Part 110: 9/1/09

9/1/09

School started back up today.



Loud Student: Yeah… I’m in no mood to be here. I just want to turn around and head back to bed…
Gossiping Student: Heh, you might come down with that Apathy Syndrome… Then you wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
Loud Student: Noooo! Are you kidding me!?
Although, come to think of it, it doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe I’ll try it.
Gossiping Student: Hahah! Are you serious?
> The first bell has rung.

Classes picked right back where they ended.



Now, let’s review. …Aelita.
What do you call the phenomenon when electrical resistance is zero?
Superconductivity.
Exactly. Been studying, I see.
A superconductive material has zero electrical resistance.
As a result, electric current can travel eternally through a superconductive circuit.
……
Many years ago, I tried to use this fact to confess my love to someone…
“My love for you is superconductive!” I told them.
……
Sure enough, she liked my enthusiasm, and we started dating.
But enthusiasm isn’t very scientific. I lost interest in her before long.
All right, in the next section…

I went down to help Saori in the library, but things got kind of weird.



It’ll be about things like how to take care of your books and reminders to return them before they’re overdue…
At least, that’s what I heard is going to go in it.
We should make it fun to read.
Yeah, I agree.
That’s why Ms. Ounishi said she was going to look into other things that students would be interested in.
But it’s far more likely that the ones who have to do the actual writing will be…

So it turns out that asshole who asked her out a while back had a girlfriend. You know, one whose name rhymes with monster bitch.



Huh…? Yes? Can I help you?
Gaudy Female Student: You can help me kick your ass!
> A female student barges in, with a furious expression…
Gaudy Female Student: Who the hell do you think you are!? Keep your hands off my boyfriend!
Boyfriend?
Gaudy Female Student: Don’t play dumb with me!
You left school together, and even went out to karaoke! He told me all about it!
Karaoke…? Oh, you mean Takaoka-kun?
Gaudy Female Student: …You skank! You’re the one who asked him out!
Huh? But he’s the one—
Gaudy Female Student: Ma-kun told me all about it! He said you seduced him!
Me…?
Gaudy Female Student: Don’t give me that shit!
Eek…
> Saori was slapped…!
Gaudy Female Student: You so much as say hello to my man again… you’re goin’ down.
How dare you hit her!
N-No, it’s okay!
Gaudy Female Student: Seriously… Keep to yourself, bitch.
> The girl leaves…
> The few students currently in the library keep their distance and look away…

I guess she should think herself welcome to that lying sack of crap though.



> …The students hurriedly leave…
I’m sorry you had to see that…
I don’t mind at all.
Mm… Thanks.
> Saori smiles weakly…
I… did have some ulterior motives of my own, after all.
I thought it’d be nice to have a friend around my own age…
Did you like Takaoka-kun?
…No, unfortunately.
> Saori smiles weakly, her eyes shining with tears…
…I have someone I like.
But it’ll never work out, and I can’t do anything about it.
What kind of person is he?
Ah-heh…
I’ve never mentioned it to anyone else before…
It’s so nice to be able to talk about it…
I could never tell anyone…
> Saori smiles weakly…
> You feel like you understand Saori a little better now…

Still I wonder what Saori was talking about there at the end.



It’s almost time to stop today… I doubt any more people will come.
…Let’s go home.
> You did your duties in the school library committee and left school with Saori…

Ran into Junpei outside the dorm, we had a bit of a surprise in store for us.

Video- “Aigis”

Watch

> ……?
> Yukari and Ken are sitting in the lounge, looking fidgety…
…Oh, you’re back. Perfect timing.
Perfect timing…? For what?
Hey, Fuuka, is Aigis ready?
> In response, Fuuka and Aigis came in…
H-How does she look?

So yeah Aigis is coming to school with us starting tomorrow.



Winter clothes already?
Wh—That’s not the important part! What’re you guys thinking, dressing her up in a uniform like that!?
She said she wanted to go to school, so I said something to Mitsuru-senpai as a joke…
But, the Chairman overheard and thought it was a good idea. So as of tomorrow, she’ll be a junior.
Seriously!? He’s down with that?
He said something about studying her behavior in a social environment…
Well, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a great idea…
Just look at how cute she is in that uniform!
The camouflage Fuuka-san has provided me with seems to be the appropriate size.
It looks very natural on you; no one will suspect a thing.
But, why does he want you to go to school? It’s not like there’s anything special about it.
With the commencement of the second semester, I intend to synchronize my schedule with the other members’.
If I were to remain here on standby, it could delay our deployment.
Therefore, I request to accompany our squad leader.

No idea how this will turn out.



I will make any necessary adjustments as problems arise.
Uhh… Yeah, you do that…
Woof, woof!
He said, “I want to go to go school, too.”
Sorry, Koro-chan… You have to stay here.
* whimper *

Akihiko was preemptively shifting the blame for anything that goes wrong tomorrow.



If anything happens at school, I’m not gonna be held responsible for it.
* sigh * What is Ikutsuki-san thinking…?

Junpei’s being all weird again, even if he’s right that she looks kind of cute in that uniform.



I bet there will be a ton of guys who’s gonna get a crush on her.
The way she walks… The way she talks…

She does ask some strange questions that can be pretty hard to answer.



I do not understand why I am permitted to go to school and Koromaru-san is not.
I don’t know.
Is it so difficult of a question that no answer can be given?

I think most people just don’t even want to see that she’s a robot honestly, that’s her best defense.



…we decided she should wear winter wear.
I don’t think anyone will find that suspicious…

Still no idea why the Chairman agreed to this. Maybe he’s just crazy.



I really couldn’t think of any reason why she shouldn’t…
…and the Chairman agreed.

Fuuka was worried about how warm she would be in the winter clothes, which is like ten steps from the biggest concern I think.



I hope she won’t be too hot in them.

Anyway Ken’s been kind of weird the past few weeks, so I offered to take him to dinner.



> Ken seems a bit nervous…
> As the leader, maybe you should be friendlier with him…
Wanna get some food?
What?
…W-With me?
But…
……
> Ken seems hesitant about going out together with you…
> However, you managed to overcome his reluctance with our dauntless courage.

We managed to beat the closing time fortunately.



> You both rushed in just before closing time…
Um…
Th-Thanks for the food.
> Ken begins eating…
> ……
> …He gradually begins to eat faster and faster…
Were you hungry?
Oh… Uh-huh, I guess so.
> Ken seems a little embarrassed…
> Ken resumes shoveling food into his mouth.
> ……
> …It seems that you were mesmerized by Ken eating, and have barely touched your own meal.
…Aren’t you going to eat, Aelita-san?
Of course I am!
Well, please do.
…I feel embarrassed if I’m the only one eating.
……
> Ken begins eating quietly…

Poor Ken, it wasn’t so long ago that he lost his mother.



When my mom was still alive…
We never really went out to eat much… So I never knew what it was like.
I guess my mom was really good at cooking.
When I eat stuff like box lunches from the store, it just tastes horrible…
……
I… never told my mom that she was a good cook.
> Ken mutters to himself…
…Oh, sorry. This is really good!
If you don’t mind… I’d like to come here with you again.
Um, that is, if you have time…
Make sure to be hungry then.
Huh? O-Oh, yes!
> Ken seems surprised…
> You feel that you’ve drawn slightly closer to Ken…

Family, huh…



Um, is it okay if I order something to drink?
Um… I’d like some milk…
Large, please.
> You and Ken finished your dinner and returned to the dorm…