Clannad VN:SEEN7400

Text

// Resources for SEEN7400.TXT

#character '＊Ｂ'
#character 'Sunohara'
#character 'Kyou'
#character 'Ryou'
#character 'Furukawa'
#character 'Tomoyo'
#character 'Fuuko'
#character 'Girl'
#character 'Teacher'
#character 'Rugby Player'
#character 'Housewife'
#character 'Woman'
#character 'Sanae'
#character 'Voice'
#character 'Mei'
#character 'Everyone'
#character 'Misae'
#character 'Male Student 1'
#character 'Male Student 2'
#character 'Female Student 1'
#character 'Female Student 2'
#character 'Clerk'
#character 'Worker'
#character 'Yoshino'
#character 'Male Student'
#character 'Male Student 3'
#character 'Coach'
#character 'Captain'
#character 'Soccer Player'
#character '％Ｂ'

<0000>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, if it's that important to you, I guess I'll help out. Sheesh."
<0001>
// \{Sunohara} "Isn't all of this your fault?!"
<0002>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, isn't it your fault that you aren't successful with your life?"
<0003>
// \{Sunohara} "Could you please stop repeating such hurtful words?"
<0004>
// \{\m{B}} "What comes to mind if I mention a dream or goal in school life?"
<0005>
// \{Sunohara} "I wonder."
<0006>
// \{\m{B}} "Grades, clubs, and women. Wouldn't you think it's these three?"
<0007>
// \{Sunohara} "Sigh..."
<0008>
// \{Sunohara} "I have none of those..."
<0009>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, there's one of those three that we can still manage to achieve. Don't you see?"
<0010>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't get it."
<0011>
// \{\m{B}} "It's women."
<0012>
// \{\m{B}} "If you have a girlfriend and spend every day being happy with her, won't your sister be satisfied?"
<0013>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, that might be true but..."
<0014>
// \{Sunohara} "If you think about it realistically, it's impossible by now, isn't it?"
<0015>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you thought about it unrealistically, it's impossible."
<0016>
// \{Sunohara} "I think I'm starting to wish you weren't my friend anymore."
<0017>
// \{\m{B}} "Hold on, calm down."
<0018>
// \{\m{B}} "If it's only while your sister is here, don't you think someone could help you out?"
<0019>
// \{Sunohara} "In other words, pretend?"
<0020>
// \{\m{B}} "Exactly."
<0021>
// \{Sunohara} "I think I've read something like that in an old manga..."
<0022>
// \{Sunohara} "Besides, there's no way that would actually work."
<0023>
// \{\m{B}} "But, there's no other way."
<0024>
// \{\m{B}} "Or what? Just meet your sister like this, with nothing prepared and..."
<0025>
// \{\m{B}} "Let her watch one of your classmates greet you, saying 'Yo, loser!' and become disillusioned?"
<0026>
// \{Sunohara} "I've never been greeted like that!"
<0027>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll do it."
<0028>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't!"
<0029>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, let's at least try it."
<0030>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, of course it would be great if it succeeds..."
<0031>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't worry, it's a plan produced by \m{A} \m{B}!"
<0032>
// \{Sunohara} "That producer is the greatest of my concerns!"
<0033>
// \{\m{B}} "Why...?"
<0034>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll let you know that you aren't that terrible-looking."
<0035>
// \{\m{B}} "If anything, your child-like face is the type that can stir their maternal instinct."
<0036>
// \{\m{B}} "Our school's number one baby face. It's Baby Sunohara!"
<0037>
// \{Sunohara} "D-do you really think so?"
<0038>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, the only thing you didn't have was motivation."
<0039>
// \{\m{B}} "So, wouldn't it be cool if this started an actual relationship?"
<0040>
// \{Sunohara} "Ooh! Is this \m{A} Magic!? I suddenly feel motivated!"
<0041>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, let's do it!"
<0042>
// Looks like I won't be bored for a while.
<0043>
// After school, we immediately started the plan.
<0044>
// \{\m{B}} "All right. We'll start by searching for girls that might help you out."
<0045>
// \{Sunohara} "Crap, I'm starting to get excited!"
<0046>
// Sunohara was grinning the whole time. Perhaps he had a wild fantasy during class.
<0047>
// \{Sunohara} "So, who should it be? An underclassman to make it difficult to refuse?"
<0048>
// \{Sunohara} "Let's pick someone that'll listen right away with a little scaring!"
<0049>
// The method was very cruel.
<0050>
// \{\m{B}} (Actually, this probably isn't something we can ask a stranger to do...)
<0051>
// That would surely create some problems.
<0052>
// \{\m{B}} (I wonder who I should ask...)
<0053>
// Fujibayashi Sisters 
<0054>
// Someone else 
<0055>
// \{\m{B}} (Well, I don't know too many girls, so I guess that's appropriate...) 
<0056>
// The question was to decide on the older sister or the younger sister.
<0057>
// Older sister 
<0058>
// Younger sister 
<0059>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, let's ask Kyou." 
<0060>
// \{Sunohara} "... Umm, \m{A}. Don't joke around so much."
<0061>
// \{Sunohara} "Why does it have to be with that girl?!"
<0062>
// \{\m{B}} "Doesn't she look pretty cute?"
<0063>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, she doesn't look bad... but, her personality..."
<0064>
// \{Sunohara} "If it's Kyou, I'll withdraw!"
<0065>
// \{Sunohara} "That brutal woman, even if she becomes my girlfriend, I wouldn't be the least bit happy!"
<0066>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, she's standing right next to you."
<0067>
// BAM!\shake{2}
<0068>
// A very thick dictionary was imbedded in his face.
<0069>
// \{Kyou} "I could hear you clearly for a while now~..."
<0070>
// Unbeknownst to us, Kyou was standing nearby.
<0071>
// \{Kyou} "You've been giving me a pretty wonderful compliment, haven't you?"
<0072>
// \{Kyou} "You wanna say it one more time? If you can say it, as a reward, I'll stick my hand down your throat and pull out your vocal chords."
<0073>
// \{Sunohara} "I... I'm sorry..."
<0074>
// \{Kyou} "........."
<0075>
// BAM!\shake{2}
<0076>
// \{Sunohara} "Hagagh!"
<0077>
// \{Sunohara} "But, I apologized!"
<0078>
// \{Kyou} "Ahaha~ your apologetic face kinda made me irritated~"
<0079>
// \{Kyou} "Bye."
<0080>
// BAM!\shake{1}
<0081>
// Finally, she slammed the dictionary on his head and left the room with a smile.
<0082>
// \{Sunohara} "S... see... it's no good."
<0083>
// \{\m{B}} "First of all, let's talk after you wipe your nose."
<0084>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, isn't that obvious after insulting her so much?"
<0085>
// \{Sunohara} "Nothing but insults come to mind..."
<0086>
// \{\m{B}} "Without thinking so much, just praise her a little."
<0087>
// \{Sunohara} "You see, it's Fujibayashi Kyou we're talking about."
<0088>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you saying I should do by praising her...?"
<0089>
// \{\m{B}} "Maybe she's actually just really shy."
<0090>
// \{Sunohara} "... Eh?"
<0091>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't that pretty common? People that can't be so honest about their feelings."
<0092>
// \{\m{B}} "They're always rude to that person, but in reality... you know."
<0093>
// \{\m{B}} "Maybe, that Kyou, actually... fancies you..."
<0094>
// \{Sunohara} "Seriously...?"
<0095>
// \{\m{B}} "As far as I can tell."
<0096>
// \{Sunohara} "Ha... haha... I see, even she has a cute side!"
<0097>
// \{\m{B}} "So? Don't you think you should go after her?"
<0098>
// \{\m{B}} "Hearing those things from you, she might be pretty hurt..."
<0099>
// \{Sunohara} "All right! I'm going!"
<0100>
// \{\m{B}} "Good luck."
<0101>
// Becoming unbelievably cheerful, he sprints out into the corridor in high spirits.
<0102>
// \{Sunohara} "Kyou!!"
<0103>
// I could hear his voice beyond the door.
<0104>
// \{Sunohara} "You're cute!!!"
<0105>
// POOOOOW!
<0106>
// Just after, the sound of him being struck firmly with something hard echoes.
<0107>
// \{Sunohara} "Guaagghhhhhhhhh!"
<0108>
// \{Kyou} "Ahahaha, even you've become able to say some funny things~, is that evolution?"
<0109>
// \{Kyou} "Anyway, I'll provide you with training so appreciate it!"
<0110>
// \{Sunohara} "Gyaaaaaaaaaa!"
<0111>
// \{Sunohara} "GIVE! I GIVE UUUUUUP!!!!!"
<0112>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0113>
// I wonder what kind of tragedy is unfolding beyond the classroom door.
<0114>
// \{\m{B}} (Poor him...) 
<0115>
// I don't think I want to mess with her right now... 
<0116>
// Let's ask someone else... 
<0117>
// \{\m{B}} "How about Fujibayashi?" 
<0118>
// \{Sunohara} "Class rep, huh? She might be the number one choice, but..."
<0119>
// I glance to the side to look at her.
<0120>
// It seems she's compiling the class report or something. She's at her desk, writing with a pen.
<0121>
// That determined face seen from the side would look cute to anybody.
<0122>
// \{Sunohara} "But, she comes with a heavy burden..."
<0123>
// \{\m{B}} "Just quietly lure her out and it'll be fine."
<0124>
// \{\m{B}} "After that, just go with your sweet talking, and then you'll easily work things out!"
<0125>
// \{\m{B}} "And then, the two of you will go to the dazzling world of love..."
<0126>
// \{Sunohara} "... Ehehe..."
<0127>
// \{Sunohara} "All right, I'm gonna give it a shot!"
<0128>
// Claiming to ask for a bit of advice, he takes her out to the courtyard.
<0129>
// While expressing some curiosity, she followed without being particularly suspicious.
<0130>
// \{Ryou} "Uh... umm... what is it... you'd like to ask advice for?"
<0131>
// \{Ryou} "S-somehow... if I can be of any help, it's probably okay..."
<0132>
// \{\m{B}} "Anyways, you'll be of help then, won't you?"
<0133>
// \{Sunohara} "Ohh, thank you!"
<0134>
// \{Ryou} "Eh, n... no... nothing's been decided yet..."
<0135>
// \{Ryou} "A-and... exactly what is it... that's the problem...?"
<0136>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, about that..."
<0137>
// I roughly explain the situation to her.
<0138>
// \{Ryou} "........."
<0139>
// \{Ryou} "Your younger sister... is coming from home...?"
<0140>
// \{Sunohara} "A really loud one at that..."
<0141>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't want things to get complicated after that, so I'd like to do this and show her."
<0142>
// \{Ryou} "B... but, thinking about it... u-umm..."
<0143>
// \{Ryou} "If you... do it normally... y... your younger sister... would also be glad..."
<0144>
// \{\m{B}} "You think he can do that?"
<0145>
// \{\m{B}} "It's unreasonable and impossible."
<0146>
// \{Ryou} "U... umm... just as the class representative..."
<0147>
// \{Ryou} "If you... t-tell me something like... that so straight up..."
<0148>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, whichever it is, it's just difficult to do it so suddenly, right?"
<0149>
// \{Ryou} "That's... about right..."
<0150>
// \{Sunohara} "Having said that, I was wondering if some girl might do it or something."
<0151>
// \{Ryou} "I see... s-so that's how it is..."
<0152>
// \{Ryou} "That's... quite troubling."
<0153>
// \{Ryou} "H-hang in there."
<0154>
// \{\m{B}} "No, no, even if you encourage us, what are we gonna do?"
<0155>
// \{\m{B}} "That's not how it is..."
<0156>
// \{Ryou} ".........?"
<0157>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara... you explain to her."
<0158>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, Ryou-chan."
<0159>
// \{Sunohara} "I'd like to ask you to pretend to be my girlfriend."
<0160>
// \{Ryou} "Sigh, I see... so me..."
<0161>
// \{Ryou} "... Me...?"
<0162>
// \{Ryou} "......"
<0163>
// \{Ryou} "Eh... ehhhhhhh...?!"
<0164>
// Her eyes were just as large as her voice.
<0165>
// \{Ryou} "N-no way... I can't...! ..."
<0166>
// She immediately shakes her head.
<0167>
// \{Ryou} "I can't... do that..."
<0168>
// \{\m{B}} "You just have to stand by him, right?"
<0169>
// \{Ryou} "N... no way... because... umm... for me that's such a burden..."
<0170>
// \{Ryou} "Just thinking about it... is so... embarrassing..."
<0171>
// \{Ryou} "So... embarrassing..."
<0172>
// \{Sunohara} "Wah, wawa, why are you crying?!"
<0173>
// \{Ryou} "I-I'm fine... somehow I'm crying though..."
<0174>
// \{Sunohara} "Your eyes are really rolling there!"
<0175>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah..."
<0176>
// And there, the tears fell.
<0177>
// It fell down in one straight line.
<0178>
// \{Sunohara} "I-if Fujibayashi Kyou sees us like this...!" 
<0179>
// \size{16}Tap, tap, tap...!\size{}
<0180>
// \{Sunohara} "Shit, she's fast!"
<0181>
// \{\m{B}} "Later, Sunohara."
<0182>
// \{Sunohara} "Wait, you're just going to leave me here?!?!"
<0183>
// \size{20}Tap, tap, tap, tap...!\size{}
<0184>
// \{Sunohara} "S-she's coming!"
<0185>
// \size{40}Thwaaa-----ck!!\shake{4}\size{}
<0186>
// \{Sunohara} "Guaahhhh!!"
<0187>
// Receiving a fierce jump kick from the sprinting Kyou, he tumbled across the ground.
<0188>
// \{Kyou} "Wha~t are you doing here, I wonder~?!"
<0189>
// \{Ryou} "O-onee-chan..."
<0190>
// \{Kyou} "You okay, Ryou? Did he touch you anywhere?"
<0191>
// \{Ryou} "I... I'm fine... I'm all right."
<0192>
// \{Kyou} "Youhei! The next time you do anything strange, I'll break your arm!"
<0193>
// \{Sunohara} "Sorry... please forgive me...!"
<0194>
// So she threatens, stomping down on his stomach.
<0195>
// Full impact.
<0196>
// \{Kyou} "Ryou, let's go. If you stay by him, you'll catch his idiot-fever."
<0197>
// \{Ryou} "D... don't pull... ah..."
<0198>
// Kyou takes her away, pulling her by the arm.
<0199>
// Sunohara was the only person in pain at the courtyard.
<0200>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, you alive?"
<0201>
// \{Sunohara} "Y... you know... I figured this plan would be useless..."
<0202>
// Nothing came to fruition that day. 
<0203>
// Other than the twins, I'm trying to think of other girls I might know... 
<0204>
// I can't come up with anyone... 
<0205>
// There's Furukawa... 
<0206>
// But, with the way we parted on that rainy day, asking her... is a bit tough.
<0207>
// Let's think of someone else... 
<0208>
// Ask Furukawa 
<0209>
// Someone else 
<0210>
// All right, Furukawa, then. 
<0211>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you pondering about, \m{A}? Asking someone?"
<0212>
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, well..."
<0213>
// A little bit uncertain, I said that.
<0214>
// \{\m{B}} "I thought about trying Furukawa."
<0215>
// \{Sunohara} "... Who?"
<0216>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, you don't know her. She's one of the students in the same year as us."
<0217>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm. Then, let's try it!"
<0218>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<0219>
// I was somewhat reluctant, but I decided to introduce her.
<0220>
// \{Furukawa} "Ah, \m{A}-san!"
<0221>
// Seeing my face, she quickly dashes up to me.
<0222>
// \{Furukawa} "It's been a while!"
<0223>
// She bowed her head.
<0224>
// Saying it like that... it really has been a while since we met face to face like this.
<0225>
// \{Furukawa} "Good afternoon!"
<0226>
// She bowed her head.
<0227>
// \{\m{B}} "You doing well? Well, with a lot of things."
<0228>
// \{Furukawa} "Ehehe... for now."
<0229>
// \{Furukawa} "Not that it's really working out or anything but..."
<0230>
// \{Furukawa} "But, you told me to work hard, \m{A}-san."
<0231>
// \{Furukawa} "So... I thought I might try."
<0232>
// \{\m{B}} "I see, isn't that great?"
<0233>
// \{Furukawa} "Not at all... thank you so much!"
<0234>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, \m{A}."
<0235>
// \{Sunohara} "Your friendly conversation is nice and all... but what about me?"
<0236>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry, I forgot."
<0237>
// \{Sunohara} "Remember me okay...?"
<0238>
// \{Furukawa} "What's wrong, \m{A}-san?"
<0239>
// \{Furukawa} "Umm, who might he be...?"
<0240>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah... well, I haven't really introduced myself but..."
<0241>
// \{\m{B}} "Indeed."
<0242>
// \{Sunohara} "Could you be quiet?!"
<0243>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm Sunohara, in the same class as him."
<0244>
// \{Furukawa} "Sunohara-san, is it? Nice to meet you."
<0245>
// With a smile on her face, she politely bowed.
<0246>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm... a bit simple, but she's good."
<0247>
// \{Furukawa} "Ah, you're \m{A}-san's friend? Good afternoon."
<0248>
// \{Sunohara} "Furukawa, was it? If it's her, it'll be perfect!"
<0249>
// \{Furukawa} "U-umm... what are you talking about?"
<0250>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, well..."
<0251>
// \{Sunohara} "About that, Furukawa. Mind listening for a bit?"
<0252>
// \{Furukawa} "O-okay!"
<0253>
// Without me explaining anything, he begins jabbering.
<0254>
// She seemed slightly perplexed by his overfamiliar expression, but she remained silent.
<0255>
// \{Sunohara} "With all that said, I'm looking for someone to pretend to be my girlfriend."
<0256>
// \{Sunohara} "I'd be happy if you would help me out, Furukawa."
<0257>
// \{Furukawa} "Eh, me?!"
<0258>
// \{Sunohara} "You can't?"
<0259>
// \{Furukawa} "No, well..."
<0260>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, maybe... I'm hated?"
<0261>
// \{Furukawa} "No, that's not, what I meant..."
<0262>
// \{Sunohara} "Then is it fine?"
<0263>
// \{Furukawa} "Fine or not is not the problem at all."
<0264>
// \{Furukawa} "Besides, Sunohara-san..."
<0265>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm?"
<0266>
// \{Furukawa} "Besides... umm, your name was?"
<0267>
// \{Sunohara} "Sunohara."
<0268>
// \{Furukawa} "Besides, Sunohara-san..."
<0269>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah."
<0270>
// \{Furukawa} "Your younger sister is coming here, right?"
<0271>
// \{Sunohara} "Yes, that's right."
<0272>
// \{Furukawa} "And... do you understand what that means?"
<0273>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if you say that..."
<0274>
// \{Furukawa} "That is... I think it's because she's really worried about how Sunohara-san is doing."
<0275>
// \{Furukawa} "Because, she thought of going... even to such a distant place, right?"
<0276>
// \{Furukawa} "Certainly, if she sees you with a lover, she might feel relieved for the moment but..."
<0277>
// \{Furukawa} "But, tricking someone is not something you should do."
<0278>
// \{Furukawa} "You should show your true self, without hiding anything."
<0279>
// \{Furukawa} "If you do that... she'll most certainly understand."
<0280>
// She tosses out those clumsy words one after another.
<0281>
// \{\m{B}} (I see, she's like that yeah...)
<0282>
// \{Furukawa} "And, even if you don't do something like that, I'm sure she'll understand you, Sunohara-san."
<0283>
// \{Furukawa} "I think she'll be relieved."
<0284>
// \{Furukawa} "Because Sunohara-san is a good person, after all."
<0285>
// \{\m{B}} "A good person...? You don't know a thing about him."
<0286>
// \{Furukawa} "That's true. But I know."
<0287>
// \{Furukawa} "Having said that, please don't lie."
<0288>
// \{Furukawa} "Face her with a sincere face."
<0289>
// \{Furukawa} "Because you're her only elder brother..."
<0290>
// Furukawa makes that polite speech.
<0291>
// Listening to that, Sunohara...
<0292>
// \{Sunohara} "Uu... uuu...."
<0293>
// ... Was surprisingly moved by it.
<0294>
// \{Sunohara} "I see... you're right..."
<0295>
// \{Furukawa} "You understand now?"
<0296>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, thanks, Furukawa!"
<0297>
// \{Furukawa} "I'm glad!"
<0298>
// \{Furukawa} "Well then... be sure to tell your sister well."
<0299>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, later!"
<0300>
// A final bow, and then Furukawa ran off.
<0301>
// Like this, Sunohara meets her sister, and then showing her as he is...
<0302>
// And they lived happily ever after.
<0303>
// HAPPY END. . .
<0304>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, wait a second!"
<0305>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, what?"
<0306>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't give a 'what' with that stupid face. You were persuaded by Furukawa just now."
<0307>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you really fine with that?"
<0308>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you so hasty about, \m{A}?"
<0309>
// \{\m{B}} "Because you just agreed with her. You okay with that?"
<0310>
// \{\m{B}} "You nodded after being told you should show your true self to your sister, didn't you?"
<0311>
// \{Sunohara} "Ehh, I did?!"
<0312>
// \{Sunohara} "Of course I can't do that!!"
<0313>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, why were you crying?!"
<0314>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, I was so deeply moved by such a serious atmosphere..."
<0315>
// \{Sunohara} "Sigh, you're such a good girl, Furukawa..."
<0316>
// \{\m{B}} "Furukawa's already gone."
<0317>
// \{Sunohara} "No way!"
<0318>
// \{\m{B}} "You saw her off with that 'Yeah, later!', didn't you?"
<0319>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh craaaaaapppp----!!"
<0320>
// Holding his head, he faints in agony.
<0321>
// Nothing came to fruition that day. 
<0322>
// Thinking of others... 
<0323>
// Speaking of which, there's Tomoyo isn't there? I forgot.
<0324>
// Ask Tomoyo 
<0325>
// Someone else 
<0326>
// \{\m{B}} "Ask Tomoyo." 
<0327>
// \{Sunohara} "... Are you serious?"
<0328>
// \{\m{B}} "Yup, I'm serious to the end."
<0329>
// \{\m{B}} "She's got style and she's beautiful, so there should be no reason not to consider her, right?"
<0330>
// \{Sunohara} "If she kept quiet..."
<0331>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh, you scared?"
<0332>
// \{Sunohara} "You twat! Who's freaking f-f-f-f-frightened?"
<0333>
// \{\m{B}} "You have one too many 'f's in 'frightened'."
<0334>
// \{Sunohara} "There's no reason to be \bflattened\u about it!"
<0335>
// \{\m{B}} "Amazing, so you're \bflattened\u."
<0336>
// \{Sunohara} "If I take a deep breath, I'll feel better!"
<0337>
// \{Sunohara} "Suuu, suu, haaa, suuu, suu, haaa!"
<0338>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay. Good boy. Now go forth."
<0339>
// \{\m{B}} "You're in complete chaos there."
<0340>
// \{Sunohara} "Ha, haha... you can see that? That's a shame!"
<0341>
// \{\m{B}} "Idiot, you have to be strong all the way."
<0342>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if I were, it's Tomoyo, right?"
<0343>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't know, do you? You guys were destined rivals up until now, weren't you?"
<0344>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm... I guess."
<0345>
// \{\m{B}} "With people who recognize each other's strength, something petty will turn into co-operation."
<0346>
// \{\m{B}} "For example, walking down the hallway, when your shoulders touch, right? It'd go like this."
<0347>
// \{Tomoyo} "What... you seem unusually worried."
<0348>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh... it's none of your business."
<0349>
// \{Tomoyo} "I suppose so..."
<0350>
// \{Tomoyo} "But you know, I don't want to see you fighting with anyone other than me."
<0351>
// \{Sunohara} "Damn you, fight with who? Fighting here is fine, isn't it?"
<0352>
// \{Tomoyo} "Hmm... I suppose so. Later..."
<0353>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<0354>
// \{Sunohara} "... Wait."
<0355>
// \{Tomoyo} "Hmm...?"
<0356>
// \{Tomoyo} "If you spoke honestly from the start, that would have been better."
<0357>
// \{Tomoyo} "... As for you, I'm not someone who should be helping you, am I?"
<0358>
// \{Sunohara} "That's good!"
<0359>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it? If you think so, hurry up and go."
<0360>
// Taking the encouraged Sunohara with me, we head to the second-year classroom.
<0361>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, here she comes."
<0362>
// We take a look around in front of the classroom for a while, as Tomoyo was holding her bag.
<0363>
// \{\m{B}} "Work hard until the end. She's someone who approves of those who are worthy opponents after all."
<0364>
// \{Sunohara} "I know! I'm gonna go now!"
<0365>
// He triumphantly heads towards Tomoyo.
<0366>
// Thump...
<0367>
// Their shoulders lightly come into contact.
<0368>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<0369>
// \{Tomoyo} "........."
<0370>
// Thump, thump.
<0371>
// Pushing back his shoulder, Tomoyo continued walking like that.
<0372>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, don't ignore me!"
<0373>
// \{Tomoyo} "I'm in a hurry."
<0374>
// \{Sunohara} "Also, it isn't something you brush off like it's dirty, is it?!"
<0375>
// \{Tomoyo} "Oh, \m{A}. You heading home now?"
<0376>
// \{\m{B}} "With you then? Sure, guess we'll go to the school gates?"
<0377>
// \{Sunohara} "Stop ignoring me, both of you! That's not how this is, right?!"
<0378>
// \{Sunohara} "The rival companions have been mixed up. Is there any meaning like this?!"
<0379>
// \{Tomoyo} "I can't get along with every single idiot out there."
<0380>
// \{\m{B}} "Indeed."
<0381>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't just join her!"
<0382>
// \{Tomoyo} "Sigh, what's with him...?"
<0383>
// \{\m{B}} "Now, now, listen to what he has to say."
<0384>
// \{Tomoyo} "I'm really busy. Could we make this short?"
<0385>
// \{Sunohara} "Come on, just look at me. Say that you feel something!"
<0386>
// \{Tomoyo} "Optimistic, as always."
<0387>
// \{Sunohara} "Isn't it me being troubled?!"
<0388>
// \{Tomoyo} "All right, all right... so, what are you troubled with?"
<0389>
// She gave Sunohara an annoyed face. Does she want to leave quickly?
<0390>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh... it's nothing to do with you."
<0391>
// \{Tomoyo} "Indeed it isn't. Later."
<0392>
// \{Sunohara} "Wasn't it 'I don't want to see you fighting with anyone other than me'?!"
<0393>
// \{Tomoyo} "There are a lot of places to do that."
<0394>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm begging you, say it!"
<0395>
// \{Tomoyo} "......... If you say so."
<0396>
// She sighs, looking at her watch.
<0397>
// \{Tomoyo} "I don't want to see you fighting with anyone other than me."
<0398>
// \{Sunohara} "... Damn you, fight with who? Fighting here is fine, isn't it?"
<0399>
// \{Tomoyo} "........." 
<0400>
// \{Sunohara} "... Ah."
<0401>
// \{Tomoyo} "If you wanted to start a fight, say so from the start!"
<0402>
// \{Tomoyo} "Gah, I got delayed by an idiot. I have to hurry..."
<0403>
// Tomoyo looked at her watch again, and ran off.
<0404>
// \{Sunohara} "Nothing good came of that at all!"
<0405>
// \{\m{B}} "There's still not enough to go along with that."*
<0406>
// \{\m{B}} "If you mix it up with fifty fists after that, it should get better."
<0407>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm going to die before that, aren't I...?" 
<0408>
// So, with that... who's left...? 
<0409>
// Her? Is it her...?
<0410>
// Ask Fuuko 
<0411>
// Someone else 
<0412>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, let's ask Fuuko." 
<0413>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, who's that?"
<0414>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh yeah, you don't know her."
<0415>
// \{\m{B}} "She's a junior student. Really small and cute girl."
<0416>
// \{\m{B}} "For now, I'll go and introduce her."
<0417>
// \{Sunohara} "Woah, serious?!"
<0418>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'm sure it'll be fine!"
<0419>
// Tap, tap, tap...
<0420>
// We walk around the school for a bit, and find her.
<0421>
// Seems she was running around carving with one hand today as well.
<0422>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Fuuko!"
<0423>
// Calling her, she stops bluntly. She turns around.
<0424>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<0425>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, Strange Person."
<0426>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm not a Strange Person, I'm \m{A}."
<0427>
// \{Fuuko} "And what would Strange \m{A}-san's business be today?"
<0428>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, you have some time?"
<0429>
// \{Fuuko} "No."
<0430>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko is very busy right now."
<0431>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko would like you to understand that she doesn't have that much time to play around like you, \m{A}-san."
<0432>
// \{\m{B}} "You're just as always..."
<0433>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't say something like that and listen for a bit, okay?"
<0434>
// \{Fuuko} "Then, please be brief."
<0435>
// \{\m{B}} "It's about him, see..."
<0436>
// I poke Sunohara beside me with my elbow.
<0437>
// \{Sunohara} "... Hey, \m{A}. You do mean her, right?"
<0438>
// \{Fuuko} "Another Strange Person has appeared."
<0439>
// \{Sunohara} "Exactly how am I strange?!"
<0440>
// \{Fuuko} "Just one look at your hair shows it."
<0441>
// \{Fuuko} "The same color as the traffic lights."
<0442>
// \{Fuuko} "One has to be very, very careful."
<0443>
// \{\m{B}} "Eventually, it'll become red."
<0444>
// \{Fuuko} "That's very dangerous and disgusting!"
<0445>
// \{Sunohara} "No it won't!"
<0446>
// \{Sunohara} "But... how should I put it, she seems interesting..."
<0447>
// \{\m{B}} "Doesn't she? You won't get tired with her around."
<0448>
// \{Sunohara} "But, doesn't she seem too much like a kid?"
<0449>
// \{Sunohara} "Or rather, is she really a student here...? Isn't she too small?"
<0450>
// \{Fuuko} "It feels like you just said something very rude."
<0451>
// \{Fuuko} "Like this, you speak of Fuu-chan as if she's not an adult." 
<0452>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, that's right. You're an adult. Sunohara, you shouldn't have any more complaints."
<0453>
// \{\m{B}} "So see, Fuuko, we have a bit of a request to ask you of."
<0454>
// \{Fuuko} "Refused."
<0455>
// \{\m{B}} "I didn't say anything yet though..."
<0456>
// \{Fuuko} "Somehow, it doesn't seem like something good at all."
<0457>
// \{Fuuko} "You seem to want to take part in doing bad things to Fuuko."
<0458>
// Well, that's never a mistake so...
<0459>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't say something like that and just listen."
<0460>
// \{Fuuko} "Will it be over soon?"
<0461>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, we'll get straight to the point."
<0462>
// I'll briefly and simply say what the circumstances are up to now.
<0463>
// \{\m{B}} "You see, this guy... ah, his name is Sunohara."
<0464>
// \{\m{B}} "He wants you to pretend to be his girlfriend."
<0465>
// \{\m{B}} "... Well?"
<0466>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<0467>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, why do you feel like crying?!"
<0468>
// \{Fuuko} "That's the worst!"
<0469>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko won't particularly be defeated with that."
<0470>
// \{Fuuko} "Why does Fuuko have to go with such a punishment game?"
<0471>
// \{Sunohara} "You're treating it as a punishment game?!"
<0472>
// \{\m{B}} "Now, now... Fuuko, you shouldn't exaggerate this as much either."
<0473>
// \{\m{B}} "It's just for a little while, please?"
<0474>
// \{Fuuko} "Definitely \bnot\u."
<0475>
// \{Fuuko} "Besides, if this person suddenly wanted to get serious, Fuuko doesn't have any confidence to hurt him."
<0476>
// \{Sunohara} "Come on, I won't."
<0477>
// \{Fuuko} "It feels like you've said something quite rude again."
<0478>
// \{Fuuko} "Having said that, Fuuko refuses."
<0479>
// \{Fuuko} "Find someone else, please."
<0480>
// \{Sunohara} "What should we do... \m{A}?"
<0481>
// \{\m{B}} "Can't be helped. I didn't really want to do this but..."
<0482>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, you're planning something!"
<0483>
// \{Fuuko} "You two have very bad eyes!"
<0484>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmph... we'll have to use brute force."
<0485>
// \{Sunohara} "Heheheh... leave it to me!"
<0486>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, go, Sunohara!"
<0487>
// \{Sunohara} "Charge!!"
<0488>
// \{Fuuko} "W-wah!"
<0489>
// Rushing in as if tackling, he holds her up.
<0490>
// It was pretty light to hold her up, even for Sunohara.
<0491>
// \{Fuuko} "Wahh, let go!"
<0492>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh, heh, heh... don't struggle!"
<0493>
// \{Sunohara} "Be quiet and help me!"
<0494>
// He makes an excellent bad person.
<0495>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, whatever. Let's take her with us."
<0496>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah!"
<0497>
// \{Fuuko} "Mmmph!"
<0498>
// No matter how much she moved her legs, they were no match for him.
<0499>
// \{Fuuko} "Mmph, mmph!"
<0500>
// And occasionally hitting him every once in a while, Sunohara remained firm.
<0501>
// \{Sunohara} "Hahaha, it's useless! Let's head to our love nest, Fuuko-chan!"
<0502>
// \{Fuuko} "Definitely no!"
<0503>
// Trying desperately, she tightens the grip on her wooden carving.
<0504>
// With all her might, she swings it down.
<0505>
// Thwa----ck!\shake{4}
<0506>
// ... She hit him really hard in the back of his head.
<0507>
// \{Sunohara} "Guwaaahhh-----!!"
<0508>
// He accidentally falls over.
<0509>
// Taking that one chance, Fuuko runs from Sunohara.
<0510>
// During the time he was flinching, she ran down the hallway in a straight line, and disappeared.
<0511>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh, looks like she's gone."
<0512>
// \{Sunohara} "U, uggghh..."
<0513>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}... actually... don't you think that girl was unreasonable from the start?"
<0514>
// \{\m{B}} "No, I really didn't think so."
<0515>
// \{\m{B}} "Just that, your younger sister might treat you like a criminal."
<0516>
// \{Sunohara} "Noooo---!"
<0517>
// Nothing came to fruition that day. 
<0518>
// Thinking of someone else... 
<0519>
// Well, there's no one else other than me...?
<0520>
// I'll do it 
<0521>
// Someone else 
<0522>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, I'll do it." 
<5370>
// "Like I will!"
<5371>
// \{Sunohara} "Like I will!"
<0523>
// The punch-line was in harmony yet again. 
<0524>
// \{Sunohara} "How many times are you gonna do this... are you aiming for a comedian pair or something?"
<0525>
// \{Sunohara} "Because I'm not aiming for such a thing."
<0526>
// \{\m{B}} "Your right brain is separated from your left~"
<0527>
// \{Sunohara} "They're both together!" 
<5372>
// "In a thousand years!"
<5373>
// \{Sunohara} "In a thousand years!"
<0528>
// The punch-line was in harmony yet again.
<0529>
// \{Sunohara} "That's enough..."
<0530>
// I'm also getting tired... 
<0531>
// The punch-line was in harmony. 
<0532>
// We'll start from scratch... 
