Part 2: Update II - Everyday (II)
Update II - Everyday (II)Music: School II
We're counting on you to unravel the mysteries of Tsukumihara. Like the Editor in Chief always says, you can't avert your eyes from life's mysteries.~
You heard what the Editor in Chief has to say? Hurry up and solve the mystery of the paranormal gate. To tell the truth, that story is really scary.Last time, we got a job to do from our club leader.
So let's check everywhere but the Archery Range first!
Where did you get that idea? They don't look anything alike. Huh...? She's not? Uh... I'm not really sure. I feel for her, though. It's like she's the topic of a million rumors... Plus she has Shinji as a brother. If I was her, my diary would be longer than War and Peace. You actually keep a diary?! How...archaic. I never expected something like that from you.Since when are diaries archaic?
Oh hey, Shinji is over there. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Oh...it's you, Brother.
I heard that you've been skipping out on the archery club's morning practices lately! Why haven't you been showing up? And where do you get off taking a break without my say so?! You bi...I get it now. You've been going to ”their" house again, haven't you? ...Yes. I have been going there, but I just wanted to help and... Let me guess... You felt you were obligated to, right? Jeez, why must you be so damn naive? Wait a sec... What was that just now? Anyway, if someone gets hurt, just leave them to suffer. Just do what I tell you to, and things will be a-okay. I mean, it seems like people get some kind of perverse thrill from getting in my way. To force one of my...err...my dear little sister to miss valuable practice time... That's not how it was at all...! I wasn't forced to do anything. I wanted to help! ...Um...why don't you... Why is it so wrong to help those who need it?
Ha! Isn't it only fools and the weak who manage to get themselves hurt somehow? And why help anybody out? Will that person ever pay you back or help in return? Of course they won't! And if you think otherwise, you're an idiot! I won't be used by anyone. It's better to treat others as cattle. And isn't it time for you to admit to feeling the same way?! But... But, for me, that option... Stop right there. I don't care what you have to say. Stop going to that house, Sakura. Got it?!
Shinji Matou: Literally The Worst.
Oh...! I-I mean... H-Hi... Can I help you with anything? If you ever start feeling unwell, please come by the nurse's office.
The garden and the Nurse's Office is still locked, so outside is our only option.
Music: Stops
Eh?
For some unknown reason, I find my eyes drawn to the door of the supply room when... The door is suddenly and violently thrown open. 
Without warning, a man appears from out of the shadows. Dressed in black with a dour expression, the person in question is very intimidating. ...But that sense of intimidation is inmediately replaced with extreme discomfort and unease. Sound: Heartbeats
Music: Fear
He begins to mutter under his breath while at the same time he reaches out with his right hand. The chills running down my spine gain intensity as waves of nausea and vertigo wash over me. I feel like a rabbit watching the wolf draw near. Maybe this isn't just raw terror. I think he's holding something that's making me feel this way? 
You're not even trying to fight. My instincts aren't as sharp as they should be. I need to rest. The note of disgust in his voice is obvious as he slowly lowers his hand. The paralysis that seemed to take hold of me suddenly fades away. The man continues to look down on me with those dead eyes of his.Sound: Stops
Music: Stops
The campus is about to close. If you have nothing else to do, I advise you to go home now.
Sound: School bell ringing
... My name is Mr. Kuzuki. I will be teaching here starting today.(Soichirou) Kuzuki is another familiar name from Stay Night. In that, he was an assassin that had an existential crisis after performing his hit, and decided to live the rest of his life in the cover identity given to him. He was a major antagonist in the Unlimited Blade Works route.
It seems that in Extra, Kuzuki dropped the 'former' from 'former assassin'. He also got one hell of a makeover.
The man who introduces himself as Mr. Kuzuki turns and heads back into the supply room. With that, the final bell begins to chime, signaling the end of the school day. Everything begins to progress as normal, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. But I'm still sore and slicked with sweat; an all too real reminder of what happened. Wonderful. We now have a teacher with obvious "murderous intent" teaching at our school.Music: School II
You know what? Let's just hit the Range and leave.
He's tall, dark, and handsome... mostly dark.
Looks like Taiga is our only lead.
