PUPPET: [Upon this blessed day, we bring to you an offering that seeks to satisfy your whims. On behalf of us, servants, we present to you the one which the fates considered worthy: VIL SCHOENHEIT.]

ROSA: Vil! You came!

VIL: Of course. After all, I had been summoned by this puppet of yours a while ago. What an odd thing it is, to tell you the truth. I haven't seen enchantments like this in quite a while.

ROSA: Hehe, isn't it cool? Professor Yaga says that it's from her personal collection so it's bound to be old!

VIL: That woman... Just how ancient will she claim to be until she is satisfied?

ROSA: Aaah, I'm not sure about that but it's kinda cool that she has all these gadgets, right?

VIL: Indeed, I suppose that for a Rosenhex student like you there would be interest in this sort of technology. If we may call it that.

ROSA: Mm, I guess so! Though I'm not really that good with enchantments, to be honest... I'm definitely the sort of witch who leans more towards charms! You could even say that they're my speciality! Hehehe!

VIL: Hmph, is that so? Your conceit is rather enchanting in its own way, I suppose, but you shouldn't let it go to your head. You'll look just like a child with an inflated ego.

ROSA: HUH?! Seriously?! Ahhhh, that's the last thing that I want... Ok! Then! Today, for my very special birthday, I would like to observe Vil as my birthday present!

VIL: Observe me? Now, that's quite an interesting proposition. And what exactly are you hoping to accomplish by that, hm?

ROSA: Well! Since Vil is so mature and adult-like, I'd like to learn your tricks so I can get that sort of allure as well! Isn't that really, really smart on my part, hehe?

VIL: Smart? You really just come up with the most ridiculous things... But very well, I will grant you this. But first and foremost, sit down here.

ROSA: Huh? Why? What's happening? Is this our first lesson?

VIL: Don't get ahead of yourself. Before even thinking of becoming my disciple, you must look the part. A cute, full-checked face would be more fitting for a young Ingenue, but since you're so adamant about having a mature allure... Yes, I know what must be done. Now sit still.

VIL: There. We're done. You may look at yourself in a mirror now.

ROSA: ... WOAAAH!! Amazing!! This is really cool!! Eh, is this really me? Am I the one in the mirror? Waaaah!! That eyeshadow really fits me so well and I'd never have thought of using it like that! Hehehehe, it's just as I thought! You sure are amazing, Vil! Ever since we were kids you've had a knack for this sort of thing!

VIL: Yes, yes, I appreciate your praise very much, Rosalia. But please don't move around too much or you'll mess up your hair. The ponytail you did today suits you well, and matches the overall aesthetic of your outfit too.

ROSA: Hehe, thank you~ I really did my best since I thought the best way to celebrate my birthday was by having a complete rehaul of my own image! Getting it to behave was a bit hard, but now that it's finally in order, I'm a bit afraid the scrunchie will snap...

VIL: Oh, is that so? Then he must have known quite well how to act in this situation.

ROSA: Hm? What's that supposed to mean?

VIL: Nothing. Instead, here, this was something that Jack asked me to bring over to you.

ROSA: ... A scrunchie? WAIT! IT'S ACTUALLY-

It's the one I saw in that magazine! But it's kinda weird... I remember Jack asking me to look over them because he wanted to buy one for his little sister and I told him this one was the cutest, but hm... Maybe his sister didn't like it after all? But then- Why is he sending it over to me?! He should send it over to the seller! Seriously! That Jack!

VIL: Good grief, I can understand now why things are so complicated between them...

ROSA: Hehe, this look is so cool~ Ah, Vil, can you take a picture of me like this so I can show it off on Magicam?

VIL: Goodness, very well, since it is your birthday, I suppose I can indulge you for a bit. Now, let's see...

[camera flashes]

VIL: Not bad. It seems that all your work as a model really paid off, hm?

ROSA: Hehehe, I'm a pretty ambitious pupil so I had to catch up with you quickly, you know! Ah, lemme just post this quickly and... Ta-Da!

Oh, it's getting a lot of engagement right away! Hehe, that's nice!

PUPPET: [Then shall I proceed with the game?]