<0533>
// I can't think of any cheerful girls we could ask... 
<0534>
// We'll start from scratch. 
<0535>
// Mei 
<0536>
// I attended school at the break from third period.
<0537>
// Dabbling about, it became lunch break.
<0538>
// \{Sunohara} "Sigh..."
<0539>
// Walking heavily, Sunohara had a depressed face.
<0540>
// \{\m{B}} "What's with those eyes looking like a dead fish?"
<0541>
// \{Sunohara} "You make it sound so terrible..."
<0542>
// \{Sunohara} "And whose fault is this, I wonder?"
<0543>
// \{\m{B}} "Whose is it, I wonder?"
<0544>
// \{Sunohara} "Isn't it your fault?!"
<0545>
// \{\m{B}} "But, see..."
<0546>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, yeah, it's all because I don't have any happiness at all, damn it-------!!"
<0547>
// \{Sunohara} "It's a lot better for one to say it about themselves than to tell others..."
<0548>
// \{\m{B}} "But, you see, it's like trying to say something along the lines of a rapper who has no sense of melody."
<0549>
// \{Sunohara} "That has nothing to do with this, does it----?!"
<0550>
// \{Sunohara} "I give up now, I just give up..."
<0551>
// \{Sunohara} "Tomorrow my sister will come, and see my unhappiness..."
<0552>
// Somehow, I feel great pity for him...
<0553>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay, okay. We'll work hard and find someone today."
<0554>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay."
<0555>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, there's the issue with the girl we found yesterday..."
<0556>
// I say that, rolling up the bread wrapping and throwing it in the trash.
<0557>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm talking about calling people that I knew."
<0558>
// \{Sunohara} "Are you talking about it being fine with people that have no relation to me whatsoever?"
<0559>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah. Indeed, people you don't know one bit is fine."
<0560>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, I might have a bit of a closed mind..."
<0561>
// \{Sunohara} "Being a delinquent is quite a disadvantage, isn't it?"
<0562>
// \{\m{B}} "There's nothing in your existence beyond what you already know."
<0563>
// \{Sunohara} "I knew I was right in thinking it was a mistake to ask you."
<0564>
// \{\m{B}} "It's fine, believe in me."
<0565>
// Right after the class bell rings, we stood in the courtyard.
<0566>
// \{Sunohara} "Is it really okay to be here?"
<0567>
// There were a lot of people running around.
<0568>
// \{\m{B}} "No matter what, we end up grabbing only friends in the school, right?"
<0569>
// \{Sunohara} "I see, and here there are a lot of girls alone... ah, \m{A}, how about her?"
<0570>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, I'll go and call her right now..."
<0571>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait, Sunohara."
<0572>
// \{\m{B}} "Exactly what do you plan on calling her by?"
<0573>
// \{Sunohara} "What, you mean? Just going to ask her normally..."
<0574>
// \{\m{B}} "Sigh--..."
<0575>
// \{\m{B}} "You're an idiot. A dumbass. A loser."
<0576>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't think the last thing means anything."
<0577>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, if a girl was asked all of a sudden, what's she going to do?"
<0578>
// \{\m{B}} "Use your head more and ask her in a roundabout way."
<0579>
// \{Sunohara} "And, how should I do that?"
<0580>
// \{\m{B}} "You see, this is..."
<0581>
// Pausing for a bit, I open my mouth.
<0582>
// \{\m{B}} "Say this is a job."
<0583>
// \{Sunohara} "What do you mean?"
<0584>
// \{\m{B}} "Asking a girl all of a sudden would freak them out, right?"
<0585>
// \{\m{B}} "If you say it's a job of some sort, they'll understand immediately, right?"
<0586>
// \{Sunohara} "But, if you make it a job, I have to pay something in return, don't I?"
<0587>
// \{Sunohara} "I've got no money."
<0588>
// \{\m{B}} "Just say something appropriate."
<0589>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, she'd fall in love with your charm, right?"
<0590>
// \{Sunohara} "I suppose so."
<0591>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, we'll do a rehearsal. Face me."
<0592>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay..."
<0593>
// Clearing his throat a few times, he says something.
<0594>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey girl, I've got a good job for you. What do you think?"
<0595>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh, looks like I've got the hang of it!"
<0596>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't you? Ah, but, you should change the words right before 'job' to make it better."
<0597>
// \{\m{B}} "Try with '10,000 yen'."
<0598>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey girl, you want to do this job for 10,000 yen?"
<0599>
// \{Sunohara} "... Isn't 10,000 a bit much?"
<0600>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, ask how much they'd like."
<0601>
// \{Sunohara} "I guess so. Then..."
<0602>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey girl, how much of an offer will you take for a job?"
<0603>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm, take out the part about the job."
<0604>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey girl, how much?"
<0605>
// \{\m{B}} "If you make them feel like you're manly with a rough voice, it's perfect."
<0606>
// \{\m{B}} "After that, just take your time and stick with them for a while, saying that."
<0607>
// \{\m{B}} "You'll definitely get them!"
<0608>
// \{Sunohara} "All right! I'll be going then!"
<0609>
// Giving me a thumbs up, he walks to a junior student.
<0610>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, missy."
<0611>
// \{Girl} "Y-yes... what is it?"
<0612>
// \{Sunohara} "How much?"
<0613>
// \{Girl} "E-eh?"
<0614>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm saying, how much?"
<0615>
// \{Girl} "What do you mean by that...?"
<0616>
// \{Sunohara} "Isn't it fine...? I've got plenty of time."
<0617>
// \{Sunohara} "If you're patient, it'll be over soon!"
<0618>
// \{Girl} "That, can't, be...?!"
<0619>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't be stingy, it's no big deal!"
<0620>
// \{Girl} "E-Eeeeeek!"
<0621>
// \{Girl} "I'm sorry, I'm sorry--!!"
<0622>
// Like the speed of lightning, she ran off.
<0623>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, this is like being a pervert, isn't it?!"
<0624>
// \{\m{B}} "Not like, but rather that you are."
<0625>
// \{Sunohara} "If you knew that, why didn't you stop me?!"
<0626>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, just now was a bit of a joke."
<0627>
// \{Sunohara} "Think seriously..."
<0628>
// \{\m{B}} "Calm down. This time, it'll go fine."
<0629>
// \{Sunohara} "It better."
<0630>
// \{\m{B}} "Believe me."
<0631>
// \{\m{B}} "Listen. You have to praise the girl from the beginning."
<0632>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey girl, you're cute... something like that?"
<0633>
// \{\m{B}} "That's it. And then slowly change the subject to the job."
<0634>
// \{\m{B}} "Say something like how it's good-paying and stuff."
<0635>
// \{\m{B}} "Because girls are secretive nowadays, after that she should be calm about it."
<0636>
// \{Sunohara} "I see."
<0637>
// \{\m{B}} "And then she'll suddenly say that you're stooping down."
<0638>
// \{Sunohara} "Somehow, I don't really like that."
<0639>
// \{\m{B}} "They're flattering you. Don't you get it?"
<0640>
// \{\m{B}} "Using group psychology at the end, you'll be able to have people do it."
<0641>
// \{\m{B}} "With that, you'll get them!"
<0642>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay, then I'm going!"
<0643>
// Giving a thumbs up, he again heads towards a junior.
<0644>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, girl!"
<0645>
// \{Girl} "Yes...?"
<0646>
// \{Sunohara} "You're cute!"
<0647>
// \{Girl} "O-okay..."
<0648>
// \{Sunohara} "You got some time? There's something I'd like to talk about."
<0649>
// \{Girl} "No, I'm a bit in a hurry..."
<0650>
// \{Sunohara} "I've got a really good paying job for you~"
<0651>
// \{Girl} "That's a bit..."
<0652>
// \{Sunohara} "It's fine, it's fine, no need to say your name!"
<0653>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, of course you'd have to keep it a secret from your parents."
<0654>
// \{Girl} "Eh, t-that's..."
<0655>
// \{Sunohara} "Stick around with an uncool guy like me, and you'll get some money!"
<0656>
// \{Sunohara} "It's fine, everyone's doing the same thing!"
<0657>
// \{Girl} "E-Eeeeeek!"
<0658>
// \{Girl} "I'm sorry, I'm sorry--!!"
<0659>
// Pushing away Sunohara, she ran off like the wind.
<0660>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, doesn't this look like some suspicious recruiting or something?!"
<0661>
// \{\m{B}} "No matter how you see it, it doesn't \blook\u it, but rather it \bis\u it."
<0662>
// \{Sunohara} "If you knew that, why didn't you stop me?!"
<0663>
// \{Teacher} "Hey--! Who the hell's the one doing suspicious stuff in the school?!"
<0664>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh crap, let's jet!"
<0665>
// \{Sunohara} "Sigh..."
<0666>
// \{Sunohara} "I was an idiot to rely on you."
<0667>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, you realized that now?"
<0668>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm begging you, don't appreciate that!"
<0669>
// \{Sunohara} "That's enough... I'll do something on my own..."
<0670>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't bother. The result won't turn out too well."
<0671>
// \{Sunohara} "I guess it's better to not leave it to you, \m{A}!"
<0672>
// \{Sunohara} "Look at my skills and resourcefulness!"
<0673>
// \{\m{B}} "That's all the same thing, isn't it?"
<0674>
// \{Sunohara} "All right, ah... that girl wearing a jersey's pretty cute."
<0675>
// \{\m{B}} "But, it feels like I've seen her before."
<0676>
// \{Sunohara} "You'll just tell me not to bother, right?"
<0677>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't want to hear what you have to say!"
<0678>
// Ignoring my words, he went off on his own.
<0679>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, you. Want to come for a bit?"
<0680>
// \{Girl} "No, I'm busy with clubs..."
<0681>
// \{Sunohara} "Come on, come on, just for a bit. Ain't that fine?"
<0682>
// \{Sunohara} "See... I'm in quite a pinch right now."
<0683>
// \{Girl} "Huh..."
<0684>
// \{Sunohara} "I have a sister from the countryside coming here... when she does, it'd be embarrassing if her brother didn't have a girlfriend, right?"
<0685>
// \{\m{B}} (Though talking about your circumstances so up-front is also embarrassing I think...)
<0686>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, yeah... before that happens, I'd like you to go out with me for a bit, and break up soon after..."
<0687>
// \{Sunohara} "Quite shameful, isn't it, hahaha!"
<0688>
// \{\m{B}} (I think showing off about something stupid is quite shameful...)
<0689>
// \{Sunohara} "Having said all that, would you like to be my girlfriend for a bit?"
<0690>
// \{Sunohara} "Of course, if you really don't want to, that's fine!"*
<0691>
// \{Girl} "........."
<0692>
// The girl looks around as if she wants to be saved.
<0693>
// It's no use. In order to help herself, she takes a step back, and then...
<0694>
// \{Girl} "Ah, senpai!"
<0695>
// \{Sunohara} "Huh, senpai?"
<0696>
// \{Rugby Player} "Yo, Sunohara."
<0697>
// A rugby member.
<0698>
// \{Rugby Player} "What would you like with our manager?"
<0699>
// \{Girl} "Help me! This person wants me involved in something strange..."
<0700>
// \{Sunohara} "W-what? No, not at all...!"
<0701>
// \{Rugby Player} "Which means, you're trying to play around with our important manager."* 
<0702>
// \{Rugby Player} "... Come into our clubroom for a bit!"
<0703>
// \{Sunohara} "That's not it, that's a misunder..."
<0704>
// \{Sunohara} "U-uwaah............!"
<0705>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, be angry! That's what a man is!"
<0706>
// \{Sunohara} "You damn rugby member, exactly what the hell do you plan on doing---?! Huh?!"
<0707>
// \{Sunohara} "Right, no effect---------!"
<0708>
// \{Sunohara} "As always, I'm more tired than I should be."
<0709>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmmm..."
<0710>
// \{\m{B}} "... Guess I'll take a Mocha."
<0711>
// \{Sunohara} "Notice for a bit! Your friend's crying! Actually, would you \bnot\u drink everything here like you want to?!"
<0712>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, you're alive?"
<0713>
// \{Sunohara} "Just forget it... sigh..."
<0714>
// He straddles to the kotatsu and slumps down there.
<0715>
// \{Sunohara} "Everyone's already gone home... and tomorrow, my sister's coming..."
<0716>
// \{\m{B}} "You've used up all your power. There's no one else to blame, after all."
<0717>
// \{Sunohara} "You seem to conclude this as if you don't care at all, do you?!"
<0718>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, what the hell should I do...?"
<0719>
// \{Sunohara} "You think too, \m{A}!"
<0720>
// \{\m{B}} "Tch... fine, then. There's a pretty excessive part of this duty that I have nothing to say about though."*
<0721>
// \{Sunohara} "I doubt how you're saying that but, at this point, I don't care anymore..."
<0722>
// \{\m{B}} "If it's come to this, then there's our last resort."
<0723>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, what'll you do?"
<0724>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll go and ask Tomoyo one more time."
<0725>
// \{Sunohara} "Huh? She riddled me around yesterday though..."
<0726>
// \{\m{B}} "She's just hiding her embarrassment. Let's go ask her seriously." 
<0727>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll go and ask Fuuko one more time."
<0728>
// \{Sunohara} "She didn't want to yesterday, though."
<0729>
// \{\m{B}} "She's just hiding her embarrassment. Let's go ask her seriously." 
<0730>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll go and ask Fujibayashi one more time."
<0731>
// \{Sunohara} "Kyou seriously got in the way yesterday, though..."
<0732>
// \{\m{B}} "Though she might just be alone today." 
<0733>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll go and ask Kyou one more time."
<0734>
// \{Sunohara} "Huh? She riddled me around yesterday though..."
<0735>
// \{\m{B}} "She's just hiding her embarrassment. Let's go ask her seriously." 
<0736>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll go and ask Furukawa one more time."
<0737>
// \{Sunohara} "... Is that really okay?"
<0738>
// \{\m{B}} "Actually, the problem's more about you explaining the problem properly."
<0739>
// \{\m{B}} "Or do you want to meet your sister like this?" 
<0740>
// \{Sunohara} "I'd like to avoid that..."
<0741>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's take our last chance. Come on, let's go."
<0742>
// \{Sunohara} "But, no one's left in the school anymore, right?"
<0743>
// \{\m{B}} "You won't know until you look."
<0744>
// As Sunohara had said, other than the club activities, almost everyone had gone.
<0745>
// The two of us split up and look inside the empty school.
<0746>
// The moment we joined back up, Sunohara was completely depressed.
<0747>
// \{Sunohara} "That's why I told you, she's nowhere here to be found."
<0748>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I didn't see anyone either."
<0749>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, this is the end..."
<0750>
// \{\m{B}} "No, not yet."
<0751>
// \{\m{B}} "I saw some people who were just leaving."
<0752>
// \{\m{B}} "We could ask the people in class, but it looks like they've gone home."
<0753>
// \{\m{B}} "If we hurry and catch up with them, we might make it."
<0754>
// \{Sunohara} "Serious?"
<0755>
// \{\m{B}} "You wanna go? Or not?"
<0756>
// \{Sunohara} "... Let's go."
<0757>
// \{Sunohara} "If we run away from this, we'll lose our chance!"
<0758>
// Sunohara dashed with all his might in a big hurry.
<0759>
// I ran a little bit behind him.
<0760>
// Before long, we were able to find Tomoyo. 
<0761>
// \{Sunohara} "Pant, pant..."
<0762>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh... heh heh heh... I've found you............"
<0763>
// \{Tomoyo} "........."
<0764>
// She's giving an obviously irritated face.
<0765>
// That's normal if you're being held back all of a sudden by some guy who's breathing hard.
<0766>
// \{Tomoyo} "Even though school's over, you're..."
<0767>
// She clenches her fist and slaps it against her palm.
<0768>
// \{Sunohara} "Wait, that's not it!"
<0769>
// \{Tomoyo} "Then, what is it?"
<0770>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'll give an explanation."
<0771>
// I finally get close to the two, forcing myself in.
<0772>
// I tell her the entire truth, without keeping anything back.
<0773>
// \{\m{B}} "... So having that said, his younger sister's coming."
<0774>
// \{\m{B}} "And he's looking for a fake girlfriend to have during that time."
<0775>
// \{Tomoyo} "I see..."
<0776>
// She glances at Sunohara.
<0777>
// \{Tomoyo} "Why didn't you say so from the start...?"
<0778>
// \{Sunohara} "T-then..."
<0779>
// \{Tomoyo} "Yeah..."
<0780>
// \{Sunohara} "... Seriously?"
<0781>
// \{Sunohara} "I see, I see now... you're going to help me out."
<0782>
// \{Sunohara} "Hahaha... somehow, I kinda misunderstood you."
<0783>
// \{Sunohara} "Or rather, you've become lovely..."
<0784>
// \{Tomoyo} "........."
<0785>
// \{Sunohara} "Tomoyo--!"
<0786>
// \{Tomoyo} "Sunohara...!"
<0787>
// Shuffle.
<0788>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh...?"
<0789>
// She stepped on top of Sunohara as he tried to embrace her.
<0790>
// \{Tomoyo} "Why do I have to show that I'm going out with you--?!" 
<0791>
// \{Tomoyo} "If I knew from the start, I would have completely rejected the idea!"
<0792>
// \{Tomoyo} "... How stupid."
<0793>
// Leaving Sunohara in rags, she runs off with her long hair fluttering in the wind. 
<0794>
// To some effect, we had finally caught Fujibayashi from behind. 
<0795>
// Rushing up to her, we called her out.
<0796>
// \{Sunohara} "Class rep!"
<0797>
// Two people turned around at the same time.
<0798>
// \{Ryou} "Ah... Sunohara-kun..."
<0799>
// \{Kyou} "Huh? Youhei?"
<0800>
// \{Sunohara} "... Geh!"
<0801>
// Kyou was right beside Fujibayashi there.
<0802>
// \{\m{B}} (Of all places, those two have to be together...)
<0803>
// \{Kyou} "'Geh?' Did you just say 'geh'...?"
<0804>
// \{Sunohara} "Uh... I just felt a bit bad there just now... so I was taking a breather."
<0805>
// \{Kyou} "Hmm, shall I beat all the crap out of your stomach then?"
<0806>
// She cracks her knuckles. Seems like she's preparing for war.
<0807>
// \{Kyou} "Actually, you were chasing Ryou just now, weren't you?"
<0808>
// \{Kyou} "Speaking of which, you called her yesterday as well... were you stalking her?"
<0809>
// \{Kyou} "From an idiot to a pervert, you can't be saved."
<0810>
// \{Sunohara} "W-what?!"
<0811>
// \{Kyou} "Or is it that you have something else?"
<0812>
// \{Sunohara} "It's nothing to do with you."
<0813>
// \{Kyou} "Come on, there's no need for you to say anything."
<0814>
// \{Kyou} "Right, Ryou? Why's this guy so insistent?"
<0815>
// \{Ryou} "Ah... t-that's..."
<0816>
// \{\m{B}} (Hey... this is bad.)
<0817>
// \{Sunohara} (I-I know... but, what should I do?!)
<0818>
// \{\m{B}} (You don't have a choice except to say the truth!)
<0819>
// \{\m{B}} (Kyou's not a demon, so if you're up-front about it, she'll allow it!)
<0820>
// \{Sunohara} (I see. I'll give it a shot!)
<0821>
// \{Ryou} "Yesterday... he said his younger sister was coming, so... up until that time..."
<0822>
// \{Sunohara} "Kyou!"
<0823>
// He brings out his voice to stop Ryou.
<0824>
// \{Kyou} "W-what is it?"
<0825>
// A confused look from her.
<0826>
// He stands for a while, and then kneels down to the floor.
<0827>
// \{Sunohara} "Please let me take care of your sister!"
<0828>
// \{Kyou} "........."
<0829>
// \{Sunohara} "... Ah."
<0830>
// ... However you think of this, he was too honest about it. 
<0831>
// \{Sunohara} "Kyou--!" 
<0832>
// The sisters were walking in the shopping district.
<0833>
// \{Kyou} "Hmph!"
<0834>
// Bling!\shake{1}
<0835>
// \{Sunohara} "Guwaah!"
<0836>
// Turning around, she slams the dictionary into his face.
<0837>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, why are you hitting me all of a sudden?!"
<0838>
// \{Ryou} "O... onee-chan, he's..."
<0839>
// \{Kyou} "Ah... it's Youhei?"
<0840>
// \{Kyou} "Ahahaha, if I knew that, I would have used all my power~"
<0841>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't say something like that while smiling!"
<0842>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, what are you gonna do arguing?"
<0843>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah... I see."
<0844>
// \{Sunohara} "By the way... Kyou. Have a moment?"
<0845>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, listen to what he has to say."
<0846>
// \{Kyou} "What is it with you guys being so formal... it's disgusting."
<0847>
// \{Sunohara} "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask of you..."
<0848>
// \{Kyou} "I don't feel like finding your bones, though."
<0849>
// \{Sunohara} "That's so far off!"
<0850>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, be serious."
<0851>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah, I know..."
<0852>
// \{Sunohara} "So you see... Kyou,"
<0853>
// \{Kyou} "W-what...?"
<0854>
// \{Sunohara} "It's just for a short bit of time so..."
<0855>
// \{Sunohara} "I'd like you... to be my girlfriend."
<0856>
// \{Kyou} "........."
<0857>
// She's frozen solid there.
<0858>
// That's normal if you were asked something like that all of a sudden...
<0859>
// \{Kyou} "... Heh heh..."
<0860>
// \{\m{B}} (She's smiling...?)
<0861>
// \{Kyou} "I see... Sunohara-kun's that kind of person, isn't he?"
<0862>
// \{Sunohara} "I-is that so? I think I surprise myself!"
<0863>
// \{Kyou} "Well, I did notice it a little bit."
<0864>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, serious?!"
<0865>
// \{Kyou} "How should I put it, it's like playing in a minefield..."
<0866>
// \{Kyou} "Or like swimming in a sea with sharks around..."
<0867>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, t-that means..."
<0868>
// \{Kyou} "... Heh... heh heh..."
<0869>
// \{Kyou} "It means you really want to die!"
<0870>
// \{Sunohara} "It really does, doesn't it?!?!"
<0871>
// Thwack!\shake{3} 
<0872>
// \{Sunohara} "Bfffff!!"
<0873>
// With an uppercut, he flies into the air, dancing.
<0874>
// \{\m{B}} "Ohh, he's flying, he's flying!"
<0875>
// \{Kyou} "Geez, just continue living your life out like the joke that it is!"
<0876>
// Kyou showed no mercy, even though he fell onto the ground.
<0877>
// Kick! \shake{2}\pShake!\shake{4}
<0878>
// \{Sunohara} "Guwaahhh!!"
<0879>
// \{Ryou} "Ah... wawa... S-Sunohara-kun's going to die..."
<0880>
// \{Kyou} "It's fine! Even if I hit him this much, he won't have any trouble!"
<0881>
// Pow! \shake{2}\p Biff!!!\shake{4}
<0882>
// \{Sunohara} "Help!!"
<0883>
// Finally after kicking Sunohara, Kyou gives him a face.
<0884>
// \{Kyou} "Whew... something like this."
<0885>
// \{Kyou} "The next time you say something strange, I'm going to hit you until you say you want to die!"
<0886>
// She left with that strong, harsh remark.
<0887>
// All that was left was Sunohara's silent, dead corpse. 
<0888>
// \{Sunohara} "There she is!" 
<0889>
// Passing by the shopping district, Sunohara finally caught up with that figure.
<0890>
// \{Fuuko} "Wah, it's the Strange Person again!"
<0891>
// Seeing us, she dashes off real quick.
<0892>
// Seems like she had pretty good notice of where we are.
<0893>
// Hiding herself behind a telephone pole, she watches us carefully.
<0894>
// \{Sunohara} "Come on, come out!"
<0895>
// \{Fuuko} "Hmph!"
<0896>
// ... He's intimidating.
<0897>
// \{Sunohara} "It's fine, come on? Here's 100 yen!"
<0898>
// \{Fuuko} "Don't want it!"
<0899>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko doesn't want something that cheap!"
<0900>
// If it were a lot more, you would?
<0901>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh? That's too bad."
<0902>
// \{Sunohara} "If you had 100 yen, you could have gone to buy some juice..."
<0903>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, hey, no matter what you say, no one's going to be attracted to that..."
<0904>
// \{Fuuko} "Uu... uhh..."
<0905>
// \{\m{B}} "No way... it actually has an effect."
<0906>
// \{Fuuko} "Mmph, mmph!"
<0907>
// I'm sure that the angel and the devil are fighting in Fuuko's mind.
<0908>
// She's jolting around a little bit.
<0909>
// \{\m{B}} "Oops, how careless of me."
<0910>
// The coin rolls unsteadily.
<0911>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<0912>
// As I thought, she totters out as if controlled.
<0913>
// Seeing this chance, he immediately jumps for it!
<0914>
// \{Sunohara} "Now--!"
<0915>
// \{Fuuko} "Wah!"
<0916>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't run!!"
<0917>
// \{Fuuko} "No, Fuuko will run!!"
<0918>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, another 100 yen coin slipped!"
<0919>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<0920>
// She comes tottering closer again.
<0921>
// \{Fuuko} "... Ah!"
<0922>
// It was already too late when she noticed.
<0923>
// \{Sunohara} "I got you!"
<0924>
// \{Fuuko} "W-wah!"
<0925>
// Using that one chance, he picked up her body.
<0926>
// \{Fuuko} "Mmph, mmph!"
<0927>
// \{Fuuko} "Please let go!"
<0928>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh heh heh... you won't be running away."
<0929>
// \{Sunohara} "Be quiet and become my girlfriend!"
<0930>
// \{Fuuko} "Please stop it!"
<0931>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0932>
// But, no matter how you looked at this, she looked like a helpless victim being attacked by some hooligan.
<0933>
// Perhaps we were doing something criminal?
<0934>
// As proof of that, the voices of housewives can be heard whispering around us.
<0935>
// \{Housewife} "Oh no..."
<0936>
// \{Housewife} "Hey, isn't it better to call the police...?"
<0937>
// \{Housewife} "Shh, if you raise your voice too loud, they'll look at you!"
<0938>
// \{Sunohara} "Uu..."
<0939>
// Sunohara realized what he looked like.
<0940>
// \{Sunohara} "Ha... haha..."
<0941>
// \{Sunohara} "No way, I wouldn't be so violent with such an important girl!"
<0942>
// \{Sunohara} "Right, Fuuko-chan?"
<0943>
// With an awkward smile on his face, he puts her down.
<0944>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<0945>
// \{Fuuko} "That's the worst!!"
<0946>
// Tonk----!\shake{4}
<0947>
// With a perfect corner from the star-shaped carving she has, she thrusts it into his face.
<0948>
// \{Sunohara} "My cartilage-----!"
<0949>
// Just like that, while he was in agony, Fuuko had disappeared.
<0950>
// All that was left was Sunohara suffering in pain. 
<0951>
// Catching up with Furukawa, we entered the shopping district. 
<0952>
// \{Sunohara} "Furukawa!"
<0953>
// \{Furukawa} "Eh...?"
<0954>
// Calling her, she was surprised for a bit, looking around.
<0955>
// \{Furukawa} "Sunohara-san... ah, even \m{A}-san!"
<0956>
// \{Furukawa} "Ehehe..."
<0957>
// And then, for some reason, she smiled.
<0958>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it...?"
<0959>
// \{Furukawa} "We meet again. Twice now, counting yesterday."
<0960>
// \{Furukawa} "Somehow... it makes me happy."
<0961>
// \{Sunohara} "She really is a good girl..."
<0962>
// \{Furukawa} "Not at all! I'm not a good girl at all."
<0963>
// \{Furukawa} "All I do is trouble people around me."
<0964>
// \{Sunohara} "That's exactly what makes you good."
<0965>
// \{Furukawa} "E-even if you say so..."
<0966>
// \{\m{B}} "Now, now, besides that... Sunohara?"
<0967>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, that's right."
<0968>
// \{Sunohara} "By the way, Furukawa, about what happened yesterday..."
<0969>
// \{Furukawa} "Ah, yes."
<0970>
// \{Furukawa} "Your younger sister is coming, right?"
<0971>
// \{Sunohara} "That's right."
<0972>
// \{Furukawa} "Have you already met yet?"
<0973>
// \{Sunohara} "No, the plan's to meet her tomorrow."
<0974>
// \{Furukawa} "Tomorrow? You can't do that!"
<0975>
// \{Furukawa} "Have you already prepared for meeting her?"
<0976>
// \{Sunohara} "Prepared...?"
<0977>
// \{Furukawa} "Like a party or something."
<0978>
// \{Sunohara} "A party's somewhat exaggerated."
<0979>
// \{Furukawa} "Is that so...? I don't really think that."
<0980>
// \{Furukawa} "I'm sure your younger sister should have fun."
<0981>
// \{Furukawa} "She's really looking forward to meeting you... isn't she?"
<0982>
// \{Sunohara} "I-I guess..."
<0983>
// \{Furukawa} "That's how it is!"
<0984>
// \{Furukawa} "I'm sure, if her older brother weren't around, she'd be living such lonely days."
<0985>
// \{Furukawa} "At times... she may cry on some days, wouldn't she...?"
<0986>
// \{Sunohara} "I see, she..."
<0987>
// It seems Sunohara was impressed by everything that Furukawa was imagining.
<0988>
// Looking far off, he kept nodding and nodding.
<0989>
// \{Furukawa} "Okay, having said that, please be sure to let her have lots of fun."
<0990>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, I'll do that!"
<0991>
// \{Furukawa} "Okay. See you later..."
<0992>
// \{Sunohara} "Thank you, later!"
<0993>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0994>
// Furukawa leaves with a smile.
<0995>
// Sunohara waved his hand, seeing her off.
<0996>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Sunohara."
<0997>
// \{\m{B}} "You were persuaded again, without accomplishing anything."
<0998>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, accomplish what?"
<0999>
// \{\m{B}} "Not 'accomplish what'. Furukawa's gone off, hasn't she?"
<1000>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh damn it--------!"
<1001>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh, my, devil!!"
<1002>
// Knocking his head hard against the telephone pole, he eventually falls unconscious.
<1003>
// \{\m{B}} "Whatever but, don't pray to the devil."
<1004>
// This guy doesn't learn.
<1005>
// \{\m{B}} "That's so sad... I wanted to at least grant your last wish." 
<1006>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll tell your sister how heroic you were."
<1007>
// \{\m{B}} "I think that's my responsibility..."
<1008>
// Clap...
<1009>
// \{\m{B}} "Amen..." 
<1010>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay, shall I go then?"
<1011>
// \{Sunohara} "Wait!"
<1012>
// \{\m{B}} "What, you're still alive?"
<1013>
// \{Sunohara} "Like I'd die!"
<1014>
// \{\m{B}} "But you know, even if we go back to school, there isn't anyone there anymore."
<1015>
// \{Sunohara} "What should I do, \m{A}?!"
<1016>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm, let's see..."
<1017>
// \{\m{B}} "How about we hit you with a metal bat so you have amnesia?"
<1018>
// \{Sunohara} "All right, let's do that!"
<1019>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, I'd die from that!"
<1020>
// \{\m{B}} "Even more so, you'd get the girl that's doing the operation. You'll definitely find your purpose in life."
<1021>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't want such a purpose in life!"
<1022>
// \{\m{B}} "In that case, it's already over."
<1023>
// \{Sunohara} "No way..."
<1024>
// \{Sunohara} "H-hahaha..."
<1025>
// \{Sunohara} "Eheh............ eheheheheh..."
<1026>
// \{\m{B}} "Trauma leading to amnesia. That's also something to do."
<1027>
// \{Sunohara} "No way!"
<1028>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahhhh! It's useless, my sister's going to come tomorrow--!"
<1029>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't that fine? Just show how you go to school and stuff."
<1030>
// \{\m{B}} "She'd see you like a bug and all, yeah?"
<1031>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't want that--!!"
<1032>
// He faints in agony within the shopping street.
<1033>
// The people start gathering around, wondering what's going on.
<1034>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, what the hell you looking at, you old crack?! I'm not on display!"
<1035>
// Eventually in an outburst of anger, he starts picking a fight.
<1036>
// \{Sunohara} "Asshole, you got any complaints?!"
<1037>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, stop it."
<1038>
// Shocked, I hold him back.
<1039>
// But, it looks like that wasn't necessary.
<1040>
// From that moment of curiosity, everyone stopped...
<1041>
// They don't want to be close to this garbage. Seeing that appearance, they glanced away.
<1042>
// \{Sunohara} "Tch... wait."
<1043>
// He clicked his tongue at the figure running off into the back.
<1044>
// \{\m{B}} "That's enough, isn't it? Let's go."
<1045>
// Pushing Sunohara, we headed back to the dorm.
<1046>
// Someone was standing there.
<1047>
// There were people all curious and stuff, but soon there was one left.
<1048>
// In contrast to the group of people, that person gave a hard glance our way. 
<1049>
// She had a smile on her face.
<1050>
// By no means was that a stupid one.
<1051>
// \{Woman} "........."
<1052>
// Maybe she's a housewife on her way back from buying things? Anyways, she's quite young.
<1053>
// It feels like I might have met her somewhere before...
<1054>
// \{\m{B}} "... Do I know you?" 
<1055>
// \{Woman} "Me? I'm Furukawa Sanae."
<1056>
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, I don't know but..."
<1057>
// Having someone introduce themselves all of a sudden is troubling.
<1058>
// And I wasn't familiar with her name either. 
<1059>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... you're Furukawa's..."
<1060>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I'm Sanae." 
<1061>
// \{\m{B}} "Furukawa...?"
<1062>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I'm Furukawa."
<1063>
// \{\m{B}} "... So, what is it?"
<1064>
// \{Sanae} "No, not that I have anything in particular..."
<1065>
// \{Sanae} "I see you have the same school uniform as that of my daughter."
<1066>
// \{\m{B}} "Your daughter? What year is your daughter in?"
<1067>
// \{Sanae} "Third year." 
<1068>
// A third year with the last name of Furukawa.
<1069>
// It must be her.
<1070>
// She's the one I saw before at the bottom of the hill.
<1071>
// \{Sanae} "... Perhaps you're Nagisa's friend?"
<1072>
// She says that, seeing that I'm pondering.
<1073>
// \{\m{B}} "I know her face, that's all." 
<1074>
// \{\m{B}} "So, she's in the same..."
<1075>
// \{\m{B}} "But, her class is different. I don't really know Furukawa."
<1076>
// \{Sanae} "She recently came back to school, so she doesn't know anyone. She didn't make it in time for the entry ceremony."
<1077>
// Suddenly, a face comes to mind.
<1078>
// She's the one I saw before at the bottom of the hill.
<1079>
// I believe she was in the same year as me. 
<1080>
// \{\m{B}} (She did mention she was resting for a long time...)
<1081>
// \{\m{B}} (Is it her...?)
<1082>
// \{\m{B}} (If that's so... that would have been her first day back in school...)
<1083>
// \{Sanae} "... Um, perhaps you may be Nagisa's friend?"
<1084>
// She says that, seeing that I'm pondering.
<1085>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm not sure about the name 'Nagisa' but, I have seen her face at least."
