Part 87: November 7 - November 9: The Semblance of Normalcy

-Specialist-


Mr. Yamada: Speaking of cold, it got cold really quickly this year. Remember to wear extra layers so you don't get sick. But ladies, it's not good to wear warm-ups under your skirts...Why? Because no one can see your legs...Er, that was a joke. Just my way of reminding you all to wear your school uniforms, got it? All right, back on topic. I'll ask a question about the South Pole. I'll pick you, Sanzo-kun, since you don't even button the front of your uniform in cold weather!


No country.
Mr. Yamada: How'd you know? I'm impressed! You're right, the South Pole doesn't belong to anyone. The Antarctic Treaty System of 1961 rules that all land below 60 degrees south latitude belongs to no nation. Similarly, the North Pole is not owned by any country, either. In fact, there's no land at the North Pole. It's just ice floating on the ocean. Hahaha! Now, please get out your textbooks. Let's go over the...

> Nanako is in no condition to be visited. You must wait for her to recover.

-How Much?-


...Is Nanako-chan not well? I'm sure you must have some reason for being worried, but, your body is a temple...Please take good care of it.


There's always a time when a man has to face life with a stern expression...But...Well, just don't overdo it.

-Your Affection-


Unfamiliar dog: Grrrr...

> It seems extremely angry for some reason...What should you do?

(Try talking to it)
Unfamiliar dog: Grrr...

> The dog is still wary of you, but it seems to have calmed down a little...What can you do to put it off guard? The unfamiliar dog seems to still be sniffing at Souzai Daigaku...You try giving it a Super Croquette.

Unfamiliar dog: Woof.

> The unfamiliar dog kept a close eye on you as it ate the food you gave it...The unfamiliar dog ran off. It seems to be less wary of you now. You should try coming back another day.


Old man: Oh, it's you...How goes the fishing? Me, I'm done for...I'm not as limber as I used to be. My fishing days may be at an end...My only regret is that I never did manage to catch that one fish...

> Could this old man have written the ema that the fox showed you...? It seems he wishes to see the Guardian of Shichiri Beach once...

Leave it to me.
Old man: Oh...? You say YOU'RE going to catch the fish that even I never could?...Well...It must have been fate that led me to give you my fishing rod...All right, I'll teach you everything I know. Finish the task I started.
(Ask about the Sea Guardian)
Old man: Mm...I've only seen it once with my own eyes, back when I was young...I felt a tremendous pull on the line, and when I reeled it in with everything I had...That thing...Not only was it huge, it had this godlike aura about it...I fought and fought, but it got away. Maybe it was just toying with me. But I came away thinking only one thing..."I want to recapture that excitement. I need to catch that fish"...After that, I fished whenever I had the time, but I'm old now. Not what I once was...I can't do that anymore. Just once, I wish I could see that fish before I die. That's all I ask...
(Ask about bait for the Sea Guardian)
Old man: Mm, that's a great question. Uhh, it's that thing...What was it...? It's slipped my mind again. It's a big, round one, though, I know that. That's the only bait it'll take. Hrm, if only I could remember the name...
(Ask for tips on the Sea Guardian)
Old man: Mm, that's a tough question. Luck is pretty important, but it's true that you'll be luckier on some days than others. Like I said before, the key is fishing on days when the water level rises. But never mind that...I'm gonna teach you the ultimate technique. Now listen close, boy. I came up with this after many years of research. I don't want you going and telling anyone else. Before the fish takes the bait, it'll always poke at it first. The bigger the fish, the bigger the ripples'll be when that happens. So what happens if you pull out the line when the fish is poking at it? It's simple: the fish will run off and the bait will still be there. You throw the line back in, and a different fish will poke at it instead. So if the ripples don't seem right for the kind of fish you're after...Well, I don't suppose I need to finish that, do I?
(Show him the Sea Guardian)
Old man: What? Is that true? Oh my! Th-Th-That's...! *cough* *cough* *wheeze* *gasp* *gasp* Ohh, that was a surprise. I saw my dead wife for a moment there...But that's it. That's the Sea Guardian I never could catch in all my years...Young man...Well done! I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes. I'm glad I lived to be this age...I have no regrets now...Maybe it's time for me to join my dear wife...No, it's not over yet! I got the fire of a fisherman lit in you. And I can do the same for other children too! You won't mind if I do a little more work before I shuffle off this mortal coil, right, my dear? It won't be too long...

> You granted the ema's wish! You should report this back to the fox...

Old man: There's nothing more I can do for you. You're a real master fisherman now.

-Traumerei-

> Central shopping district, Chinese Diner Aiya...


They were really against it...
They told me, "That's not what we want. Live the way you want to"...
Then they asked, "You hate school, don't you? You're just running away from it." They got all suspicious of me suddenly. I wasn't expecting that at all.
I wouldn't have, either.
I was just stunned. I couldn't even think of anything to say to them.

> Naoki is biting his lip...

If I wanted to run, I could do that forever. Since everyone's being so kind to me. Not just the Health Association...The class chores, club activities...Everyone says I can just do whatever.
Even the teachers just allow me to take tests home. If I show up late, if I leave early, I don't get penalized. None of my actions have consequences. I can't tell if I'm right or wrong, since everyone reacts the same way. No one gives me orders. They just tell me to "take it easy." Then they take all responsibility away from me. Eventually, it doesn't matter if I'm even there. I don't have to do anything...I don't even have to exist.
Am I really that pitiable...?
You're not the only one.
...I know.

