Part 26: Chapter 1 Extra Study Material

Chapter 1 Extra Study Material

Before we go on to chapter 2, we have some ground to cover seeing the Social Links we missed. It's true, dead people are dead. But whoever said that didn't know about saved games.

I'm seeing a lot of this stuff for the first time myself. Doing this update also made me realize for the first time that you simply can't see the full story for most of the characters on a straight playthrough, and the replay chapter feature must be used. As you'll see below, both Leon and Junko have 3 scenes each, even though there are only 2 Free Activity periods.

All of these scenes happen chronologically before the characters are shown their videos.

But before we get to Leon and Junko, there's still a scene left with Maizono.

We've already seen her dialogue before the special scene, so I'll skip that. I will tell you I gave her this present, though:



White Rabbit Earwarmers
A popular item from goth-loli fashion brand Inabaua.

I must admit research failed me this time. I ventured as far as the goth-loli thread on A/T, but I couldn't find any real life brand this might refer to. My best guess is that it's a play on Inabauaa, that is "Ina Bower", a figure skating move popular in Japan to the extent that its name became slang for any activity requiring bending over backwards.

And now, let's see what Maizono has for us.



By the way, May I ask you a question, Naegi-kun?
You’re suddenly so formal again... What’s up?



I know it’s a little rude to ask, but...
Do you have a girlfriend, Naegi-kun?
Eh... Eh!?
Why do you ask all of a sudden...!?
Why are you panicking? Does that mean you have one...?
N...no... I don’t! I don’t have a girlfriend yet!



...is there anyone you like?
W...wait a second!
What’s with you all of a sudden? Why are you asking me this?



I was just curious, so I thought I’d ask. Was that wrong?
I don’t think “wrong” is the right word...



But it’s just natural I’d be curious. I mean, you and I...

M...me and her...!?

...we’re classmates stuck in the same situations, aren’t we?

Classmates...



But... you’re really more than that, Naegi-kun...
We’ve surpassed being just classmates...

...surpassed being classmates!?



We’re friends. Ever since junior high.

Is that... so...

Yeah, we’re friends. Of course, that’s how it is...



..........
...aren’t you going to ask me, Naegi-kun?
Eh? Ask you what?
Isn’t it clear?
Whether I have a boyfriend or not?

Honestly, I do want to ask. But there’s a part of me that doesn’t...

I’m sure you’re very popular with all sorts of men. It wouldn’t be strange if you had one...



Wrong answer! I don’t have a boyfriend!
...I mean, I’m too busy to have one. It’s not just an excuse, it’s true.
So...
Is there... someone you like...?



...tee hee, I wonder...?
There is someone who... interests me...

Maizono-san looked straight into my eyes. It seemed to me her cheeks turned just a little red...
...Eh? She’s looking straight at me?



But I should put those feelings aside for the time being. Our priorities should be on finding a way out of here.
Y...yeah. You’re right...
...Naegi-kun, let’s leave this place together.
You won’t betray me, right?
O...of course I won’t...! There’s no way I’m going to betray you!



Naegi-kun, I’m going to say something from the heart. I’m not faking it, it’s what I truly feel...



I’m... really glad you’re here with me, Naegi-kun...

As I looked at that smile, my entire body was overflown with energy.
It was like her smile... metamorphosed into strength.
I probably became much braver just by having her here with me...

The bond between us makes me strong.

It makes me feel like I must give it all I have!
...for Maizono-san’s sake!

I’m happy. You’re going to do your best for me!
Eh!? How did you..!?



I can read minds.



I’m just joking. I just have good intuitions... But...
...did you really think that?
Um... I...
Anyway! Let’s cooperate and get out of this place together!
I will not let you down!!
Yeah, you’re right. Let’s leave together.
Hee hee hee!

“Give it all I have”. Never in my life had these words sank deeper into my heart than now.

We get an SP increase out of this encounter.

Next, Leon. We corner him next to the exit from the dormitory area.



Yo, Naegi! What are you doing? Let’s search for a way out of this place!!

