The beginnings of the DenDenGarden. What is the Garden? Why was it created and why did the 7 souls get reincarnated there? The truth is finally revealed after many, long years.

The story of the 7 deities in the Garden, co-created together with everyone. Our beliefs create gods.

The dreams, hopes and past lives of the deities are gradually revealed through interviews with the winners of the DenDekaDuels.

About Stories ✍️ 

Prologue #1 The Back Door in the Main Shrine

I am finally here. And I know what has come to pass.

I won’t say who I am right now. At least not until I can finish writing this whole story.

What is the DenDenGarden, why did it come into existence, what are we anticipating? I now write, so that even if my soul ceases to exist, my friends will be left with this record.

There is a back door in the main shrine. I cannot write in detail how, until my safety is guaranteed, but under certain conditions it will appear. I believe it must have been fate that led me to discover it.

The door of that back entrance is nothing like the rest of the garden, in style or material. When you open it, it leads to an unfamiliar stairwell descending deep into the ground. The spiral stairs snake down what looks like an enormous well that goes ever so deep. And covering the walls of this well in places are what looks like moss glowing in a sort of rhythm as though they are breathing. The soft dimming and glowing extend deep like an infinite universe, disappearing into the distance, disorienting those who dare to advance.

The bottom of the well goes so. so deep, no light touches it. I had to go down, the blood in my veins was telling me so. I steeled myself and started to descend the steps. And when I had gone down, I suddenly found myself in a huge room. How long did it take? I do not know. I was merely circling the same scenery, and who knows, space-time might be warped in that place.

The room itself was invaded by plants in certain spots but did not look like it was abandoned or forgotten. Rather it continued endlessly in a monotonous white. The air, the smell, the walls, the floor and what they were made of, all of it had ‘something’ off about it. Perhaps it didn’t come from our civilization. Civilization? My heartbeat quickened.

When I stepped into that space, something cut across the corner of my eye. I stopped and stared. I seemed to have approached the core of something. In the walls of that space, some things would suddenly float up and disappear again intermittently. Going nearer, they looked like dotted lines, or long worms. It looked inorganic but moved like a living organism. After slowly looking around the whole room, I noticed the same light rising and floating around everywhere. I could swear that the flickering of these lights synchronized with the glowing moss in the stairwell. It was almost as if the whole space was breathing. Could it be some kind of source of life? Were all creatures of the Garden born here?

As my eyes got used to the dim light from the organisms, I made my way into the room and came face to face with an enormous stone enshrined there. It didn’t look like a stone at first. It was made of many small units linked up one by one, and intertwined and tied together thus forming a singular shape. The shape was so organic, but it suddenly stopped when I entered the room, as if to hide the fact that it was alive. It felt like a child playing ‘Daruma-san fell down’.

And it was through this stone that I learned the history of the Garden. The stone kept all the records of the garden. As to how these records came to me and how I was able to decipher them, I will document that another day. I write today about why the Garden was created.

A long long time ago, even before the mythical age that we talk about today - the Garden was born. I have no idea about how that civilization was back then because that age was wiped out of history. What I do know from the stone is that that civilization was very advanced, although, at the same time, it suffered from a myriad of problems like abnormal weather, poverty and constant conflict.

The beginnings of the Garden originated with a couple called Nagi and Nami. The two of them were archaeologists of their time, exploring the world to find ancient truths. One day, in the area we now know as Kyoto, the two discovered a group of enormous stones, which looked more like advanced circuits than stones. And each of the stones were connected as though they were a chain. On the stones was a mysterious language. The husband and wife, captivated by these cryptic stones, devoted the rest of their lives to deciphering the language upon them. And the language they spent their lives on - that was the blueprint of the Garden.

⚡️PROLOGUE 1

The world was facing a rapid rise in temperatures. Crops were dying, ecosystems were changing, and the world was facing a serious food crisis with no solution in sight. Land mass too, was slowly but surely shrinking and the human race was forced to split into two major factions in a fierce fight for survival. Nagi and Nami belonged to one of these factions, but abandoned their homeland and fled the war. They traveled far from the ravages of war and explored the earth as archaeologists. The history of mankind, and even the cultures of their time, were about to disappear from the face of the earth. The couple abandoned the continent and set out to sea.

