...If you weren't ready to fight back, that is.
There's no way you're dying in a place like this.
Nino: Be ready to draw your sword at a moment's notice. If he's talked with you so much thus far while also suspecting you, then he may still be willing to do so.
All you actually have to do is escape.
Nino: What's the quickest way out of here?
You can do that. You can.
However...
You'd have to ditch Meimona, and pray her luck saves her.
She's smart enough to play dumb if questioned about you, isn't she?
All she'll have to do is claim she really was tricked by your disguise, that she thought you were a monster this whole time, and they'd leave her be.
If it really came down to it...
That girl can lie a little to save her life, right?
You really want to believe that that's the case.
Nino: Stab yourself. Heal yourself. You have to act fast.
Yes, you can... you can do it.
You know you can.
So why won't your body move?
Nino: Beg him to at least let Meimona go free. She's not human, after all.
Some of them even contradict each other.
It's like your mind has just forseen every possibility in mere seconds.
And yet.
You are completely frozen.
You'd think time itself had stopped...
--/-->
He continues to stare towards you, wordlessly.
Probably contemplating the numerous ways in which he could kill you. Right now. Yes, you're going to die, if you don't move. Don't you understand?
Please, for the love of god.
Just get a move on.
--/-->
That, after all you've been through...
...You're still too scared to bleed a little again?
--/-->
So why can't you do it for yourself?
Even though you perfectly understand the consequences of not doing so here.
Nino: Are you sure you're actually in control? Snap out of it!
- Nino: ...
- Solis: ...
- Solis: What's wrong?
- Solis: I got it off already.
- Nino: ...Huh?
- Solis: Did I surprise you that badly...?
- Solis: Sorry about that, if so.
- Nino: Ah...? Um...
- Nino: ...You...
- Nino: What did you remove?
--/-->
- Solis: Just a tiny piece of plastic.
- Solis: It landed in your hair.
- Solis: That really surprised you, huh?
- Nino: ...Yeah... yeah, it did.
- Nino: I'm- I'm REALLY easy to scare, you know.
- Solis: Haha, sorry, sorry!
- Solis: I should've just let you get it yourself, huh?
- Solis: I tend to move without thinking sometimes.
- Nino: That's an awful, horrible habit, Helios...
- Nino: You'd better fix it.
- Solis: Hahahah!
- Solis: I only meant to help, really.
- Solis: But if it's that bad, then I'll be sure to change it.
--/-->
Why is he even talking like that?
Surely, he's about to start beating the shit out of you now, right?
So he's just taunting you at this point, isn't he? Stupid freaking scumbag.
Good god, your heart is beating like a drum.
You need to calm down, get it together...
And just be ready to run.
--/-->
- Solis: Well, I've got work to tend to, so...
- Solis: I'll let you get back to your friend now.
He's letting you go?
--/-->
- Solis: Give her my best regards, will you?
- Nino: ...Yeah? I... will?
- Solis: Enjoy your meal.
- Solis: Goodbye.
- Nino: Thanks...?
- Nino: And... Bye bye.
Yeah, no, he really is... right before your eyes.
You wouldn't believe it if you weren't watching it happen.
It's... it's over? Seriously?
Just like that?
--/-->
He definitely moved his hands where your fake "horn" would be.
It should have disturbed Aria's disguise, and probably even wholly broken it.
There's no way he'd just ignore something like that.
So... why was he acting like nothing is wrong?
No, actually...
Why isn't anyone here acting like anything's off?
--/-->
He smiles, and waves at you.
You look to the side.
The old lady's cleaning up the table like nothing happened.
Now, you can't exactly see your own disguise here, so you can't verify whether something DID change, but... Everybody's acting like nothing is wrong.
Like you still appear as a monster. What in the world is this?
...Um, on the bright side...
At least you're not being killed?
That means you don't have to fight that guy, right?
And that your life isn't at risk, right...? Is that the case?
"Helios": Welp, that just confirms it. Now what?
Though, it appears you are unable to be "Helios" right now.
So, if you are willing to indulge, a sufficient narration shall be provided. A little something to communicate what is in his heart and on his mind at this very moment.
Solis. The monster man in the orange uniform.
He sighs in relief, and thinks to himself.
"Thankfully, all wasn't as expected."
"That was one clever kid. Impressive, really."
"How happy it makes me, to have confirmed his innocence firsthand."