VIL: Game?

ROSA: Oh! That's right! We're supposed to be playing a sort of game right now actually... Then, if you're ok with it, Vil!

VIL: I suppose I must as those are the rules. Very well, what is your game then, puppet?

PUPPET: [Understood. I shall now proceed to ask a question that Rosalia Morgainne will answer and which Vil Schoenheit will be tasked to interpret.]

VIL: Oh, now that's a birthday game that I'm not familiar with. But go ahead. Ask your question.

PUPPET: [Question: You are at the bottom of a collapsed set of stairs. You can see no other way up and to safety than to shout for help. When you do that somebody answers your call. Who would it be?]

ROSA: Hmmm, who would it be, who would it be... Oh! I know! It would be Marcia!

VIL: The Prefect of Kriegskald? How so?

ROSA: Well, Marcia is always such a busybody I have no doubt she'd find herself in all sorts of weird places! And she never leaves the house without her trusted broom so if she finds me, it would be super easy for her to give me a lift! Isn't that really, really helpful?

VIL: I suppose... But I expect she'd ask for something in return as well. I doubt you would get off that easily.

ROSA: Aaah, that's true... I'd definitely end up broke in that situation! I hate that! Aaah, it better not be Marcia that shows up!

VIL: Calm down, it's an imaginary exercise. If you're so bothered by her showing up, then why not imagine somebody else instead?

ROSA: Somebody else... Hmm... Hmmmm... Hmmmmmmm...

Oh! I know! Jack!

VIL: Jack? How so?

ROSA: Well, hm, I guess because he's got a really good nose and good ears so even if something would happen to me, he'd find me very easily! Like! That one time we went shopping for a present for his mom, I accidentally got lost in the crowd after we were separated, and he found me super quickly!

But... hm...

VIL: Oh, so it's not all settled then?

ROSA: No, I mean... The thing is that... Jack is really prudish!

VIL: Prudish? And how would you know that?

ROSA: Huh? Well... When we were out to get that present and after he found me, I suggested that we stick together by holding hands going forwards. But when I did, he suddenly turned completely red and flustered, and wouldn't even look at me, but would kinda just hit me with his tail now and again! Talk about rude!

VIL: ... I see. Things must be really rough for Jack, I suppose.

ROSA: Rough? In what way? Is something wrong with him?

VIL: No, never mind all that. Come here instead. Let's take a picture that you can send him now.

ROSA: Huh? Oh! Yeah! I can show him the scrunchie and tell him I'm keeping it then, hehe!

Let's do it, Vil!

[camera flashes]

PUPPET: [Please proceed to the last part of the interview.]

VIL: A piece of paper... Ah, I see. It's a little question. Very well. Then-

“If you could not have chosen your current dorm, which would have been your second option?”

ROSA: Not chosen Rosenhex... Hmm... Hmmmmm... Hmmmmmmm...

VIL: Rosalia, stop making those noises. It's unbecoming.

ROSA: Ehehe, sorry, Vil... But this question is a bit...

VIL: Is it now? I would have assumed you'd be jumping up and down, overjoyed at the thought of transferring out of here.

ROSA: Eh, ah, it's true that I would have done that in the past... But now...

You know! I always thought that maybe I made a mistake picking Rosenhex when looking at the other dorms back in my first year. Maybe if I had been somewhere like Monarchia I'd have learned by now how to cool and wild and found a bunch of friends there. Or maybe I could have been a Noctasis girl - cool and mysterious and confident enough not to care what anyone thought about me, but, um, I actually ended up in Rosenhex that was really challenging for me...

But maybe that's a good thing?

VIL: Oh? How so?

ROSA: Well, um, it's kinda like... Ugh, I'm not good at explaining that sort of thing! But it's really just about overcoming adversity and all that! Rising above this whole stuff and just growing as a person!

Aaah, wait, that makes so sense... Let me start again from the beginning!

VIL: That's alright, Rosalia. I think I understand what you mean.

ROSA: You do? Hehe, as expected of Vil!

But hm? Why are you smiling like that?

VIL: It's nothing. I was just thinking of how much you've grown up ever since we were children. It's rather endearing.

