Post finem, initium.

A shattered mask cannot be restored... That is the beginning of the end—

Finally the wheel of fate is set in motion. Behold the circus of ruin and love and hate.

Sakiko

What on earth do you mean? Why would you do something that thoughtless?

Nyamu

Huh~? But didn't it go super well? Look, the notifications are non-stop.

Sakiko

What?

Mutsumi

...

Nyamu

Taking off the masks on the best stage, at the best moment. Was there any better time than today to do it?

Sakiko

I get what you're trying to say. But that only works if the band is solid to begin with—

Nyamu

Hey~ You would agree with me, wouldn't you, Umiko? Wait, are you leaving now?

Umiri

DISRUPTION's live is in just a few days. Well, I'll take my leave first.

Nyamu

Hey? What about the afterparty?

Sakiko

Yūtenji-san, I haven’t finished speaking yet.

Nyamu

*Sigh*... We're the fastest to make it to the Budokan after debut, you know? What is there to object to?

Sakiko

It's the speed I'm opposing. Doesn't that make wearing masks meaningless? It might even affect sumimi's activities...

Nyamu

Ahhh, Sorry, Uiko~

Uika

It's nothing...

Nyamu

Hey, look! We're trending everywhere!

Nyamu

"Nyamuchi" is in there too! Super cool~ This momentum is unstoppable~

Mutsumi

...

Sakiko

(? There's a sticky note attached. What's this...?)

Sakiko

...!

Sakiko

(What are you trying to do... Tomori.)

Did you hear about it!? Ave Mujica!

It really shocked me! I didn't expect Oblivionis to actually be...!

Sakiko

...

!

Um, Togawa-san... do you have a moment? It's about Ave Mujica...

Sakiko

(I knew this would come...)

Anon

Good morning~ Tomorin!

Tomori

Good morning...

Tomori

Did you and Soyo-chan go together...? To the concert.

Anon

Ah... Yesterday's Mujica live? I went~ It was pretty impressive, I'd say?

Tomori

?

Anon

It's kind of noisy. What happened?

Ah! Anon-chan, Tomori-chan! Have you heard? I heard that Oblivionis from Ave Mujica is Togawa-san from Class B!

Anon

!

Tomori

Saki-chan...?

It's Mujica, that band called Ave Mujica! All of them took off masks at the Budokan live~!

Oblivionis is the keyboardist! Do you think we can talk to Togawa-san too?

Let's try!

Tomori

...

Anon

Sorry I didn't tell you! Yesterday I asked Rikki about it, and she told me not to say anything...

Tomori

Saki-chan... in a band...

That Uika-chan from sumimi is Doloris. You are so incredible!

Uika

Sorry I didn't tell you all. I had to keep it confidential.

Ah~ I see. But seriously, our class is way too crazy! Timoris is in this class too!

Taki

...

Yahata-san isn't here~ I wanted to talk to Timoris~

Same here~

Taki

Your bag.

Umiri

Oops. I didn't expect you to throw it over. Well, it's not that important anyway.

Taki

Timoris this, Timoris that—it's so annoying.

Umiri

You're the only one who found me.

Taki

Huh? You left Misumi-san alone there and said that?

Umiri

It's best to leave such things to the experts.

Taki

Why are you and Sakiko in the same band?

Umiri

You knew Togawa-san?

Mutsumi

...

Mutsumi

(The cucumbers... are ruined.)

Soyo

What even is in your mind?

Mutsumi

Soyo.

Soyo

Why are you in a band? After rejecting to be in one with me...

Mutsumi

...

Tomori

Saki-chan...

Taki

Didn't I say not to tell Tomori?

Anon

The whole school is talking about it. How could she not know?

Tomori

Mutsumi-chan...

Anon

Yes, yes! Mutsumi-chan!

Anon

I didn't recognize her at all! Mutsumi-chan shows up on TV from time to time, right?

Anon

Her mom is the actress Minami Mori, and her dad is the comedian Wakaba, right?

Tomori

...

Anon

You could've just told us...

Taki

There was no need to say it. Also, Mutsumi hates it... when people recognize her as a celebrity's child and make a fuss about it.

Taki

But Sakiko...

Soyo

She said it was all Saki-chan's doing.

Taki

What do you mean by "all"?

Soyo

The band was created by Saki-chan. The play and the songs too...

Tomori

Uh...

Taki

Seriously? Unbelievable...

Tomori

Saki-chan... back when she was in CRYCHIC, she was so warm, so bright. She even said my lyrics were screams from the heart, that they were our songs...

Tomori

But this song...

Tomori

It's a cry from a Saki-chan I don't know...

