Episode 22: Hold My Hand, and the Dream Will Come True

December 16, 2006. Still at the ever-peaceful Balay Kapatiran.

Hyacinth: Matt, gusto mo bang sumama sa Pinoy Dream Academy Grand Dream Night sa Araneta Coliseum?
Matthew Luke: Bakit naman?
Hyacinth: Wala lang. Medyo nababagot din tayo sa sarili nating base. Lumabas-labas naman tayo.
Matthew Luke: Sige, payag na ako.

And then, out of nowhere, Naruto pops up.

Naruto: Ako rin, gusto kong sumama sa inyo!
Matthew Luke: At bakit naman, ninjang naka-orange?
Naruto: Dahil nararamdaman ng aking chakra ang isang kakaibang kapangyarihan. Isang babaeng ninja na matagal ko nang hinahanap... ay pupunta roon!
Hyacinth: Heh... kung chakra lang naman ang pinagbabasehan mo sa pagsasama mo sa amin, OK lang. Pero nakapagpahingi ka ba ng permiso kina Katie at Ma'am Korina?
Naruto: O-oo naman!
Matthew Luke: Sigurado ka roon, ha? Ayaw naming ipa-lie detector test ka.
Naruto: O-oo naman!

And so, Matt, Hyacinth, and Naruto agree to watch the PDA Grand Dream Night together.

That night, at the Araneta Coliseum, the three watch the performances by the six finalists. So far, the show proceeds without a hitch. But...

"And the Grand Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy is... YENG CONSTANTINO!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! HINDI KO PINAPAYAGAN ITO!"

A loud voice that belongs to a girl rocks the coliseum right after the announcement. And that said girl goes on stage, her own microphone in hand.

Girl: Grrr! Hindi ko papayagan ang tagumpay mo, Yeng Constantino! Maswerte ka nga at naging grand winner ka ng Pinoy Dream Academy na 'yan! Pero ako? Ako'y kinakawawa dahil ni-reject lahat ng mga applications ko not only for PDA, but also for Philippine Idol and Pinoy Pop Superstar!
Yeng: Naku naman ikaw, o! Ba't ka magrereklamo tungkol sa mga rejections? You can always try again.
Girl: Try again ka dyan! Ako, si Shiho Nagaoka, ay may malaking potensyal bilang isang diva! Tatalbugin ko pa sina Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, atbp.! Just you wait and see!
Yeng: Aber. Kantahin mo nga ang theme song ko, "Hawak Kamay".

And then Shiho starts to sing the chorus of Yeng's trademark song.

