Listeners (LISTENERS)

Papa!

All the Earless in the country started going on a rampage

and even my little guy... Even More has disappeared.

What should we...

More?!

Is that you, More? Why...

Roz, we were deceived by the world.

They have no desire to coexist with the Earless.

Papa!

Papa, we have to hurry and get you to a doctor!

Never mind me. You have to run.

This country is no longer...

I-It'll be okay.

Roz...

Because, we made a promise.

In just a little while, Jimi will come back,

and he'll help us.

Then, I'm sure everything will go back to...

No!

You're right, Papa.

We have to build a wall.

These blue skies are the best!

Something smells weird, though.

It's because the ocean's close.

I once heard that the sea breeze has a distinctive smell to it.

It definitely smells like something's rotting.

Hey, what's with you? You seem kind of out of it.

Well, sure, when we've been thudding along all day long...

If only someone would walk a little more gracefully...

What? If you've got a problem, I'm leaving you behind.

Seriously, I wonder what Jimi would say if he saw this attitude of yours.

Hey, what's it like to have a sibling?

Wh-What's this out of the blue?

For example, do you and Miss Swell like and hate the same foods?

Or, like, maybe you have the same quirks?

Let me think... Me and Sis, huh?

Like, are you similar somehow?

It's not really a quirk, but I guess we both have unruly hair.

Also...

Woohoo!

What's that?! What's that?!

Is that blue stuff all water?!

What the heck is going on here?!

Wait... Calm... down...

All right! Full speed ahead!

Punch it!

Let me off!

So, this is the ocean!

I know! Let's fish! That fishing thing you talked about!

We don't have a fishing pole or the time.

We'll end up sleeping outside again.

Uh, I don't want that.

Right?

But, man...

This should be the right place, but...

There's no sign of the island in question.

Not only that, but the path that leads to the island isn't even here.

There's a door.

--Huh? --Look, there.

That's the entrance to the island.

I don't see it...

Huh?! You sure your eyes aren't just bad?

Even assuming that there is a door,

if the island in question isn't there, it makes no sense.

Fine, whatever! Then I'll swim there by myself and...

Wh-Whoa?! Wh-What?

Trying to draw my attention isn't going to...

N-No way... Hey, Echo?

E-Echo? Echo?! Y-You aren't dying or anything, are you?!

Hey, come on!

I-Is it my fault?

Is it because I ran so carelessly?

S-Someone! Someone?!

What?

It's moving, but...

Is this a drawing?

I'll get you help for sure.

Someone...

This is messed up.

It was midday just earlier...

There's no sign of anyone around, but...

There's someone here?

Echo?!

Excuse me! P-Please help us!

My friend collapsed and... We need medicine or a doctor...

Is this little guy your friend?

What? Y-Yes. He was fine just earlier, but then he suddenly collapsed...

It's a classic case of sound sickness.

Players' partners often come down with it.

This looks pretty advanced, but...

You must have put a lot of strain on him in a short period of time.

Yes, probably...

There are medicines that can ease the symptoms, but...

Well, leave him alone, and he'll get better in time.

Leave him alone? B-But he's in so much pain...

Of course, he's in pain.

Because he's about to stop begin human.

What?

This little guy is going to become an Earless.

Sound sickness is the initial symptom of becoming an Earless.

Essentially, it's the human's final stage of rejection.

People who've had close-proximity exposure to the power of Players

experience emotional highs, but at the same time,

they also suffer mental agitation.

Keep it up and the mind becomes detached from the physical body.

As the mind tries to dissociate,

it begins to affect the physical body as well.

It starts with dizziness, headaches, and numbness in the limbs...

This little guy looks to be just one step away from the final stage,

so he'll be at peace soon.

What do you mean... at peace?

Yeah, be there for him when he passes.

There's even a saying,

that the last Earless a Player subdues is their partner,

so I imagine it'll make him happy.

Can't you do something?

--Do what? --You said there's medicine, didn't you?!

Well, it's pretty old,

but I do have medicine that suppresses the transformation.

Th-Then, we could use that...

Why would you need to do that?

Who cares if he becomes an Earless?

If he ceases to be human, does he become your enemy or something?

Wh-What are you saying?

If he doesn't have to become an Earless, then that'd be best, right?!

Oh, I see.

You've got the wrong idea.

This isn't a place where your sort are welcome.

The world hates and shuns the Earless,

and this is the empty country they flock to.

The Wall.

You... What in the world...

I am the protector of this country, Roz.

You Players reject these little guys.

I have no reason to honor your request.

I don't know about out there,

but in here, you're the greatest outside threat.

If you have no intention of seeing him pass, then leave.

This country will take that little guy in.

He'll never be disturbed by the discord outside.

I promise him the greatest peace and tranquility.

He's gone along with my selfish whims and come all this way with me.

He complains and we fight, but there's no way I can leave him behind.

Mm-hm. But you're a Player and I won't do as a Player asks.

In that case, I'll quit being a Player, right here and now.

So...

Please save Echo.

Treadmill...

Huh? Where are...

--Echo! --Whoa! What? What?

Did I do something?

Thank goodness.

No way!

Jimi's not here and on top of that, you quit being a Player?!

She said she wouldn't give you the medicine otherwise.

How stupid are you?!

Like there's any way I'd become an Earless from sound sickness!

But...

What?! Y-You can't?!

I don't know the reason, but you got duped again.

First, the soft futon, and now this.

Why do you believe what people tell you so easily?

What's with her?

What the hell is with her?!

--I'm so pissed off! I'm going to go beat her to a...

--What? --I'm so pissed off! I'm going to go beat her to a--

--Oh, wait, wait, wait. --I'm so pissed off! I'm going to go beat her to a--

I'll go get it back.

Huh?! What do you think you can accomplish all by yourself?!

If the girl who lives up there is that type of person,

I'll be able to deal with her better.

Huh?

You will?

Yeah.

I can be tough, too, when it matters.

Leave it to me.

What's with him? Trying to act all cool and stuff.

Wow, you got better.

How was the River Styx?

Is it prettier than the Milky Way?

First of all, I came to thank you.

Thank you very much for saving my life.

I was careless.

My sound sickness symptoms were light up until then, so...

If I'd kept ignoring it, I may have attacked Mu.

If you're going to thank someone, it shouldn't be me.

That Player... Oops. She quit, didn't she?

Well, you say it to her.

You came all this way, but I'm sorry, I'm not returning this to you.

Breaking promises is the thing I hate second most in this world.

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what I hate most , right?

I heard about the Fest.