Part 119: 9/10/09

9/10/09

Junpei’s so stuck on Chidori that he’s not been paying much attention in class.



Etiquette demands that we say a specific phrase both before we eat, and after we eat.
What do we say after we eat?
Junpei, you should know this.
Huh…? Me?
H-Hey, Aelita, what was the question?
Gochisou-sama.
Correct! We say “gochisou-sama” to thank the one who provided the food.
It’s similar to the Christian blessing before a meal.
Last time, my darling…
Phew… Thanks, Aelita.

But he actually seems pretty happy for once.

Video- “Medea Unbound”

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> Mitsuru, Akihiko, and Junpei are here…
Yo, Chidorita!
…Don’t call me that.
C’mon, cheer up…
I brought you a new sketchbook. I thought your old one might be getting full.
That wasn’t necessary, Junpei.
Heheh, you said my name… I was worried I’d never hear that again.
……
……
…Any luck?
> Shinjiro entered the room…
She finally started talking.
But, nothing useful yet.
Well, that’s a start.
So… Why are YOU here?
Ugh…!!

I heard something really strange happened while they were at the hospital, though. Something about her Persona trying to kill her?



Ugh… Agh…
> Chidori is clutching at her throat in pain…
I get the feeling there’s something in here!
Is it an enemy!?
Wrong! Get out of the way!
> Shinjiro ran up to Chidori and forced medicine down her throat…
* gasp * * gasp *
Chidori!
Relax… her Persona just went berserk. It happens.
It… happens?
Were you guys not watching at all? You could see for a second that her Persona was strangling her.
They’re not like us. They can’t full control their Personas.
That’s why they need to take suppressants… to keep their Personas from killing them…
Suppressants…?
…You know about Strega?
You’d be surprised what you can learn on the streets.
I’ll give the doc the right pills. …The rest is up to you.
Shinji, wait!
Hey!!

Still, she’s okay I think.



…Junpei?
Th-Thank God…! I thought you might be…
Why do you look so scared?
Death is nothing to be afraid of…
What are you saying…?
Dying just means you don’t wake up anymore… that’s all.
Wh-What!? You don’t really mean that, do you?
…Junpei?
I-I don’t want you to die, Chidori!
Junpei…
Just because you’re not afraid doesn’t mean no one else is…
Did you ever think about how I might feel!?
Haha…
You’re so weird, Junpei…
Ha… Look who’s talkin’…

I hear Akihiko and Shinjiro had a fight over something that happened there.



……
What the hell’s going on…?
Why did you have those pills!?
……
I’ve heard about those…
…They’re taken to suppress a Persona when the user can’t control it.
But, the side-effects…
……
You’re not taking them, are you?
……
Answer me!
I don’t owe you anything.
Tch. The same as always…
Save it. I’ve heard it all before.
You think I’m wasting my power… but you’re just too thickheaded.
I’m tired of your damn preaching.

I wonder how many times Akihiko’s had to punch him in the face.



Ow…
Don’t you get it?
You know the reason…
Ten years ago. My sister. The fire.
I wasn’t strong enough to save her. They held me back, while she…
……
That’s why I try so hard…
We promised, remember? To become strong enough to do what we think is right…
So, why the drugs?
Why didn’t you come talk to me…?
I’m back in the fight now…
So let it go.
* sigh *
……
…And the side effects?
……
There’s something I need to take care of.
It’s something only I can do.
…Like what?
Listen, don’t worry about me.
Just do what you think is right.
Shinji…

I think Fuuka’s been working hard over the summer on her cooking.



Um… I-I don’t want you to watch, so could you make something different?
I’m sure that you’ll be able to make anything with your cooking skills, Aelita-chan.
> You should try making one of the sweets you’ve made previously…
> You decided to make Banana Cupcakes.
> They came out pretty well.
> Obtained Banana Cupcake x 2.
> …?
> …Fuuka is working intently on something at a desk away from you…
Done!
Here, look, Aelita-chan.
> Fuuka presented you with something that looks round…
> It seems to be a rice ball made with flavored rice.
> It smells good… You decide to try eating it.
> It’s edible…
> The combination of ingredients and flavors is good, too…
> Actually, it tastes delicious.