Yeng: Hmmm. Pasado ang pagkanta mo sa akin.
Shiho: Why, thank you.
Yeng: Pero sa mga hurado, bagsak.
Shiho: GRRR!!! Lalo mo lang ako ginagalit! Kung gayon, hinahamon kita sa isang dwelo!
Yeng: Dwelo ba ang gusto mo? Sige, payag ako!

~~~THE PATH BRANCHES: It's time to make a choice.~~~

Which of the two girls would you like to play as?
1. Yeng Constantino
2. Shiho Nagaoka

If you selected Yeng...

[Duel: Yeng Constantino vs. Shiho Nagaoka]

SET SPELL CARD --- ATTACK!

Attack:
Aawitan kita~
Oras na upang mag-Hadouken!
Oras na upang mag-Shoryuken!
Gagayahin mo ba si Ryu tulad ng ginagawa ko ngayon?
Akala mo ba ikaw lang ang may karapatang kumanta rito?

Defend:
Kailangan ko munang magpahinga, hane?
Gusto mo ba ng salabat?
Break muna ako!
Direk, pahinga muna kaming dalawa ni Yeng!
Pangit ka, lupa ako~

Deathblow:
Aawatin kita~
Aahitan kita~
Oras na upang ilabas ang kapangyarihan ng WWE!
Flying Head Scissors time~!
Shinkuu...

[End of duel]

NOTE: If Yeng wins the duel, she will be one level higher than Shiho. Otherwise, nothing happens (no game over).

Shiho: (crying while exiting the stage) Ang daya mo, Yeng! Ang daya daya mo!
Yeng: Yan ang nababagay sa iyo, palalong babae.

From where Matt, Hyacinth, and Naruto sit...

Matthew Luke: Naruto, bantay ka muna rito. Meron lang kaming aasikasuhin ni Hyacinth.
Naruto: Sige!

Matt and Hyacinth then console Shiho. They also convince the event staffers not to boot her out of the coliseum.

Hyacinth: Shiho, OK ka lang ba?
Shiho: (whimpering) S-sino ba kayo, ha?
Matthew Luke: Mga... ordinaryong manonood lang kami. Hinay-hinay muna. Huwag ka nang magtanim ng sama ng loob kay Yeng, ha?
Shiho: O-OK. Salamat. (stops crying)

Yeng's path ends here.

If you selected Shiho...

[Duel: Shiho Nagaoka vs. Yeng Constantino]

SET SPELL CARD --- ATTACK!

Attack:
...
Di mo ako iiwan, no?
Sasama ka ba sa aking paglalakbay?
Sasakay ka ba sa aking pangarap?
Tori no Uta no Jutsu!

Defend:
....
Hahawakan mo ba ang kamay ko?
Abisyo sa iyo: Huwag masyadong maging marahas.
Sino na ang magbibigay-buhay sa career mo?
Shiho, kung ganyan palagi ang inaasta mo, hindi ka tunay na diva.

Deathblow:
.....
Sharingan! Ilabas na!
Pupunta ka rin sa mundo ng kawalan!
Yoake Mae Ruri-iro na no Jutsu!
Lamune no Jutsu!

[End of duel]

NOTE: If Shiho wins the duel, she will be one level higher than Yeng. Otherwise, nothing happens (no game over).

Yeng: Ahhh... Paano ako matatalo ng isang repeated reject, o "ronin" sa Hapon? Namana mo pa ba kay Keitaro Urashima ang katigasan ng ulo, ha?
Shiho: At least hindi ako pilyo tulad niya! Ahahahaha! (leaves the stage)

From where Matt, Hyacinth, and Naruto sit...

Matthew Luke: Naruto, bantay ka muna rito. Meron lang kaming aasikasuhin ni Hyacinth.
Naruto: Sige!

Matt and Hyacinth then convince the event staffers not to boot Shiho out of the coliseum.

Shiho's path ends here.

~~~THE PATHS CONVERGE: The normal flow of the story will resume.~~~

After the Yeng-Shiho duel, the event staffers set the situation aright. They failed to boot out Shiho, however.

But from where Naruto sits, an orange aura envelops him. That has surprised the entire audience, especially Matt and Hyacinth.

Matthew Luke: N-Naruto? Anong nangyayari sa iyo?
Hyacinth: Ang chakra niya! Ang chakra niya!
Naruto: Ang babaeng ninja na matagal ko nang hinahanap... ay nandito na! Yeng Constantino, patunayan mo na ang kapangyarihan mo bilang ninja!

He then dashes very quickly to the stage.

Yeng: Ah! Naruto Uzumaki! Ikinagagalak kitang makita. Nararamdaman ko rin ang chakra mo. Sige. Payag ako sa isang ninja duel. Uumpisahan ba natin ito... ngayon?
Naruto: Kung iyan ang gusto mo!

[Duel: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Yeng Constantino]

SET SPELL CARD --- ATTACK!

Attack:
...
Di mo ako iiwan, no?
Sasama ka ba sa aking paglalakbay?
Sasakay ka ba sa aking pangarap?
Tori no Uta no Jutsu!

Defend:
....
Hahawakan mo ba ang kamay ko?
Abisyo sa iyo: Huwag masyadong maging marahas.
Hinay-hinay lang, Naruto.
Bata ka pa, Naruto. Marami ka pang matututuhan.

Deathblow:
.....
Sharingan! Ilabas na!
Pupunta ka rin sa mundo ng kawalan!
Yoake Mae Ruri-iro na no Jutsu!
Lamune no Jutsu!