When they finally came ashore, the two discovered that the island held strange monoliths. The blocks lay in a place we now call Kyoto, not far from a shrine near the Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge. Of course, the Kyoto we know today is entirely different from the area they arrived at. However, the location of the river, the bridge that crossed it and the village that lay beyond is probably similar to what we can see in present day Kyoto. The stones were covered in a mandala of mysterious language and symbols, clearly not of the civilization of that time. The mysterious stones were linked together like a chain, and the villagers called them "Chain Stones".

The area, not yet ravaged by war, had nature in abundance and friendly locals. Nami and Nagi, fascinated by the Chain Stones, settled near the village and began deciphering the language of the stones.The two eventually discovered numerals among the vast number of symbols. And following that, deciphered symbols equivalent to what would be used in mathematics, physics and chemistry. They deduced that the stones contained advanced science. And thus, season after season passed.

The village was peaceful but the flames of war were steadily approaching. The couple had a baby boy, they named him Hiruko and raised him lovingly. The two relied on their connections as researchers to obtain books on science from all over the world, and educated Hiruko as one would a scientist. As the world descended into madness and fear, the two spared no time for sleep, spending their days raising Hiruko and their nights decoding the mysterious language.

In the midst of this hopeless situation, the two came to realise that the expansive symbols and pictures were no other than a blueprint of a world. With the science of their time, it was not even fathomable to build a world, but there was no denying it was a recipe for world-building. The language of the stones called it the DenDenGarden.

Even as Nami and Nagi rushed through decoding, the rising temperatures showed no signs of stopping. On the once abundantly green island crops withered away, plagues spread and death stole people away each and every day. The family of three, fueled by dreams of living together in a world without strife, persisted in their efforts to analyse the design of the DenDenGarden. The couple taught Hiruko to keep his chin up and keep going no matter the circumstances.

Just as all the rules of the Chain Stones had been interpreted and the translation dictionary completed, Nami and Nagi lost their lives. Hiruko was 15 then.

The village mourned after the eccentric but kind-hearted couple, and gave them a burial according to local customs. Hiruko too was treated kindly by the villagers, and in time, made staunch friends, and even a lover.

Even if their dream of living as a family in another world free of conflict could no longer be fulfilled, the blueprint and his parents’ dictionary were the hope of the entire village. Hiruko resolved to start building the Garden with the dictionary his parents left behind. He buried himself in the translations which spanned many thick volumes too numerous to count. And secretly hatched a practical plan to migrate all the kind-hearted villagers. Hiruko was a genius.

Following the blueprint, Hiruko first built a small tower of about a meter in height. It was called the DenDenTower.

The base of the tower was square and not unlike a Go board. In that square base, a fragment of the Chain Stones was installed. On the surface of the base was drawn a circle much like a sumo ring. In the middle of the ring, a branch of 

 was placed. The branch was cut from the most magnificent 

 tree in the village. Around the ring in which the 

 branch was dedicated, a stone cylinder demarcated the boundary of the ring. On top of that cylinder, a roof reminiscent of the 

 shrine was affixed. What was in that shrine, no one but Hiruko knew. From the roof of the shrine, an accordion-style rod of 50cm extended up into the sky.

When the tower was completed, Hiruko faced the tower and clapped his hands together. In the mysterious language, he began chanting a mantra over several days. It was, what we would call installing an application into the OS of the tower. When the mantra was finished, the tower made a slight noise. The Chain Stone in the base activated, and the ring amplified the signals emitted by the Chain Stone. The shrine converted the signals into energy, and from the rod on the roof shone out a brilliant light that extended into the heavens, the tower that was only 1 meter in height suddenly reached out endlessly into the sky. Everyone in the village gazed upwards, following the light as it sliced through the night sky.

As the tower of light broke through the sky, the symbol on the Chain Stone changed.

Hiruko clasped his palms together before the tower, chanting program after program in. With each new program, the light from the tower changed, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple. From chaos, another world opened somewhere in the universe, the earth was born, the sun was born, the sea was born, the air was born, life was born. A thousand nights elapsed, and when Hiruko had input all the programs, the light stretching to the sky extinguished. The tower was only as tall as a single meter once more. That was the signal that the DenDenGarden was complete.

