Part 81: 7/26/09

7/26/09

For just a moment I awoke knowing the freedom of vacation, before the reality of what we still had to do set in.



Still, the Shadows can’t steal the days from me.



‘Ello, zis eez Bebe. Do you ‘ave a minute?
It’s okay.
I ‘ave nozing to do today. Would you like to do somezing wiz me?
Yatta! I can’t wait! I shall leave at zis very moment!

We went down to the mall. Bebe’s a nice guy but I don’t really get him sometimes.



> You’re having a good time hanging out with Bebe.
Zis eez so much fun! Tanoshii!
> Bebe seems to enjoy playing arcade games
But, somezing eez wrong… What about ze traditional games…?
> Bebe seems disappointed.
Like flying a kite or spinning a top…
Doesn’t anyone play zem anymore?
Some people still do.
Some people… Don’t tell me, are zey played illegally!?
Zey must’ve become evil people’s games…
> Bebe is nodding…
> Today, you learned something new about him.

I mean I was just going to say you mostly do stuff like that out in the country but the image of Yakuza gambling on kites still makes me laugh. Anyway I brought along some of those cupcakes Fuuka and I had made.



Wow, dis iz amazing! Aelita-sama, you made, no?
…C’est bon! Oishii! Japanese sweets are zhe best!
> Bebe seems to really like the present.
> It’s getting late…
> You decide to go back to the dorm.

It’s easy to forget the impact the Shadows are having.



Narrator: Episode 23: Here comes a new Challenger! Ninja Locust arrives!
And before the news begins, Feather Condor has a message for you all!
Feather Condor: Hey, guys! There are some grim-looking folks out there, but you viewers are okay, right?
After all, you’ve got me looking out for you! So don’t worry! We’ll meet again next week!
Newscaster: …And now, the news.

But we’ve got to keep this place safe.



I’m a little nervous about living here…

Yukari’s been thinking about this herself.



If the number of The Lost keeps growing, then won’t the country eventually collapse?
There’s so much riding on our shoulders. * sigh *

Fuuka’s getting worried too.



Will Japan be taken over by another nation, or…
…No, I shouldn’t think like that… We have to stay positive, right?

When Yukari brought it up Aigis just sort of stood there a bit making a weird noise and then said she’d run the numbers on what would happen.



First of all, The Lost are a strain on society, since they drain resources but are unable to contribute anything.
But, that is only the beginning.
These individuals also require care, which means many people will quit their jobs in order to attend to them.
Fewer and fewer people will be working, so society’s productivity will plummet.
Eventually, this country will no longer be able to sustain itself, and chaos will result.

Junpei’s reaction to all of this was pretty predictable.



If that happens, how will I shop at the convenience store?
* sigh * I guess the concept is too big for your brain to comprehend.
You’re an idiot, ya know that?

We’ve just got to defeat the Shadows and end this, for everyone’s sake.