Part 33: 5/31/09-6/1/09

5/31/09

Junpei called me up this morning, we went to get some lunch together.



> You’re having a good time hanging out with Junpei.
Ahh, that was good… Food in my belly and a smile on my face!
The best way to eat a beef bowl’s gotta be with having it with extra sauce and extra onions!
They work so well with the steaming rice… Man, there’s definitely an art to a good beef bowl.
> Junpei is talking passionately about beef bowls…
When I was bummed out or annoyed back in the day, I used to go eat beef bowls by myself a lot.
On days like that, I’d go all out and add an egg, tons of ginger…
Oh, I always asked for extra large, too. I’d down all of it at once.
> Junpei is talking excitedly.
Uhh, that reminds me… Sorry I brought up some weird stuff last time.
All that stuff about parents and things… I kinda hope you’re not worried…

I just played it off, I don’t want to make Junpei feel bad or anything.



…Huh? Seriously!?
Ohh, are you like me that way? You can forget all your troubles in a good beef bowl?
Alright, then from today forward, let’s form a “Beef Bowl Alliance”!
The only requirement is that we go eat beef bowls. Simple, huh!
> Junpei is laughing happily…
> Today, your friendship has grown stronger…
> It’s starting to get dark out.
> You decide to go back to the dorm.

Mitsuru’s really concerned about what happened with that girl.



It just isn’t normal, but I have no idea what’s going on…

That Featherman show just keeps getting better, it’s really shocking.



Narrator: Episode 15: High School Combat! Sing your heart out! Feather Swan!
Newscaster: …And now, the news.

I think the school is taking more of a notice of student activities thanks to this whole situation.



The school makes us send them updates on how things are going here at the dorm.
See, that’s what Mitsuru’s doing right now.

Junpei’s surprised at how fast the rumor’s spread.



Everyone at school knows about it… and soon everone in town will too.

And Yukari’s really freaked out in general.



It may just be a coincidence, but something doesn’t seem right about it.
What do you think, Aelita?
Yeah, something’s not right.
Hey… Don’t scare me like that…

Mutatsu-san was really hitting things a bit too hard.



Hey, can ya help me out, kid…? I don’t feel so good…
Dammit… I can’t believe I let this happen…
Ugh… I’m in bad shape…
You should get home.
Yeah, you’re right, kid… I should go home and sleep…
> Mutatsu agreed with you.
But, even if I go home…
I completely forgot I have a memorial service to conduct… Reciting the Heart Sutra with a hangover… ugh…
Before, no matter how much I drank, all I needed was a cold shower to snap outta it. Guess I’m getting’ old, heh…
It’s times like these I wish I didn’t live alone…
What about your workers?
Workers? Heh, you mean other monks?
My temple’s small, and I don’t depend on nobody but myself. So, I’m the only one there.
> Mutatsu has a bitter smile on his face.
…If ya think about it, livin’ alone’s probably the best thing a person could do…
You don’t hafta wait for someone else to get outta the bathroom when ya need to go. My son took forever in there.

This time at least I’m sure he’s not serious about this.



…All things visible are bound to change and disappear…
All things in this world are not singular. They’re all smaller parts of a bigger picture.
And yet, they’re all different from each other. All things in this world are unique.
To put it simply…
No matter how hard you try to live your life right, someone else can always mess it up.
All things are unique, yet they are not singular…
Maybe you’ve messed up my life a bit, too. Heheh…
> You saw through Mutatsu’s harsh words and felt his kindness…
> You understand Mutatsu better now.

And I think sometimes people can mess your life up for the better…



> You are getting sleepy…
I-I’m going home, kid… My head’s killin’ me.
Oh, yeah, about the memorial service…
The kid was only 19… a random murder victim. What a harsh world we live in…
You be careful on your way home, okay, kid?
> You decided to go back to the dorm.

6/1/09

Mitsuru’s concerned all this stuff going on is connected to the Shadows, and I’m afraid she’s right.



…There seems to be a sense of restlessness in the air.
Yes, I agree.
Well, I just hope it doesn’t have anything to do with the Shadows.
Akihiko said we may be receiving a new member, but we don’t know when we’ll be attacked…
So remain alert at all times.

Yukari’s getting more and more creeped out by the rumors.



Ya know, those rumors… It is a little creepy.

This reminds me of the dumbest thing, there used to be some silly story going around that rumors would come true no matter how strange. Like that could ever happen.



Male Student: That one about the girl who collapsed is already all over the school.
I hope no one spreads any rumors about me.

I went to volleyball practice, and I’m glad I did because Rio was about to break down.



……
What’s wrong?
Oh, Aelita…
…Nothing.
Nothing’s wrong, but I can’t get myself to move, and…
……
> Rio looks like she’s about to cry…
> She doesn’t seem like her usual self, so you decide to ask her what’s wrong…
I was walking past the spare room a moment ago and I heard Kenji’s voice…
But… I heard Ms. Kanou, too…
……
They seemed to be getting along great.
> Rio mumbles quietly…

This is seriously all so wrong on so many levels.



