Part 149: 10/20/09

10/20/09

It’s funny how things work out, Fuuka and that Natsuki girl who locked her in the gym have become really good friends.

Video- “Friends”

Watch

Uhhh, okay, class…
I know you’ve been busy lately, but you all remembered to do your homework, right?
Just because you’re not taking a literature class next year doesn’t mean you can blow off Classic Lit.
Hey, are you listening to me?
……
What’s wrong, Fuuka? You look kinda down.
Huh…?
Talk to me. Tell me what’s bothering you.
…It’s about Aragaki-senpai…
Oh… Pretty shocking, huh…?
I’ve never seen him at school, but I’ve seen him around town…
I wonder if he really did get caught up in some kind of crime…
Some things you can never get back…
I know that, from all the things that have happened with my parents.
I’ve sort of been avoiding the question… but is it okay for me to go on like this?
Parents, huh…? I can relate to that.
But, you’ll be okay, right?

So she was actually pretty broken up when she found out Natsuki’s got to move away.



Yeah, yeah.
* sigh * Don’t you want to give your classmates a proper goodbye?
> Natsuki stood up…
Huh? What’s going on?
Uhhh, hello, everyone. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I feel like I’ve made some good friends.
I’ll remember each and every one of you, even after I transfer. Thank you. …How’s that?
Transfer…?
WHAT!?

I’m not sure of all the details.



You’re a weird one, y’know?
The biggest bitch in the school is leaving, and you feel sorry for her.
You’re transferring… and you didn’t say anything…?
It’s not like telling you would’ve changed anything. Why make us both depressed?
Anyway, my dad’s pretty sick…
And they say it’ll take some time for him to recover…
We don’t really have that much money, so we can’t afford to stay here.
……
Y’know I still think you’re crazy for being friends with someone like me…
But, like I said before… we’re both in the same boat.
My parents act like I don’t even exist. …I hate living at home.
That’s why I was so jealous when you moved into the dorm.
Natsuki-chan…
But, Fuuka… Your house is nearby and your parents are pretty normal. So, why’d you move?
Huh…? Well… um…
If you don’t wanna tell me, that’s okay.
…But if it’s something that you and your folks can work out, then do it while you have the chance.
It’ll be a while before my dad’s in any condition for us to have a heart to heart.
……

But clearly they had a heck of a talk up there.



Y’know, Fuuka… I used to think that every day was just the same.
And I’m only saying this because it’s you…
But, you don’t get any second chances in life.
If you accept the way things are, then they’ll never change…
Natsuki-chan…
This is the last time I’ll see this view, huh…
I won’t be in school next week ‘cause I’ll be packing, so… I guess this is goodbye…
No!!
Haha. It’s okay. Everything will be alright.
……
C’mon, don’t gimme that look.
But…
Hey, I’m not helpless, y’know. I’ve changed a lot since I met you.
I’m gonna try and figure out what I really want now.
…So, I hope you do the same.
What I really want…
I…
……

Because Fuuka was definitely acting differently afterwards.



I was afraid of not being liked, so I did my best to fit in.
But, I never really thought about what I wanted.
Hahah. That is so like you, Fuuka. Well I say, if they don’t accept you for who you are, then screw ‘em.
…But I like you… even if you don’t like yourself.
Natsuki-chan…
Well… I better get going.
> Natsuki left without looking back…
Natsuki-chan…
My cell…?
> Fuuka looked at the message she received on her cell phone…
Huh!? Natsuki-chan!?
Text Message: > “Even if we’re apart, we’ll still be connected.”
> “We can always talk, right? Thanks for everything.”
Natsuki-chan…
> Eventually, Fuuka lifted her head and nodded…
“Even if we’re apart, we’ll still be connected.”
……

Like she figured something out.



I’ve always been so worried about how others are feeling…
That’s why my power allows me to stay connected with them…
I guess there is something I want after all…
It makes me happy to see everyone else happy too.
So, I want us all to remain friends.
The power to connect people, even when they’re apart…
My Persona has given me this amazing gift.
> The resolution in Fuuka’s heart has awakened a new Persona…

She seems pretty happy now, though.



There you are.
…Why, did something happen?
It is surprising to find you on the rooftop.
Nah, we were just wondering what you were up to…
Everything’s okay now.
Okay…?
…I’ve made up my mind. I’ll do as much as I can with my power.
…For my sake, as well as the sake of others.
Okaaayyy…
* giggle * Sorry. I guess that was sort of random, wasn’t it?
Uh, are you sure you’re alright?
Heehee.

Mitsuru had something for me.



