Magically Dyed Colorful Egg/Episode 1 - Storyline

Episode 1

Fujika
Neica	Haa... I really hate this. There's nothing worse than having to go out in public, of all places... Ugh. I only agreed to help out because they needed someone. So why...how...did this happen?
Fujika	Neica... Didn't you have fun decorating and painting the Easter eggs with us?
Pamela	I definitely did!
Neica	Well... I can't say that I didn't enjoy doing all of that, but...
Fujika	Besides, an Easter Festival sounds like so much fun, doesn't it?! Aren't you excited?!
Neica	Haa...
Fujika	I heard that there's going to be an Egg Hunt, a Spoon Race, and even egg rolls!
Pamela	Yep! Aren't eggs just amazing?! You can do so much with them!
Neica	Haa...
Fujika	Hmm... I thought that if you put on a costume, you'd start getting into the spirit of things, but it doesn't seem to be working.
Pamela	Maybe the clothes aren't for her?
Neica	The clothing doesn't have much to do with it. Neica has trouble leaving the house, so the moment we tried to get her out of her comfort zone, we'd already lost her.
Fujika	Come to think of it... Neica, didn't you say something in your letter about stalkers harassing you and giving you trouble?
Neica	Yeah... They've got my house surrounded, and they keep ambushing me. They shout things at me like, "Don't hide your Neica Powers from the world!" It's been horrible...
Pamela	O-oh, no! That's terrible! I had no idea...!
Neica	Well... I wasn't brave enough to refuse, so they did succeed in dragging me out with them a few times...
Fujika	Oh, Neica...
Neica	Haa... Why does Easter even exist in the first place?
Fujika	That's a great question! I've never really thought about that before. I wonder why...
Pamela	According to an ancient text in Gluttony Foss, the revival or recreation of what is known as the Festival of Plentiful Harvests is what led to the creation of this event! Furthermore, eggs and bunny rabbits are apparently considered symbols of the plentiful harvest! Then, you know... A little while back, everyone was saying that it would be your powers, Neica, that would make Gluttony Foss bountiful again. Someone even dressed up like you, and wore clothes patterned with eggs and rabbits... And that's how the tradition of casting magic on the Imperial Easter Egg came to be! Now, instead of praying for a good harvest, most people are more excited about what costume the person playing Neica will wear, and about watching the magical ceremony!
Fujika	Wow! Pam, you sure know a lot!
Pamela	Heheh... I'm not finished! Apparently, something very special will be resurrected over Easter!
Fujika	Huh? Like what?
Pamela	Umm... Well, that's not the point! All that matters is the hopeful story of "the resurrection of something dear!"
Fujika	Right...
Neica	Haa... Anyway, it sounds like I don't actually need to be the one to cast the magic, since someone else is playing the role for me. Besides, I can't just go around letting people know that I'm the real Neica. They don't understand Phantoms—they'd be scared witless!
Fujika	Pfft! Witless, schmitless. You're already here for the Festival, and you're participating. It goes without saying that you should be the one to show up onstage!
Neica	Are you even listening to me?
Fujika	And you were the one who made the Imperial Easter Egg, weren't you? That means you should totally be the one to finish it off with your magic! You know what they say: work once begun should not be left undone!
Pamela	You said it, Fujika! And you know what, Neica? Sometimes it's important to stand your ground! You gotta put your all into those prayers for a bountiful harvest and the resurrection and cast your magic on the Imperial Easter Egg! Cause the main event of this festival is all about you! You don't get to be the center of attention very often, so why don't you just enjoy this occasion to the fullest?
Neica	Ugh, I'm telling you I don't want to! Casting magic surrounded by huge crowds of people... I feel sick just thinking about it. At least let me do it where nobody can see me... Dressing up and using my powers in front of everyone... That's just too much to ask from a homebody like me.
Fujika	Well... If you really can't do it, then I guess that's that. It's such a shame, though. The star of the show was finally here in person and everything.
Pamela	Hmmm... It seems to me that drastic action is required! Let's go and have a look at the stage, and try and get you excited about standing up there!
Fujika	You're totally right! Come on, Neica, let's give it a go!
Neica	I'm telling you, it's not that simple.
Pamela Fujika	Off we go!
Neica	H-hey! There's no need to push! Jeez...

Chairman	Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! How are you enjoying your Easter so far? Well, get your thinking caps on, because it's time for the long-awaited Egg Hunt! Our staff have put their all into hiding these adorable little Easter Eggs all over town! Happy hunting, and good luck!
Neica	Haa... Everyone looks like they're having a great time. Can't I just watch them as an innocent bystander?
Fujika	Wow! Check out the stage! It's amazing!
Pamela	The Imperial Easter Egg is so pretty!
Fujika	So, think you'll be able to enjoy yourself a little up there, Neica?
Neica	Ugh...
Pamela	For the main event, you get to stand up there and use your powers on the Imperial Easter Egg in front of—
Neica	Ughhh... You're giving me a stomachache. Huh...? That's strange.
Pamela	What's wrong?
Neica	That egg... I didn't make it.
Pamela	Wh-what?! Are you saying it's a fake?! How can that be?! The right one was up there this morning, wasn't it?!
Fujika	Calm down, Pam! It probably just rolled off somewhere.
Neica	Something that big doesn't just go missing!
Fujika	I guess so... I mean, the very fact that someone put a fake one up there probably means that something is going on.
Neica	Not to mention that I enchanted the egg so that it wouldn't move, just like the Easter superstitions say to.
Pamela	Speaking of enchantments, I detect traces of magic being used here... Do you think a talented conjurer could have removed your magic, Neica?
Neica	No... The way to remove it can only be found in a certain ancient document, and not many people even know that it exists. Besides, I've never heard of anyone wanting to interfere with this festival. Isn't that strange?
Teona	You seem flustered, ladies. Did something happen?
Teona Lotiyah	...
Neica	Huh?! T-Te... Te... Te—Teona?! Wh-wh-what are you doing h-here?!
Teona	We're here as security. We've blended in among the crowd of onlookers to prevent any trouble from occurring at this festival.
Lotiyah	Every year, there has been at least one case of a big fight breaking out over who found an egg first, and things like that.
Neica	R-really?
Teona	Everything looks fine for the moment, however, so we have simply been enjoying ourselves perusing the stalls. So... Why don't you tell us what's going on with you?
Pamela	W-well... We just discovered that the egg Neica made has been...
A moment later...
Teona	H-how is that possible?!
Lotiyah	This is quite the surprise.
Teona	Lotiyah! Let us help them!
Lotiyah	Of course!
Teona	All right. First thing's first, could you please describe this missing egg for me?
Neica	Sh-she's so close... Too close... I can't believe I'm standing so close to T-Te—
Teona	Ahem. Neica...?
Neica	I actually get to meet her...to talk to her. I need to calm down. I need to—
Teona	Erm... Neica? Are you listening to me?
Neica	Y-yes! A description! Of the egg! Well... It's about the same size as whatever that man over there is holding!
Burglar	...
Teona	You there! Halt!