Part 125: 9/16/09

9/16/09

I heard a rumor earlier that was kind of crazy.



Gossiping Student: Yukari is going to dress up as a maid for a café in the Culture Festival!
Loud Student: Wait, are you serious!? Why? What happened?
Gossiping Student: She drew the short straw in the Archery Club!
She’s gonna be pissed, but that’s all the more reason to check out the café!
> The first bell has rung.

I was going to ask her about it but I couldn’t find her anywhere. Eventually I decided to go down to the bookstore and make sure Bunkichi was okay.



> The old man inside the store seems to be doing well…
> You’re glad that you were able to rescue him…
> You decide to spend some time after school at the bookstore.

Turns out he was doing better than okay.



…Please… wait a while longer.
…Even if the tree is gone… you’ll still live on… inside us…
> Bunkichi is sleep talking.

They managed to resolve the whole tree thing, and not the way I’d expected.



…Oh, Aelita-chan, you’re here? You could’ve just woken me up…
Or did you just want to watch me while I was asleep?
Oof.
I feel relieved now, probably because the problem has been solved.
Even though it’s the middle of the day, I feel so sleepy…
Why are you relieved?
…Since Mitsuko is here too, I think it’s time we told you.
Aelita-chan, we sent a letter to Gekkoukan.
…I told them to cut the persimmon tree down.
Are you sure?
I thought you’d be more surprised… Well, I guess I needn’t have worried.
> Bunkichi seems happy.
Sorry that we did it without asking you.
…Recently, I went to visit the persimmon tree, and I met a student on my way back.
He told me that the school is planning to build a new addition.
It would be selfish of an old man like me to deprive those young people of new learning opportunities…
Helping those kids is more important than hanging on to his memory.

Still, they made the right choice I think.



You’re right.
We’re hoping, as we believe our son in heaven is too, that more kind students like you, Aelita-chan, will graduate from Gekkoukan.
…Please take this.
It’s the first fruit produced by the persimmon tree. …It’s a little rough around the edges, like our son…
Mitsuko is the one who suggested we give it to you, Aelita-chan.
> Obtained Persimmon Fruit!
> This must be something very important to them…
> You feel the old couple’s great appreciation…

I’m glad they’re happy with how this all turned out.



And hopefully now he won’t have a reason to be too close to Tartarus when the Dark Hour comes.



…Now, we have to cheer up and get on with our lives! We’re too old to waste a single day!
Our son would want us to be happy… I’m sure he’s smiling down on us from heaven.
It’s difficult having such a well-respected son.
…Oh, does it sound like I’m boasting?
> You talked with the old couple until sunset.
> After saying goodbye to Bunkichi and Mitsuko, you decided to go back to the dorm.

I ended up swinging by the mall on the way home, Shinjiro called me and asked me to pick him something up.



Yes, please!
Woman: Very well…
The golden sky spreads outside the window… A girl, holding a world of white in her slender arms…
A boy struggles, searching to find meaning in himself and the girl…
But the conclusion has not yet been written… It is entrusted to the girl and her white world…
You must stand firmly, and watch things unfold…
Farewell, then… May your future be bright…

Oh, and according to Yukari that rumor I’d heard earlier was entirely accurate.



Why me!? It’s just not right!
I’m sorry…
I’m so embarrassed! I feel like running away!

She could still get lucky I guess if this typhoon hits us.



I’m not sure if it’s going to hit us or not, though…

Ken’s being weird again.



I probably wouldn’t have gone to it anyway.
I really don’t feel like being around a lot of people right now.

Anyway it turned out Shinjiro was ready to do the party we had planned!



You better not go anywhere, all right? Just be patient and wait about an hour.
…Tell the other guys that, too.
…What’re you making?
Dinner. You’re gonna eat too, right?
> It seems that Shinjiro really is going to make dinner for everyone today.
> Shinjiro calls for Fuuka, and they both go into the kitchen…
> …You decide to watch.
I’ve already got everything ready beforehand, like I taught you to do last time.
You remember what to do from here?
Yes! Um… I need to put oil in the frying pan!
That’s right… Wait, what’re you doing with the cooking wine?
I said olive oil. It’s over here.
Umm, four tablespoons of oil… Right?
Put that ladle away! Haven’t you ever seen a measuring spoon before!?
Ohhh… So that’s what this thing is.

