Into the Game
Kimono Notte: All right, everybody! One more time! HAAAAPPY NEW YEAR!
Everyone: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Kimono Elisanne: I find myself growing used to this little custom of ours. It feels good to cry out such things to ring in a new year.
Ranzal: Ever since Ieyasu taught us about it, New Year's has become the event ain't NOBODY wants to miss!
Kimono Luca: Probably because of all the food, which makes it the BEST holiday!
Cleo: I had Mitsuba teach me how to make an authentic Hinomotoan New Year's meal, so please eat to your hearts' content.
Kimono Notte: So I love you, Cleo, and your cooking is hotter than a flaming rock in a catapult... but right now I just wanna play some New Year's games!
Euden: That's a great idea, Notte! We could play hanetsuki, fly some kites, spin tops... Oh, or even try that Hinomotoan poetry game again!
Euden: We've learned so many things now, so what do you want to play?
Kimono Notte: Y'know, now that you actually put it to me, I'm kinda stuck. I mean, we've done all those already, you know?
Kimono Notte: They're super fun and all, but there's just no surprise to 'em anymore. No OOMPH. That's a word, right? Oomph?
???: Howdy, pardners! Y'all mind if we crash this here hootenanny with ya?
Euden: Is that you, Kuzunoha?
Kuzunoha: Sure as shootin'! It's been a hot minute, huh? Hope y'all are havin' a real swell New Year.
Assistant to Seimei, Leader of the Ox Clan
Seimei: It appears you have already begun your New Year's feast.
Onmyoji and Leader of the Ox Clan
Kimono Notte: Ohmigosh, it's Kuzunoha AND Seimei! Oh man, this is so great! ...Er, but wait. What are you doing here?
Kuzunoha: We had some business 'round these parts, so Lord Seimei said we outta pop in and say yee-haw.
Kimono Luca: This was SEIMEI'S idea? Wow. I figured he would view this kind of thing as a big ol' pain in the... Well, as a pain.
Kuzunoha: Oh, normally he ain't much for shindigs and whatnot, but he makes himself a right special exception for New Year's.
Kuzunoha: He always had himself a real humdinger of a time spendin' New Year's with his late grandpappy, so now he cherishes it.
Kimono Elisanne: Yes, I remember how much care he took running the tournament last year, as well as planning the banquet.
Kuzunoha: Right ya are! So anyway, he was wonderin' what y'all were gettin' up to—YEOWCH!
Seimei: You're running your mouth, stupid fox. ...Yes, well, that's enough out of her. Are you all enjoying the New Year?
Kimono Notte: Heck yeah we are! There's tons of food, and we were just talking about what game to play. Er, but...
Seimei: Yes? What is it?
Kimono Notte: We're kinda used to all the games we've learned, so they may be a little lacking in excitement, you know?
Kimono Notte: Hey, do YOU guys know any other games?! I wanna try something like nothing we've tried before!
Kuzunoha: Ya want somethin' that'll knock your socks off in a brand new way?
Kuzunoha: Well, hold on to yer slop buckets, 'cause I got me a whopper of a game!
Kimono Notte: Ooo, tell me, tell me!
Kuzunoha: It's m'own special-made, real-life sugoroku board game! TAAA-DAAAAH!
Kimono Notte: Uh...that just looks like a box.
Kuzunoha: That IS what it looks like, ain't it? But it's actually a special game set I made with one'a Lord Seimei's spells.
Kuzunoha: I knew Lord Seimei wanted everyone to have an extra-special New Year's, so I made it happen with this here game.
Kuzunoha: This lil' feller is a heap'a fun no matter how many times ya play it! And I know, 'cause I used my whole holiday to make it.
Seimei: You wasted your entire holiday making that...thing?
Kuzunoha: I sure as heck did—and I guarantee ya won't have fun like this nowhere else! So whatcha say? Interested?
Kimono Notte: I sure am! But, um...if I remember how sugoroku works, I can't just play it by myself, right?
Euden: I'd love to give it a shot if that's all right. Does anyone else want in?
Kimono Elisanne: The more the merrier is usually the rule of thumb for any game, so count me in.
Kimono Luca: If my ol' pranking buddy Kuzunoha is involved, you KNOW I ain't missing this!
Ranzal: And it ain't a party OR a game until Ranzal shows up, so consider Ranzal showed!
Cleo: I would like to join as well. Is it possible to play this particular game with six?
Kuzunoha: Heck yeah, it is! Y'all get ready and enjoy yerselves, and I'll be out here cheerin' ya on the whole durn way!
Kimono Notte: Uh, did she just say "out here"?
Kuzunoha: Right then! Lemme just make the six of ya the target of this here spell...
Kuzunoha: O that which glimmers as the moon! May yer light become joy and open the gate to the world of dreams! ONMYO!
Kimono Luca: Huh? Wait, I'm getting sucked in! Noooooo, I don't wanna play anymooore!
Kimono Elisanne: Nnngh... Wh-what just happened?
Kimono Notte: No idea. You guys okay?
Euden: I think we're fine, Notte—I'm honestly more concerned with the ground.
Cleo: The ground? ...Oh, I see! It reads "START" there in some very flashy colors.
Kimono Luca: There's squares as far as the eye can see, and they all have stuff written on 'em.
Ranzal: But that means this place is...
Kuzunoha: You bet yer sweet bippy it is! Y'all are standin' in the world of my real-life sugoroku board game!
Kimono Notte: AAAHHH! KUZUNOHA'S IN THE SKY! Is THIS what you meant when you said it was "real life"?!
Kuzunoha: I meant y'all were gonna be the pieces! For this game, ya gotta make yer way through the world and have yerself some real-life experiences.
Kuzunoha: Oh, but don't get yer overalls in a bunch, 'cause I made sure there was a way for y'all to all come home. Lemme show ya!
Kimono Notte: GAAAAAH! IT'S THAT LIGHT AGAIN!
Kimono Notte: Huh? Wait, it's gone.
Kuzunoha: Well, cow plop! That ain't how it's supposed to go! I coulda sworn I did that there spell right. Unless... OH NO!
Kuzunoha: So, um, I'm right sorry 'bout this, y'all, but I sorta screwed up the spell, which means ya can't leave unless ya go and beat the game.
Kimono Elisanne: You mean we're TRAPPED in here?!
Kuzunoha: Yeah, and I'm real sorry about it! If ya manage to make it out alive, I'll definitely find a way what to make it up to ya.
Seimei: Enough, you stupid fox. If all they have to do to escape is finish the game, then we will simply help them finish.
Seimei: Right then, all of you. Hurry up and finish, then return here. If you need help, I will do whatever I can.
Kimono Notte: Okay, I feel WAY better knowing that Seimei's helping us, so let's go out there and beat this thing like a rug!
Kimono Notte: And, um, maybe we can have some fun while we're at it? Pretty please with literally everything on top of it?
Euden: Notte's right. It's not every day you get to play a game like this, so we might as well enjoy the experience.
Kimono Notte: See? He gets me. Now let's get this party started! Ready...set...GOOOO!
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