Part 136: 9/29/09

9/29/09

Exciting day today. I decided to go help out Saori at the library, it’s been even harder for her since she came back.



…Hey, Aelita-chan? Would it be okay if I asked you to take care of the counter by yourself?
There aren’t many people here today…
And… It seems like nobody wants me to be checking their books out anyway, so…
I’ll go put the book returns back on the shelves.
Male Student’s Voice: Is she the one that was in the magazine…?
> You can hear several boys gossiping behind the shelves…
Male Student’s Voice: You hung out with her? …Seriously?
Another Male Student: She’ll do anything you ask. It’s like she can’t say no.
……
I’m going to go kick them out.
N-No, don’t. It’s not going to change anything.
I was a fool…
…Thanks, Aelita-chan. I’m really happy that you’re willing to stand up for someone like me…
> Saori smiles weakly…
Everything about that article is a lie…
All those things about me having sex and seducing boys and acting superior…

She was even worried I believed the crap in that article.



I believe you.
Thank you… As long as you understand, I don’t need anything else…
> Saori smiles weakly…
> …Even though she says she doesn’t care, is this really the truth?
> Being lied about, having nasty rumors spread about her, and now transferring to another school after all this…
> That seems like nothing more than confessing to all the lies being said…
Let’s clear these lies up.
Huh…? B-But how…?
Make them see the truth!
But, how can I do that to everyone…?
Announcement: …This is an announcement.
Takao Yamaguchi of class 1-E, we have found your lost property.
> The school announcements…?
That’s it!
Huh…?

I mean she’s already transferring out, what could they do to her at this point?



The broadcast… B-But I can’t do that…
You can do it!
Aelita-chan…
I…
I don’t want people to think the wrong things about me…
I want them all to be my friends…
I… always thought that…
……
If you’ll be by my side…
Then I’ll do it…
> Saori looks like she’s about to cry…

Okay so yeah this was a crazy plan, she thinks she couldn’t have done it without me but it’s just as much the other way.



My heart’s pounding… Look, my hands are cold…
> Saori’s hands are as frigid as ice…
> You clasp her hand tightly…
Aelita-chan… I’ll… do my best.
I need to do this… Running away won’t help…
> Saori seems to be trying to encourage herself…
I didn’t know that speaking from the heart was this terrifying…
…But I remember something.
“It feels good when your feelings match your words…”
I’ve heard that before, but never believed it…
You’re the one who made me feel that way before…
But I’m going to do this, because you believe in me.
> Saori grips your hand tightly…

I’m going to be honest my only regret is that I didn’t have a camera ready to take a picture of that prick Ekoda’s face when he came running up.



> Saori went into the broadcast room…
> …Eventually, you begin to hear Saori’s voice over the intercom.
Saori’s Broadcast: This is Saori Hasegawa of class 2-C. There’s something I’d like to say.
Everything in that magazine article is a lie. I never said anything to a journalist.
That picture is of me.
I didn’t know how it would be used, and I deeply regret not considering that when I agreed to let it be taken.
Yelling Voice: Hey, Hasegawa!
> Teachers are running your way…
Are you part of this, Tolstoy!?
How disrespectful do you have to be to hijack the school broadcast to pull a stunt like this!?
Hasegawa! Stop this at once!
> Mr. Ekoda moves towards the door to the broadcast room…
> …but you nonchalantly get in his way.
Tolstoy…
Now, look how wonderful Ms. Toriumi’s students are!
…What?
Ms. Ounishi, isn’t Hasegawa one of your students? Her behavior must be caused by your teaching ability.

That snake knew all along that she hadn’t done anything wrong, and still let her take the fall for it. The man should be fired, like with actual fire.



Don’t you start pulling reason on me! Ugh, you science majors…
What?
> The broadcast continues…
Saori’s Broadcast: I love this school.
The teachers are kind but strict, and I have a friend who believes in me…
I’m very sorry that I caused all of you, students and faculty, any trouble.
I really am sorry… From the bottom of my heart…
> Saori’s voice trembles…
……
Male Student’s Voice: What’s with this announcement? Is this going out all over?
Female Student’s Voice: Maybe Saori-san joined the drama club.
> People are gathering around the broadcast room…
E-Everyone, get lost!
Everybody, if you stay here I’m going to begin handing out homework!
> This single comment causes the students to flee in moments…
Ah…
> Saori comes out of the broadcast room…

Anyway I wasn’t going to let Saori take the blame for this whole thing, if I had to get expelled or whatever to draw attention to this farce it would be worth it.



You wanted to prove your innocence, didn’t you?
…Yes.
Everyone’s said so many terrible things about me… but I’ve never done anything wrong.
…But, was this the correct way to go about it?
……
It was my idea.
Aelita-chan, shhh!
That makes this our problem. Mr. Ekoda, leave these students to us.
Wh-What?
Aren’t you the one going on every day about how I should be taking on more duties as a teacher?
Hrrgh…
…I-I’d better see a report about this when it’s over!
> Mr. Ekoda leaves…

But it seems I’m not the only one who enjoyed seeing Ekoda so pissed.



Tolstoy-san, write up a report about this for us.
Something about how we all sat down, we should have given this more thought, blah blah blah. …Or should I do it?
You seem to be letting her off rather easily.
You don’t plan to punish Hasegawa-san, do you, Ms. Ounishi?
What she did made me feel a lot better too.
I don’t know how many times I’ve reprimanded my students for gossiping, but they just wouldn’t listen.
It must have taken guts to stand up for yourself like this.
Oh… yes. But it’s because Aelita-chan was with me…
See, all it takes is a good friend.
Yes, yes, you’re the best teacher in the universe, Ms. Toriumi.
…Well then, you’re free to go. I don’t even want an essay out of you.
Th-Thank you very much.
> You walked home with Saori, who was laughing cheerfully…

So yeah, I need to write this report up on how we totally revealed the truth about that article, but there was one little thing I had to do first…



…You’re looking for something? Now that’s up my alley. Tell me what you’re looking for.
An old pocket watch…?
…Haha, today has to be your lucky day, then.
Is this it?
> Obtained Old Pocketwatch from Officer Kuroasawa!
If you’d come any later, I would’ve sold it to somebody else.
…I’m joking.

It’s a bit late tonight, I’ll give it to him tomorrow.