Nyamu

Hmm~~

Ah! Ave Mujica! Uika-chan~♡

I always thought Timoris' bass tech wasn't ordinary, but Umiri from DISRUPTION makes perfect sense.

Wakaba's daughter is so cute! She's like a doll~

Nyamu

Why~~!? Why is "Nyamu" not a hot topic at all?

Umiri

You hinted at it so much in the video. To a point there's no surprise left anymore.

Nyamu

By the way, Umiko, aren't you just a normal person? How come you are in the spotlight? If it were famous people like Uiko or Muuko, I'd get it, though...

Mutsumi

......

Umiri

You know I have a pretty face, too.

Nyamu

That's true~ But I really didn't expect Sakiko to be famous as well~

Nyamu

"Ave Mujica's mastermind, Oblivionis, is the daughter of the Togawa Group's founding family!?" It's all over the news~

Sakiko

...

Nyamu

If you're a rich girl, wear better clothes! People will look down on you otherwise~

Nyamu

When we first met, you wore something completely inappropriate for the occasion at the hotel. Made me doubt you.

Sakiko

Let's move on to the main topic.

Umiri

I updated the schedule for the nationwide tour. Please check it.

Nyamu

Okay~

Umiri

On the final day of the tour, we'll debut a new song.

Uika

Umiri-chan's schedule is so clear and helpful.

Umiri

You flatter me.

Nyamu

Wow! During the tour, we'll be on TV and in magazines. So busy! Looks like removing the masks was the right decision~

Sakiko

Either way, this won't last forever.

Mutsumi

......

Nyamu

By the way, Muuko seems to have the most work to do~

Umiri

Misumi-san is busy with sumimi stuff. So Wakaba-san will take on Misumi-san's parts.

Sakiko

It was specified by the client.

Nyamu

Hmm~ But being Minami Mori's daughter plays a big part~

Mutsumi

...!

Nyamu

Seriously!? Is Minami that Minami Mori!?

Nyamu

Wow~~! Sooo amazing! The food is way too luxurious~~!

Everyone, help yourselves and eat plenty.

Sakiko

Thank you. I am grateful for your hospitality today.

Saki-chan! It's been a while. How have you been?

Nyamu

Eh? Does Minami-san know Sakiko?

Mutsumi-chan and Saki-chan have been together since kindergarten.

Nyamu

Oh... childhood friends?

Uika

...

Mutsumi

Minami-chan, why...

Eh~ Didn't you talk about me?

Nyamu

By the way, you're called Minami-chan? That's so cute~! Can Nyamu call you "Minami-chan" too?

Of course, you can~

Nyamu

And, I'd like to try different things, like appearing on TV shows and stuff.

Then I'll talk to a producer I know next time.

Nyamu

Thank you so much!

Sakiko

Yūtenji-san, you're so shameless.

Nyamu

It's not like I can have this opportunity every day! Minami-chan, I heard you have a studio at home. Is that true~?

Mutsumi

...!

Yes, because Ta-kun said he wanted one.

Nyamu

Ta-kun? Ah! You mean Wakaba-san.

Oh, right! Want to watch a movie together?

Mutsumi

...

"Why now!? After all this time, you just show up like nothing happened!"

"Get out! I don't want to see you! Get out! You're a traitor...! You, and you too!"

I don't want to brag about it, but this is too good for you not to cry.

Nyamu

I'm crying~

Umiri

It's amazing.

I'm so happy you get it! Come watch it anytime you want!

Why don't you and your band practice here?

Mutsumi

Ah...

Nyamu

Really!?

It's a room built for fun, but it doesn't get used much.

Nyamu

I'm so happy~! Now we can practice anytime!

Mutsumi

(But I had been using it all along...)

Next up are the members of Ave Mujica! I heard this is your first time on a live TV show?

Nyamu

Yes, I'm so nervous~

Mutsumi

...

You're super popular now. Mutsumi-chan, did Minami-san say anything?

Mutsumi

Ah...

Mutsumi-chan?

Sakiko

She's Mortis. Who is this Minami-san you're talking about?

Ah... Then, Mortis-san, have your parents said anything about your popularity?

Sakiko

We dolls don't have parents.

Nyamu

So cold and distant~

Then, what does Mortis-san think? Right now, Ave Mujica is such a hot topic!

Mutsumi

Haa... Haa... Haa...

Mutsumi

It won't last long.

Uika・Umiri・Nyamu・Sakiko

!!

Mutsumi

Ah...

Sakiko

...!

Mutsumi

Ah...

Nyamu

This one, this one, and this article too! All with headlines saying "Ave Mujica breaking up!?"

