Part 200: 1/3/10

1/3/10

I need to call up Tanaka and get a cut of his action, if he's going to profit from the apocalypse I'm responsible for I should get a piece.



> An irritatingly catchy song comes from the speakers…
Singers: Here comes Tanakaaaaa
Over the airwaves to youuuuu
> The home shopping show is evidently about to start.
Today's item iiiiiss…!
You won't be safe without this! Four "Salvation Bades"--one for every member of the household!
But wait!
We'll also provide a set of four "Disaster-Proof Backpacks"! Now, how much would you pay?
You may be surprised to learn that it's only 29,800 yen! Await the apocalypse with no worries!
Ohh… What's this? I'm hearing sad voices! I'm hearing the phones ringing off the hook!
We're already completely sold out! One hundred percent! Sorry folks, but when it's gone, it's gone!
We'll see you next Sunday, same time, same channel!
> The hideously catchy song begins to play…
Singers: Here comes Tanakaaaaa
Over the airwaves to youuuuu
> The shopping program is over…
> You turned off the TV.

Okay potential apocalypse. We're going to stop it and all.



Before, The Lost were here and there, but now it's just crazy.
Many people have been affected by Nyx.
I fear it may get even worse on the day of Nyx's revival.
It's astonishing that Nyx can affect an entire city…
We're the only ones who can do something about it. We have to fight no matter what.

Still, we do have to use the time we have well. I've… still got some things that I need to find words for.



Even though I only have this one month to spend with you…
…I will have no regrets.
Don't talk like that, Aigis…
Yukari… The chances that we will beat Nyx are slim.
That may be true… But, there is a possibility.
We must spend this month increasing our chances.

We don't want to have regrets when we go to fight Nyx.



To be honest, I do feel a little regret…
That can't be helped.
It's human nature to wonder about the choice that was not chosen.
That's true. People are always asking themselves, "What if…?"
But, I don't want to have regrets…
…because this is what I chose.

The crazies are so out of hand a special report on them preempted Featherman. Nyx is going to pay for that.



Newscaster: The unidentified man would only repeat, "The Fall is deliverance…"

Anyway I headed down to the shrine to talk to Akinari, see if he'd finished his story.



There's something important I want to tell you…
I must warn you, though, it's a little depressing…
> It seems there's something he wants to talk about…
Thank you…
> Akinari seems happy.

He… he had.



I finished my story and wanted to show it to you…
> Akinari wears a calm smile.
As you know, I was having a lot of trouble with the ending… but I finally figured it out.
Since the alligator ate his friend the bird, he cried and cried for a very long time.
In fact, he was so sad… that he drowned in his own tears.
His tears became a beautiful lake, around which grew beautiful flowers and a tree with delicious fruit.
The other animals in the forest came there often to relax...
…but, none of them knew the alligator had created it or that he was gone.
The end…
That's the ending I decided on.
…Even though the alligator did not find meaning in his life, the residents of the forest did.
They just didn't realize it…
Because… the meaning of my life is not something I should worry about.
It's really what others think of my life or what I was able to do for them.

He managed to find something more than an ending to his story, I think.



People can't survive without help from others. …We all depend on one another.
I don't know if that made sense, but… …Do you kind of get what I'm saying?
I get it.
I'm glad…
This is the notebook… I wrote my story in. It's all I have to leave behind.
I wanted you to have something… since you shared my last moments.
> Obtained Worn Notebook.
> Akinari stood up…
My… body feels lighter…
Thank you for everything…
…Coming to see me, talking… even discussing the meaning of life…
I… I can be glad that I was born…
> You can understand Akinari's kindness.
> Your relationship is stronger now!

I think he finally found some kind of peace.



I… I think that makes me okay with what happened.



I have to go now…
Aelita…
Maybe…
Someday…
I hope…
…we meet again.
> ……
> Akinari disappeared into the afternoon sunlight…
> You gripped his notebook tightly and decided to head back to the dorm.

I won't pretend to understand what happened. Some things maybe aren't meant to be understood. You just have to go with them, you know? I think I'm going to start doing that now, when it comes to some… other parts of my life that are hard to quantify.