『 [ Everyone, the time for the Charmony Festival draws near. We must reach the finish line as quickly as possible… ]
[ Considering efficiency and safety, moving in pairs is the best option. ]
[ March and I haven't known Miss Hotaru for long, and we aren't familiar with one another… ]
[ It might be safer for Stelle to pair up with her. ]
Before the competition began, Himeko was drafting a plan.
[ I have no objections, let's do it! ]
March 7th had no qualms with Himeko's proposal.
[ Mhm, I'm fine with that too. ]
Hotaru nodded.
[ With me here, we're guaranteed to crush it. ]
Seeing this, Stelle patted her chest in assurance.
[ Then that's the grouping. Let's pick up the pace, everyone. ]』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hanabi: "Heehee~, the little gray-hair is quite confident!"
Hanabi: "Are you really that sure you can clear these stages?"
Stelle: "Of course. Absolute, guaranteed victory."
Qingque: "I get it now. You do the 'gaga' (squawking), and Miss Hotaru handles the 'crushing it,' right?"
(It's a CN Pun/Meme)
Stelle: "Damn, why you gotta go and speak the truth like that?!"
March 7th: "Eh—?!"
March 7th: "So that's what you meant by 'crushing it' all this time?!"
March 7th: "That is so lame!"
Stelle: "What are you talking about!"
Stelle: "Being able to 'gaga' is a skill in itself!"
Paimon: "That's right, being able to 'gaga' is definitely a skill."
Paimon: "I, Paimon, am very good at 'gaga'!"
Lumine: "Gaga—machine—gaga?"
Paimon: "Hehehe… isn't that just how it is?"
Hotaru: "Uh… if it's combat… I'm quite good at that."
Hotaru: "But obstacle courses… I've never participated in anything like that before."
Stelle: "It's my first time too, you know."
Stelle: "It's all a small matter."
Stelle: "Just a measly obstacle course. Can it really be harder than combat?"
Hotaru: "I… I'll handle the 'gaga' part then…"
Hotaru: "I'll leave the obstacle course to you…"
Stelle: "That works too. I'll definitely crush these stages!"
....
『 Himeko and March 7th headed toward another competition site.
Meanwhile, Stelle and Hotaru walked toward the entrance of the first stage.
[ Welcome to the 20th Annual, 33rd Session of the Sandstorm Festival, sponsored by the SoulGlad Co., Ltd., Stage One: Dreamplay Fantasia! ]
[ In this stage, you can choose between two challenges: The School of Acting or the School of Action. ]
[ In the School of Acting challenge, you have to complete three performances from three scripts and move the panel judges.. ]
[ In the School of Action challenge, you have to defeat three groups of enemies convincingly and reach the end. ]
[ Now—make your choice! ]
After the two reached the entrance, the guide who had been waiting there explained the rules of the first stage in detail and asked them to make a choice.
[ Let's go with the Acting Challenge then. ]
Stelle and Hotaru discussed it for a moment and finally decided to choose the Acting challenge, which they hadn't experienced before.
And so, the two of them boarded the track car and arrived at the site of the Acting challenge. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "I thought Miss Stelle and the others would choose the Action challenge."
Hu Tao: "I didn't expect them to choose the Acting challenge in the end."
Hotaru: "Actually, I also thought the Action challenge might be simpler for us."
Stelle: "But fighting all the time isn't that interesting, right?"
Stelle: "Don't you guys want to see our performance?"
Paimon: "True, combat is fun, but it's just 'bang,' 'zap,' 'whoosh,' and then it's over."
Paimon: "But in terms of spectacle… a performance should be more interesting to watch, right?"
Lumine: "Good grief, Paimon, since when did you get so good at using adjectives?"
Lumine: "That's actually quite descriptive…"
Silver Wolf: "Being able to see Hotaru perform, that's a super-duper rare occurrence."
Silver Wolf: "I can only say, you made a great choice!!"
Hotaru: "I… I don't know how to act…"
Hotaru: "Will I make a fool of myself?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Don't worry, Miss Hotaru."
Furina de Fontaine: "No actor is born knowing how to do it."
Furina de Fontaine: "Everyone has to learn and improve gradually."
Furina de Fontaine: "So no one will laugh at you."
Navia Caspar: "That's right, we're really looking forward to Miss Hotaru and Miss Stelle's performance."
Hotaru: "Mhm… then I hope our performance can satisfy everyone…"
....
