Part 68: 09/25/09 - 09/30/09: Chaos Theory

So, there was no Shinji last time and I realise and apologise for that. This time, we'll start with Shinji instead! You're pre-emptively welcome.

Warm Feeling



...It's just, I feel uncomfortable...
Did something happen?
It's nothing like that, but...

> Shinjiro seems hesitant to explain himself...

> In any case, you decide to go outside with him.



Sorry. ...Those guys keep yapping at me.
Yapping at you?
.....
You remember how I cooked for them the other day?
They keep going on and on about how delicious it was and how I should do it again...



And whenever I walk past the kitchen, they all stare at me like they're just waiting for me to do something...

> Shinjiro shrugs...

I have my hopes up, too.
Hey, don't look at me like that. Haha...
Well... I'm glad they liked it.



Do you think it's funny that I did that? You think it isn't like me?
I mean, there's nothing wrong with having good memories to grow up with.



Obviously this is Ken and someone else. It being Shinji, he almost certainly means Akihiko all things considered. Could easily be Junpei though.

.....
How about you? Did you have fun too?
Definitely!
Haha, good to hear.



Making memories is important.
People can go on as long as they have good things to look back on...
They'll be able to go on without being led astray...

> Shinjiro mutters quietly...

You know, you...
.....



You shouldn't be with me like this...
Don't you... have more fun things to do?
It's fun being with you.
Well... all right, then.



> You can feel Shinjiro's thoughtfulness towards you, clumsy as it may be...

> You feel like your bond with Shinjiro has grown stronger...





...You want some ice cream from the convenience store? My treat.

> You and Shinjiro walked around before heading back to the dorm...

Obviously, not every scene of Shinji's can be as long and involved with other folks as the previous one. It's nice that it seems to be the only S.Link with consistent continuity, though.



...Anyway, let's see what Fuuka's managed to do this time.

Joy



It'll be really delicious, so look forward to it!
What are you going to make today, Kotone-chan?

Still doesn't matter.



I just finished up now, too. *giggle* I got done pretty fast.
Look, look.

> Rows of triangular rice balls are lined up on the plate that Fuuka handed to you.

> The rice looks moist and delicious...

This one has pickled plum, this one's salmon, and this one's seaweed...
Try whichever one you like.

> You picked one and ate it.



This is really delicious.
*giggle* Right?
There are 22 conditions that must be met for making a good rice ball.
I've met all those conditions, so there's no possible way that it wouldn't be delicious.

Not entirely sure that's quite how that works, but sure. Okay, whatever. At least it's not the same thing ad infinitum.



I don't think I was making enough of an effort before.
No, that's not it. I just wasn't putting in enough effort in the correct way. I just thought about trying harder.



If you can't do something that others can, then that's the effort you need to reach their level...
It seems so obvious now, but I didn't understand it at all... All I did was envy your skills.
I'll mever again think that my goals are doomed from the start.
Thanks, Kotone-chan.

> Fuuka let out a relieved laugh...

> You feel like you've grown even closer to Fuuka...





This one's tuna, that one's natto, and this one's mentaiko.
And on top of that... I even have a supreme one where I mixed in all the ingredients!
Eat up!

> You ate as much as you could before heading back to the dorm.

Amazingly, we're almost done with Fuuka again. At last. Probably won't get it wrapped up this month, but almost certainly will come October.

...Should've prioritised better, really, to get it done earlier but whatever.



More importantly is that we've got even more Shinji right now.

Living With Determination



> You went for a walk with Shinjiro, and ended up here...



.....
That reminds me, I met you here, too...
Back then, I never imagined that I'd go back there...
I'm glad that you came back.
...I doubt that I'm bringing that much to the team, though.

Well, you're only arguably the best physical attacker. Y'know, nothing major.



.....

> Shinjiro turns towards the wall and looks down...

> He seems less confident in himself than usual...

You're... a pain.
You keep messing things up for me...
I keep thinking that my life is the way it's supposed to be, but...



> You don't understand why Shinjiro sighs...

> Still, you feel like you're getting closer to Shinjiro's inner feelings...





We actually have a place we can go back to.

> You and Shinjiro returned to the dorm...

So, uh, yeah... Shinji's kinda changing tone a little here, huh? Odd that.



Anyway, we don't have much else of note for a few days so we'll take Koromaru on a walk as a distraction. This is the same as it was before, though, so...



Next up is more Shinji, of course. This is important.

Living With Determination



.....
Why don't we stay here?
Sit over there.
.....



Let's talk about something fun...
Yeah, that'd be best...



> You talked to Shinjiro about many different subjects...

> Shinjiro's expression doesn't change much, as usual...

> However, for some reason...

> ...He seems lonesome.

Are you done?
C'mon, tell me more. Encore, encore!

> Shinjiro laughs...

> At Shinjiro's urging, you continued talking...

> You told him about school, your friends, the clubs you're in, what you've seen on TV...

