Part 56: 6/26/09

6/26/09

More bad news from Elizabeth, another two people ended up in Tartarus somehow.



Good morning. This is Elizabeth.
I am calling to inform you that another human has strayed into Tartarus.
2 this time, I believe. Please don’t delay in carrying out your rescue.
Goodbye, now.
> The call ended.

Akihiko came up to me at lunch, he was acting a bit weird.



Er… I have something I wanted to ask you.
What is it?
Well…
…No, never mind. Sorry to bother you…
> Akihiko is acting strange…
> Maybe you should ask him about this later…

I walked home with him so he could tell me what was bothering him.



……
> Akihiko is completely silent…
Are you angry?
Huh…?
…Oh, no, sorry.
> Akihiko scratches his head…
Look, if you don’t want to tell me, then you don’t have to.
……
It’s just…
Is it true you’re going out with Junpei?

Yeah almost speechless.



I see…
……
Oh, no, it was just a rumor I heard. Sorry.
Don’t get the wrong idea, Senpai.
…?
I-I see. Anyway, I’m sorry.
> Akihiko seems apologetic…
It’s bad enough that I listened to a rumor, but then I confronted you about it… It was incredibly rude of me.
If I hear anyone say that again, I’ll tell them it’s not true.
Please do.
Yeah, I don’t like rumors either.
> Akihiko nods seriously…

Anyway after clearing all that up, we got something to eat.



…Oh, we’re already all the way back at the dorm.
Um… Do you want anything to eat?
Something spicy!
Yeah… That might be nice for a change.
> Akihiko brightens up, as if a major weight has been lifted from his shoulders…
> Could Akihiko have been worried about you…?
> You feel that your bond with Akihiko has gotten a little stronger…

He’s a pretty nice guy when you get down to it.



Well then, shall we?
> You and Akihiko went out to eat, then returned to the dorm.

He had something to do tonight, though, so I held off on suggesting we go to Tartarus.



> Akihiko has left

I pretty quickly figured out why he’d left.



So, today I will be performing my top ten jokes for everyone…

The jokes never get better.



But, it’s just so lame…

No matter how many times he tells them.



The news mentioned the missing people, at least they’re adults this time.



Newscaster: We spoke to local youth, who have a message for irresponsible adults.
Teen Girl: Before you tell me to stop talking on the phone, maybe you could stop stealing people’s seats, you know?
God, you guys totally have no right to get on our case like that.
Newscaster: …Moving on to our next story:
We have received news that both Jirou Ken (31) and Kami Mitsuyama (24), officer workers in Minoto-ku…
…have been reported missing one after the other.
Police are asking for the public’s help with any information regarding accidents or eyewitnesses.

Anyway according to Mitsuru we just have to let the Chairman tell us his jokes.



Fuuka just can’t handle it, though.



What should I do, Aelita?
Be true to yourself.
O-Okay…
Then I’ll just say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t find your jokes funny…”

Anyway I got out of there and checked on Mutatsu-san. It’s a good thing I did, because he was waiting for me.



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

He managed to find his family!



…The detective called me and said he found my wife and son…
He said they’re runnin’ a small restaurant. I guess it’s pretty popular.
My son’s married, and his wife’s pregnant… That makes me feel so old.
I decided I’d leave after I saw you. So… I’ll be goin’ tonight.
…I won’t be back until they’ve forgiven me.
I’ll get down on my knees if I hafta. And if my son wants to sock me in the face, that’s fine too.
I-I’ve been thinkin’ about what I’m gonna say to my wife… even though I’m not so good with words…
I’m gonna say, “I wanna recite the sutras with you by my side, for the rest of my life.”
…Well? How’s that sound?
That’s great!
Aw, c’mon, kid. You’re embarrassin’ me.
> Mutatsu has an embarrassed smile on his face.
Even though I’m a monk, I’m still attached to my family… I guess I’m a “worldly” monk, eh?
But, I finally faced the fact that I was drinkin’ to hide my true feelings.

He’s finally got a chance to turn his life around.



…Tch, it’s all your fault, kid. Lecturing you night after night…
…made me think about when I used to be a father.
Maybe Buddha sent you to help me… I gotta admit, I believe in fate.
If I hadn’t met you, I’d never have seen my family ever again.
I owe ya, kid…
> Mutatsu thanked you from the bottom of his heart…
> You feel like you fully understand him now.

I mean it’s never too late.





> The Unusual Monk Social Link has reached its maximum level!
> You have mastered the Unusual Monk Social Link!
> Your power to create Personas of the Tower Arcana has reached its maximum!
> Aelita Tolstoy has forged a bond that cannot be broken!



It’s going to be a while before I can make use of one thing he gave me.



> Obtained Reserve Tag.
…When you mix Cointreau with white rum, lemon juice, and ice…
…you get a cocktail called “XYZ.”
Movies and manga often use the initials “XYZ” to symbolize the end of something.
But, I think of XYZ as the best.
…Plus, it tastes sooo good goin’ down.
I’ll be prayin’ that your future is XYZ…
…So long, kid.
> You watched Mutatsu walk away with his head held high…
> You carried the Reserve Tag back to the dorm.

I’ll probably never see him again, but who knows? You never can tell what’ll happen.