[End of duel]

Yeng: Tama na. Ayaw pa nating maubos ang mga chakra natin.
Naruto: Sige. Sama ka na sa akin.
Yeng: Ha?
Naruto: Kung nahuhuli ka sa balita, kaanib na ako sa grupong Nueva Liga Filipina. Ang grupong naghupa sa gulong dating namagitan sa ABS-CBN at GMA.
Yeng: Ah, yun pala. Dahil gusto kong makatulong sa bayan sa pamamagitan ng kanta, sasali na ako sa iyo.
Naruto: Congrats pala, Yeng, sa pagkapanalo mo.

Naruto shakes hands with Yeng. Yeng blushes a little.

Matthew Luke, Hyacinth, and Shiho then approach the two.

Matthew Luke: Buti't nahanap mo na sa wakas ang katapat mo, Naruto.
Naruto: Salamat naman.
Shiho: At saka... Yeng...
Yeng: Shiho? Anong ginagawa mo rito?
Shiho: Gusto ko sanang mag-sorry sa inasal ko kanina. Talagang naiinggit ako sa iyo, eh, dahil hindi ko naaabot ang level mo ngayon.
Yeng: Payag na ako sa sorry mo. Basta huwag maging masyadong prima-donna ang ugali mo.
Shiho: Yun pala, Naruto...?
Naruto: Ako nga! Di mo ba kilala ang kasuotan ko?
Shiho: Pwede ba akong sumali sa grupo mo?
Naruto: Silang dalawa (pointing at Matt and Hyacinth) ang magdedesisyon doon.
Shiho: H-ha?! Sila pala iyon?
Hyacinth: (winks) Nice to meet you, Shiho.
Matthew Luke: (annonuncing the audience) Magpasalamat tayo't nadagdagan na ng dalawa ang Nueva Liga Filipina! Sina Yeng Constantino at Shiho Nagaoka ang mga pinakabagong miyembro namin!

And the audience rocks the coliseum with gazillions of cheers, claps, and ecstatic shouts. The Grand Dream Night, therefore, ended in an unexpected, but wonderful, note.

A controversial DJ, meanwhile, plans to take over the job left behind by Gringo Honasan. His base resides at the building of the FM station that he works for.

Mysterious DJ: It's time to take off where he left. If he didn't succeed in obliterating both ABS-CBN and GMA, then I'll do it. With the technology I swiped from Smart Brain, aside from my usual trademark questions. Heheheheh...

He then injects Orphnoch DNA into two personalities. One, an actress attached to a non-ABS-CBN, non-GMA network exec. The other, an ex-senator who switched sides in the 2004 elections and the rival of our fair Vice President.

What kind of plan is this DJ brewing, especially with the anti-Charter Change rally to happen the day after Yeng's victory?

---

Stars Introduced So Far

Chisatsu - Violent Star
(Huang Xin, He Who Rules Three Mountains)
Shiho Nagaoka (To Heart)

Chikyou, Star of Ambition
(Kong Liang, Mars in the Night Sky)
Yeng Constantino

Episode 21: Eksklusibong Bitag / Ang Babaeng Tsundere

December 2006. The members of Nueva Liga Filipina are still going on their daily lives in peace. But for the childhood friends, any day is recruitment day.

Matt watches an episode of "Bahala Si Bitag" on UNTV-37 along with some others.

Ben Tulfo: (on TV) Kami sa Bitag, whether we succeed or fail on an operation, dinodokumento namin. And we always learn from our past mistakes. That style of ours, combined with our tried-and-true formula of careful, step-by-step procedure of reconnaissance, surveillance, undercover, and then the actual operation; doon nakukuha ang respeto ng karamihan. Respeto na may takot. Kaya kung sinuman sa inyo ang gagawa ng anumang katiwalian o iregularidad, watch out. We'll hunt you down at sisiguraduhin naming hindi kayo makakalusot, plain and simple.
Matthew Luke: Wow... just wow. Matagal ko nang hinahangaan ang mga Tulfo dahil palaban sila.
Ogie: (as Gosh Abelgosh) Ang diskarte nila, lalo na kay Ben, ay tinutularan na ng iba. Bilang isang startegist, hindi ko yata maabutan ang antas ng kakayahan niya.
Boy: Tama ka, Ogie. Nararamdaman ko, kapatid, na kahit marami pa tayo sa bilang, matatalo pa rin tayo kung di organisado ang mga pagkilos kung sakaling lalaban tayo ulit.
Hyacinth: Hmm. Tama kayo. Matagal na kasi kaming hinahanap ni Matt ang isang strategist na kapantay ng mga Silverberg at ni Lucretia Merces.
Boy: Sino sila?
Matthew Luke: Siyempre, mga strategists mula sa Suikoden series. At, sa aking pananaw, si Ben Tulfo ang katapat ng mga iyon!
Hyacinth: Hmm, good! Pwede na natin siyang i-recruit!
Boy: Pero dapat mahusay ang mga sasabihin ninyo. Hindi basta-basta na lamang magtitiwala sa mga ordinaryong taong tulad ninyo si Mr. Tulfo.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Naiintindihan namin. We'll go back later.