. The feet of the two pillars that held up the 

 were made in part from Chain Stones. The 

 was what transported one to the Garden. That’s right, this was probably the same way we got reincarnated into the Garden.

 was complete, Hiruko made a key. The key unlocked the tower gate and the entrance of the Garden. And it was shaped just like the key to Hiruko’s childhood home which he shared with his beloved parents Nami and Nagi.

And finally, he created an android called 

mico taught Hiruko many things about the Garden, and it was as if mico knew she had been manufactured by Hiruko.

mico? Is this mico the same as the mico we know? If that’s so, how many thousands of years old is mico?

On a white winter morning, the morning of January 1st if you follow the modern calendar, all was complete. At 7:29 a.m., Hiruko and mico bowed before the torii gate and stepped through. The two were enveloped in light, and when they came to, they found the world had changed and they were standing in front of a huge tower gate.

A heavy cold lock hung across the doors of the tower gate, and flanking the gate, were two white tigers with jade and a key held in their mouths staring down at Hiruko and mico.

Step by step, the two approached the gate. Hiruko’s key let off a greenish white light in a small triangular shape, and emitted a gentle and exquisite tone.

The key fit the lock perfectly. When Hiruko turned the key to the right, the doors opened to the sound of a zither with all its strings strummed. It was the sound of the long-awaited world opening. The tower gate awaited Hiruko’s entrance.

The moment Hiruko cleared the gate, he felt the presence of his loving parents. Turning back, he found the two white tigers watching him, their gazes warm, as though they were sending him off with a blessing.

As he entered the Garden, the key vanished from his hand, and Hiruko’s appearance changed.

⚡️PROLOGUE 2

“here; you aim for divinity,” mico murmured to Hiruko.

The two stood with the tower gate behind them, and before them spread a vast land and a shining sun. If one listened closely, the distant sounds of birds and beasts could be heard. Gunshots, bombs, screams, and the cries of a world in decay no longer sounded. This was the Garden that Hiruko had spent his life on, inheriting the will of his parents and fulfilling their wishes.　Step after step, Hiruko strolled through the land he had crafted till dusk fell. A rich expanse, a clear sky, and sunlight shone upon him like blessings. Neither black rain, nor the stench of gunpowder tainted this world.

As the sun set they entered a plain, and in the plain was a perfect giant circle marked out on the ground. The circle, about 100 meters in diameter, was demarcated by sturdy ropes. In the middle of that circle, mico performed a ritual.

“this is the arena. here; you must fight. with; trusted companions. invite them to the Garden," mico whispered.

The energy of the Garden is sustained through the ‘DenDekaDuels’, a sacred ritual and battle in the arena. The energy generated in DenDekaDuels is channeled into a wish for abundant harvests of the five grains, allowing this world to prosper. The victor is bestowed with a mysterious power, drawing closer to the divine, mico further explained to Hiruko.

Beneath the crimson-stained sky of twilight, mico gracefully danced in the middle of the arena. For a flash, the arena's ropes emitted a powerful light, and from the heavens, the rhythmic beat of taiko drums echoed: 'Tontotontonton, Tontotontonton, Tontotontonton...'

“here; is a sacred realm. for those; aspiring for divinity. the victor; in DenDekaDuels becomes a god, and their desires will be fulfilled.”

----- These were the words we heard when we were reincarnated.

Hiruko had only one desire - to create a world without war, where everyone could live and laugh. The real world teetered on the brink of destruction, and he had no room for doubt.

From the next day forth, Hiruko fashioned keys to the tower gate to welcome his companions into the Garden. He poured his heart into each and every key, crafting them with gratitude for all that had passed thus far. His dreams of an ideal world and memories of his parents' smiling faces accompanied the meticulous crafting.

