Part 168: 11/13/09-11/14/09

11/13/09

The trip’s coming up, we’re all pretty excited.



Gossiping Student: I don’t care much about shrines, but I’m still excited about it!
Loud Student: Me too! I want to see deers, deers, and deers!
Gossiping Student: Just deers, eh…? Wait, you’re thinking of Nara…
> The first bell has rung.

We’re going with the seniors this year it seems.



First year students do not normally go on a trip, but for some reason the seniors have not gone on one either.
So this year, the juniors and seniors are going together.

Ryoji wanted to head out somewhere with me and against my better judgment I agreed.



If you want, we could go somewhere after this.
I want to spend time with you.
> Ryoji invited you out…
Wow, thanks!
> Ryoji seems happy.

Yeah so now I’ve managed to get a whole new subset of girls at school to hate me.



Ah, Mikako-chan.
Girl with Buns: Ooh, it’s Ryoji. Hey, are you going somewhere?
> Ryoji is suddenly surrounded by a swarm of girls…
Sorry, ladies, but I’ve already got plans for today. Maybe next time…
Girl with Buns: Whaaat? When’s “next time” gonna be?
Tell you what, I’ll make sure I see you in your dreams tonight.
Girl with Buns: * squeal * Awww!
> Ryoji charms his way through the throng of female students…
Ahaha, please! You’re all so cute; I can’t choose just one of you.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but I’ve already decided on my princess for today.
> Ryoji suddenly takes your hand.
> …The glares you receive from all around are physically painful.
Should I go?
Oh no, a princess needs an escort…
……
> Ryoji suddenly falls silent…

But, I was really surprised by what happened to be honest.



I’m not mad.
It’s just that…
I’m sorry. I feel like I shouldn’t be saying things like this to you.
> Ryoji looks dejected…
I want to be more sincere with you…
I wonder why…
> Ryoji tightens his grip on your hand…
> The other girls leave, throwing a few dark looks your way.
Oh… Sorry.
Aigis-san’s going to get angry again if she sees me holding your hand.
But… I wonder why.
For some reason, Aigis-san too…
I feel like I know her, and it’s on the tip of my brain… I just can’t remember it!
> Ryoji looks somewhat sad…
> You feel as if you’re seeing a different, less cheerful side to Ryoji…

He actually seemed sincere for once, I’m not really sure what to make of it.



Oh… I shouldn’t let myself get lost in thought while you’re with me.
Hey, can you show me around the city? I want to see all the places you like to go to.
> You and Ryoji spent time meandering around the city…

Junpei’s gone to talk with Chidori, I hope they make it through this.



Junpei-san doesn’t seem like his usual self…
So I wonder why he’s going to see Chidori-san…
Hmm… Maybe her Persona went out of control…

Yukari’s even more excited about the trip than the rest of us I think.



I just love Kyoto…

Oh and Ken made an awfully specific request of me.



…so please bring me back a souvenir.
Oh, and I’d prefer something other than a t-shirt or a key chain.
I hear they have really good namayatsuhashi there…

I guess I can try to pick some up for him. Mitsuru’s still down, unfortunately.



When she gets depressed, then Akihiko-senpai gets depressed, too.
I hope the school trip will cheer her up…

11/14/09

Well today was… interesting.



I’ll be teaching today because… Maybe it’s best you don’t know.
Anyway, it was a spur of the moment assignment, so I had to devise a lesson plan quickly…
And the first thing that came to mind was a seminar on practical magic.
For instance, breathing techniques.
Some people would say it doesn’t count, but breathing and magic are actually very closely related.
That’s because breathing affects more than your body… it influences the mind as well.
The ancient Greek word for breath was “pneuma,” and it was considered crucial in medical science of the day.
Pneuma later came to refer to kindly spirits of humans in Gnostic Christianity.
That was when breathing came to be recognized as playing a crucial role in magic.
There are many applications I could name. One’s breathing technique is an important factor in Yoga.
There also exists a procedure called Ibuki in Shinto that revolves around breathing.
From these examples, breathing techniques spread around the world through the influence of magic.
But back to practical matters… Let me show you something called Tan t’ien breathing.
Some say that Gautama Buddha himself practiced this method.
It’s a type of abdominal breathing in which you focus your energy on a point, called a tan t’ien…

I mean for one Edogawa’s lecture was actually like practical.



It’s about three finger-widths beneath the navel.
Why would such a place on your body be considered a special spot, and get a name like this?
It’s because the tan t’ien is where the most energy can be charged.
Notice how, if you send strength to the tan t’ien, you can’t feel strength anywhere else in your body…
Your tan t’ien absorbs your body’s strength, stabilizing the mind and the body.
Let’s try doing some tan t’ien breathing now.
If this is your first time, it may be a good idea to keep your hand on the tan t’ien to focus your consciousness.
Once you pinpoint your tan t’ien, take a few breaths.
Imagine that the air you pull into your body is centering on the tan t’ien…
Then, slowly and deeply, breathe through your nose.
Put some energy into your tan t’ien until you can feel it harden, then breathe out.
Repeat this process…
But know one thing.
If you’re doing it correctly, you shouldn’t be feeling any pain.
Simply breathing deeply, in and out, shouldn’t cause you pain.
If that happens, there’s something inhibiting your mind…
…Breathing methods work well in tandem with meditation, which is crucial for magicians.
It’s important not to believe that all you’re doing is breathing.
In truth, you can improve your physical fitness through breathing techniques.
That leads, in turn, to improvement in your psyche and astral self.
That’s it for today…

And I hear Mitsuru almost ditched Student Council.

