Invitation to the Ball

Tut tut tut. Whatever will you do?

Now this girl's dreamland, I'm rather satisfied with!

Sweet dreams for every child are the duty of the Castle of Dreams, and I've granted each one of her wishes.

Honestly, I'm surprised how smoothly this dream runs—no, flawlessly, in fact. Beyond my wildest expectations.

Besides, things have gotten even more interesting now, you know.

...You're deceiving her.

No, no, no, nothing of the sort. We've had plenty of dealings, she and I. She knows full well what I am.

Oh, seeing these results just fills my heart with joy.

She knows it's all a dream and she still doesn't want to leave! Isn't that the very proof my dreamspinning is unmatched?

(Chirping in agreement)

Oh, you coming here...

Now that's interesting.

Well, I'll leave you two to it, then! I trust you'll soon discover just how amusing this dream really is, Sakiko Togawa.

Sakiko. Everyone's waiting for you. Let's go back.

Go back?

Morpheus just vanished in front of you. Aren't you the least bit surprised...?

No.

Everything here, we imagined together.

'We'?

You... aren't a part of us.

You play guitar so well, Mutsumi-chan!

Saki...

No. Mum... Where did Saki go?

Saki-chan? Maybe she just went off somewhere...?

No, no. Saki... Saki would never abandon me.

Mutsumi-chan, you seem to have forgotten—

This isn't just your dream.

This is 'our' dream.

'Us'.

In this dream, every 'Mutsumi' has the chance to make her wish come true.

Together with Mutsumi-chan, we've built a sweet dream that's ours and ours alone—where everyone can dream of happiness.

We exist in Mutsumi-chan's mind. We've seen her life countless times over.

In the end, we unanimously agreed that this—is the best ending for all the 'Mutsumis'—

And you, Sakiko Togawa, are the enemy of this dream.

Mutsumi, what are you talking about?

I don't want you to suffer either, but we shouldn't hide away in dreams like this—

......

No, Mutsumi-chan gets to live a happy life here. That's the most important thing.

I'm not like the others. I want to talk things out with you, Sakiko.

You can stay here with me, and we'll protect Mutsumi-chan's sweet dream together.

She's a fragile child. Odds are she still can't decide whether she wants to wake, or to stay here in bliss.

So long as you choose to stay as well, and help us keep this dream going, it'll naturally become 'reality'.

You are the sole determiner of 'reality' here. You are reality.

So. Stay with us, Sakiko.

I refuse.

You... refuse?

In reality, Mutsumi's body is lying out in the cold in the Castle of Dreams. Can you accept that as an ending, too?

If you truly love her, you would not be doing this to her.

As long as Mutsumi-chan is happy, as long as we can exist—what does it matter what's reality or not?!

I have Mutsumi-chan's every memory! I know your heart's deepest desire!

If you'll just stay here, I can even give you a whole, entire Ave{@nbs}Mujica!

Shut up! You're not Mutsumi at all... She would never say that sort of thing.

I like you, and I like Mutsumi-chan...

Why are you forcing me to choose like this?

They're right. To Mutsumi-chan, we are her countless shadows.

So that the shadows may hide forever in the darkness, even the weakest light must be snuffed out.

...What are you doing?!

Sakiko...

I want Mutsumi-chan to be happy forever, Sakiko. I also don't want the 'Mutsumis' to have to disappear anymore.

I just have no choice...

Mutsumi-chan... doesn't need you.

Goodbye forever, Sakiko.