"Do you want to spend time with Kuwata-kun?" "Yes"



Y...you don’t just plan to kill me when we’re alone together, right?
If you do that, my fans will be all over you, man! I’m very popular, y’know. Just as much as any idol!

I spent some time with Kuwata-kun...

Then we give him a present.



Cola Cola
A carbonated drink combining strong stimulus with addicting sweetness. Goes well with fast food.



Y’know, I think I’ve gone beyond just being scared. I’m just angry now...
Why!? Why did such a thing happen to me!
This is so unfair! Don’t you also think so, Naegi!?
Well... I agree it’s unfair...



Isn’t it?! It’s unfair! Super unfair!
It’s as unfair as having to shave my head before a big match!
I don’t think you look so bad with your hair shaved...



What the hell, Naegi! Why are you against me!?
Even though I didn’t even want to go out and play, the coach always came to ask me personally, so I couldn’t refuse!
But to shave my head on top of this? That’s clearly unfair!
So it’s true you really don’t like baseball...



Isn’t it natural? Who would like such a thing, running around on a dirty field?!

A dirty field... for a baseball player that should be a holy place...

It’s so unfashionable, being all covered in sweat and dirt... putting all that effort into practice...



It’s just baseball, isn’t it? I don’t even need practice! I win every time without it!

I think god made a mistake... he gave genius to the wrong person...



But, y’know... even though I say that, there was one thing good about playing baseball...
I think I know what you mean... You liked standing shoulder to shoulder in a team of friends, didn’t you!
No, no. That’s not it at all! I hate those sweaty dudes. They’re the worst!
So... what’s good about it...?



I hate studying and I could get into school on a sports scholarship.
All I have to do is show up to matches, and they won’t throw me out!
And there’s one more thing...



I’m so popular! Aren’t you jealous!?
I hate hitting the balls all day, but I love hitting the girls all night... you know what I mean!
...........



Heh heh. I’ll tell you all about it next time. There’s a ton of stuff I can teach you...
So come play with me again sometime. Talking to you turned out to be a great diversion!

Kuwata-kun walked away with a smile on his face.
It seems I’ve caught his interest just a little bit.

This encounter gives us the skill Strong Arm: Usable during the school trial. The speed of your Evidence Bullets becomes faster.

Next time we encounter Leon, he's hiding in the dormitory area's toilet.



Ah, I’ve become agitated for some reason.
Maybe something is wrong with me? Maybe I’m sick?
Hey, whoever is in charge here! You have a sick person! I want to see a doctor!
Uuu... take me to see a doctor... please...

"Do you want to spend time with Kuwata-kun?" "Yes"



Cool! A strategy meeting!
Hey, Naegi... So - which of the girls do you like?

I had a strategy meeting with Kuwata-kun...

Present time!



Rainbow-colored Hardtack
A biscuit that can be preserved for a long time for emergency situations. Enjoy the seven different flavors contained in the package.



By the way... I have a question for you, Naegi my friend...
Eh? What is it?



I’m thinking of starting a band. Do you know anyone who can write lyrics or play any instruments?
Oh, it’s no good if they’re popular. I want my band’s vocalist - that is, me - to be the most famous!
So you were serious about wanting to become a musician...



Of course I was!!
My name is Kuwata, but I prefer being Keisuke rather than Masumi!!

Keisuke Kuwata is a super-versatile Japanese singer-songwriter who has been popular since the late ‘80s. Masumi Kuwata is a Japanese baseball player, now retired, who also had a stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By the way, what musical genre do you like?
What do you think about The Damned, The Pistols and The Clash?

Those bands that Kuwata-kun just mentioned... The genre he likes must be...



Punk rock / Heavy metal / Pop

So you like punk rock, right?



Ooh! You got it right! I want to reach the top of the world with punk!
Y’know, if it’s punk... I don’t even have to be that good at singing.

I’m not sure... he should be so confident...