『 [ The Dreamplay Stage, if you have a dream, come on in! ]
[ Welcome to the Acting challenge stage! ]
[ Please take the stage and move the judges with your sincere performance! ]
[ The next Cosmic Star of Penacony— could be you! ]
After arriving at the challenge site, a grand broadcast voice echoed in Stelle and Hotaru's ears.
Following that, the two began to follow the instructions toward the stage.
[ Two contestants, let me introduce the rules of this stage to you. ]
[ There are three stages ahead. ]
[ On each stage, you can pick up a script summary. ]
[ These three scripts are all written by the film tycoon, the Clockmaker, depicting various anecdotes from the pioneering era of Penacony. ]
[ You need to imagine the scene at the time, say the appropriate lines, and give a fitting performance, allowing the judges to feel the emotions the script intends to convey. ]
[ Wishing you complete success! ]
[ By the way, the highest score record for this stage was set by a red-haired contestant. ]
[ Their exquisite acting skills actually moved even the most rigorous judge to tears, and they highly praised it—'It didn't even look like acting!' ]
Before the stage, the guide explained the detailed rules to Stelle and Hotaru, and incidentally told them some news about other contestants.
[ Ah… haha… the situation is urgent, let's make it quick, Stelle. ]』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "A red-haired contestant?"
March 7th: "Why did I inexplicably think of someone?"
Stelle: "I thought of him, too."
Stelle: "Oh~ my dearest friend, could it be you?"
Argenti: "Dearest friend, are you calling for me?"
Argenti: "But alas, I am currently still on the path of seeking Beauty, and I do not know if I will be participating in this obstacle course."
March 7th: "Uh… I get the feeling it's almost certainly this guy."
Silver Wolf: "Ha, a Knight of Beauty doing something like this?"
Silver Wolf: "That's really interesting…"
Argenti: "Wherever there is beauty, there shall be the presence of us Knights of Beauty."
Argenti: "Praise Idrila!"
....
『 [ Oh, look at this lovely pair, they have such star quality! ]
[ Since you are a duo, I shall prepare a two-person scene for you! ]
[ You two—are you ready? ]
After Stelle and Hotaru stepped onto the stage, the judge immediately spoke to them.
[ We are ready. ]
The two looked at each other and nodded together.
[ Now, imagine the two of you have received the call of the Pioneers, stepping onto the dreamland of Penacony for the first time. ]
[ But here, the sandstorms are raging, it's a barren wasteland, not the paradise the Watchmaker spoke of at all! ]
[ You are driving an old, dilapidated car in the wilderness of the dream, drinking in the cold wind, choking on the yellow sand, and having your path blocked by a vicious Memory Zone Meme… ]
[ Now—Stelle, what kind of line would express your disappointment with Penacony? ]
After the line judge gave Stelle the imagined scenario, he asked her to perform.
[ Great! I love a thrilling life! ]
Stelle fantasized about the scene the judge mentioned in her mind and began to get a bit excited.
[ That's not right… You're supposed to be acting disappointed, why are you so excited… ]
Hotaru watched Stelle's performance and felt it didn't fit the theme of disappointment at all.
[ "Oh, then I'll change the line." ]
[ "What a vicious creature! Just ram into it!" ]
After Hotaru's reminder, Stelle fantasized about what that Memory Zone Meme looked like in her mind and started to show a vicious expression.
[ Um….. is that how you usually express disappointment…. ]
Hotaru felt that Stelle, this time, still hadn't expressed her disappointment.
[ Disappointed.. ]
[ I get it! ]
[ What kind of hellhole is this! ]
[ The Watchmaker is a fraud!! ]
Stelle thought for a while and finally understood how to act out disappointment.
She directly showed a dejected expression, then cursed the Clockmaker.
[ Excellent! Next, although you are very disappointed, your partner is instead very excited. ]
[ Now! This young lady, you will say— ]
The line judge gave Stelle an approving look, then looked at Hotaru.
[ Th-that's great! ]
[ I like this kind of… thr-thrilling life! ]
Hotaru used an excited tone, trying her best to read aloud the line Stelle had just said.
It was just that her acting was a bit clumsy and stiff.』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Haha, Miss Stelle and Miss Hotaru's performance is so interesting."
Furina de Fontaine: "Although it doesn't look very professional, the emotions are quite abundant!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Especially Miss Stelle's vicious look, it seems she really got into the role!"
Stelle: "It's just acting, simple, anyone can do it."
Hotaru: "Mhm… I feel like my performance was a bit stiff."
Silver Wolf: "Stiff isn't the word, you just looked too dorky...…."
Silver Wolf: "I'm telling you, you should have worn the armor to perform. That way, you would have definitely let loose."
