Shizuno: Does this look like all a game to you? Like an artificial world? This is all real. Everything is.

Kyo: Shizuno, just wait a minute. It was real? But, wait then...

Kyo: Why would my hand had disappeared?

Kyo: Hayase. Wha... Hey, wait, wait a sec! Huh? Hayase, are you...

Hayase: No, I'm not.

Kyo: If I apologized, would you come back to the team then?

Hayase: An apology means absolutely nothing if it's not sincere.

Mizuki: No, really?! It's just common sense these days!

Kaminagi: You think so? Aren't you embarrassed, though?

Mizuki: Not a single bit!

Kyo: I'm sorry!

Kaminagi: That's Kyo over there.

Mizuki: And Hayasechi...

Kaminagi: Mm. Huh? Hayasechi?

Kyo: I'm being totally sincere right now. I wasn't thinking about the consequences before. I made the foul, and I was wrong to punch that referee during the preliminaries. They wiped out all your scores too, because of me.

Hayase: This isn't like you.

Kyo: I've had stuff happen to me lately. And I've had time to think things over. I'm still kind of confused, but, my real feelings about all this have started to come through. So, let's patch things up...

Hayase: We don't do what you want just 'cause you think it's convenient. We three made a decision that day. We'll never swim with you again! That's why I quit swimming...

Mizuki: Huh? I've seen this before... He says nothing, and just watches him walk away...

Kaminagi: Maybe it's deja vu. Wait! I just got that feeling, too.

Announcer: ...and the results of a reexamination of Shanghai show a very low probability of any survivors. Rescue operations have been suspended.

Kyo: This is reality!

Tomigai: Morning, Sogoru!

Kyo: Yo! This is reality!

Kurashige: Well, my folks sent it to me, actually.

Mizusawa: Oh! Thank you so much!

Kurashige: Higuma manjuu buns, a Hokkaido specialty. They always send me, like, two dozen of these things.

Tomigai: Oh, wow! He's sure aiming high, isn't he?

Mizusawa: You don't say!

Kyo: Some people play outside their league.

Kurashige: Hey! I heard that!

Kyo: Here is my school. Here are my teachers. Along with everyone else.

Kaminagi: Kyo, why don't you buy your own console?

Kyo: I'll get to it. Wow! Yesterday leads to today. Today will lead to tomorrow. That's reality! This is reality?!

AI: Cover fire from Garuda.

Kyo: Give me a sword!

Shizuno: Roger!

May-Yu: [Oh/xxx], that's that. Mission, accomplished.

Lu-Shen: Returning to ship.

Kyo: Hey, thanks a lot for the help back there. Is she still mad at me?

AI: Transmission range, reached.

Shizuno: Transmitting. Entangle, time out.

AI: Entangle, time out.

Kyo: So, which is the "real" world?

Mizusawa: The story of the butterfly dream. Do you know it? The truth is, everyone goes through this. You wonder if the "you" you are now is the real "you." Especially people at your age. For example, you might wonder if you're really the child of a rich family somewhere.

Kyo: No. It's not exactly like that.

Mizusawa: Everybody wants to believe that there's something special about them. When you're young and your world is essentially limited to your family, we always feel like we're special, somehow. But as we grow up, we come to realize that we're ordinary like everyone else. And we start to resent thinking of ourselves as just average and run-of-the-mill. Those who don't want to face this escape into fantasy worlds, and become convinced that their fantasy world is the real one. That they pilot robots in another world, fighting an evil enemy. That you're special or different, somehow. That you're a "cerebrant" or whatever.

Kyo: Ah, what did you do say?

Mizusawa: When Chuang Tzu dreamed he was a butterfly, he wondered upon awakening whether he was actually a butterfly dreaming he was a man. Personally, it doesn't matter to me which is which. I choose as I please.

Kyo: Choose as you please?

Mizusawa: However... If one world is reality, then it follows that the other must be fiction.

Tomigai: Maybe both worlds are an illusion. Or whatever. You begin to start thinking about stuff like that when you get to be our age. Like, am I really alive or not? You know stuff like that. That's why I always have so much fun talking to you, Sogoru!

Kyo: Hey! Tomigai, wait! Oh, they're pissing me off!

Shizuno: You're consuming our Q.L. Too rapidly! Don't waste your shots!

Kyo: I'm out of ammo... there's always this way to fight!

Kyo: I'm home. Late again, huh? Like always! How long... How long have I lived alone for?