Video- “Sorrow”

Watch

There you are… I’ve been looking for you.
…Oh, hello, Takeba.
It’s rare for you to miss a Student Council meeting.
I take it someone asked you to find me?
Well, yeah, even though I’m not a member.
…Sorry about that.
They seem pretty busy, with the class trip and all.
I bet you have your hands full, since it’s both for juniors and seniors…
Hmph… The class trip, huh…
Even if I went, I’d only spoil the fun…
You’re not thinking of skipping the trip, are you?
……
You can’t do that!
……?
…Ya know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you…
Is that so…?

Yukari said something about trying to give her a talking to but being interrupted by ‘that jerk’.



But, I know what it’s like to lose a father…
Takeba…
I decided that I should be more up front with you from now on…
……
Ah, there she is…
I’ve been looking everywhere for you.
Ryoji-kun…
* sigh * Why are you here…?
Huh…? Didn’t you come looking for Mitsuru-san too?
It’s the same for me. There was this guy who asked me to find her.
He said that if I didn’t, the class trip might get canceled.
Hidetoshi-kun… He’ll hit up anyone in arm’s reach for favors…
But, I’m the lucky one who found you, Mitsuru Kirijo…

She didn’t say who but I, um, think I have a good idea.



I know this one restaurant: it’s on the top floor of a 3-star hotel…
The view at night is almost as breathtaking as you.
…Huh?
Senpai! You better get back to the meeting!
I-I suppose so.
Takeba… Thank you for your concern.
…For now, I will attend to my duties.
Hey, she left without answering my question…
…”For now,” huh. I don’t like the sound of that…
Um, Yukari-san… How ‘bout you? Would you like to join me for dinner?
I know this place on Shirakawa Boulevard…
Ow!

But no clue what he said to Yukari to get him slapped so hard.



She didn’t like the location…? She didn’t like the idea…?
Mitsuru-san is going to be tough…

Oh yeah, Elizabeth asked me to find some kind of weird drink. I’ve got a lead but I’m not sure how to proceed at this point.



Female Student: Argh… How many drinks could I get with 10,000 yen?
…Yeah? What’s up?
You like drinks too, huh?
But all of yours are normal drinks…
That Kansai-only drink is so rare and awesome that everyone wants a sip!
> She doesn’t seem interested in the drinks you can buy here…

I’ll just have to keep my eyes open I guess. When I got back, Mitsuru had an announcement.



I will join you at Tartarus tonight.
…I apologize for worrying everyone.
Our only priority now is to do something about Tartarus.
…I will do my best.
Well, the school trip is next week, so that should be fun.
…But unfortunately, Amada and Koromaru will have to stay here.

We’re all glad to have her back.



I thought that it was simply an activity to experience, but it seems to be more complex than that.
What do you obtain when you go on a “trip”?
Memories.
Memories…
What do you benefit from gaining memories?
…It is very difficult.

So for the first time since that thing happened, we planned on returning to Tartarus.



It’s funny how everyone has these stereotypes of that place…

After all, if what Elizabeth told me was true we’d not even gotten close to the top.



She may not be worried…
…but that doesn’t mean I’m not worried.

And as long as there are Shadows in there, they’re a threat.



I sure am!
Well, I hope it will be a memorable trip.

Plus maybe she’ll feel better after beating the hell out of some Shadows.



Yukari-chan used to live in Kyoto.
Yeah, I knew that.
Maybe we can ask her to be our tour guide.
…Or would that be rude?

Oh yeah, on another topic Junpei needed some cheering up again.



I thought about asking the nurse if something was up, but I’m sure the staff doesn’t give a shit…
I… I’m gonna stop visiting her…
Don’t give up.
R-Really?
Yeah… you know, you’re right! I’m famous for never knowing when to quit!
I’m going to visit her whether she likes it or not!
> Junpei seems a bit relieved.

Even if she acts like it I doubt she’s actually unhappy to have someone care enough to visit her. So, we went to Tartarus and sure enough the former roof had radically changed.



The new area was pretty strange even for Tartarus.



The enemies are different, too.
I’ll scan ahead, but please give me some time.

Worked just the same way, though.



It’s on the 171st floor!
That’s still a ways away, but please be careful.

And yet another set of guardians awaited us.



We called it a night after beating them, since we were all a bit tired.



Boss Battle: Judgment Sword x 3
These guys use a bunch of lightning and slash stuff, so don’t bring Aigis or Yukari unless you’re me and have two Lightning Gloves from Thor. Since these things have stopped having weaknesses the strategies ironically are overall less complicated, just beat them up and don’t die.