……
It can’t work out… They’re a teacher and a student. There’s no way.
He’s such an idiot. He’s just being toyed with!
He’ll just end up hurt in the end…
Why… Why’d he choose someone like her…!?
Why…
> Rio’s eyes brim with tears…
They don’t suit each other.
Why…?

Poor Rio, fell in love with a complete moron.



Why…?
> Rio begins to cry…
I… didn’t know I was such a nasty person.
I’ve got these terrible feelings inside me… I hate myself…
What is wrong with me?
It’s because you like Kenji.
Like…?
……
Haha, I get it… So that’s why…
> Rio weeps weakly…
I’m such an idiot…
I didn’t know… all this time. By the time I realized it, it was too late…
Haha, how stupid of me…

Seriously I want to beat the hell out of the guy but unfortunately he’s not a Shadow.



No way…
I know he likes older women, and he doesn’t even think of me as a girl at all…
I know that I don’t have a chance…
> Rio desperately tries to hold back more tears…

So all I can do is try to make Rio feel better that the guy she likes is too dumb for words.



Haha… Thanks…
> Rio tries to smile…
> You feel you’ve gotten much closer to Rio…

I mean if there really was a vengeful ghost at the school I’m pretty sure it would have struck Dumbji by now for being terminally terrible.



Sorry we didn’t get much practice in today…
I’m going to go home…
I’ll be able to smile tomorrow… Act like you don’t know anything.
> You saw Rio off, then headed back to the dorm.

Oh, speaking of dumb, Junpei’s telling ghost stories again.

Video- “Ghosts”

Watch

> You are talking with the others over dinner…
Hey Yuka-tan, have you seen the posts on the student message board?
You know how last week, that girl was found by the front gate?
Well, there’s this rumor that it was an angry spirit from this one ghost story.
H-Hey! C’mon… Nobody believes that stuff!? …R-Right?
So, what is this ghost story about?
Wha--!?
It-It’s probably made-up… so why bother!?
I’m interested. Go ahead and tell us.
Uh…
> Junpei leaned forward and spoke in a mysterious voice…
> …You don’t know where he got it from, but he took out a flashlight…

Seriously, who actually does that whole flashlight, lights off thing?



…There are many strange things in this world…
According to one story…
…if you get caught at school late at night, you’ll be devoured by a maniacal ghost that roams the halls!
The other day, this friend of mine—let’s call him Shu…
He said to me, “Junpei, I saw something strange.”
He sounded serious, so I asked him what he’d seen.
He said it was about the girl in 2-E…
He claims he saw her go into the school on the night of the incident.
I couldn’t believe it.
She’s not the kind of girl to be out at night…
But Shu was as white as a sheet. He insisted it was true…
Then, it hit me…
That ghost must’ve tried to make her its dinner!
And that’s why they found her lying on the ground by the gate!
I felt a chill run down my spine, and I broke into a cold sweat…
Yes, there are strange things in this world…
Believe it… or don’t.

I mean our school literally becomes a giant tower filled with monsters at midnight, why would you worry about there being ghosts too?



Huh…? Not one word about my frankly amazing performance just now…?
I think it’s worth investigating.
Wow, I didn’t know you were afraid of ghosts, Yuka-tan. That’s kinda funny.
Hey, watch it!
…F-Fine, then let’s investigate.
We’ll each ask around for the rest of the week.
I’ll prove it to you that this ghost story is just an urban legend!
I appreciate that. The story is a bit unnerving.
Huh…?
Then, I’ll just let you guys handle it.
Just make sure you sleep with one eye open…
Whaaat…?

Anyway she’s obsessing with this ghost thing, so we’re not going to Tartarus.



So I’m going to pass on Tartarus today.

I… I don’t even know what was with the news. I’m not even sure anyone else saw the same thing I did, to be quite honest.



Narrator: For those who are fighting, the light has not yet broken through.
That was our special report. Coming up next, the news.

This ghost nonsense is terrible.



However, there may be ghosts haunting the school…

And I guess this has been a real annoyance for Ikutsuki.



So many inquiries from parents and reporters alike…

Oh, they gave me a raise at the café.



> Obtained 3000 yen for working part-time.

That kid appeared again, I was actually still awake writing this when the Dark Hour ticked over and there he suddenly was.



I came to see you again, as I promised. How are you?
Pretty good, I guess?
I’m glad you remembered me.
Now… In another week, the moon will be full again.
And the next ordeal will be upon you. So, be careful.
…I’ll come again.
> The boy disappeared…

Another ordeal, and all this ‘ghost’ stuff. I can’t help but think they’re connected…