Omaru Polka IF: The Dododododo Band! Rescue the Circus Prince Arc - The Magic of Laughter, the Stage of Bonds - Episode 1

Mornings in Portina always begin with the bustle of the market. The shouts of fishmongers, the haggling over vegetables, the excited shrieks of children. They all blend together, creating a pleasant hum of noise. The port town facing the Festiva Sea was brimming with life today as well. In the center of town, at Traveling Performer's Square, tents of every color stand in rows. This is a special place where performers touring the Festiva Sea region gather, and by town ordinance, they are allowed to pitch their tents here free of charge. In one corner of that square— "[excited]I can't do it at aaaaall!" An overly energetic voice tore through the morning air. Omaru Poruka was in the southeast corner of the square, drenched in sweat since early morning. She twisted her petite body, her two-tone orange and gold short hair bouncing back the sunlight. The curled ends of her hair bounced and sprang, just like their owner's personality. She tossed three rings into the air, then scrambled to pick them up. Over and over again. Her flashy red-and-white striped clown-style tank top clung to her back with sweat, and her star-patterned fluffy skirt billowed out softly every time she spun. In her chest pocket, her trademark bright red nose was tucked away preciously. "[sad]I'm so sick of this..." She plopped down onto the cobblestones. Her large golden eyes were clouded with dejection. Omaru Poruka, leader of the Circus Troupe Hololive. Eighteen years old. A troupe that does it all—acrobatics, magic tricks, animal acts—but this morning, nothing was going right. Yesterday was the same. And the day before. For the past week, it had been like this. (*I have to practice more. This is the troupe my master left behind.*) She gently touched the red nose in her chest pocket. It was made of wood, its surface covered in countless tiny scratches. It was the one her master, who had passed away from illness five years ago, had always worn. "Inheriting the red nose... it can't just be for show, huh." Her master used to say: a performer is "someone who moves hearts." And that in the Festiva Sea region, laughter is just as important as magic. But could she, as she was now, truly move anyone's heart? As she was lost in thought— "[scared]P-please, help me!" An unfamiliar boy burst into the square. His entire body sparkled and shone. No—he appeared to shine because of the clothes he wore. His white silk jacket was embroidered all over with silver thread, reflecting the morning sun. His long, bluish hair swayed gently in the sea breeze. "[surprised]Whoa, what!? What's wrong!?" Poruka scrambled to her feet. "I've come from the Kingdom of Marine Folk! Our country—our country is in terrible danger!" Marine Folk. She'd heard of it. An atoll island nation in the center of the Festiva Sea, famous for its pearls and coral crafts—a beautiful city. She'd heard that ships even sailed from Portina for the annual "Festival of the Sea." But what did he mean, the country was in danger? "Calm down. What happened?" "A wicked clown... with a pure white face, one gold eye and one silver eye—a creepy figure appeared in our country. He turned all the adults into laughing dolls!" "Laughing dolls?" "He pulls out their hearts with black balloons. Their faces stay laughing, but their eyes go hollow... they become like moving mannequins." The boy's voice trembled. Poruka gulped. (*What is that... that's terrifying.*) "So... you were the only one who escaped?" "I managed to slip away using magic. But my father, my mother, everyone..." The boy looked down, clenching his fists tightly. "[scared]I thought if it was circus people, maybe you could defeat that clown. I saw you fighting with such incredible, chaotic power. Please, help us! Save my country!" Poruka blinked rapidly. "...Uh, so, does that mean you were watching us practice?" "Yes! Throwing rings, leaping around—it was such an amazing way of fighting!" Poruka felt her face turn red. That wasn't fighting. That was just failing at practice. She was just chasing after rings she couldn't catch. (*He's got the wrong idea... and a really big one at that.*) "[serious]Listen, that's not it. That was—" She started to say it, then stopped. The boy's blue eyes were staring at her desperately. How terrified he must have been, coming all the way here from a sea kingdom. All the adults turned into dolls, escaping with only children. She couldn't abandon someone in trouble. That was her master's teaching. As the leader of the Hololive Troupe, and as a performer of the Festiva Sea. "[excited]Leave it aaaall to me!" Poruka puffed out her chest and clapped her hands. "The great Omaru Poruka will solve everything in one go! With a dododododo!" "[surprised]R-really!?" "Of course! Ah, but—" But... how? She'd never fought a clown who took over a country with magic. She couldn't even juggle rings properly. A small voice whispered in her heart. (*It's impossible. Why not just give up?*) But she'd already said it. There was no backing out now. Poruka gripped the red nose tightly. Her master's nose felt just a little colder than usual. "Alright, let's go find a ship! There should be someone at the harbor!" "[surprised]R-right now?" "For things like this, you go the moment you think of it! If you dawdle, you'll lose your nerve!" Poruka grabbed Aqua's hand and dashed out of the square. They ran down the cobblestone slope. Houses with stucco walls lined both sides, flowers decorating the windowsills. Passersby turned to look at the two of them sprinting energetically. On the way to the harbor, they cut through the market. The smell of fresh fish tickled her nose. In front of a shop selling pearls, a merchant was negotiating prices with a customer. It seemed you could get a large pearl for a few silver coins. "Listen, Aqua. In Portina's harbor, there's a big shipping company called the Tida Trading Company. They manage almost all the ships in the Festiva Sea