Nyamu

What are you going to do about this!?

Mutsumi

...

Nyamu

Saying "It won't last long?" We're just getting started!

Mutsumi

I...

Nyamu

This is the most important time for me to make my name known! You probably wouldn't understand, Muuko...

Nyamu

The video comments are all about us breaking up.

Sakiko

...

Uika

It's not like that Mutsumi-chan had bad intentions.

Nyamu

Speaking of which, haven't you been on TV since you were a kid? Shouldn't you be used to interviews by now? Then why?

Mutsumi

I just... when I talk...

Nyamu

Sakiko! Are you gonna keep being silent? Or are you forgiving her just because you're childhood friends?

Sakiko

...!

Sakiko

It's my fault for not managing things properly. Mutsumi, from now on, you need to stay professional when speaking.

Mutsumi

Sorry...

Umiri

Wakaba-san, you need to head to your next work location.

Mutsumi

...

Umiri

Wakaba-san...?

Mutsumi

Yes...

Nyamu

...

Mutsumi

...

Not bad. Let's switch to another pose, shall we?

Mutsumi

...

Alright, let's take another one, here we go~

Is this news about their disbandment? One topic after another~!

But your mom is a famous actress, going down this path isn't bad either.

Mutsumi

...

I'd love to see you and Minami-san act together someday~! What do you talk about at home?

Did your parents influence you to start playing guitar? Wakaba-san knows a lot of musicians, right?

Mutsumi

Haa... Haa...

Don't be so nervous, it's okay~! I'm really looking forward to Mutsumi-chan's future~!

Ahaha... ahaha...

Mutsumi

I...

Mutsumi

...

Ah, that's it, that's it! Yes, wonderful! Just like a doll!

Mutsumi

...

We had so many interviews today~

Uika

Sorry that sumimi got dragged into all the gossip too.

It's okay! They keep saying we'll disband or that we don't get along. I almost feel like shouting, "sumimi will never break up!"

Uika

Yeah...

Here you go! Half a donut for our hard-working Ui-chan! sumimi is two-in-one!

Uika

Yeah, thanks.

Uika

You've worked hard...

Uika

...? Is someone there?

Sakiko

...

Uika

...! Saki-chan, you've been sleeping here...?

Sakiko

Uika...

Uika

Why...

Sakiko

...

Sakiko

Ave Mujica will face the future during this tour... We must dispel rumors of disbandment and regain trust.

Sakiko

The new songs and scripts need to be revised to reflect the removal of masks as soon as possible. I don't want to waste time going home.

Uika

So you're sleeping at the office? Will you do this until the tour starts?

Uika

Can you really work well like this?

Sakiko

...

Uika

If your house is far away, why don't you come to stay with me? My place is close, as long as your family doesn't worry.

Sakiko

They won't worry...

Uika

Saki-chan...

Uika

You should come to my house. There's no need to say no. Alright?

Sakiko

...

Uika

If you need anything, let me know. Toothbrushes, snacks, whatever...

Sakiko

Yeah, thanks, Uika.

Uika

Are you sure... to sleep in the attic? Isn't it cramped?

Sakiko

It's enough. I don't have that much luggage.

Uika

Wow... this doll is so cute.

Sakiko

It belonged to my mother.

Uika

Eh...?

Sakiko

She passed away due to illness.

Uika

...!

Sakiko

Uika, you have met my mother, right?

Uika

Yeah... Yes.

Sakiko

Make me forget everything...

Uika

I see.

Uika

That's why you're "Oblivionis"... why you're "Forgetfulness."

Sakiko

...

Uika

You can stay here as long as you want. I'll always stay by your side...

Sakiko

...

Uika

Mutsumi-chan hasn't arrived yet.

Umiri

It seems her previous work ran overtime.

Nyamu

By the way, what's up with today's script? Is it targeting me?

Sakiko

It's just part of the plot. The dolls who lost their masks... will face a harsh reality.

Mutsumi

Haa... Haa...

Nyamu

Ah, Muuko's here... Wait, her sweat is crazy.

Mutsumi

...

Can you bring Mutsumi-chan's costume? I can't completely fix the makeup, so I'll just hide the dark circles.

Sakiko

We're out of time. Let's start. Mutsumi, just listen from there.

Mutsumi

...

Sakiko

Tonight is our first masquerade ball as the ones who lost their masks. It's also the first day of the nationwide tour.

Nyamu・Uika・Umiri

...

Sakiko

Whether we can immerse the audience in Ave Mujica's world today... will determine the true worth of our band!

Sakiko

Failure is not an option.

Mutsumi

Haa... Haa...