Part 131: 9/24/09

9/24/09

Back to school today.



…It feels like fall since the typhoon passed, doesn’t it?
* sigh * I hope the fighting ends before winter comes…
I’m sure it will.
…I hope so…

At least the typhoon didn’t wreck anything.



Believe it or not, crying can relieve stress. The tension is washed away with all those tears.
But if the root cause of the stress isn’t addressed, it’ll become a vicious cycle.
By the way, does anyone here know the number one cause of stress?
For men, it’s their job… and for women, it’s their husband.
Men got stressed from dealing with their bosses, coworkers, and so on. When they seek comfort at home…
It passes on to their wives. They, in turn, relieve their stress through personal hobbies.
That’s how a successful marriage functions.

You know, except our damned afternoon.



Ahm, there will be no classes this afternoon.
However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to goof off.
You’ll all have to work together to clean up the displays and decorations for the school festival.
I’ll assign you into three groups for the cleanup.
The first group will go to the science lab. Your leader will be…
> Afternoon classes were cancelled, and you’ll be cleaning up after the school festival instead…

I feel pretty bad for all the people who spent a bunch of time setting stuff up only to have the festival get cancelled.



> You’re assigned to clean up alongside Yukari, Junpei, and Aigis…
Well, let’s get this over with. Umm…
Let’s break up into groups of two. One person takes down photos, the other binds them together.
Alrighty.
Let’s do this quick.
Geez, you’re so serious all this time. We’re allowed to take this easy, y’know?
> You began cleaning up with everyone.
Sucks for the photography club that they took so many pictures and no one got to see any of them…
…Oh, isn’t this from the summer fellowship?
Look, here’s Aelita. You guys went to a school in the countryside, right?
It was fun!
Lucky! They had a hot spring too, didn’t they?
I wanted to go in one too.
We’ll be going to one soon enough.

At least we’ve got the school trip to look forward too later on in the year. You know, as long as we’re not killed by Shadows or Strega.



I can’t believe we’re going to Kyoto…
Eh, it’s where everyone goes. I really wish they wouldn’t make us go to all the shrines and stuff.
Yeah, seriously.
> Kenji and Kazushi have arrived…
> They seem to have brought cleaning supplies with them…
So, Yukari-san. Why don’t I show you around Kyoto when we go?
How did we jump onto that subject…? Anyways, did you find a nail puller?
Yeah, Kazushi brought all of them.
You’ve got a bunch to choose from.
We just needed one or two… Aren’t the guys in the other classes going to need them, too?
Oh, y-you’re right… I’ll go return the rest!
Uh, well… I don’t think you need to go right away. Just if someone asks.
I-I see… Then I’ll leave them here!
You know… When you’re with girls… Well, more like when you’re with Yukari-san…
Wh-What?
Nothing. Huh… So that’s how it is. Heheh.

God I must sound depressing, hah.



Popping stuff…?
Ohhh! The bubble wrap.
Uh…
Good call, Kenji. Go get it. You know where they keep all this stuff, right?
Well, yeah, but… I just got back from there.
You go get it. You’re the one who forgot in the first place.
Huh? Are you sure? You really don’t wanna go?
That place is like a paradise, you know that? Some fine chicas there who’d be just your type…
W-Wait, are you serious!? Be right back, guys!
…Yeah, like I’d fall for that, dumbass. What kind of supply room is stocked with hot babes?
Ugh, we’re never gonna finish at this rate. If you’re gonna talk, talk while you work!
She’s like a pissed-off samurai…
I heard that!
Geez… Are you stupid or something?
More like Stupei, I think.
D-Déjà vu…!
* sigh * Fine… I’ll go to the supply room later…

Anyway we all really missed out I think when the festival got cancelled.



There was some hilarious stuff planned. Like a cross-dressing pageant…
They said it would be open to everyone, so I was planning on jumping in.
Huh? You, cross-dressing!? Oh hell no…
……
Nah, no way…
You were imagining it just now, huh? I must’ve been super cute.
Where in the world does your confidence come from…?
Well, I’d be a lot better at it than you. You’d just look creepy.
…I don’t think you needed to go that far.
I mean, hey, I’d be cuter than Kaz here, right?
Me? Why would I…
You hear that, Kaz? He just said you’d lose. Are you gonna take that from him?
Wha…!? There’s no doubt that I’d be the cutest!
I’d be the cutest one in school!
I will not lose either at dressing up as a girl.
Well, duh. You’re…
I am a female type, so female clothes would be…
Okay, okay! Let’s just stop there!

