Part 225: 3/3/10 Part 1

3/3/10

Alright, it’s time to pick this back up. I think only Aigis and I really remember now. I’d ask her, but we haven’t had much chance to talk recently.

Video- “March”

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Yo!
Damn, it’s cold. But of course, you never miss a day of school.
Man, can ya believe this year’s already over? We’re practically seniors now.
Just one more year… Ya think anything interesting will happen?
I’m sure it will.
I hope you’re right.
But, seeing the current seniors makes me wonder…
Sees like all they frickin’ do is study. Talk about boring.
Is that gonna be us next year? …Why do I feel like I’m forgetting something?
……
Hey, is that girl looking at us?
Dude, she’s pretty cute! How come I never noticed her before?

I’m now even more convinced this was all some cruel cosmic joke after seeing the farce of the ‘official’ version of this last year.



Seriously!?
Uh… What’s her name, then?
I dunno.
Well then, why’re you giving me a hard time?
Anyway, it’s always crazy in the dorms this time of year, with so many people coming and going.
Oh yeah, did ya hear? Akihiko-senpai’s movin’ out.
Ya know, the Captain of the boxing team?
I know who he is, but I haven’t really talked to him.
Of course, all the graduates are leaving, even Kirijo-senpai.
Ms. Student Council President… She’s in our dorm too, huh?
…Man, what’s up with that girl?
Hey, there! Are you looking at us?
Is something wrong?

Having to watch my friends forget each other, knowing there’s nothing I can do about it except pray they remember when the day comes.



She looks kinda depressed, doesn’t she?
…Wait, do ya think she might be interested in me!?
Haha, I doubt it.
…Ouch. That hurts.
By the way, Yuka-tan…
Uh… Never mind. Forget it.
Aw, come on now… Don’t gimme that.
Um, well… Do you remember how we became friends?
I mean, don’t take it the wrong way. I was just thinking…
Well, it’s not like we’re best friends or anything, so I guess it just kinda happened.
Yeah, I guess so.
…It IS kinda weird, actually, now that I think about it.
But, I can’t really explain why.
Anyway, that girl—
Oh crap!
> The days go by peacefully, without incident…

I mean it’d be really awful if I was the only one who showed up on the roof, I’d feel pretty bad.



Hey, wanna go to Hagakure today? I’ve got a sudden craving for their special bowl.
If you’re paying, then yes.
Yikes, no way. I don’t have extra cash right now.
We’re best friends, aren’t we? No sponging off of friends!
Haha, but man, I never imagined that I’d become such good friends with you when you first transferred here.
…I always thought that girls were a special kind of being or something.
But you’re not aliens, after all. You’re like the same kind of humans as guys are… something like that.
I wanted you to rely on me, and I tried to act all cool…
I ran around and did a lot of things.
And even when I didn’t know how to explain myself, you still understood what I was thinking…
And I understand you, too.
…I think.

Speaking of feeling bad, I’ve been having some trouble the past few weeks. Nothing to worry about, but kind of annoying.



Even if we end up in different classes next year, I’ll always rush to your rescue.
…Hehe.
Oh, yeah, have you heard? All the new teachers that’re coming in April are female.
Kenji’s totally psyched ‘bout it. I mean, it got to the point that I couldn’t stand being around him.
Well, that doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got a girl that I care about…
Hm…?
……
Not you…?
……
I did… have someone…
……
N-No no, I’m not lying. I wouldn’t make up some lame lie about that!
It’s just… I had someone… Right…?
……
Am I… forgetting something really important…? Something I should never forget?
……
Sorry… I’m gonna pass on the ramen.
Sorry…

And it doesn’t help when I have to go off and cry about something for a bit. Oh, Yukari wants me to help her with something over break.



Are you doing anything? I wanted to talk to you about something…
Uhh… It’s kind of embarrassing to say here, so can we go to the roof?
S-Sorry for calling you out here…
Um… I actually have a little favor to ask…
Well…
> Yukari’s eyes are cast down, as if hesitating.
I-It’s my mom…
I… want you to meet her.
……
I just promised to visit my mom… but I’m still kinda scared.
If I see her… I might end up saying some really nasty things…
What if we end up hurting each other even more? I don’t wanna hurt her feelings…
I still haven’t sorted all this out inside…
I think… I do want to see her…

And of course nothing would make me happier than to be able to help her, so I agreed.