I’m so happy for her that she’s found a way that works for her.



It’s delicious!
…Really? I-I’m so glad…
…I finally got you to say that.
> Fuuka is happy.
I thought that there would be no way I could mess up making a rice ball, so I did a lot of research.
The more I looked into things like what salt, seaweed to use, I got more and more into it…
I got so excited when I was doing my research, and even more excited when I was making them now.
…I think the most important thing is the feeling of wanting others to enjoy what you make…
I think because of that, I was able to make this taste good.
I wonder if this is what they mean when they say “cooking requires love”.
…I’m so glad that you like it, Aelita-chan.
> Fuuka lets out a heartfelt laugh…
> You feel like you’ve gotten even closer to Fuuka…

She was feeling pretty down when everything was turning out wrong.



I’ll make something that’s even better next time.
All right, I’m gonna keep trying harder!
> You cleaned up the room with Fuuka and headed back to the dorm…

It seems the next barricade in Tartarus has broken down.



Hello? This is Elizabeth.
I’m calling to inform you of a change in Tartarus…
I believe a path that was blocked is now open…
I thought you would like to know.
…I wish you a safe journey.
> The call ended.

I guess they’ve given up on trying to get answers out of Chidori for the moment.



…I will allow Iori to take care of that girl for the time being.
It’s not the right time to be bombarding her with questions.
Besides, we still have three Shadows to contend with.
We should be able to accomplish that within the next few months, unless the situation changes.
Don’t let your guard down until the very end.

She’s not been very helpful and I kind of doubt we’ll ever get much from her.



Chidori hates us…
Well, I guess she doesn’t hate ALL of us.

Mitsuru’s worried about something, I’m not totally sure what but it has to do with what happened earlier.



……

Koro-chan wants us to get him some different food, I’ll take it under advisement.



He is tired of eating the same food day after day.
I recommend you change Koromaru-san’s menu.
I’ll think about it.
Koromaru-san seems happy to hear that. Thank you.
Arf! Arf!

Junpei’s worried he said something weird I guess but what he told me didn’t sound that bad.



…someone tells me they want to die. So I tell this person I don’t want her to die.
How does that sound? Is it awkward?
No, not really.
Oh, that’s good to hear.

I think Ken’s been a bit down so I took him to go get some dinner out.



……
> Ken begins eating the sweet-and-sour pork he had ordered…
> He carefully pushes the bell peppers aside to reach the meat…
You shouldn’t be a picky eater.
Huh…?
……
Oh, sorry…
The way you said that… reminded me of my mom.
> Ken laughs feebly…
> ……
> Ken seems somewhat uncomfortable…
> Should you talk to him about something…?
How’s school?
Um… It’s okay.
I do all right on my tests, and I have people to talk to…
…It’s nothing out of the ordinary.
> Ken sounds indifferent.
> ……

I don’t know why he thinks he has to grow up so damned fast.



What’s popular at your school?
Umm… I think they play games…
Also… I guess there’s a television show called Featherman R that they like.
…It’s an action program.
Last week, Hawk snuck into the enemy base and planted a missile guidance system…
But, the launch switch fell into enemy hands, so Swan proposed a battle of riddles…
> Ken’s eyes sparkle…
…Uhh, um.
…That’s just what I heard happened.
I-I kind of… like action stuff.
…The movie was fun to watch.
> Ken falls quiet and begins eating again…

I don’t know why he’s embarrassed about watching Featherman, because the reboot they started this year is really great.



I like action shows too.
Huh…? R-Really!?
B-But, you’re an adult… and a girl… So…
> Ken seems very surprised…
…Oh, it’s going to get cold.
> Ken begins eating to his heart’s content again…
> You feel like you understand Ken a little more now…

I mean girls can like watching a bunch of fighting dudes and rubber suits too.



…Can I leave the bell peppers?
> You finished your dinner with Ken and returned to the dorm together.