The childhood friends then leave Balay Kapatiran for the Bitag Action Center. Once they have set foot on the destination, they immediately meet and greet the man himself.

Matthew Luke: Good morning, sir.
Ben Tulfo: Good morning to you, too. Well, from what I've heard in the news recently, kayo raw ang dalawang lider ng mercenary army na Nueva Liga Filipina. Matthew Luke Laonglaan at Hyacinth Monterola, if I'm not mistaken.
Hyacinth: Opo, kami iyon.
Matthew Luke: OK, let's get to the point immediately. Nagpunta kaming dalawa rito dahil sa isang napakaimportanteng dahilan. At iyan ay ang i-recruit kayo bilang chief strategist ng aming grupo.

Mr. Tulfo ponders for a moment, and then explains in the serious tone that he usually employs.

Ben Tulfo: You may be surprised to hear this from my own lips, but I will join your army if you can abide to my conditions. Una, kung ang mga ipapagawa ninyo sa akin ay hindi masyadong mabigat. Of course, with you two seeing me in action almost everyday, you can clearly see how busy I am. The skills that I possess are fit for being a strategist like you suggested, pero meron din akong mga limitasyon. Pangalawa, kung papayag kayo na idodokumento ko at ng crew ko ang bawat operasyong gagawin ninyo, because it's our style. Manalo man kayo o matalo sa mga laban ninyo, it's all the same. And if you worry about the right-to-privacy brouhaha, please don't. At ang ikatlo at ang pinakamabigat... there's this matter of trust. You see, I serve the people and help them whenever help is needed. But if I see even a hint of cruel intention in them, babaliktad ako. Backstabbing is what I hate. Kung sakaling gagawa kayo ng anumang hindi kanais-nais sa lipunan, reresbakan ko kayo agad. I stand by my own word and can't be dictated by others' opinions, especially if they reek of evil. (pause) Now that the conditions are laid down, papayag na ba kayo na ako'y iyong kukuhanin bilang chief strategist? It's just a matter of yes or no. Nothing else in between.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Yes!
Ben Tulfo: Excellent! From now on, I, Ben Tulfo, will be the chief strategist of your army. By the way, sino ang secondary strategist ninyo?
Hyacinth: Si Ogie Diaz po.
Ben Tulfo: Hahahaha.
Matthew Luke: Bakit kayo natatawa?
Ben Tulfo: Nothing. Medyo... unique ang istilo niya, that's all.

And that is how Ben Tulfo was recruited as the chief strategist of Nueva Liga Filipina and as a Star of Destiny.

Another day of December, another day of recruiting. Apparently, the two childhood friends get a tip from Mel, Sanzo, and Michael V. concerning a potential recruit: Angel Locsin.

Sanzo: Kasi, ganito ang nangyari. Noong nangyari ang labanan ng mga robot, sinubukan namin nina Bitoy at Angel na pigilan si Ma'am Wilma sa kanyang masamang balak. Pero di namin akalain na ganoon siya kalakas, kaya "pinalayas" kami gamit ang kanyang mahika.
Mel: Ngayon, hindi na namin ngayon alam kung nasaan si Angel. Base sa mga salaysay nina Sanzo at ni Bitoy, mukhang naghiwalay sila noong oras na iyon.
Michael V.: At kahit ipaubaya natin sa NBI ang paghahanap sa kanya, matatagalan pa tayo. So, swertehan na lang ngayon ang paghahanap. Hahanapin n'yo pa rin siya ngayong alam ninyo ang kahirapan nito?
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Oo!