Having you there will make me feel more confident… and I want to introduce you to her.
I want to tell her that you’re… my best friend…
So… if it’s not too much trouble… How about it?
Sure.
R-Really!? Thanks!
Well then, I’ll call her up right away! I’ve been putting this off for so long…
Let’s see… How does during spring break sound?
Man… I didn’t realize until just now that spring break’s almost here, huh…
We’re already seniors…
I wonder if we’re going to have new people come to our dorm. It’d be nice if we got along with them…
I mean, we never really interacted with Mitsuru-senpai or Akihiko-senpai, after all.
At the end of the year, we’ll graduate and go to college… And then start a career?
That feels like it’s a long way off.
I wonder what’s going to happen to us…
…Anyway! Just remember to keep a day open during spring break, okay?
I’ll get in touch with you later. See ya!

While I was coming back down from the roof Mr. Ono called me over, he had a letter for me from Bebe!



Andre… Laurent… Jean… Geraux?
……
That’s too long!
A samurai’s name should be simple and short…
…Oh, Aelita.
I think this letter is for you. It’s all in hiragana, but…
If it’s not yours, could you give it to whoever it’s for?
It’s from Andre… whatever. I can’t remember those long foreign names…
When he was in my class, we just called him Bebe…
> You took the letter from Mr. Ono.
> The sender’s name is listed as Andre Laurent Jean Geraux…
> It’s from Bebe. You open the envelope.

It… reminded me to get back to something unpleasant I was dealing with. Just a little project that needs to get done, nothing to worry about or anything.



> Bebe’s halting words line the pages…
> You can picture Bebe’s smiling face…
Ze Kanji eez difficult for me, so I’m sorry zis eez all in ze ‘iragana.
I learned a lot in Japan, but Bebe eez still not zat good.
I write zis with a dictionary.
Bebe showed Uncle ze kimono. ‘E ‘ad much praise for it.
‘E say zat Japan eez a great country. Bebe eez so ‘appy to ‘ear zis.
So I tell Uncle zat I want to go back to ze Japan.
I tell ‘im many times. He say, “Okay!”
> You can sense Bebe’s joy through his words…
But Bebe decided not to go back.
I’m sorry, Aelita-sama. I said I’d come back, but zis is a lie.
Bebe didn’t know.
My aunt wasn’t ze only one who ‘elped me study abroad.
Uncle, relatives, neighbors… many people ‘elped.
Zey all wanted me to go back. Zey said, “We will ‘elp pay for it.”

It just made me remember that sometimes a simple goodbye can become farewell.



Bebe cannot enjoy Japan while Uncle is in grief.
Bebe cannot take everyone’s money for ‘is own fun.
Learning about Japan can be done in France too.
Zat’s why Bebe will stay in France.
When Bebe is strong enough on ‘is own, zen I will come to Japan again.
> Bebe’s handwriting has left an impression in the paper. He seems very determined…
Bebe zought about ‘ow fun it is to make clothes with Aelita-sama, and entered ze school of fashion.
I made a clothes for ze school contest. Bebe won first prize!
I named zese clothes that won first place.
Aelita… A very wonderful name.
It eez ze name Bebe likes.
Japan and France, Aelita-sama and Bebe. Zey are far apart.
But I will always be close. Even if you can’t see me, zat will not change.
Every day was fun. A lot.
Even if you do bad zings, even if you become famous, even if you get married…
My feelings, zey do not change. Bebe will always love Aelita-sama. Aishiteru.
To my dear dear Aelita-sama, Bebe
> The words near the end are smeared…

Oh yeah, so Rio’s going to be away for break.



Heehee. You’re funny. Every time I think about you, there you are.
…Hey, can you come with me for a little bit?
> Gekkoukan High, gym…
> Rio is staring nostalgically at the volleyball court…
I… didn’t have any fun at all in this club until you joined the team…
I thought that everything in my life was painful when it came to volleyball.
I even blamed my teammates when things didn’t go my way.
I thought they weren’t being serious enough, and were pulling me down…
I resented everyone else for my own failures…
But it’s different now. Playing volleyball’s fun, and I have fun every day, too.
It’s because… I have a goal now.
I was always at a loss about what good it would do my life if I kept playing volleyball.
I thought that I needed to hurry up, put an end to my love of the game, and go back to studying.

But it’s to do what she loves, so that’s great.