The worst is when they leave their arrows stuck in the target mound. I usually make the kids do it, but there's no club activities leading up to exams, so I'm doing it. Huh? An entrance to the spirit world? That's just a rumor, it's not real! Exams are right around the corner, so don't waste your time on stuff like that. Go home, shoo, shoo! What appears in the Archery Range isn't an entrance to the spirit world, but Ti—Ms. Fujimura. —Well, I can't say I'm surprised she's behind one of Tsukumihara's mysteries. It's fitting. I'll report this tomorrow, so I can go home now if I want. *A day will pass if you go home.
Stay at school. I think I'll poke around the campus a little longer. If I want to leave, I should head out through the main gate.
Talking to Taiga here is the only thing left to do. All the club members vanished the moment we talked to Taiga.
Go home.
Music: Comical Life
I'll ask him if something happened.
Hey, you know that ice queen Rin Tohsaka? She thinks she's so much better than everyone else. At first, I thought that she would be the only one who understood how lonely it is at the top. I tried talking to her yesterday, but I got nowhere. Maybe I just intimidate her or something. I might've lost a few points for getting violent, but girls who talk back to me get slapped! I'd never hook up with such a violent, stuck up bitch like that, no matter how hot she is! What a waste. She'd be perfect if she'd just keep her mouth shut. You agree with me, right? RIGHT?Whenever you think you've hit the bottom with Shinji, he proves that he's actually even worse than you thought.
Looks like there's some tension between Shinji and Rin Tohsaka. Knowing Shinji, he probably hit on her and got shot down. And why'd she take a shot at me? I thought she was going to spinning-star kick me next. He continues to whine under his breath. I can only imagine how sleazy Shinji was being with her. Normally, his super-aggressive approach works, but obviously it didn't with Rin Tohsaka. Life's more interesting when it's got little shake-ups like this. As if right on cue, Ms. Fujimura barges into the classroom as the bell sounds. 
All right, no one's absent and since there are no announcements, let's just start homeroom.
As soon as she turns to reach for the chalk, she trips and falls as she always does. As she falls, her fingernails drag across the blackboard with a horrifying sound... And thus, another typically mundane day begins anew— 
Despite the suffering of the previous generation, battles are still waged thirty years on. Standing behind the lectern today is the school's newest teacher. . . Kuzuki. Although he's supposed to be teaching math, his lesson seems to have gone off on a tangent. —Now, instead of armies, attacks in ever greater numbers are being carried out by terrorists. And in an attempt to suppress these terrorists groups...Sound: School bell ringing
All right, let us end here today. ...Oh yes, before I forget. There is an announcement from the student counselor- Recently, a rise in the number of slashing incidents has made the surrounding area dangerous. With that in mind, keep any detours to a minimum and head home as quickly as possible. Get home quickly...? Good advice, but I still have to finish a few assignments for the journalism club. Why I'm so gung-ho about investigating the school's "Seven Wonders" is a mystery even to me, but it seems important for some reason. I have to turn in yesterday's report. I'd better go see the Editor in Chief this evening.
Music: School II
Another day, another scoop for this intrepid newshound.
You're investigating a story right now? Maybe I should join the Journalism club, too.~
The editor-in-chief was looking for you. She was going on about you being late with an article.
~
Strange happenings on campus? I wonder who comes up with all of those rumors.Music: Comical Life
Stepping outside triggers a small cutscene.
What? I'm sure you're just talking about Rin Tohsaka from class B. Rin Tohsaka? Never heard of her. You've really never heard of her? Pretty, athletic, smart, classy... ...or a stuck-up Ms. Perfect who all the guys adore and all the girls despise. It wouldn't be unrealistic to call Rin Tohsaka the most popular girl in the whole school. ...Are you pulling my leg? Girl, you're so dense you probably wouldn't feel it if I pulled your leg anyway. Whaa? I'm not dense...much... But...she wasn't wearing our school uniform. She was wearing red. How do you explain that? I dunno... I hadn't noticed. Huh? Maybe I'm remembering wrong. You would. C'mon, let's hurry to our club. Y-yeah...Music: School II
Huh? What is it? Ms. Fujimura is living with one of the students here! Ew! You mean like romantically? But that's taboo!Another reference to Stay Night, where Taiga acted as Shirou's legal guardian, and frequently came to his place to
...Hold on a second.
Let me take a closer look.
Enhance.
...I see, it was Ms. Fujimura. The Editor in Chief will want to hear about that.Himuro! You didn't tell me you had a twin!
~
Good work on the investigation. Report to the Editor in Chief.