Anyway, I planned to quit baseball once I entered this school...
I used baseball as a springboard, but what I really wanted to become after coming to this success-guaranteed academy is...
A “Super High-school Level Musician”! I will definitely be a hit!



...but it seems my plan didn’t quite work.
Just as my dream was about to become true... I had this happen to me...
Shit... I will definitely, definitely become a musician...! No way I’m giving up!



So stop fucking with me! Give me back my youth!! Give me back my dreams!!

Dreams... Kuwata-kun certainly has them. Even though they don’t involve baseball...

But it’s not my place to criticize him... even if he never took baseball seriously...



Shit... If I don’t become a musician...
...that cute girl at the hair salon will never go out with me!!
...eh?



That’s what she told me. She said she liked musicians.
Her face isn't all that great, but she has such a dynamite body I really want to take her out!
I hate to ask... but is that the only reason you want to be a musician?



Should I have any other reason? Isn’t that’s what being a musician all about? Being popular with the girls?



Oh, by the way, do you happen to know what kind of guys Maizono likes?
I bet she’s also into musicians, right? Or maybe actors? Maybe I should become one of those...!
….........

I see... I think I figured out what Kuwata-kun is all about...

This encounter gives us extra SP.

One final event with Leon. Skipping the preliminaries (we've seen them before) and going straight to the present and the main course.



Yasu Shishido T-Shirt
A T-Shirt with a print of legendary Japanese punk rocker Yasu Shishida. Only 100 were made.

My research fails me once more. Anyone who knows more about Japanese punk is welcome to contribute. Yasu might be referencing the legendary Yasu of Japanese detective games past, but there's a much more explicit reference to that dude elsewhere in the game.



Hey, Naegi, I have a little secret to tell you...
Let’s talk in my room, okay?
Your... room?
I’ll be waiting for you!

I'm invited to his room? What’s up with that?

I did as he told me and followed him to his room.



Welcome to my Superstar Room!
...so, what is it? That secret you wanted to talk to me about?



...........
Well.... y’know....



I want you to play baseball with me...!



Ha, I’m just joking! Totally joking! Isn’t it funny, me wanting to play baseball!
...........



Sigh...

Huh? It wasn’t a joke?

Could it be that you really want to...



D...don’t be stupid!!
It’s just like I told you! I don’t like baseball at all!
I... hate... it...



...that’s what I thought, at least.
To tell you the truth, this is the first time I haven’t played baseball for so long...
I’ve been so good at it ever since I was young... I can’t remember a time I wasn’t playing baseball constantly...
So now that you’ve been pulled away from it, you realize how you really feel?



Shit! It’s mind control! I’ve been brainwashed by baseball!!
Aaah, I’ll take anything! Give me something to throw! Something to hit!
Shit! It's impossible to play baseball alone!
Uuuh... I really shouldn’t have come to this school after all...
Kuwata-kun...



If this turns out to be some kind of a school event, and everything will soon be over...
...I think I’m going to quit this academy... and go back to my old school.
They probably won’t accept me right away, but I’m going to beg the team and the coach to take me back...
I... I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I’m sure they’ll take you back.
If you show them how you really feel about baseball... If you show them that you can practice with everyone...



...practice?
No, that’s out of the question! If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s practice!
I don’t want to practice or do simulation matches! It’s not like I need any of this!!
I... I see...
Oh, well. I’m sure you’ll manage somehow...



Yeah, don’t underestimate my fighting spirit! They'll take me back for sure!
We're talking about me here, after all! A superstar that even the pro league took notice of!
Heh heh heh! Thanks for believing in me, Naegi-kun!

I don't think he's capable of learning from past mistakes... But somehow, he's peculiarly likable...

I guess that's who Kuwata-kun is... After spending so much time together, I finally understand him.

And that's it for Leon Kuwata. We get a skill out it, Motion Sight: Usable during school trial. The target moves automatically in Concentration mode.

On to Junko Enoshima, act 1 of 3, location: the laundry room.



Yo, Naegi! Wasting time again!?

