Part 35: 7/1/11-7/3/11

7/1/11

July started on a horrible, rainy note. I decided to get an Aiya bowl to cheer me up. Then I headed to the hospital, our funds are still a bit low.



Good evening…
I'm sorry about what happened last time, when I was staring at your face.
You just… You looked like someone I knew.
> The old woman smiles gently…
Do you work here?
Only part-time…
My, is that so. That's wonderful…
I have a granddaughter about your age… She went back home today, though…
Thinking about it… Meeting you here is a wonder…
But I won't be coming back here anymore…

I decided to just get the big question over with.



Haha…
This isn't a big town; we might run into each other eventually.
I like to take in the sun at the riverbed when I have days off.
The river sparkles so beautifully… It all feels so good, it saddens me.
Haha, I'll be going now.
> The old woman left…

Sayoko showed up as the old woman left.



That room over there needs some work done in it. Perhaps you could…?
…Oh, whatever, just get in there.

The room was indeed a mess.



The patient who had been in this room left just a little while ago. I want you to mop the floor.
…Don't ask what happened here.
…Okay.
Oho, I was just kidding.
The patient who was here was released today. He returned right from the brink of death!
> Sayoko smiles mischievously…
He was a good patient, who always listened to what I said.
Plus, he was the president of his company at a young age. He was handsome, didn't complain, and independent.
He wanted to get back to his work… Desperately.
And, thanks to his perseverance, he was able to leave even earlier than we had scheduled to release him.
"Thank you for caring for me," he said, bowing to me so happily…
Then he turned and walked out.
He said such stupid things, like that he loved me.
…Everyone leaves.
They only need me when they're my patients… In the end, they all leave me.

You know, some days I'm glad my biggest worry is that I'll be horribly killed by evil monsters.



You make it sound easy…
Well, I guess that's to be expected. You're still a high school student… and it's not like you know me.
> Sayoko smiles sadly…
…I must not have been making sense. Forget about what I was saying.
I'll ask another janitor to handle this room. You go on home.
The streets are dark… You shouldn't be here.
You wouldn't want to get caught… by me.
> Sayoko gives you a faint smile…
> You feel that you just saw a bit of Sayoko's inner self…

For all that over the top stuff earlier I think she's actually a really nice person.



Nice work.

There's rain on the forecast again next week. Will the fog come then? I guess I'll know soon enough.

7/2/11

It turned out I didn't need to bug Daisuke into doing what we wanted him to.



That's her. My ex-girlfriend.
She shows up every so often to watch us practice.
I wonder if she's as stuck in the past as I am…
Could be.
Then… we definitely need to talk. Not just for me, but for her, too.
> Daisuke nod with a gentle expression…
Thinking back on it…
I… should've just told her everything that was on my mind.
Even if the truth hurt, at least we would have understood each other…
Well, I'll talk to her after practice.
> Thanks to your and Kou's efforts, Daisuke is taking a big step…

He understood that he needed to make an effort to change.



By sheer luck I managed to see what happened next.



> Daisuke is talking with his ex-girlfriend…
I just want you to know… I really did like you, back then.
Daisuke's Ex: ……
What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
……
Hey, have you been coming to practice because of you…
Daisuke's Ex: Oh, he's here.
Get outta the way, or he might get the wrong idea.
Senpai, you're late!
Varsity Player: Sorry about that. Tearing down the goals took a little longer than usual today.
Daisuke's Ex: So you'll take me somewhere nice for dinner then, right? *giggle *
Varsity Player: Sure, sure.
Daisuke…? What's up, man?
I'll see ya at practice. Later.
Daisuke's Ex: Daisuke… Thank you.
……

For just a second I thought he hadn't taken it well.



> Daisuke laughs with relief.
> You walked home with him.

I started work on that guy's model robot earlier, this is going to take a while I think. The fog is definitely coming next week, though again I'm not sure why I'm worried. I mean we rescued Rise, everything should be fine.

7/3/11

I was walking down by the river earlier and had an unexpected encounter.



Oh, you don't happen to be… the hospital janitor?
That's right.
My, I didn't think I would see you here.
It's a nice day today… Would you take the time to talk with this old woman?

It was indeed a nice day and I didn't have anything pressing so I agreed.



My, I'm so happy.
> The old lady smiles gently…
Good day, umm…
> You introduced yourself.
Souji Seta… Souji-chan, is it?
Haha, a lovely name. It suits you.
I've lived here all my life, but… I don't know you.

I told her how I came to be here.



My, is that so? If you're from the city, you may think it's a bit inconvenient here… But I think it's a nice town.
I think so, too.
Haha, that's nice to hear. It's good to hear pleasant things about your home.
Oh, dear. I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself.
My name is Hisano Kuroda.
……
I am Death.

Given all the supernatural stuff that happens around here I think I was right to be somewhat concerned by a statement like that.



…I'm sorry. I'm saying foolish things.
Souji-chan, you're still not used to this town, are you?
If you ever have any problems, I can give you some advice.
Haha… Though I'm sure you'd rather spend your time with younger ladies.
> She seems to be a kindly old woman, even though she called herself "Death."
> You have become acquaintances with Hisano Kuroda.

I wonder how many of these there can be?



I hope we can meet again.
Goodbye, now.
> You left Hisano and went home.

I'm still working on that model, it's not quite ready yet.