<1086>
// \{Sanae} "In that case, you really are her friend."
<1087>
// \{Sanae} "You've always been of help to Nagisa!"
<1088>
// \{\m{B}} "Sigh..."
<1089>
// ... Somehow, I feel a bit out of it.
<1090>
// \{Sunohara} "If that old crack comes again, I'm gonna choke him!"
<1091>
// Sunohara had returned.
<1092>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm? Someone you know?"
<1093>
// \{\m{B}} "No, not really." 
<1094>
// \{\m{B}} "You know Furukawa from third year, right?"
<1095>
// \{Sunohara} "I haven't." 
<1096>
// \{\m{B}} "You know Furukawa from third year? You met her before."
<1097>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm? I did?"
<1098>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, whatever. Anyways, this is Furukawa's..."
<1099>
// \{Sunohara} "Sister?"
<1100>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you so much!"
<1101>
// She said so, returning a smile, probably taking it as a compliment.
<1102>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm, I see..."
<1103>
// Sunohara seems to have understood as such.
<1104>
// To correct him on every single thing was a pain, so I just left it at that.
<1105>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, whatever. We'll be going now."
<1106>
// \{Sanae} "Ah... is that so?"
<1107>
// \{Sunohara} "Is there something you want?"
<1108>
// \{Sanae} "Not exactly but..."
<1109>
// \{Sanae} "I was wondering exactly what it was that you were troubled over."
<1110>
// \{\m{B}} "It's not really your business."
<1111>
// \{Sanae} "........."
<1112>
// \{\m{B}} "... Ugh..."
<1113>
// Giving out those cold words, tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
<1114>
// Like a kid. 
<1115>
// \{\m{B}} (Well...)
<1116>
// \{\m{B}} "Furukawa...?"
<1117>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I'm Furukawa."
<1118>
// \{\m{B}} "... So, what is it?"
<1119>
// \{Sanae} "No, not that I have anything in particular..."
<1120>
// \{Sanae} "I see you have the same school uniform as that of my daughter."
<1121>
// \{\m{B}} "Your daughter? What year is your daughter in?"
<1122>
// \{Sanae} "Third year."
<1123>
// \{\m{B}} "Serious... well, that means..."
<1124>
// Only one face could come to mind.
<1125>
// \{\m{B}} "... Hey,"
<1126>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, what is it?"
<1127>
// \{\m{B}} "Does your daughter like bread?"
<1128>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, she really does."
<1129>
// \{Sanae} "... Umm, perhaps you're a friend of Nagisa's?"
<1130>
// \{\m{B}} "Well... no, we did talk a while ago but..."
<1131>
// \{Sanae} "In that case, you really are her friend."
<1132>
// \{Sanae} "You've always been of help to Nagisa!"
<1133>
// \{\m{B}} "Sigh..."
<1134>
// ... Somehow, I feel a bit out of it.
<1135>
// \{Sunohara} "If that old crack comes again, I'm gonna choke him!"
<1136>
// Sunohara had returned.
<1137>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm? Someone you know?"
<1138>
// \{\m{B}} "No, not really."
<1139>
// \{\m{B}} "You say you're Furukawa Sanae, so you're Furukawa's... umm..."
<1140>
// My words tumbled a bit, feeling that she didn't really suit the image of introducing herself as her mother.
<1141>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh... her sister?"
<1142>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you so much!"
<1143>
// She said so, returning a smile, probably taking it as a compliment.
<1144>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm, I see..."
<1145>
// Sunohara seems to have understood as such.
<1146>
// To correct him on every single thing was a pain, so I just left it at that.
<1147>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, whatever. We'll be going now."
<1148>
// \{Sanae} "Ah... is that so?"
<1149>
// \{Sunohara} "Is there something you want?"
<1150>
// \{Sanae} "Not exactly but..."
<1151>
// \{Sanae} "I was wondering exactly what it was that you were troubled over."
<1152>
// \{\m{B}} "It's not really your business anyhow, is it?"
<1153>
// \{Sanae} "........."
<1154>
// \{\m{B}} "... Ugh..."
<1155>
// Giving out those cold words, tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
<1156>
// Like a kid.
<1157>
// \{Sanae} "... You're cruel."
<1158>
// \{\m{B}} "No, about that..."
<1159>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, you made her cry, \m{A}."
<1160>
// \{\m{B}} "Shut up."
<1161>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, umm... Sanae-san?"
<1162>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you did know, exactly what would you say?"
<1163>
// \{Sanae} "I thought I might try to help in some way."
<1164>
// \{\m{B}} "No way you could. You want to hear his problem?"
<1165>
// With a bullying tone, I explained the details.
<1166>
// \{Sanae} "... I see."
<1167>
// She nodded to everything she heard.
<1168>
// I breathed a heavy sigh so that she'd hear it.
<1169>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said that, there's nothing to do."
<1170>
// \{\m{B}} "Since you know, we'll be going."
<1171>
// \{Sanae} "All right, I understand..."
<1172>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh boy. Let's go, Sunohara."
<1173>
// \{Sanae} "Wait!" 
<1174>
// Sanae-san called to stop us.
<1175>
// \{\m{B}} "... Huh? There's still something?"
<1176>
// \{Sanae} "If... just, what if,"
<1177>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay..."
<1178>
// \{Sanae} "If you say that standing beside you like a young girl like you mentioned wouldn't be strange..."
<1179>
// \{Sanae} "I thought... I might like to help."
<1180>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1181>
// \{\m{B}} "... What'd you say?"
<1182>
// \{Sanae} "That way, it'd be like Sunohara-san having a girlfriend... is that fine?"
<1183>
// At the same time that voice came out,
<1184>
// Dumbfounded, Sunohara looks at her.
<1185>
// \{Sanae} "Shall I do this then?"
<1186>
// \{Sunohara} "Y..."
<1187>
// \{Sunohara} "Yahooooo-------!"
<1188>
// Sunohara jumps up, bringing a fist into the air.
<1189>
// \{\m{B}} "Impossible..."
<1190>
// As always, I attended school late.
<1191>
// I grumbled to myself alone in the class, remembering yesterday.
<1192>
// That Sunohara and Furukawa... Sanae-san are going to pretend to be lovers?
<1193>
// I don't know why myself, but it's a shock.
<1194>
// I try imagining the two together.
<1195>
// \{Sanae} "... So you were here after all?"
<1196>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san..."
<1197>
// \{Sanae} "I heard that your teacher got angry again."
<1198>
// \{Sunohara} "Haha... no matter what I do, it's useless."
<1199>
// \{Sanae} "Not at all. You're a child that can do something!"
<1200>
// \{Sunohara} "Please leave me alone."
<1201>
// \{Sanae} "... Don't take any offense to that."
<1202>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm not."
<1203>
// \{Sanae} "That's a lie."
<1204>
// \{Sanae} "Because you've been quite honest here, haven't you...?"
<1205>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san, that's...!"
<1206>
// \{\m{B}} "Impossible--!"
<1207>
// \{\m{B}} "But, I'm a bit jealous--!!"
<1208>
// While in agony, the one happy man came about.
<1209>
// \{Sunohara} "Good mooorning, \m{A}!"
<1210>
// \{\m{B}} "It's impossible for you."
<1211>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahaha, what joke are you coming up with this morning?"
<1212>
// A pleasant one.
<1213>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... this is a complete reversal for lost time, isn't it?"
<1214>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, tonight's going to be a hero interview?"
<1215>
// \{\m{B}} (This guy really is being damn festive...)
<1216>
// \{Sunohara} "It's like saying the kids have no idea what kind of charm I have!"
<1217>
// \{Sunohara} "If I go out with someone, I guess it's with a woman."
<1218>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, in the end it's just all for show, being with a girl."
<1219>
// \{Sunohara} "Hah, time's the problem!"
<1220>
// \{Sunohara} "Generally speaking, one glance at her gives me the shakes. Maybe it's a fated person?"
<1221>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san probably understood that as well when she took this up."
<1222>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, to begin with, that person is Furukawa's..."
<1223>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm? Yeah, I know, her sister, right?"
<1224>
// \{Sunohara} "She greeted me as such now, hasn't she?"
<1225>
// \{\m{B}} (That's right, he's still got that mixed up...)
<1226>
// \{Sunohara} "What's wrong, \m{A}?"
<1227>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, nothing."
<1228>
// I didn't dare answer him.
<1229>
// Having said that, I couldn't believe yesterday's events after all.
<1230>
// Besides, is it really fine for him to cuddle up with her...
<1231>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, let's hang out after school."
<1232>
// \{Sunohara} "Sorry, sorry. I made arrangements to meet Sanae-san..."
<1233>
// \{\m{B}} "I mean with Sanae-san!"
<1234>
// There was something I should talk about once more.
<1235>
// After lessons in the morning finished, I went to see Sanae-san.
<1236>
// To the place we met to see her.
<1237>
// Sanae-san was at the park.
<1238>
// That particular housewife was talking to some kids she brought along. Do they know her?
<1239>
// Noticing us, she finishes up her conversation, and comes walking to us.
<1240>
// \{Sanae} "Good afternoon!"
<1241>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah... good afternoon."
<1242>
// The person in front of you is a little off.
<1243>
// \{Sunohara} "Good afternooooon, Sanae-san!"
<1244>
// \{Sanae} "Yup. I'm looking forward to it!"
<1245>
// \{\m{B}} "Looking forward to?"
<1246>
// \{Sanae} "From today onward, I'm going to be acting as a girlfriend, right?"
<1247>
// \{Sanae} "I'm not exactly that young, so it's really exciting!"
<1248>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you talking about, you're young enough!"
<1249>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you so much!"
<1250>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, Sunohara... pull back a bit."
<1251>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, why?"
<1252>
// Ignoring the blank-faced Sunohara, I step in front of Sanae-san.
<1253>
// \{\m{B}} "By the way, Sanae-san,"
<1254>
// \{Sanae} "Yes?"
<1255>
// \{\m{B}} "... Are you really serious?"
<1256>
// \{Sanae} "Serious, you say?"
<1257>
// \{\m{B}} "About becoming a fake girlfriend."
<1258>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't know this guy's true nature."
<1259>
// \{Sanae} "True nature... is it?"
<1260>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<1261>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll be brief, but this guy's an idiot."
<1262>
// \{Sanae} "Eh... an idiot?"
<1263>
// \{Sunohara} "Please don't agree with him!"
<1264>
// \{\m{B}} "Even more, this guy's a beast."
<1265>
// \{Sanae} "So a beast that's like an idiot?"
<1266>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't put those together!"
<1267>
// \{\m{B}} "And... he's a pervert that likes to run around naked."
<1268>
// \{Sanae} "So he's a pervert that likes to around naked, and is a beast that's an idiot?"
<1269>
// \{Sunohara} "Exactly what the \bhell\u am I?!"
<1270>
// \{\m{B}} "I think you'll know how long it'll be before it becomes dangerous from hearing this."
<1271>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm strongly advising you for your own safety, Sanae-san."
<1272>
// \{\m{B}} "... Please forget about this with this talk."
<1273>
// \{Sanae} "I suppose..."
<1274>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh... \bEHHHHHHH?!\u"
<1275>
// She nods with a smile.
<1276>
// I breathed a sigh of relief with the contrasting shriek from behind.
<1277>
// \{Sanae} "... But, I'm fine with this."
<1278>
// But, I doubted that with the next words that reached my ears.
<1279>
// \{\m{B}} "What'd you say...?"
<1280>
// \{Sanae} "I can tell from seeing his eyes."
<1281>
// \{Sanae} "Sunohara-kun's not like that."
<1282>
// \{Sanae} "He's not an idiot, but just clumsy."
<1283>
// \{Sanae} "He has such a cute face, so he couldn't be a beast at all."
<1284>
// \{Sanae} "As for what people like... to each their own."
<1285>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you serious...? T-then..."
<1286>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I'll be Sunohara-kun's girlfriend from here on out!"
<1287>
// Which means...
<1288>
// \{Sanae} "... I guess it's here after all."
<1289>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san..."
<1290>
// \{Sanae} "I heard you ran around naked again."
<1291>
// \{Sunohara} "Haha... I'm an idiot so I'll do anything."
<1292>
// \{Sanae} "Not at all. To each their own!"
<1293>
// \{Sunohara} "Please leave me alone."
<1294>
// \{Sanae} "Don't take any offense to that."
<1295>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm not."
<1296>
// \{Sanae} "You're lying."
<1297>
// \{Sanae} "Because, you're no longer such a rare creature..."
<1298>
// \{Sunohara} "Because I'm clumsy!"
<1299>
// \{\m{B}} "Impossible--!"
<1300>
// \{\m{B}} "But, I'm a bit envious--!!"
<1301>
// He patted my shoulders while I was in agony.
<1302>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh heh heh..."
<1303>
// Letting his blond hair flutter, he walks in front of me.
<1304>
// \{\m{B}} "Body!"
<1305>
// Thud!\shake{4}
<1306>
// \{Sunohara} "Bifff!"
<1307>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, why'd you hit me?!"
<1308>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, you made me feel really sick."
<1309>
// \{Sanae} "Now, now... don't start any fights."
<1310>
// \{\m{B}} "Ugh..."
<1311>
// She said that gently, mentioning nothing more about it.
<1312>
// \{Sunohara} "The \bunpopular\u guy appears to be quite jealous. Let's leave him be, shall we?"
<1313>
// \{\m{B}} (I'm so going to hurt you...)
<1314>
// \{Sanae} "Well, then, what should we do?"
<1315>
// \{Sunohara} "That's, I guess... oh man..."
<1316>
// \{Sunohara} "Umm... a d-d-d-d-d-d-d-ddddate, maybe?"
<1317>
// \{\m{B}} "You're tumbling on your words, you know."
<1318>
// \{Sanae} "A date's good, isn't it?"
<1319>
// \{Sanae} "But... doing that all of a sudden is a bit difficult, I think."
<1320>
// \{Sanae} "If we don't practice a little bit, no one will believe that you have a girlfriend."
<1321>
// \{Sanae} "How about we have a rehearsal to begin with?"
<1322>
// \{Sunohara} "Ohh, that sounds good!"
<1323>
// \{Sanae} "What do you think, \m{A}-san?"
<1324>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you asking me...?"
<1325>
// \{\m{B}} "Just do whatever you want."
<1326>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, where are you going?"
<1327>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm not needed here anymore, aren't I?"
<1328>
// \{Sanae} "... You shouldn't."
<1329>
// \{Sanae} "It's the responsibility of the organizer to see things to the end."
<1330>
// \{\m{B}} "Responsibility...?"
<1331>
// The circumstances of the relationship between Sunohara and Sanae-san.
<1332>
// I try imagining their future.
<1333>
// \{\m{B}} "Guwaahh--!"
<1334>
// \{Sunohara} "Why are you tugging your neck?!"
<1335>
// \{\m{B}} "It's disgusting..."
<1336>
// \{Sunohara} "Why?!"
<1337>
// \{\m{B}} "Anyways, I'm going home today."
<1338>
// \{\m{B}} "You two try to do something on your own."
<1339>
// \{Sanae} "I see..."
<1340>
// With Sunohara as he is, he's not in the mood to pull anything strange.
<1341>
// Taking a breath, I turn around.
<1342>
// \{Sunohara} "You're heading to the dorm?"
<1343>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<1344>
// \{Sunohara} "Then, deal with my sister when she comes."
<1345>
// \{Sunohara} "And be sure to tell her, okay?"
<1346>
// \{Sunohara} "About how her older brother's lovey-dovey with a girl and all!"
<1347>
// \{\m{B}} "Though it'd be nice if I could understand the love in the meaning of those words."
<1348>
// \{Sunohara} "You can!"
<1349>
// \{Sunohara} "Anyways, I'll let you deal with it if you're heading back."
<1350>
// \{\m{B}} "Fine, fine..."
<1351>
// So annoying...
<1352>
// I take another deep breath and begin walking.
<1353>
// \{Sunohara} "Well then, shall we get started?"
<1354>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. Sunohara-kun, pleased to meet you."
<1355>
// The voices behind my back gradually faint away.
<1356>
// \{Sanae} "Ah... but calling you Sunohara-kun is strange."
<1357>
// \{Sanae} "I'm your girlfriend, after all."
<1358>
// \{Sanae} "Well then, let's see..."
<1359>
// \{Sanae} "From now on, I'll call you Youhei-kun."
<1360>
// \{Sanae} "Pleased to meet you, Youhei-kun!"
<1361>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<1362>
// Thud!
<1363>
// Sunohara ran up to behind me.
<1364>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, she called me Youhei-kun!"
<1365>
// With a blushed face, he headed back.
<1366>
// It seems that dealing with older women is a mystery zone, even for Sunohara.
<1367>
// \{Sanae} "Then, let's walk together, shall we?"
<1368>
// \{Sanae} "You can walk really close."
<1369>
// \{Sanae} "Keeping our shoulders together makes us look like lovers."
<1370>
// \{Sanae} "That's not it, be more close!"
<1371>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<1372>
// Thud!
<1373>
// Sunohara ran up to behind me.
<1374>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, this is such a good smell!"
<1375>
// He turns around with a dazed face.
<1376>
// It seems for a naive Sunohara, he's very stimulated.
<1377>
// \{Sanae} "Hmm, not one of this seems like being lovers."
<1378>
// \{Sanae} "I guess just walking together like this isn't good enough."
<1379>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, how about we hold hands then?"
<1380>
// \{Sanae} "But, do so lightly. If you do it too strongly, it'll be a problem."
<1381>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<1382>
// Thud!
<1383>
// Sunohara ran up to behind me.
<1384>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, she's so soft!"
<1385>
// \{\m{B}} "Stop reporting each and every single thing to me..."
<1386>
// I moved to a distant place.
<1387>
// I guess I'll have to head to the dormitory...
<1388>
// I feel depressed...
<1389>
// \{Sunohara} "Did you hear that just now?!"
<1390>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't see anything anymore, nor do I hear anything, so quit coming!"
<1391>
// \{\m{B}} "Sigh..."
<1392>
// Lying down on the ten-thousand-year kotatsu, I sighed.
<1393>
// \{\m{B}} "Why'd it become like this...?"
<1394>
// I feel like I've been saying that about Sunohara since yesterday.
<1395>
// While on the other hand, he's got Sanae-san pretending to be his lover.
<1396>
// And I'm waiting for her sister-- waiting for the ghost, so I would call her.
<1397>
// \{\m{B}} "Ugahhh--! What's with this difference--?!"
<1398>
// \{\m{B}} "This sucks... maybe I should go to the arcades every once in a while."
<1399>
// I think of doing so, but then I remember Sanae-san's words.
<1400>
// --It's the responsibility of the organizer to see things to the end.
<1401>
// I thought it stupid, but I couldn't just ignore it.
<1402>
// \{\m{B}} "... I'll sleep."
<1403>
// I ended up sleeping out of spite.
<1404>
// I throw myself into the pile of manga, making them a pillow.
<1405>
// Deep within the kotatsu, my pupils close, and sleepiness attacks me.
<1406>
// .........
<1407>
// ......
<1408>
// ...
<1409>
// Knock, knock!
<1410>
// Knock, knock, knock!
<1411>
// \{\m{B}} "... Fuwaah, what is it...?"
<1412>
// I wake up to that noisy thundering.
<1413>
// My head was still so out of it.
<1414>
// \{\m{B}} (Did Sunohara come back...?)
<1415>
// Knock, knock!
<1416>
// \{\m{B}} "Shut up, it's empty."
<1417>
// Knock, knock, knock!
<1418>
// \{\m{B}} "What...?"
<1419>
// I squirm around, getting up from the kotatsu.
<1420>
// While a bit dizzy, I open the door.
<1421>
// .........
<1422>
// ... Slam.
<1423>
// \{Voice} "E-eh...?"
<1424>
// \{Voice} "Strange, did I get it wrong?"
<1425>
// I didn't just hallucinate, I also heard some sound.
<1426>
// It seems I'm still quite sleepy.
<1427>
// \{\m{B}} "... I'll sleep."
<1428>
// I head back to rest.
<1429>
// .........
<1430>
// ......
<1431>
// ...
<1432>
// Knock, knock!
<1433>
// Knock, knock, knock!
<1434>
// \{\m{B}} "Daaaaaahhh, what the hell?!"
<1435>
// Getting up from the futon, I open the door.
<1436>
// .........
<1437>
// ... Slam.
<1438>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm still asleep...?"
<1439>
// Knock, knock!
<1440>
// \{Voice} "I'm sorry, please open up!"
<1441>
// I certainly hear words coming from beyond the door.
<1442>
// It seems like this is reality.
<1443>
// \{\m{B}} "It couldn't be...?"
<1444>
// I open the door a second time.
<1445>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you Sunohara?!"
<1446>
// \{Girl} "E-ehh?"
<1447>
// \{Girl} "Well... I guess you could say I'm Sunohara."
<1448>
// \{\m{B}} "I see... so you got mixed up with a girl and fell down the stairs."
<1449>
// \{\m{B}} "And switched souls with her..."
<1450>
// \{\m{B}} "And while in disbelief, you returned to your room..."
<1451>
// \{\m{B}} "And you felt like touching yourself while looking in the mirror!"
<1452>
// \{Girl} "... I don't know exactly what it is you're talking about."
<1453>
// That got easily thrown out.
<1454>
// \{Mei} "Besides that, I thought that this might have been onii-chan's room..."
<1455>
// \{\m{B}} "Onii-chan?"
<1456>
// \{Girl} "Ah, I'm sorry."
<1457>
// \{Girl} "Nice to meet you. I'm Sunohara Youhei's younger sister. You can call me Mei."
<1458>
// \{Mei} "Perhaps you're my brother's friend?"
<1459>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1460>
// \{\m{B}} "Kehhhh----!"
<1461>
// \{Mei} "Wah... what?"
<1462>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, you didn't understand that?"
<1463>
// \{Mei} "Uh, understanding that or not but..."
<1464>
// \{Mei} "Is my brother inside?"
<1465>
// \{\m{B}} "Y... your brother, huh?"
<1466>
// \{\m{B}} "Hahaha... actually, \bI'm\u your brother."
<1467>
// \{\m{B}} "I got mixed up with a guy and fell down the stairs."
<1468>
// \{\m{B}} "And switched my souls with him..."
<1469>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, and what about that?"
<1470>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't that obvious? To head into the room and touch myself while looking in the mirror!"
<1471>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, I don't like that at all---!" 
<1472>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1473>
// \{\m{B}} "... Huh?"
<1474>
// \{Mei} "You're just as strange as my brother, aren't you?"
<1475>
// She said I was just like Sunohara...
<1476>
// Even more than that, from his sister...
<1477>
// I've been... put together with him...
<1478>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm gonna kill myself!"
<1479>
// Clatter, I throw open the window.
<1480>
// \{Mei} "W-wah!"
<1481>
// She pulled me in as I was almost out.
<1482>
// \{Mei} "Geez, what are you doing now...?"
<1483>
// \{Mei} "It's only the first floor so you won't die, and you're in your socks so you'll get dirty."
<1484>
// She was so up-front saying that.
<1485>
// \{\m{B}} (Perhaps...)
<1486>
// Sunohara's younger sister might be normal? 
<1487>
// Speaking of which, she greeted me normally just now.
<1488>
// Her mindset doesn't seem to be much like her brother's...
<1489>
// At any rate, her speech and conduct were ordinary.
<1490>
// \{Mei} "Umm, is there anything on my face?"
<1491>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, ahh... no."
<1492>
// \{Mei} "Besides that, what a dirty room this is."
<1493>
// \{Mei} "There's no real place to stand..."
<1494>
// \{Mei} "Eh, ah, laundry? There's so much!"
<1495>
// \{Mei} "The garbage can is so full... wah, this is juice, isn't it?!"
<1496>
// \{Mei} "Sigh, onii-chan..."
<1497>
// Her small figure runs around the room, seeing the state of things.
<1498>
// Somehow, whatever I imagined just now doesn't appear to be coming up.
<1499>
// \{\m{B}} "Umm... uhh, Mei-chan?"
<1500>
// \{Mei} "Ah, I'm sorry!"
<1501>
// \{Mei} "I'm just really shocked at the moment..."
<1502>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, for now, have a seat."
<1503>
// \{\m{B}} "You came just now, didn't you?"
<1504>
// \{Mei} "I suppose so..."
<1505>
// The two of us sit down by the kotatsu.
<1506>
// \{Mei} "That's right, there should be tea here, right?"
<1507>
// Just before I know it, she stands up right away, and goes to the hallway.
<1508>
// Guess I've ended up working with her.
<1509>
// \{Mei} "Wah, there's so much of a tea stain here!"
<1510>
// I heard her voice.
<1511>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, you should clean it at least..."
<1512>
// \{Mei} "There's no bleaching stuff here, is there...?"
<1513>
// \{Mei} "Oh yeah, let's use some salt."
<1514>
// Most certainly a well-raised sister.
<1515>
// \{Mei} "Sorry to keep you waiting."
<1516>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... thanks."
<1517>
// I take a sip to quench my thirst.
<1518>
// Mei-chan also finally breathed at that.
<1519>
// \{Mei} "By the way..."
<1520>
// \{Mei} "I haven't heard your name yet."
<1521>
// \{\m{B}} "\m{A} \m{B}."
<1522>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, is it?"
<1523>
// \{Mei} "You're my brother's friend, right?"
<1524>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, calling our relationship being friends is..."
<1525>
// \{Mei} "Then, what is your relationship with him?"
<1526>
// \{\m{B}} "Someone I know, or not...?"
<1527>
// \{\m{B}} "If I really had to say something, he'd be like a kabuto beetle to me?"
<1528>
// \{Mei} "Umm, I don't understand that at all."
<1529>
// \{Mei} "But... you two get along, right?"
<1530>
// \{\m{B}} "It's like pitiful love, or maybe it's like being forced to be kind..."
<1531>
// \{Mei} "But, you guys are always together, right?"
<1532>
// \{Mei} "Then, you're buddies."
<1533>
// \{\m{B}} "Buddies...?"
<1534>
// Flutter...
<1535>
// I take a quick look at the Japanese dictionary. It's been a while since I used one.
<1536>
// "buddy: to be on friendly or intimate terms." 
<1537>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm gonna kill myself!"
<1538>
// \{Mei} "W-wah...!"
<1539>
// Just as she notices, she turns off the gas switch.
<1540>
// \{Mei} "That was dangerous..."
<1541>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry. Just now, I kinda floated there for a second."
<1542>
// \{Mei} "Sigh, why are you so shy about it?"
<1543>
// \{Mei} "I heard from the landlady that you two really get along."
<1544>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, I see..."
<1545>
// I guess she's checked around the dorm already.
<1546>
// It's as if she's come to know how the place works and all very well.
<1547>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1548>
// Which isn't to say that she may have heard bad rumors, could she?
<1549>
// \{Mei} "Umm, \m{A}-san,"
<1550>
// \{Mei} "Could I ask about my brother?"
<1551>
// \{\m{B}} "You bring out a pretty good topic there."
<1552>
// \{Mei} "Ah..."
<1553>
// \{Mei} "I guess it's not really a good one to go with..."
<1554>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm joking. So?"
<1555>
// \{Mei} "Y-yes. Well..."
<1556>
// \{Mei} "How is my brother doing right now?"
<1557>
// \{\m{B}} "Meaning?"
<1558>
// \{Mei} "I'm just wondering what he might have been doing everyday."
<1559>
// \{\m{B}} "What he might have been doing, huh..."
<1560>
// I think of suitable, ridiculous words to respond with, keeping it short.
<1561>
// Because Sanae-san's smile and words came to mind.
<1562>
// \{\m{B}} (Sigh... be thankful, Sunohara...)
<1563>
// I think it over for a while, then open my mouth.
<1564>
// \{\m{B}} "He's getting it on with a girl."
<1565>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<1566>
// \{\m{B}} "He's not here right now, right? You know why?"
<1567>
// \{Mei} "N-no..."
<1568>
// \{\m{B}} "A date. D-a-t-e."
<1569>
// \{Mei} "Date...?"
<1570>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1571>
// \{Mei} "E-Eeeeek!"
<1572>
// At that moment, she stepped back to the wall.
<1573>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, why are you scared?"
<1574>
// \{Mei} "B-but, onii-chan on a date...?"
<1575>
// \{Mei} "That's, with a girl, right?!"
<1576>
// \{Mei} "To begin with, that's a \breal\u human being, right?!"
<1577>
// \{Mei} "Something like that couldn't have existed in onii-chan's mind...!"
<1578>
// She said something quite cruel.
<1579>
// \{\m{B}} "She's a beautiful person by the name of Sanae-san."
<1580>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1581>
// Creak, Mei drops her jaw and puts on a stupid face.
<1582>
// I have no idea how she's feeling.
<1583>
// \{Mei} "I don't believe it..."
<1584>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose."
<1585>
// \{Mei} "Umm, could you tell me in full detail about that?!"
<1586>
// \{Mei} "No... please don't tell me!"
<1587>
// \{\m{B}} "Which is it?"
<1588>
// \{Mei} "Telling me all of a sudden makes me a bit scared..."
<1589>
// \{Mei} "Let me prepare myself first."
<1590>
// \{\m{B}} "All right..."
<1591>
// \{Mei} "O-okay... I'll cool down."
<1592>
// \{Mei} "Hoo, hah, hoo, hah..."
<1593>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, after that, I'll tell you as much as you like."
<1594>
// \{\m{B}} "Anyways, right now is... oh yeah, have you eaten?"
<1595>
// \{Mei} "No, not yet."
<1596>
// \{\m{B}} "I see. Then I'll go and buy some bread."
<1597>
// \{Mei} "Ah, no, I couldn't ask you to."
<1598>
// \{Mei} "I'll make something."
<1599>
// \{\m{B}} "Serious?"
<1600>
// \{Mei} "It's simple, and shouldn't take much time either."
<1601>
// \{\m{B}} "Then... please do."
<1602>
// \{Mei} "All right, then, I'll just go and buy something real quick."
<1603>
// \{Mei} "Can I use the kitchen as I need to...?"
<1604>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, everyone does that anyway."
<1605>
// \{Mei} "Well then, I'm off."
<1606>
// \{\m{B}} "Somehow... I feel bad having you do so much all of a sudden."
<1607>
// \{Mei} "Really?"
<1608>
// \{Mei} "Then, I'll let you deal with cleaning up the room. Is that fine?"
<1609>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, I'm gonna?"
<1610>
// \{Mei} "It's a bit too dirty here for us to eat anything."
<1611>
// \{Mei} "Please take care of it!"
<1612>
// Taking out a big sports bag, she leaves the room.
<1613>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, you know the stores around here?"
<1614>
// \{Mei} "I saw them as I was coming, so it'll be fine~"
<1615>
// \{Mei} "Besides that, be sure to clean up the room well!"
<1616>
// \{Mei} "Ah, if you get the rice for me as well, that'll help me with the cooking!"
<1617>
// \{\m{B}} (She's really working hard...)
<1618>
// Mei-chan cooked chicken and eggs on rice.
<1619>
// A vivid yellow and sprinkled with green leaf pieces, it was actually delicious.
<1620>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, if you eat too fast, it won't properly digest."
<1621>
// \{Mei} "Geez, take some rice."
<1622>
// But, more and more I discover she's well brought up.
<1623>
// With the brother and this sister... though I had imagined it as such, talking with her was indeed different.
<1624>
// At that moment, I remembered a popular manga.
<1625>
// That cat-shaped robot would excel in everything that her brother could do...
<1626>
// \{Mei} "Who's Do**mi-chan?" 
<1627>
// \{\m{B}} "She got some oil from a good place."
<1628>
// \{Mei} "So onii-chan got weak oil then...?"
<1629>
// \{Mei} "But, I was told that much long ago."
<1630>
// \{\m{B}} "About the Dora*mon siblings?"
<1631>
// \{Mei} "Not that, just about how the brother was in such trouble, doing bad things."
<1632>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose..."
<1633>
// It's possible that might have been a bad example.
<1634>
// \{Mei} "Besides that, umm..."
<1635>
// \{Mei} "How is onii-chan doing with school?"
<1636>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... you already heard about him leaving the soccer team, right?"
<1637>
// \{Mei} "I heard before."
<1638>
// \{\m{B}} "He had high hopes but, since he stopped it all went downhill."
<1639>
// \{Mei} "I thought it might have been like that..."
<1640>
// \{Mei} "Even though he was good at soccer."
<1641>
// \{Mei} "What's he going to do, stopping like that..."
<1642>
// \{\m{B}} "Even then, recently it hasn't been like that."
<1643>
// \{\m{B}} "Which brings us back to the original topic."
<1644>
// \{Mei} "About... him and his lover?"
<1645>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, that."
<1646>
// \{Mei} "Is that true?!"
<1647>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, wait, wait. Do you doubt me?"
<1648>
// \{Mei} "Not really but, I guess I'm just worried."
<1649>
// \{Mei} "Is it a classmate?"
<1650>
// \{\m{B}} "No, an older one."
<1651>
// \{Mei} "Older?!"
<1652>
// \{\m{B}} "I guess maternal instinct's caught up to him?"
<1653>
// \{Mei} "But, how does he know this person?"
<1654>
// \{\m{B}} "Umm... her sister's in the same school."
<1655>
// \{\m{B}} "Just something like that."
<1656>
// \{Mei} "T-that's... true?"
<1657>
// \{\m{B}} "Believe me."
<1658>
// At the very least, I should give a half-truth.
<1659>
// \{Mei} "Then, are there any pictures?"
<1660>
// \{\m{B}} "Nope, none."
<1661>
// \{Mei} "Isn't that strange?"
<1662>
// \{\m{B}} "Didn't I mention that they met just recently?"
<1663>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1664>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you believe me?"
<1665>
// \{Mei} "For now..."
<1666>
// She nodded but, it doesn't seem like she's following.
<1667>
// \{\m{B}} (Sunohara... for you to deceive your sister is definitely not normal...)
<1668>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh, it's you Mei. You already came?"
<1669>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, you're late!"
<1670>
// The reunion between the siblings was actually pretty simple.
<1671>
// I tried to think a little more of something else, but that was it.
<1672>
// An only-child like me wouldn't know so, that's probably how it is.
<1673>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh, you cleaned up the room. Lucky!"
<1674>
// That was me.
<1675>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, you were on a date?"
<1676>
// \{Sunohara} "That... haha, oh man."
<1677>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}, you told her, didn't you?"
<1678>
// \{Sunohara} "Geez, that's so annoying."
<1679>
// Smiling, he gave a thumbs up.
<1680>
// \{\m{B}} "Finger Submission!"
<1681>
// Tug!
<1682>
// \{Sunohara} "Aghh!"
<1683>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, why are you pulling my finger?!"
<1684>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, your face pisses me off."
<1685>
// \{Sunohara} (Come on man, help me out here!)
<1686>
// \{\m{B}} (I am.)
<1687>
// \{\m{B}} (I already explained to Mei-chan about Sanae-san, didn't I?)
<1688>
// \{Sunohara} (I guess... thanks, \m{A}!)
<1689>
// \{Mei} "What are you guys whispering about?"
<1690>
// \{Sunohara} "N-nothing."
