Part 35: 6/3/09

6/3/09

Junpei hasn’t been asking around about this ghost thing I think, Yukari’s going to kill him.



Hey, are you looking into that ghost story?
Of course.
Seriously? Shouldn’t we just leave that to Yuka-tan?
I’ve got better things to do…
Besides, I have plenty of scary stories up my sleeve.
I bet you were seriously creeped out when you heard that story the other night. They say it’s true, though.

Rio came up to me at lunch, reminded me about practice.



It’ll probably be just the two of us there, though…
I plan on going.
Really!? I’ll see you there, then!

Yukari’s still freaking out a bit about this whole ghost thing.



Did you find out anything about the ghost story?
I’m gonna prove to everyone that it was just a rumor.
…And I’m not scared, alright!?

I’m glad I decided to go to practice, Rio was almost not going to go I think.



Yeah… it’s club time… L-Let’s go.
Yeah, let’s do this.
> Rio seems relieved.

It’s a good thing we did go, as it turned out.



> The other club members are awkwardly trailing behind her…
Okay, stop practicing!
I heard you all got into a fight? I can’t have this kind of thing going on in my club, you know?
Who started it? Just hurry up and apologize already.
……
> Rio falls silent and stares at her feet…
> It seems that she can’t bring herself to look at Ms. Kanou…

It seems like everyone else felt just as bad as Rio about the whole thing.



Short-Haired Member: But I do think our attitudes did make things worse.
……
Member with glasses: I feel like I said too much to you, after we forced you to be our club leader and all…
…U-Um… I also…
Well, you guys sort this stuff out.
> Ms. Kanou leaves…
> Everyone is standing around quietly. It’s an awkward moment…
……
You can do it, Rio.
…Yeah.
Um… I’m sorry, everyone. Things were said that shouldn’t have been.
But more importantly than what happened that day, I feel like I’ve been forcing my opinions on you all this time…
> Rio’s voice is soft and indistinct, but she is speaking sincerely…
Member with glasses: Rio…

Rio actually brought herself to apologize.



Short-Haired Member: …Have you, like, changed?
…You think so?
……
> Rio looks in the direction that Ms. Kanou left…
I’m sorry that I said things like relationships were stupid. I didn’t understand what I was talking about.
…It’s tough being in love.
Short-Haired Member: Wait, WHAT!?
> Her yell of surprise pierces your eardrums…
Member with Glasses: You’re in love!?
Member with Buns: Are you serious!?
Is it that hard to believe…?
Short-Haired Member: Wait, who’s this about!? Is he at this school!?
Huh…?
Short-Haired Member: Aelita, you know who it is, right? Tell us!

I wasn’t going to tell them if she didn’t want me to.



Aelita…
> Rio smiles, embarrassed…
Member with Buns: You totally know, don’t you!
> The other members pester you for more information…
I-I’ll say it!
Um…
It’s… K-Kenji…
> Rio turns bright red…
KENJI!?
Y-Yuko!? When did you get here…!?
Member with Buns: I mean, KENJI!? Seriously, no way!
Member with glasses: How in the world did you end up liking Kenji!?
> The gym is filled with girlish screams of disbelief.
Short-Haired Member: Still, getting him to love you would be pretty simple.
I bet all Rio would have to do is push him around a little.

I think we’re all glad that dumb fight is behind us.



…I don’t want to do anything to hurt the relationship I have with him right now!
We’re childhood friends… As long as we stay that way, we’ll never have to break up.
…I don’t have a chance with him anyway. I’d hate to confess it to him and have to stop being his friend…
Well… If that’s how you feel, then it’s none of my business to say otherwise…
……
Hey, as long as we’re all here… Why don’t we practice?
Are you sure you’re okay?
…Yeah.
C’mon, let’s start off with some running!
> Rio laughs…
Rio…
> The other club members have returned and it seems that the bonds between them will grow much stronger.
> You sense that Rio has overcome a personal obstacle…

Now we can all be friends again.



Let’s go. Keep the two lines intact!
> After wrapping up practice with everyone, you decide to return to the dorm.

Akihiko’s still got problems with his fans.



It’s so true… These girls came up to me and started talking about those rumors and…
…I got such a headache. Ugh, I can’t wait until these rumors go away.

The TV’s back to talking about The Lost, there are just too many for them to hide it I guess.



Newscaster: However, experts predict that there won’t be as much rain, leading to water shortages in the summer.
For our next story…
We’ll take another look at the Apathy Syndrome. There are now over 70 cases, and…

Yukari is so serious about this ghost thing.



Yes, I did.
I’ve heard so many different stories… I don’t know what’s true and what’s not.
Maybe it’s all a lie…

I’ve been asking around a bit myself, but I’ve been having the same results as her. I guess there’s not much to do but keep at it.