The childhood friends then leave Balay Kapatiran for a seemingly random location in Metro Manila, Dencio's Capitol Hills (in QC).

There, they find Angel in a very concealed area of the rooftop restaurant, surviving all those months since her exile from GMA with bare necessities.

Angel: Unghhh... (gasps, and immediately frowns) Hoy! Ano ba ang ginagawa ninyo diyan?
Matthew Luke: Huh? K-kami?
Angel: Oo! Kayo! Mukhang iniistorbo ninyo ang aking pagtulog! Sige na, matutulog na ako.
Hyacinth: Wag! Meron kaming hihilingin mula sa iyo!
Angel: At ano iyon?
Matthew Luke: Kayo ba talaga si Angel Locsin?
Angel: Naturalmente! Bakit, may reklamo?
Matthew Luke: Wala naman. Ngayong nalaman namin na kayo si Angel Locsin, pwede ba kayong sumali sa aming grupo, ang Nueva Liga Filipina?
Angel: ...Hindi!
Hyacinth: Ay, naku!
Matthew Luke: (whispers) Hyacinth, huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa! *ehem* Angel, alam mo, biktima ka rin ng network war. Ngayong nawala na ito salamat sa amin, pagkakataon mo na upang makapagsimula muli.
Angel: Hmph. Wala na akong paki kung may network war man o wala.
Hyacinth: At... at makakasama mo pa ang mga kapwa mo Kapuso na sina Mel Tiangco, Michael V., at Genjo Sanzo.
Angel: Sigurado ba akong liligaya ako sa piling ng mga iyon, hm? (a la Charito Solis)
Matthew Luke: Siyempre! Tapos kasama mo pa ang iba't-iba pang mga personalidad! Masaya doon! At makakatulong ka pa sa Pilipinas!
Angel: Wish n'yo lang!
Hyacinth: Kung hindi ka sasama sa amin, paano na kami?
Angel: Ganoon ba kayo ka-desperado na kuhanin ako? (switches to meek mode) Sige, sasali na ako sa inyo.
Matthew Luke: Nakapagtataka naman. Ang bilis mo namang magpalit ng mood. Para kang gumawa ng 180 flip sa skateboarding.
Angel: Oo nga eh. Noong pinalayas ako mula sa GMA, may nagbago sa akin. Sa isang minuto nagiging masungit ako. Sa susunod naman, maamo. Di ko alam kung bakit ako nagkaganito.
Matthew Luke: May term ang mga Hapon para sa mga babaeng tulad mo: tsundere.
Angel: Tsun... dere?
Hyacinth: Ang salitang tsundere ay nagmula sa mga salitang Hapon na "tsun-tsun" na ang ibig sabihin ay "matulis" o "masungit", at ang "dere-dere" na ang ibig sabihin nama'y "maamo" o "mapagmahal".
Matthew Luke: Kaya ang pinamalapit na pagsalin ng salitang "tsundere" sa Filipino ay "away-bati".
Angel: Ahhh... naintindihan ko na.
Matthew Luke: Mula ngayon, kasapi ka na namin sa Nueva Liga Filipina. Congratulations.

Matt and Hyacinth both shake hands with Angel.

Angel: E... ewan ko kung makakasanay ang mga magiging kasama ko sa aking bagong ugali...
Matthew Luke: Buti ka pa na hindi ka sinugod ng mga taga-Dencio's patungo sa Mental Hospital.
Angel: (switches back to "tsun-tsun" mode) HA?!
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: NYAAA!!!

And that is how Angel Locsin was recruited as a member of Nueva Liga Filipina and as a Star of Destiny.

NEXT EPISODE: What big development will happen at Pinoy Dream Academy's Grand Dream Night at the Araneta Coliseum? Stay tuned!

---

Stars Introduced So Far

Tenki Star - Star of Wisdom
(Wu Yung, the Great Intelligence)
Ben Tulfo

Sidequest #2: The Festival of Rain

CAN BE DONE: From beginning of Episode 20 to end of Episode 21
CONDITION: Ayu, Misuzu, Nikki, Arcueid, Naruto, Katie, Kazuma (entourage) must be in party; any two excessive battle members can be put in entourage (since a max of four members can be put in entourage alongside the six active battle members)

December 9, 2006. The UP-AME (University of the Philippines Anime and Manga Enthusiasts) marks its sixth year of existence by holding a different kind of anime convention. And what do we mean by different? Traditional Japanese matsuri (festival) practices are integrated into the celebrations at Ang Bahay ng Alumni of UP Diliman.

