Part 126: 9/17/09

9/17/09

Looks like this typhoon is really going to hit us.



Gossiping Student: I heard there’s a nasty typhoon on the way. You think we’ll still have the Culture Festival on Saturday?
Loud Student: Nah, I don’t think so. The way they’re talking, the typhoon’s going to be way too destructive.
Gossiping Student: That’s not good. I hope Japan doesn’t become an undersea country…
> The first bell has rung.

Anyway Fuuka and I hung out for a bit, she decided to just watch me for today.



I think I’ll learn some things by watching you cook.
Have you decided what you’re going to make today?
Chocolate Truffle.
> You decided to make Chocolate Truffles.
> They came out pretty well.
> Obtained Chocolate Truffle x 2.
Wow…
You even washed the utensils while you were cooking. It’s like you have extra hands or something…
Oh, I should write that down too…
“Aelita-chan has a lot of hands”…

That notebook of hers is pretty crazy.



> The pages are filled with small letters…
Oh… It’s kinda embarrassing to show this.
I took notes on everything you did. All the steps you took to prepare the ingredients.
…I think I’m good at observing and analyzing things.
So I thought that it might work if I attempted cooking from an angle that I’m good at.
Up until now, all I did was try harder.
But saying that I’ll try harder each time is tiring. I’m not actually putting any thought into it…
That’s why… I’ve stopped thinking of attacking everything with that mindset…
And I’ve begun trying to find ways that I can do the things I’m not good at…
When I began to think of it that way, it felt much better and I started enjoying what I was doing.
I needed to understand the situation, instead of just being overwhelmed by trying to do my best…
So, I hope that by taking notes, I’ll be more likely to succeed.
I couldn’t accept the bad parts of me this whole time.
But you saw all the things that were bad about me while you were here cooking with me…
And you always encouraged me even when I messed up…
That’s why… I thought I should also try to like myself for who I am.
> Fuuka is smiling gently…
> You feel like you’ve grown even closer to Fuuka…

But if that works for her, then I’m happy.



Oh, it’s almost time for us to leave.
Next time, I’ll make something too.
I’ll do my best!
…Oh, umm… I’ll do what I can, and try my best later!
> You cleaned up the room together and headed back to the dorm…

Aigis seems sure this typhoon is going to hit us, and I trust her with things like that.



We must secure the dormitory windows and seal any areas that are prone to leaking.

These workout things on TV are pretty weird.



Fitness Expert: “Kehhei” means “I’m mad now!” A full train makes you seriously “Kehhei!”
That’s all for this week! Back to the news!

Elizabeth had asked for some kind of fruit knife, and it turned out Shinjiro had something like that.



What for?
……
Are you gonna cook with it…?
Here, I’ll get you one.
There you go.
It’s kinda old, but it has a great grip.
…Well? Take it.
> Obtained Fruit Knife.

I… kind of can’t believe he gave me something like this, though.



That sharp, shining knife… This is the knife I asked for!
It’s… incredible.
It seems as though it’s been in use for a long time, but it’s almost as sharp as the day it was made…
And I would bet it could cut many things, not just fruit.
It has a variety of uses… you can cut things, open cans, peel vegetables…
It’s an all-purpose cooking tool.
What’s this…? There’s something written on the handle… It’s a bit hard to read, but let’s see…
“Graduation… gift… orphanage…”
…Oh my. It seems that this was very important to its owner.
You have completed my request, but I cannot take this. Please keep it.
Please accept your reward.
> Obtained Guillotine Axe.

I decided to grab some dinner with Ken.



> Ken gulps down his fried chicken combo…
I’ve been wondering about this for a while now, but the rice here is always a little dry.
Oh… Could it be because we always come here so late?
If the rice was cooked around noon, I guess there’s nothing to be done about it…
Want to come earlier next time?
Th-That’s all right!
Oh, um, what I mean is… I’m just being shy.
……
I mean, you should be, um…
You should be going out and doing fun stuff with your friends, not spending time with me…
I’m just happy if you have dinner with me like this once in a while…
> Ken blushes slightly…
Oh, what was that…?
There’s something that you put in that makes rice taste better when you cook it…
Honey?
Ah, that’s it!
It’s so strange that honey makes rice taste better.
> Ken’s eyes sparkle…

I still don’t really get what his deal is though.



It supposedly means that careful preparation makes for better results.
And, staying true to the basics is what’s most important.
Did your mom teach you that?
Oh, no…
Um… It’s from a manga.
> Ken seems embarrassed…
You… don’t read mangas, right?
I read them.
Huh? Really?
B-But, aren’t you an adult?
And you’re a girl, too…
I just can’t stop reading them…
* chuckle *
I didn’t know you were like that, Aelita-san.
Um… I thought that you were a very strong person, so…
…Ahaha.
> Ken seems happy…

It’s like he’s afraid to just be a kid.



Um, there’s this really cool manga published in this monthly magazine…
The main character’s an alien, and he takes on the shapes of people and animals to fight the bad guys…
There’s all these explosions and the battles are really intense. Like, mountains blow up and maps change.
And then, there was this village that was flooded by a dam that was built, and the dam got blown up…
And when the water went away, someone was alive in there, but the story ended before you know if it was a bad guy…
And, and, the hero is really cool and strong! He can defeat his enemies in a single—
…Ah.
> Ken suddenly falls silent…
C’mon, tell me more.
Um, well…
> Ken turns slightly pale…
I… shouldn’t read stuff like that, huh?
……
It’s stupid…
That’s not true.
……
> Ken sits silently…
> …You decide to wait for Ken to speak up.
Oh… Thanks for the food.
Thank you very much… for coming here with me tonight.
> Ken tries to smile…
> You feel like you understand Ken slightly better now…

Not sure I’ll ever really get him if he doesn’t open up.



Aelita-san, why do you…
……
No… It’s nothing.
> You finished your dinner with Ken and returned to the dorm together.