Part 49: 6/19/09

6/19/09

Man, Tartarus really takes it out of you. Let’s see, what happened today… Oh, I ran into Akihiko around lunchtime.



Oh, wait… This is right in front of your classroom, isn’t it?
I’ll see you later.
Senpai, are you busy later?
I don’t have any plans, no, but… Don’t you have anything to do?
You want to hang out, then? I’m usually by the club rooms after school.

I headed down to the police station to see if Officer Kurosawa had any news on the girl we’d rescued.



Hm? Oh, it’s something that missing schoolgirl brought in as a reward to the one who found her.
There was a lot about the case that stymied us on the force, so I figured you guys were involved… Am I wrong?
> Obtained Recarm x 1.

Elizabeth asked me to get some kind of even weirder medicine she’d heard might be available at the school. I got lucky, though, because someone else had already figured out how I needed to get it.



Male Student: I just wanted some cough drops, but he gave me this weird-looking medicine.
I wasn’t in the mood to gather my courage, so I declined…
And he bused out ANOTHER weird medicine that I’d never seen before!

So I went in and refused his first medicine. Luckily I look sick.



Well now, what do we have here? You seem unwell. Is it a wound? A virus? A curse? Or is it love?
This is the perfect opportunity to try my new concoction… Ehehehehehehe.
> Mr. Edogawa has a huge grin on his face.
Here, try this…
It includes bitter mugwort, poison carrot, henbane, jujube, rabbit’s foot, etcetera, etcetera…
Even Hakusan’s finest alchemist would be astonished by the ingredients.
I shall treat your illness right here and now.
Now, drink this… Come on… Drink up!
> The most bizarre smell that you’ve ever encountered in your life is drifting out of the bottle…
…What do you mean you won’t drink it!? Are you a coward!? Even Algernon drank it.
That normally quiet mouse went squeaking out of here with energy!
……
I’m not sure it’s safe to drink…
…but here, take this. It’s some old medicine I found lying around.
> Obtained Powerful Drug.
Hm, if you’ll excuse me, Saturn is calling…

I’m really glad I didn’t even consider opening it up until I brought it back to her.



May I try some…?
……
Oh…! The way it feels going down my throat…
What an amazing concoction… I feel as though it could almost kill a man…
This is very impressive medicine.
Please accept your reward.
> Obtained Balm of Life x 1.

Anyway I headed back to school and met up with Akihiko, we went for a bit of a run.



> You joined Akihiko on his training and ran here with him…
* gasp gasp *
Let’s take a short break…
> The area near the shrine is quiet, and no one else is around…
The wind’s starting to pick up…
That’s actually a blessing, after working up a good sweat…
It feels nice.
I usually train in the club room or alone in my own room at the dorm…
I’ll train with you, if you want.
It’d be nice to have a running partner.
…But if you join me, we’re going to do more than just run every day, okay?
> Akihiko laughs…
In any case, I should’ve changed into my workout gear.
I thought this would just be a light run for fun…
But, I’m drenched in sweat…
Don’t catch a cold.
This is nothing. I’ll be fine.
……

I think Akihiko pushes himself too hard sometimes.



……
…I said I’ll be fine.
> Akihiko seems embarrassed…
Hey, want to try that before we head back?
> Akihiko points at the horizontal bar…
You can’t do a back hip circle, can you?
I bet you can’t either, senpai!
Oh, really? Haha… I’m actually quite good at it.
Want me to show you?
> Akihiko grabs the bar while he’s still talking…
> He hangs upside down for a moment, then swings around backwards in a full circle.
Everybody should be able to do this.
> Akihiko seems proud…

Even if I was feeling well I’m not sure I could do that without some practice.



…Here.
> Akihiko helps pull you up to get a seat on the bar.
> It’s a little scary, because you’re finding it hard to balance on it.
…This takes me back.
…It reminds me of when I was a kid.
> Akihiko falls silent and looks off into the distance…
I need to get stronger…
If I don’t get stronger…
…I won’t be able to save anything.
> Akihiko mutters, as if to himself…
> You feel like you understand Akihiko a little better now…

I’m not sure what Akihiko’s story is, he always seems to get quiet when the past comes up.



…We should get going.
Were you sweating today, too? Make sure you take a bath today so you don’t catch a cold.
> You and Akihiko returned to the dorm together.

Junpei cut out to go to the store, but we were all too tired to go to Tartarus anyway.



Sorry… I’m on my way to the store.
> Junpei has left.

Mitsuru’s worried about my health.



I sure have.
Good. Your health is very important.

I was heading down to the mall to talk to Mutatsu-san, and happened to run into Junpei.



The LEGENDARY SWORD!
Good luck.
Thanks! I’m gonna do my best.

Mutatsu seemed a bit different when I met up with him.



> Mutatsu seems like he wants to talk…
Heh, what a strange kid…
> Mutatsu seems amused.

It seems he’s been thinking a lot since last time.



…Let’s just forget about it, alright?
Anyway, I’m sober today…
…so just sit down and listen to what this old monk has to say.
All I gotta do is look all serious and recite the sutras, and I can make easy money…
At least, that’s what I thought. So I begged to take over my parents’ temple.
But, every day is the anniversary of someone’s death!
I’m workin’ 24/7, as if my temple was a convenience store…
You can’t take a break?
Hmph, I wish I could…
> Mutatsu is smiling bitterly.
But I have a strong sense of responsibility. I can’t say no to someone who needs my service.
…But, as you can see, I’m too busy.
I gotta push this old body of mine to the limit.

In his own way he’s just as bad as Akihiko, pushing himself too hard.



I’ve been drinkin’ too much lately… makin’ a fool of myself like I did the other day. * sigh *
Hang in there!
I know you’re just tryin’ to make me feel better, but… thanks.
> Mutatsu seems happy.
…Oh, how about this…
> Mutatsu is thinking…
We never filed for divorce, and since I own the temple, we could all live there.
I think it’s a pretty good idea. I could retire and enjoy life for once.
Whaddya think?
What do I think…?
Hey, c’mon, kid. I really put a lotta thought into this…
> Mutatsu seems embarrassed.

He’s come up with a plan to try and make up with his family.



First, I gotta find out where they are. I’ll hire a detective. I don’t care how much it costs.
And when I see ‘em, first thing I’m gonna do is tell ‘em I’m sorry… from the bottom of my heart.
I’m gonna be concentratin’ on this, so… I probably wont’ be seein’ ya anytime soon…
Plus, being with a rebel like you might get me put behind bars one day.
So… g-good riddance!
> Despite his harsh words, Mutatsu sounds like he’s going to miss you…
> You understand Mutatsu better now.

I hope he at least tells me how his search turns out before he leaves.



If I knew I was gonna end up this way, I never woulda become a monk… heh…
Oh well, I guess I’ll go to a detective agency tomorrow…
Alright, let’s get going, kid.
> You left the club with Mutatsu.