And our friendly neighborhood childhood friends are here, along with some of their allies, to join in the fun.

Matthew Luke: Nakapagdalo kami dati sa mga anime conventions tulad nito, kaya minabuti namin na mag-break muna tayo sa pakikipaglaban.
Hyacinth: After all, all work and no play makes Jack and Jill a dull boy and girl.

And so the party splits up in order for them to enjoy the events without the hassles.

At a corner of the Bahay ng Alumni, Nikki is in a bit of a quandry. It's because she is surrounded by a mob of rabid Touhou fans.

Touhou fan 1: Reimu! Ikaw ba yan?
Nikki: H-huh?!
Touhou fan 2: Tumakas ka ba mula sa Gensokyo?
Nikki: Anong Gensokyo ang sinasabi n'yo?
Touhou fan 3: Wow! Si Reimu Hakurei pala siya, nagkatawang-tao!
Nikki: Haller! Hindi ako si Reimu Hakurei! Si Nikki Bagaporo ako! Hmph!
Touhou fan 4: Pa-autograph naman, Reimu!
Nikki: Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa inyo na hindi ako si Reimu!

She then speeds away from the mob into the female restroom. But then, she hears a voice.

Girl's voice: Nikki...
Nikki: Ha? Sino ba ang tumatawag sa akin?
Reimu's voice: Si Reimu ito. Ang totoong Reimu.
Nikki: Ah, ikaw pala.
Reimu's voice: Nasa Gensokyo ako ngayon, pero nagagawa kong kausapin kita, aking kamukha, mula sa aking kinalalagyan, ang Hakurei Shrine. Alam mo na may mga fanboy na wala na sa katinuan. Kaya, gamit ang aking kapangyarihang isasalin sa iyo, pakalmahin sila.
Nikki: Sige, Reimu.

Two spell cards then materialize in Nikki's hands.

You got: Spirit Spell Card and Dream Spell Card!

These items give Nikki two special moves.

1. Spirit Sign: Fantasy Seal
Empty out all MP for a powerful all-elemental spell against all enemies. Damage dealt is dependent on the MP expended.

2. Dream Sign: Evil Sealing Circle
Empty out all MP for a powerful holy elemental spell against all enemies. Damage dealt is dependent on the MP expended. Also deals twice the normal damage on demon- and undead-type enemies.

Nikki bravely gets out of the restroom, and then confronts the rabid fanboy mob.

Nikki: Ngayon, patutunayan ko sa inyo na hindi ako si Reimu!

A BATTLE COMMENCES!

Ally: Nikki
Enemies: Rabid Touhou Fanboy x4

Nikki chooses to cast Spirit Sign: Fantasy Seal on all enemies. She deals 657 damage to each enemy. All enemies are KO'd.

BATTLE WON!

Touhou fan 4: Ah... Reimu... tinamaan mo ako ng Fantasy Seal mo... ahhh...
Nikki: Case closed. (winks)

On another corner of the Bahay ng Alumni, seven artists, who collectively call themselves "Nanami", are busy manning their booth.

Rain (the leader of Nanami): OK, all systems go na tayo.
Orochi Herman & the rest of Nanami: Affirmative.
Rain: Hm, at tawagin mo na rin si Matrixshino kapag wala siyang ginagawa sa ngayon.
Orochi Herman: I believe na minamanage niya muna ang mga WTF Cosplayers dahil siya ang official cameraman nila.
Rain: OK lang. I'm not forcing him.

Ayu, Misuzu, and Arcueid then settle themselves on the booth after some minutes of wandering. That kind of sight has caught the two main guys off-guard.