<1691>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, whatever... just that I'm really all fired up."
<1692>
// \{Mei} "Hmm..."
<1693>
// \{Sunohara} "Hahaha... I wanted to leave but, I couldn't get away."
<1694>
// \{Sunohara} "Even though I had come here, I can't really chat with you, sorry!"
<1695>
// \{Mei} "Hey, onii-chan,"
<1696>
// \{Mei} "Are you meeting her tomorrow as well?"
<1697>
// \{Sunohara} "I suppose."
<1698>
// \{Mei} "Then could I meet her too?"
<1699>
// \{Sunohara} "Why do you have to come?"
<1700>
// \{Mei} "I want to see what your girlfriend's like, onii-chan."
<1701>
// \{Mei} "I heard from \m{A}-san that she's beautiful."
<1702>
// \{Sunohara} "Geez, can't be helped."
<1703>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't get in the way."
<1704>
// \{Mei} "... Eh?"
<1705>
// \{Mei} "It's really okay to meet her?"
<1706>
// \{Sunohara} "Why do you have to ask that?"
<1707>
// \{Mei} "Ah... no, never mind!"
<1708>
// Of course, she's still in doubt.
<1709>
// \{Mei} "Hmm..."
<1710>
// Taking a great deal of time, the two of us left the dorm.
<1711>
// Mei-chan was always groaning along the way.
<1712>
// \{Mei} "So strange..."
<1713>
// \{\m{B}} "What was that just now?"
<1714>
// \{Mei} "Ah, nothing, nothing."
<1715>
// \{Mei} "I just thought this city was amazing..."
<1716>
// \{Mei} "For someone to be curious about onii-chan, going out with him..."
<1717>
// \{\m{B}} "To each their own it seems."
<1718>
// \{\m{B}} "After all, this isn't exactly a city."
<1719>
// \{Mei} "No, it's a city for me, alright."
<1720>
// \{Mei} "I've been living in the mountains, after all."
<1721>
// \{\m{B}} "Speaking of which, your home's..."
<1722>
// \{Mei} "In the Touhoku region."
<1723>
// \{Mei} "Over there, onii-chan could get a girlfriend, but that wouldn't last long..."
<1724>
// \{Mei} "They'd soon break up and he'd be rejected."
<1725>
// \{\m{B}} "And he still hasn't accepted that, I take it?"
<1726>
// \{Mei} "Ah... no, no, it's not at all like that."
<1727>
// \{Mei} "Love is so nice, isn't it?"
<1728>
// \{Mei} "I want to get an older boyfriend too..."
<1729>
// \{\m{B}} "You could just get some attractive guy in your school, right?"
<1730>
// \{Mei} "No way, everyone's too much of a kid."
<1731>
// \{\m{B}} "You seem to look much like a kid yourself, Mei-chan."
<1732>
// \{Mei} "Ehh?"
<1733>
// \{Mei} "No way, even though I got a lot older..."
<1734>
// \{Mei} "I'm still a kid?"
<1735>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't have anything that gives any appeal."
<1736>
// \{Mei} "Gaaaannnn... I'm shocked."
<1737>
// \{\m{B}} "In a little while, your back'll stretch."
<1738>
// \{\m{B}} "I think you'll become beautiful because you're cute, Mei-chan."
<1739>
// \{Mei} "Eh, are you serious?"
<1740>
// \{\m{B}} "When you get older."
<1741>
// \{Mei} "O-okay, I'll do my best!"
<1742>
// \{\m{B}} "Also be sincere about it, unlike your brother."
<1743>
// \{Mei} "Hahaha... I'll be careful."
<1744>
// \{Mei} "But I'm glad I came over."
<1745>
// \{Mei} "I know how my brother's living too..."
<1746>
// \{Mei} "Thanks for helping make the room clean, \m{A}-san."
<1747>
// \{\m{B}} "I just cleaned it like I thought it should be done."
<1748>
// \{Mei} "Not at all. You did a lot of sorting to make it as such."
<1749>
// \{Mei} "But to sleep on the floor? I don't think I could~"
<1750>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you going to stay here?"
<1751>
// \{Mei} "I planned to but..."
<1752>
// \{\m{B}} "Sleeping on the kotatsu will have you catch a cold."
<1753>
// \{Mei} "I bet."
<1754>
// \{\m{B}} "There's a hotel in front of the train station. Want me to lead you there?"
<1755>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, a hotel, huh..."
<1756>
// \{Mei} "What should I do? I've been trying to save up..."
<1757>
// She murmurs to herself.
<1758>
// After a little while, she claps her hands.
<1759>
// \{Mei} "... That's right, \m{A}-san. You have a house, right?"
<1760>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I do."
<1761>
// \{Mei} "Then, could I stay over?"
<1762>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh? What are you feeling like saying all of a sudden...?"
<1763>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, only my old man and I live there."
<1764>
// \{Mei} "That'll be great then!"
<1765>
// \{\m{B}} "No it's not, you should be more careful."
<1766>
// \{\m{B}} "If you make a mistake, it'll be too late to regret, you know...?" 
<1767>
// \{Mei} "But, you said I had no appeal whatsoever."
<1768>
// \{\m{B}} "... Guahh, crap."
<1769>
// Looks like I brought this upon myself.
<1770>
// \{Mei} "Ah, that's right, I could make dinner!"
<1771>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, I wonder if that supermarket from before is still open?"
<1772>
// \{Mei} "I'll have to go and hurry!"
<1773>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, are you serious?"
<1774>
// \{Mei} "It'll be fine! I'll keep it a secret from onii-chan--!"
<1775>
// \{\m{B}} "That's not the problem! Hey, wait!"
<1776>
// Buzzzzz...
<1777>
// My eyes awoke to a nostalgic sound not heard in a long time.
<1778>
// \{Voice} "You're still sleeping!"
<1779>
// I heard a cute voice.
<1780>
// \{Voice} "Wake up!"
<1781>
// She shook me back and forth.
<1782>
// \{\m{B}} "... It's bright..."
<1783>
// Before I knew it, the curtain was opened up, letting the morning sunlight come through.
<1784>
// Barely opening my eyes, I looked towards where the voice came from.
<1785>
// \{Mei} "It's morning already!"
<1786>
// And there was a girl with a vacuum cleaner in hand.
<1787>
// \{\m{B}} (... Oh, that's right, she ended up staying here...)
<1788>
// I remembered that with sleepy eyes.
<1789>
// \{\m{B}} "... Sleepy..."
<1790>
// \{Mei} "Wah, you can't go to sleep again!"
<1791>
// \{Mei} "I'm already vacuuming!"
<1792>
// Buzzzzz...
<1793>
// The noise of the vacuum drew close to my ear.
<1794>
// But, it didn't surpass my sleepiness.
<1795>
// \{Mei} "Geez, it's time to wake up."
<1796>
// \{Mei} "I'm drying the futon, so please wake up!"
<1797>
// \{\m{B}} "As far as I'm concerned, it's still sleeping time."
<1798>
// \{Mei} "You can't!"
<1799>
// Buzzzzz...
<1800>
// \{\m{B}} "Shut up..."
<1801>
// \{Mei} "Then wake up."
<1802>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, while I'm this sleepy, Mei-chan is..."
<1803>
// \{Mei} "I'm doing what?"
<1804>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, well..."
<1805>
// Because there's a girl in the house, sleeping while stressed is bad.
<1806>
// I gulp down my words hard.
<1807>
// \{Mei} "You're not going to do anything?"
<1808>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, it's all my fault."
<1809>
// \{\m{B}} "I see that now, so let me deal with the futon."
<1810>
// \{Mei} "Sigh... can't be helped."
<1811>
// \{Mei} "Then, we'll leave the top cover alone."
<1812>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm..."
<1813>
// I beat it with my hand.
<1814>
// Then I rolled the bed up as if it were a rough scroll.
<1815>
// \{Mei} "You're pretty good..."
<1816>
// \{Mei} "Then, we'll be drying the futon."
<1817>
// \{Mei} "Wah, there's so much dust!"
<1818>
// \{Mei} "When was the last time you cleaned this?"
<1819>
// \{\m{B}} "I forget..."
<1820>
// \{Mei} "Geez, after this, we'll have to clean the top cover as well!"
<1821>
// The wind coming from the opened window was cold.
<1822>
// Even then, with the futon wrapped it, it was comfortable.
<1823>
// \{Mei} "Oh right, I've prepared something to eat."
<1824>
// \{\m{B}} "Breakfast..."
<1825>
// \{Mei} "What is it?"
<1826>
// \{\m{B}} "I want to eat breakfast..."
<1827>
// \{Mei} "Then, come to the kitchen."
<1828>
// \{\m{B}} "But, I wanna sleep..."
<1829>
// \{Mei} "So selfish..."
<1830>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't you think it's lovely for someone to be sleepy while eating breakfast?"
<1831>
// \{Mei} "I think it's scary."
<1832>
// \{\m{B}} "Not at all. It's quite fun..."
<1833>
// \{Mei} "... Sigh..."
<1834>
// \{Mei} "Then, just today."
<1835>
// \{Mei} "I'll have to wash my hands..."
<1836>
// Taking a breath as if amazed, she leaves the room.
<1837>
// A while later, she returns with a delicious smell.
<1838>
// \{Mei} "All right, you can eat here."
<1839>
// \{\m{B}} "Amazing."
<1840>
// On top of the tray was toast, omelette, bacon, and coffee.
<1841>
// \{Mei} "I think it's good."
<1842>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, it looks pretty damn good."
<1843>
// \{\m{B}} "So... good..."
<1844>
// \{Mei} "Don't go back to sleep!"
<1845>
// \{Mei} "Can't be helped..."
<1846>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm...?"
<1847>
// I heard the clanging sounds of the fork.
<1848>
// \{Mei} "Here, please say ahh..."
<1849>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh..."
<1850>
// ... Chomp.
<1851>
// \{\m{B}} "The toast's great..."
<1852>
// \{Mei} "Okay, what would you like next?"
<1853>
// \{\m{B}} "Omelette..." 
<1854>
// \{Mei} "The omelette is difficult..."
<1855>
// \{Mei} "I'll have to go softly so as to not break it..."
<1856>
// \{Mei} "Here, hurry up, the futon will get dirty!"
<1857>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh..."
<1858>
// ... Chomp.
<1859>
// \{\m{B}} "Delicious..."
<1860>
// \{\m{B}} "I'd like to drink coffee next."
<1861>
// \{Mei} "Coffee's the most difficult thing."
<1862>
// \{Mei} "First, I'll have to cool it so it doesn't burn you."
<1863>
// \{Mei} "Blow, blow..."
<1864>
// Mei-chan probably saw everything from the beginning of this tiring morning as stupid.
<1865>
// Even then, she really was well raised, so it was a bit fun.
<1866>
// I finally became quite awake around noon.
<1867>
// Mei-chan put on some ironed clothes and left the room.
<1868>
// Most obviously to go and see Sunohara and Sanae-san on their date.
<1869>
// The place they planned to meet at was the same park from yesterday...
<1870>
// \{\m{B}} "We're a little bit early..."
<1871>
// \{Mei} "Ah, onii-chan's here."
<1872>
// Sunohara was one step ahead, waiting at that place.
<1873>
// Even though he had a lot of time, he was still checking the time.
<1874>
// He kept on clearing his throat and fixing his hair.
<1875>
// It was obvious that he was tense.
<1876>
// \{\m{B}} "Try calling from behind, Mei-chan."
<1877>
// \{Mei} "Eh, me?"
<1878>
// \{\m{B}} "He might think it's Sanae-san, and get freaked out for no reason."
<1879>
// \{Mei} "But, my voice is so different."
<1880>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, the way he is now he's definitely not calm."
<1881>
// \{Mei} "Then, I'll try it."
<1882>
// Tatter, tatter, she comes up to his back.
<1883>
// And then she stand on her toes, clapping his shoulders.
<1884>
// \{Mei} "I've been waiting for you!"
<1885>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, hahaha, you came just now, didn't you?"
<1886>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah... before the date, please have this!"
<1887>
// \{Sunohara} "I have a present here that'll let you buy meals three times!"
<1888>
// \{Mei} "Thank you very much!"
<1889>
// Slip!
<1890>
// He drops his wrapped package.
<1891>
// \{Sunohara} "M-Mei..."
<1892>
// \{\m{B}} "Actually, three meals is at least 1500 yen. Cheap!"
<1893>
// \{Sunohara} "It's filled with love, so isn't that fine?!"
<1894>
// \{\m{B}} "So, why are you going on a date in your school uniform?"
<1895>
// \{Sunohara} "Being formal's fine, isn't it?!"
<1896>
// \{\m{B}} "All your other clothes are wrinkled and smell strange, right?"
<1897>
// \{\m{B}} "I was the one who cleaned your room yesterday, remember?"
<1898>
// \{Sunohara} "Kuh... you guys came all the way here just to give me that crap?!"
<1899>
// \{\m{B}} "Shouldn't you relax yourself a bit? You're tense."
<1900>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, you're all gritty."
<1901>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm relaxed!"
<1902>
// \{\m{B}} "Whichever it was, you were on edge so you came early, didn't you?"
<1903>
// \{Mei} "Wah, \m{A}-san, there are a lot of these empty cans scattered about!"
<1904>
// A large number of empty coffee cans were scattered at Sunohara's feet.
<1905>
// \{\m{B}} "Since when were you waiting?"
<1906>
// \{Sunohara} "Hah, this is a mission!"
<1907>
// \{Sunohara} "When Sanae-san comes, she'll see me, right?"
<1908>
// \{Sunohara} "Doing that, it'll be like, 'You waited \bthis\u long... kyuuun', see."
<1909>
// \{\m{B}} "Nah, she'll just think you're thirsty."
<1910>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}, you're still so inexperienced."
<1911>
// \{Sunohara} "See, this is a man's tool at the game you call love..."
<1912>
// \{Sunohara} "Something like a Boys Love game." 
<1913>
// So it's become a boys' game.
<1914>
// \{Mei} "But onii-chan, what's with all these cans?"
<1915>
// \{\m{B}} "Probably found them from around."
<1916>
// \{\m{B}} "There's no way he could have drunk from all these."
<1917>
// If he did, he'd be a \breal\u idiot.
<1918>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, I have to go to the washroom for a bit!"
<1919>
// He \bis\u a real idiot!
<1920>
// \{Mei} "It's quite troublesome for it to be all scattered here..."
<1921>
// \{Mei} "I'll go and clean it."
<1922>
// Although he had gone through the trouble for this mission, Mei-chan threw them into the garbage can.
<1923>
// \{Voice} "I'll help as well!"
<1924>
// \{Mei} "Ah, thank you!"
<1925>
// \{Mei} "This is such a problem already..."
<1926>
// \{Voice} "Not at all..."
<1927>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, \m{A}-san. Good afternoon."
<1928>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<1929>
// \{Sunohara} "Whew..."
<1930>
// There, Sunohara had returned.
<1931>
// \{Sanae} "Good afternoon, Youhei-san."
<1932>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, good afternoon."
<1933>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh, crap----!!"
<1934>
// A man, coming at the worst possible time.
<1935>
// \{Sanae} "Please treat me well today too, okay?" 
<1936>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay..."
<1937>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1938>
// \{Sanae} "Oh my, perhaps you're an acquaintance of his?"
<1939>
// \{Mei} "Eh, ah... yes!"
<1940>
// \{Mei} "I'm the younger sister of the Sunoharas... Mei."
<1941>
// \{Sanae} "The younger sister?"
<1942>
// \{Sanae} "Nice to meet you, I'm Furukawa Sanae."
<1943>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san..."
<1944>
// \{Mei} "Ah, umm... perhaps you're the Sanae-san that onii-chan..."
<1945>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, that's right."
<1946>
// \{Sanae} "Youhei-kun's girlfriend!"
<1947>
// \{Mei} "........."
<1948>
// \{Mei} "... Is that, for real?"
<1949>
// \{Sanae} "It is."
<1950>
// \{Mei} "C-can I touch you?"
<1951>
// \{Sanae} "Sure!"
<1952>
// She nervously touches her.
<1953>
// And patted around as if to check.
<1954>
// \{Mei} "It's real..."
<1955>
// \{Mei} "This is, for real..."
<1956>
// And then, she glances up.
<1957>
// \{Mei} "... You're beautiful."
<1958>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you very much!"
<1959>
// \{Mei} "For someone this beautiful to be with onii-chan..."
<1960>
// \{Mei} "With onii-chan, with onii-chan...!"
<1961>
// Thud.
<1962>
// She clinged her small body onto Sanae-san.
<1963>
// \{Mei} "U-uuu..."
<1964>
// \{Mei} "What compassion you have..."
<1965>
// \{Sunohara} "What's that supposed to mean?!"
<1966>
// \{Sanae} "Mei-san. You shouldn't say things about your older brother like that."
<1967>
// \{Sanae} "There are also a lot of good things about Youhei-kun."
<1968>
// \{Sanae} "If you're his younger sister, you should know, right?"
<1969>
// \{Mei} "I know nothing at all though..."
<1970>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei..."
<1971>
// \{Sanae} "Aren't I right... \m{A}-san?"
<1972>
// \{\m{B}} "Nope, simply none at all."
<1973>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't agree to that!"
<1974>
// \{Sanae} "Now, now... well, we shall see from here on out."
<1975>
// \{Sanae} "And, don't start any arguments."
<1976>
// \{Sanae} "Today's a date after all."
<1977>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah... I suppose."
<1978>
// \{Sunohara} "Hahaha, we should leave these guys be and go, right?"
<1979>
// \{Sanae} "We shouldn't leave them alone. Shall we leave?"
<1980>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, wait, Sunohara."
<1981>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, what?"
<1982>
// \{\m{B}} "Come here for a sec."
<1983>
// I call him to stop, just as he was about to leave.
<1984>
// I grab his arm and pull him to one of the ends of the park.
<1985>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, don't you think this far's good enough?"
<1986>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, right now's the performance, isn't it?"
<1987>
// ... This guy's gotten something wrong, hasn't he?
<1988>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, what's our objective again?"
<1989>
// \{\m{B}} "To show that you're deep in love with a girlfriend, right?"
<1990>
// \{Sunohara} "That's true..."
<1991>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, we've achieved that objective, haven't we?"
<1992>
// \{\m{B}} "There's no point continuing this play anymore."
<1993>
// \{Sunohara} "Sigh... you don't know, do you, \m{A}?"
<1994>
// \{Sunohara} "Certainly, my objective towards Mei's been cleared."
<1995>
// \{Sunohara} "But, Sanae-san and I are getting along!"
<1996>
// \{Sunohara} "Yesterday was a rehearsal but, I'm really fired up..."
<1997>
// \{Sunohara} "At this rate with the date coming up, afterwards..."
<1998>
// \{Sunohara} "Uhyooooo---! I'm gonna have a nosebleed!"
<1999>
// \{\m{B}} "Temple!"
<2000>
// Thunk!\shake{4}
<2001>
// \{Sunohara} "Haghh!"
<2002>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, finally hitting the head this time?!"
<2003>
// \{\m{B}} "You know... you're thinking about really strange things there."
<2004>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san's going to help you to the end, isn't she?"
<2005>
// \{Sunohara} "I already know about that."
<2006>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, Mei will also be following too so... I think another push should be fine."
<2007>
// \{\m{B}} "It'll be fine if you overdo it without blowing your cover."
<2008>
// \{Sanae} "Umm, what seems to be the problem?"
<2009>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, nothing!"
<2010>
// \{Sunohara} "Let's go, Sanae-san!"
<2011>
// With a hurrying figure, he returns to Sanae-san.
<2012>
// As the two give each other a smile, they leave the park.
<2013>
// \{\m{B}} (Geez...)
<2014>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, we should go as well."
<2015>
// \{\m{B}} "You're going to follow them after all?"
<2016>
// \{Mei} "Yes, if possible."
<2017>
// \{\m{B}} "But, tagging along on their date is kinda, I dunno..."
<2018>
// \{Mei} "If you think of it as a double date, it's not strange at all."
<2019>
// \{\m{B}} "That would mean I'd be with..."
<2020>
// \{Mei} "Obviously you and me, \m{A}-san."
<2021>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose..."
<2022>
// \{Mei} "Ah, they're going to disappear on us."
<2023>
// \{Mei} "Come on, let's go!"
<2024>
// She tugs on my sleeve.
<2025>
// My legs were heavy, following behind her.
<2026>
// \{Mei} "Ah, they held hands!"
<2027>
// \{Mei} "Ah, their hands are swinging!"
<2028>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan's blushing..."
<2029>
// In front of us was Sunohara and Sanae-san.
<2030>
// Mei-chan and I were following not too far away.
<2031>
// Sunohara was certainly tense, but even then Sanae-san continued giving a smile.
<2032>
// \{Mei} "Hmm... though they seem to get along."
<2033>
// \{\m{B}} "I... suppose."
<2034>
// \{Mei} "I'm a bit envious..."
<2035>
// \{Mei} "Are we getting along as well?"
<2036>
// \{\m{B}} "Getting along...?"
<2037>
// \{Mei} "There!"
<2038>
// \{\m{B}} "Owaah!"
<2039>
// She clung onto my arm as if she was jumping.
<2040>
// \{\m{B}} "Stop it!"
<2041>
// \{Mei} "Ah, you're also blushing a bit, \m{A}-san."
<2042>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't fool around."
<2043>
// \{Mei} "Haha... I'm sorry."
<2044>
// \{Mei} "I've been longing a bit for something like this."
<2045>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, let go."
<2046>
// \{Mei} "Okay~"
<2047>
// With a slightly disappointed voice, Mei-chan took her hands off.
<2048>
// \{Mei} "Oh..."
<2049>
// And then, she looked at her palms for some reason.
<2050>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you doing?"
<2051>
// \{Mei} "Ah, nothing, nothing..."
<2052>
// \{Mei} "I just thought you were a man and all."
<2053>
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, I'm not really all that great."
<2054>
// \{Mei} "Even then, you're a lot like a man."
<2055>
// \{Mei} "Your arm's built up and all..."
<2056>
// \{Mei} "Your chest also feels rugged and stuff."
<2057>
// \{\m{B}} "Your chest feels flat, you know."
<2058>
// \{Mei} "Ah, you're cruel!"
<2059>
// \{Mei} "It'll be getting bigger from now on!"
<2060>
// As the two of us bickered over that, the figure of the two became smaller.
<2061>
// \{Mei} "Wah, they're going to disappear. Let's chase after them!"
<2062>
// She went after them in haste.
<2063>
// \{Mei} "But... where does onii-chan feel like going on a date?"
<2064>
// \{Mei} "What would you do at a time like this, \m{A}-san?"
<2065>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't ask me."
<2066>
// It's not like I'm really experienced with this.
<2067>
// \{\m{B}} "But, well... I guess at this time you'd go for food first, right?"
<2068>
// \{\m{B}} "I think I'd go for some stylish restaurant..."
<2069>
// \{Mei} "Does onii-chan know such a place?"
<2070>
// I take a look at how the two are doing.
<2071>
// Sunohara had just brought up an excited voice.
<2072>
// \{Sunohara} "U-umm... Sanae-san,"
<2073>
// \{Sanae} "Yes?"
<2074>
// \{Sunohara} "I-it's already noon."
<2075>
// \{Sanae} "It is, isn't it?"
<2076>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... what do you think? There's a restaurant pretty close by we can go to."
<2077>
// \{Sunohara} "We should eat first... haha..."
<2078>
// \{Sanae} "Ah..."
<2079>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sorry, I already ate at home."
<2080>
// \{Sunohara} "Ehhh----..."
<2081>
// A problem has arisen.
<2082>
// Well now, how will you counterattack?
<2083>
// Even now, it is not an exaggeration to say the man named Sunohara Youhei has his abilities tested...
<2084>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<2085>
// Dash!
<2086>
// \{\m{B}} "So you're coming over here instead?!"
<2087>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}! What should I do?!"
<2088>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't you have the book, 'Men's Guide to Losing your Cherry'?" 
<2089>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't have that book on me!"
<2090>
// You read it?
<2091>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, Sanae-san's troubled~"
<2092>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei, you think too!"
<2093>
// \{\m{B}} "Actually, you shouldn't rely on your sister."
<2094>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh whatever... hey, Sunohara,"
<2095>
// \{\m{B}} "For now, just go to the restaurant as planned."
<2096>
// \{Sunohara} "But..."
<2097>
// \{\m{B}} "You can drink coffee there together."
<2098>
// \{\m{B}} "For now, go along with that small thing, and whet your appetite."
<2099>
// \{Sunohara} "I-I see. You're amazing, \m{A}!"
<2100>
// \{\m{B}} "Good luck, Minimum Heart."
<2101>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't say Minimum Heart!"
<2102>
// He runs off, rushing right back to where Sanae-san was.
<2103>
// \{Sanae} "Perhaps... you hadn't eaten anything yet?"
<2104>
// \{Sunohara} "No, nothing like that at all!"
<2105>
// \{Sunohara} "W-well... for now, let's go get some tea from the shop!"
<2106>
// \{Sanae} "Tea is fine?"
<2107>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh? It's a place I know pretty well, so there's no need to be scared about it!"
<2108>
// \{Sanae} "You're a regular customer?"
<2109>
// \{Sunohara} "A regular customer... or rather, an influence?"
<2110>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... it's like as if it were my own shop."
<2111>
// \{\m{B}} (Where is Sunohara exactly planning on taking her to...?)
<2112>
// \{Sunohara} "This is my favorite restaurant!"
<2113>
// The same snack shop!
<2114>
// \{Mei} "Ahh... onii-chan..."
<2115>
// Mei-chan also held her head. 
<2116>
// \{\m{B}} "At the very least, there's are places where you don't go to for dates..."
<2117>
// \{Sunohara} "I recommend the pork cutlets!"
<2118>
// \{Sunohara} "It's so damn good! You could eat it three times a day!"
<2119>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, because it's such a good restaurant, generally almost all the students come here!"
<2120>
// \{\m{B}} (Hey, hey, that's not true...)
<2121>
// Look, Sanae-san's pulling back as well...
<2122>
// \{Sanae} "........."
<2123>
// Instead of her pulling back, she has somewhat sad eyes.
<2124>
// \{Sanae} "... Youhei-kun,"
<2125>
// \{Sanae} "Do you eat here all the time?"
<2126>
// \{Sanae} "Pork cutlets every day?"
<2127>
// \{Sunohara} "Almost, yeah."
<2128>
// \{Sunohara} "Though usually, every once in a while, I finish it off with bread!"
<2129>
// \{\m{B}} (Not once in a while, you mean almost every day...)
<2130>
// \{Sanae} "You don't cook for yourself?"
<2131>
// \{Sunohara} "No, I don't."
<2132>
// \{Sanae} "You have to."
<2133>
// \{Sanae} "Eating only one thing isn't good for your body..."
<2134>
// Sanae-san's such a good person...
<2135>
// \{Sanae} "Where do you live, Youhei-kun?"
<2136>
// \{Sunohara} "The dormitory in front..."
<2137>
// \{Sanae} "That's a relief."
<2138>
// \{Sanae} "Then... let's not eat here, shall we?"
<2139>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, but..."
<2140>
// \{Sanae} "Instead..."
<2141>
// \{Sanae} "I'll cook something!"
<2142>
// She taps her chest with a small fist.
<2143>
// \{Sanae} "Even though you're a guy, your room is quite clean, isn't it?"
<2144>
// \{Sunohara} "I was really working hard cleaning this up."
<2145>
// No, I was the one who did that.
<2146>
// \{Sanae} "I'm done!"
<2147>
// She places a platter on top of the kotatsu.
<2148>
// There was rice, miso soup, pork, vegetables, and Japanese pickles.
<2149>
// It really looked like a balanced, delicious meal.
<2150>
// \{Everyone} "Thanks for the food!"
<2151>
// \{Sanae} "Okay, please help yourselves!"
<2152>
// For now, I'll give it a try.
<2153>
// \{\m{B}} "... Delicious."
<2154>
// Everything had an exquisite flavor.
<2155>
// \{Mei} "It's very delicious!"
<2156>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san, this is the best!"
<2157>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you so much!"
<2158>
// Well, certainly the food is great. Sanae-san's smile was beautiful.
<2159>
// But, this scene is...
<2160>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Sunohara,"
<2161>
// \{\m{B}} "This is... a date, isn't it?"
<2162>
// \{Sunohara} "It's a date!"
<2163>
// \{Sunohara} "Your girlfriend comes home, and makes you your meal."
<2164>
// \{Sunohara} "Like this is a date, isn't it? Right, everyone?!"
<2165>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry, please pass the soy sauce."
<2166>
// \{Sanae} "Here you go."
<2167>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san, how did you season this miso soup?"
<2168>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't be so calm!"
<2169>
// \{\m{B}} "Hahaha, my bad, my bad. Papa's just in our little circle here." 
<2170>
// \{Sunohara} "Who's papa?!"
<2171>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... I guess that would be the future between me and Sanae-san!"
<2172>
// \{\m{B}} "A husband and wife, a daughter... and then, a servant?"
<2173>
// \{Sunohara} "And the servant wouldn't be me would it?"
<2174>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, get me the food."
<2175>
// \{Sunohara} "Okay, I shall!"
<2176>
// \{Sunohara} "No, wa------it!!"
<2177>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, don't make noise while eating!"
<2178>
// \{Sanae} "You have to eat while sitting."
<2179>
// \{Sunohara} "Ugh..."
<2180>
// Being ganged on by the ladies, he reluctantly sits down.
<2181>
// \{\m{B}} "It'll get cold, so eat."
<2182>
// \{Sunohara} "I know..."
<2183>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, Sanae-san's cooking is delicious..."
<2184>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you very much."
<2185>
// \{Sanae} "But, Youhei-kun, you shouldn't just eat meat. You have to eat vegetables as well."
<2186>
// \{Sunohara} "I hate the green pepper."
<2187>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you a grade school student?"
<2188>
// \{Sanae} "I know you may not like it, but it's good for your body."
<2189>
// \{Sanae} "And, if you try hard to eat it, you'll definitely end up liking it."
<2190>
// \{Sunohara} "If you put it that way, then..."
<2191>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, that's the spirit!"
<2192>
// \{Sanae} "Be sure to eat a lot of vegetables from now on!"
<2193>
// \{Sanae} "Also, try to avoid going out to eat. If you can, cooking for yourself is better."
<2194>
// \{Sanae} "I made a lot of miso soup today."
<2195>
// \{Sanae} "I also made some extra which I've put into the refrigerator..."
<2196>
// \{Sanae} "Be sure to warm it up tonight for dinner!"
<2197>
// She was very polite.
<2198>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san..."
<2199>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, what is it?"
<2200>
// \{Mei} "You're such a kind person, Sanae-san."
<2201>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you so much."
<2202>
// \{Mei} "And you're so beautiful."
<2203>
// \{Mei} "A lovely woman."
<2204>
// \{Mei} "But, even then, with onii-chan, with onii-chan...!"
<2205>
// The tears build up at her eyes.
<2206>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san...!"
<2207>
// She gripped her chest hard.
<2208>
// \{Mei} "You're so compassionate!"
<2209>
// \{Sunohara} "Could you please not say compassionate?!?!"
<2210>
// Knock, knock.
<2211>
// A sound from the door.
<2212>
// \{Sanae} "A guest?"
<2213>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, I'll get it."
<2214>
// Sunohara answers as such, opening the door. Misae-san peeps in.
<2215>
// \{Misae} "It's quite busy here again, isn't it?"
<2216>
// Sanae-san greets her while seated. Perhaps the two had already greeted each other before she cooked?
<2217>
// \{Misae} "Umm, this place here is quite closed up, isn't it? You could use the cafeteria as it's bigger."
<2218>
// \{Sanae} "What should we do, Youhei-kun?"
<2219>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, here's a bit..."
<2220>
// \{Sunohara} "At home's nice, heheh!"
<2221>
// \{Sanae} "That's probably true."
<2222>
// \{Misae} "Sigh... nothing fits with that..."
<2223>
// \{Misae} "And yet you have the smell of someone's cooking around you..."
<2224>
// \{Misae} "Well, if you like it, then that's fine."
<2225>
// \{Misae} "After that, here."
<2226>
// Saying that, she brought out a wrap basket.
<2227>
// \{Misae} "When you're invited over, don't just cook things, okay?"
<2228>
// \{Misae} "Here's some refreshments."
<2229>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you very much."
<2230>
// Inside the basket was fried food, decorated with lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
<2231>
// It's become a most gracious lunch.
<2232>
// \{Sanae} "Would you like to join us as well, Sagara-san?"
<2233>
// \{Misae} "Nah, I already ate before, so it's fine. Plus, there's nowhere to sit here."
<2234>
// It seems Misae-san and Sanae-san were about the same age. 
<2235>
// \{Sanae} "I'll come again another time."
<2236>
// \{Misae} "I suppose, when the guys aren't around."
<2237>
// \{Misae} "Yeah, even then, this is an unbelievable scene."
<2238>
// \{Sunohara} "What is?"
<2239>
// \{Misae} "Because such a cute girl and beautiful person is here after all."
<2240>
// \{Misae} "This might be the only time I'll get to see this, so do you mind if I take a photo?"
<2241>
// \{Sunohara} "Hah, from now onward, you'll see this anytime."
<2242>
// \{Sunohara} "Because Sanae-san and I are going out, after all!"
<2243>
// \{Misae} "........."
<2244>
// \{Misae} "Sorry... I imagined I heard something. Could you say that again?"
<2245>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san and I are going out!"
<2246>
// \{Misae} "You know..."
<2247>
// \{Misae} "If those words are Japanese, then it's a very, very frightening reality."
<2248>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, those polished words just now meant, 'I can take care of the place on my own!'"
<2249>
// \{Misae} "Yeah, I knew it. Pretty good, Sunohara."
<2250>
// \{Sunohara} "Believe me!"
<2251>
// \{Mei} "I guess normal people will end up having this kind of response."
<2252>
// \{\m{B}} "They can't look at reality."
<2253>
// \{Sunohara} "What kind of person am I..."
<2254>
// \{Mei} "That was delicious."
<2255>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose."
<2256>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san told me a lot of things about cooking!"
<2257>
// Finishing lunch, we left the dorm yet again.
<2258>
// The two of us continued walking in the town during the early afternoon.
<2259>
// \{Mei} "Sanae-san really is such a kind person."
<2260>
// \{Mei} "Even more, she's beautiful, and she cooks so well..."
<2261>
// \{Mei} "I couldn't believe someone like her is onii-chan's girlfriend."
<2262>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose..."
<2263>
// Because, she's not a real girlfriend...
<2264>
// \{Mei} "We still have a lot of time right now though... where do you feel like going this time?"
<2265>
// \{Mei} "Since it's you, \m{A}-san, where would you go?"
<2266>
// \{\m{B}} "Me again...?"
<2267>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, movies or buying something."
<2268>
// \{Mei} "That sort of thing?"
<2269>
// \{\m{B}} "Rare places are bad, aren't they?"
<2270>
// \{\m{B}} "If I told you 'Let's go to a stoneware reference room', what would you think?"
<2271>
// \{Mei} "Haha... I'd refuse."
<2272>
// \{\m{B}} "Of course. I think it's better to be somewhere safe to begin with."