Minato: And that concludes this special session of the student council.

Shima: Huh? What? Is it over? Miss Minato? All right, now for the remaining topics.

Minato: First of all, a status report on Kyo Sogoru's recovery.

Irie: This is the mentalism data from Kyo Sogoru gathered here over the last few weeks. When compared with the old version, it shows that all parameters have increased between 50 and 85 percent.

Shima: And the recovery of his mind is proceeding well?

Kuroshio: I'm not sure. It could be dangerous to let him return to normal, in his case, at least.

Fosetta: Commander, we've detected the enemy.

Shima: On our way.

Girl: Excuse me, but I forgot my... Huh!

Fosetta: Ulvorfuls. They went to stealth mode immediately, so they were only exposed for a moment, but...

Kuroshio: They haven't spotted us, right?

Ricerca: The Oceanus's Pellucidar stealth mode is functioning perfectly. The chances of them spotting us at this range are extremely low.

Fosetta: They appear to be en route back to their carrier. Analysis results of their course movements indicates their main force may be close by.

Minato: To Japan?! They've already knocked out the Tokyo server. Could they be after the Maihama server this time?

Shima: Any of our allied ships in the area?

Lemures: The Dvaraka is in the vicinity of Siberia.

Shima: Request aid, circumstances permitting.

Kurashige: In short, when thinking in terms of quantum mechanics, the interaction of elementary particle spin can be a potential descriptor of the state matter assumes from moment to moment. For example, assuming a closed system for now, with the density value as the potential descriptor, for everything in the system, the quantum state may be said to be the potential operator.

Kyo: How long has it been?

Mother: I have to get going. Wake up already, Kyo!

Kyo: And why have I never thought to question it?

Kurashige: O.K. This brings up another important subject. Let's describe the matter composing an individual person as data. The cells, molecules, and atoms which compose the physical body. We now find ourselves presented with a problem. In short, it's our consciousness.

Kyo: It's like I'm remembering something...

Kurashige: You see, in quantum mechanics, while an observer can tell us when, say, a wave form convergence occurs, nobody can observe an individual's consciousness aside from the individual themselves. Therefore, from the outside, we can only know the quantum state of someone's consciousness, but it's impossible for the outside observer to extract that as data. However, here we run into another bizarre characteristic of quantum mechanics. In other words, if we make use of the interaction effect between particles, it's possible to move that quantum state entirely to another location.

Clerk: Hi! Can I help you?

Kurashige: However, in this particular case, we're actually moving it, not copying it. In short, the original data disappears.

Kyo: If one is reality, the other is fiction...

Kurashige: This particle interaction which allows for quantum teleportation... is known as an "entanglement."

Kyo: Entanglement?!

Minato: They've already knocked out the Tokyo server.

Kurashige: Hm? Is there a problem, Sogoru? Sogoru, what is it?!

Tomigai: Sogoru! Sogoru!

Kyo: Ah. What is wrong with me?!

Shizuno: Kyo! You heard it, didn't you? It's a mission. Kyo?

Shima: Yehl, what happened to Kyo? He's going to be late.

May-Yu: What on earth is keeping him?! Lu-Shen and May-Yen are already hunting for the enemy!

Shima: As soon as Kyo arrives, move out! Understood.

Kyo: What's a ...

May-Yen: I don't see the enemy anywhere.

AI: Flight Q.L., dropping. Zero-nine until depletion.

Lu-Shen: This is Zegapain Garuda. Returning to ship for Q.L. Replenishment. Perhaps we miscalculated their course.

Fosetta: 23 degrees, bearing to starboard! Enemies sighted! Range: 1500!

Minato: What did you say?!

Fosetta: Two units... Three... No! Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, still increasing!

Shima: They were waiting for us!

Minato: You're right. Those Ulvorfuls we first spotted were just bait to draw us here into their trap!

Shima: Contact Kyo now! Emergency launch the Altair!

Ricerca: Kyo Sogoru is off-line! I can't make contact with him!

Kyo: Well, it can't be helped. I just can't go there right now. Oh well, I guess they'll just have to manage without me.

Tarubo: Ship, shift to defensive mode! Releasing locks on all weaponry!

Ricerca: Raising defense shield around the ship... Complete!

Fosetta: Activating close range point defense systems!

Minato: He's hesitating?

Fosetta: Confirm normal operation.

Lemures: Yes, he is. Between existing here and in Maihama.