“I want to go to college by playing volleyball!”
“I’m going to get a 4-year scholarship, and play after I graduate!”
“I’ll even go to the Olympics!”
…I mean, I’ve never actually said it. But it’s what I was always thinking.
I’d rather now have a dream at all if it’s just going to fall through on me in the end…
…I was scared.
But I learned how to have courage from you and everybody else in the club.
I learned… how to be strong, and how to go for something I want.
Thank you.
> Rio bows slightly…
I just wanted you to know that.
I’m going to go along with a college training camp during spring break… I wanted to tell you before I left.
Wish me luck that I don’t start complaining during training.
Well then, see you!

Oh, Aki was at school today. We’ve had more time to hang out the past couple of months, and we’ve actually been able to do like relationship things which has been great.



It’s been a while since I last saw you at school like this.
You’re right.
I’m feeling a little nostalgic…
That’s why I’m taking a look around the school right now.
This… is my last chance, after all.
……
It might have felt like forever at the time, but now it seems that those years went by in a flash…
All I did was box for all three years…
……
…?
Is that really… all I did…?
……
Oh, no…
We had some good times together. I enjoyed those.
If we hadn’t been in the same dorm, we might never have even met…
The world seems mysterious that way…
……

I think I was kind of weird about, well, us because I knew we’d be split up eventually by one thing or another. But since that day I’ve stopped worrying about that and just been enjoying the time we do have together.



I won’t be able to be at your side all the time, like I can now…
…But that’s not going to change anything.
Well…
I mean… my feelings for you aren’t going to change.
S-So, don’t be sad, all right…?
……
Do you remember Shinji… I mean, Shinjiro?
……
Shinji was supposed to graduate with me, too…
I can’t believe he got dragged into that incident…
I still can’t force myself to accept what happened to him.
Even to this day…

I so wish that were true, that nothing was going to change. Of course, change isn’t all for the worse.



Rumor-loving Girl: That guy who got caught up in some kind of shooting… He’s been in a coma for months!
I heard he woke up! Oh gawd, what if he comes to school…? I’m scared!
Is that true!?
Rumor-loving Girl: My doctor at the hospital said…
He had something in his breast pocket, and that’s what saved him… Or something like that.
What was it that he had…?
Eh, it’ll be a while before he gets out, though. He must be weak after such a long sleep, huh?
> ……
> Shinjiro-senpai is…!

Change can be pretty awesome sometimes.



Ah, I… I have something to ask you…
Uhh… Where should I start?
A-Anyway, come with me!
Hmmm? Yamagishi? What are you doing outside the faculty office?
U-Umm… I-I want to start a tech club…!
Tech gloves?
…You mean technician’s gloves?
Well, I think you’d have to go to a hardware store for those…
Um… not “tech gloves”… A tech club!
Like a club all about technology and electronics!
…You want to start a club?
Ugh… Why is Yamagishi so troublesome?
Look.. It’s already March. Can’t you at least wait until April?
Huh? B-But I really want to get started on it now!
I’ll do my best to find members… Um, so, do I have your permission to start a club…?
What? You mean to sya you don’t have any members yet? Then it’s not even worth discussing.
You can’t start a club without at least five members.
Now then…

And of course you have things that never change, like Ekoda being a horrible snake-man.



Well… It looks like I need to find five people.
I could just make it like an unauthorized club like the cooking club, but…
…Aelita-chan, would you like to join my tech club?
Okay.
Yesss! I’m so glad!
I was hoping you would say that.
……
I thought… liking electronics made me strange.
I always kept it to myself, because I thought it was strange for a girl to be interested in that.
But, you know how I gave you those headphones?
While I was making them… I had so much fun and felt so happy.
When I thought about how they might make you happy, I couldn’t help but feel excited.
It was the same feeling I felt when I cooked with you, Aelita-chan.
When I was bothered about trying to cook things right, I kept messing up and wanted to give up…
…That was because I had forgotten why I was doing it.

But crap like that just can’t get me down any more.



Everything just became fun once I remembered that.
I like everyone, including you, Aelita-chan. I want you all to always be happy.
Once I realized that, I figured that I should make everyone happier with what I’m really good at.
That’s why… I decided to form a tech club. I want to improve my skills and make various things everyone can use.
…?
I keep saying “everyone”… but who am I talking about?
It makes me feel really warm inside and that I do like them, but I can’t remember their faces…
……
Oh, I almost forgot. The cooking club will continue to meet, too.
I’ll be really busy… but I want to keep trying.
It’s like… I really want to give it everything I have.
……
I’d be happy if you showed up to the cooking club next year, too.
…And if you want, the tech club will welcome you, too.
Alright, I need to hurry and find some tech club members!
First… I need to make some posters.
Well, see you later!