<2273>
// \{Mei} "I see..."
<2274>
// \{\m{B}} "Even though it seems safe, there are places that one shouldn't go to either."
<2275>
// \{\m{B}} "Many couples met tragedy heading to such abominable places..."
<2276>
// \{\m{B}} "But, even so, there are men who are attracted to such worlds..."
<2277>
// \{Mei} "T-that's...!"
<2278>
// ... Gulp.
<2279>
// \{\m{B}} "The name of that darkness... is the arcade."
<2280>
// \{Mei} "The... arcade?"
<2281>
// \{Mei} "But, if it's just the arcade..."
<2282>
// \{\m{B}} "Weak!"
<2283>
// \{Mei} "Uuuu, I'm sorry!"
<2284>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you have a game console, Mei-chan?"
<2285>
// \{Mei} "Umm... onii-chan had one left behind."
<2286>
// \{Mei} "But, it couldn't get all the way into the closet..."
<2287>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, normally guys like games."
<2288>
// \{\m{B}} "But, there are a lot of girls that aren't like that."
<2289>
// \{\m{B}} "Try imagining how you'd feel watching someone play fighting games."
<2290>
// \{Mei} "If you put it that way, it's probably boring..."
<2291>
// \{\m{B}} "Even more, it's normal for guys to be really crazy about it."
<2292>
// \{Mei} "I don't want such a date."
<2293>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said that, don't get a guy like that, Mei-chan." 
<2294>
// \{Mei} "Okay, I'll be careful."
<2295>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay? Guys that call you to an arcade are the worst."
<2296>
// \{Mei} "The worst?"
<2297>
// \{\m{B}} "That's right, they're losers! Freaks!"
<2298>
// \{Mei} "Losers? Freaks?"
<2299>
// \{\m{B}} "Now, where will Sunohara go..."
<2300>
// In front of us, we see the two there.
<2301>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san, let's go to the arcades!"
<2302>
// Slip!
<2303>
// The two of us fall over.
<2304>
// \{Sanae} "The arcades? It's my first time!"
<2305>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh... Sanae-san, you mustn't go..."
<2306>
// \{\m{B}} (Well... if it's a UFO Catcher game or something that involves a lot of people, I don't think there'll be a problem...)
<2307>
// I think that while gazing at the lonely arcade in the middle of the shopping district.
<2308>
// \{Sunohara} "Sanae-san, this, this!"
<2309>
// Sunohara rushes up to the newest virtual DJ machine.
<2310>
// Especially of all things, something like this...
<2311>
// \{Sunohara} "I'll show you how cool my scratch is!"
<2312>
// Whaaaatever man, it's your scratch after all.
<2313>
// \{Sanae} "I'm looking forward to it!"
<2314>
// \{Mei} "... She seems really eager."
<2315>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's hope that he doesn't go too far."
<2316>
// \{\m{B}} "If he does though, Sanae-san will also get tired I think..."
<2317>
// \{Mei} "But, if it ends so fast, it means he really sucks."
<2318>
// \{\m{B}} "That's just about how difficult this is."
<2319>
// I don't think Sunohara would be capable of such a feat.
<2320>
// There was a good pick-up hip-hop rhythm flowing from the machine.
<2321>
// \{Sunohara} "It's here, it's here, it's here, it's here---!"
<2322>
// \{Sunohara} "YO! YO!"
<2323>
// MISS! \pMISS! \pMISS! \pMISS!
<2324>
// Clatter!
<2325>
// \{Sunohara} "... Ah."
<2326>
// A sound came with the wire screen disappearing, with the words "GAME OVER".
<2327>
// Following that, I could hear booing.
<2328>
// \{\m{B}} (Sunohara... you sucked at the worst possible level there...)
<2329>
// \{Sunohara} "What the hell's with this machine?! Doesn't it know my beat?!"
<2330>
// \{Mei} "Ahh, onii-chan's getting angry at the screen!"
<2331>
// \{Sunohara} "Besides, why isn't Bomb A Head in here?!"
<2332>
// \{Sunohara} "If it were, I'd get perfect!"
<2333>
// \{Sanae} "Youhei-kun, you mustn't."
<2334>
// \{Sanae} "You'll be a bother to the shop attendants if you break it."
<2335>
// \{Sunohara} "Tch..."
<2336>
// \{Sunohara} "Let's forget this stupid arcade, and go to the CD shop."
<2337>
// \{Sunohara} "I'll give you Bomb A Head as a present!"
<2338>
// \{Mei} "Ahh, behaving like that, getting one wound after another..."
<2339>
// \{\m{B}} "There aren't any actually, are there...?"
<2340>
// \{Sunohara} "None..."
<2341>
// And then we went to check the old, second-hand CDs in the major used shops. 
<2342>
// Mei-chan watched the two from outside...
<2343>
// \{Sunohara} "Why is Bomb A Head not here?!"
<2344>
// \{Sunohara} "This shop is messed!"
<2345>
// \{Sanae} "Surely it must be popular."
<2346>
// Sunohara, getting carried away with his talking.
<2347>
// Sanae-san tolerated it, giving such a polite answer.
<2348>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, even though they just restocked..."
<2349>
// \{Sunohara} "It's that popularity survival thing, isn't it?"
<2350>
// It's revival.
<2351>
// \{Mei} "Sigh..."
<2352>
// \{Mei} "It's confusing me more and more..."
<2353>
// \{Mei} "Why is such a good person with onii-chan..."
<2354>
// \{\m{B}} "Indeed."
<2355>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan today was absolutely terrible."
<2356>
// \{Mei} "... Though he did look a little cool."
<2357>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh?"
<2358>
// \{\m{B}} "Did you... say... he looked cool?"
<2359>
// \{Mei} "Ah... haha... nothing."
<2360>
// \{Mei} "L-let's go take a look at the CDs as well."
<2361>
// We came close to the wall of CDs.
<2362>
// \{Mei} "What kind of music do you like, \m{A}-san?"
<2363>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't really listen."
<2364>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm not too familiar with what might be popular nowadays."
<2365>
// Looking quickly at the group of albums, I could count how many there were.
<2366>
// \{\m{B}} "What genre do you like, Mei-chan?"
<2367>
// \{Mei} "Hmm..."
<2368>
// \{Mei} "Rock I guess?"
<2369>
// \{\m{B}} "Heh... a bit surprising."
<2370>
// \{Mei} "Ah, I don't just listen to that though."
<2371>
// \{Mei} "There are just a lot of artists I like. Like this person..."
<2372>
// No matter how many CDs she picked up, I sadly did not know any of them.
<2373>
// \{Mei} "Uwaah... this album's still around?"
<2374>
// \{\m{B}} "What's this one?"
<2375>
// \{Mei} "I really like it."
<2376>
// \{Mei} "But, right now you can't really get it anymore..."
<2377>
// \{Mei} "Something like this is here..."
<2378>
// \{\m{B}} "Did the recording company go bankrupt?"
<2379>
// \{Mei} "No, not really but... you don't know, \m{A}-san?"
<2380>
// \{Mei} "It's really old, but it really made the news..."
<2381>
// \{\m{B}} "No, I didn't..."
<2382>
// The title of the album was written in such strange lettering, that at one glance I couldn't read it well.
<2383>
// Below it was the artist's name in English.
<2384>
// \{\m{B}} "Umm..."
<2385>
// \{Mei} "Ah, onii-chan's come out!"
<2386>
// While we were doing that, Sunohara and Sanae-san were leaving the store.
<2387>
// \{Mei} "Let's go!"
<2388>
// In a hurry, we put the CDs back. I helped as well.
<2389>
// \{Mei} "But, where do they plan on going this time?"
<2390>
// \{\m{B}} "Whichever it is, it's certainly a place that isn't good at all."
<2391>
// \{Mei} "I suppose..."
<2392>
// We both sigh.
<2393>
// We're already getting fed up with this.
<2394>
// Finally, the day begins to darken, and the surroundings become orange.
<2395>
// Sanae-san's going through such a harsh, painful date.
<2396>
// Even then, she put on a smile, not wavering once.
<2397>
// \{\m{B}} (Sanae-san, you're amazing...)
<2398>
// My admiration for her was already growing.
<2399>
// \{Sanae} "It's already become so dark..."
<2400>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you talking about? The date's just getting started!"
<2401>
// \{Sunohara} "Let's go take a night view, shall we?"
<2402>
// \{Sanae} "A night view? Sounds great!"
<2403>
// \{Sanae} "But, well.."
<2404>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-you can't?"
<2405>
// \{Sanae} "Hmm, let's see..."
<2406>
// \{Sanae} "... Just for a bit!"
<2407>
// \{Sunohara} "All right!"
<2408>
// \{Mei} "... Onii-chan still feels like pulling her around."
<2409>
// \{\m{B}} "Shouldn't Sanae-san head back home soon?"
<2410>
// It'll be evening soon.
<2411>
// \{Mei} "Is that so? Oh my..."
<2412>
// \{Mei} "Then, let's stop this."
<2413>
// \{\m{B}} "Please do that, and free Sanae-san..."
<2414>
// \{Mei} "Okay."
<2415>
// With a bitter smile, she approaches those two.
<2416>
// However, along the way, she stopped as if she realized something.
<2417>
// \{\m{B}} "... Mei-chan?"
<2418>
// Looks like she was staring at something.
<2419>
// What she was looking at wasn't Sunohara or Sanae-san.
<2420>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it?"
<2421>
// Coming closer, I called her.
<2422>
// Mei-chan was silent.
<2423>
// All she did was grip my sleeve hard.
<2424>
// Is there something in her eye?
<2425>
// I turned to see the place that she was staring at.
<2426>
// There was crying from a child across the street.
<2427>
// Is it a junior from grade school? Boys had formed a circle round there.
<2428>
// In the center was a much younger girl.
<2429>
// She was sobbing, her hands rubbing her eyes.
<2430>
// It was a scene involving kids bullying kids.
<2431>
// \{\m{B}} "You worried?"
<2432>
// \{Mei} "... Yes."
<2433>
// \{Mei} "It's... terrible."
<2434>
// For Mei-chan, she had put on a rare, sad face.
<2435>
// \{\m{B}} "... Can't be helped."
<2436>
// It feels immature dealing with kids like this but, let's go stop them.
<2437>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll go there for a bit."
<2438>
// And, just as I cross the road... something grabbed my sleeve.
<2439>
// Obviously that was because of Mei-chan.
<2440>
// She was silent, but it was as if she wanted me not to go.
<2441>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2442>
// Holding me back, she glances at her brother's figure.
<2443>
// Sunohara and Sanae-san appear to have noticed it as well.
<2444>
// Is she expecting something of Sunohara?
<2445>
// She looked at her brother for a while. And then...
<2446>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, Sanae-san, shall we go?"
<2447>
// A bright voice from him.
<2448>
// \{\m{B}} (Sunohara, you plan on ignoring this...?)
<2449>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, well..."
<2450>
// \{Sanae} "I suppose I do want to see the night view."
<2451>
// \{Sanae} "But, before that..."
<2452>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh, you should just leave that alone, shouldn't you?"
<2453>
// \{Sunohara} "Something like that is just a fight between kids, isn't it?!"
<2454>
// No matter how you look at it, one wouldn't say it was a fight.
<2455>
// \{Sunohara} "Besides, if we don't hurry, we'll be out of time."
<2456>
// \{Sanae} "But, I guess..."
<2457>
// \{Sunohara} "Anyways, it's stuff kids do."
<2458>
// \{Sunohara} "We should spend our time as adults!"
<2459>
// This guy is...
<2460>
// Shocking as it is, with a single word, he stepped forward.*
<2461>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan!"
<2462>
// Leaving that aside, Mei-chan's voice echoed.
<2463>
// \{Mei} "What are you doing?!"
<2464>
// \{Sunohara} "You know, Mei, you shouldn't get in the middle of a date."
<2465>
// \{Mei} "There's something you have to do before the date, right?!"
<2466>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, you really suck."
<2467>
// \{Sunohara} "What, you too, \m{A}?"
<2468>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, hurry up and go. Sanae-san wants that too..."
<2469>
// The moment I said that, that sobbing was there.
<2470>
// Her voice was becoming louder. Is she being pushed around?
<2471>
// \{Sanae} "... Ah!"
<2472>
// No one else but Sanae-san charged in first.
<2473>
// As if playing an instrument, she cut straight through the road.
<2474>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san, it's dangerous!"
<2475>
// My voice didn't reach her at all, as she had crossed the road.
<2476>
// And then, coming close to the group of kids, she brought up her voice.
<2477>
// \{Sanae} "Hey!"
<2478>
// \{Sanae} "You can't bully a girl!"
<2479>
// I could hear her loud voice so clearly from over here.
<2480>
// \{Sanae} "... It's fine, now."
<2481>
// She calms down the sobbing girl with her gentle voice.
<2482>
// Sanae-san's roar had scattered about the bullying kids.
<2483>
// I was the only one who had seen that.
<2484>
// Sure Sunohara did but, I felt terrible.
<2485>
// \{Sanae} "What's your name? Where's your mother?"
<2486>
// Standing silent there, I could hear her soft voice mixed with the girl's crying.
<2487>
// \{Sanae} "Mei-san."
<2488>
// \{Mei} "Ah... yes?!"
<2489>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sorry but... could you take care of this girl for a while?"
<2490>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it?"
<2491>
// \{Sanae} "She got lost from her mom it seems."
<2492>
// \{Sanae} "She might have gone really quickly to the kindergarten over there."
<2493>
// \{Sanae} "Besides, the name she told me, I heard it from a nursery school I know that I called." 
<2494>
// \{Sanae} "So, please take care of her for a bit."
<2495>
// She quickly ran off to the kindergarten.
<2496>
// Mei-chan was bewildered for a while, and eventually formed a smile.
<2497>
// \{Mei} "H-Hello there!"
<2498>
// \{Mei} "I'm Mei. Umm, your name is by chance...?"
<2499>
// \{Girl} "........."
<2500>
// \{Girl} "Fueeeeeeeehhhhhh..."
<2501>
// \{Mei} "Wah, why are you crying?!"
<2502>
// \{Mei} "W-what should I do...?"
<2503>
// \{\m{B}} "For now, hug her I guess... there."
<2504>
// \{\m{B}} "Woah, she's pretty heavy!"
<2505>
// \{Girl} "Sniff, fueehhhh...!"
<2506>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't be so violent!"
<2507>
// \{Mei} "D-don't scratch him!"
<2508>
// \{\m{B}} "Owwwwww---!!"
<2509>
// \{Sunohara} "This is why I hate kids."
<2510>
// \{Sunohara} "What is it with you two?"
<2511>
// I didn't know what to do. Eventually, Sanae-san came back.
<2512>
// \{Sanae} "Okay, okay... I'm here."
<2513>
// She clung to her chest, crying loudly.
<2514>
// It was just so out of there.
<2515>
// \{\m{B}} "How'd it go?"
<2516>
// \{Sanae} "It's a problem."
<2517>
// \{Sanae} "The kindergarten's on a holiday."
<2518>
// \{Sanae} "I tried calling another kindergarten but... they're almost all on holidays."
<2519>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, it is Sunday after all."
<2520>
// \{Mei} "... What should we do?"
<2521>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm..."
<2522>
// \{Sunohara} "Wouldn't it be better to let the police handle this?"
<2523>
// \{Sunohara} "What is it with you guys?!"
<2524>
// \{Sanae} "Now, now..."
<2525>
// \{Sanae} "But, I was thinking of the police as well."
<2526>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sure she'll also be afraid of them."
<2527>
// \{\m{B}} "She cried just from Mei-chan talking so..."
<2528>
// The girl stuck close to Sanae-san, not wanting to let go.
<2529>
// \{Mei} "Umm, I'll split off and search!"
<2530>
// \{\m{B}} "But, if you search randomly, you won't find her, will you?"
<2531>
// \{\m{B}} "We don't know where she came from at all."
<2532>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait for a bit. We should think of a better method..."
<2533>
// \{Sanae} "I suppose..."
<2534>
// As we worried for a bit, Sanae-san abruptly brought up her voice.
<2535>
// \{Sanae} "I suppose we should really ask the kindergarten and nursery school."
<2536>
// \{\m{B}} "But, they're on holiday, aren't they?"
<2537>
// \{Sanae} "There is a chance one of them is still working."
<2538>
// \{Sanae} "I think we should get in contact with the people in charge there and let them handle it."
<2539>
// \{\m{B}} "B-but... if there's nothing but janitors left, what'll we do?"
<2540>
// \{Sanae} "We'll ask the houses nearby."
<2541>
// \{Sanae} "If there's a child there, they'll surely hand this girl over to the nursery school's custody."
<2542>
// \{Sanae} "And then they'll get in touch with the people in charge."
<2543>
// \{\m{B}} "... You sure?"
<2544>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<2545>
// \{Sanae} "Let's start with the kindergarten in front."
<2546>
// \{Sanae} "We'll ask the houses around."
<2547>
// \{\m{B}} "W-wait a second!"
<2548>
// \{\m{B}} "I understand this is good but, if something goes wrong..."
<2549>
// \{\m{B}} "You know how many nursery schools there are in this city? Are we going to go around all of them?"
<2550>
// \{Sanae} "I don't know how many there are but, let's go around and look."
<2551>
// \{Sanae} "Come, let's go!"
<2552>
// She began walking, taking the girl with her.
<2553>
// We were dumbfounded for a while.
<2554>
// With how normal and calm Sanae-san was.
<2555>
// She had such unimaginable willpower.
<2556>
// We went all the way until late at night, but Sanae-san was able to find her parents.
<2557>
// The happy, yet crying again child headed back to her home.
<2558>
// The mother we found bowed many times, while crying.
<2559>
// Sanae-san was just like that, giving her a smile as though it was nothing.
<2560>
// ... Only that this wasn't nothing at all.
<2561>
// It was something that Sanae-san had to do.
<2562>
// Honestly, she was really impressive.
<2563>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sorry."
<2564>
// She spoke as such, leaving us.
<2565>
// \{Sanae} "For having you come with me this late..."
<2566>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't worry about such things."
<2567>
// \{Mei} "We were completely useless."
<2568>
// \{Sanae} "Not at all."
<2569>
// \{Sanae} "Because you did your best, I'm sure that she's become happy."
<2570>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sure she'll be glad."
<2571>
// \{Mei} "... Yeah."
<2572>
// \{Sanae} "Youhei-kun as well... although this was a date, I'm sorry."
<2573>
// \{Sanae} "We didn't get to have our night view."
<2574>
// \{Sunohara} "... Nah, it's fine."
<2575>
// He answered quietly, glancing away.
<2576>
// It was obvious he was getting fed up.
<2577>
// \{Sanae} "... Are you angry?"
<2578>
// \{Sunohara} "Not really but..."
<2579>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, because it was our date after all."
<2580>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, are you still saying that?!" 
<2581>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, yeah, I should just shut up, right?"
<2582>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2583>
// \{Sanae} "... Youhei-kun,"
<2584>
// \{Sanae} "You shouldn't pout like that."
<2585>
// \{Sanae} "Of course today ended up like this but..."
<2586>
// \{Sanae} "If you're fine with it, we can have another date again, Youhei-kun."
<2587>
// \{Sunohara} "Serious?"
<2588>
// \{Sanae} "... Yes."
<2589>
// Sanae-san softly reaches out her hand.
<2590>
// She put it on Sunohara's head, brushing his hair through it gently as to scatter it around.
<2591>
// \{Sanae} "I'll always be going out with you."
<2592>
// \{Sanae} "Because we know each other."
<2593>
// \{Sanae} "I'm happy that you feel the time we spend together is important."
<2594>
// \{Sanae} "But... there are times and moments when we can't."
<2595>
// That's certainly to help other people, isn't it?
<2596>
// Sunohara blushed a little bit. He brushed his forehead.
<2597>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sure you're a child that can do that, Youhei-kun."*
<2598>
// \{Sanae} "But it's bad to end up forgetting about it once in a while."*
<2599>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sure that's because you lack experience."
<2600>
// \{Sanae} "Even then, I'm sure you can do it."
<2601>
// \{Sanae} "I believe in that."
<2602>
// A piercing, kind voice.
<2603>
// If she whispered to me in that tone, I would definitely nod without knowing it.
<2604>
// But, Sunohara...
<2605>
// \{Sunohara} "... Eheheh..."
<2606>
// Smiled.
<2607>
// Probably thinking about how soft her breath is, and how nice she smells. 
<2608>
// \{\m{B}} (Sanae-san, he really is just an idiot...)
<2609>
// \{Sunohara} "Today's also such a refreshing morning!"
<2610>
// The next day, Sunohara attended during fifth period recess.
<2611>
// \{\m{B}} "You know you only have an hour left, right?"
<2612>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, I put Sanae-san to sleep yesterday~"
<2613>
// \{\m{B}} "You two left after that, didn't you?"
<2614>
// \{Sunohara} "I mean a call man! A phone call!"
<2615>
// \{Sunohara} "When we separated, we exchanged phone numbers..."
<2616>
// \{Sunohara} "If we did that, Sanae-san could call me, right?"
<2617>
// \{Sunohara} "Just her voice alone is so cute..."
<2618>
// \{\m{B}} "But, you guys didn't talk for long, did you?"
<2619>
// \{Sunohara} "Only about three minutes..."
<2620>
// \{Sunohara} "But, that time is an eternity for lovers."
<2621>
// \{Sunohara} "I couldn't sleep, thinking about Sanae-san..."
<2622>
// He talked to me as if in a dream, while I looked far away out the window.
<2623>
// Normally I'd throw in something but, instead I just sighed heavily.
<2624>
// \{\m{B}} "You know... did Sanae-san say nothing?"
<2625>
// \{Sunohara} "She talked about a lot of things she remembered on the date!"
<2626>
// \{\m{B}} "That's not it, come on..."
<2627>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, speaking of which, she talked about when we took the kid home... numerous times."
<2628>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't really care about that brat anyways!"
<2629>
// \{\m{B}} (That would be my main concern...)
<2630>
// \{Sunohara} "Wonder if we'll call each other today as well? I have to hurry back home."
<2631>
// \{Sunohara} "But, she cares so much about me..."
<2632>
// \{Sunohara} "It might be that she's fallen in love with \bme\u~"
<2633>
// \{Sunohara} "But, if it's me and Sanae-san, it's all okay!"
<2634>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, you know..."
<2635>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't worry, \m{A}!"
<2636>
// \{Sunohara} "Since Sanae-san and I are going out, be sure to introduce us to your friends!"
<2637>
// Pat, pat, I tap his shoulders.
<2638>
// I'm just not able to hang out with you.
<2639>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh, where are you going?"
<2640>
// \{\m{B}} "Nowhere."
<2641>
// I'll kill my time as best as I can until lessons start.
<2642>
// I move my legs in the direction of the door.
<2643>
// \{Sunohara} "It seems that the guy has to confess..."
<2644>
// \{Sunohara} "Being too much in a hurry is quite sad~"
<2645>
// \{Sunohara} "April's already over so, have to start off as best I can in May!"
<2646>
// I could hear him muttering to himself.
<2647>
// I step straight out of the classroom.
<2648>
// I was still irritated when lessons had ended.
<2649>
// No, I was still fine with that.
<2650>
// That idiot Sunohara had been practicing, even though the two hadn't been particularly talking yet.
<2651>
// Mei-chan's the one who's sad here.
<2652>
// For having such a brother right now.
<2653>
// Even more, Mei-chan came to this city because she was worried about him.
<2654>
// Exactly what is she thinking, seeing him like this?
<2655>
// I guess it was probably better showing how Sunohara usually lived...
<2656>
// \{\m{B}} "... Eh?"
<2657>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2658>
// Mei-chan was waiting at the school gates.
<2659>
// The students heading home didn't hold back giving glances, wondering about her rare school uniform.
<2660>
// With nothing to do, she stood there quietly.
<2661>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you doing?"
<2662>
// In haste, I get close to her.
<2663>
// \{Mei} "Ah... \m{A}-san..."
<2664>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you waiting for Sunohara, by chance?"
<2665>
// \{Mei} "... Yes."
<2666>
// \{Mei} "Umm, where's onii-chan...?"
<2667>
// \{\m{B}} "Since it's him, he's already gone home."
<2668>
// \{\m{B}} "He said something about having to get a phone call from Sanae-san..."
<2669>
// \{Mei} "Is that so..."
<2670>
// \{Mei} "Geez... it can't be helped..."
<2671>
// Mei-chan's calmed down a little bit since yesterday.
<2672>
// She was really worried about Sunohara, remembering his slight disappointment.
<2673>
// I guess that's just because they're blood relatives?
<2674>
// I didn't really know too well myself.
<2675>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan,"
<2676>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you this worried?"
<2677>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't think that idiot will start anything right now..."
<2678>
// \{Mei} "I... know that."
<2679>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, school's already started for you, hasn't it?"
<2680>
// \{Mei} "I know that too."
<2681>
// \{Mei} "But I won't be going back at this rate."
<2682>
// \{Mei} "Is my brother at the dormitory?"
<2683>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah... I suppose."
<2684>
// \{Mei} "Thank you very much. Then, I'll be off."
<2685>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan..."
<2686>
// She nods quickly, then heads down the hill road.
<2687>
// Gazing at her small back for a bit...
<2688>
// \{\m{B}} (... Geez.)
<2689>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan, I'm coming too!"
<2690>
// And like her, I ran down.
<2691>
// \{Sunohara} "You know, you guys,"
<2692>
// Upon reaching the dormitory room, it was clear he was quite irritated.
<2693>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm busy right now. I told you, didn't I, \m{A}?"
<2694>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't know when I'm going to get a call from Sanae-san..."
<2695>
// \{\m{B}} "If it's the phone line, I already pulled it out earlier."
<2696>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't pull it out!"
<2697>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... that's how it is, so I don't want to deal with anyone else."
<2698>
// \{Sunohara} "Before love was so amazing, I thought of nothing but keeping my sister out~"*
<2699>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2700>
// \{Sunohara} "Besides, Mei, what are you going to do about school?"
<2701>
// \{Sunohara} "You've already seen how I'm doing, so you're done here, right?"
<2702>
// \{Sunohara} "Hurry up and go home."
<2703>
// \{Mei} "... No."
<2704>
// \{Mei} "I'm not going home yet."
<2705>
// \{Sunohara} "Why not?"
<2706>
// \{Mei} "Because there's still something I have to do here."
<2707>
// \{Sunohara} "Hmm... ah, so you mean that."
<2708>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait, you don't get it."
<2709>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan, you came here to see how Sunohara's doing. Isn't that right?"
<2710>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you talking about? That's just some excuse, an excuse."
<2711>
// \{Sunohara} "It's not because she's so far away and stuff that she'd come here."
<2712>
// \{Sunohara} "She's been yearning for the city, see..."
<2713>
// \{Sunohara} "She just wants to come out of the countryside and see what living in a city's like."
<2714>
// \{Mei} "That's right."
<2715>
// She seems a little bit angry.
<2716>
// Even so, she nodded to Sunohara's words.
<2717>
// \{Sunohara} "See, look. That's what she was thinking about."
<2718>
// \{Sunohara} "Hold yourself back, and hurry up and head home."
<2719>
// \{Mei} "Yeah... I'll do that."
<2720>
// \{Mei} "But, there's someone I have to meet here, though."
<2721>
// \{Sunohara} "What?"
<2722>
// \{\m{B}} "Someone you have to meet...?"
<2723>
// That's the first I've heard of it.
<2724>
// \{Mei} "It's someone that I've been seeing."
<2725>
// \{\m{B}} "A friend from transfer school...?"
<2726>
// \{Mei} "No, we haven't met in person."
<2727>
// \{\m{B}} "Then... a penfriend?"
<2728>
// \{Mei} "Yup."
<2729>
// \{Sunohara} "Still using letters in such times? Mei's still such a kid~"
<2730>
// \{Mei} "Not at all, the person's really grown up."
<2731>
// \{Mei} "Telling me a lot of things."
<2732>
// \{Sunohara} "Like, what sort of things?"
<2733>
// \{Mei} "Umm... like..."
<2734>
// \{Mei} "Playing at night."
<2735>
// Thud!\shake{1}
<2736>
// Sunohara hit his head on a corner of the kotatsu.
<2737>
// \{Sunohara} "P... playing at night.........?!"
<2738>
// \{\m{B}} "T-that means, the person is..."
<2739>
// \{Mei} "Oh man, it's obviously a guy, isn't it?"
<2740>
// \{Mei} "He said he was in his late twenties, part of a company and all."
<2741>
// \{Sunohara} "Wha... wha..."
<2742>
// \{Mei} "He's really nice and knowledgeable."
<2743>
// \{Mei} "I thought of meeting him once or something."
<2744>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei, wait a second!"
<2745>
// \{Mei} "Love is beautiful, isn't it, onii-chan?"
<2746>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah... I guess..."
<2747>
// \{Mei} "Meeting him might be fun~ I wonder what kind of person is he~"
<2748>
// \{Mei} "Have to practice playing at night!"
<2749>
// \{Sunohara} "P-practice?!"
<2750>
// \{Mei} "I wanna go check and have a night viewing, onii-chan!"
<2751>
// \{Sunohara} "T... that's the best spot for a date..."
<2752>
// \{Mei} "That's the reason I won't be heading back home for a while."
<2753>
// \{Mei} "Keep it a secret from mom and dad, okay?"
<2754>
// \{Mei} "It's completely grown-up love!"
<2755>
// \{Sunohara} "W-well... Mei, that's...!"
<2756>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, you should have fun with your grown-up love with Sanae-san too!"
<2757>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah... I, guess..."
<2758>
// \{Mei} "Ah, oh no, it's already this time!"
<2759>
// \{Mei} "I have an appointment, so I'll be going now!"
<2760>
// Waving her hand, she left the room.
<2761>
// Sunohara and I listened to the sound of the door closing, dumbfounded.
<2762>
// \{Sunohara} "An appointment?"
<2763>
// \{\m{B}} "Late twenties...?"
<2764>
// \{Sunohara} "Holding hands with an adult...?"
<2765>
// \{Sunohara} "Comfort...?"
<2766>
// \{\m{B}} "The climax of life...?"*
<2767>
// \{Sunohara} "Lost on one's path...?"
<2768>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2769>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<2770>
// \{\m{B}} "... And then, to a butterfly overnight."
<2771>
// \{Sunohara} "\bNOOOOOOOOOOO!!\u"
<2772>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, hey, Sunohara!"
<2773>
// \{\m{B}} "This isn't the time to be agonizing over this!"
<2774>
// \{Sunohara} "Eh?!"
<2775>
// \{\m{B}} "Go after her!"
<2776>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yeah..."
<2777>
// \{Sunohara} "B... but, I have to take a call from Sanae-san..."
<2778>
// \{\m{B}} "... Are you still talking about that?"
<2779>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, do you know your situation right now?"
<2780>
// \{Sunohara} "I know. But, love is relaxing..."
<2781>
// \{Sunohara} "Because love is wonderful, after all..."
<2782>
// \{\m{B}} (This guy's hopeless...)
<2783>
// I charge ahead, leaving Sunohara alone.
<2784>
// I ran with all my might, jumping out of the dorm.
<2785>
// I was worried about making it in time but, I caught up with her figure up ahead.
<2786>
// She wasn't in a hurry, nor was she to hide herself... it was as if she stood there wanting to be found.
<2787>
// I looked at her lonely back from behind.
<2788>
// \{Mei} "... Onii-chan?"
<2789>
// \{\m{B}} "It's me, unfortunately."
<2790>
// \{Mei} "... Ah..."
<2791>
// \{\m{B}} "With the... way Sunohara is, he ain't coming."
<2792>
// \{Mei} "I see..."
<2793>
// \{Mei} "Is that so..."
<2794>
// A sad voice. An unfortunate and cruel look on her face.
<2795>
// Feeling that, I finally figured out what Mei-chan was up to.
<2796>
// \{\m{B}} "... Why did you lie like that?"
<2797>
// \{Mei} "Eh?"
<2798>
// \{\m{B}} "About meeting up with that guy, the company employee."
<2799>
// \{\m{B}} "All of that was a lie, wasn't it?"
<2800>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2801>
// \{Mei} "... Oh boy, I've been busted."
<2802>
// \{\m{B}} "No matter how I could think of that, there's no such person that would be related to you, Mei-chan."
<2803>
// \{Mei} "Is that a compliment of some sort?"
<2804>
// \{\m{B}} "Somewhat."
<2805>
// \{\m{B}} "... So, why?"
<2806>
// \{\m{B}} "Why did you lie?"
<2807>
// \{Mei} "That's..."
<2808>
// \{\m{B}} "That's?"
<2809>
// \{Mei} "... Because I wanted onii-chan to chase after me."
<2810>
// \{Mei} "To catch me..."
<2811>
// \{Mei} "And scold me..."
<2812>
// \{Mei} "And tell me not to meet such a person..."
<2813>
// \{Mei} "I would have been fine if he slapped me."
<2814>
// \{Mei} "I wanted it... to be like that."
<2815>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<2816>
// \{Mei} "I hate it,"
<2817>
// \{Mei} "Seeing my brother like this,"
<2818>
// \{Mei} "For onii-chan to have become like this..."
<2819>
// Mei-chan lowers her head.
<2820>
// It seemed... her voice shook a little bit.
<2821>
// \{Mei} "I was bullied."
<2822>
// She talked to me when it became night.
<2823>
// By this time, she had completely calmed down.
<2824>
// Mei was talking about one thing after another in my room.
<2825>
// \{Mei} "Ah... when I say I was bullied, I mean when I was younger."
<2826>
// \{Mei} "Thinking about it now, stuff like that didn't really mean anything."
<2827>
// \{Mei} "But, I remember being so scared back then."
<2828>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't see you as that type, Mei-chan."
<2829>
// \{\m{B}} "What was the reason?"
<2830>
// \{Mei} "... Because of onii-chan."
<2831>
// \{Mei} "He was a show-off, violent, and annoyed people around him..."
<2832>
// \{Mei} "And they used that against me."
<2833>
// \{\m{B}} "That's pretty bad..."
<2834>
// So even his sister gets involved because of his personality...?
<2835>
// \{Mei} "... But, I was fine. Because..."
<2836>
// Mei-chan took a breath, as if remembering that time, and began talking.
<2837>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... saved me at that time."
<2838>
// \{\m{B}} "You reap what you sow, then...?"
<2839>
// \{Mei} "Something like that."
<2840>
// \{Mei} "It would have been better if he hadn't said anything from the start."
<2841>
// \{Mei} "But... I was happy."
<2842>
// \{Mei} "I would cry a lot, and onii-chan would jump straight in."
<2843>
// \{Mei} "And go, 'Mei, don't cry!'"
<2844>
// \{\m{B}} "That Sunohara... huh."
<2845>
// \{Mei} "He was a stupid brother, but I was still happy with that."
<2846>
// \{Mei} "I relied so much on him, despite onii-chan being stupid."
<2847>
// I remembered how panicked Sunohara was when I told him his sister was coming.
<2848>
// I'm sure he himself was aware that...
<2849>
// Before his sister came, he had to show how good he looked.
<2850>
// \{Mei} "When he graduated from middle school, he became really good at soccer..."
