Part 70: September 21 - September 23: Suckers Get Told

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Yasogami High shoe lockers...Ai told you she would be right back...


Our class had a presentation today, so we were at the auditorium.
Other student: Oh yeah, you guys are both on the basketball team, right?
Conceited student: Hey...Isn't Ai Ebihara your manager!?
Other student: Seriously!? Damn, now I'm jealous!
It's not like she comes to practice...
Conceited student: Heh, probably because she's always on the prowl for guys.
Smirking student: Yeah, I heard she's pretty loose. And doesn't she look like she's got a sugar daddy or two?
Other student: Yeah, she's stacking the paper.
Conceited student: I wonder how much she gets paid...?
Other student: Damn, dude, don't hold back or anything!
Smirking student: You think it's a cheaper market out here in the boonies?
Other student: I don't know man, this is premium grade high school tail we're talking about...And with a body like that?
Conceited student: Seriously, just look at her hips...

> The conversation is getting more and more vulgar...

(Stop them)

> The conversation stopped abruptly. It seems Kou was also offended...

Cut the crap, guys. You don't even know if that stuff is true.
Other student: Alright, alright...Aw shit, I'm gonna be late for the meeting!
Sorry, Sanzo. I know you and Ai-san are pretty close, right? But those guys aren't usually that bad. Don't hold it against 'em, all right?

> You sense Kou's consideration...

See ya.



-Traumerei-

...Did you hear them?
They were practically yelling...It's not like...that kinda stuff really bothers me. I expect it. They don't even know me. Why should I care what they think...? I'm fine...
But...thanks.

> Ai blushes happily...


I'm gonna head home...And you're gonna walk with me.

> You walked Ai to her house and went home...







-Like A Dream Come True-


And hey, she's the expert.



-Who's There?-

Huh? Yeah, well I wouldn't.
Police officer: ...Come with me.
You got a warrant?
S-Smooth, Senpai...

> Kanji looks happy...

Police officer: Ah...You're the kid that Tatsumi's been hanging out with lately. I see. So you're in cahoots...
So what if we hang out? What's it to you?
Police officer: ...You know there's been a group of teenage bullies lurking around here, don't you? We got a tip saying you've been threatening a child at the hill and the flood plain.
Threatening? Child...? Oh, him.
Police officer: Hmph, so you admit it. Not a shred of remorse, either.
It's a misunderstanding.
Police officer: Oh? So tell me...What was he doing?
Er, that's...

> Kanji is hesitant to say...

Police officer: You two are going to have to come with us down to the station.
Now wait a sec! Senpai has nothin' to do with this!


Police officer: You know these boys, kid? Can you tell me how you know them? I don't think they're being straight with me.
The hell are you telling that kid!? You call yourself a cop!?
Police officer: Did this boy ask you for anything? For instance, did he claim he lost his money?
Doll boy: You lost your money, Mister? You can have some of mine!
Police officer: Just as I thought...
That ain't...
Doll boy: Oh, but I came today to give you the cookies Mom baked as thanks. I was going to sneak in and leave them at Tatsumi Textiles, but here you are.
Police officer: "Thanks?" Thanks for what?
Doll boy: He made me a bunch of dolls, like a bunny and cat. He's real good!
Police officer: Dolls!? And you're saying Tatsumi made them? What a load of...There's no way you're getting me to believe that.
Tell him, Kanji.
Yeah, Senpai. I got it!

> Kanji nodded firmly...

-Like A Dream Come True-

Awright, listen up, punks...There ain't any lying about it. I made the kid some dolls. What with the ones for his friends and his mom, it was eight all told! And lemme warn you...They're so cute, they'll give you diabetes--the instantly fatal kind! So what, you want me to teach you how to make 'em!? Huh!?
Police officer: What...?
You 'bout to say that ain't like me, right? Go ahead and laugh, dammit! Like I care. I'm used to being pointed at. And what's most important is, I ain't gonna make this kid or Senpai a liar! Hey you! That button's falling off! I'm gonna sew it back on, y'hear!?


Police officer: Oh--Well, Ma'am, there've been several cases of bullying around here, so...
Kanji's mother: Kanji had nothing to do with them.
Mom...
Kanji's mother: He would never do such a thing. He may be stupid and short-tempered, but he's a strong and gentle child. Why, just the other day, he showed me his dolls, and he told me I can put them up for sale...
Y-You old bag! What're you saying!?
Police officer: W-We apologize. If you'll...excuse us...


Kanji's mother: You would never do such a thing. A mother knows. I need to prepare dinner now...Don't go stuffing yourself at Aiya before coming home.