"Do you want to spend time with Enoshima-san?" "Yes, already!"



Yeah, I'm also a little bored...
...sure. I'll hang out with you.

Present time



Golden Space Shuttle
A golden model in the shape of a jet and a space shuttle excavated from Columbian ruins. Known as an OOPArt.



Hey, I just want to let you know in advance...
Don't get any wrong impressions, okay?
...eh? Of what?



Don't expect to get anywhere with me...
Chastity is very important to me!
...huh?
I... I wasn't expecting anything... I wouldn't do such a thing...



Yeah, I guess you're right. You do seem like that type of person.
You're just the same as you look. A herbivore man.

Popular terms in Japanese pop psychology: the herbivore man and carnivore (wo)man. The herbivore man is meek and shy and prefers to stay home and mess with his hobbies rather than doing manly things like going after girls. The carnivore man is the classic macho.

But, y'know, if I don't warn you in advance, all men eventually turn into savage beasts.

B...beasts...



I don't know why, but these kind of men always gather around me.

It's probably because... you're so flashy...



They say, "Let's go sing together all night"... I know what they really want!

She means...



Late night public bath / Late night karaoke / Playing in the sea

I failed miserably (it's a theme today) translating the wordplay here like I did in previous updates. Enoshima told Naegi what guys asked her in heavy colloquial speech. The "all-night" part was referred to as "Ooru", which comes from the English word "All". Incidentally, this is also how you pronounce "Oar" in Japanese. The Karaoke part also used a made-up verb. A guy like Naegi is very likely not to have any idea what she's talking about.

You mean, they take you out to late night karaoke... right?

Incidentally, for those of you who never had the experience of Japanese-style karaoke, it's not the public spectacle that the west made it. You get a private room, usually for groups of one to ten friends (there are also party rooms for larger groups), and you sing, eat and drink in privacy. A lot of places offer a cheap flat rate for late night unlimited usage.



Huh? Why are you so pleased with yourself?
Um, no, it's nothing...



Anyway, I can't get serious with these kind of guys. They're so stupid!
It's really frustrating, you know! I always have to keep them away!
It must be really tough...
You're a model, after all. There must be so many of them after you...



Y'know, you're really perceptive, Naegi...
You really do understand, don't you? Yeah, you really do!
I... I do...?



Tell you what. I'll introduce you to my friends some time.
So what's your type? You're a herbivore guy, so do you prefer a carnivore girl?
I think this kind of girl will do you good! You know how opposites attract, right!?
No... I don't think I...
Right. When we get out of here, I'll arrange everything!



Ahaha! I can't wait!!

Enoshima-san left the room, clapping her hands in joy.

I don't really understand... but I think she took an interest in me.

That one gave us extra SP.


Act 2. Location: the A/V room.



Y'know, we have too much free time. It's impossible living here forever!
Super-impossible.

"Do you want to spend time with Enoshima-san?" "Sure"



I don't really mind hanging out with you... tell me something interesting, though, okay?

I spent some time with Enoshima-san, but I'm not confident I was interesting enough...

Today's present is...



Oiltatoes
A snack food made of potatoes cut thin and fried in oil. Contains more calories than other products of the same type.



Ahh... I'm bored. Totally bored...
I'm going to die. Totally going to die of boredom...
I think I'm already half dead. There's nothing to do around here!
You're... really that bored...?



I'm not very good at doing nothing...
Y'know, I only noticed that recently.
I noticed it soon after we got locked up here.

That's... really recently.



I mean, if I had known I was going to be locked up in a place like this, I would've preferred going back to sleeping outside...
S...sleeping outside...?



Oh, y'know... "homeless"? I've been one once...
You have!?
Yeah... lots of things happened...
But... you're a model now!
Well... A lot of things happened since then too...

I think she had too many things happen to her for a lifetime...



But if I had to choose between this place and sleeping outside again, I think I'd choose the latter.
But... that's obvious, isn't it? This place is as risky to your health as it gets...