<2851>
// \{Mei} "Getting so much to the point of being an ace..."
<2852>
// \{Mei} "I wasn't the only one that relied on him, but everyone from the team."
<2853>
// \{Mei} "'If you leave it to Sunohara, he'll pull something off.'"
<2854>
// \{Mei} "Though the coach got angry at him for putting up no defense."
<2855>
// Mei-chan talking on and on about her brother.
<2856>
// Those words were somehow mixed with pride.
<2857>
// ... I was a little jealous of Sunohara.
<2858>
// \{Mei} "... But, onii-chan now has changed."
<2859>
// \{Mei} "He may be stupid... but he isn't the onii-chan I know that's kind."
<2860>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan abandoned a bullied girl..."
<2861>
// \{Mei} "He should have been worried about me..."
<2862>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<2863>
// I didn't come up with any words.
<2864>
// He was that kind of guy. Though I'd joke about him, I wouldn't say anything like that.
<2865>
// His sister felt impatient with the tormented Sunohara up to now.
<2866>
// \{Mei} "... Umm,"
<2867>
// \{Mei} "I'd like you to answer me honestly..."
<2868>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah?"
<2869>
// \{Mei} "Is Sanae-san really onii-chan's girlfriend?"
<2870>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh, that..."
<2871>
// I was at my limit to keeping secrets here.
<2872>
// It might be a little bad, but I felt I had to be honest.
<2873>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure it's as you see it, Mei-chan."
<2874>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san's not his girlfriend."
<2875>
// \{\m{B}} "She was to only pretend to be one since you were coming..."
<2876>
// Although, it seems Sunohara has become serious about it...
<2877>
// \{Mei} "... I knew it."
<2878>
// \{Mei} "That's true... such a beautiful person couldn't be his girlfriend."
<2879>
// Sunohara's school life, plastered with lies.
<2880>
// She could probably imagine just how terrible his school life really was.
<2881>
// In that, completely discouraged spirit...
<2882>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan..."
<2883>
// The deep sigh she took at the end was filled with disappointment.
<2884>
// \{\m{B}} (Hmm...)
<2885>
// I stood in the dormitory hallway.
<2886>
// To be honest, I didn't like being with Sunohara right now.
<2887>
// \{\m{B}} (But... I suspect I feel that way for Mei-chan's sake...)
<2888>
// Readying myself, I open the door.
<2889>
// \{\m{B}} (Though he might be just sleeping...)
<2890>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<2891>
// \{\m{B}} "Woah!"
<2892>
// \{\m{B}} "Wake up..."
<2893>
// \{Sunohara} "Ahh... \m{A}."
<2894>
// The bloodshot eyes of a heavy bear.
<2895>
// Which means, he didn't sleep...?
<2896>
// \{Sunohara} "You know..."
<2897>
// \{\m{B}} "About Mei-chan?"
<2898>
// \{Sunohara} "N-not at all!"
<2899>
// \{Sunohara} "Why do I have to worry about Mei..."
<2900>
// \{\m{B}} (Because obviously your eyes have been swimming around...)
<2901>
// \{\m{B}} "... You're not gonna care about her?"
<2902>
// \{Sunohara} "I-I thought she was a kid but she's aware of how beautiful love is. Isn't that great?"
<2903>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... no matter who she goes out with, it's none of my concern!"
<2904>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm busy with my love with Sanae-san..."
<2905>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you still talking about that...?"
<2906>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm serious!"
<2907>
// \{Sunohara} "Thursday, May 1... on that day, Sanae-san will really become my girlfriend!"
<2908>
// \{Sunohara} "We're going to be dating from today onward, so I better start preparing!"
<2909>
// \{Sunohara} "I gotta make it there by one o'clock at least."*
<2910>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, huh? Where are you going, \m{A}?"
<2911>
// \{\m{B}} "Shut up."
<2912>
// Being so disgusted with him, I left the room.
<2913>
// \{Mei} "Ah..."
<2914>
// Mei-chan was in front of the dormitory.
<2915>
// \{Mei} "Umm, where's onii-chan...?"
<2916>
// \{\m{B}} "He's dating Sanae-san today as well."
<2917>
// \{\m{B}} "Getting dressed up now and stuff."
<2918>
// \{Mei} "... I see."
<2919>
// \{Mei} "Sigh..."
<2920>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan doesn't care what happens to me, does he...?"
<2921>
// \{Mei} "He really has changed, hasn't he..."
<2922>
// With a painful face, she drops her shoulders.
<2923>
// I wonder if that's how much she loves him?
<2924>
// Perhaps she thought he really was someone to rely on?
<2925>
// For her to be this sad, Sunohara's truly an idiot. 
<2926>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan."
<2927>
// \{Mei} "... Yes?"
<2928>
// \{\m{B}} "Become my sister."
<2929>
// She spit out hard.
<2930>
// \{Mei} "W-what are you saying all of a sudden?!"
<2931>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, I thought that for a sister like you, Mei-chan, Sunohara doesn't deserve this."
<2932>
// \{Mei} "Ahaha... you say that well."
<2933>
// \{Mei} "But, if you were onii-chan, it might be fine, \m{A}-san..."
<2934>
// \{\m{B}} "That's right, forget about that foolish brother!"
<2935>
// \{\m{B}} "And love me instead!"
<2936>
// \{Mei} "If I could, I would do that..."
<2937>
// \{Mei} "But, even though he's like that, he's still onii-chan."
<2938>
// \{Mei} "I won't desert him even a little." 
<2939>
// \{\m{B}} "Tch... what is it?"
<2940>
// \{Mei} "B-but, I do think you seem a lot like a real brother, \m{A}-san."
<2941>
// \{\m{B}} "Really?!"
<2942>
// \{Mei} "I'm not lying~"
<2943>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, try talking to me as if I were your brother."
<2944>
// \{Mei} "As if you were my... brother? When you say that all of a sudden, it troubles me."
<2945>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, like my brother, like my brother..."
<2946>
// \{Mei} "... You know, onii-chan,"
<2947>
// \{\m{B}} "... Ugh!"
<2948>
// \{Mei} "Eh? What's wrong, onii-chan?"
<2949>
// \{Mei} "Your face is red... did you catch a fever?"
<2950>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, are you fine...?"
<2951>
// Mei-chan's face drew near mine.
<2952>
// Those slightly dim yet large eyes looked at me.
<2953>
// \{\m{B}} (... T-this feels......)
<2954>
// What is this throbbing inside my chest...?!
<2955>
// What could it be, what could it be...
<2956>
// \{\m{B}} (......... Good...)
<2957>
// \{\m{B}} "... Huh?!"
<2958>
// I felt the gaze of the students in the dormitory.
<2959>
// \{Male Student 1} "Eh, isn't that \m{A}...?"
<2960>
// \{Male Student 2} "He's making some junior high student call him 'onii-chan'..."
<2961>
// \{Female Student 1} "No way, even though he looks a bit cool..."
<2962>
// \{Female Student 2} "... Pervert."
<2963>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm not--!!"
<2964>
// \{Mei} "Wah ,what's wrong, onii-chan?!"
<2965>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... oh yeah..."
<2966>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait, Mei-chan!"
<2967>
// \{\m{B}} "F... for now, let's go!"
<2968>
// \{Mei} "W-where are we going, onii-chan?!"
<2969>
// \{\m{B}} "Stop with 'onii-chan'!"
<2970>
// \{\m{B}} "No, actually, please don't stop--!" 
<2971>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, what should Mei do?!" 
<2972>
// \{\m{B}} "Guwahhh!!"
<2973>
// \{\m{B}} "Huff, huff, pant, pant..."
<2974>
// If we've come this far, it should be fine...
<2975>
// \{Mei} "Geez... onii-chan, don't run all of a sudden!"
<2976>
// \{\m{B}} "... Guwaah!"
<2977>
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, you know, Mei-chan,"
<2978>
// \{Mei} "Wha~t is it, onii-chan?"
<2979>
// \{\m{B}} "Stop it... umm, please believe my eyes, stop it..."
<2980>
// \{\m{B}} "I feel like I'm going to be thrown into a forbidden world..."
<2981>
// \{Mei} "... You're strange, onii-chan."
<2982>
// \{\m{B}} "Guwaah!!"
<2983>
// \{\m{B}} "Ugghhh... seriously, please stop!"
<2984>
// \{\m{B}} "'Onii-chan' is forbidden!"
<2985>
// \{Mei} "You want me to stop saying 'onii-chan'...?"
<2986>
// \{\m{B}} "Ahh... actually I don't want you to stop..."
<2987>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... what should Mei do?"
<2988>
// \{\m{B}} "Dahhh! Actually, please stop!"
<2989>
// \{\m{B}} "Banned...! 'Onii-chan' is banned!"
<2990>
// \{Mei} "........."
<2991>
// \{Mei} "... Do you hate Mei, onii-chan?"
<2992>
// \{\m{B}} "Guwaaahhh!!!"
<2993>
// I was in agony on the sidewalk.
<2994>
// \{Mei} "Well, that was a joke."
<2995>
// \{\m{B}} "Guoooo..."
<2996>
// \{Mei} "Are you okay, \m{A}-san?"
<2997>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah..."
<2998>
// \{\m{B}} (No good, "onii-chan" is too dangerous...)
<2999>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said that... let's stop this now."
<3000>
// \{Mei} "I will."
<3001>
// Though I feel it's a bit disappointing, I figure this is for the best.
<3002>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, you really are a strange person."
<3003>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, really..."
<3004>
// The carefree, giggling Mei-chan.
<3005>
// I liked her this way a lot better than when she had a sad face.
<3006>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, seems you're feeling a little better."
<3007>
// \{Mei} "When you say it like that, that's true."
<3008>
// \{Mei} "... It's all thanks to onii-chan~"
<3009>
// \{\m{B}} "Dowaah!" 
<3010>
// \{Mei} "Ahaha... are you okay, \m{A}-san?"
<3011>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-you know..."
<3012>
// \{Mei} "I'm sowwy~"
<3013>
// And then, a smile came up from her again.
<3014>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3015>
// I wanted to see that smile more, I thought.
<3016>
// I want her to be a lot better.
<3017>
// I felt that if I could, I wanted to grant Mei-chan's wish.
<3018>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan,"
<3019>
// \{\m{B}} "You want to be worried about Sunohara after all, don't you?"
<3020>
// \{Mei} "Ah... yeah, that's right."
<3021>
// \{\m{B}} "It seems he's also worried this morning too."
<3022>
// \{\m{B}} "He's put in this strange position because he's an idiot."
<3023>
// \{\m{B}} "But, if you shake him up a bit, he'll show his true feelings."
<3024>
// \{Mei} "Is that so...?"
<3025>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<3026>
// \{\m{B}} "That's why, we'll have to pretend to fool around more and more."
<3027>
// \{Mei} "But, what should we do?"
<3028>
// \{Mei} "I know almost nothing about this town..."
<3029>
// \{Mei} "Even if you mention a fake boyfriend, I wouldn't know what to do..."
<3030>
// \{\m{B}} "Guess it's my turn with that."
<3031>
// \{Mei} "You'll... be a fake boyfriend?"
<3032>
// \{\m{B}} "Something like that."
<3033>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you think? Though only if you're fine with it, Mei-chan."
<3034>
// \{Mei} "Yes, please, by all means!"
<3035>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, then let's hurry and enjoy ourselves as lovers!"
<3036>
// \{Mei} "Yeah, let's go, onii-chan!"
<3037>
// S-slip!
<3038>
// \{\m{B}} "'Onii-chan' is banned--!"
<3039>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, \m{A}-san, what's that?"
<3040>
// Mei-chan was pointing out to the front of the station.
<3041>
// She brought up an excited voice, pointing out a pastel-colored wagon stopped on the sidewalk.
<3042>
// \{\m{B}} "A crêpe shop. They come out once in a while."
<3043>
// \{Mei} "Amazing... they have things like these?! This is my first time!"
<3044>
// \{\m{B}} "You're exaggerating this..."
<3045>
// \{Mei} "B-because, this is the first time I've seen one!"
<3046>
// \{Mei} "The city's amazing..."
<3047>
// \{Mei} "Eh, eh?! They have this menu here~!"
<3048>
// She ruggedly tugs my arm over to the front of the vehicle.
<3049>
// Looks like the crêpe shop was on its way home. There was a line of girls formed up.
<3050>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm, Mei-chan, you want to eat?"
<3051>
// \{Mei} "Yes, I really do."
<3052>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, then, I'll treat you."
<3053>
// \{Mei} "But... is that okay?"
<3054>
// \{\m{B}} "Though it's fake, we're lovers. Since we're on a date, that's what I should do, right?"
<3055>
// \{Mei} "Yeah! Then, I won't hold back and dive right in!"
<3056>
// \{\m{B}} "That's the way to do it."
<3057>
// \{\m{B}} "How many do you want? Pick what you like."
<3058>
// \{Mei} "There's so many, it's hard to pick..."
<3059>
// \{Mei} "Wah, this one is amazing!"
<3060>
// Mei-chan was pointing to huge letters that were written on the cork board right at the top.
<3061>
// \{\m{B}} "Princess Crêpe...?"
<3062>
// \{\m{B}} "A somewhat very exaggerated name."
<3063>
// \{\m{B}} "Umm... 'Cake with luxuriously made fresh cream, covered with an assortment of fruits and jam, and finally finished off with caramel!'"
<3064>
// \{Mei} "Just hearing it sounds delicious!"
<3065>
// \{\m{B}} "My stomach feels heavy..."
<3066>
// Exactly how much of this can I take?
<3067>
// I look at the menu again.
<3068>
// \{\m{B}} "... Geh!"
<3069>
// The price was also very princess-like.
<3070>
// \{Mei} "Princess Crêpe looks very delicious!"
<3071>
// \{Mei} "Thank you so much, \m{A}-san!"
<3072>
// \{\m{B}} "W-well..."
<3073>
// Seeing that smile on her face, it was difficult to run her down.
<3074>
// Besides, saying one thing to tick her off would be disgusting.
<3075>
// If I don't lead her to something better...
<3076>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan,"
<3077>
// \{\m{B}} "The Princess may be fine but, there's probably a lot of calories."
<3078>
// \{Mei} "While I might get a little fat, It'll be fine."
<3079>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you become fat on the sides?"
<3080>
// \{Mei} "Uuu... it'll be fine~"
<3081>
// \{\m{B}} "No way, at this time, the way you grow is important!"
<3082>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said that, I suggest going for something lower, like the Maharaja Crêpe."
<3083>
// \{Mei} "What's Maharaja?"
<3084>
// \{\m{B}} "Referring to the king of India."
<3085>
// \{Mei} "What kind of flavor would it have...?"
<3086>
// \{\m{B}} "If it's India, it's curry."
<3087>
// \{\m{B}} "Surely, the texture of the crêpe will leave much to be desired!"
<3088>
// \{Mei} "I don't want that!"
<3089>
// \{Mei} "Speaking of which, that would just be curry!"
<3090>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, there's something lower. Try the Last Emperor Crêpe."
<3091>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure they'll be putting in frozen ingredients like in China."
<3092>
// \{\m{B}} "It'll have the texture of spring rolls."
<3093>
// \{Mei} "I wouldn't want such a crêpe either!"
<3094>
// \{Mei} "I guess I want to eat something sweet."
<3095>
// \{Mei} "Princess is fine."
<3096>
// \{\m{B}} "... No matter what?"
<3097>
// \{Mei} "I can't, onii-chan?"
<3098>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't say onii-chan!"
<3099>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... Mei wants to eat the Princess Crêpe~"
<3100>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm telling you, stop--!"
<3101>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, please..."
<3102>
// \{\m{B}} "Dahhh--!" 
<3103>
// I bought it in tears. 
<3104>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san! It's really delicious!"
<3105>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, really... isn't that great?"
<3106>
// \{Mei} "Yes, I'm so glad!"
<3107>
// She had a happy face while stuffing herself with as much of the toppings from the crêpe.
<3108>
// Seeing her like this, I felt glad that I bought this.
<3109>
// \{\m{B}} (My wallet hurts though...)
<3110>
// \{Mei} "But why didn't you buy any, \m{A}-san?"
<3111>
// \{\m{B}} "Sweet stuff's a bit..."
<3112>
// \{Mei} "Even though it's this delicious..."
<3113>
// \{Mei} "Oh, how about you try some?"
<3114>
// \{\m{B}} "That's fine, you can take it all, Mei-chan."
<3115>
// \{Mei} "But, I feel a little bit bad about it~"
<3116>
// \{Mei} "Even so... just try a bit, please!"
<3117>
// \{\m{B}} "... Then, a bit."
<3118>
// I pick one of the fruits that doesn't seem so sweet, and eat that.
<3119>
// \{Mei} "Eh, ah..."
<3120>
// \{Mei} "A-aahhhhhhh...!"
<3121>
// \{\m{B}} "W-what?"
<3122>
// \{Mei} "Could it be... you ate the strawberry?!"
<3123>
// \{\m{B}} "Speaking of which, the flavor was sweet and sour."
<3124>
// \{Mei} "N-no way..."
<3125>
// \{Mei} "I was looking forward to eating the strawberry..."
<3126>
// \{\m{B}} "I told you already it'd be fine if you ate it, didn't I?!"
<3127>
// \{Mei} "Geez, I hate you, onii-chan!"
<3128>
// \{\m{B}} "Nooo---, please don't hate me---!"
<3129>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, y-you know..."
<3130>
// \{Mei} "Ahaha... that was a joke."
<3131>
// \{Mei} "Soon I'll be using 'onii-chan' in moderation."
<3132>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't plan on stopping, do you...?"
<3133>
// \{Mei} "Because it's my trump card."
<3134>
// What trump card...?
<3135>
// \{Mei} "Well, I'll just let you have that strawberry, \m{A}-san."
<3136>
// \{Mei} "I'll make do with the banana chocolate."
<3137>
// \{Mei} "Ah, ahhh! The cream!"
<3138>
// Bringing her mouth close, the cream was dangerously balanced, falling over.
<3139>
// \{Mei} "W-what should I do?!"
<3140>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan, gimme that!"
<3141>
// Taking it, I catch it in time, licking the cream.
<3142>
// \{Mei} "A-ahh! You didn't eat the raspberry with that, did you?!"
<3143>
// \{\m{B}} "Speaking of which, I did get hit with a sweet and sour taste."
<3144>
// \{Mei} "No way... I was looking forward to that!"
<3145>
// \{\m{B}} "Before you say that, it's still crumbling."
<3146>
// \{Mei} "Wah! This time the almond's in trouble!"
<3147>
// \{Mei} "Even the cranberry over here!"
<3148>
// \{\m{B}} "Got it!"
<3149>
// \{Mei} "Stop it---!"
<3150>
// \{\m{B}} "... Somehow, my stomach's become quite full."
<3151>
// \{Mei} "Because you ate that much!"
<3152>
// \{\m{B}} "Because you were careless, Mei-chan."
<3153>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, you ate the main caramel cake, didn't you?"
<3154>
// \{Mei} "If I ate that, it'd be a disaster!"
<3155>
// \{\m{B}} "Serious. So it's dangerous?"
<3156>
// \{Mei} "But, well... it was delicious enough, so I'll live with that."
<3157>
// \{Mei} "Be thankful I'm such a tolerant girlfriend."
<3158>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, yeah."
<3159>
// \{Mei} "Geez... ah, \m{A}-san, there's still some cream on you!"
<3160>
// \{Mei} "There, right in front of your hair."
<3161>
// \{\m{B}} "This area?"
<3162>
// \{Mei} "Y-yeah... no good, I'll take it off!"
<3163>
// \{Mei} "Stay still, okay?"
<3164>
// Walking over, she reaches out her hand and wipes with a handkerchief.
<3165>
// Before we knew it, we came near the shopping district.
<3166>
// \{Mei} "It's all off now."
<3167>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said so, my face feels a bit sticky from that..."
<3168>
// \{Mei} "Because we really stuffed ourselves!"
<3169>
// \{Mei} "It'd be nice if there were a washroom though..."
<3170>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll use the one from the arcade. Wait a bit."
<3171>
// \{Mei} "Okay~"
<3172>
// Turning my eyes to the arcade I came to before, we headed there.
<3173>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, Mei-chan...?"
<3174>
// Returning a short time later, I didn't see her.
<3175>
// Looking around, she had gained an interest looking at a large machine.
<3176>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you doing?"
<3177>
// \{Mei} "Ah, nothing. It's just a bit strange."
<3178>
// \{Mei} "It's just the first time I've seen one up-close..."
<3179>
// \{\m{B}} "First time... you mean this?"
<3180>
// It was a machine that took pictures and immediately printed them out as stickers.
<3181>
// \{Mei} "Lovers in the city take pictures with this, don't they?"
<3182>
// \{Mei} "It's so nice..."
<3183>
// \{\m{B}} "But, it's really gone into a decline, hasn't it?"
<3184>
// \{\m{B}} "I haven't seen many people that used this recently..."
<3185>
// \{Mei} "Ehh? I-is that so?"
<3186>
// \{Mei} "The city sure is amazing, always changing so quickly!"
<3187>
// \{\m{B}} "Having said that... there are no arcades where you live, Mei-chan?"
<3188>
// \{Mei} "All we have is a supermarket with a small arcade in it."
<3189>
// \{Mei} "But, it's really old."
<3190>
// \{Mei} "All the guys don't like it at all."
<3191>
// \{\m{B}} "Since it's the countryside..."
<3192>
// \{Mei} "Yes, it's the countryside."
<3193>
// \{Mei} "Though... coming by a print machine like this makes me really happy!"
<3194>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, give it a good and hard look."
<3195>
// \{Mei} "I don't want to just look, umm, \m{A}-san..."
<3196>
// \{\m{B}} "No."
<3197>
// \{Mei} "Ah, cruel~"
<3198>
// \{Mei} "Why'd you refuse before I said anything?!"
<3199>
// \{\m{B}} "However you put it, you wanted to take a picture with me, didn't you?"
<3200>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it better if it's not me? If you get a real boyfriend, go and take one."
<3201>
// \{Mei} "But you're my boyfriend right now, \m{A}-san."
<3202>
// \{Mei} "Besides, you have to apologize for the crêpe."
<3203>
// \{\m{B}} "You know..."
<3204>
// \{Mei} "Isn't that okay? Come on, come in!"
<3205>
// She half-forces me into there.
<3206>
// \{Mei} "Heh..."
<3207>
// \{Mei} "So the inside's like this?"
<3208>
// \{\m{B}} "It's surprisingly small..."
<3209>
// To be honest, this is the first time I've come into a place like this. 
<3210>
// \{\m{B}} (But, like this... if I get found out by my classmates, I won't be able to excuse myself...)
<3211>
// \{Mei} "Umm, \m{A}-san,"
<3212>
// \{Mei} "I-is it... okay to push this?"
<3213>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, I don't even know much about it either..."
<3214>
// \{\m{B}} "For now just put in money, and then... this?"
<3215>
// I push the button down twice. 
<3216>
// Flash.
<3217>
// \{Mei} "Ah!"
<3218>
// A flash surged through.
<3219>
// \{Mei} "It took a picture just now?"
<3220>
// \{\m{B}} "Seems so."
<3221>
// \{Mei} "No way, I hadn't even gotten a pose going!"
<3222>
// Soon, we heard the sound of a wheel, and a batch of four print stickers fell.
<3223>
// Mei-chan picked it up at once.
<3224>
// \{Mei} "Waahhh!"
<3225>
// \{Mei} "My face didn't even come out!"
<3226>
// My face made it into the picture, but only the top of Mei-chan's head could be seen.
<3227>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3228>
// \{Mei} "Wait a second!"
<3229>
// \{\m{B}} "What... you don't like it?"
<3230>
// \{Mei} "I really don't!"
<3231>
// \{Mei} "This is pretty much \m{A}-san's self portrait!"
<3232>
// \{Mei} "Let's retake it!"
<3233>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh boy..."
<3234>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, the camera position's probably bad."
<3235>
// \{\m{B}} "Adjusting it... this should be fine. Okay, let's take it."
<3236>
// Flash.
<3237>
// \{Mei} "E-eh, geez!"
<3238>
// \{Mei} "Ahh... I still forgot my pose!"
<3239>
// Before long, the print came out.
<3240>
// \{Mei} "Wah--!"
<3241>
// \{Mei} "This time, only I showed up!"
<3242>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3243>
// \{Mei} "Please don't go!"
<3244>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, all that came up was your chin, wasn't it?!"
<3245>
// \{\m{B}} "Think of that as all of me."
<3246>
// \{Mei} "I won't!"
<3247>
// \{\m{B}} "Geez... still don't like it?"
<3248>
// \{Mei} "Well, now,"
<3249>
// \{\m{B}} "Can't be helped... this time, we'll try out this angle."
<3250>
// \{\m{B}} "Here we go."
<3251>
// Flash.
<3252>
// \{Mei} "Wah, again!"
<3253>
// \{Mei} "Hey, wahh---! This time it was right above!"
<3254>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3255>
// \{Mei} "No one will understand this!"
<3256>
// \{\m{B}} "This is ridiculous... we've taken it three times now, you know?"
<3257>
// \{Mei} "W-well, that's true..."
<3258>
// \{Mei} "But, I want to take it perfectly for once. Just once. Please?"
<3259>
// \{\m{B}} "If you say so, then just once."
<3260>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, jump this time."
<3261>
// \{Mei} "Jump... you say?"
<3262>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'll take the frame at that moment."
<3263>
// \{\m{B}} "Here we go."
<3264>
// \{Mei} "W-wait a second!"
<3265>
// \{Mei} "There, there!"
<3266>
// She jumped up and down with all her might.
<3267>
// Flash.
<3268>
// The flash opens, and finally the print comes out.
<3269>
// \{Mei} "It ended up becoming a ghost photograph!"
<3270>
// \{\m{B}} "Woah, an amazing ghost."
<3271>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3272>
// \{Mei} "I'm a human being!"
<3273>
// \{\m{B}} "Can't be helped... all right, let's pick this horror frame."
<3274>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, jump again!"
<3275>
// \{Mei} "There, there!"
<3276>
// Flash.
<3277>
// \{\m{B}} "Woah! Scary~~!"
<3278>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3279>
// \{Mei} "I don't want this!"
<3280>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, seriously, take it right!"
<3281>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, all right..."
<3282>
// This is becoming too much of a joke.
<3283>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, use this."
<3284>
// \{Mei} "Eh, this is..."
<3285>
// I was holding a pedestal from nearby.
<3286>
// \{\m{B}} "If you get on this, you'll have the same height as me, right?"
<3287>
// \{Mei} "You knew that this was around?"
<3288>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<3289>
// \{Mei} "You're cruel..."
<3290>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, let's take this quick."
<3291>
// \{Mei} "Uu..."
<3292>
// She gets on top of the stand, quite displeased.
<3293>
// \{\m{B}} "Here we go~"
<3294>
// I put in the coin, followed by the standby signal, and then the flash...
<3295>
// \{Mei} "........."
<3296>
// \{Mei} "... There!"
<3297>
// \{\m{B}} "Owahh!"
<3298>
// She hugs me all of a sudden.
<3299>
// Flash.
<3300>
// It was as if she was aiming for that moment when the light flashed.
<3301>
// \{Mei} "Heh heh heh..."
<3302>
// With a pleasant look, she leaves the shop.
<3303>
// In her hand was the batch of four photo stickers, of which she takes two.
<3304>
// The other two of course she gives to me.
<3305>
// On that picture was that of the smiling Mei-chan, her arm wrapped around my neck.
<3306>
// My face was red in confusion from that on the picture.
<3307>
// ... Somehow this looks like we're in love.
<3308>
// \{\m{B}} (This is a bit embarrassing...)
<3309>
// \{\m{B}} (What am I gonna do with this...?)
<3310>
// \{Mei} "What should I put this on~ though I have to have two~"
<3311>
// \{Mei} "I guess I'll put it somewhere where it stands out in this city!"
<3312>
// \{Mei} "How about on the station bulletin board?"
<3313>
// \{\m{B}} "Please don't--!"
<3314>
// \{Mei} "Ahaha, that was a joke!"
<3315>
// \{Mei} "There's no way I'd do something like that with photo stickers as important as these!"
<3316>
// \{Mei} "I'll put them somewhere really different!"
<3317>
// \{\m{B}} "Where do you plan on putting them..."
<3318>
// \{Mei} "Like on \m{A}-san's notebook... maybe?"
<3319>
// \{\m{B}} "No way."
<3320>
// \{Mei} "You're quite stingy, aren't you?"
<3321>
// \{\m{B}} "Actually, why do you want to put it on my notebook?"
<3322>
// \{\m{B}} "Put it on your own, Mei-chan."
<3323>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, then I guess one on mine."
<3324>
// \{Mei} "The other one... ah, that's it!"
<3325>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, you know there are photo sticker books, right?"
<3326>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah."
<3327>
// Though I vaguely remember it from her saying that.
<3328>
// Students from long back would carry these heavy books and stick a bunch of them on there.
<3329>
// \{Mei} "That'd be for collecting."
<3330>
// \{Mei} "This'll be the first one on the first page."
<3331>
// \{\m{B}} "All right, all right."
<3332>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, I'll also give you that as a present, so do what you want."
<3333>
// \{Mei} "Waaii, I love you, \m{A}-san!"
<3334>
// \{\m{B}} "Thank you."
<3335>
// \{Mei} "But, hmm, where are we gonna buy it?"
<3336>
// \{\m{B}} "A while ago there was a stationary shop around but, where has it gone recently...?"
<3337>
// \{Mei} "Hmm..."
<3338>
// \{Mei} "Ah... but, I know there's got to be one!"
<3339>
// \{Mei} "Well not that I know, but I've heard about it!"
<3340>
// \{\m{B}} "Where would that be?"
<3341>
// \{Mei} "It's a 100-yen shop!"
<3342>
// \{Mei} "100-yen shops are a symbol of cities! They'll have anything!"
<3343>
// \{\m{B}} "I-is that so..." 
<3344>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, the problem is if there's one close by..."
<3345>
// \{Mei} "With that said, let's go!"
<3346>
// \{\m{B}} "Well it's fine if we go, but why are you clinging onto my arm?"
<3347>
// \{Mei} "Because we're lovers!"
<3348>
// \{\m{B}} "No way."
<3349>
// \{Mei} "... Don't say such a thing, onii-chan~"
<3350>
// \{\m{B}} "Becoming my sister all of a sudden is a no-go."
<3351>
// \{Mei} "Ah... you're getting used to it, aren't you?"
<3352>
// \{Mei} "I lost my trump card..."
<3353>
// \{\m{B}} "Because you used it too much."
<3354>
// \{Mei} "Besides that... let's go!"
<3355>
// \{\m{B}} "All right..."
<3356>
// As Mei-chan pulled on my arm, we walked off.
<3357>
// \{\m{B}} (Well, whatever...)
<3358>
// At least she's become happy.
<3359>
// I think I'll go out with her for a while longer.
<3360>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, \m{A}-san!"
<3361>
// \{Mei} "There's so much here, it's amazing!"
<3362>
// \{Mei} "All of this is 100 yen!"
<3363>
// A scent was still left around, showing the shop had undergone renovations.
<3364>
// Mei-chan ran with a happy face, pulling me along the way.
<3365>
// \{Mei} "This is amazing, they have paperbacks and even CDs!"
<3366>
// \{Mei} "Eh, these shoes, too! Even socks and underwear are here!"
<3367>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan... could you not pull me so much?"
<3368>
// \{Mei} "A-ahaha... I'm sorry."
<3369>
// \{Mei} "I was a little excited..."
<3370>
// \{\m{B}} "Calm down just a bit, will you?"
<3371>
// \{Mei} "Okay~"
<3372>
// This time she held onto my arm, looking around slowly.
<3373>
// \{\m{B}} "But, they really do have everything..."
<3374>
// I really admired how much they had gathered here.
<3375>
// \{\m{B}} "All of this is also 100-yen?"
<3376>
// Before long, we came to the toy corner.
<3377>
// We fired the BB gun and played with the reacher.
<3378>
// After that, the important thing is...
<3379>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan,"
<3380>
// \{Mei} "Yes?"
<3381>
// \{\m{B}} "Here you go!"
<3382>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<3383>
// I throw her a rubber snake.
<3384>
// \{Mei} "Kya... kyaaaaaaaaa---!"
<3385>
// She ran off.
<3386>
// \{\m{B}} "Hahaha, you realized what it was?"
<3387>
// \{Mei} "You're cruel, \m{A}-san!"
<3388>
// \{Mei} "I'm going to get you back. There!"
<3389>
// \{\m{B}} "Wahaha, so this is the beginning of the rubber fight!"
<3390>
// \{Mei} "There, brown rat attack!"
<3391>
// \{\m{B}} "Woah, that looks real--!"
<3392>
// \{Mei} "Heh hehe heh, you realized what it was?"
<3393>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn it... all right, stuffed toy attack!"
<3394>
// \{Mei} "Wahh, so cute!"
<3395>
// \{\m{B}} "Here, I'll show you a poisonous spider!"
<3396>
// \{Mei} "Kyaahhh!!"
<3397>
// \{Mei} "G-geez... then, I'll take some stuffed toy too!"
<3398>
// \{Mei} "Here, I'll show you a lizard!"
<3399>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha, I predicted you would!"
<3400>
// \{Mei} "Then I'll show you another stuffed toy!"
<3401>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm, it's so pretty!"
<3402>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, what the hell is that?!"
<3403>
// \{Mei} "You've been defeated!"
<3404>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn it! In that case, I'll go with a double insect stuffed toy attack--!"
<3405>
// \{Clerk} "Please don't play with the merchandise--!"
<3406>
// We continued playing so much to the point the clerk had to warn us.
<3407>
// \{Mei} "... We got yelled at."
<3408>
// Giving a bitter smile, this time we walked around the store quietly.
<3409>
// \{\m{B}} "There are all sorts of strange and amusing things here that you could just grab."
<3410>
// \{Mei} "That's probably the magic of a 100-yen shop!"
<3411>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, this time let's finish what we came here for."
<3412>
// \{\m{B}} "Umm, it was a photo sticker book, right...?"
<3413>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san, there's a new goods corner over there! Let's go!"
<3414>
// As soon as she says that, she pulls me in.
<3415>
// \{Mei} "Wah... you can buy vegetables here!"
<3416>
// \{Mei} "These are all 100 yen~"
<3417>
// There were vacuum-packed vegetables moderately cut, all lined up.
<3418>
// \{Mei} "There's also meat and fish!"
<3419>
// \{Mei} "Wah, even fruits!"
<3420>
// \{\m{B}} "Amazing."
<3421>
// It was kinda like a normal supermarket.
<3422>
// \{Mei} "That's it! Because I've been such a bother to you today, \m{A}-san..."
<3423>
// \{Mei} "I'll really do my best for tonight's dinner!"
<3424>
// \{\m{B}} "I look forward to it."
<3425>
// \{Mei} "Okay!"
<3426>
// \{Mei} "Having said that, let's take this, and this... ah, this is also cheap~"
<3427>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan, before that...!"
<3428>
// \{Mei} "Ah... t-that's right!"
<3429>
// \{Mei} "The photo sticker book!"
