Game Episode 2 - Promises and Crayons

## Episode Navigation

**Promises and Crayons** (約束とクレヨン *Yakusoku to Kureyon*) is the second episode of the Maimaimaigoen game.

An unofficial translated playthrough can be found here.

## Plot

It's been a day since Daigoro 's Game Over. Feeling responsible for what happened, Yu Okada is desperate to collect medals to prevent it from happening again. Even after challenging two attractions in a day, he and the children barely scrape by for the daily collection. Many of the children are disheartened after what happened, and the Rest Area is filled with a heavy and sad atmosphere. Okada tells himself he has to become more dependable and that he needs to start collecting medals for everyone first thing in the morning.

Okada wakes up late the following day and is greeted by Hikaru and Maria, who inform him that it's already past breakfast. He's anxious to collect medals, but they convince him to relax until noon, so he takes the time to check up on the children. Lime, who was best friends with Daigoro, was hit particularly hard and isn't her usual cheerful self. Okada tries to encourage her a bit but realizes there are things that only time can heal. Shinta and Wataru are in the cafeteria, and he can tell they're less energetic than usual despite trying to act normal. He tells them both to take it easy before he takes the breakfast Shinta set aside for him and heads outside. He finds Hayate, who says he was planning to challenge an attraction on his own. When Okada insists he can't go without him, Hayate questions why they have to work together in the first place when they keep weighing each other down. Afterward, Okada speaks to Mamoru and Rinrin; Rinrin is worried about everyone's emotional well-being, and Mamoru admits he wishes that he had the courage to help challenge the attractions. After checking on all the other children, Okada finally settles down to eat breakfast.

Back inside, Lime tries to cheer herself up by drawing a picture of Daigoro. Aki, who loves arts and crafts, helps "improve" Lime's drawing by making some additions that make Lime laugh. Realizing that drawing might be what everyone needs to lift their spirits, Rinrin and Mamoru propose that everyone creates a mural together. Shinta is initially resistant to the idea, but Mamoru convinces him that everyone deserves a break, so Shinta calls for a Hero Squad meeting and tells Okada to join outside.

The Hero Squad consists of Shinta, Wataru, Madoka, Mamoru, and Rinrin. Shinta decides on everyone's behalf that they will search for paper and crayons for the mural since "helping people is what heroes do!" He dubs the Hero Squad plus Okada the new "Exploration Squad" for the day. Okada agrees that the mural will help cheer everyone up and hopes to discover a new attraction while they search for the materials. Before they leave, Okada asks Hikaru and Maria to look after the kids in the Rest Area and to especially keep an eye on Hayate in case he tries to challenge an attraction on his own.

The squad discovers a new path that recently opened up, which allows them to enter an area at the foot of the large tree that is visible from the Plaza. They notice an old building to the side with a sturdy lock that conveniently breaks off as soon as Okada touches it. Inside is an old reception office. They head down the stairs behind the desk into an eerie and dimly lit warehouse. Okada tries to turn on the lights, but they immediately shut off again due to what he believes is the breaker tripping. The children, too scared to navigate the basement in the dark, wait outside as Okada searches for the breaker. Deep in the back, he resets the breaker, and the lights turn back on. Okada finds a stack of paper in some boxes and a mysterious locked door. As he's heading back to the entrance, he's startled by a shadow asking him if he will challenge any attractions today. Realizing it has the same voice he heard when he first discovered the Rest Area, Okada questions it and says he won't let anyone else get a Game Over.

The children are relieved once Okada makes it back outside and are happy to see that he found some paper. Curious about the Hero Squad, Okada asks if the squad has always been the 5 of them. In a flashback, the children are all back at Hydrangea Nursery School when Shinta announces that he's a hero starting today but gets interrupted when Rumi-sensei introduces Okada as a new teacher. Angry that Okada stole his spotlight, Shinta challenges Okada to a race later that day.

