Part 73: 7/14/09-7/18/09

7/18/09

Free at last. These exams always take too long.



Dowsing.
> ……
> You feel confident about your answer.

At least they didn’t have too much there to try and trip us up.



Octopus.
> ……
> You feel confident about your answer.

Feels like a waste of time, though.



Minamoto No Yoritomo.
> ……
> You feel confident about your answer.

I mean it’s all so easy.



I went, I learned.
> ……
> You feel confident about your answer.

Anyway this morning Junpei came up to me, we talked for a bit.



……
Thank god today’s the last day of exams…
How’ve you been doing?
D-Don’t ask.
I can’t wait to let off some steam…
Don’t you just love summer…?

I’m feeling a lot better about how I did than he is, of course.



> The questions are just too easy.
> ……
> Your pen won’t stop moving!

We decided to get together after the exams for a bit.

Video- “Ken Amada”

Watch

The dark days of testing are finally over! The sun is shinin’ bright!
So, how’d you do?
Hey, check it out! I aced P.E.!
Well, that pretty much answers the question.
Psh, a real man doesn’t dwell on the past…
I’m thinking ahead to Yakushima!
Oh yeah, that’s coming up soon, isn’t it…?
Are ya ready?
Totally!
…I guess I should start getting ready, too.
I guess I should be more enthusiastic, huh?
Hey, I don’t have practice today, so do you wanna do something?
What do you say, Aelita?
Sounds good! Where we goin’?
If you need to buy a swimsuit, I’d be happy to help!
As if.
Alright, gimme a sec. I’m gonna go grab my stuff from the locker room.
…Oh, I’ll invite Fuuka, too.
> Yukari left the classroom…

Junpei decided to apologize for how he’s been since the operation, I’m glad we’re past that now.



Um… I’m sorry about the way I’ve been acting…
I was just in a bad mood and I took it all out on you…
I know it wasn’t too cool of me…
It’s okay.
Alright… Thanks.
Let’s go back to how things used to be between us, okay?
Alright, let’s get going.

We all got together at the school gates. Well, all but Mitsuru, she’s always so busy.



Woohoooooo!
Freedom at last! What should I do now!?
Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll think of something.
Hell yeah, I will!
…Hey, what’re you doing here, Akihiko-san?
Ikutsuki-san called me.
I think he wants to talk about a new candidate.
Does that mean another person is going to join?
Maybe…
Ooh, is it gonna be another girl!?
How should I know?
Fuuka!
What’s wrong, Natsuki-chan?
Do you think you can stay after school with me for a mandatory study session? There’s like, no one—
Oh, you’re going back to your “home” home today, huh?
Okay, then never mind.
Hey, wait.
It’s alright. Let’s go.
Sorry, I’ll see you all later back at the dorm.

I’m so happy Fuuka’s managed to start making new friends, she looks so happy now. Speaking of new friends, Ikutsuki picked that time to show up with the new candidate.



I’m really surprised at how much she’s changed.
Ah, friendship… How beautiful!
Adolescence is such a wonderful thing! So full of vibrancy!
Mr. Chairman…!
Oh, hello. I just stopped by to pick someone up.
I might as well introduce you to him now.
Hello.
…!
Oh, hi, Ken-kun. What’s up?
You know him…?
He doesn’t leave during the break because of his… circumstances.
Oh, I heard about that…
Something about his parents…
It was only me and my mom, but she got in an accident, and she… she died.
It happened two years ago.
…Right now, one of his distant relatives is paying for his school expenses.
But, staying at the elementary school dorm all by himself isn’t proper for a child his age.
So I decided to move him to your dorm for the summer.
To OUR dorm!? Do you really think that’s a good idea!?

It’s amazing such a small child could be a Persona user, but I don’t see how it’s okay to make a kid fight.



Then, he’s the new candidate…?
Yes…
But, as you can see, he’s still just an elementary school student. So, it is merely a possibility for now.
……
Are you… Sanada-senpai?
Um… yeah.
I’ve heard a lot about you… You haven’t lost a boxing match yet.
It’s a real honor to meet you!
Yeah, well… It’s nice to meet you.
……

We thought about going to Tartarus, but I decided we should just hold off until after Yakushima.



Yakushima, here we come! I can’t wait for Monday!
And then, one week of school ‘til summer break!
Frickin’ awesome!
Aren’t you getting a little carried away?
I mean, the trip is only for a few days, and we’ll still have to fight Shadows over summer break.
In other words, we can’t afford to stop training in Tartarus…
I know, I know!
But, my energy level is so high during summer, no one can stop me!
Anyway, tomorrow I’m gonna start packing, so if we’re going to Tartarus, then let’s do it today.

The authorities are getting more panicked about Apathy Syndrome by the day it seems.



Newscaster: It’s dealing with the many cases of Apathy Syndrome over the last few months.
Cultural anthropologists are investigating the causes, and…

I’m not sure why but Akihiko seems really uncomfortable about Ken coming here.



…with us.

I don’t have much of an opinion of him, I just met him that one time a while back.



I wish “someone” would learn from his example.
I wonder why he’s like that…

I guess we’ll see once break starts. We’ve got the trip before then.



I just want to relax…
What, are you an old lady or something? Live a little!
Do I have to force you to have fun?

The Chairman is handling the tickets, fortunately.



Although, I was a little disappointed about the price…
It turns out the fare for the ferry wasn’t very fair.
But, when I told the lady selling the tickets that, she just ignored me.
* sigh * I was a little hurt after that.

I’ve been getting ready since we made the plans, fortunately.



Heck yeah!
Impressive. You seem to have a lot of free time to spare, even though you had finals.
I hope you did well on them.

Even Fuuka’s excited about it.



I’m getting so excited now!

That Ken was a Persona-user wasn’t the only surprise in store for me today.



She’s raising money to help orphans in foreign countries.
I don’t look at it as a donation so much as an investment. Let me explain…
Children who learn to cope with adversity are more likely to become rich and famous, like me.
I’m thinking of donating 10 million yen. Not a corporate donation, but a private one.
When I told them over the phone, they sent me this.
> President Tanaka handed you a thank-you letter.
I received it the very next day. Now, I can’t back out…
10 million yen is nothing to me, though.
Once those children grow up and become successful, I’ll introduce myself to them.
I’ll say, “I’m the one who made all this possible!” Then, I’ll be well taken care of in my old age!
This idea probably would not have occurred to me if it wasn’t for our conversations…
By talking to you, I seem to have developed an interest in watching others mature…
I thank you for that. Actually, I should be thanking myself… for wisely noticing his.
> Despite his self-flattery, you sense President Tanaka’s true appreciation.
> You feel like you fully understand him now.

Does having a sort of jerk reason for doing the right thing actually spoil it? I don’t really think so, in the end.





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



He may be incredibly shady, but in the end he’s not really that bad of a guy.



I worked myself to the bone to earn that money, and all I get in return is a piece of paper?
…But it’s not a bad feeling…
> You received a Thank-you Letter.
…I’m going now. The paparazzi could be anywhere.
If any of them were to find out, my plan would be ruined.
Oh, by the way…
I’ve decided to cancel the exclusive modeling contract we discussed.
You’re better off being a diamond in the rough.
No one needs to polish you; you’ll shine on your own. When you do, everyone will take notice.
…I’ll look forward to that day.
Tootaloo, girl.
> President Tanaka sent you on your way with some kind words and a thank-you letter.