"I shan't be bothering him any longer."
"No, in fact..."
--/-->
Verily, he knows his place. It is the only good trait he possesses.
And as for you...
Let's hope you've found the narration enlightening, yes?
Worry not. It is guaranteed to come from the most reliable of sources.
But, should you happen to dislike it, then...
--/-->
What truly matters is that a boring person has finally left.
Now pray, pray that you shan't be seeing him on scene ever again.
May he become lost forever in the sun-scorched desert.
And rejoice...
Yes, you must be delighted. Isn't his tale the most enrapturing of all?
So clap, cheer, and try to lessen his worries, will you?
It's the least you could do.
Nino: Get back to Mei as quickly as possible.
You're going to grab her and run the hell away together.
Thank god you don't have to leave her behind.
Nino: Enter your room.
It's too quiet.
She's probably still sleeping. You'll have to wake her up.
You'll try to do that as gently as possible, even though you're in a hurry.
Oh, Mei...
It would be great if you could join her in worry-free dreamland right about now. Instead, you have to worry about possibly getting killed and stuff.
>:(
--/-->
There was a noise.
A faint, quiet, distant...
Little sniffle.
--/-->
Maybe that's why she asked to be left alone.
It's probably going to be awkward to just walk in on her now...
And you have no clue how to console a crying girl, either.
But... but there's no other choice!
And there's no time to waste! None whatsoever!
Nino: Hurry it up!
She noticed that you were outside, huh?
Well, at least that means you were practically called in now. So if things do turn out to be awkward, it's totally her fault, not yours!
With a shaky hand, you turn the doorknob.
Hopefully... she's gonna be ok.
Nino: Go inside. Check on Mei.
--/-->
She's actually okay?
You think that'd be a good thing, but somehow, you suddenly have a LOT of questions. However, this definitely isn't the right time or place for any of it.
- Meimona: Gosh, I was soooo bored waiting by myself!
- Meimona: What took you so long, huh?
- Meimona: Don't tell me...
- Meimona: You were busy getting chummy with monster people?
- Nino: No, that's not what I-
- Meimona: Hah, as if! A scaredy-cat like you could never manage that!
- Meimona: Not without me by your side! :3
- Nino: ...Uh...
Nino: Be Solis
Mei: Be Solis
Kotori: Be Solis
Aria: Be Solis
Reed: Be Solis
Ludwig: Be Solis
Five: Be Solis
Narrator: Be Solis
Suvillan: Feel a sudden kinship with a higher power. Then be Solis.
Nino: Phew, you made it... now that that's over, you can finally get back to what's really important: eating sand.
Indeed. This is the best course of action.
Nino: Why is everything OK now? You're clear of suspicion, Mei's not upset at all... Everything just flipped on a dime.
Nino: It's suspicious.
Three thousand panels! Woohooo! And number 3000 is Nino's stupid face!
Whereas in a parallel universe. (Where the Prosperous has decided that Nino shalt not be punished for his stupidity.)
Mei: Are you feeling better?
Nino: Have Mei confirm the status of your disguise.
Nino: What's happening here? Wasn't she mad at you earlier?
Nino: Step out for a second.
Nino: Might as well go along with it for now.
Nino: It's just like in your Japanese psychological horror mangas! Proclaim yourself Junji Nino and venture forth into this strange new world.
Nino: She was definitely upset with you earlier. She may well be putting up a facade.
Nino: Probably the best thing you can do is be upfront. Ask if Mei is alright. You thought you heard her crying.
Mei: You? Sad? Nope, nuh uh, no siree! Everything's great, absolutely not having a mental breakdown as you speak!
Nino: Don't believe her. If this issue festers, it could ruin the companionship you two have built.
Nino: Look at all the pillows thrown across the room. Perhaps she was forcing her emotions out so she could pretend everything's fine.
Nino: Hug her.
Solis: How dare the narration leave you out of this?! Take back your rightful spotlight as a major character!
Nino: If she doesn't want to talk about it, then don't force the issue for now.
Solis: Question what just happened, if you can.
Prosperous: Eat sand.
Okay this it really hitting me with "this is all an illusion" vibes.
>Nino: Question reality.
the only reasonable explanation is that nino is a monster now
We didn't get a darn normal shot of Nino's horn er hair while Solis was spychecking. Most we got was shots where Solis was RED and Nino was BLU.