In the present, the Exploration Squad discovers a bright and colorful attraction. A few Froggy Eggs approach and introduce it as "Block Answer" before explaining the rules. Block Answer is a quiz attraction that requires 1 medal per participant and 4 teams of 2 to participate. The teams must answer questions correctly to earn points converted to medals at the end; the more points, the more medals. While answering questions, each team can use the "Call A Friend" feature twice to get hints or answers from 4 Helpers selected before challenging the attraction. When Okada asks whether there's some penalty for answering questions incorrectly, the group learns that if a team gets less than -30 points, it's Game Over. After hearing the explanation, they decide to discuss the attraction with the others in the Rest Area after gathering the materials.

Before they leave for the next area, Mamoru is doting over Wataru when Rinrin mentions she's not sure which of them is the senior. When Okada asks about it, Madoka explains that she's referring to the order that everyone joined the Hero Squad. Another flashback shows a scene where Shinta decides to form a squad with allies. He decides that he'll be "Red" and takes the liberty of making Wataru and Madoka members as "Blue" and "Purple." He mentions how he wants 2 more members before the flashback ends.

At the Gift Shop, the squad finds a Froggy Egg selling a set of crayons. Mamoru politely asks if they can have it, but the Froggy Egg insists they will only give it to them for 5 tickets. With no other choice, the squad searches for tickets scattered across the park to purchase it.

With the mural materials in hand, Mamoru is relieved that they didn't need to use any of the bandages or medicine he asked Rinrin to bring. He explains that he must plan ahead because he's not as courageous as Shinta. In a flashback, he recalls the time at the nursery school when he watched the other children play outside from a distance. Rinrin, who's always very attentive to others, checks on him and asks whether he wants to play with the others. Mamoru confesses that he's too nervous about speaking to the other kids because he's worried about what they might think about him, and Rinrin encourages him by telling him, "What matters is the heart." Mamoru instantly recognizes it as a line from the storybook Kerottopippii, which makes Rinrin happy since it's her favorite series. Shinta runs and trips by them, and Rinrin offers him a bandage. Mamoru comments on how it's unusual for him to play indoors, and Shinta voices his frustration over being unable to solve a riddle Okada gave him. Mamoru explains the answer to him, and Shinta invites both him and Rinrin to be members of his Hero Squad as "Silver" and "Green" to fight against his rival Okada, who he officially nicknames "Black." The flashback ends, and they finally head back to the Rest Area.

Before they start on the mural, Okada and Mamoru review the rules of Block Answer with the others. When Okada asks who would like to join as participants, Shinta, Wataru, Hayate, Yuzuriha, and Madoka are quick to volunteer. Mamoru, typically too afraid to participate in attractions, musters up his courage to join since he feels his knowledge would help answer the questions. Rinrin also decides to join since it might make it less scary for him if they're together. After all 8 participants are selected, Hayate leaves to wait outside the attraction. The rest of the participants follow suit, leaving Okada to decide on the 4 Helpers for Call A Friend. Okada is worried that if the Helpers also go to the attraction, the rest of the children and Rumi-sensei will be left alone in the Rest Area. Froggy Egg suddenly enters to explain that non-participants (including Helpers) can watch the live broadcast of the attraction from the Rest Area. Satisfied with the answer, Okada selects the 4 Helpers from the remaining children.

Before they enter the attraction, Rinrin brings out the set of crayons they purchased earlier. She wants everyone to take a crayon as a good luck charm to ensure everyone makes it out of the attraction safely. The members of the Hero Squad choose their designated colors, and Madoka picks emerald green for Yuzuriha. Mamoru gives Hayate the black crayon, despite Shinta's complaints about how Okada is "Black," because of his cool image. Hayate asks Mamoru why he doesn't collect medals on his own when he's smart enough to. Mamoru explains that he's cowardly on his own, but being with the others gives him courage and tells asks him to lend them his strength as well. Hayate takes the crayon, and Okada chooses the gray crayon before they head inside.