Rain: Whoa! Nakikita mo ba ang nakikita ko, B1?
Orochi Herman: Ako rin, B2!
Rain & Orochi Herman: Operation... what?
Arcueid (approaching): Mga pogi, hindi tayo nasa "Bananas in Pyjamas", no? Nasa AME Matsuri tayo!
Orochi Herman: (shakes head quickly) Oh, sorry. Natulala kasi kami nang makita namin kayo.
Rain: Weytaminit, kapeng mainit. Sigurado ba kayo na kayo ang totoong Arcueid Brunestud, Ayu Tsukimiya, at Misuzu Kamio; at hindi basta-basta mga cosplayer?
Misuzu: Gao! Kami ang tunay na mga karakter at wala nang iba!
Arcueid: Kahit itanong ninyo sa iba...
Ayu: ...alam nila na hindi kami mga impostor!

The three pose with some bright, sparkly background.

Rain: Hmm, kumbinsing. You three are the genuine article, ne? So, meron kaming itatanong sa inyo.
Orochi Herman: Paano kayo napadpad dito sa Pilipinas? Alam na namin na bahagi kayo ng isang grupong nagngangalang Nueva Liga Filipina.

The three then narrate their experiences from their warping to the Philippines up to the end of the network war.

Rain: Sounds too good to be true.
Orochi Herman: Well, from all of us at Nanami, congratulations sa inyong tatlo sa pagpigil sa isa na namang sakit-sa-ulong kaguluhan.
Arcueid: Walang anuman.
Rain: Pero, meron kaming surpresa sa inyo. At hindi sa bibigyan namin kayo ng anumang masama.
Orochi Herman: Alam na kasi namin kung paano ninyo pinagpaguran ang mga ginawa ninyo para sa ating bansa. So, you three deserve something good.
Ayu: Ano iyon?
Rain: Custom-made equipment na hiyang na hiyang sa inyo. And best of all, they're free. Sige, tanggapin ninyo.
Misuzu: Maraming, maraming salamat po. Gao! (makes V-sign)

You got: Valentine Amulet!

An amulet that simulates the transformation powers of the members of the Valentine vampire family. Being an accessory equippable only by Arcueid, it allows her to transform into Red Arcueid (permanent Berserk effect in battle) or Neko-Arcueid (stats are halved, but special abilities are enhanced) at set game intervals via biorhythm.

You got: Miniaturized Boga!

A miniaturization of the boga, a PVC pipe cannon that uses denatured alcohol to generate an exploding noise if triggered by the incendiary fuse (usually a lighter). Unlike its regular counterpart, it won't be banned this New Year. Being an accessory equippable only by Ayu, it allows her to perform an attack called Pachelbel's Cannon if she is in critical status. The activation of that attack is similar to Final Fantasy 6's Desperation Attacks (i.e., she may perform that attack randomly if she selects the "Attack" command).

You got: Relm's Brush!

Brush once used by Relm Arrowny in her sketches. Being an accessory equippable only by Misuzu, it enhances the effects of her special ability, Illustrated Diary.

Arcueid: Sige. Mauuna kami. Goodbye and good luck sa inyo!
Orochi Herman: May you all enjoy the rest of the convention!

The clock then ticks to around 4:30 pm, and the cosplay contest is about to start.

Naruto, Katie, and Kazuma are amazed by the cosplayers (81 individual, approx. 15 group) who make their mark on the stage. The fans who approach the three are now calmer and more composed, thanks to what Nikki did to some rabid fans earlier.

Naruto: Ayan, sige! Pagbutihin ninyo, mga gumagaya sa akin! (Eh bakit wala ni isa sa mga iyon ang nag-Sexy no Jutsu? Dahil ba may mas daring na mga Bible Black cosplayers na katapat nila?)
Katie: Wow! Ang kyut-kyut ng mga gumagaya sa iyo, Mirmo!
Mirmo: Oo, tama ka, pero walang makakatalo sa orig!
Kazuma: Hindi ko sukat akalain na makikita ko ang isang gumagaya kay Pierrot! Pwes, ihahain ko ang lahat ng mga cosplayers ng mainit na pandesal para sa mga pinagdaanan nilang hirap!

As day turns into night, Matt and co., as well as all other convention attendees, enjoy the several other things being furnished at the festival. (And who would miss the other giveways that won't be mentioned here due to the sheer length of the text of this sidequest?)