region." She explained as they ran. "But the branch manager there is a really strict person. There are tons of annoying procedures." "[worried]Then... we might not be able to get a ship..." "It's fine! There's a loophole!" Poruka grinned. When they arrived at the harbor, it was quieter than usual. Only about five merchant ships were docked at the two-hundred-meter stone pier. Normally, it would be much more crowded. There was a large notice on the bulletin board. *'Notice: Marine Folk Route Completely Closed — Tida Trading Company, Portina Branch'* "[surprised]Huh!? Route closed!?" "[sad]...Rumors are spreading. That our country is dangerous." Aqua looked down. Nearby, she could hear sailors talking. "A guy who came back from Marine Folk said it. All the adults there have turned into dolls." "Hey, hey, that's no joke." "They say weird balloons are drifting into the Nebra Fog Sea area too. Told us absolutely not to go near it." Black balloons. So that was the clown's magic. Poruka shivered. (*It really is scary. Maybe I don't want to go.*) But she looked at Aqua's face beside her. This child in front of her had been through something far more terrifying. Driven from his country, crossing the sea all alone. "[serious]Aqua. Come with me." Poruka started walking toward the west end of the pier. Hidden behind a rock wall was a small dock. There, a small two-masted sailboat bobbed gently. The hull was old, but well-maintained. "The Hydra! It really was here!" The boat's owner was a sailor named Dario, a thirty-year-old man with stubble who had a bit of a thing for Ramii. He kept it moored here, away from the eyes of the Tida Trading Company. "Dario-saaan! You're there, aren't you!" The man who poked his head out of the cabin looked at Poruka and made a weary face. "...What, it's Poruka. Ramii ain't here." "It's not about Ramii today, I want to borrow your boat!" "Huh?" "Please take us on a quick hop over to Marine Folk!" Dario furrowed his brow and pointed toward the bulletin board. "The route's closed. You planning to break what the boss at Tida decided?" "But it's an emergency!" Poruka pushed Aqua forward forcefully. "This kid is the prince of Marine Folk. His country is in trouble and needs help." Dario stared at Aqua for a moment, then let out a huge sigh. "...Is Ramii coming?" "[laughing]That's what I'm counting on!" Dario sighed again. "Can't be helped. But it's fifty silver coins a week. And if things get dangerous, we're turning back immediately." "Yay! Thank you!" Poruka jumped for joy. Aqua also smiled a little, looking relieved. And so, preparations for departure were set. Evening. While waiting for the luggage to be loaded and the departure preparations to finish, Poruka sat at the edge of the wharf. The setting sun dyed the sea orange. Beyond the horizon, faint clouds hung in the sky. The Festiva Sea was vast. It was three hundred and fifty kilometers to Marine Folk, five days with a favorable wind. Along the way, there was a dangerous place called the Nebra Fog Sea. (*Am I really going?*) She took the red nose out of her chest pocket. A small wooden nose that fit perfectly in her palm. Scratched all over, the color peeling in places. It was something her master had used on stage for decades. "Master..." She murmured quietly. Five years ago, when her master collapsed from illness. Poruka had just turned sixteen. *'Poruka, I'm counting on you to take care of the troupe.'* On his sickbed, her master said that and handed her the red nose. *'But... it's impossible for me. I still can't do anything right.'* *'It's fine. You're better at smiling than anyone. Besides...'* Her master paused there and smiled gently. *'I'll attach some companions to a lonely girl like you.'* After that, her master passed away, and she was alone. No, not alone. Ramii was there, and Ruuna too. The troupe members grew to three, and they'd somehow managed to make it this far. But still, the anxiety wouldn't go away. "I wonder... am I really doing okay as the leader?" There was even a time before when she thought about saving only herself. It was when they were touring a fishing village called Viale. The audience was small, and they earned almost nothing. Ramii drank too much and broke some equipment. She wanted to quit, to be alone—she packed her bags in the middle of the night. But in the morning, when she saw Ramii's dejected face saying "I'm sorry," she couldn't say anything. (*I'm so unfair.*) Even telling Aqua "I'll help" earlier—half of that was just momentum. She had no confidence she could actually do it. "[whispers]I'm scared." She murmured in a voice no one could hear. "Poruka-san!" She turned to see Aqua running up to her. "Dario-san says we're departing soon. It looks like someone named Ramii-san has arrived too." "[surprised]Ramii's already here!? I thought the boat would get here first!" Poruka hurriedly stood up. She tucked the red nose back into her chest pocket. (*Alright, let's go. I'm anxious, but I'm going.*) The Hydra's sails caught the wind and began to swell. She put her hand on the ship's rail. The scent of the tide tickled her nose. Beyond the horizon, in the direction of Marine Folk, clouds hung faintly. (*What's happening under those clouds?*) Poruka gripped the handrail tightly. The feel of her master's red nose still lingered in her small palm. "Alright, we're setting saaaaail!" As she raised her voice, the ship slowly began to move. The adventure on the Festiva Sea was now beginning. The pier gradually grew distant. The townscape of Portina shone golden, illuminated by the setting sun. Poruka turned back and waved her hand slightly. (*I'm off, Master.*) The wind grew stronger, and the ship tilted a little. Poruka lost her balance and frantically clung to the handrail. "[laughing]Wah-wah! Jeez, I almost fell over!" Aqua giggled. From

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Episode 1

Name: Omaru Polka IF: The Dododododo Band! Rescue the Circus Prince Arc
Author: Novelia

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