The first person Hiruko reached out to was a man named Daiko, a leader highly esteemed in the village who had been close to Nagi and Nami. Daiko had overseen the funerals of the two, even helping with the digging of their graves. He was fond of cooking, and would often bring over homemade meals to Hiruko, who was mourning his parents' passing. Daiko’s cooking was famous for being mouth-wateringly scrumptious, and it comforted Hiruko and warmed his heart especially when he prepared Hiruko’s favourite sea bream or seafood. Through the sharing of such meals, the two grew closer and talked about everything under the sun. One day, Daiko asked Hiruko about what he was working so feverishly on in that corner of the village. Under the light of the moon, Hiruko guided Daiko into the storehouse, there lay the Chain Stone and the extensive collection of blueprints Hiruko’s parents had left behind. He explained the true nature of his parent’s research and the possibility of the Garden warily, knowing it was quite unbelievable. Yet despite the incredulity, Daiko listened sincerely and supported Hiruko’s plans henceforth.

----- Daiko's family crest looks familiar. It’s the same as Yoa’s… It’s extremely likely that he’s a distant ancestor of Yoa’s.

The next to be invited was a quiet man named Bisha. After hearing about the Garden from Hiruko, Daiko invited Hiruko to visit Bisha together with him. Bisha, a man of stern countenance and martial prowess, was reserved but an attentive listener, and of all the people in the village, he was the most knowledgeable on a variety of things. The two told Bisha about the Chain Stones, the translations by Nagi and Nami, and the potential of the divine Garden, questioning if the Garden could really exist. When their account came to an end, Bisha ushered them into his study, retrieving an ancient book from the shelf. On the first page, in a language not of the island’s, was a line inscribed almost like a spell. “To the west, beyond ten million billion Buddha-lands, lies a world called paradise.” Bisha explained that he descended from the bloodline of those who had arrived to this island from a distant land to the west, and he was one of the very few who could still read this language. The back cover of the ancient book bore the same pattern as the Chain Stone. Hiruko and Daiko exchanged glances, the possibility of the Garden actually existing loomed larger.

----- Bisha's family crest displays the same emblem as Hisato's. Could he be an ancestor of Hisato?

The third was a beautiful woman who loved music. Her name was Benzaite. One autumn morning, as Hiruko went to fetch water from a lake deep in the forest, he heard the enchanting tones of a biwa and a lovely singing voice. There, by the edge of the lake, the two met. Sunlight softly filtered down through the trees above Benzaite, and small birds and animals gathered around her. Hiruko’s breath caught in his throat, wondering if he had encountered a celestial maiden. Their eyes met, and they exchanged pleasantries. From that day on, they frequently met at the lake, and a friendship blossomed. Seasons passed, the forest burned, the lake got muddy, and the animals had all fled or perished. Benzaite’s singing too had gradually been drowned out by the sounds of war. The gay songs of Benzaite’s had turned to songs of sorrow, even the grasses and the trees cried with her. Hiruko told Benzaite about the Garden in an attempt to encourage her. In her heart, a flame of hope reignited and her songs regained their strength. And when Hiruko’s spirit wavered, it was Benzaite’s turn to encourage him.

----- Her family crest matched Bene's. She was Bene’s ancestor.

The fourth was a mysterious man named Juro. He was always gazing up at the stars. They said he had the ability to read them and foresee the future. One starry winter night, Daiko brought Hiruko to consult Juro. He listened with great interest in their talk of the Garden, and told them as he observed the stars that it would require the village's cooperation if they were to reach completion. He felt much goodwill toward the sincere and earnest youth before him. Smiling gently, he took Hiruko’s hands in his and told him he would support him. Right at that moment, thunder rumbled from a distant mountain. Juro’s eyes closed momentarily, and he thought sensed a trace of darkness in the future. But he dismissed it as his over-sensitivity and mentioned nothing to the two. Juro wanted to believe in the Garden too. Juro had a younger brother. His name was Rokujo. That night, he listened intently to the three, and volunteered his help if there was anything he could do. He became the fifth.

----- Their family crest matched Momo's. They were Momo’s ancestors.

The sixth was a man named Teyson. He was always out and about, offering comfort to those grieving in the ravages of the world in chaos, helping those who required aid. He was always cheerful and optimistic and children flocked to him. He even raised the orphans left in the wake of the war. Witnessing his kindness, Hiruko had come to respect Teyson, and Teyson had always been friendly with the young man. When the Garden was nearing completion, Hiruko invited Teyson in, asking if he would like to create the ideal world together with him.

