Part 216: 1/23/10-1/24/10

1/23/10

After school Mitsuru and I snuck up to the roof together.



> You sat next to Mitsuru on top of the water tower…
You don’t need to worry; no one will come. My first abuse of power.
…You can see miles from here.
Sometimes I come here to have a look… at the place we’re defending…
I’m so sorry about what happened the other say. It must have upset you.
You were cool.
* chuckle * I see…
I must say, it’s a bit embarrassing to hear you say that.
> Mitsuru seems very happy.

She’s been thinking about how much her outlook on things has changed.



I must have been seeing people only in terms of interest, according to whether or not they could benefit me…
To tell you the truth, it was initially the same with you.
You conveniently arrived and met my criteria to be leader…
The others in SEES, too, were pawns for my purposes…
* chuckle * Yukari realized that and snapped at me for it…
But I never even tried to understand where she was coming from… Even though that was exactly it.
…You opened our eyes and brought us all back together.
Nothing is harder than facing every single person straight in the eye…
No one could have served better than you as our leader.
My judgment was correct. * chuckle * I have quite the eye for people, no?
> Mitsuru seems to trust you.
> Your relationship with Mitsuru has intensified…

And, uh, not just on that topic I think.



I didn’t realize I was doing it, but last time, I addressed you differently…
…As Aelita.
* chuckle * It’s a bit embarrassing, so I’ll address you as that only when we’re together.
Aelita… You’re outwardly adorable.
And yet, you have it in you to be stronger, more courageous, and more charismatic than a man…
In the end… It was I who was most hung up on the concept of femininity…
“Because I am a woman…” “Despite being a woman…”
It was just a way to excuse myself for failing…
Watching you, I realize… I had been a coward.
From now on, I will no loner allow my sex or my family name to shackle me.
I am me. I have things only I can do.
And I will accomplish them…
I will never ask you to run away with me ever again.
Instead, Aelita…
Stay by my side. Fight alongside me… live alongside me.
…Understand?
> The hours flew by as you talked with Mitsuru.

Um, subjects, and the changing of them. It’s not that much longer now.



One week until the 31st, huh…
I think you already know this, but…
Once you go into Tartarus on the 31st, you won’t be able to leave until the battle is ove.r
If we lose, there won’t be a tomorrow… and we won’t get a chance at a rematch.
You should spend this next week getting prepared for the fight.

I’m preparing in my own way, by making sure there’s absolutely nothing I will regret not doing when we get to the end. There’ll still be time to train, somehow I just know it…

1/24/10

Mitsuru called me up earlier.



Hi, it’s me.
Do you have time to talk?
It’s okay.
Would you like to do something today?
Excellent. I shall be waiting outside.
> Mitsuru seems excited…

It’s amazing how much fun you can have just hanging out with the people who are important to you when you know that it could all end in a week.



We aren’t doing anything special, yet spending time with you doesn’t bore me.
> Mitsuru seems to be enjoying herself.
I thought until now that I’d always be my “true self”…
Oh, er, what I mean by that is… How should I explain this…?
> Mitsuru is, for once, at a loss for words.
I never paid the timid, cowardly side of myself any heed.
Meeting everyone’s expectations and performing my duties… I thought that was all there was to me.
* chuckle * I am such a fool…
Everyone’s that way.
I see… You’re right. There’s nothing unique about what I’m going through.
* chuckle * I learn so much from you.
My own weakness, that I never cared to admit… I feel as though I can come to accept it now.
It’s all thanks to you…
> Mitsuru is smiling…
> Today, you learned something new about her.

Not that it will. We’re going to win.



Narrator: Final Episode: Fly, Phoenix! A marriage between Hawk and Swan! And as for Condor…
Newscaster: …And now, the news.
Cult membership continues to grow, while…