Hey! Don't underestimate sleeping outside! It was a warzone! You never knew when some kind of enemy would attack you!
...Warzone? Enemies?
I mean, there were guys preying weak and helpless girls all around.
Isn't our entire world nothing but warzones and enemies?
Oh, well. Since I've left that cruel life behind me I only became stronger...

That's... some heavy stuff. It really seems she went through a lot...



Anyways, this discussion turned to a weird place, and that's not what I wanted to say at all!
I just want to know when we can get out of this place!



Hey, can you hear me, whoever locked us in here?! What's up with that?!
Just let us know how we can leave this place!
I swear I'll keep it a secret from the other guys! Just whisper the way out in my ear!

..........



No answer... it's so irritating...!
There is no way you can get the answer that easily...
..........
Hey, you're not going to act on that... strange thing he said before, are you?



Strange... thing...?
Oh, you mean that thing where you kill someone?



Ahaha! Don't worry! There's no way I can kill anyone!
Eh? Is that how I look to you? Like someone who can kill a person?
No... you don't look like that at all...
You've got that right!



Hey, were you just worried about me...?
It was kind of cute...
For just a second, it really touched my heart...
...eh?



Ahaha! It's a joke! Did you think I was serious!?
You're interesting, Naegi. I never get bored talking with you.
Ahaha! Come play with me again sometime!

Enoshima-san waved her hand at me and left the room.

I... don't really understand her...

Is she playing with me?

This time we do get a skill. Trance: Usable during school trial. Makes the temp go faster in MTB.

Final act. At the laundry again, through the magic of replayed chapters. We've seen the surrounding bits, so straight to the gift.



"Necroissant"
A croissant made of pitch black dough. It looks like it's burned, but it doesn't taste bad.

Makkurowassan in Japanese. A portmanteau of makkuro "pitch black" and kurowassan "criossant".



Hey, Naegi. There's something I want to tell you...
Something special... I can only trust you with...
Something special...? What is it?



My true feelings...
...true feelings?
Y'know... I was really disgusted with all of it.
They called me a Super High-school Level whatever, so I got carried away and came running to this school...
But there was always a part of me the wondered if I was doing the right thing...
Are you not sure... about being a model?
..........
The thing about dreams... they should change as you grow as a person.
Kindergarden, primary school, junior high, high school... each era carries its own dreams...



But it wasn't like that for me. Ever since I was a child it was always the same. I've been chasing the same dream...
So, y'know... I never had any doubts about it...
...Isn't that a good thing? It means you're a stable person...



That's also what I thought...
But isn't not being stable exactly what opens up your horizons? If you do and see many things, so many possibilities open up, don't you agree?



I've never done that until now...
I only chased one dream... Never believed in anything other than that tiny world...
I'm not sure if I'm just stressed... but I feel there are so many other things I can do...
I think I want to search for them.
Do you think I'm spoiled, thinking that way?
I... don't think so.
I'm searching for what I want to do myself, in fact...
...and I think I will continue doing that in the future.
I'll always keep on searching. Even after I become an adult. Always...
But, you know, it's not about finding your calling or not...
What's really important is the searching itself.



Naegi...
You said some really cool things just now, y'know?
N...no... that wasn't my intention...!



You're probably right, though...



Doubt is excellent! Searching is excellent! It makes you happier!



Yeah, I think I'll adopt that way of thinking...
Thank you, Naegi...
Y...yeah...



In return, even if I decide to kill someone, I'll make sure it isn't you!
Please don't say... scary things...
Ahaha!

But, I'm really glad I could talk about this with Enoshima-san. I feel I understand her now...
I think I truly became her friend.



But if I want to think that way, first we need to figure out a way out of here!
I'm going to get it out of him! The way out of this place!

"Get it out of him"... I'm sure there are better ways to find that out...
Oh, well. Enoshima-san has her own ways, and I have mine...

That gave us another skill. Charisma: Usable during school trial. The Expression meter recovers on a correct selection in multiple-choice questions.


That's it for chapter 1! Next time, the story continues.