> Shinjiro just listens to your aimless conversation...



You look best when you laugh.
.....
So don't cry, got it...?
What're you trying to say?
...Just what I said.

> Shinjiro looks downwards...



No doubts, no regrets...
.....
Leave behind?
.....



What to want and to not want...
I'm... selfish, aren't I?
That's not true.
.....
...Hey.
As long as I'm already being selfish, I want you to do one more thing for me.
All right.
You don't have to forgive me...



Don't have to forgive...?
...You'll understand later.
It should be like this for a little longer...
I just want it to be... normal...

> Shinjiro smiles while looking down at his hands.

> You don't really understand what Shinjiro meant...

> Still, you feel like he told you something important...





...Ugh, I forgot that I don't have my watch.
Did you lose it?
Yeah, I lost it somewhere.



...Damn it.

> Shinjiro sighs...

> It seems that his watch meant something important to him...



This is very important. Very, very important.

So? You have any more?
I want to hear what you've got to say. You've got more stories up your sleeve, right?
...Anything's fine.

> You talked with Shinjiro about all kinds of things, late into the night...

We'll, uh... So, we want to get that watch as soon as possible.

Paulownia Mall



So, to that end, we'll go straight to the police station to talk to Kurosawa.

An old pocket watch...?
...Haha, today has to be your lucky day, then.
Is this it?



If you'd come any later, I would've sold it to somebody else.
...I'm joking.

Alright, that done, we'll just go do something else now. We'll see what this is for in a bit.



...But first, uh, Saori. Sure.

Joy



> 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.
Kotone-chan...



...You shouldn't be talking to me. If someone sees you...



...I don't want to get you involved.
It's a little too late now!
...Haha, I see.





Um...
I might be transferred to another school.

oh no what a tragedy

When!?
Once the paperwork is done...



...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...





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.

tartarus_0d04



So, hey, Tartarus. We've got a few folks to rescue real quick like. Here's the first on floor 120 and it's... Bunkichi! So, yeah, if you don't have Hierophant maxed by now, you absolutely need to do this otherwise it becomes impossible to finish. Obviously.



Next lass is up on the 131st floor. Not much else to this one.



And then the next and last is up on the 137th which isn't even much of a trek. We'll help this lad out and move on.



Just gotta grab our rewards here from Kurosawa. Nothing too major, all things considered. Homunculi are nice, since they affect the whole party here. In Vanilla/FES they just help Makoto.

Slash Repeller is just Evade Slash in accessory form. Triple dodge rate sounds nice, but Slash attacks are very rare so... pass.



Real quick, rank 8 for Hidetoshi is mostly the same but it has a very minor divergence. Namely that we still get accused for smoking in the boy's room by the teacher. Which is dumb and makes them seem even more unexpectedly bad at their job than Ekoda, so Hidetoshi calls 'em out on it instead.

Iwatodai Dorm



Anyway, let's talk to Shinji.

......

> Does the Old Pocketwatch you found at the police station belong to him...?

Well, we do need it to be able to advance Shinji's link, so...

That's...!
...Hey... Come with me, okay?
Okay.
Oh... Thanks.

Shinjiro Aragaki: The Moon
highly recommended you just watch this instead

Living With Determination



> You told him that it had been taken to the police station and that you claimed it.

I see...

> Shinjiro toys with the pocketwatch...

I thought I'd be fine if I never saw this again...
But I never imagined that you of all people would bring it to me.

> Shinjiro looks serious...

This isn't really to pay you back, but I want you to have this. I was hesitating about if I should give it to you or not.



I thought it'd look good on you...
Thank you very much.
Yeah...



> Shinjiro looks down at his feet for a long time...

...Look after Aki.
...You know he's an idiot.
You remember the story about the first fight we ever had?
It was because... I stole a doll from a toy store.



Aki found out about it and beat the crap outta me... and he was crying the whole time.
Afterwards, we both went back to the store to return it... and to apologize for what I did.
The toy store's owner smacked us both.
...He hasn't changed at all from back then.
He's stupid, honest, proud, kind... and a crybaby.
...That's why someone needs to be by his side.
We'll be by his side.
Yeah... I'll be counting on all of you.



I ain't worried at all, because I know you're with him.
I'm leaving the rest to you.

> Shinjiro looks kindly at you...

> You sense a strong sense of trust from Shinjiro...



The Path is Open





So, this is the first time we've managed to start and finish an S.Link within 1 month. It's not gonna be the last, though...

Living With Determination



Sandalphon's level 74 and kinda mediocre, to be honest. Desn't have much to offer, overall, but not particularly weak so it's easy to make one that doesn't suck. Notably, he gains his last skill at level 83 which is absurd as fuck and will probably never happen.



I kinda want to stay here a little longer if we can, but... aren't you cold?
Hey, you're gonna catch something. C'mere...

> You and Shinjiro talk about various things late into the night...