Part 132: 9/25/09

9/25/09

It’s not just us noticing how bad Apathy Syndrome’s been getting recently.



Loud Student: No, it’s not just you… They’re definitely on the rise.
Gossiping Student: It’s all over the news, too. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable…
Loud Student: What if it started happening all over the world…?
Gossiping Student: H-Hey, don’t say stuff like that…

I decided to head down to the strip mall for a bit with Yukari.



Ramen, beef bowl…
……
This place is full of fattening stuff!
Ugh! It’s getting to the point that I’m starting to feel a bit…
I think I’m gonna buy that DVD that helps you lose weight while dancing!
Have you heard about it? I’ve heard that it’s on top of the sales charts right now.
Oh, but do you think people downstairs will hear? I think you have to jump around and stuff…
> Yukari is looking your way as she talks to you…
> …?
> A car comes speeding down the road as Yukari steps into the street!

We really have the worst luck, I’m kind of worried a meteor’s going to fall on us next time we hang out.



Eek!
> The car sped off…
Ah…
Th…anks…
……
That was scary…
I was scared, too.
Yeah…
> Yukari still seems stunned…
Oh… Aelita, you’re hurt…
> You skinned your palm slightly when you fell down…
Why…
Why’d you help me!?
…What were you gonna do if you died!?
So it’s okay if you die!?
That’s not what I meant!
I mean… I mean, you’re… you’re our leader!
……

I understand how she feels but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone I care about get hurt when I can do anything about it.



I’m tired of all this! I’m sick of all the people around me dying!
> Yukari looks like she’s about to cry…
> You sensed affection from Yukari…

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all safe.



Sorry… You saved me too…
Haha, I keep bombarding you with all this personal stuff all the time.
……
Sorry, I’m a little confused…
Haha, I’m a kid, aren’t I…
……
I’m… gonna head back…
Sorry…
> Yukari ran off…
> You decide to go back to the dorm…

At this point the hysteria over Apathy Syndrome is pretty much self-sustaining.



Newscaster: The customer insisted that he had Apathy Syndrome, preventing him from returning the videos on time…
But the owner refused to give in, saying their policy did not allow for any excuses.
Despite the customer’s frustration, the dispute was resolved to both men’s satisfaction when…

Oh, and at least now I know what’s been eating up Shinjiro the past few days.



…It’s just, I feel uncomfortable…
Did something happen?
It’s nothing like that, but…
> Shinjiro seems hesitant to explain himself…
> In any case, you decide to go outside with him.

He’s not used to everyone paying attention to him.



Sorry. …Those guys keep yapping at me.
Those guys?
……
You remember how I cooked for them the other day?
They keep going on and on about how delicious it was and how I should do it again…
Aki keeps pushing these requests on me, Fuuka’s throwing cookbooks at me…
And whenever I walk past the kitchen, they all stare at me like they’re just waiting for me to do something…
> Shinjiro shrugs…
I have my hopes up, too.
Hey, don’t look at me like that. Haha…
Well… I’m glad they liked it.
> Shinjiro relaxes and laughs…
Do you think it’s funny that I did that? You think it isn’t like me?
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having good memories to grow up with.
We’ve got two kids at the dorm, anyway. One big one, and one tiny one…
……

He’s worked really hard to be alone, though I don’t know why.



Definitely!
Haha, good to hear.
> Shinjiro laughs…
Making memories is important.
People can go on as long as they have good things to look back on…
They’ll be able to go on without being led astray…
> Shinjiro mutters quietly…
You know, you…
……
Shouldn’t you be doing something else?
You shouldn’t be with me like this…
Don’t you… have more fun things to do?
It’s fun being with you.
Well… all right, then.
> Shinjiro seems a little embarrassed…
> You can feel Shinjiro’s thoughtfulness towards you, clumsy as it may be…
> You feel like your bond with Shinjiro has grown stronger…

I’m not sure I care, either, because I’m going to work just as hard to make sure he isn’t.



Might as well stop by somewhere, since we’re already out.
…You want some ice cream from the convenience store? My treat.
> You and Shinjiro walked around before heading back to the dorm…