Doll boy: Mister...Are you crying?
N-N-No! I ain't crying! This is...snot! I got a cold! You wanna catch it!? Huh!?

> It seems Kanji has grown a bit...




Senpai...I-I...think I'm gettin' a sore throat with my cold...Dammit...M-My nose won't stop runnin'...!

> You waited for Kanji to calm down, then went home.





> Today is the Autumnal Equinox, so you have the day off from school.


You're going to one, right? I wanna go see what that's like.

> You decided to take Marie to school...

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Samegawa flood plain...You decided to take Marie to school with you.


You don't get tired of it?
It's fun.
Fun...? Oh, do they have a TV there? Can you watch "StarScandalz?"

> Though she misunderstands, Marie seems to be enjoying this...

Yo, partner! Whatcha do--


I heard that you'd been with Chie and Yukiko. So you're showing her around, huh?
What are you guys doing? Out on a stroll?
I'm showing her the school.
Huh? You are?

> You tell Yosuke how Marie wants to see the school...

Oh, I get it. Marie-chan goes to a different school, after all, huh. Er, still...What could be special about our school?
Oh, well. All right, I'll join ya. Allow me to welcome you to Yasogami High! Heheh!
Can I go inside?
No problem! There's some committee meeting today, so the gate should be open. I mean, we can always say that we're showing you around the school!

-Youthful Lunch-

> Yasogami High, 2nd floor hall...


Pretty retro, huh? I guess you could call it cozy.


Huh? It is...?
Well, there's a lot of empty land here...I guess the school's pretty big if you count the fields and yards and stuff. What about where you are, Marie-chan? Is it cramped, since it's in the city?
Me? It's tiny. I mean, it's a single room.
One room!?...Seriously? Is it, uh...some kind of advanced placement class or something?
I don't know. It's small, it's dark, The Nose never says anything. Nobody ever says anything. It's boring.
The Nose...? Is that, uh, what you call your teacher? A teacher who doesn't talk...Isn't that neglecting your job?



> It seems Marie is very interested in your school...


Then again, everybody I've gotten to know recently has been pretty much on the odd side, so I'm used to it. Haha...

> Yasogami High, Rooftop...


What do you think? Isn't this a great place to spend your youth?
Youth? How does someone spend youth? Give me an example.
An e-example!? Well, y'know, um...building friendships, sharing your concerns, confiding in each other...stuff like that?
It's kinda awkward to have to put it into words...
...I don't get it. Do Green and Red do that, too?
Of course.
Why do you need to spend youth? Don't you have anything better to do?
Y-You want me to say more?
Er, well...I mean, it's fun. Not being in superficial relationships...Being with people who know the real you.
...The real you?
Being with people like that helps keep me from losing sight of who I am. Y'know, so I can face myself...
...Arrrrrgh! This is embarrassing! I can't say any more! Sorry!
Face yourself...
Wondering about your "true self?"
No. I said it before, there's...no truth.

> Marie is deep in thought...

Let's just...end this here. Please, forget I said anything.
So, um...I know! You haven't seen the library yet, right!? We don't have all day, so let's get going!



> It seems Marie is wondering about the meaning of what Yosuke said...


...Let's go.

> After showing Marie around the school with Yosuke, you escort Marie back to the Velvet Room...


Middle-aged nurse: We're going to be needing this room, so can you get all your cleaning supplies out of here?
Is there an emergency?
Middle-aged nurse: Uehara-san...One of the nurses just collapsed. She needs to rest, but the doctors on break are using the lounge, so...She seems overworked...Er, don't tell anyone I said that, okay? I'd rather not get hauled in for a review...Here, help me.

> A nurse laid Sayoko down on the bed and injected her with a syringe...


I was just a little wobbly...
Overworking, I hear?
They're trying to get rid of me. I'm always pressuring them to do their jobs.
*sigh* I'm lucky they didn't tie me down with an IV. I'm all right now...



> It seems Sayoko is still set on continuing to work. What should you do?

Don't do it all yourself.
Wh-What? Why are you acting so high and mighty...?
I mean...I might be able to save someone's life. I need to do what I can. I can't spend time worrying about myself. Otherwise...I'd never be able to face him again...

-Traumerei-

Would "he" want that?
O-Of course he would...Wouldn't he...?
Oh...I see. I...I was doing it for myself. I wanted to escape the pain...I was working hard, to avoid feeling anything at all...I see that now...Haha...I'm so stupid.

> Sayoko seems to be holding back tears...

I get it...Yeah, I get it...Thank you...

> Sayoko tries to smile...You feel that you were able to give Sayoko some support...


...I'm going to rest for a little while longer. You can go now. Don't look at me...

> You left Sayoko and went home...