The group is split into teams of 2 based on the order they entered, and each team finds themselves in box seats attached to tall towers. They're welcomed inside by a Froggy Egg, acting as an announcer speaking to an audience. The teams are Okada and Shinta (Team A), Shinta and Hayate (Team B), Madoka and Yuzuriha (Team C), and Mamoru and Rinrin (Team D). Compared to the previous attractions they've challenged, they're all surprised by this attraction's extravagant and game show-like performance.

The announcer quickly reviews the rules and explains that the questions are split into 5 categories: Knowledge, Logic, Inspiration, Tricky, and Sanrio. Each category has 4 questions with point values of 10, 20, 30, and 40, where 10-point questions are the easiest and 40-point questions are the hardest. During each round, each team must answer a question for each point value, starting with the 10-point questions. If the team answers the question correctly, they will earn the corresponding number of points; if they answer incorrectly, they will lose them. If any team falls below -30 points at any time, it will be Game Over.

With the initial explanation out of the way, the announcer selects Team A, consisting of Okada and Wataru, to start. The question is seemingly ordinary, but the Froggy Egg explains that to answer a question, they must enter the Dungeon BOX behind them and go through the door corresponding to the answer they believe is correct within the time limit. Inside is an unexpectedly large room full of obstacles which the announcer explains is more fun for the live video broadcast. Team A answers the question, and Froggy Egg explains that each team's tower moves up and down to show how many points each team has with a glance. To end their turn, they must select one of the remaining categories for the next randomly selected team to answer.

Meanwhile, in the Rest Area, the other children are watching the live broadcast on a screen brought by a Froggy Egg. They're relieved that the teams made it through the 10-point questions. Hikaru is confident they'll be fine, but Zoya believes there may be more to the attraction...

The teams reach the 30-point questions, and Team C, consisting of Madoka and Yuzuriha, is selected to answer the first question for the round. However, unlike the previous questions, this one has nothing to do with the chosen category...

"What is Yuzuriha hiding on the corner of her forehead, demi?"

Yuzuriha, alarmed that the question is about something personal, doesn't want to answer. However, Madoka reminds her they'll fall below -30 points if they don't, and as soon as the question timer starts, Madoka rushes to the right door for "birthmark."

Outside the Dungeon BOX, Madoka celebrates getting the question right and tries to reassure Yuzuriha not to be too conscious about her birthmark. Shinta and Rinrin point out that Yuzuriha is visibly upset that Madoka revealed her secret in front of everyone. Still, Madoka defends herself since they would be in big trouble if she didn't answer. Mamoru agrees that it's not Madoka's fault when they can get a Game Over and encourages everyone to answer the questions correctly.

Teams B and C answer questions involving everyone's personal information (including the non-participants in the Rest Area). Once it's Team D's turn, Mamoru is surprised by the question...

"How many members of Shinta's Hero Squad loooove being in it, demi?"

Shinta is confident that the answer is 5 because there are 5 members in his squad. Once Mamoru and Rinrin are inside the Dungeon BOX, Rinrin asks Mamoru what he thinks the correct answer is, and he responds with "3 members." While he and Rinrin are happy to be squad members, Wataru and Madoka were half-forced to join, so he doesn't believe they "love" it. They head to the right door, but Mamoru hesitates to answer in front of everyone, and they run out of time. Before they head back outside, he apologizes to Rinrin for being selfish and unable to answer because of how it would affect everyone if he answered.

Mamoru and Rinrin scream as their tower quickly lowers to reflect the 30 points they lost. When Shinta asks what happened, Mamoru tells him they couldn't reach the door for "5 members," and Wataru and Madoka let out sighs of relief.

A flashback shows a scene of the Hero Squad when Shinta claims that their secret base will be at the edge of the courtyard. He insists they need a base for secret meetings and to prepare for their battle against Black since they don't know whether he's a friend or foe. Mamoru points out that he's kind and popular, and Madoka teases Shinta for being jealous that he's more popular than him. Brushing the comments aside, Shinta tells the others that they must create a secret password to enter the base and asks if anyone has ideas. Mamoru asks what he's envisioning, and Shinta says he wants one that shows their friendship's strength! Mamoru suggests a password similar to "One for All," which is the English translation of a phrase in the TV show that Shinta watches, and the flashback ends.

