Remember that Garupa Pico episode where they spoofed the Power Rangers/Kamen Rider? What if that, but an actual story instead of just cute jokes. And magical girls instead of super sentai. So really nothing to do with that episode aside for the cost...
T'was the day after Christmas, and all through the city, people went about their days, all feeling giddy. Everyone was happy, they all had a smile, and this feeling would linger for a really long while.
Not all had this cheer, like Moca and friends. They call for a meeting to discuss last night's events.
Unfortunately, the usual café was packed. They needed a place where their words won't be tracked. After a bit of picking, they found a good place. At a nearby park, there's plenty of space.
"It's so warm" Maya says.
"I feel normal" Ran responds.
"It must be the overwhelming Light emanating from everyone. That's why only Maya and I can feel it. Speaking of which. It's only you four today?" Lynn asks Moca, Ran, Maya, and Sayo.
"We thought it would be too distracting if more people were here" Sayo explains.
"Besides, only four of us went inside" Ran adds. "Tomoe and the others said they didn't notice anything strange from the audience."
"As for Pastel*Palettes, everyone has their own things to do" Maya says. "I'll update them on what's going on later."
"I see. I guess I'll start then" Lynn says. "I sensed a LOT of Light energy emanating from the mansion that night. It peaked during the song, but after that, it seemed like everyone in the audience was infused with it, but not in the same way as people with shielded hearts."
"What do you mean?" Ran asks.
"I can't explain it, so I'll just draw it." Lynn grabs her phone and opens up a drawing app. She makes a quick doodle and shows it to everyone.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"English again?" Moca says.
"Sorry, force of habit" Lynn says. "Anyway, this is how different things radiate Light energy. On the left, we have a generic object."
"Why is it a tree?" Ran asks.
"For some reason, tree came to mind. Anyway. It has Light, but it doesn't radiate it. At least, not far. Unless we're touching them or actively focusing on them, they're pretty hard to detect with our powers."
"That explains why I don't sense Michelle stickers all over the place" Maya comments.
"Stickers?" Lynn asks.
"We'll explain later" Sayo says.
"Ok" Lynn continues. "Next to that is someone with shielded hearts. There's like a soft glow of Light around them. Even though it's being radiated, it shouldn't run out. Kinda like a glow in the dark sticker."
"Stickers again" Moca points out.
"Next to that is us magical girls" Lynn says. "Maya, I hope you don't mind using you as the model for this."
"I don't mind" Maya chuckles. "Hold on, why does my hair look messy?"
"Sorry, I know I'm bad at drawing" Lynn apologizes. "Anyway, when we're transformed, we emit Light similarly to people who's hearts we shield, but more intense."
"That must be why Maruyama-san kept closing her eyes at the mall" Sayo thinks to herself.
"And finally, all the way to the right, is how the people in the audience radiated Light" Lynn says. "Looks like they're still radiating Light this way. It's pretty out of control."
"Hold on a second, that looks just like that other drawing you showed us with people who've been possessed by Negatives!" Maya points out.
"You mean this one?" Lynn says, showing the doodle from chapter 57. "Woah, they do look the same!"
"So those people were possessed?" Sayo asks. "Is there a creature that has the opposite effect?"
"Nope" Lynn answers. "I have no doubt the show had something to do with this, though. So, were you guys able to discover anything?"
"We were given these at the entrance" Sayo says, pulling out a Michelle sticker from her bag. "They gave these out to every audience member."
"A sticker?" Lynn says, raising an eyebrow.
"May I see it?" Maya asks. Sayo nods and hands it to her. "Woah, I can sense Light from it!"
"Wait, really? Lemme see!" Maya hands the sticker over to Lynn. "Woah. Just like I explained." Lynn gives it back to Sayo. "You should hold on to it. If you're ever attacked by a Negative, you should theoretically be able to stick this on something and use that to defend yourself."
"I'll keep that in mind" Sayo says, putting the sticker away.
"Which brings us to the results of our investigation" Moca says. "Thanks to my expert intuition, we were able to discover a secret room. Ranson, if you'd be so kind as to show ours friends here the picture you took~"
Ran sighs as she shows Lynn and Maya.
"Woah, it's the same machine we saw at school!" Maya confirms.
"Um. This is the part where I admit that I've never actually seen the prototype teleporter Boss told me about" Lynn admits. "But do you mind sending that to me so I can send it to her?"
"Why do you want to show it to your boss?" Sayo asks.
"Oh, right, I never actually told you, huh?" Lynn says. "I'm on vacation here in Tokyo from Los Angeles. I work in a maid café, but that's just a front. My real work is fighting Negatives. Boss has access to a lab with tech that helps us and one of the machines there is supposedly a teleporter. But there's no evidence of it working, we just know that from the manual that was left behind."
"That's a lot to take in, but I understand" Sayo says.
"I'm wondering if there's a connection between these teleporters" Maya wonders out loud. "One of the destinations on the computer was labeled 'Lab.' Is it possible it's the same lab your boss goes to?"
"I doubt it" Lynn answers. "I'm sure I'd have heard about any intruders in there by now."
"It can't be a coincidence that there are two labs that are dedicated to these creatures" Sayo says.
"I was thinking if it looks even remotely similar to the one back home, there's a chance that whoever built that lab had a second one here" Lynn says. "I forget who I've mentioned this to, but the lab Boss goes to was abandoned. There's not even any clues as to who's lab it was."
"Is there any way to confirm?" Ran asks.
"Well, I've been in the lab before, so if I can take a look at the lab in the mansion, I can compare the two" Lynn answers. "Breaking in would be the hard part, though..."
"We've snuck in twice already~" Moca says.
"Wait, really?" Lynn says, surprised. "Just what I'd expect from a Great Detective!"
"The first time was for a game, and the second time was during their show..." Ran tries to explain. Lynn does not hear her, though.
"In any case, the only way to confirm is for me to check it out myself, but that's easier said than done" Lynn says. "I only have a week left here, and I'd really like to be as much help as possible to you guys before I leave. The more answers, the better."
"You've already helped us out a bunch" Maya says. "We wouldn't have been able to figure out things so quickly without your initial explanation."
"I just wish that could've gone smoother" Lynn says. "Then again, I probably wouldn't have met the Great Detective Moca if it did go smoother. Speaking of you guys, did I ever apologize to other pink hair?"
"You mean Himari-chan?" Ran asks.
"She's probably over it by now" Moca says.
"Well. I should get back to the hotel so I can talk to Boss about everything" Lynn says. "If anything else comes up, I'll let you all know."
Lynn waves goodbye and heads back to her hotel room. Everyone else disperses and heads to their homes to update everyone else on the situation.
