Part 52: July 30 - August 1: The Lonely and the Bereaved
-Cicadas-
During the summer, Inaba's sunny-day background music switches from Your Affection to bug noises. The in-game sounds are quiet and soothing and therefore, flagrantly unnatural.
I just finished my shift at the store. Are you free today?-Like A Dream Come True-
> Souzai Daigaku...You came at Rise's earnest request.
But that really hit the spot! I've been wanting to come here. But it's a little embarrassing to show up alone, you know?
You don't eat out? Nope! If someone snapped a photo of me doing that, I'd hear it from my agency. The last time I ate out was at a festival when I was still a little kid. Back then, it was me and my family...It was fun.> Rise is smiling nostalgically...
To tell you the truth, I've wanted to do this since I was a child. My parents were actually pretty strict.
I didn't really have many friends. Though I guess that couldn't be helped, since I hardly ever showed up for school. Er, that's enough talk about that! What a depressing subject, huh? Let's talk about something fun. After all, I don't want to waste the time we have together! It's so great that I came to this town and met you. Really, I'm serious!> Rise smiles naturally...
Rise will now point out enemy affinities for the team, although she's not very specific; she just says things like "Careful--there's an enemy immune to wind!"
Why don't I start by asking what kind of girl you like?> You dealt with Rise's barrage of questions until it became dark, then went home.
-Smile-
What should I do...? The teacher will yell at me. I'll help you look for it. Thank you, big bro.> Nanako seems ready to cry with distress...You decide to search the house.
> ...? A paper titled "Parent Survey Regarding Scheduling of Parent-Teacher Interviews" was hidden among them. The word "Anytime" has been written in the "Day Requested" box...Is this the paper Nanako was looking for...? There's something else hidden in the papers. It seems to be a photo. You decide to show it to Nanako...You handed the paper and photo to Nanako. Nanako looks at the paper on the table...
So...he can come anytime?
I see...*giggle* And this is...a photo? Oh, this is...Mom...This little baby in the middle...That's me. Dad's smiling...Why did Dad stop smiling...? He's lonely, too. Dad's...lonely...? I see...So that's it...> Nanako has realized something.
After Mom died, I was lonely, but...I'm not the only one who's sad that Mom's not here any more. Dad...He was lonely, too...I'm sorry, Dad.> Nanako looks more mature, somehow...
Thank you, big bro...Will Dad ever smile like this again?> Nanako stares at the photo...It's getting late, so you put Nanako to bed and went to your own room.
-Tanaka's Amazing Commodities-
Oh, Sanzo-chan...> For some reason, Hisano seems surprised...
...Yes, I would like to talk.> Hisano seems to have regained her composure...
-Traumerei-
I thought you were my husband...Watching the river here with you, like this, brings back memories... Of what?
Of when I was still young, before I became this wrinkled old lady.> Hisano smiles...
I met my husband here in this town. I was born and raised here, and he was part of a traveling company of actors. They'd come to town once a year...When I was small, my family took me to see the play. That's when I met my husband, who was a child actor. He had clear, pale skin, and he spoke completely differently from the other children...He was my first love. Every year, he would come...And every year, I would watch...I gathered all the courage I had and talked to him. By some miracle, he fell in love with me, too...We would just talk behind the stage. One date every year. Haha...I thought he was just flirting with me, but I thought that was okay...But do you know what he did? He quit the company and said he would live here, and marry me! He did fieldwork, though he didn't know how...He would come home and show me his blisters. He was so proud...I was happy back then. I'm jealous. I'm sure the day will come where you'll be so happy you could just cry out of happiness. No, there are many people who are in the midst of happiness...They just don't realize it. If you don't know what you should hold dear, then your life is just a journey without a destination.> Hisano smiles...
Right now...All I want to do is be by his side...But I know I never will. He went to Heaven...and I will surely go to Hell. That's not true! ...You're so kind.> Hisano smiles sadly...You feel that you understand Hisano a little bit...
I must be going now. It gets cold here, down by the river...I'll see you later, Sanzo-chan.> You left Hisano and went home.
Can I talk to you for a minute? There's something I want to say...> Yosuke seems tormented...
I see. Thanks, man...-Traumerei-
> Samegawa riverbank...You wandered here with a pensive Yosuke. Yosuke is holding something...
When I first got here, she insisted on taking it. Back then...somewhere inside me, I thought I was above this place...A lot of people saw me as the enemy because Junes was going to ruin the shopping district. But...when I met her, she told me, "Parents are parents. You're you..." Even if she didn't really mean it...it made me happy. Because of her...I started to think maybe this town wasn't all that bad.
But then... She died? Why...? Why did she...have to...die...? It pisses me off...It makes me mad! I wanted to talk with her more! I wanted to get to know her better! But...She's...not here anymore.> Yosuke is sobbing out loud...
Sanzo...I get it now. I wanted to forget about Saki-senpai. How she's not here anymore. I wanted to forget that...I was living a boring life in the middle of nowhere. When the murders started, I got excited...I thought there was finally a point to me being in Inaba...I thought I could forget Senpai was gone...and the fact that I was such a loser...I jumped at the murders and never once thought about what I was doing... I...didn't even take the first step...I'm sorry...Saki-senpai. I'm sorry...Sanzo. Don't apologize. But...I got you involved with the case, and all I did was run away from myself...> Yosuke is looking at you, his eyes red...
But I think I'm awake now...I need to get over the fact that Saki-senpai isn't coming back...That when this case ends...I'll have nowhere to run...And I won't have changed...You made me realize that.> It seems you were able to act as Yosuke's crutch...You feel a bond between you and Yosuke...
Sanzo...I think I'm all cried out... (Hug him) You dumbass...That's for girls...
> Yosuke is crying...You waited until Yosuke stopped crying and walked him home.
> It's from Chie...
The time has come...RETURN OF THE TRIAL OF THE DRAGON! It's out!
It's gonna b so good! U come with me! That's all I have 2 say!
> The movie Chie wanted to watch is now being shown at the theater. If you go to the movie theater, perhaps you should invite Chie...
I like the stand on this doll.
If you keep bringing bugs for Akihiko, this will happen soon after you get him started on Meiou Crickets:
It's because you keep bringing him his delicious num-nums. Thank you for looking after him.
Even when she's not around, Eri continues to be a pain in my ass.