----- Teyson’s family crest matched Taylor’s. He was Taylor’s ancestor.

The seventh was named Kyssho. A beauty who was skilled in the art of dance, she was Bisha’s lover. Through Bisha, she too became good friends with Hiruko. She was good-natured and devoted to Bisha. On good days, she would dance and it lifted the spirits of all who were in the village. On festival days, she would dance to Benzaite’s playing, and the crowds would go mad.

----- Her family crest matched Megna’s. She was Megna’s ancestor.

----- The family crest of Hiruko who designed the Garden, was that of Kohiru’s.

----- We are bound thus by the chains of fate, arriving at the Garden after many ages. The ticket into the Garden, the chance at divinity, it lies in our blood.

The seven received keys from Hiruko and entered the Garden.

Where the clear sky and vast land lay, where the beat of the taiko resounded - Den. De. Ka. Den.

⚡️PROLOGUE 3 

DenDeka Legend
Activating ...!!!!! ⚡️⚡️

z̶̫̹̿͒͠z̷͓̆̃͛z̵̹͇͖̃͗̚͜.̷̗̒ͅ..̶̗̎..̷̫̠͒͌͠… ̵̗̜̼̗͑B̵͇͛z̴̤͝z̶̽..z̷.̷z̸.̵.̴.̵…t̶h̷.̸.. Thi... This is DenDen Garden.

A peaceful world where time flows calmly and the four seasons abound.

Cherry blossoms and camellias announce spring, and if you listen closely, you can hear the murmuring of a stream and the call of a bush warbler.

The large Torii gate of the main shrine, which rises in the center of the garden, is covered with a hazy, dimly lit cloud. Occasionally, a large snake-like creature would thread its way through the clouds, its scales shimmering in a fantastic light.

In a corner of the garden where you can still see the large Torii gate in the distance, there stands a certain Dango shop. The wooden storefront might make you think it is very old but duck in under the large Noren at the entrance and you will see - a Manekineko wearing clothes, a Daruma doll who’s grown arms and legs, and all sorts of other residents of Denden Garden in the bustling store. Two figures seated on the red chairs of the Dango shop, looking very serious, turn out to be Kohiru and Megna.

"Hey, Kohirun. You figured out what you want yet?"

"Not yet...! Please give me a little longer..."

“I feel you! I'm curious ‘bout all of them. There’s so much stuff I’ve never seen before! What’s a five-shaku dango?”

"Um, a shaku is 30 centimeters, right? That’s… a dango 1.5 meters long...! I can't imagine...!"

The two gaze at the colorful dango lining the menu and can’t help but groan.. 

"Hey! You made me forget which dango I wanted to get!"

“Do you really have to think so hard about it?”

''Eh~ then how about this Black Cat Tea? If you leave the tea unfinished, it turns into a black cat and arrives at your house, they say! That’s cray~! Let's ask the shop staff what’s good! Excuse me!"

Right after Megna calls out, a familiar voice answers ‘Coming over!’

All three of them look up to see Bene standing there, wearing the dango shop uniform. Their long hair is tied back in a Japanese checkered bandana and a short apron wraps the waist of their dark blue Samue uniform.

“I used to work part-time at a restaurant for quite a while and I missed it, so I help out at this dango shop sometimes!"

"I've even become friends with the owner of this store..." Bene points to the chest of their uniform, which is emblazoned with what looks like a giant black monkey.

"Oh, by the way, Yoa and Taylor are eating dango over there too!"

"What? The two of them are here together?"

As they were whispering, Taylor appears beside Megna, chewing on a stick of dango. Megna's eyes widen and follow the dango as they change color with every bite Taylor takes.

“Yoa-san! You look gorgeous as usual...!"

“I'm flattered, thank you. Actually, I've been asking Taylor for help with my memory loss.”

"Cause you might start remembering the good stuff if you’re having a good meal.  No rush!"

"Oh, Momo was just here a moment ago too...I wonder where she went…?"

Just as Yoa worriedly said this, a loud, happy voice echoed through the shop.

When they turn around, they see a rosy-cheeked Momo standing in the middle of the shop.

The six of them look at each other and burst out laughing.

No one yet knows the fate that awaits each of them.