ROSA: Huh? Endearing? But I don't wanna be endearing! I should be cool and mature now, right? Just like you!

VIL: There's still a long way for you to go until you can catch up to me, you know. But, for a start, this is not so bad.

ROSA: Eh? So it's good?

VIL: Goodness, you're truly something.

[*]

PUPPET: [Congratulations. The interview portion has been completed. Please proceed to the last event of the celebrations. A bottle has already been prepared for you.]

ROSA: Hehe! Champagne is the way adults celebrate, isn't it?

VIL: Well, I suppose you could say that. In any case, let us fulfil this last task as well.

Happy Birthday, Rosalia Morgainne!

[champagne pops]

PUPPET: [Upon this blessed day, we bring to you an offering that seeks to satisfy your whims. On behalf of us, servants, we present to you the one which the fates considered worthy: LEONA KINGSCHOLAR.]

LEONA: Tch- what a pain.

DIANA: Leona Kingscholar. Welcome.

LEONA: Diana, huh. That's why the damn thing insisted I had to come today. I figured that might be the case.

DIANA: Mm. I'm honoured that it was you they chose. Dad would be happy too. He always admired the royal family.

LEONA: ......

DIANA: ......

LEONA: ......

DIANA: .....

LEONA: ... You say that but your expression doesn't change one bit, heh. You have the same dead-eyed stare you always do. Who would know if you're lying or not?

DIANA: You've always been good at looking through people's intentions, however. I doubt this actually poses a question for you at all.

LEONA: Tch. Still sharp, huh? Nevermind that. Let's just get this over with. It was a pain in the neck getting all the way out here just to interview you, you know? Better not waste my time.

Here.

DIANA: Hm? Ah, I see...

LEONA: That's all you have to say, huh? Thought you would know a little bit about this sort of stuff since Ruggie says that you're into singing.

DIANA: Mm. The animals enjoy it when I play songs for them. It's very soothing. This kora looks like it's finely made so I'm certain that they'll enjoy it when I play it for them.

LEONA: Huh, is that so... So you can even play this sort of thing?

DIANA: Mm. My mother studied under a jali for a few years, so he ended up learning the craft. She taught it to us as well when we were younger, and we ended up picking up on a lot of things thanks to it.

LEONA: She did, huh... That's rather bold of her. It explains a few things in the end.

The royal family used to have a jali back in the day as well. An old remanent from the days of the King of Beasts, but nowadays the position isn't what it used to be. There's less and less of them each generation, aren't there? Wonder why, hm?

DIANA: People always fear the truth, but that's not something they can change. Living one's life in accordance with your own beliefs... That's the sort of lesson my parents taught me. That's why I always want to stay true to myself. No matter what.

Leona. Thank you.

LEONA: Hah, seeing you bow your head like that never gets old.

DIANA: You are the second prince of the country. I must show you the proper respect, as part of your pack.

LEONA: That again, huh. Well, whatever, I don't mind as we keep it moving. There are still a bunch of questions I need to ask you, it seems.

DIANA: Very well. In that case, I will make sure to visit your dorm whenever I can and play you a few songs on the kora as a sign of my gratitude.

LEONA: Oy, don't do unnecessary things. It's a hassle having you visit and start scolding me during that time.

DIANA: Kings must listen even to things they don't wish to, otherwise they cannot govern. Isn't that so?

LEONA: Tch. Let's just get this over with already.

PUPPET: [Shall I proceed with the game?]

LEONA: I don't have all day to waste on this, so make it quick.

PUPPET: [Understood. I shall now proceed to ask a question that Diana Arrow will answer and which Leona Kingscholar will be tasked to interpret.]

LEONA: Interpret? What is the point of that? This woman always speaks her mind so there's nothing hidden behind her words. Get on with the next game.

DIANA: Leona.

LEONA: Huh? What is it?

DIANA: The puppet worked hard to put all this together. We should try our best to play along for its entertainment.

LEONA: Hah? You want to do its whims just like that? Aren't we supposed to be the ones entertained by it? Don't make me do work that's not part of the requirements.