Fosetta: Pellucidar mode field generator running at 30 percent.

Lemures: You could call it a failure of his brain to adapt.

Fosetta: I can't increase the output!

Lemures: To how quickly he comes and goes between the two worlds.

Ricerca: Problem in main Q.L. Conduit.

Shima: When will he return to normal?

Ricerca: Effecting repairs, but it'll take a few minutes.

Lemures: I'm not sure. It's possible he may never recover.

Minato: That can't be!

Kyo: Look, I know I've never said it before, but the truth is I...

Kaminagi: Wait! We're not ready for this!

Kyo: But the fact is that I love you! Even if the world were to end, this love will last forever!

Kaminagi: What's wrong? Come on, next line!

Kyo: Huh, isn't this a kind of a little overblown? It's not realistic!

Kaminagi: You think so? Look, Kyo. I rewrote this because you threatened to quit last time!

Kyo: Um, look, the reason for that was... Hey! What's this?!

Kaminagi: Oh, wow! I can't believe that's still here! That takes me back!

Kyo: You mean, you wrote that?

Kaminagi: It was way back in kindergarten, don't you remember, Kyo? When you stole my doll and threw it away that time.

Kyo: Oh... Yeah, I remember! I'm sorry about that! Wait a minute, I went nuts looking for that doll and brought it back!

Kaminagi: Ha,ha,ha.I guess you did. No prob. Especially since you came to read my script with me.

Kyo: Hum. Hold it... Haven't we done this before? Reading the script here. And finding that graffiti. Except... Something's different... The rain... No. It wasn't raining the last time we did this.

Kaminagi: What are you saying?

Kyo: What is it? This awful feeling that I have?

Shima: Suspend Pellucidar mode operation! Divert all ship's resources for support of the Zegas and our defenses!

Kyo: Something's wrong... Very, VERY wrong!

Ricerca: Defense field generators 3 and 6, output down 45 percent! Overload!

Fosetta: Sealing of damaged areas now complete! Ship's operational level now 89%! Within tolerances!

Kuroshio: Bring on 12 and 13 as reserve! Cut circuits to units 3 and 6. Initiate emergency cooling.

Ricerca: Reserve systems, activated!

Shizuno: Kyo...

Kyo: Kaminagi... I've gotta go. I made a promise to Shizuno-sempai. That I would save this world.

Kaminagi: Kyo, wait! What do you mean?

AI: Combat Q.L. Insufficient. Please replenish supply.

Lu-Shen: Damn! No time for me to replenish my Q. L!

May-Yu: Please let me launch in Zegatank! I can give him a Q.L. Charge!

Ricerca: Field output still dropping! Insufficient Q.L. For cooling!

Fosetta: Vulcan phalanx in block 4, hit and heavily damaged!

Minato: We can't send the Caladrius out there! Unless we break out of this encirclement, we can't transmit you!

Fosetta: Weaponry operations down to 72 percent!

Shima: Any sign of our backup?!

Lemures: The Dvaraka has reported they would be sending us a mercenary.

Kuroshio: Transfer any Q.L. From the destroyed phalanx gun for cooling use!

Minato: Mercenary?

May-Yu: There you are!

Shima: Zegapain Altair, prepare for launch!

AI: Combat Q.L., depleted.

May-Yen: Lu-Shen, look, over there! Q.L. Charge now at 43 percent!

Lu-Shen: That'll do!

Shizuno: Q.L. Charge, successful.

Kyo: Sorry I was late!

May-Yen: This is beyond late!

Kyo: Then let's do this!

Fosetta: They're concentrating their fire on Garuda and Altair!

Shima: Don't let them escape with any combat data! Wipe out all enemies in this area!

Shizuno: It's over.

AI: No enemy response in this airspace.

Kyo: Ho. That wasn't so bad, was it? Huh? Hey, isn't that? This place is! Maihama? But it's...

Shizuno: Yes. This is Maihama. The real Maihama.

AI: Warning!

Kyo: Dammit! Hu... the hell is that? Is he human? Or?

Shizuno: Abyss.


Shima: Abyss and Sin. The demon soldiers of the Gardsorm who've killed many, many Cerebrants. Retreat at once, Kyo! You mustn't fight them! You have to recover the memories you lost as soon as you can! About what is reality and what is fiction. About what exists and what are just phantoms. The time has come to face the reality of the world!
Next time, on Zegapain: "Meta-Body."
My thoughts, never to be erased.