Epilogue

Arashi: Hey... are you guys going to just stand at the entrance whispering secrets to each other forever?

Mika: Ngah. Sorry, Naru-chan... Oshi-san always has to get things sorted out in his head afore he can get the ball rollin’.

An’ then once he gets to movin’, he can’t be stopped no matter what anyone says to him.

Shu: Do you think you know everything about me? Well, I can’t exactly refute that.

I am simply a bit scared that I may receive a shock learning an unpleasant truth about Mademoiselle.

Arashi: It’ll be fiiiine, let’s just go in. It doesn’t look like this exhibition will be open for much longer, you know.

If we don’t check it out now, they’re going to close up shop.

Mika: Yeah... wait, huh? You’re dressed all cute today, Anzu-chan. Just like a doll ♪

...Crap, I gave you a compliment! But you’re my enemy, got it? My enemy!

Natsume: Ahaha. It isn’t a very big venue, so while you were talking I made three rounds and even even went shopping in another store.

With the ticket, you can go in and out of the exhibit as many times as you’d like.

Arashi: Yep ♪ Anzu-chan’s outfit had had no feminine charm whatsoever, so Natsume-chan and I took it upon ourselves to pick out something cute for her.

Natsume: At the same time, I took the opportunity to ask Kaminari-san about the matter of our costumes, since he is well-versed in the topic of fashion.

While you two were dragging your heels, we were spending our valuable time wisely.

I’ve enlisted the little kitten’s help with our costumes, so I believe I’m on track to solving our problems...

Fufu, I suppose it pays to take a detour every once in a while ♪

If I’d had it my way, I would have brought you back sooner rather than later, Shu-nii-san, and set you to making our costumes...

But I do want you to spend time with the dolls you so enjoy and build your spirit back up.

Shu: ......

Natsume: Nii-san? What’s the matter? I’ll be very lonely if you refuse to answer me.

Shu: Non! What is this? I demand to speak to the person in charge!

Preposterous! You can’t put fragile, antique dolls directly under an air conditioning unit!

And these are placed far too close to the path of employees. What if they run into them and break them?

Oh, and the clothing the dolls are wearing don’t even match their their time period!

They’ve been preserved in their original state for so long, and now they’ve been dressed up in some gaudy costume? I must question the curator’s character!

Who allowed such inhumane acts to be taken against such lovely dolls?!

This is exactly why I can’t stand exhibitions put together by uncultured swine with no artistic sense!

Natsume: Ahaha. So I take it you dislike the exhibition, Nii-san?

Shu: As if that matters! Oh, to think that one could let this happen without so much as batting an eye! Excuse me, I must call home immediately so as to procure the funds!

I will buy every single doll in this place so that I may protect them! There’s not a moment to delay...!

Hello? Yes, Nii-sama, might I ask you to transfer money to me as soon as possible? I need to buy some dolls...!

What? Don’t get carried away with my hobbies? You misunderstand me: this is my life’s calling!

Mika: Oh no, Oshi-san! If you keep wavin’ your hands around like that, Maddie’s gonna fall!

Shu: Urgh, just take her for a moment, Kagehira! I must persuade my blockhead of a brother!

Mika: Uh, sure... C’mere, Maddie ♪

Here we go. Hehe, there’s a whole buncha dolls here that look just like you, Maddie... Whatcha think? You reckon they might be your sisters?

There ain’t no details on the labels, so I guess no one knows the makers...

They look mighty worn down, too. Maybe they didn’t have no one to take good care of ‘em.

On the other hand, you can really tell Oshi-san loved you, Maddie. Your skin an’ your clothes are always so pretty ♪

Shu: Non! This is so aggravating! My family refuses to spend any more on my hobbies!

Oh, no matter the age, an artist’s greatest enemy is an unsympathetic family!

Kagehira! Do you have a job lined up for Valkyrie?

If not, then get to it. We are fortunate to have that little girl there to keep sending us work!

Mika: Huh? What? But Oshi-san, I thought you was done bein’ on stage?

So I haven’t been makin’ no plans. I’s just focused on earnin’ money...?

Shu: No, we’ll fall behind! We are going up on stage to make some money so that I can rescue these dolls!

I ought to talk to the person in charge of the exhibition first so that they are set aside for me!

First, I’ll see to it that they’re stored more carefully. We’re going to be quite busy, Kagehira!

Ah, the inspiration is flowing! We’ll sing a lament of these pitiful dolls, treated so harshly and put on display as a spectacle for the unfeeling masses!

It’s perfectly in line with our current plight. So Valkyrie’s next production has been decided...!

We shall rescue all the sisters of my nameless Mademoiselle with the power of the money which those ignorant philistines espouse so strongly!

It will be two birds with one stone, yes? This is no time for me to close myself off from the world!

Mika: Ngh, ngah...? It’s like he just flips his “on” switch or somethin’...

But when he gets like this, Oshi-san gets so strong he can’t be beat!

No matter what he says, I’ll follow him for the rest of my life... right, Maddie? ♪

Mademoiselle: “Indeed. He may be a troublesome boy, but I hope that you’ll never give up on Shu-kun, Mika-chan... that goes for you, too, Anzu-chan, and the others as well.”^[1]

“We’ve been considered worthless by the world, and we’ve been treated poorly...”

“But we love and care for Shu-kun, and he has given us joy in our lives.”

“So I ask that you continue to care for him, our sweet little savior, from now on.”

“Take him with you as you run through the brilliant world, illuminated by the sun. Let him cherish his youth with you.”

“And what lies beyond that, too... A long time ago, Shu-kun gave me a certain light.”

“It was a vast paradise, a place to belong, where everyone can love and respect and laugh with one another, no matter who they are.”

“However, Shu-kun is fragile, just like me... Please protect him. I cannot even move my own fingers, you see.”

“So take care of our friend, our family, for as long as you can... ♪”