Interesting. So it was Tiger! Of course there's no entrance to the spirit world! Thanks to you, the article will be great! Are you ready for the next article assignment? The next unsolved mystery is... Yesterday, there was a girl dressed in red on the Rooftop. Rumors about "Little Red Rooftop" are spreading. Go find out what this is all about. A journalist lets the news guide their feet. To the Rooftop!~
"Little Red Rooftop" is who you're looking for. Good luck, bigshot!~
You're to investigate the Rooftop next. Good luck. I said this yesterday, too. You can't avert your eyes from life's mysteries.~
You heard what the Editor in Chief has to say? Hurry up and solve the mystery of "Little Red Rooftop". Actually I...that rumor makes me queasy, too.
It's written in sloppy handwriting. The Editor in Chief must be tired. 
Like, everything feels artificial somehow... Huh? Wait, that would mean...that... ...That's it, that's it! Oops, don't mind me. The crazy, sometimes it comes out.~
... He appears to have gone deep into thought, so it would be rude to keep talking to him.
Up next is more procrastination.
~
That's weird. Why won't it open? What, you haven't left yet? Wait, don't tell me... No, never mind. Losers like you shouldn't be on campus right now. Who knows, you might get whacked by that killer. Hey, don't say I didn't warn you. Hahaha!
Killer? You're in the newspaper club and you don't know? Someone's been attacking students after school. Man, a weak little drone like you'd get dropped in one hit. You'd better leave now! What are you up to? Sh-Shut it, you! It won't mean anything to a nerd like you, but I? Wait...why am I explaining anything to you? Just get the hell out of here already!~
What? Just go home already.
Don't girls get cold when they wear flowy skirts?~
Hehe, soon the time will come for you to pick a side in the nerd war.
(on the left): Comic books are so much better than manga. That guy over there, though, likes big eyes and small mouths.~
(top middle): Hehehe... I love this manga! It's my favorite! Don't tell Tiger or she'll confiscate it.~
(by Taiga): Do you think a fly on the wall or the fly on men's pants has the better view? Why's it even called a fly in the first place?I'll admit, this is the exact kind of train of thought I would get on back in highschool.
~
Me?! Living with a student?! Aaagh, no! I'm his guardian! Just his guardian! The child of my one of my parents' friends had been living alone, so I've been helping out. Which means that I go over to his house, but not that I live with him! I don't! Not at all! ...Hey! What's with that face?! You don't believe your own teacher?! You're a good kid. You don't even know what those bad kids mean by "living together," right? RIGHT? And now, your teacher needs to give those kids who are spreading rumors a little educational guidance...
The girl on the Rooftop? Ah, her... She just happens to be up there right now. I saw her holding the key to the Rooftop a moment ago.Why is Issei so calm about this? Students shouldn't be on the roof, and he's always a stickler for rules.
It happened on their way home. I live near there, and now I'm scared to go home!
Music: Duel of Fate
The vibrant colors set off by the setting of the sun is enough to take one's breath away. Under the now blood red sky, a single girl looks out onto the town that spreads out below. Like a figure out of a painting, the girl seems to shine with the same red glow as the setting sun.
Her name is unlisted, but this could only be Rin Tohsaka. A main heroine in Stay Night, she hails from the magus family in charge of Fuyuki, and is also one of the handful of magi that aren't utter assholes.
I can only imagine how captivating this sight must be for the people who live here. It is indeed a very beautiful scene. A shame that it doesn't really exist. On the surface it seems like such a benign, peaceful world. A pity that it'll soon come to an end. This place is merely an idealized imitation of the real world. And one done in poor taste— I wonder if there's any value to a memory that can only be observed and then left behind. I'm not quite sure if that last statement was supposed to express disgust or disappointment. As she finishes speaking, a faint smile forms on the girl's lips as she slowly turns in my direction. Her unwavering gaze makes it seem like she can see things hidden to others. Her eyes seem to shine with an intensity that rivals that of the fiery red of the evening sky. 
Huh, that's not it? That means you must be one of the generic N— I mean, students... If one of the irrelevant NPCs can get up here, I guess I'll have to find another place to hang out.
Unexpectedly, her finger reaches out and touches my cheek. 
Static starts to cover the screen.
Is this a warning from the system? Direct interference does break the rules, after all...
And in a heavier burst of static, Rin vanishes.
Mumbling to herself, the girl disappears without a trace. It's like no one was ever there at all. -She vanished? There or not, her form has been indelibly burned into my mind.