You know as I think about it wearing clothes at all is sort of cross-dressing for her.



Aigis’, of course.
I have won.
Dammit…! Just wait ‘til next time!
Alright, you better move outta the way. You guys are holding everything up.
S-Sorry.
You know, if you judge just by appearance, Yuka-tan is already “super cute”…
What’re you trying to say?
Uh, nothing…
He is saying that your personality is not cute.
Yeah, I got that.
…Ai-chan, you gotta know when to speak up and when to stay quiet.
If you don’t, Yuka-tan’s gonna give you the evil eye…
…See what I mean!? Noooo, stop choking me!
K-Kaz! Say something!
Y-You gotta use your guts!
For what!?

Kenji managed to save Junpei, fortunately for him.



Huh!?
Ughhh… So word got out about that. I’m relieved it never happened…
But I bet lotsa guys were really disappointed… right, Kazushi?
Huh? R-Really?
Wait, what’s a maid?
A pure soul…!
Oh,it’s something that… guys like Junpei dream about.
Junpei…
W-Wait a sec, what’s that look for? You act like I did something!
Junpei-san…
You gotta be kidding! You too, Aigis!?
> You finished cleaning up while chatting with everyone…

Saori’s finally back from her suspension.



I’m not suspended anymore…
……
The school committee is meeting today. I’m going to attend…
…Good.
> Saori seems relieved…

Not that it’s really made her life better.



> There are students using the library, but few of them line up at Saori’s section of the counter…
……
> Saori hangs her head low…
Don’t let it get to you.
Aelita-chan…
> Saori seems relieved…
…You shouldn’t be talking to me. If someone sees you…
They’ll get the wrong idea, like when we were both called to the faculty office together.
…I don’t want to get you involved.
I don’t mind that at all.
You should, though…
…But I’m glad to hear you say it.
> Saori smiles weakly…
Um…

She had some pretty bad news.



When!?
Once the paperwork is done…
My parents said that I’m an ungrateful child and a shame to my family…
…They’re going to send me to a private school far away.
That’s… fine with me, but…
I don’t really like that I’m going to be separated from you…
> Saori smiles sadly…
> You sense a bond between you and Saori…

I’ll be sad to see her go, she’s such a good person.



I need to start packing…
Still, I don’t really have much luggage to take along.
Whenever I came back from overseas, my room would be empty… Just like it is now.
I… don’t need anything.
> You said goodbye to Saori, then returned to the dorm.

The Lost are growing in numbers again, just as they do every month.



Newscaster: Police say that the lack of a struggle most likely means his assailant was familiar with him…
The victim had likely contracted Apathy Syndrome, preventing him from fighting back.

We’re close to ending all of it, though.



Once we defeat them, there won’t be any more news about The Lost.
We’re so close.

Every time I think Shinjiro might be opening up, he tries to isolate himself again.



Well, I don’t care what you guys think about me.
I’m doing things my way…
…and there’s nothing you guys can do about it.

But he doesn’t have to be.



That was a really good meal…
There’s more to him than meets the eye.

He has all of us now.



Does he like to be alone…? Or is he just shy…?
To be honest, I’m a little worried about him…
He must be so sad being alone all the time…

Ken’s another one I still don’t get.



> Ken ordered a ginger pork meal…
> But, he doesn’t seem to be eating much.
What’s wrong?
Oh, nothing…
> Ken begins eating hurriedly…
…Urp.
……
I had some snacks a little while ago…
……
Is it true that… you won’t get big and strong if you don’t eat right?
It’s true.
I-I see. Then, I’ll eat all of this too…
> Ken tries hard to eat the food in front of him…
> Could something have happened to him…?
Why do you want to be bigger?

He’s in such a hurry to grow up, but he’s fine just the way he is.



> Ken seems a little embarrassed…
Um… It’d be nice if I could be like Akihiko-san…
Um…
Aelita-san…
Y-You’d prefer someone like Akihiko-san too, right…?
Nope, not at all.
Oh, r-really?
…I think he’s cool.
……
> Ken looks downwards…
I… want to hurry and become an adult.
> Ken has a serious look on his face…
> There must be something on Ken’s mind…
> You feel like you understand Ken a little better now…

I mean you only get to be young once.



Oh, you can’t eat any more, Aelita-san!
If you get any bigger…
…I won’t be able to catch up to you.
> ……
> Ken continues wolfing down his rice…
> You finished your dinner with Ken and returned to the dorm together.