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.