At 10 pm, AME Matsuri is brought to a close. The end of the festival is made even more special with fireworks displays. At this time, our heroes assemble to watch the fireworks together.

Hyacinth: Sabi nila, mas masarap panoorin ang fireworks display kapag meron kang kasamang malapit sa puso mo.
Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Katie: Buti ka pa, Hyacinth. Eh kami...
Nikki: Hoy, tama na ang inggit. Hindi pa naman ito katapusan ng mundo, no?
Naruto: At siguradong maraming sasabog na mga paputok ngayong papalapit na ang New Year!
Kazuma: Kungsabagay, kung namimiss ninyo talaga ang mga minamahal ninyo, huwag kayong mag-alala pa.
Matthew Luke: After all, absence makes the love grow stronger. So hope for the bset, everyone! Marami pa tayong gagawin, then we can all safely go back to where we came.
The rest: Awright!

And thus, the festival (and this sidequest) ends here.

Sidequest #1: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Jun Watarase

Welcome to the brand-new portion of SNW, the sidequests. Here, you will see the quests that are not fully related to the story, but still give some characters more depth. First things first: after the title, you will see "CAN BE DONE:", followed by a certain event. That means the sidequest can be performed before/after/within a certain point of the main story. In some cases, there are also conditions to be met before doing the sidequest.

CAN BE DONE: After Sanzo and Michael V. are recruited
CONDITION: Sanzo and Michael V. (entourage) must be in party

One day, Matt and Hyacinth decide to watch a movie. This time, they go to SM North Edsa. With them are Sanzo and Michael V.

Matthew Luke: Hmm... wala namang magandang panonoorin.
Hyacinth: Wala bang iba dyan? Sawa na ako sa mga paulit-ulit na istorya.
Michael V.: Mga p're, sandali lang.
Sanzo: Hm?
Michael V.: Meron akong napansin, eh.
Matthew Luke: Ano?
Michael V.: Itong poster, o.

The party looks at the poster.



Hyacinth: Ngayong nabanggit mo iyan, eh...
Michael V.: Kilalang-kilala ko ang tao doon sa poster.
Sanzo: Ah, si Jun Watarase, no?
Michael V.: Tumpak! Siya ay isang tinatawag na "trap."
Matthew Luke: Trap?
Michael V.: Tingnan n'yo. Mukha siyang babae, ang kilos ay babae, pati ang boses ay babae. Pero ang totoo... siya'y lalaki.
Hyacinth: Yikes!
Michael V.: Marami na ang "nabitag" sa kanya, kaya hayun ang tawag sa kanya. Trap.
Matthew Luke: Teka... bakit kilalang-kilala mo siya in the first place?
Michael V.: Alam mo ba ang "Happiness!"? Iyon ang H-game/anime na pinagmulan ni Jun. Napanood ko na ang anime, pero di ko pa nalalaro ang original game nito. Pero, naging inspirasyon ko siya sa kinokompose ko ngayong kanta.
Sanzo: Sige, kantahin mo na ang ginagawa mong kanta.

Bitoy clears his throat, and then he sings a portion of his song.

"Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Sa boses pa lang di mo ba halata
Pag di ka tumigil sa pagsasalita
Sasampalin kita...
Hindi ako bakla!"

After Bitoy is done with his singing, the poster suddenly speaks.

Poster's voice: Hi~!
Matthew Luke: Ugh! Nagsasalita ang poster?!
Hyacinth: O baka si Jun iyon?
Poster's voice: Oo~! Ako nga si Jun!
Michael V.: Hindi ako makapaniwala! Nandoon ka rin lang pala sa poster?!
Jun: Oo. Pero hindi rin ako magtatagal sa poster. Kailangan may kumupkop sa akin na isang summoner.
Sanzo: Kung summoner rin lang naman ang habol mo, nandyan na ako.
Jun: Mahusay~! Sige, kung kailangan mo ng tulong ko, wag mag-alinlangang tumawag sa akin, ha? Babantayan ko kayo, mga pogi~!

The poster suddenly vanishes, and afterwards a staff is dropped on the floor. Sanzo picks it up.

You got: Happiness Staff!

This item allows Sanzo to summon Jun Watarase in battle.