What's wrong? You look a little pale. The sound of Issei's voice pulls me back to reality. I must look completely dazed and confused. Maybe I'm tired, or- ...I'll talk with the Editor in Chief again tomorrow. In any case , I think the course of wisdom for now would be to go home like Issei says... *A day will pass if you leave campus.
Leave.Might as well just leave from here.
Music: Comical Life
"I'm telling you, you don't have any talent. Give up before you look like a retard." So you know what he said to that? What? What? What did he say?! We're dying to know! Tell us! This wuss gets all boo-hoo, and he says— "I'll keep practicing until I get better. I can at least get better than you, who skips practice." Sorry, I have to laugh! Anybody knows that you can't -practice- your way into being a genius! If he wants to practice something, he should practice not sounding like a tool! The guy's not a total maggot, but he's still trash that needs to find a garbage can. Ahaha, that moron. People aren't created equal. Even people who are born above average can never reach the same heights as the naturally gifted!Again, there is literally no bottom to the depths of Shinji's douchebaggery.
You must be sooo talented if you don't need to practice, Matou! I feel bad for that kid. Trash can't help being trash. It should learn to stop dreaming about being something better.Sound: School bell ringing
While we wait for the teacher to arrive, I get caught up on what Shinji said for some reason. Whether or not Shinji has innate talent, I think it's pretty clear that I'm a nobody. A nobody, with no goals. I mean, when I try to even think about the future, I get overwhelmed. As long as I keep plodding along, some day I'll reach my totally average future. Yay. That's what happens to everyone, right? Are there actually people who break the pattern? How? I have no idea. For me, today is just another ordinary day— Music: Stops
Music: Duel of Fate
The static is constantly running for the rest of the scene.
Oh no, the new kid is pretty.
It's him. That blonde boy is the one who's causing my body's fight or flight instincts to prickle. Go on, Leo. Introduce yourself.
...For what purpose? Huh? Well, Leo... You'll be attending school with these people, so I'm sure they'd like to know who you are. ...Ah, I see. These good people do not know my name yet. He steps forward, and then in a louder voice, says— 
In time, it will be a name known to all the world, but for now it is the name of your classmate. I'm pleased to meet you all. I hope we enjoy our time together.
... The classroom is silent. There aren't even any jabs at his eccentric manner of speaking, or any coos over how pretty he is. Instead, the entire classroom is enthralled by his regal bearing. Entranced, even. Shinji's words come to mind. ...This is what it means to be on a different level. None of us plebes could ever hope to reach the level that this new kid lives on. It's not overextending to call his very existence transfixing. Like deer in headlights, we're immobilized by a presence far brighter than our own. His natural place is above us, looking down as our king. How did someone like him end up here...? It must be a mistake. 
Anyway, everyone, please make Leo feel welcome. Then, Leo, if you would please take a seat... It looks like the third seat in the second row from the right is open. Will that be okay? ...Leo...? Ah , you're addressing me. I see no reason to not allow you to call me Leo, as it didn't feel awkward to hear it from you. If you have the chance, I'd very much like for a delightful woman like you to visit my country. Wh-wha?! J-J-J-Jeez, don't joke with your teacher! To your seat, Leo! I won't smack you since, well, it was kind of flattering of you to say that. Of course. I appreciate your diplomacy, Ms. Fujimura. Then, the boy gave the kind of easy smile that only kids can. That simple smile washes away the tension in the room, and people even begin to smile themselves. I think he's not so much a king as a prince. He may be above us, but he also has natural charisma that draws us up to his level. However... It seems that there is at least one person in class whose mileage varies. 
Shinji's clearly not happy.Anyone who can piss off Shinji with their mere presence is good in my book!
There's no need to be shy. Yes, I understand. I'm pleased that I will be attending such a good school.
—Am I imagining things? Just for a second, I thought he shifted his attention toward ME. Not toward anyone else, not even Shinji, who's still bad-mouthing Leo, but to me alone. ...Yeah right. There's no way a practically otherworldly person like him would notice bland me.D-did we just get hit with a genre shift?
Music: School II
No, I'm just excited because for once, something happened. Well, besides what happened yesterday. —I should report yesterday's findings to the Editor in Chief.
The new teacher is an assassin, we have a student that is also a ghost, we have a transfer student that's almost certainly royalty, and a simple glance from him got our heart all aflutter.
Guys, I'm not sure how to break it to you...
But I think we're in a BL manga.
Next time: Ghosts, gardens, and names.