> Naoki is biting his lip.

What should I do...? Should I just keep going around and telling people not to treat me special, like I've been doing? Should I act like Sis never existed?
Being stared at...Being pitied...Being alienated by my friends...Should I just pretend not to notice? Until everyone gets tired of it?
When they do get tired of it...Won't I be alone?
I'm sorry...I'm just rambling...I really don't know what I'm saying right now...

> You can feel that Naoki is trying to open his heart to you...


Haha...I'm sorry. It's not a good subject to talk about while eating...Lately, I don't even taste my food...

> You went home after eating with Naoki.

-Tanaka's Amazing Commodities-



-Alone-



...Fuck this house.

-Sky Full of Stars-


When it gets this cold, there's nothing I want more than to go to a hot spring. There's a lovely hot spring inn nearby. Would you like to take a trip there and spend a night with me?...Just kidding. But it really is cold today, isn' it?
Now that I can catch more Genji Beetles I've been feeding them to Akihiko all week, but it looks like this is as big as he gets. Feeding him more just gets him to spit up more Ryugu Stones for you.



-Your Affection-



> You try giving it a Super Croquette...

Unfamiliar dog: Arf arf!

> The unfamiliar dog gulped the food right down...

Unfamiliar dog: *whine*

> You feel as if the dog's opened up to you quite a bit...Should you try calling its name again?

Mika-chan.
Unfamiliar dog: Arf!

> It answered! This dog seems to be Mika-chan. You should go tell the lady in Okina who was looking for her Mika-chan...



> You told her about the dog you saw at Souzai Daigaku in Inaba's shopping district.

Frantic middle-aged woman: That's her! My Mika-chan! I'll make my husband drive out there! Emi-chan will be with me too, so she'll be able to find her by scent. Thank you so much...This is for you, as thanks. Isn't it wonderful? I think you'll like it.

> You obtained Haikara Shirt.



Hey, just what I needed!



Ditto!

-Like A Dream Come True-



Looks like Ayane didn't murder the band after all. That's good, on the whole.


I just wanted to tell you how good it feels to play lately. Me and this old girl are getting along great.

> Ayane is looking at her trombone with a smile.

You know what, Senpai? I think instruments have feelings, too. I was treating it like an object before...
Probably because I wasn't looking at the bigger picture. I think what I needed was for someone to open my eyes.
And that's where everything you taught me came in, Senpai...

> Ayane is looking up at you with admiration in her eyes...


I think I'm gonna practice a little more, so please go on ahead, Senpai.
I want to get good enough to make this girl really sing. Plus...I'm hoping someone will tell me how proud I've made him...
Er...Th-There I go again! Haha...! A-Anyway, be careful out there, Senpai!

> You parted with Ayane and went home.



-Your Affection-


I hope they allow Nanako-chan to have visitors soon...Of course, there's nothing we can do about that. Oh, if you don't mind, I'm free today...

> Naoto is trying to make you feel better...

Um...There's something I want you to see.

-Deduction-

> Samegawa flood plain...Naoto brought a new challenge from the Phantom Thief.


The Phantom Thief knows where I live...
...Which means he had other reasons for having you deliver the first card. Why you, though...?
Because I looked useless.
If that's the case...this Phantom Thief isn't a very good judge of character.

> Naoto is laughing heartily.

So then, what do you think of the contents of this card?

> The card reads as follows...

Writing on the card: When the banks close, the fruit tree grows. By the large seven at the third is the spot I chose.
More cryptic this time. Well, I anticipated that. The first thing that comes to mind with "fruit tree" is the original card. But the second sentence...
"By the seven," "at the third"...What do these numerical values mean...? "When the banks close, the fruit tree grows. By the large seven at the third is the spot I chose..."
The numbers are important.
I'm starting to doubt Naoto's deductive prowess here.
The numbers themselves...? The seven and the third...

> Naoto's eyes lit up.

"When the banks close, the fruit tree grows"...Look at the third and seventh words..."Banks" and "tree." In other words, "by the large tree at the banks is the spot I chose!" A-Anyway, let's search for the biggest tree at this river's banks!

> You searched the riverbank with Naoto. There was something buried by the tree you found...



> Naoto holds a digital watch, slightly large for a child's wrist.

This is pretty advanced, you know. It's one of the seven tools of the detective. It has an extremely strong backlight. You can use it to blind the enemy...I modified it when I was a child. I've always loved this sort of thing, ever since childhood. I preferred robots and cars to dolls and teddy bears...I liked high places, so I had a secret base in the trees...I enjoyed that...
Why...? Why couldn't I have been born male...? It would have been much easier for me...I could have done what I wanted to with gusto...It's funny, isn't it...?


Sanzo-san...
Now that I have people who'll say that to me...What right have I to complain?

> Naoto is smiling sadly...

Really...It's quite difficult to keep my composure when you're around. I feel like I'm being lectured...Like I'm still a child...
......

> Naoto looks at her feet, embarrassed...




I-It seems I've been doing all the talking...
Why don't you tell me about yourself? What were you like as a child?...I wish I could have seen it.

> You chatted idly with Naoto, then went home.

-Alone-