Part 85: 8/1/09

8/1/09

You know it’s nice going some place far enough from Tartarus that I don’t have to worry about Shadows, even if it’s just for one night.



> Yasoinaba High School… This seems to be the place…
> A joint practice with the students at this school is scheduled for today and tomorrow…
What a rustic school.
There’s no convenience stores nearby, and no clubs either.
I want all of you to be on your best behavior, okay?
Gekkoukan Students: It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Yasoinaba Members: It’s a pleasure for us too!

Their school wasn’t as nice as Gekkoukan or anything but it was alright and all he students were nice.



Might as well try going all the way to the mountains for our runs.
Our region’s pretty flat, so this’ll be good practice.
Yasoinaba Students: …Aren’t we supposed to like, bond in a fellowship?
Why’s she bringing up stuff like basic drills…?
Gekkoukan Students: Who’s the liar who said that this’d be a paradise with hot springs…?
Afterwards, let’s do a couple sets of muscle training, and then a match.

So Yuko came with us, it wasn’t immediately obvious why.



Whoa, Yuko!? What’re you doing here?
I’ve got my reasons.
Anyways, wouldn’t you guys take the challenge more seriously if there was something at stake?
That’s true.
It’s not like you guys usually care about winning anyways, so why not?
…Are you saying that’s how our team is?
Well, maybe you’re right.
Alright, then not only will the losing school have to clean up… let’s add 10 wind springs to the bet!
Gekkoukan Students: It’s up to 10…!?
Yasoinaba Students: We can’t lose…!
> As a result of the match…

Yeah they hammered us. I’m pretty sure the local folk of Inaba must be inhuman volleyball machines or something.



Okay, time for the sprints, then!
…Me too?
Of course. This was your idea.
Yes, Ma’am…
> The fellowship ended without any problems…

After the busy day, we were all pretty excited to get a chance to chill out.



Did you hear they have a natural hot spring there?
Wanna wash each other’s backs later?
Sounds like fun.
This is so fun! Last year’s fellowship wasn’t too far from our school.
This place is so laid back… I love it.
That shopping district seems pretty lively, though. What a peaceful town… It’d be nice to live here.
> At that moment, a girl noticed you and came over…

The inn we were staying at sent some people down to take us there, which was pretty cool. We met the owner’s daughter, she seemed really nice.



The Amagi Inn sent me to get you.
Huh? Oh, th-thank you very much.
Um… You don’t work there, do you?
No, I’m just helping out. I’m Yukiko Amagi, the daughter of the hostess at the Amagi Inn.
The hostess’ daughter… So does that make you a junior hostess? Cool!
Oh, are you in high school?
No… I’m still in middle school.
You’re in middle school and you’re already helping with the family business…? Man, talk about responsible…
So are you going to inherit the business?
That… I don’t know yet.
…Hey, don’t stick your nose in other people’s business!
Yes, Ma’am… Sorry, People are always telling me I’m nosy…
Oh, that’s all right…
It’s fun chatting with people from outside town…
Woman’s Voice: Ah, Yuki-chan! Did you take the car keys?
Oh, Kasai-san. Car keys…? Why would I… Huh? What’s this?
> Yukiko pulled something from her pocket…
> …It seems to be car keys.

She should consider wearing brighter colors though, I get the feeling red would look great on her.



Kimono-Clad Woman: No worries. Well, I’m heading out to get some groceries.
Oh, do you want me to go instead?
Kimono-Clad Woman: N-No, that’s fine! No need to send you on that kind of errand, Yuki-chan!
Plus, they’d be too heavy for you…
By the way, Chie-san stopped by. She said she needed help with her homework.
Oh, okay.
Kimono-Clad Woman: …Oh, are you all guests? Forgive me for rambling on like that.
I’m a waitress at the Amagi Inn. I hope you enjoy your stay tonight.
> The waitress left…
I’m sorry about the wait. Shall we go? This way please.

Anyway this inn is just plain crazy, it’s like I died and went to heaven or something.



> This seems to be the town’s finest, longest-established inn…
So huge… So luxurious…
Is it really okay for people like us to stay here? Won’t we get a scolding?
From who?
Huh? Umm… The government?
What’re you talking about…?
…And hey, this isn’t your room, Yuko.
Yeah, about that! You gotta hear this!
There was some mistake, and I got stuck in the same room with Kaz!
Kaz… You mean Kazushi?
Wait, he’s here too?
…Huh? Wasn’t Kazushi supposed to take part in the tournament?
I was supposed to stay behind… to sort of look after him. He’s injured, so we’re trying a hot-springs cure!
I’m gonna get the most out of this trip by clearing up my skin, too!
Huh…
…Wait. Did you say you were in the same room?
Kazushi… is a guy, right?
He’s a big ol’ girl on the inside, but on the outside, yeah, he’s a guy.