DIANA: This is for the sake of the party. We must comply with it.

LEONA: Tch.

DIANA: Please go ahead. What's the question?

PUPPET: [You are in an old, abandoned building where no human has set foot for years and have discovered a staircase leading underground. As you descend you hear all manner of sounds. How do you proceed?]

DIANA: What sort of sounds are they?

PUPPET: [Moaning and weeping.]

DIANA: In that case, I would go check to see if they're hurt.

LEONA: Hah? Are you serious?

DIANA: Mm. If the sounds are loud enough for me to hear them so clearly, it must mean the other person is in trouble. If it's a human, they might have gotten lost and stumbled across wild animals and disturbed their peace. If it's an animal, they might have been hurt by another or by poachers. Whatever it is, I should make sure that things aren't dire enough for anybody to be hurt.

LEONA: Huh? So you want to play at being a good samaritan, hm? What a noble goal.

DIANA: There is no need for condescension. The balance between civilization and nature is a fickle one. Humans will hurt animals for little reason at all. It's my job to make sure that they are not mistreated in any way. If the animals are in pain, I have to make sure to evacuate the humans who disturbed them immediately before they do any more harm.

LEONA: Hah, I see. So you will prioritize animals over humans in that case, huh?

DIANA: If it's necessary. In any case, someone must be hurt so I will have to act according to my instincts and values. Isn't that something we all do?

LEONA: Is that so? In that case, perhaps someone's instinct is just to ignore the sound and move on. After all, nothing good can come out of investigating strange sounds, isn't that so? What do you make of that?

DIANA: That's their nature. One cannot ask more from them if they do not wish to give.

LEONA: Tch. Just the sort of answer I would expect out of you. I knew this was pointless. Let's just move on with it.

DIANA: If that's what you desire.

LEONA: Hmph. Straightforward women like you are difficult to deal with. I wonder how that octopunk does it, hm?

DIANA: I doubt Azul would appreciate you tormenting him like that.

LEONA: Heh.

PUPPET: [Please proceed to the last part of the interview.]

LEONA: What an annoying thing.

“If you were stuck on a deserted island with somebody, who would you want it to be?”

DIANA: Rosalia.

LEONA: ... Hah? That pipsqueak?

DIANA: Mm. She said that always wanted to try and escape from a deserted island as a test of 'wildness' so I think this would be an experience that she would enjoy.

LEONA: Are you planning on babysitting her while there? Treating it like some sort of family vacation?

DIANA: No, we would learn some survival techniques that might come in handy for her one day and help her built-up muscle. She said she's started exercising in order to achieve that, but so far she seems to be taking it too lightly.

LEONA: Hmph. She keeps showing up to Savanaclaw to go running with Jack every time she visits.

DIANA: Mm. I noticed that. But true exercise should be more focused on discipline rather than romance. Jack is her mate so he can't bring himself to be too harsh with her. I understand.

LEONA: And you're saying that you'll make for a better training partner.

DIANA: I would make sure to keep her on schedule without coddling her. The deserted island would make for a good training ground, given the rough terrain, limited distractions and enough free time for her to learn all she needs before we leave.

LEONA: So you're not worried at all about being stranded, huh?

DIANA: As a child, I used to spend a lot of time alone in the wilds. They're like my second home. And it's the sort of place that suits me most. Even if I end up on a deserted island I would be able to leave eventually. If I so choose.

LEONA: If you so choose, huh? Heh. So it's all for that pipsqueak's sake. Hmph, this sort of sentimentality...

DIANA: I enjoy looking after my little sisters and brothers too. It would be nice to develop that sort of relationship with Rosalia as well. She's always looking for an opportunity to hang around me.

LEONA: What a pain. But with that, the puppet should have its answer, right?

PUPPET: [Congratulations. The interview portion has been completed. Please proceed to the last event of the celebrations. A bottle has already been prepared for you.]

LEONA: Heh, it's finally time for the big finale, huh? Let's make it a memorable one.

DIANA: Mm. Then if you would, Leona.

LEONA: I know. Then, Happy Birthday, Diana.

You don't look too bad soaking wet like this either, hah.

[champagne pops]