I swung by the library, and it turned out that Ms. Ounishi had a letter from Saori for me.



> The door is unlocked, but there’s no one inside…
Oh, there you are.
You remember Saori Hasegawa, right? I have a letter for you.
> Ms. Ounishi hands you a letter…
…Her work here as a member of the library committee must have been her only fond memories of this place.
Well, have a safe trip home.
> Ms. Ounishi leaves…
> You decide to read the letter alone in the library…
Aelita-chan, how are you?
This is probably the first time I’ve called you that.
I’m doing well.
> Saori’s small handwriting fills the paper…
> You can imagine Saori’s smiling face as she wrote this letter…

I was really worried about how she had been doing since she’d been sent away, so it was good to hear that things were fine.



I’ve made friends that I talk to and laugh with every day.
But there’s no one like you, who would get angry and stand up for me.
I think you’re the only person who would do that for me, after all.
But, I believe that it would make you happy if I learned to enjoy my life in this new place.
I’m doing my best to live my own life here.
There’s… one thing that I never told you.
I did love someone… But he’s no longer with us.
I made him suffer, and forced him into a corner…
My parents severely blamed me for the incident.
They sent me out as an exchange student and I never knew when I’d be able to return to this country.
My parents must have not wanted to see my face.
Because I was sent far away, to a country where I had no one to rely on, I didn’t go to school at all.
A church took me in, and I prayed for his soul every day.
I prayed for him, and that he would forgive me for being too weak to kill myself and end the pain…
Aelita-chan, I’m so sorry. I was so weak that I couldn’t tell you this.
I was scared that you would hate me.
After we started being friends, I began to want something more than a casual friendship…
I wanted you to come to understand me…

She’s living to be happy now, which is all any of us can do.



But being in control of your destiny… It’s a scary thing.
If I hurt someone’s feelings, I feel like I’m denying myself something.
It’s much easier if I go with the flow…
But not doing that is to stand up for what you taught me.
It means that I am alive… and I’m meant to be alive.
It’s almost spring break, but I wont’ be going back home. I haven’t contacted my parents, either.
But, one day I want to be able to say that I’m glad that I’m living.
And then, I want to be able to thank my parents…
And this is all because I had a friend like you.
Thank you. With my deepest gratitude… Saori Hasegawa
> The letter ends there…

As I was heading out of the library, Mitsuru flagged me over.



…Could we go somewhere to talk?
I have some business to take care of later on… But I want to be with you until then.
…No matter what. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go anywhere else.
> Gekkoukan High School, Student Council Room…
…This room brings back memories. I was only away for a little while, due to the exams…
……
The results haven’t been posted yet… But I don’t have any doubts that I passed.
This spring, I’ll formally become a university student.
…So this will be my last chance to see the view from here.
I don’t have much time today. All the members of the head family are gathering for a briefing session.
The Kirijo Group looks strong right now, but it’s actually very frail… It could collapse at any time.
I must stay strong…
> Mitsuru seems a little tired…
Any way I can help?
* chuckle * Of course you can. In fact, there’s something only you can do.

From what I’ve gathered the government is looking into what Kirijo’s been up to, I hope Mitsuru will be okay.



Who will be by my side?
…Soon, I’ll be saying my farewells to the dorm, too.
I’ve been slowly packing up my things… but it’s not going well.
Everything brings back memories… A book, a picture, a piece of clothing… on and on.
My senior year seemed short, but very… full. It went by so quickly.
Especially after you arrived…
Everything changed with you…
If you hadn’t come to this school… I wonder what would’ve become of me.
Would I have accepted my arranged marriage…?
Or would I have gotten on my motorcycle one day, driven off, and never returned…?
Fate… is a mysterious thing.
But there’s no use dwelling on the past.
I have things that must be done, to secure a future for the Kirijo Group and myself.
I will not hesitate to put forth the effort. I swore that to you.
Come visit the Kirijo head family sometime. We shall have tea with everyone.
* chuckle * Our relationship isn’t one that will end with graduation, right?
I wonder how we’ll change as time passes. I look forward to finding out…
It’s almost time. I have to be on my way.
I wish we could see each other back at the dorms… but I’ll be late tonight. Maybe this weekend?
Well, see you.

Ugh, I’m getting a bit tired with all this writing. I’ll take a nap and finish up later.