Rinrin tells Mamoru that he's not wrong and that it's very kind of him to be afraid of what might happen by revealing everyone's secrets. She was also worried that answering would hurt Shinta and that the squad wouldn't be the same and thanks him for not answering.

The 40-point question round begins. Team A answers a question explicitly targeting them. Afterward, Team C answers a personal question related to Madoka.

"Out of the following, what is most important to Madoka, demi?"

Yuzuriha, clearly still upset at Madoka, asks the correct answer, to which she responds, "to escape." Yuzuriha is skeptical and thinks that Madoka is trying to hide her secret after she revealed hers in front of everyone before answering. Team B answers another personal question, and when Shinta chooses the next category for Team D, Froggy Egg congratulates them for finding the Chance Panel! They explain that the next question for Team D will be a Special Bonus Question worth 100 points! Mamoru, hopeful that this will help make up for the previous question they got wrong. However, he and the rest of the Hero Squad are shocked when they read the question on the monitor...

"What is the 'secret password' only the squad knows, demi?"

Froggy Egg explains that, unlike the previous questions, Mamoru and Rinrin can answer right from their seat. Their tower suddenly rises much higher than the others so they can overlook all the others while they answer.

Mamoru recalls a time with his grandmother. He tells her various trivia he learned from all the books he's read. He wishes he could share it all with the other kids at school, but he's not sure they'd be interested in what he has to say. That's when his grandmother introduces the idiom, "You need a cane before you fall," to him. She tells him that being courageous isn't the only way to be strong and that thinking ahead and preparing are also admirable. Mamoru takes the saying to heart and plans to think of ways to speak to the other children.

Mamoru ponders to himself about the answer to the question. It's an answer that he keeps close to his heart. He knows it should be easy to answer, but he's afraid it would affect the rest of the squad and their perspective of him. He imagines a scenario where the rest of the members are shaming him, and he gets kicked out of the squad.

Mamoru fights with himself (visually represented by himself in his hero mask) about whether to answer the question. The secret password is important to the squad and he doesn't want to cause them grief, but the question is worth -100 and he knows what will happen if he doesn't answer. He questions why he's hesitating when the answer should be obvious. He decides that while the the idiom, "You need a cane before you fall," was useful to him before, it now makes him overthink and is nothing but a hindrance now.

Mamoru tells himself the only way to answer the question is to remove the Hero Squad from his thoughts. Despite having nothing but good to say about them, he imagines speaking to each member and forces himself to say cruel things to them, causing them to run away, leaving only their hero masks behind. He apologizes as he smashes each of their masks while breaking down in tears.

The Hero Squad's password is "One for Five," a phrase Mamoru came up with. Mamoru silently apologizes for being a coward and wishes he could be Silver forever. As he's about to answer, Rinrin clasps her hand over his mouth to stop him and Froggy Egg announces that time is up. Rinrin apologizes to Mamoru, tears streaming down her face, and tells him she knows how painful answering the question is. Mamoru thanks her for always taking care of his heart and for letting him remain a hero.

Froggy Egg celebrates the end of the game and announces that it's Game Over for Team D. Okada asks if there's another way, but Froggy Egg reminds him it's the rule. Knowing what's to come, Mamoru asks Shinta if he's been a hero worthy of being in his squad. Before Shinta can respond, the floor beneath Mamoru and Rinrin opens and they turn into eggs as they fall to the ground.

Later that evening when all the other children are asleep, Okada sits in the relaxation space questioning what he could have done differently to save Mamoru and Rinrin. Hayate listens from the cafeteria before stepping outside. After what happened to Mamoru, he decides he doesn't need anyone else's help and will beat the game on his own. He throws the black crayon as he leaves the Rest Area alone.

1. ↑ The order that the Exploration Squad visits completes these tasks is up to the player.
2. ↑ The player can recruit who they want to be Helpers.
3. ↑ Because the questions and the order that the teams answer is random, only the questions that don't change have been included in this summary. A full list of the questions and answers can be found here.