<3430>
// Asking a clerk, we quickly find it.
<3431>
// Mei-chan was quite big on that you could buy anything here.
<3432>
// She puts the photo sticker she took with me right on top of the first page...
<3433>
// She was really pleased.
<3434>
// Holding nothing but the bought notebook, we left the 100-yen shop.
<3435>
// She walked in a rather light manner.
<3436>
// \{Mei} "Thank you so much!"
<3437>
// \{\m{B}} "You're welcome."
<3438>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, take good care of it."
<3439>
// \{Mei} "Yeah, it's already important to me!"
<3440>
// \{Mei} "I'll treasure it all my life!"
<3441>
// \{\m{B}} "That's an exaggeration..."
<3442>
// \{Mei} "I'm at least that happy!"
<3443>
// \{Mei} "Thank you so much, \m{A}-san!"
<3444>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, you'll pay me back enough with dinner. I'm looking forward to that."
<3445>
// \{Mei} "I'll do my best!"
<3446>
// \{Mei} "Ah, but..."
<3447>
// \{Mei} "Is that alone enough?"
<3448>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you mean by that?"
<3449>
// \{Mei} "Well, you gave me something so nice..."
<3450>
// \{Mei} "I was just thinking if dinner was enough."
<3451>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you so worried about?"
<3452>
// \{\m{B}} "Eating food at my house is quite rare, after all."
<3453>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm thankful for just that alone."
<3454>
// \{Mei} "Hmm, but still, I feel a little bad."
<3455>
// \{Mei} "I guess I should get you something better!"
<3456>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, even if you say so..."
<3457>
// \{Mei} "Please, let me!"
<3458>
// Mei-chan having said so, on the other hand, she didn't really owe me anything.
<3459>
// Though, if I flat-out refused, I feel it might be sad.
<3460>
// A little bothered, my eyes fall quickly upon a CD shop.
<3461>
// It was the one Sanae-san and Sunohara came to.
<3462>
// \{\m{B}} (If it's an old album, it'll only cost 300 yen at most...)
<3463>
// I think that much alone is enough.
<3464>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Mei-chan,"
<3465>
// \{Mei} "Yes?"
<3466>
// \{\m{B}} "In that case, get me a CD as a present."
<3467>
// I point out the second-hand shop, suggesting that.
<3468>
// \{Mei} "But... it's second-hand, is that okay?"
<3469>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't mind."
<3470>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides... ah, what was it again? You said that there was stuff there that you couldn't get now?"
<3471>
// \{Mei} "Yes! It's really rare!"
<3472>
// \{\m{B}} "I'd like to hear it."
<3473>
// \{Mei} "All right! I'll look then!" 
<3474>
// \{Mei} "I wonder if it's still there..."
<3475>
// She pokes around the rack of albums lined up in the shop to make sure.
<3476>
// \{Mei} "It'll be nice if it didn't sell out... ah!"
<3477>
// She waits a bit, and then eventually brings out a CD.
<3478>
// \{Mei} "I've got it!"
<3479>
// \{\m{B}} "Speaking of which, I didn't get to hear it the other day..."
<3480>
// \{\m{B}} "Who's the singer of this album?"
<3481>
// \{Mei} "Yoshino Yuusuke!"
<3482>
// \{\m{B}} "Yoshino... Yuusuke?"
<3483>
// \{Mei} "Do you know him?"
<3484>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... I do." 
<3485>
// I think I have at least one of his CDs.
<3486>
// \{Mei} "Indeed! He's really famous!"
<3487>
// \{Mei} "He had his debut when I was still in grade school!"
<3488>
// \{Mei} "His singles recently have ranked number eight..."
<3489>
// \{Mei} "But, word of mouth spread about and after that, he was able to remain in the top ten for at least two months!"
<3490>
// \{Mei} "And then, he eventually made it to first three times!"
<3491>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah... is that so?"
<3492>
// Somehow, it seems like this talk will last long, so I cut it off in a fitting manner.
<3493>
// \{\m{B}} (Yoshino Yuusuke... was it...?)
<3494>
// I repeat that quietly in my mind.
<3495>
// At the bottom of the album was a figure of someone singing enthusiastically on the microphone, in black and white.
<3496>
// I've heard his name.
<3497>
// And I've met him.
<3498>
// I decided to talk about him.
<3499>
// \{\m{B}} "I've... met him."
<3500>
// \{\m{B}} "Even more, recently."
<3501>
// \{Mei} "Eh..."
<3502>
// \{Mei} "Ehhhh?!"
<3503>
// She grabs me bluntly with both her arms.
<3504>
// \{Mei} "W-where?!"
<3505>
// \{Mei} "Even more, how did you meet him?!"
<3506>
// \{\m{B}} "C-calm down, okay?"
<3507>
// \{Mei} "Ah... hahaha... I'm sorry."
<3508>
// In haste, she lets go.
<3509>
// \{Mei} "B-but... then, he's in this city?!"
<3510>
// \{\m{B}} "Seems so."
<3511>
// \{Mei} "W-what is he doing right now?!"
<3512>
// \{\m{B}} "He told me he was working as an electrician."
<3513>
// I remember what Sunohara told me.
<3514>
// About how he was a famous artist in the past. And about how really wild he was...
<3515>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh? I thought Sunohara would have told you about that, Mei-chan?"
<3516>
// \{\m{B}} "He told me that he gave you Yoshino Yuusuke's business card though..."
<3517>
// \{Mei} "Ah, that, I heard about it!"
<3518>
// \{Mei} "I was so surprised and so happy but..."
<3519>
// \{Mei} "But, in the end it never came here."
<3520>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so..."
<3521>
// \{Mei} "That's why I thought it might have been a lie or something."
<3522>
// She means Sunohara.
<3523>
// It was a pain to send it, so he probably forgot.
<3524>
// \{\m{B}} "But you know..."
<3525>
// I would remember his face many times.
<3526>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't really see him as that wild."
<3527>
// \{\m{B}} "Certainly he's got that badass look, but... was it really that bad?"
<3528>
// \{Mei} "... Yes."
<3529>
// \{Mei} "In the end, he got caught... and after that, I didn't hear his name at all."
<3530>
// \{\m{B}} "I see... so that's why you had to buy at a second-hand store."
<3531>
// \{Mei} "But, he's doing well, isn't he?"
<3532>
// \{\m{B}} "At least from what I can tell."
<3533>
// \{Mei} "Then, I'm glad!"
<3534>
// Her facial expression shoots up to that of being relieved.
<3535>
// I could tell from her actions that she really liked him.
<3536>
// \{\m{B}} "Want to try meeting him?"
<3537>
// \{Mei} "I do!"
<3538>
// \{Mei} "Ah, b-but..."
<3539>
// \{Mei} "That is a bother, after all."
<3540>
// \{Mei} "I don't think he'd just want to go back to his past but..."
<3541>
// \{Mei} "If he's okay right now, that alone is fine!"
<3542>
// In that case, that's fine 
<3543>
// It's fine to watch from a distance, isn't it? 
<3544>
// \{\m{B}} "In that case, that's fine." 
<3545>
// \{Mei} "Yeah!" 
<3546>
// \{\m{B}} "That might be true but..." 
<3547>
// \{\m{B}} "It's fine to watch from a distance, isn't it?"
<3548>
// \{Mei} "P-probably... it might not be a problem..."
<3549>
// \{\m{B}} "He's working in this city, after all."
<3550>
// \{\m{B}} "If we get lucky, we might bump into him."
<3551>
// \{Mei} "R-really?! I'm so nervous!"
<3552>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, hey, it's not like we're going to bump into him, right?"
<3553>
// \{Mei} "I-I know!"
<3554>
// She tightens her grip on my wrist.
<3555>
// \{Mei} "W-well then, shall we go?"
<3556>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, you fine with not paying?"
<3557>
// \{Mei} "W-wah! That's right!"
<3558>
// \{Mei} "I'll go to the register right now!"
<3559>
// With a bitter smile, she totters into the store.
<3560>
// It's clear she's quite tense.
<3561>
// \{Mei} "Ah, \m{A}-san, there's an electrician over there!"
<3562>
// \{Mei} "Could it be, he's...?!"
<3563>
// The two of us walked together in the city.
<3564>
// No matter how many times we saw him, Mei-chan's voice became more and more excited.
<3565>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm... so, you see this geezer as Yoshino Yuusuke?"
<3566>
// \{Mei} "Eh... ah, ahaha..."
<3567>
// \{Mei} "When you look closely, that's the case..."
<3568>
// \{\m{B}} "I was really worried about you back there, Mei-chan."
<3569>
// \{\m{B}} "Think that it'd be nice if you \bat least\u met him."
<3570>
// \{Mei} "I-I will! I'm sorry~"
<3571>
// \{Mei} "Ah, the truck over there stopped!"
<3572>
// \{\m{B}} "They're loading it up with propane."
<3573>
// \{Mei} "E-eh...?"
<3574>
// Even though it was related to construction work, my eyes kept falling upon them.
<3575>
// \{\m{B}} (Guess that alone shows I like it...)
<3576>
// In that case, I'd like her to meet him once...
<3577>
// But, I don't know where he is, so there's nothing I could do.
<3578>
// Meeting him won't happen in due course so...
<3579>
// \{\m{B}} "So difficult..."
<3580>
// \{Mei} "... \m{A}-san!"
<3581>
// \{\m{B}} "Hm?"
<3582>
// \{Mei} "T-that's...!"
<3583>
// Mei-chan's now tugging my sleeve non-stop.
<3584>
// Her fingertip was shaking just a little bit.
<3585>
// I gaze ahead to where she's pointing at.
<3586>
// \{Worker} "... Whew."
<3587>
// A small truck was right on the side.
<3588>
// A young man was there, taking off a white helmet.
<3589>
// Taking a towel to wipe off the sweat building up, this guy is without a doubt...
<3590>
// \{Yoshino} "... Hmm?"
<3591>
// \{\m{B}} "Yoshino Yuusuke..."
<3592>
// This is the person we've been looking for.
<3593>
// \{Yoshino} "You're \m{A}, aren't you?"
<3594>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<3595>
// \{Mei} "Ah... awawa..."
<3596>
// He takes off his work gloves, puts them in his pocket, and walks to us.
<3597>
// Mei-chan's confusion was quite clear.
<3598>
// \{\m{B}} "An unexpected meeting..."
<3599>
// \{Yoshino} "Yeah, I came out to do a quickly needed check..."
<3600>
// He looks back and forth at the clipboard he has.
<3601>
// There were part names and checklists there but, I had absolutely no idea what they meant.
<3602>
// \{Yoshino} "That girl over there is...?"
<3603>
// \{Mei} "Ah, uh, umm...!"
<3604>
// He glances over to Mei-chan, who shudders at that moment.
<3605>
// \{Yoshino} "You've got quite a cute girlfriend, haven't you?"
<3606>
// He said that as a half-joke, without giving it a worry.
<3607>
// \{Mei} "T... t... thank you so much..."
<3608>
// ... But, this is a problem.
<3609>
// I thought it might have been fine to meet but...
<3610>
// Now that we've come face-to-face, I couldn't think of anything to say.
<3611>
// Mei-chan was nervous, so she was almost flat-out unable to say anything...
<3612>
// \{Yoshino} "You seem to be doing well, in one way or another."
<3613>
// \{Yoshino} "Later."
<3614>
// Strongly patting my shoulder, he turns around.
<3615>
// And returns back to the truck.
<3616>
// \{Mei} "Ah... umm, wait..."
<3617>
// Mei-chan reached out her arm without thinking...
<3618>
// \{Mei} "Ah..."
<3619>
// And the vinyl bag in her hand fell to the ground.
<3620>
// Inside was the CD she just bought.
<3621>
// The sound of it hitting the ground came out in particular...
<3622>
// And then, the contents of the bag jumped out, sliding on top of the asphalt.
<3623>
// \{Yoshino} "Hey, hey..."
<3624>
// He gives a bitter smile, sitting down and reaching out his hand.
<3625>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, no, it's fine..."
<3626>
// In haste, I went ahead to pick it up, but was one step too slow.
<3627>
// He picks up the CD.
<3628>
// \{Yoshino} "Be careful."
<3629>
// He dusts the case many times to get the dirt off.
<3630>
// \{Yoshino} "........."
<3631>
// And then, his hand stopped.
<3632>
// He looked closely at the cover.
<3633>
// ... We had been completely found out.
<3634>
// \{Yoshino} "You..."
<3635>
// \{Mei} "Ah... uh... umm..."
<3636>
// Covering her face, she was trembling ever so slightly.
<3637>
// I could tell since her thumb was holding onto my sleeve.
<3638>
// Her eyes ran wild for a while...
<3639>
// \{Mei} "I-I'm sorry!"
<3640>
// She bowed down.
<3641>
// \{Mei} "I knew!"
<3642>
// \{Mei} "Umm, I heard from \m{A}-san that you two met..."
<3643>
// \{Yoshino} "... Is that so?"
<3644>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah."
<3645>
// \{\m{B}} "I brought her along."
<3646>
// \{Mei} "That's not it! I unreasonably asked him to help...!"
<3647>
// \{Mei} "Truth is, I was only fine with just seeing your face..."
<3648>
// \{Mei} "All I wanted to do was see if you were doing fine...!"
<3649>
// \{Yoshino} "........."
<3650>
// Listening to Mei-chan's words, Yoshino Yuusuke remained silent.
<3651>
// This went on for a while, then he brought up his face.
<3652>
// Expressionless, he presented the CD.
<3653>
// \{Yoshino} "Sorry."
<3654>
// \{Yoshino} "The man in this photograph isn't me."
<3655>
// \{Yoshino} "That's why, if you say that, it troubles me."
<3656>
// \{Mei} "... Ah..."
<3657>
// ... He decided to lie about it like that.
<3658>
// But, I'm sure, it's that he doesn't want to remember that time.
<3659>
// I could tell what kind of emotions came up to him from his facial expression.
<3660>
// \{Mei} "I'm... sorry..."
<3661>
// With a trembling hand, she took the CD.
<3662>
// With a small apology, she bit her lips hard.
<3663>
// \{Yoshino} "Later."
<3664>
// He turns around, and walks off.
<3665>
// Finally, he puts his hand on the truck door, and gets in.
<3666>
// \{Mei} "... Ah, wait!"
<3667>
// Mei-chan brought up her voice.
<3668>
// \{Yoshino} "........."
<3669>
// \{Mei} "I've been a big, big fan of yours!"
<3670>
// \{Mei} "I really liked your songs, Yoshino-san!"
<3671>
// \{Mei} "E-even now... I really love them!"
<3672>
// \{Mei} "Everyday... ah, well, not really everyday but..."
<3673>
// \{Mei} "But, I would listen to your songs at least once a week!"
<3674>
// \{Mei} "Whenever I feel down or sad, I would definitely listen to them!"
<3675>
// \{Mei} "When I listen to your songs, Yoshino-san, I'd feel a lot better!"
<3676>
// \{Mei} "T-that's why... well, umm...!"
<3677>
// She probably doesn't know what the hell she's talking about anymore.
<3678>
// Even then, she raised her voice.
<3679>
// \{Mei} "I'm happy to see that you're doing well!"
<3680>
// \{Mei} "P... please work hard!!"
<3681>
// Just taking those words thrown at him, his hand stopped.
<3682>
// I thought he would just leave silently like that.
<3683>
// But, that wasn't the case.
<3684>
// He strongly closes the truck door.
<3685>
// \{Mei} "Yoshino... san..."
<3686>
// And then he again approached us.
<3687>
// Right in front of Mei-chan.
<3688>
// The pupils in his eyes looked somewhat soft.
<3689>
// \{Yoshino} "I'm no longer that person in the photograph."
<3690>
// \{Yoshino} "That's why I can't sing like I did before."
<3691>
// \{Yoshino} "I can't take your words."
<3692>
// \{Yoshino} "But..."
<3693>
// \{Yoshino} "I'll take your last words as a person."
<3694>
// \{Yoshino} "Thank you. I'll work hard."
<3695>
// Though he had a bit of a strange speaking style, that's how it was for him.
<3696>
// He pats Mei-chan's head with his hand.
<3697>
// \{Yoshino} "What's your name?"
<3698>
// \{Mei} "It's... Mei."
<3699>
// \{Yoshino} "I see."
<3700>
// \{Yoshino} "Work hard, Mei."
<3701>
// \{Yoshino} "Always walk forward optimistically..."
<3702>
// \{Yoshino} "No matter what tough times you may face, walk straight ahead..."
<3703>
// \{Yoshino} "I too shall wish you well."
<3704>
// \{Yoshino} "........."
<3705>
// \{Yoshino} "... Well, see you later."
<3706>
// Murmuring just that, he left.
<3707>
// Mei-chan blankly looked from behind...
<3708>
// And Yoshino Yuusuke gave me a smile along the way.
<3709>
// \{Yoshino} "\m{A}, you have a good girlfriend there."
<3710>
// Again, he says jokingly.
<3711>
// And then, the sound of the engine went for a while.
<3712>
// \{Mei} "O-okay...!!"
<3713>
// Mei-chan brought up her voice one beat late.
<3714>
// It had become completely dark when we headed back.
<3715>
// The two of us walked, the street light illuminating us.
<3716>
// \{Mei} "He was so cool!"
<3717>
// \{Mei} "I'm so excited!"
<3718>
// Mei-chan was still as such, coming up close to me.
<3719>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, isn't that great?"
<3720>
// How many times has she told me she was excited?
<3721>
// I guess that's expected of what people would also answer.
<3722>
// \{Mei} "Ah, b-but..."
<3723>
// \{Mei} "I also think you're cool too, \m{A}-san!"
<3724>
// I wonder if she added that in haste, feeling how I was looking at her?
<3725>
// \{Mei} "To make Yoshino-san say that I was a cute girl..."
<3726>
// \{Mei} "Though it was just a bit, when I thought that he had seen us, I was really happy!"
<3727>
// \{Mei} "Thank you so much, for the perfect date ever!"
<3728>
// \{\m{B}} "Well... if you're fine with that."
<3729>
// \{Mei} "No, it's way too much!"
<3730>
// \{Mei} "We took photo stickers, and went to a 100-yen shop..."
<3731>
// \{Mei} "We're already pretty good lovers, aren't we?"
<3732>
// \{\m{B}} "And that's because you're always sticking around with me...?"
<3733>
// \{Mei} "Since we're lovers, that's obvious."
<3734>
// All the while on the way back, she has been putting her arm around mine.
<3735>
// I had already given up. 
<3736>
// It had become completely dark when we headed back. 
<3737>
// The two of us walked, the street light illuminating us.
<3738>
// \{Mei} "That was fun!"
<3739>
// \{\m{B}} "I suppose."
<3740>
// \{Mei} "I enjoyed my date so much!"
<3741>
// \{\m{B}} "You were that okay with it?"
<3742>
// \{Mei} "It's way too much!"
<3743>
// \{Mei} "We took photo stickers, and went to a 100-yen shop..."
<3744>
// \{Mei} "We're already pretty good lovers, aren't we?"
<3745>
// \{\m{B}} "And that's because you're always sticking around with me...?"
<3746>
// \{Mei} "Since we're lovers, that's obvious."
<3747>
// She's been putting her arm around mine since we left the 100-yen shop.
<3748>
// I had already given up.
<3749>
// \{\m{B}} "But, with this, things should go well." 
<3750>
// \{Mei} "Eh, ah..."
<3751>
// \{\m{B}} "Tell Sunohara about today."
<3752>
// \{\m{B}} "Of course, don't spill my name."
<3753>
// \{\m{B}} "He'll definitely be real worried."
<3754>
// \{Mei} "... Are we really gonna go with this?"
<3755>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure it'll be fine."
<3756>
// \{Mei} "... Okay!"
<3757>
// \{Mei} "Thank you so much, \m{A}-san!"
<3758>
// \{\m{B}} "Thank me if it all goes well."
<3759>
// \{Mei} "Then... first thing tomorrow, I'll tell onii-chan."
<3760>
// \{Mei} "Ah, but..."
<3761>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<3762>
// \{Mei} "In that case, don't you think we should be a lot more like lovers?"
<3763>
// \{\m{B}} "Exactly how much more are you talking about?"
<3764>
// \{\m{B}} "You want to kiss?"
<3765>
// \{Mei} "Eh..."
<3766>
// \{Mei} "E-ehhh---?!"
<3767>
// \{\m{B}} "What's with that surprise of yours?!"
<3768>
// \{Mei} "Well, for me to go that far--!"
<3769>
// \{Mei} "The only things I meant were to have dinner, and get along on a lot of things and stuff!"
<3770>
// \{Mei} "To even kiss... kiss--!"
<3771>
// She blushed heavily on her own.
<3772>
// \{Mei} "... Umm,"
<3773>
// \{\m{B}} "W-what is it?"
<3774>
// \{Mei} "I guess it's better to do that..."
<3775>
// \{Mei} "N-no, we should do that!"
<3776>
// \{Mei} "City lovers surely do that, don't they?!"
<3777>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, what are you so hasty about?"
<3778>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't really have to do it."
<3779>
// \{Mei} "Eh, i-is that so?"
<3780>
// \{\m{B}} "It was just a joke."
<3781>
// \{Mei} "Ah..."
<3782>
// \{Mei} "I-is... that so...?"
<3783>
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah..."
<3784>
// \{Mei} "........."
<3785>
// Being embarrassed, she ends up lowering her face. As a result, she wasn't talkative.
<3786>
// It feels like a pretty bad atmosphere.
<3787>
// The hand she had on my arm became more and more tight.
<3788>
// \{Mei} "... Ah, umm..."
<3789>
// \{\m{B}} "Wh... what is it?"
<3790>
// \{Mei} "I-I guess, I should..."
<3791>
// \{Mei} "Kiss, I think."
<3792>
// \{\m{B}} "W-wait a second!"
<3793>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't have to force yourself!"
<3794>
// \{Mei} "I'm not forcing myself! Because, I'm your girlfriend, \m{A}-san."
<3795>
// \{Mei} "Since I am, I think it's good to kiss!"
<3796>
// \{\m{B}} "W-well... but you know!"
<3797>
// \{\m{B}} "You should just forget it, and give one to a real boyfriend."
<3798>
// \{Mei} "But, I think I want to give you one, \m{A}-san."
<3799>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you... serious?"
<3800>
// \{Mei} "But, well..."
<3801>
// \{Mei} "But kissing mouth-to-mouth feels a bit too sudden..."
<3802>
// \{Mei} "Just one on the cheek is fine, I think."
<3803>
// \{Mei} "I-is... that okay?"
<3804>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't feel there's a problem if it's just that..."
<3805>
// But, if that's what Mei-chan feels like doing...
<3806>
// \{\m{B}} (Yeah, on the cheek's fine... I guess...)
<3807>
// \{Mei} "Ah... \m{A}-san..."
<3808>
// \{Mei} "Could I, kiss...?"
<3809>
// \{\m{B}} "Well... I guess."
<3810>
// \{Mei} "Ah... t-then, umm...!"
<3811>
// \{Mei} "I'll, kiss..."
<3812>
// \{Mei} "I'd be happier if you leaned over just a little bit..."
<3813>
// \{\m{B}} "Like this...?"
<3814>
// \{Mei} "Yes..."
<3815>
// Mei-chan stretched out her legs as hard as she could, and finally reached the same height as me.
<3816>
// She stared at the side of my face for a while.
<3817>
// During the time she stepped on her tiptoes, her legs continued to shake.
<3818>
// \{\m{B}} "Hurry up or you'll fall over..."
<3819>
// \{Mei} "Yeah... I will!"
<3820>
// \{Mei} "Well, then..."
<3821>
// \{Mei} "Suuu... ha...."
<3822>
// I could hear her taking a deep breath, and then...
<3823>
// \{Mei} "Mm..."
<3824>
// I slightly felt her lips touching my cheek.
<3825>
// At that time, there was a figure in my field of vision.
<3826>
// Sure there was Mei-chan's kiss, but that figure stood out the most.
<3827>
// It was a guy wearing the same school uniform.
<3828>
// It was a blonde-haired guy, walking in a weird manner, humming a weird tune.
<3829>
// A strange guy.
<3830>
// \{Sunohara} "... Eh?"
<3831>
// ... It was Sunohara.
<3832>
// He was looking our way.
<3833>
// With a dumbfounded look...
<3834>
// Without blinking, he gazed at us.
<3835>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}... san?"
<3836>
// She moved away from me, probably noticing my expression.
<3837>
// Bringing up her whispering voice, her eyes finally fall on that figure...
<3838>
// \{Mei} "Onii... chan..."
<3839>
// Her throat trembled.
<3840>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei..."
<3841>
// \{Sunohara} "Haha... w-what are you doing...?"
<3842>
// \{Sunohara} "You went out with your boyfriend, didn't you...?"
<3843>
// At first, the moment he opened his mouth, he seemed calm.
<3844>
// But from that, immediately giving it a second thought, he raised his face.
<3845>
// \{Sunohara} "W-well, even moreso...!"
<3846>
// \{Sunohara} "What were you doing just now?!"
<3847>
// \{Mei} "... It's got nothing to do with you, onii-chan."
<3848>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei!"
<3849>
// \{Mei} "........."
<3850>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}, you too! Don't play around!"
<3851>
// \{Sunohara} "Just now, you and Mei...!"
<3852>
// Seems like he saw the kiss scene pretty clearly.
<3853>
// Fooling around... well, this isn't really the place for that.*
<3854>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san..."
<3855>
// Mei-chan shrunk like a child at fault.
<3856>
// Softly hiding herself behind my back, she gripped onto my shirt.
<3857>
// Seeing this, Sunohara become more and more annoyed.
<3858>
// ... For a while, I held my head low.
<3859>
// Thinking of what to do.
<3860>
// But, my answer soon came out.
<3861>
// That's probably because of how much I had talked with Mei-chan.
<3862>
// \{\m{B}} "You're clueless."
<3863>
// \{Sunohara} "Me, clueless? What do you mean?!"
<3864>
// \{\m{B}} "You can tell what I was doing with Mei-chan, can't you?"
<3865>
// \{Mei} "Kyah!"
<3866>
// With one arm, I pull her out.
<3867>
// \{Mei} "... \m{A}-san..."
<3868>
// \{\m{B}} "You can tell if you see her not as a kid, but as a guy and girl, can't you?"
<3869>
// \{Sunohara} "W-wha..."
<3870>
// \{\m{B}} "You really are clueless."
<3871>
// \{\m{B}} "We're talking about me, here. The guy who exchanged letters."
<3872>
// \{\m{B}} "As it stands right now, I'm the perfect boyfriend."
<3873>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<3874>
// Sunohara was dumbfounded.
<3875>
// I thought that obvious.
<3876>
// Because a classmate of his would tell him this so suddenly.
<3877>
// \{\m{B}} "I was also quite surprised at first."
<3878>
// \{\m{B}} "It's surprisingly a pretty small world, isn't it?"
<3879>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, thanks to that we have something in common..."
<3880>
// \{\m{B}} "Being able to get along like this is pretty good, isn't it?"
<3881>
// \{Mei} "Ah... \m{A}-san..."
<3882>
// And again, she hugged me tightly.
<3883>
// Mei-chan glued to my body more and more.
<3884>
// I could see Sunohara was gritting his teeth hard.
<3885>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei!"
<3886>
// \{Sunohara} "Is this true?!"
<3887>
// \{Mei} "That's..."
<3888>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it, Mei-chan?"
<3889>
// \{Mei} "... Yes."
<3890>
// She nodded, probably figuring out what I was aiming for.
<3891>
// \{\m{B}} "That's how it is."
<3892>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, let's go."
<3893>
// \{Sunohara} "W... where are you going, Mei?!"
<3894>
// \{\m{B}} "My house, isn't that obvious?"
<3895>
// \{\m{B}} "She's staying over today as well."
<3896>
// \{Mei} "... Yeah..."
<3897>
// \{Sunohara} "...!"
<3898>
// \{Sunohara} "Today... as well...?"
<3899>
// \{\m{B}} "She's been staying over this whole time."
<3900>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei, is that true?!"
<3901>
// \{Mei} "........."
<3902>
// \{Mei} "... Yes."
<3903>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}... you bastard!"
<3904>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you so angry about?"
<3905>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it better for you to be getting along well with Sanae-san?"
<3906>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, you must be coming back from your date as well, right?"
<3907>
// \{\m{B}} "If you had any complaints to begin with, you should have said so at that moment yesterday, right?"
<3908>
// \{\m{B}} "Since you understand, get lost, Sunohara. You're in the way." 
<3909>
// \{\m{B}} "When we get back, Mei-chan, I'll let you use the bath. Be sure to clean yourself."
<3910>
// \{Sunohara} "... \m{A}..."
<3911>
// He throws a word to provoke me on purpose.
<3912>
// Red-faced, he might soon jump at me.
<3913>
// \{\m{B}} (That's right, be angry... come, Sunohara!)
<3914>
// I wished in my mind for him to come grab at me.
<3915>
// I don't care if I get knocked out.
<3916>
// I wanted him to take back Mei-chan with all his might.
<3917>
// If he did that, surely...
<3918>
// \{Sunohara} "... Damn it..."
<3919>
// \{Sunohara} "Damn it...!"
<3920>
// He violently cursed out my name.
<3921>
// Even now he was about ready to lunge at me.
<3922>
// But, Sunohara...
<3923>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<3924>
// ... He stepped not one foot forward from there.
<3925>
// All he gave was a voice mixed with anger and regret.
<3926>
// That, was all.
<3927>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, let's go, Mei-chan."
<3928>
// \{Mei} "O-okay...!"
<3929>
// Making use of this chance, we head back.
<3930>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's have fun tonight as well!"
<3931>
// \{Mei} "... All right."
<3932>
// Her body clung onto mine.
<3933>
// However, I guess he really ended up staying there.
<3934>
// \{Sunohara} "Damn it...!!"
<3935>
// Only his voice echoed throughout the night of this city.
<3936>
// \{\m{B}} (Are you fine with this...?)
<3937>
// \{\m{B}} (Are you really this kind of guy...?)
<3938>
// Being enveloped in anguish, I strolled into my room.
<3939>
// The knocking sound echoes as I faintly think things over.
<3940>
// A nice smell came from opening the door.
<3941>
// \{Mei} "I'm finished making dinner."
<3942>
// Buttered bread and stew was on top of the tray.
<3943>
// She was carrying it in a dangerous way; maybe it was a little heavy?
<3944>
// \{Mei} "It's really cooked well."
<3945>
// \{Mei} "Eat it while it's still hot!"
<3946>
// Mei-chan acted calm all the way to the end.
<3947>
// She kept up her chin, so that I wouldn't worry.
<3948>
// Just from seeing her face, it was easy to tell that she was sad inside.
<3949>
// \{Mei} "Umm, this here's the towel, and here's the spoon..."
<3950>
// Mei-chan had skillfully set things up here.
<3951>
// \{\m{B}} "... Sunohara isn't coming, is he?"
<3952>
// \{Mei} "Eh..."
<3953>
// With a small voice, her shoulders spring up.
<3954>
// \{Mei} "I, suppose..."
<3955>
// Her hand stops just as her voice sinks in.
<3956>
// She turned her face away, pretending to not take notice.
<3957>
// Her shoulders were trembling a little bit.
<3958>
// \{Mei} "Ah... I-I forgot the water!"
<3959>
// \{Mei} "I'll go and quickly get it!"
<3960>
// She left the room, as if to run away.
<3961>
// There were a little bit of tears building up in her eyes.
<3962>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3963>
// I think that I have to do something.
<3964>
// Sunohara Siblings 
<3965>
// \{Voice} "Yeah, yeah..."
<3966>
// I woke up to a distant voice.
<3967>
// \{Voice} "I know..."
<3968>
// It was Mei-chan's. She kept her tone low as if talking in secret.
<3969>
// \{Mei} "Just a little longer, okay...?"
<3970>
// A familiar expression. Though it seemed very apologetic.
<3971>
// \{Mei} "Yes, I'm sorry..."
<3972>
// This went for a while, and I finally understand she's talking on the phone.
<3973>
// \{Mei} "I'll give it some thought..."
<3974>
// Who's she talking to?
<3975>
// \{Mei} "I know. I'll come back soon."
<3976>
// Could it be...
<3977>
// \{Mei} "Ah... I'll have to hang up soon, because of the phone charges."
<3978>
// \{Mei} "Tell daddy I'm sorry. Yeah, I'll call again!"
<3979>
// ... It really does seem like her parents.
<3980>
// Checking to see the kitchen, it seems she had just finished her phone call.
<3981>
// \{Mei} "Sigh..."
<3982>
// She sighed, keeping her hand on the receiver.
<3983>
// It seems she doesn't have much time left.
<3984>
// I walk down the hallway during lunchtime.
<3985>
// Sunohara still hadn't come. This is usually the time he comes to attend though.
<3986>
// I don't want to see his face right now. The same probably goes for him.
<3987>
// \{\m{B}} (I suppose he bought bread as well and found a good spot to eat...)
<3988>
// \{Voice} "Eh, isn't that you, \m{A}?"
<3989>
// Just as I thought that, someone called me.
<3990>
// A group of three. In that was one person, who I think was someone I met from first year.
<3991>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh... long time no see."
<3992>
// Other than the slightly worn out uniform, he was no different from before.
<3993>
// But, he wasn't really a delinquent in any way.
<3994>
// He studied what was needed, and was good in front of the teacher.
<3995>
// Point is, he was a behaved person.
<3996>
// I recall that I still exchanged words with others once in a while when I meet them.
<3997>
// \{Male Student} "You're not with Sunohara today, are you?"
<3998>
// \{\m{B}} "Once in a while."
<3999>
// \{Male Student} "You want to come for food?"
<4000>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't mind..."
<4001>
// I guess having this sort of thing once in a while might be good.
<4002>
// \{Male Student} "So, I got close to that Hara-boy..."
<4003>
// \{Male Student 2} "That's impossible, I said."
<4004>
// \{Male Student 3} "You know, introduce us to that girl from the other day~"
<4005>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha..."
<4006>
// ... But, I'd think it'd fail pretty quickly.
<4007>
// Without getting into the conversation, I felt very uncomfortable.
<4008>
// Sometimes, even though I'd come up with a phony smile, I was offended.
<4009>
// I come up with a good excuse such as sleeping during noon, and quickly get away.
<4010>
// I stare out, sitting down at the courtyard bench.
<4011>
// I was getting a little fed up with this.
<4012>
// \{\m{B}} (Even these kinds of guys just want to fool around...)
<4013>
// \{\m{B}} "... Damn."
<4014>
// Though I'm running this charade for Sunohara's sake...
<4015>
// I also have to do something for Mei-chan's sake.
<4016>
// What is it that I can concentrate on, though?
<4017>
// \{\m{B}} (Though what should I be doing...?)
<4018>
// Why was it that he became like this to begin with?
<4019>
// Of course, since he's devoted to Sanae-san, he'll disappear after all.
<4020>
// But, the problem's got to be more basic than that...
<4021>
// I start from square one.
<4022>
// \{\m{B}} (He entered this school under a sports recommendation...)
<4023>
// And the club activity he finally got to doing ended up disappearing...