Fuuka was kind of more a hindrance than a help but she’s trying so hard.



> Shinjiro is skillfully cooking something while teaching Fuuka to make a different dish at the same time…
I’ll help, too.
Nah, stay put. It’s way too crowded over here. ‘Sides, we’re trying to keep it a secret.
> Shinjiro is laughing…
I-I’m sorry, Aelita-chan. If only I was better at cooking…
Just hush up and watch what you’re doing. A piece of eggshell just fell in there.
Huh? Oh, you’re right. It’s amazing that you noticed that, Senpai.
C’mon, I said to keep the egg white. Why is the yolk all by itself in the bowl?
Huh? When did that happen…?
Man, something smells good. …Huh? Is that you cooking, Fuuka?
H-He’s teaching me right now!
……
Koromaru-san seems to be very anxious.
> The others also heard the fuss and came downstairs…

Fortunately everyone was still in.



So Shinji’s cooking…
…Will there be any leftovers?
Can’t you tell?
…You’re supposed to be a good friend and make larger servings when you cook in front of lots of people.
You’re supposed to no be an idiot. Look, there’s obviously more than twelve servings here.
Huh!?
Do you mean…?
There’s enough for everyone.
Shinji…!
Shut up and siddown…
Woof!
He says that he is already seated.
> Everyone couldn’t wait for the food, so they continued talking about the upcoming dinner while the two cooked…
> From time to time, Shinjiro would yell at you to all stop talking.
> Fuuka continued doing things in the kitchen…
> Two hours later…

I still can’t believe the spread they made.



Whoa… Is this some kind of party?
> Plates of various colors and sizes are all over the table…
> Tomato pasta, sweet-and-sour pork, fried chicken, paella, omelette with fried rice, and more…
Is Mitsuru-senpai in her room? I’ll go get her!
Oh… and, Aki.
…Go get Ken, too. It’s a little late, but he’s probably still up…
…Got it.
I don’t know how to make even one of these dishes…
On top of that, they’re all made from scratch, too…
What’s the matter? Why are you all gathered together all of a sudden…?
> Mitsuru and Ken came down as well…
What’s… this all about? Did someone call a chef?
Huh? Did Shinjiro-san make this?
……
…Everyone, sit.
Yessir!
Now, pick up your chopsticks…
Roger that!
…And dig in.
Yes!

It’s a good thing there was so much food, honestly.



> Everyone immediately started eating before Akihiko could even finish his sentence.
> …It’s delicious!
> …They’re all delicious!
Oh man, I’m in heaven…
Th-This…! It’s a portal to the delicious dimension!
…What does that even mean?
* munch munch * * cough cough *
H-Here’s some water!
…Huh? Aren’t you going to eat, Ken-kun?
Oh… I-I’ll have something.
…Thanks for the food…
…Yeah.
> You all chatted your way through dinner and ate until you felt like you would burst…
> After everyone cleaned up…
> You and Shinjiro sat in the empty lounge and had some tea…

But I think everything went really well.



> Shinjiro laughs quietly for some reason…
It was a lot of fun.
Haha, is that so…
> Shinjiro laughs…
If you hadn’t brought up the idea, I probably never would’ve done something like this.
It was so simple, and all I had to do was do it…
> Shinjiro mutters to himself…
> Could this mean that… you gave him the courage to go through with this?
> You somehow feel that you’re slowly getting closer to Shinjiro’s inner feelings…

It’s funny to think of Shinjiro being afraid of anything, but somehow I think he was.



* cough cough *
* sigh * Today really tired me out. I’m gonna go to bed.
You should head off to bed soon, too. …’Night.
> You said goodnight to Shinjiro before heading to your room…

If so, I’m glad he got over it.