Who will become God? What will happen then?

A peaceful world where time flows calmly and the four seasons ab…abound̶…̸b̸o̵.̸.̵.̷ ̸u̵̝͑̔͜n̵̛̩d̸̼̠̓.̷̯͎͂.̴͇̈́̚.̷͖͙͂ ̷̛̤́û̶̖́͜͝n̷̥̲̭̥͈͌̉̽͗̄͝d̶̫̖̫̦̼̝͊.̵̻̈́.̶͙͐̓̑̄̇.̸̛̲̯͙̻͇̖̊̾͠.̷̨̖̟̝̽́̊̿͘.̷̛̳̦͖̱͙̓̋̾͜

Dango shop (団子屋): Sweet rice dumpling shop 🍡

Noren curtai (暖簾):  (split) Shop curtain

Manekineko (招き猫): Beckoning cat, Lucky cat

Daruma (だるま): Traditional Japanese dolls that have been worshiped as a symbol of good fortune, success, and perseverance for centuries in Japan.

Samue (作務衣): Monk's working (non-spiritual) clothes
Japanese checked pattern (市松模様):

Amazake (甘酒): Fermented rice drink (some kinds of Amazake are including sake lees called Sake-kasu, and contain less than 1% alcohol)

Sake bun (酒饅頭): Sakamanju or Sakemanju. A steamed bun with red bean jam filling, the dough is made of flour mixed with sake and sake lees. The alcohol content is less than 1%.

🍡EP.1 Dango Shop

z̶̫̹̿͒͠z̷͓̆̃͛z̵̹͇͖̃͗̚͜.̷̗̒ͅ..̶̗̎..̷̫̠͒͌͠… ̵̗̜̼̗͑B̵͇͛z̴̤͝z̶̽..z̷.̷z̸.̵.̴.̵…t̶h̷.̸.. Thi... This is the DenDen Garden.

Young sakura leaves mark spring’s end, a verdant breeze sways the purple wisteria bough.

In the clouds swirling round the main torii gate, raindrops dance this way and that, glittering in seven hues.

Taylor stood atop a hill where he could clearly see the torii, his face absolutely serious.

As he shouted out to Daruma-yan beside him, the two started sprinting.

At Taylor’s signal, Daruma-yan released what was in his hands.

The kite swept into the sky easily, and all the little 

On the kite, the little darumas had drawn a huge and brightly coloured Daruma face.

‘Cool! That’s my first time seeing a kite fly!’

‘That’s my first time seeing a kite!’

‘Look at that! That’s the kite we made! And it’s flying so far already!’

Taylor and Daruma-yan joined in their laughter.

At the sound of Daruma-yan’s voice, Taylor swung around,

and a dragon of white wind whipped through the two, catching the kite string and lifting it away into the sky.

The kite that had left Taylor’s hands swept up into the sky swiftly, flying away to the west.

 in Daruma-yan’s care, Taylor ran after the kite.

Down the hill, the kite floated and drifted all the way to

where Megan was practicing her dance moves, with Yoa accompanying her.

‘He—y! Megna! Yoa! Help me catch that kite!’

The two of them reached up as high as they could, but the kite slipped away.

‘That kite, that kite is really important!’

‘Eh?! Then we gotta catch it! Wait up~~!’

And so, Megna joined Taylor in his chase.

The kite sailed toward the town, with no signs of slowing down.

But when they got to the town square, a large crowd blocked their way in.

‘Wait up!? What’s happening? There aren't usually so many people!’

’Scuse us! People! Let us through! Sorry!’

As the two squeezed their way through the crowd, they heard some kind of music.

The large crowd had gathered around an acoustic guitar strumming Bene, and a shyly singing Kohiru.

‘Wha-! Even Megna? Bene-san! I’m too embarrassed to go on any more!’

It had started out with an innocent invitation to jam together,

But Kohiru’s singing was so good that soon people began to gather,

And it soon became something of a busking session.

‘Isn’t it great! Look at that! Everyone’s coming to hear you!’

‘So you had this hidden talent huh! Kohiru! Have you always been singing?’

‘Uhm, ju - just a little, when it’s just me at home…’

‘Meg wants to hear more… no wait! The kite! Taylor! The kite! Where’d it go?!’