Hu Tao: "Wear the SAM armor to perform….?"
Hu Tao: "Oh no... my brain just imagined that scene all on its own!"
March 7th: "I've got the image in my head too!"
March 7th: "Oh my god, I don't know why, but I feel like it fits perfectly!"
Stelle: "Hehehe, that contrast is absolutely perfect!"
Hotaru: "Y-you guys, stop imagining weird things in your heads!!"
Silver Wolf: "Who told you not to perform for us in reality?"
Silver Wolf: "Then we have no choice but to imagine it ourselves."
....
『 [ Okay, very excited! ]
[ And then to the next act of the story—you found a job repairing the railway, but after working day and night, physically exhausted, you finally collapsed deep in the desert.... ]
[ Suddenly! ]
[ The rain falling from the sky moistens your lips, awakening your fighting spirit. ]
[ Now—Stelle, what kind of line is best to express your surprise at this moment? ]
The line judge gave the second scenario, asking Stelle to perform.
[ Might as well let me die of thirst! ]
Stelle didn't follow the prompt, instead showing a look of deep resentment.
Because after she imagined that scene for a moment, she felt very unhappy.
[ That's not right….. this line doesn't sound very surprised either. ]
Hotaru shook her head, not seeing Stelle's surprise.
[ Sigh, maybe we're just destined to fail….. ]
Stelle's face changed from deep resentment to disappointment.
[ The prompt has changed! You're supposed to act surprised now, not disappointed.... ]
Hotaru reminded her again.
[ Yay, Penacony is truly full of opportunities!! ]
Stelle acted like she was changing faces; after Hotaru's reminder, she immediately transformed from a disappointed expression to one of extreme ecstasy.
[ But at this moment, your partner looks up at the sky, closing her eyes. ]
[ The raindrops fall, and her vision is blurred, she says sadly— ]
It was Hotaru's turn to perform again.
[ M-maybe we're just destined to fail... right? ]
Hotaru tried her best to show sadness and once again borrowed one of Stelle's previous lines.
[ Excellent! Both of your line-delivery skills are incredibly profound! ]
[ However, lines are not the entirety of acting. Please continue this story on the second stage… ]
[ Next, you will face a test of physical movement! ]』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Lumine: "How come it feels like…. Miss Stelle is intentionally feeding lines to Miss Hotaru?"
Paimon: "Mhm mhm, I have that feeling too."
Paimon: "This must be on purpose, right?"
Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, thoughtful as I am, naturally I have to take care of Hotaru-chan."
Stelle: "I know she isn't good at coming up with lines, so I'll just improvise for her."
Stelle: "Anyway, acting is easy-peasy for me!"
Silver Wolf: "You, you…You're pretty good at this!"
Silver Wolf: "Looks like you're a veteran in the field of romance, too."
Stelle: "Average, average, barely a love saint."
Hotaru: "So…. it was because you were looking out for me?"
Hotaru: "Stelle, thank you, you're so kind!"
Silver Wolf: "Ha, this one, she can really make you happy no matter what she does."
Silver Wolf: "How come I've never heard you say I'm kind?"
Qingque: "Oh my, why do I suddenly smell vinegar?"
Qingque: "Whose vinegar jar got knocked over?"
Li Sushang: "What are you talking about? How come I don't smell anything?"
Guinaifen: "There's such a strong smell of vinegar, and you didn't smell it, Shangshang?"
Guinaifen: "Looks like you're still a bit too innocent."
Silver Wolf: "Go away, go away, I'm not jealous!"
Silver Wolf: "I'm just standing up for myself!"
Hotaru: "Uh… I thought you didn't like hearing these things."
Hotaru: "Then… should I say these things to you more often in the future?"
Silver Wolf: "Don't, don't, don't, please don't!!"
Silver Wolf: "Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."
Silver Wolf: "You'd better stay the same as you are."
Stelle: "Hey, if you can't enjoy the blessing, you can't blame anyone else."
Stelle: "Hotaru-chan, just keep saying I'm kind to you in the future, I love hearing it!"
Stelle: "I won't get tired of hearing it no matter how many times!"
Silver Wolf: "Love hearing it, huh?"
Silver Wolf: "Then in the future, I'll have her transform into SAM and say it to you, how about that?"
Stelle: "Cough, cough… g-go ahead!"
Stelle: "I can take it!!"
March 7th: "What a stubborn Raccoon, you don't sound very confident."
Furina de Fontaine: "SAM saying 'you're so kind' to Miss Stelle in a gentle voice…!"
Furina de Fontaine: "This scene… just thinking about it is going to make me explode!"
....