Part 151: 10/22/09

10/22/09

Less than two weeks until it’s all over, hopefully.



Everyone knows what tofu is, right?
It’s a high-protein health food made of soybeans.
Soy sauce is another food that’s obviously made from soybeans.
Now… Aelita.
Natto comes from soybeans, too, but how is it made?
By fermenting them.
Right.
Natto is fermented, which is why it’s sticky.
It’s a Japanese food, but even here, a handful of people can’t stand the taste of it…

I think those last exams actually woke Junpei up a bit, because he asked me to help him study. Crazy, right?



Do you have some time? I need someone to help me study…
> Junpei looks a little embarrassed…
Oh, really? Then let’s stop by somewhere.
> Junpei seems happy.

We headed down to the library, since we might as well do this the right way.



Ask me anything.
Awesome! Seriously, I don’t even know what I don’t know anymore.
> Junpei clutches his head…
I’ve been avoiding math ever since I started going here.
All this “vector” and “trigonometric ratio” stuff sounds like magic to me…
> Junpei looks fed up…
Alright, I’m gonna do this today! I’m gonna overcome my fear of math!
You’re on fire!
Just watch me get through this! …And help me out once in a while!
> Junpei dives into his homework with a great show of confidence…
So the circle inside triangle ABC where AB equals AC is…
……
> Surprisingly, Junpei is actually taking his homework seriously.
> You helped Junpei as much as you could and waited for him to finish…

If he’d just put the work in Junpei’s actually pretty smart, he really sells himself short.



…Huh? Am I done?
Whoohoo! I did it! I got through all of it!
Librarian Student: Shhh!
Oh, s-sorry…
……
Haha!
You actually did it.
I’ve finally unleashed my true potential! You’re my witness!
> Junpei seems happy…
I was… thinking about really trying hard for once.
I always thought that stuff like math would never help me in the future…
But, I noticed that it might be important, even if you never use it.
It’s like… how do I put it… What matter is how you put your time to use.
I don’t think I can start lecturing you on how to live your life or anything…
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with just doing what feels good in the moment…
But in the end, it doesn’t satisfy me, and it bothers me even more.
Yeah… I guess I’ve just got anxiety or something.
……
But I think I figured it out recently.

I mean he’s still really, you know, Junpei, but it feels like he’s grown up just a bit.



…As long as I’m with you and everyone else.
I guess… f-friends are important, after all…
I think I understand.
R-Really?
…I totall thought you were gonna start laughing at me. Heheh…
> Junpei seems a little embarrassed…
You’re always doing your best, all the time. It made me want to act like that.
I mean, you study, you’re in clubs… Aren’t you in the student council, too?
…I think that’s amazing.
> It’s rare for Junpei to sincerely praise anyone like this…
> After hearing what he thinks about you, you feel closer to him…

If this is what seeing that girl Chidori all the time has done, then I’m really glad he met her even if she is pretty out there and part of Strega. Oh, and this was about where we got interrupted by an unexpected visitor.



So…
…?
Hey, that guy over there… Is he a friend of yours?
…Huh? He hid.
> You turn around, but there’s no one there…
He was looking your way. Looked like he was holding something…
…A camera!?
> Junpei jumps to his feet!
I’m coming too!
Huh? It’s okay, you stay here!
Oh…
He got away…
Uhh…
Well, I’ve seen his face, so it’s okay. You just leave him to me.
Make sure you get him good.
Huh? Oh yeah, leave it to me.
…But, violence isn’t always the answer, missy.
> Junpei shrugs…

I can’t say I’m happy to know the creep who’s stalking me is still at it.



Sorry to keep you here so late…
…Try not to go home by yourself from now on, okay?
> You and Junpei returned to the dorm together.

Speaking of not going home alone, I think I can manage that.



When I train, I pretend someone’s watching me.
That seems to get me motivated.

Anyway we do need to make sure we’re ready, things are going to get ugly soon.



When cornered, an enemy will fight at its fiercest… This is a basic premise of warfare.
Only one Shadow remains…
I am sure that this will be the toughest battle of all.
Please make sure you are prepared for it.

Ken was looking hungry so I took him to dinner. It’s like the kid’s not eating right or something, kind of worried.



> Ken is demolishing his Calcium Meal…
> …?
> You see something black on Ken’s wrist…
Yes? What is it?
…Oh.
> Ken’s face turns bright red…
Indian ink…
Um, from calligraphy class…
> Ken rubs at the ink on his wrist…
Don’t worry about it so much.
But… I hate being dirty.
> Ken speaks in a voice barely above a whisper…
I forgot that I had homework…
It was to write the name of something that I like…
But I couldn’t think of anything…
……
Did you not write anything?

I mean it’s not his fault his life’s been a train wreck so it’s not really a surprise he’s so… whatever he is. Not even sure what to call it.



……
…I wrote “omelette and fried rice.”
> Ken turns bright red…
> It would appear that Ken likes omelette and fried rice.
> Maybe you should make it for him sometime…
> You suggest that to him.
Huh…?
Y-You don’t have to!
> Ken sounds embarrassed, but he looks happy…
Um…
You really are nice, Aelita-san…
…Everyone else is, too.
Yukari-san bought me some ice cream the other day…
She said that she wanted to have some.
…But she didn’t buy any for herself.
Junpei-san always gives me the toy that comes with the candy he buys.
Even though he only gets a piece of gum…
He says that he likes the gum better than the toy, but that can’t be true…
…Everyone is so nice.
> Ken smiles…

Kid is just weird, like all the rest of us I guess.



That goes for you too, Aelita-san…
> Ken suddenly looks like he’s ready to burst into tears…
That’s just how I am.
Then… You don’t act like that because you think I need it?
……
> Ken looks even more as if he’s about to cry…
……
Six years…
We’re only six years apart.
……
Six years… between you and me.
> Ken sighs softly…
> You feel that you’ve grown closer to seeing Ken’s true feelings…

Well, that and I’m kind of worried he’s got some crush on me or something.



Um, there’s something I’d like to ask you…
……
Oh, actually… Never mind.
…Never mind!
> You and Ken finished your dinner and returned to the dorm together.

I mean nice kid and all but that’s kinda creepy.