『 Stelle followed closely behind Hotaru as they traversed the golden, sun-drenched boulevards of the Golden Hour. Suddenly, a frantic cry for help pierced the air.
"Tick-tock! Help! Someone, help me!"
Stelle turned toward the source of the noise and spotted a peculiar creature—a living clock with spindly arms and legs—shouting in the middle of the thoroughfare.
"It's a life-or-death emergency! Help!"
Stelle stared at the animated timepiece in sheer disbelief. "What… exactly are you?"
The clock-creature hopped frantically, ringing a small bell as he shouted, "Hey! I'm a clock, not a 'what'!"
He paused, seemingly realizing something profound. He looked at Stelle, wide-eyed. "Wait—you… you can actually see me?" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Welcome to the "Stelle Sees Things No One Else Can" club.
〘Black Swan〙: Hmm. Origami Birds and Clockie are both animated characters from Penacony; that is their commonality. But young Misha…
〘Herta〙: It seems Misha is a special case. Something even more unique than a cartoon character.
....
『 Beside her, Hotaru noticed Stelle had stopped to address the empty air. She looked at her companion with curiosity. "Is something wrong?"
Stelle turned to Hotaru, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I think I'm seeing… a clock with arms and legs."
"So… you really can see me?" Clockie looked at Stelle, overwhelmed with relief.
He began to cheer joyfully. "Tick-tock! Wonderful! Simply wonderful! Misha is saved!" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: So Clockie and Misha know each other.
〘Clockie〙: Of course! Misha is my very best friend!
....
『 He spun around in an excited blur, then slapped his forehead and laughed at Stelle's bewildered expression. "Oh, how rude of me! I haven't even introduced myself!"
"I am Clockie, the superstar of Dreamville! Together with my friends, I protect the peace of this town—there's Brother Hanu, Mr. Soda, the Origami Birds, Hamster Ball Knight…"
He suddenly jumped up, his voice rising in panic. "And Misha! Misha is in grave danger—Tick-tock! Help! Help!"
"Clockie? You're a cartoon character?" Stelle still couldn't quite wrap her head around it.
Hotaru tilted her head, repeating the name. "…Clockie?"
"Are you saying… You see a cartoon character that shouldn't exist in reality?"
"You can't see him?" Stelle asked, pointing directly at Clockie's position.
Hotaru looked back and forth, squinting at the spot Stelle indicated, but saw nothing but the shimmering air.
"Uh… where? I don't see anything…"
"Tick-tock! I suspect only children who are straightforward, innocent, and full of wonder can see me—like our grey-haired friend here!" Clockie explained. 』
『 ....』
〘Robin〙: Oh? Is that the requirement? But I never saw him when I was a child.
〘Sunday〙: Perhaps he was too intimidated to appear before you, given your room was overflowing with his merchandise. Haha.
〘Clockie〙: Tick-tock! Miss Robin is incredibly lovely, but by the time I appeared, you had already grown up. That's likely why. Tick-tock.
〘Robin〙: I see. That's quite a shame.
....
『 Stelle looked at Hotaru with a playful smirk. "He says you aren't straightforward, innocent, or full of wonder."
Hotaru puffed out her cheeks in a cute pout. "I am too straightforward and innocent…!"
"Tick-tock, tick-tock! Grey-haired friend! Since you can see me, you simply must help!"
Clockie looked at Stelle imploringly. "My dear friend Misha is in trouble! Please, save him! Otherwise, something terrible will happen!"
"He says it's a life-or-death situation…" Stelle relayed to Hotaru.
"Eh? Is it really that serious?" Hotaru asked, surprised.
She looked at Stelle. "Do you want to go help this… uh, Clockie that only you can see?"
Realizing she might sound skeptical, she quickly shook her head and added sweetly, "I'm not doubting you! Anything is possible in a dream, after all… The place I wanted to show you can wait a little longer."
"Tick-tock, tick-tock! Follow me, follow me, grey-haired friend!" Clockie turned toward the opposite street. "Misha is in danger! He's right over there! I'll lead the way!" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Sob, Hotaru-chan, you're too good to me.
〘Hotaru〙: Hmm? It's nothing. Just as you trust me, I trust you too.
....
『 Stelle felt that the name "Misha" was significant. Deciding to assist, the two followed Clockie's lead until they came upon a group of gang members surrounding Misha and Acheron.
Misha looked at the thugs encircling them, appearing completely overwhelmed. "Everyone, please, let's just calm down…"
"You don't know the rules, do you? I'll show you what happens when you cross us!" the gang leader shouted, adjusting his sunglasses as he glared at Acheron.
His lackeys chimed in. "Yeah! Boss, give her a taste of what's what!"
Acheron looked at the crowd and let out a weary sigh. "How did it come to this…?"
Stelle watched the confrontation from a distance and muttered, "Why is it always people I know?!"
Hotaru looked confused. "Wait… what do you mean by 'always'?" 』
『 ....』
〘Black Swan〙: As expected, Miss Hotaru cannot see little Misha either. It appears he is a memetic entity visible only to specific individuals or groups.
〘Herta〙: We'll know for sure once the little guy meets up with the rest of the crew. We'll see if it's just the Stelle who can see him, or the whole group.
....
『 Before Stelle could explain herself to Hotaru, Clockie's voice broke in.
"Oh, look! See! I wasn't lying! Misha is in danger!"
"Tick-tock! Please, grey-haired friend! Help Misha!" Clockie pleaded.
"My bat has been waiting for this!" Stelle said confidently, resting her baseball bat on her shoulder.
"But a bat is so inefficient… Wait! I mean, we shouldn't solve problems with such crude methods…" Hotaru caught herself mid-sentence, realizing she had slipped back into her combat mindset, and quickly corrected her tone. 』
『 ....』
〘Silver Wolf〙: She's right, a bat is inefficient. You should just go bang-bang-bang—boom! and be done with it.
....
『 "Tick-tock, tick-tock! This mess is all Boss Stone's fault!" Clockie said indignantly.
"Boss Stone is the meanest villain in Dreamville! He's a greedy miser who wants to kick out all the residents and hoard all the precious stones for himself… So, he sent his goons to mess up the Dreamscape and suck away everyone's good moods! Now Dreamville is full of anxiety and conflict. Everyone's stopped acting like a family!"
"But as the guardian of Dreamville, Clockie can't just stand by! If we use Clockwork to bring those good vibes back into people's hearts, everything will go back to the way it was!"
"Come on, grey-haired friend! I have a feeling you can master Clockwork. After all, you're special enough to see me!"
"Besides, you're a guest in Dreamville. Boss Stone won't see you coming! If you step in, that big bully won't know what hit him!" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Ooh, the protagonist is getting a new power-up! I'm curious to see what it actually does.
〘Dan Heng〙: Likely something related to emotions. Perhaps emotional regulation?
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: What's the use of that?
〘Bronya Zaychik〙: Stupid Kiana. For example, if you make Himeko-sensei angry one day, you could use this power to make her happy so she'll forgive you.
〘Hanabi〙: If I had that power… Hehehe~
〘Sampo〙: Hehehe.
〘Stelle〙: I feel like your ideas are very dangerous. Or at least, very socially suicidal.
....