I saw your exam results… Good work.
Here, this is from the Chairman…
It’s a reward for effectively balancing school and battle…
> Obtained Queen Card Set.
> In addition, you obtained the skill card Bufudyne for your high marks.

I finally tracked down Mr. Ono.



Ah, Aelita. I’ve been waiting for you… Okay, not really.
I looked and looked, but there’s nothing at my house that’s not related to Masamune.
This didn’t belong to Masamune personally, but it still has ties to him, so…
……
Do you really need this? Maybe you’ve… reconsidered?
Not that I’m reluctant at all to give it to you, you understand?
So I’ll give it to you, but…
But…
You’ll take good care of it, right!? It’ll become a family heirloom, right!?
> Obtained Kanetsugu’s Helm.
You must be proud, Aelita. You’ve got a family heirloom now.
Yeah, I guess this is how it should be…
……
Well, I’ve still got a few of those left at home.
This is the second time I’ve given my helm to a student, after all.

Figures that he’d given one to Bebe.



Back in the spring, when he first came here, he admitted it so much that I let him have it.
It does my heart good to see men with the samurai spirit, even those from a foreign country.
It must be because the lives of the Sengoku generals still shine brightly across history…!
Masamune Date, for example. The amazing thing about him is that he…
> You enjoyed the stories about Masamune again.
> You feel that your knowledge of history has deepened…
> You obtained a helm from Mr. Ono.

I got something pretty interesting from Elizabeth for showing her the helm.



I see… So this is it. The helm from the ancient Sengoku era…
Its heft, its feel… and the character “love” on the brow…
Does that mean… to protect the head? Or was it “love” for the helm…?
Mysteries upon mysteries… Still, it is a wonderful helm. This satisfies my request.
Why don’t you take the helm with you? I think it suits you better than it does me…
Please accept your reward.
> Obtained Knee-High Maid.

Anyway Junpei is giving Chidori a bit of space, so we went down to get some ramen.



You’d better start being careful, you know?
You might be fine now, but you don’t wanna be a tub in ten years, you know?
Shut it, jerk.
So hostile… This isn’t the first time you’ve thought of it, huh?
> Junpei smirks…
Still… Man, you ever wonder what we’ll be doing in ten years?
…I don’t really wanna think about it.
> Junpei seems to stare off into the distance…
You’ll be a great man.
You really think so? Hearing it from you definitely makes my day.
> Junpei seems extremely happy…
……
Lately, when I do stuff like watch TV or read manga, I can’t concentrate…
> Junpei fiddles with his chopsticks…
It’s like… I dunno… I keep thinking, “Is this how I should be!?”
Haha…
……

He’s getting pretty serious.



> Junpei mutters as if to himself…
Your terrible jokes?
Gee, thanks. That’s helpful.
I mean, Yuka-tan’s got her response to my jokes down to a science.
She delivers a dope-slap that feels like an icy dagger to the brain…
> Junpei laughs…
……
When I think about this Persona stuff, it’s like I have a personal mission…
But, I don’t understand it at all…
……
Maybe I don’t even have a mission like that, and that’s what I’m afraid of.
I’ve got all these pent-up emotions that I can’t figure out…
……
Do you have anything like that?
Like, do you ever think about what you can do…?

At least I’ve been doing a good job acting like I know what I’m doing so far.



…I see. I mean… You don’t seem like that at all.
I guess that’s another thing that’s amazing about you…
> Junpei laughs…
> You sense that Junpei has been open with you about his troubles…

Just need to be strong a little longer.



Oh, um… What were we talking about…?
Ha, I guess talking about serious stuff once in a while isn’t so bad.
> You and Junpei talked for a while before going back.

Yukari noticed how Fuuka was acting today as well.



She used to be so reserved, but now…
…she’s so outgoing.

I’m glad she’s okay, though.



But, no matter how far apart we are, we’ll always be friends.
So, I’ll be fine.

Anyway back to that whole thing where I have to be strong for everyone.



……
Um…
Could you… come with me? Please…?
> Ken is looking at you helplessly…
…Thank you very much.
> Ken seems relieved…

And sometimes that means doing the thing you want to do least in the world and acting like you’re fine with it.



> Ken asked you to come here with him…
I’m sorry. I was too scared to come here by myself…
……
> Ken falls silent…
Cheer up.
…Yes.
> Ken smiles sadly…
It’s… hard to live, isn’t it?
Living… is painful…
Aelita-san…
> Ken begins to sob, but no tears fall from his eyes…
> You couldn’t bring yourself to say anything to him…
> You waited until Ken calmed down, then you returned to the dorm together…

All in a day’s work I guess.