Before the Endless Dream Ends/Story/"Kasumi" Starlight

(TBA)

## Script

* **Last updated:** 5 November 2023

**Characters Present****Kasumi****Kallen****Start**

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**The night was thick. One by one the shops on the street turned off their lights.**
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Potion Vendor**Can I interest you in a bottle of sweet dream potion? It guarantees its drinker a sweet dream. We're closing, buy one and get one free!**
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**A vendor hawked after her. The ninja didn't respond. She walked down the street and peeled a candy.**
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Kasumi**(... It's another sleepless day.)**
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**She had watched this city for a long time, but still hadn't found that person. Given her skills, this could be considered a disgrace in her ninja career.**
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**She originally thought that person had left this bubble universe, but every indication said otherwise.**
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**The sign of "Selling Sweet Dreams" went out. This street grew a little darker.**
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**When a city slumped into darkness, the creatures in the shadows became restless.**
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**Small sounds grew louder and louder under the darkness. The voracious panting and slimy gulps of magical creatures tormented her weary nerves.**
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Kasumi**(Too noisy.)**
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**The ninja hurled the candy at the shifting shadows like a shuriken.**
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**The annoying sounds vanished.**
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???**Nice moves.**
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Kasumi**It's you.**
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???**You remember me?**
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Kasumi**How could I ever forget someone who spread fake info?**
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???**Sorry. I know you're looking for me, but I hesitated. I was waiting for the perfect timing.**
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Kasumi**(What's she trying to say?)**
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**The ninja stared at the ground tiles to sit her explanation out, but noticed the candy that was used as a shuriken rolled down the street. It eventually came to a stop at her feet.**
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**She raised her head unconsciously, but before she could see the corner, she felt a strong wind—**
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???**Watch out!**
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**A gun suddenly sounded by her ear. Instinctively or otherwise, the girl that spread lies shielded the ninja that pursued her.**
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**Not far away, a past nightmare had emerged from the shadows and closed in on them.**
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Kasumi**(Why is that thing… here?!)**
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???**Interested in a warm-up?**
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Kasumi**Hmph, of course.**
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< Familiar Magical Creature (Jizo Mitama) spawns. >
< After enemy is defeated: >

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???**You alright?**
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**The street lamp cast an orange light on the small square. They sat on either side of the pillar by coincidence, as with their first encounter.**
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Kasumi**I'm fine.**
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Kasumi**(It was only a magical creature, not what I remember.)**
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???**Don't you think the magical creatures have increased in number lately?**
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Kasumi**Have they?**
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???**You must've noticed that the city is under stricter lockdown. There are more patrol guards that before, but this hasn't stop [*sic*] (expected: stopped) the magical creatures from appearing. I wonder how they got in?**
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Kasumi**Enough. Stop hinting at things.**
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Kasumi**You spread fake info and watched us from the dark. After ensuring we walked into your trap, you should've left, but you had to turn back and tell me that with a guilty look.**
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Kasumi**What are you trying to achieve?**
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???**…**
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???**Before answering you, I too have a question to ask.**
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???**You knew I lied to you, but didn't raise your weapon at me. Why?**
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Kasumi**…**
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**In her distant memories, the ninja once fought with someone against a tricky foe.**
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**That someone now belonged to the past. Only the ninja shouldered the mockery of fate and made her way through the darkness.**
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**She bore an uncanny resemblance to that someone, but she wasn't her.**
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Kasumi**I've no reason to answer.**
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???**Then… let me tell you a story.**
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???**Once upon a time, a girl killed by an accident was brought back to life many years later. Afterward, she stumbles across a little girl locked in a room of her house.**
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???**The little girl didn't have a name, but a code A-872. Unlike the other children, she was locked up in the room and used as a tool to prolong the girl's life.**
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???**The girl couldn't bear to see her alone in the room, so she brought books and told stories of the outside world, unknowingly planting the seed of going outside in the heart of A-872.**
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???**One day, she helped the little girl escape from that room. Then things slowly went out of control.**
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???**At that time, the only thing that could maintain A-872's life was blood. The more people there were, the stronger her craving for blood became. The girl began to regret, but she had to take responsibility for her decision.**
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???**She chased A-872. She went to many places, tried many methods, and finally met someone who could help. But as a condition, they had to stay and assist that person in some tasks.**
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???**As time passed, A-872 was no longer the lonely little girl in her eyes, but an… incomprehensible person.**
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**She stopped, as if hesitating, but decided to go on anyway.**
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???**The girl thought, as long as she kept on mending A-872's mistakes, she could find the chance to save her and change her.**
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???**But time was lost as she hesitated time after time.**
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???**The story ends here. This is that girl's atonement, and… her plea.**
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Kasumi**I understand.**
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???**Sorry to have lied to you.**
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Kasumi**It's nothing. What if I told you that piece of info wasn't fake?**
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???**You mean…?**
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**Growl…**
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**Someone's stomach growled at an inappropriate time.**
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Kasumi**Hungry?**
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???**Not really… I don't need food that much.**
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Kasumi**Want another one of that candy?**
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???**Sure.**
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Kasumi**But this time, you need to tell me your name.**
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???**My name isn't important. I'm just an involuntary chaser.**
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Kasumi**I can't call you "Hey" every time I see you.**
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Kallen**Call me Kallen, then.**
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Kasumi**Kallen…**
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**Perhaps it was because the ninja hadn't uttered those syllables in a long time, the name came out strange.**
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Kallen**Like yours, it's only a code name.**
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Kasumi**Looks like you've investigated me. But that isn't true.**
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Kasumi**Kasumi is not a code name. It's my original name given by an old friend.**
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Kallen**I see. It's a fine name.**
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**The ninja smiled, but said nothing.**
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**The candy wrapping laced with light-sensitive metal threads was peeled off, revealing a light that pulsed in her eyes.**
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**It was like a ray of starlight in the long dark.**
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Kallen**Kasumi, what I'm going to say may be incomprehensible, but crucial nonetheless.**
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Kasumi**I'm listening.**
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< Screen goes black. >

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**She turned her ear to her. As a ninja, she processed intel on a daily basis, so no news should be able to surprise her.**
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**But after a moment, she frowned unconsciously.**
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**End**