Part 2: 4/7/09

4/7/09

Yukari came by this morning to make sure I got to school okay.

Video- “Going to School”

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Good morning. Did you sleep okay?
Mitsuru-senpai asked me to take you to school.
Are you ready to go?
Totally!
Okay. Then, let’s go.

The train was actually running on time again, at least the day shift can do their jobs right. The view was also a lot nicer in the daylight.



We have to take the monorail to get there. Bet your last school wasn’t like that, huh?
This is my favorite part… when it feels like you’re gliding over the sea.
Our stop is Port Island Station at the end of the line. From there, we walk.
Have you ever heard of Tatsumi Port Island? It’s a man-made island. They built our school right in the middle.
Oh, look, you can see it now!

The cherry trees are in full blossom, it’s quite beautiful.



Morning!
Well, here we are…
Welcome to Gekkoukan High! You’re gonna love it here!

I will say it’s one of the nicer schools I’ve had to go to. I guess some big corporation sunk a bunch of money into it? That’s just what I heard.



You should go see your homeroom teacher first.
The Faculty Office is right there to the left.
…And that concludes the tour. Do you have any questions before I go?

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised she didn’t know what class either of us was in.



I think they’re posted on the bulletin board, but I haven’t checked yet either.
Hey…
About last night… Don’t tell anyone what you say, okay?
…See ya later.

I decided to wander around a bit, there were some interesting people around. Some guy in a track suit was getting yelled at for his criminal lack of taste.



School just started!
You really oughtta find somewhere to change into some normal clothes!
Ehh, I guess…
Okay, okay, fine. Quit glaring at me like that…
Hey, where’s the bulletin board with the homerooms posted…?
It’s RIGHT THERE! You’re in Class F, Kaz.
I’m in a different homeroom, so I can’t keep an eye on you… * sigh * I worry about you sometimes.

Someone looked a bit unhappy about their class assignment, they were muttering about it.



Eh, whatever.
……

They have a little store here, but some crazy man was freaking out and making it impossible to look at anything. I think he’s one of the teachers, too.



We’re their teachers. We’ve lived longer than them.
But Moriyama and her gang had to pull that on me at the very beginning of the term…
Vendor: I’m sorry, sir, but I have to go. It’s time to place my order.
Even YOU’RE shooing me away? Some way to start the school year…
I don’t think my nerves can take this.
Vendor: Alright, I get it.
You want me to order more of those cream-filled breads you like so much, right?
You could have just asked…

I decided to check the class roster before I headed to the faculty office.



> ……
> ……
> You can’t find your name.
> ……
> ……
> There is a small note with your name on it!
> “Aelita Tolstoy – Class F”
> …You look closer and notice that the name “Yukari Takeba” is also on the list.
> It seems that you’ll be in the same class as her…

That’s nice at least to have already met someone in my class. Some weird guy in a helmet was talking with a student that I’m guessing must be an exchange, he had a funny accent.



At our school, we encourage our students to think like samurai in order to accomplish great things!
That’s fantastic! Ze teachings of bushido are important zen as zey are now!
Yes, yes, yes! You may not be a native of this land, but the spirit of the samurai flows through you just the same!
> They seem to be having fun…

There was also a girl with a sort of strange feel to her outside what I guess was the library.



But I was just in one down the hall…
…Was that just another classroom?

I was about out of time, so I headed down to the faculty office to check in.

Video- “The First Day”

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Aelita Tolstoy…
11th grade, correct?
> The teacher is flipping through pages in a file…
Wow, you’ve lived in a lot of different places…
Let’s see… in 1999… That was what, ten years ago? Your parents-- * gasp *
I’m sorry… I’ve been so busy, I didn’t have time to read this beforehand.
I’m Ms. Toriumi. I teach Composition. Welcome to our school.

I gave up being sad about my parents a long time ago. I mean, we’re all going to die some day.



My, aren’t you polite? Girls like you should be an example for others.
Have you seen the classroom assignments? You’re in 2-F; that’s my class.
But first, we need to go to the auditorium. The Welcoming Ceremony will be starting soon.
Follow me.

Or just wish we were dead, like I did after about five minutes of listening to the Principal talk.



I’d like each of you to remember the proverb, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
When applied to student life, this means…
> The Principal continues with his speech…
> ……?
> You can hear the students around you whispering about something…

Though it was better than listening to people sling rumors.



Smirking Classmate: Yep. I’ve seen her, too. She came to school with Yukari.
I hear talking.
I believe it’s someone in Ms. Toriumi’s class…
Shhh! Be quiet! You’re going to get me in trouble!
> It doesn’t seem like the rumors will stop anytime soon…

After that drag of a ceremony we headed to homeroom to deal with all that first day of school stuff.



I… guess I made a new friend?



I guess he just calls everyone dude? I’m going to assume that instead of getting mad.



Anyway turns out his name is Junpei and he seems nice enough.



Me?
I’m Junpei Iori. Nice to meet ya.
I transferred here when I was in 8th grade.
I know how tough it is bein’ the new kid…
So I thought I’d check up on you, make sure you weren’t freaking out on your first day.
* sigh * At it again huh? Honestly, is there any girl you wouldn’t hit on?
Did you ever think you might be bothering someone?
What? But, I was just bein’ friendly.
If you say so.
Anyway, some coincidence that we’d be in the same homeroom, huh?

I’m just glad I’m already making headway on getting to know people here.



A friend? Oh… you mean me.
Yeah, I… I’m glad we ended up in the same class, too.
Um, hello? Did you forget I’m in this class, too? C’mon, lemme in on the fun!
By the way, do you guys know each other? I heard you two came to school together this morning.
A couple of cuties like you, walking side by side… The whole class was buzzing about you.
Ugh… Could you just cut it out? I hate dealing with rumors like that.
I mean, I’m used to it, but she just got here, you know? Don’t you feel bad, spreading rumors like that?
…Well, I’ve gotta go take care of some archery team stuff. Don’t try anything funny, you got that, Junpei?
What is she, your nanny…?
Well, just to clear something up, I seriously didn’t come over here to hit on you or anything.
If you ever have a problem, you can tell your ol’ pal Junpei about it!

No matter how weird someone is a friend is still a friend.



Heh, cool. Well, I’ll be seeing you around, then.

Pretty soon, in fact, he caught up to me in the hallway as I was leaving.



Whoa, check out the jocks on their run…
Hey, did anyone tell you about the school clubs yet?
Girls can join too, so why not do it if you’re interested?
You’d be joining as a new member, though, so you won’t be able to apply for a little while.
> You made small talk with Junpei while walking back…

Mitsuru and Yukari were already back at the dorms.



Anyway, you must be tired. You should get a good night’s rest.



Just looking around.
Well, there’s not much to see…
You’re probably pretty tired, huh? Maybe you should go to bed early tonight.

I think someone else lives here. I haven’t seem him, but I’ve heard a guy talking.

Video- “Mystery”

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> A young man walked down the stairs as Mitsuru was reading a book…



…Hm?
Have you seen the newspapers lately?
…I know.
People who had no problems before are suddenly developing acute cases of Apathy Syndrome…
I’ve seen it in the news quite often lately.
They say it’s due to stress, but…
Yeah, right. It has to be THEM.
Otherwise, it’s not worth my time…
You have a one-track mind… Will you be okay on your own?
Don’t worry, I’m just getting a little practice.
* sigh * This isn’t a game, Akihiko…