I guess Kazushi is really badly hurt, it’s a shame.



Just stay in our room.
Man, I owe you for offering. If I couldn’t sleep here, I would’ve had to sleep out in the hall.
…Er, I mean I’d have kicked Kaz out into the hall, of course.
By the way, Kazushi’s injured…? Is he okay?
No, it’s pretty bad. That’s why we’re relying on the hot-springs cure…
Ugh, and that idiot didn’t say anything about it for the longest time. Thanks to that, it’s gotten even worse!
He’s such an idiot! A total dumbass! He’s got me so worried!
…Sounds like you two are perfect for each other.
What? You gotta be jok—Wait, what time is it?
Oops, it’s time for Kaz’s medication. Well, see you later!
…She can say whatever she wants but she’s taking pretty good care of him.
She’s kinda like… a mom. Though I know she’d hate if it I told her so.
> After taking a bath with everyone, you lazily talked about random things on the futon…

I could just stay here forever, if there weren’t unspeakable monsters I had to kill and all.



What, like boyfriends?
Yep, exactly!
Well… I’d be confessing my love if there was anyone I really liked.
I’d prefer a thin guy, but he’d have to be athletic…
And there’s no one at our school who fits that description.
What about Kazushi?
No way.
……
Uhh, but I do have this feeling…
This is just an if, okay?
IF Kaz and me don’t end up finding someone for a long time…
…I get this feeling I might end up getting married to him…
Ack, what should I do!?
What kind of premonition is that…?
I mean, he’s completely useless without me.
There’s no way he’ll even remember where he keeps his underwear.
Imagine him getting old all alone and eating nasty convenience store food every day!
It’s just so sad!
So marry him.
Nooooo! I’ve gotta fight it!

Anyway things turned to me about then. I didn’t really lie, I mean it’s not like Akihiko and I are going out or anything.



Not yet.
So you’re in the same boat as us.
…Does that mean the guys at our school just don’t meet our standards?
You two seem like you’re having fun… I really don’t get that sort of thing…
Ugh, I don’t want to think any more about a future with Kaz.
How about we tell some ghost stories?
Hmm, that’s fine with me, but I don’t scare easily.
…I do know a lot of stories, though.
Let’s hear ‘em… Although the way you say that is already giving me goosebumps.
O-one sec!
> Yuko left the room…
Male Student’s Voice: Wh-What do you want? I was gonna go to sleep…
Just shut it! Hey guys, I brought him!
> Yuko dragged your classmate Kazushi into the room…

Yuko dragged Kazushi in out of nowhere.



It’s okay. Just stay here, all right?
…Okay, Rio. Do your worst.
Is he your good luck charm?
N-No! I just… wanted him here.
You said he was helpless.
It’s exactly the opposite, huh. If Kazushi weren’t around…
AAAAAAAGH! Shut up!
You’re supposed to tell scary stories with four people! That’s the rules!
C’mon… Hurry up and let’s go in order!
…Alright, I’ll go first.
This story’s about the tunnel we passed through today…

Yeah that was when the lights went out.



Ack, don’t choke me! Get off! You’re stepping on my foot, too!
Whew… The lights are back…
Wh-Where’s the phone!?
> Yuko started calling somewhere…
Hello, front desk?
Um, about the blackout just now…
There…
…was no blackout?
……
Oh, thanks…
What’re we gonna do!? That was a real supernatural phenomenon…
Lights always turn on and off, though.
Are you an idiot!? The fact that they went out without anyone touching them means…!
Ughhh, let’s just stop talking about it! I’m pretending that never happened!
> ……
> The remote for the lights is on the ground near your feet…
> You… may have been the one who turned the lights off.
> ……
> You decide to keep quiet about this…
> A noisy, but fun, night passes…

Let’s see, what story did I end up telling? Oh, it was this really old one about a guy who tried to rescue his wife from the land of the dead but got spooked when he finally found her. I guess it’s more sad than scary, though. Not sure why I went for that one, this place just made me think of it for some reason.