Suddenly remembering their mission, the two looked around frantically.

‘We lost it… Oh well, let’s try the 

They passed turtles walking on their hind legs, trying on the latest new shells.

 of all colours having fun at the shooting arcades

 in DenDekaDen didn’t just house the usual food, drink and clothing stores,

 and other forms of entertainment lining the street,

It was the center of activity for the residents of DenDekaDen.

 that Megna and Taylor hurried along, searching for the kite.

Just then, a familiar black silhouette happened to glance over the seals and stamps one store had on display.

‘Ah! Mr. Hisato! We have a seal that looks just like you!’

Saying so, the proprietress thrust out a stamp of an angry red emoji.

Momo had been perusing the shelves in the store, but when she noticed Hisato’s expression,

‘What do we have here! Hehe, it’s a spitting image of Hisato!’

’This…? Me??’ Hisato still couldn’t believe it.

‘Momo! Did you see a kite fly by this way?’

‘A kite? Ehhm, I haven’t seen anything… Ms. Seal Store, have you?’

‘Ah! One painted with a Daruman? If that’s the one, I saw it fly towards the arena’

🪁EP.2  Kite Flying

“Woah!” Momo couldn’t help exclaiming as she turned a corner and saw the square.

The square in the middle of the Garden’s town was normally bustling with Garden residents going about their daily business. It was the center of activity for the locals.

But tonight, it looked especially different.

In the center of the square stood gigantic bamboo trees, so tall you had to tilt your head back to see their tops.

 were tied to the bamboo leaves, rustling softly with every breeze that passed through.

In the night sky above, a river of stars glittered like silver sand, shining rainbow iridescent when the wind blew.

“Eh!? How did you lug such huge bamboo here!?”

Momo stared up at the enormous bamboo with her mouth agape, and Taylor who was carrying in more decorations answered her with a wink.

“Amazin’ isn’t it! I was just thinking the same thing in the Southwestern bamboo grove when the Dragon of White Wind (refer to Episode 2 - Kite Flying) appeared and helped fly them over. Probably wanted to apologise for its mischief the last time eh.”

“Heh… I’ve noticed this before, but Taylor, you’re good at getting friendly with all the Garden residents aren't you.”

“Hahaha, I can’t hold a candle to you when it comes to getting friendly over drinks!”

Momo walked together with Taylor to the center, which was filled with lots of locals tying 

 to the branches. At that moment, she caught sight of Megna in the crowd. Megna had spotted them too and came bounding up to them.

“Momo! You’re late! Everyone else is here already!”

“My bad! My bad! Iya… I didn’t know what to imagine when you said you wanted to hold a festival, but this is amazing!”

“Isn’t it~! Hisato and Taylor brought the bamboo, Bene made the decorations, and then Kohiru and Bene got everyone together!

Megna brought her to the others who were enjoying the festival while looking at everyone’s wishes and chatting to the other residents.

“Wah~ It might just be the first time I’m seeing so many wishes in one place.”

“Right!? Just looking at other people’s wishes makes me feel blissful. I love it! Oh… Kohirun! Whatcha looking at?”

“Ah! Megna! Please look at this, this wish is so lovely…”

https://twitter.com/TYPOS85825070/status/1677314135694925835?s=20

May we all continue to love what we loved in the future. 

“That’s nice isn’t it - that feeling of cherishing… Of course, the end result is important too, but I want to cherish the process as well, so it really touched my heart…”

“That’s true… It’s lovely.. Ah! Momo did something catch your eye?”

“Hmm~? No, I mean, it’s just, I thought these words were wonderful.”

https://twitter.com/glitch3sNFT/status/1677354369476620288?s=20

“May the seeds we plant grow as strong and bright as the stars… Lovely! It’s almost like a poem to you Momo!”

“Hehe… Well! Shall I drink a toast to this tonight~~!

But what about you Megna? Did you write down your wish? Aren’t you the one who’s so into Tanabata?”

“You’ve been sneakily reading everyone else’s, aren’t you going to let us read yours! Ahah! What’s that you’re holding!”

PROLOGUE

DENDEKA LEGEND (EPISODES)

INTERVIEW