidon as
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death (Magic: the Gathering)
@Verite as
Gon Freeces (Hunter X Hunter)
@York as
Ami Kawashima (Toradora!)
@Yun Lee as
Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)
In Memoriam
Mary Saotome - HIT ON THE HEAD! REVIVED BY THE POWER OF ROCK!
Nagihiko Fujisaki - IMPALED!
Starlow - TURNED TO DUST!