<4024>
// His grades steadily dropped, and he also started not going to class...
<4025>
// And finally, he continues to be late, already haven given up on university...
<4026>
// Continuing to pass the days on and on.
<4027>
// \{\m{B}} (Sadly, just the same as me...)
<4028>
// Though I knew that, I held my head again.
<4029>
// \{\m{B}} (He really is a hateful guy...)
<4030>
// In the end, I realized I also had the same problem as he.
<4031>
// Having said that, looking upon myself, there might be clues I could find.
<4032>
// Encouraging myself from those withering feelings, I began thinking.
<4033>
// \{\m{B}} (To begin with, I found just about everything bothersome...)
<4034>
// \{\m{B}} (That's probably because I stopped with club activities.)
<4035>
// \{\m{B}} (In that case, Sunohara might also...)
<4036>
// ... But, there was just one difference.
<4037>
// I can no longer return to doing that.
<4038>
// Ever since the fight with my old man, injuring my shoulder.
<4039>
// I can no longer play basketball anymore.
<4040>
// But, he's different.
<4041>
// \{\m{B}} (If he plays soccer one more time, maybe something might change...?)
<4042>
// That thought coming to mind, I immediately brush off my bitter smile.
<4043>
// He wouldn't show up at the soccer club at all.
<4044>
// He had already vowed never to do so.
<4045>
// To begin with, the soccer club wouldn't accept him...
<4046>
// ... but, no matter how I worry about it, that was all I could think about.
<4047>
// \{Mei} "I think onii-chan should play soccer."
<4048>
// Mei-chan had also come to the same conclusion.
<4049>
// \{Mei} "That was the reason onii-chan had become like this..."
<4050>
// \{Mei} "I'm sure it's about him quitting soccer."
<4051>
// \{Mei} "It's because he became unable to play the thing he most liked..."
<4052>
// \{\m{B}} "But you know, that's..."
<4053>
// Something that you can't help saying at this time.
<4054>
// \{Mei} "... I know."
<4055>
// \{Mei} "But I guess, he has to."
<4056>
// \{Mei} "I don't like how onii-chan is right now."
<4057>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan as he is now is... no good at all."
<4058>
// \{Mei} "I want him to be the same way as before."
<4059>
// \{\m{B}} "I see..."
<4060>
// \{Mei} "How is my brother today?"
<4061>
// \{Mei} "I guess, umm..."
<4062>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah,"
<4063>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't think he's in the school today anymore."
<4064>
// \{\m{B}} "I heard from the other guys roaming around about him leaning towards Sanae-san..."
<4065>
// \{Mei} "Did he go straight back home again...?"
<4066>
// \{\m{B}} "Seems so."
<4067>
// \{Mei} "... I guess onii-chan should play soccer."
<4068>
// \{Mei} "He's lost his way."
<4069>
// \{Mei} "I really want him to play."
<4070>
// \{Mei} "Even if it means only accepting and not playing him..."
<4071>
// \{\m{B}} "But you know, Mei-chan,"
<4072>
// \{\m{B}} "The problem is them accepting him. What do you plan on doing?"
<4073>
// \{Mei} "I suppose... asking this school's soccer club."
<4074>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, are you serious?"
<4075>
// \{\m{B}} "Everyone really, really hates Sunohara."
<4076>
// \{\m{B}} "Because he got in a fight with other schools, he became unable to go to tournaments."
<4077>
// \{Mei} "Even then, I want to ask."
<4078>
// \{Mei} "Two years have already passed... if I talk to them, they'll surely understand."
<4079>
// ... She's quite stubborn.
<4080>
// She's saying she'll go negotiate with that small body and kind voice of hers.
<4081>
// For nothing other than her brother.
<4082>
// If that's the case, there's no way I would let her go alone.
<4083>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll follow as well."
<4084>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san..."
<4085>
// \{\m{B}} "If you want to do something, I'll hang out until the end."
<4086>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go, Mei-chan."
<4087>
// \{Mei} "O... okay!"
<4088>
// The first person we went to see was the coach.
<4089>
// Mei-chan doesn't really have any personal connections with the students, and I don't want her to go but...
<4090>
// But, that wasn't a reason to stop her.
<4091>
// We came close to a middle-aged man in a jersey, smoking a cigarette in the courtyard.
<4092>
// \{Coach} "Hey, what are you coming in for?"
<4093>
// Approaching him, the smell of nicotine and sweat roamed about.
<4094>
// Mei-chan shuddered from him raising his voice, and did the same.
<4095>
// \{Mei} "I'm not an outsider!"
<4096>
// \{Mei} "U-umm... are you the soccer coach?"
<4097>
// \{Coach} "... Huh?"
<4098>
// \{Mei} "I'm Sunohara Youhei's younger sister, Mei."
<4099>
// \{Coach} "Sunohara... Sunohara?"
<4100>
// \{Coach} "The third year, Sunohara?"
<4101>
// \{Mei} "Yes, that Sunohara."
<4102>
// \{Coach} "Hahaha!"
<4103>
// A dry laugh with no meaning.
<4104>
// He acted like he was being tickled somewhere.
<4105>
// \{Coach} "Sunohara's family's in Touhoku, ain't it? I know."
<4106>
// \{Mei} "That is so, but it's the truth."
<4107>
// \{Coach} "What happened to school?"
<4108>
// \{Mei} "... I'm taking a break for a while."
<4109>
// \{Coach} "Huh... skipping."
<4110>
// \{Coach} "If your brother's your brother, the younger sister's the same."
<4111>
// \{Coach} "Or is it that you instigated her into this, \m{A}?"
<4112>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san is not that kind of person!"
<4113>
// \{Mei} "Umm, please hear me out!"
<4114>
// \{Coach} "........."
<4115>
// \{Mei} "It's about my brother..."
<4116>
// \{Mei} "I apologize for him troubling the club before..."
<4117>
// \{Mei} "B-but, he's reflected on himself enough..."
<4118>
// \{Mei} "If possible I would like to have you approve his return to the soccer club."
<4119>
// \{Coach} "Return?"
<4120>
// \{Mei} "Yes... that's right."
<4121>
// \{Mei} "U-umm... how is that?"
<4122>
// \{Coach} "You came all the way for that?"
<4123>
// \{Mei} "That's right!"
<4124>
// \{Coach} "Are you an idiot?" 
<4125>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<4126>
// \{\m{B}} ".........!"
<4127>
// I listened to the filthy-mouthed coach.
<4128>
// I knew he had a habit of calling people idiots real quick.
<4129>
// Even so, I was seriously offended.
<4130>
// \{Coach} "Are you really serious about that?"
<4131>
// \{Mei} "That I am."
<4132>
// \{Mei} "That's why I came to ask you!"
<4133>
// \{Coach} "Sunohara, huh..."
<4134>
// Crossing his arms, he moans for a while.
<4135>
// Mei-chan coughed a little bit from the tobacco smoke floating to her.
<4136>
// \{Coach} "Well, it's difficult."
<4137>
// \{Coach} "Thanks to his crap, the third years right now haven't had any rookie games."
<4138>
// \{Mei} "But, umm..."
<4139>
// \{Coach} "To begin with, what are you going to do, saying that?"
<4140>
// \{Coach} "Is the person responsible saying this? Huh?!"
<4141>
// \{Mei} "I'm going to take him with me, I definitely will!"
<4142>
// \{Mei} "He'll also apologize... and promise never to cause any more trouble again!"
<4143>
// \{Mei} "So... please!"
<4144>
// \{Mei} "He doesn't have to formally enter the club. At least see how he is!"
<4145>
// \{Coach} "You idiot... you'll say whatever, won't you?"
<4146>
// \{Coach} "So he seriously apologizes once in a while?"
<4147>
// \{Coach} "To begin with, even if he were to be allowed into the soccer club at this point, he couldn't do that at all, could he?"
<4148>
// \{Mei} "Of course he can..."
<4149>
// \{Coach} "He's nothing but a bother if he shows up."
<4150>
// \{Coach} "He hasn't played for two years, will he even be usable?"
<4151>
// \{Coach} "Well... he could at least be the ballboy."
<4152>
// \{Mei} "I-in that case... is there a place you could introduce us to where my brother could play?"
<4153>
// \{Coach} "Oh, there's a good one."
<4154>
// \{Coach} "How about the Boy Scouts? Ahaha!"
<4155>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4156>
// \{Coach} "... What's with those eyes, \m{A}?"
<4157>
// Those insensitive words really pissed me off.
<4158>
// He noticed that I was scowling at his unshaven face.
<4159>
// But... if I say anything here, it'll all be for naught.
<4160>
// \{\m{B}} "... Nothing."
<4161>
// I hold out hard, turning my face away.
<4162>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan might have been slacking off this whole time..."
<4163>
// \{Mei} "But, he's really good at soccer."
<4164>
// \{Mei} "There must be somewhere where he can show that."
<4165>
// \{Coach} "And how far are you going to go with that?"
<4166>
// \{Mei} "It's... nothing like that."*
<4167>
// \{Coach} "Do you know how many players I have seen so far?"
<4168>
// \{Coach} "He's just mediocre."
<4169>
// \{Coach} "And mediocre's still fine. But he's not co-operative, and in addition to being violent..."
<4170>
// \{Coach} "He's just hopeless."
<4171>
// \{Mei} "B... but... if he gets to show you, you might understand."
<4172>
// \{Mei} "Just for a little while."
<4173>
// \{Mei} "Could you give onii-chan one more chance...?"
<4174>
// \{Coach} "So you'll lower your head for that, huh?"
<4175>
// \{Coach} "Well then, first go get approval from the guys in the club."
<4176>
// \{Coach} "They hate playing with Sunohara, don't they?"
<4177>
// \{Mei} "........."
<4178>
// \{Coach} "Get it now? If you're quiet, then it seems so."
<4179>
// \{Mei} "No... well, but..."
<4180>
// \{Mei} "... If we get, approval from that club members..."
<4181>
// \{Coach} "Huh?"
<4182>
// \{Mei} "If the club members approves it, would you also approve as well?"
<4183>
// \{Coach} "... What?"
<4184>
// \{Mei} "I'll be talking to the members now."
<4185>
// \{Mei} "If, everyone approves of him..."
<4186>
// \{Coach} "Approves... huh?"
<4187>
// \{Coach} "Well, it's something to really think about."
<4188>
// \{Mei} "... Really?"
<4189>
// \{Coach} "Do you doubt me?" 
<4190>
// \{Mei} "Ah, w-well... umm..."
<4191>
// \{Mei} "... Then please, excuse me."
<4192>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<4193>
// She bows over.
<4194>
// She softly brings her eyes to me, then walks away.
<4195>
// She's probably going to head to the grounds now? I follow after her.
<4196>
// \{Coach} "Wait, \m{A}."
<4197>
// \{\m{B}} "... What is it?"
<4198>
// \{Coach} "That girl was able to introduce herself."
<4199>
// \{Coach} "That's not something you can do."
<4200>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4201>
// \{\m{B}} "... Excuse me."
<4202>
// Without bowing, I said only that, and followed after Mei-chan.
<4203>
// Mei-chan was silent, hurrying through the hallway.
<4204>
// Her eyes were a little red. She tightly clenched her fist.
<4205>
// Seems like she's putting up with all this.
<4206>
// \{\m{B}} "... Mei-chan."
<4207>
// I softly hold her small, clenched fist with my hand.
<4208>
// I wanted to give her encouragement, even if it's just a little bit.
<4209>
// \{\m{B}} "We're going to where the members are, right?"
<4210>
// \{Mei} "... Yes!"
<4211>
// \{Mei} "I'm going to go talk to them!"
<4212>
// \{Mei} "To talk to them about onii-chan so that they would accept him..."
<4213>
// She tightened her grip on my hand.
<4214>
// ... I'm not going to do anything.
<4215>
// At the very least, I want to be by her side.
<4216>
// The clubroom door with the sign, "Soccer Club", hung on it.
<4217>
// Mei-chan stood in front of that with a tense face.
<4218>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you okay?"
<4219>
// \{Mei} "Yes, I'm fine now."
<4220>
// Taking a couple of breaths for a while, she nods.
<4221>
// As if to encourage herself, she tightens up her hand, and then releases.
<4222>
// \{Mei} "Here we go..."
<4223>
// She puts her hand on the doorknob.
<4224>
// \{Mei} "... Ah!"
<4225>
// The glances of the half-naked guys all focus on her.
<4226>
// A sour, dusty atmosphere was about.
<4227>
// \{Mei} "U-umm...!"
<4228>
// Being blown away by their intimidation, she musters up her voice.
<4229>
// \{Mei} "Is the captain around here?"
<4230>
// A stir from within the room.
<4231>
// Within the slight bantering, a spiking noise echoed.
<4232>
// A man with slightly bleached hair and a large build walked up.
<4233>
// \{Captain} "That would be me."
<4234>
// \{Captain} "... You're not a student from here, are you?"
<4235>
// \{Mei} "I'm, umm..."
<4236>
// \{Mei} "Sunohara Youhei's younger sister."
<4237>
// \{Captain} "What?"
<4238>
// He raises his eyebrow. The rest of the club does the same.
<4239>
// \{Mei} "T-that's right... I'm his sister, Mei."
<4240>
// The room becomes noisy again. Scratching his head, the guy who called himself captain raised his voice.
<4241>
// \{Captain} "And... what do you want, sister?"
<4242>
// \{Mei} "I came to ask a favor."
<4243>
// \{Mei} "It's... about my brother..."
<4244>
// \{Captain} "I cann't hear you!"
<4245>
// \{Mei} "It's about my brother!"
<4246>
// \{Captain} "What about Sunohara?"
<4247>
// \{Mei} "He was in this club before, wasn't he?"
<4248>
// \{Mei} "And, if it's possible..."
<4249>
// \{Mei} "I would like for you to have him come back in!"
<4250>
// \{Captain} "Eh?"
<4251>
// \{Captain} "W... wait a second."
<4252>
// \{Captain} "You want him to come back in?"
<4253>
// \{Mei} "Yes, that's right!"
<4254>
// \{Captain} "... Are you serious?"
<4255>
// \{Mei} "I'm serious!"
<4256>
// \{Soccer Player} "... Pfft!"
<4257>
// A somewhat sarcastic laugh.
<4258>
// \{Soccer Player} "Really now..."
<4259>
// \{Soccer Player} "This is a gag, isn't it?"
<4260>
// Smiling, they all whisper amongst each other.
<4261>
// \{Captain} "And, Sunohara said this?"
<4262>
// \{Mei} "No, he didn't but..."
<4263>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... ah, I mean, my brother...!"
<4264>
// \{Soccer Player} "She said onii-chan."
<4265>
// \{Soccer Player} "A brother complex?"
<4266>
// \{Soccer Player} "Onii-chaaan~"
<4267>
// \{Mei} "Ugh..."
<4268>
// A teasing voice came.
<4269>
// Glaring at them, I remained silent.
<4270>
// \{Captain} "Umm... \m{A}? You think the same too?"
<4271>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm only accompanying her."
<4272>
// \{\m{B}} "But... I would like for you to listen to her clearly."
<4273>
// \{\m{B}} "Please."
<4274>
// \{Mei} "Please...!"
<4275>
// In haste, Mei-chan bows her head beside me.
<4276>
// \{Soccer Player} "Doesn't look like you're putting effort into that bow."
<4277>
// \{Soccer Player} "Bow a lot lower."
<4278>
// \{Mei} "Sorry, like this?"
<4279>
// \{Soccer Player} "Not you, I meant \m{A}."
<4280>
// \{Mei} "Ah... uh..."
<4281>
// A laughter going back and forth as if directed towards a fool.
<4282>
// Mei-chan glanced down with regret and embarrassment.
<4283>
// \{\m{B}} "... Let's go, Mei-chan."
<4284>
// \{Mei} "Eh, but..."
<4285>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara would never think of being together with these guys."
<4286>
// \{Mei} "Ah, but..."
<4287>
// \{Mei} "Even so, I still...!"
<4288>
// She again faces the clubroom, and bows deeply.
<4289>
// \{Mei} "Please...!"
<4290>
// \{Mei} "Just for... a single day, is that fine?"
<4291>
// \{Mei} "Let onii-chan play soccer again!"
<4292>
// \{Mei} "I believe it'll be a new start!"
<4293>
// \{Mei} "Please...!"
<4294>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<4295>
// \{Mei} "Please......!"
<4296>
// A bitter voice echoed.
<4297>
// But... that too, seemed nothing more than fruitless.
<4298>
// \{Soccer Player} "How brave of you."
<4299>
// \{Soccer Player} "Captain, she's begging on her knees~"
<4300>
// \{Captain} "Hmm, what shall I do..."
<4301>
// Each of them laughed...
<4302>
// \{Captain} "Nah, I guess not."
<4303>
// \{Mei} "Ah..."
<4304>
// Seeing the dumbfounded Mei-chan, they had a particularly louder laugh.
<4305>
// \{Mei} "P... please, I beg you!"
<4306>
// \{Mei} "Give my brother a chance...!"
<4307>
// \{Captain} "I told you no."
<4308>
// \{Soccer Player} "Captain, you're cruel~"
<4309>
// \{Soccer Player} "Hey, hey, you're gonna make her cry~"
<4310>
// \{Mei} "Please..."
<4311>
// \{Mei} "P... please...!"
<4312>
// Being humiliated in front of many people in the club...
<4313>
// Even so, Mei-chan continued to raise her voice.
<4314>
// \{Mei} "It... didn't go well, did it?"
<4315>
// But, Mei-chan was firm.
<4316>
// Her reddened eyes, and trembling shoulder.
<4317>
// But, by no means was she going to cry.
<4318>
// She went to the end with a smile.
<4319>
// \{Mei} "But... they didn't approve."
<4320>
// \{Mei} "I'm definitely sure they'll understand!"
<4321>
// \{\m{B}} "... You're still going to continue?"
<4322>
// \{Mei} "I'll ask them, no matter how many times."
<4323>
// \{Mei} "I'll continue until onii-chan is accepted."
<4324>
// \{Mei} "I feel something like that is the best."
<4325>
// \{Mei} "If that happens, I'm sure onii-chan will also..."
<4326>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4327>
// She was not afraid being in front of the soccer club members.
<4328>
// Desperately appealing to them...
<4329>
// Not once crying, only lowering her head.
<4330>
// Besides, how far was her courage going to go?
<4331>
// Even though Mei-chan was working this hard...
<4332>
// \{\m{B}} (Sunohara...)
<4333>
// \{\m{B}} (What the hell are you doing...?)
<4334>
// \{\m{B}} "... Sunohara."
<4335>
// Attending at the same time, I called him.
<4336>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah... it's you, \m{A}."
<4337>
// \{Sunohara} "You need something?"
<4338>
// Is he out of it? It's like he's putting effort to acting normal.
<4339>
// Even so, he never made eye contact.
<4340>
// \{\m{B}} "You never met Mei-chan after that, did you?"
<4341>
// \{Sunohara} "No I didn't!"
<4342>
// \{\m{B}} "... Don't you care?"
<4343>
// \{Sunohara} "Why do you have to say something like that..."
<4344>
// \{Sunohara} "Actually, why should I even be worried about Mei?!"
<4345>
// \{Sunohara} "I've been busy with Sanae-san..."
<4346>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you still seriously saying that?"
<4347>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, I'm serious!"
<4348>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm going to be a lot more busy from now on!"
<4349>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4350>
// \{Sunohara} "I told you before I'm confessing to her."
<4351>
// \{Sunohara} "April's already over... I plan to do that today."
<4352>
// \{Sunohara} "When that happens, I'll slowly lose more and more of my time."
<4353>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, I might hold her body, hahaha..."
<4354>
// \{\m{B}} "You..."
<4355>
// \{Sunohara} "That's how it is, so I really don't care what happens with Mei..."
<4356>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you still acting so tough..."
<4357>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm not acting tough."
<4358>
// \{\m{B}} "Aren't you worried?"
<4359>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't know what's happening to Mei."
<4360>
// \{\m{B}} "... Get ahold of yourself, man!"
<4361>
// \{Sunohara} "What are you so angry about..."
<4362>
// \{Sunohara} "Well... she doesn't care about me either anyway!"
<4363>
// \{\m{B}} "... Sunohara!"
<4364>
// Being driven by anger, I grab his chest.
<4365>
// The chair falls over, and a loud voice echoes in the classroom.
<4366>
// \{Sunohara} "W-what is it, man...?"
<4367>
// \{Sunohara} "I don't get you one bit..."
<4368>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you know what the hell Mei-chan's doing right now?"
<4369>
// \{Sunohara} "I dunno anything about that."
<4370>
// \{Sunohara} "Besides, she's getting along with you, isn't she?"
<4371>
// \{Sunohara} "... It's nothing to do with me."
<4372>
// \{\m{B}} "Go grab someone from the soccer club and ask them!"
<4373>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you think Mei-chan is doing...?"
<4374>
// \{\m{B}} "You should know... how much she believes in you!"
<4375>
// \{Sunohara} "I told you I don't know, didn't I?"
<4376>
// \{Sunohara} "... Let go."
<4377>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4378>
// \{Sunohara} "What...?"
<4379>
// \{Sunohara} "You want to fight, \m{A}...?"
<4380>
// \{\m{B}} "... Tch!"
<4381>
// Glaring at each other, I can tell the onlookers are gradually beginning to gather round.
<4382>
// The room went from completely silent to bustling with noise, as if hit by water.
<4383>
// Hearing the voice of the teacher coming, I let go.
<4384>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4385>
// I walk in the direction of the door, through the commotion of people. The students clear out in haste.
<4386>
// The class representative from somewhere tried to hold me back, going, "Wait a second!"
<4387>
// Ignoring her, I left the school.
<4388>
// I left during afternoon classes.
<4389>
// I come around to the park where the date was being held before.
<4390>
// To meet Sanae-san.
<4391>
// Looking around, I recognize a figure behind the bench.
<4392>
// \{\m{B}} "... Sanae-san."
<4393>
// Getting close, I called her.
<4394>
// \{Sanae} "Oh my, \m{A}-san."
<4395>
// Turning around, she gave a smile.
<4396>
// \{\m{B}} "Is now okay?"
<4397>
// \{Sanae} "Ah... I'm sorry, could you wait a second?"
<4398>
// She had a slightly apologetic face.
<4399>
// I dunno what happened just now, but there was a number of young boys in a circle around Sanae-san.
<4400>
// Seems she was making a speech to them.
<4401>
// \{Sanae} "... Having said that, bullying a young girl is no good."
<4402>
// \{Sanae} "But, if you're kind, it'll definitely be great."
<4403>
// The boys listened to her quietly, face-up.
<4404>
// \{Sanae} "Of course, doing that so soon is quite difficult."
<4405>
// \{Sanae} "Just a little in the beginning is fine so... tell her this then."
<4406>
// \{Sanae} "First off, begin by apologizing, shall we?"
<4407>
// They all nodded to that.
<4408>
// \{Sanae} "You understand, don't you?"
<4409>
// They all responded with a large voice...
<4410>
// And then, while swaying her knapsack, she gave parting words.
<4411>
// \{Sanae} "Now then..."
<4412>
// \{Sanae} "I apologize, \m{A}-san."
<4413>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, not at all..."
<4414>
// \{\m{B}} "What was with the kids?"
<4415>
// \{Sanae} "You don't remember them?"
<4416>
// \{\m{B}} "No. Or rather, I've met them?"
<4417>
// \{Sanae} "It's that time when Youhei-kun and Mei-chan went together."
<4418>
// \{Sanae} "A girl was being bullied, right?"
<4419>
// \{\m{B}} "I remember that."
<4420>
// \{Sanae} "These boys are the ones that bullied her."
<4421>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh?"
<4422>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, why are you talking to the bullies?"
<4423>
// \{Sanae} "I thought that would be proper."
<4424>
// \{Sanae} "If they don't, they won't get the fundamentals down."
<4425>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, just now..."
<4426>
// \{Sanae} "Just a bit of a lecture."
<4427>
// \{Sanae} "But, everyone's a good kid."
<4428>
// \{Sanae} "If you talk to them, you'll understand them well."
<4429>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that how it was...?"
<4430>
// As always, this person is...
<4431>
// Admirable and amazing.
<4432>
// \{Sanae} "And, what happened today? It's kind of rare at this time!"
<4433>
// \{Sanae} "Eh... but, right now should be fifth period."
<4434>
// \{Sanae} "What happened to classes?"
<4435>
// \{\m{B}} "Skipping."
<4436>
// \{Sanae} "That's not something you should do."
<4437>
// \{Sanae} "You have to study properly."
<4438>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san,"
<4439>
// To cut her off, I pile my words on top.
<4440>
// \{\m{B}} "I have something important to talk about. It's about Sunohara and Mei-chan."
<4441>
// \{\m{B}} "... Please listen."
<4442>
// \{Sanae} "Okay."
<4443>
// I suppose she can guess how serious I am?
<4444>
// She nods with a stern expression.
<4445>
// I tell Sanae-san everything that's happened.
<4446>
// The reason for Mei-chan coming to this town.
<4447>
// And seeing her brother.
<4448>
// The gap of time with the once reliant person.
<4449>
// And, Mei-chan's wish and actions.
<4450>
// I explain everything, leaving nothing out.
<4451>
// \{Sanae} "... I see."
<4452>
// \{Sanae} "I understand."
<4453>
// \{\m{B}} "I have something to ask of you, Sanae-san."
<4454>
// \{Sanae} "... What might it be?"
<4455>
// \{\m{B}} "You're on a date with Sunohara today, right?"
<4456>
// \{Sanae} "That's what was arranged."
<4457>
// \{\m{B}} "If he has become lost with that..."
<4458>
// \{\m{B}} "If there's something that will make him realize..."
<4459>
// \{Sanae} "........."
<4460>
// \{\m{B}} "Somehow, make him think of Mei-chan."
<4461>
// \{\m{B}} "If he doesn't, Mei-chan will..."
<4462>
// \{Sanae} "... Yes,"
<4463>
// \{Sanae} "I suppose that's not something that should be done."
<4464>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh, but..."
<4465>
// \{Sanae} "You know, \m{A}-san."
<4466>
// \{Sanae} "That's... not something you have to worry about."
<4467>
// \{\m{B}} "Eh?"
<4468>
// \{Sanae} "Recently, I've somehow noticed."
<4469>
// \{Sanae} "Youhei-kun seems to have been always worried about something."
<4470>
// \{Sanae} "Truth is, he should understand."
<4471>
// \{Sanae} "That... there is something that he must do."
<4472>
// \{Sanae} "If you look, he's capable."
<4473>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san..."
<4474>
// ... I see.
<4475>
// Now I understand.
<4476>
// Why it was that we have been working so hard.
<4477>
// I remember the kids that were listening to Sanae-san's speech up until now.
<4478>
// They're surely the same as him.
<4479>
// On the day they met, where Sunohara didn't care and made such reckless remarks...
<4480>
// She though that there was something that had to be done.
<4481>
// That's why she's giving him this much support...
<4482>
// \{Sanae} "I believe in him."
<4483>
// \{Sanae} "That he'll definitely realize it."
<4484>
// \{Sanae} "All that I can do..."
<4485>
// \{Sanae} "Is just push him forward, even if it's just a little."
<4486>
// \{Sanae} "So, \m{A}-san..."
<4487>
// \{Sanae} "You should also wait a little, and believe in him."
<4488>
// \{\m{B}} "... All right."
<4489>
// All I did was nod to those words just now.
<4490>
// Sunohara... really is thinking about Mei-chan, isn't he?
<4491>
// As Mei-chan puts it, will he become that reliable person?
<4492>
// A gloomy feeling. As if speaking for another, the day darkens.
<4493>
// \{Mei} "It'll be fine."
<4494>
// That day, Mei-chan waited at the gates again.
<4495>
// Seeing my face, we exchanged words, and she put on a smile.
<4496>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan will understand."
<4497>
// \{Mei} "He'll definitely, definitely understand."
<4498>
// \{Mei} "That's why, I want to try hard."
<4499>
// \{Mei} "So that onii-chan will become the same old onii-chan..."
<4500>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah, I suppose."
<4501>
// Though she understood... we went to the soccer club again.
<4502>
// I also want to work hard.
<4503>
// I want to grant Mei-chan's wish.
<4504>
// But, at the same time, I didn't want to stain my eyes with any more contempt.
<4505>
// I don't want to feel any more sorrow than this...
<4506>
// If today's result is the same as yesterday,
<4507>
// No, if that continues on from back then...
<4508>
// \{\m{B}} (Sanae-san... in that case, I'll...)
<4509>
// \{\m{B}} (Definitely, no longer be able to...)
<4510>
// \{Coach} "You guys again?!"
<4511>
// Seeing us, he gave a very obvious and annoyed face.
<4512>
// The members were all stretching around us. Were they about to practice?
<4513>
// \{Mei} "Sorry for bothering you during this busy time..."
<4514>
// \{Mei} "I came again to ask!"
<4515>
// \{Coach} "Ask, you mean yesterday?"
<4516>
// \{Coach} "And, do the members approve of this?"
<4517>
// \{Mei} "T-that's..."
<4518>
// \{Coach} "Hey, did any of you said it was okay?"
<4519>
// \{Captain} "No one said anything."
<4520>
// The captain's bitter voice echoed. There was a crowd of laughter.
<4521>
// \{Coach} "I told you to go and get permission. Did you lie?"
<4522>
// \{Mei} "I didn't lie!"
<4523>
// \{Mei} "I came to ask you to have the members understand!"
<4524>
// \{Coach} "You're in the way of practice, go home."
<4525>
// \{Mei} "I'm not trying to be in the way!"
<4526>
// \{Coach} "I told you that you are!"
<4527>
// \{Mei} "T-then... let me help!"
<4528>
// \{Coach} "Help?"
<4529>
// \{Mei} "Yes, since I'm bothering you as such!"
<4530>
// \{Mei} "I'll do whatever!"
<4531>
// \{Coach} "Whatever...?"
<4532>
// \{Mei} "W-whatever..."
<4533>
// \{Soccer Player} "In that case, be my opponent, Mei-chan!"
<4534>
// \{Mei} "E-eh...?"
<4535>
// A vulgar voice from the members.
<4536>
// \{Soccer Player} "Or rather, strip."
<4537>
// \{Soccer Player} "Strip, strip!"
<4538>
// \{Mei} "........."
<4539>
// A small voice, finally becoming loud.
<4540>
// Mei-chan flushed red, hanging her head alone.
<4541>
// \{\m{B}} (These guys...)
<4542>
// \{Coach} "Stop it, you people."
<4543>
// \{Coach} "You shouldn't do that either. You an idiot?"
<4544>
// \{Mei} "... I'm sorry."
<4545>
// \{Mei} "But, I'm serious about wanting to helping out."
<4546>
// \{Mei} "if there's anything I can do... please let me!"
<4547>
// \{Coach} "Tch..."
<4548>
// \{Mei} "Please..."
<4549>
// \{Coach} "Go pick up the balls."
<4550>
// \{Mei} "Eh, ah..."
<4551>
// \{Coach} "You understand, don't you?"
<4552>
// \{Mei} "O-okay...!"
<4553>
// A whistle echoed through the campus.
<4554>
// Light jogging, followed by practicing passes, and then finally the members gather round the goal.
<4555>
// \{Coach} "Shooting practice!"
<4556>
// Kicking the ball, they all lined up towards the coach's loud voice.
<4557>
// Seems the plan was to have one person become warmup catcher, and do shoot passes back and forth...
<4558>
// The ball tumbles by the edge of the goal.
<4559>
// \{Mei} "I'm sorry \m{A}-san..."
<4560>
// \{Mei} "For having you come with me."
<4561>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't care about that at all."
<4562>
// \{\m{B}} "I told you I'd be around to the end, didn't I?"
<4563>
// \{Mei} "... Thank you so much."
<4564>
// Mei-chan came this far, being prepared.
<4565>
// Feeling that she should do something.
<4566>
// I could really hear the strong voice of the goalkeeper from the grounds.
<4567>
// Seems like things are starting up.
<4568>
// One by one, each of the members shoots out.
<4569>
// The lone, kicked ball, flies up into the air, not caught by the edge.
<4570>
// It flew to the fence on one end of the grounds.
<4571>
// \{Soccer Player} "Pass it over!"
<4572>
// At once, they called for us.
<4573>
// \{Mei} "O-okay!"
<4574>
// \{\m{B}} "It's fine, I'll go and get it."
<4575>
// I gently command Mei-chan just as she starts running.
<4576>
// The distance to the fence was quite large, and when I finally struggled there, I was a little short of breath.
<4577>
// Holding it in my arms, I pass it right back.
<4578>
// At that time, as if timed just right, the ball was kicked up again.
<4579>
// Making a large arc, it flew from where I was to another lone spot.
<4580>
// When that happened, Mei-chan hastily rushed over to take it.
<4581>
// \{\m{B}} (Are they aiming for that...?)
<4582>
// With her small body, Mei-chan desperately chased after it.
<4583>
// When she returned, she was panting heavily.
<4584>
// \{Soccer Player} "You're damn late!"
<4585>
// \{Mei} "I'm sorry!"
<4586>
// Rolling over, it returns to the members.
<4587>
// At almost the same time, another ball flew near the fence.
<4588>
// \{Soccer Player} "Stop being so stupid, and pass it back!"
<4589>
// \{Mei} "O-okay!"
<4590>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait, Mei-chan, let's take a quick break!"
<4591>
// \{Mei} "B-but..."
<4592>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll go over there and get it."
<4593>
// \{\m{B}} "Until then, catch your breath..."
<4594>
// Saying that much, another ball flew straight into the day after tomorrow.
<4595>
// It fell in a direction completely different from the last shot.
<4596>
// \{Soccer Player} "What are you doing, hurry up and get it!"
<4597>
// \{\m{B}} "Kuh..."
<4598>
// \{Mei} "I-I'm okay!"
<4599>
// \{Mei} "I'll go!"
<4600>
// Forming a smile, Mei-chan charged ahead.
<4601>
// Gritting my back teeth, I also ran.
<4602>
// Running round at full speed, we finally return to the goal post.
<4603>
// \{Mei} "Pant... pant...!"
<4604>
// Mei-chan's face was pale, her chest frequently moving up and down.
<4605>
// \{Soccer Player} "Be a bit quicker!"
<4606>
// \{Mei} "I... I'm sorry!"
<4607>
// After that, everyone made shots.
<4608>
// This time, they didn't fly off too far.
<4609>
// That was a relief.
<4610>
// I was relieved that they let Mei-chan rest a little bit.
<4611>
// ... But, that was also brief.
<4612>
// \{Mei} "Ah...!"
<4613>
// A small shriek.
<4614>
// The sound of a thick wind came towards us.
<4615>
// \{Soccer Player} "Close!"
<4616>
// I couldn't tell whether it came from the kicker or his teammates.
<4617>
// But, could it be their doing...?
<4618>
// \{Mei} "H-haha... I guess there are times like this!"
<4619>
// \{Mei} "I'll go get the ball!"
<4620>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait, Mei-chan!"
<4621>
// Saying so, they flew over my head again.
<4622>
// \{Soccer Player} "\m{A}, don't slack off!"
<4623>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn it...!"
<4624>
// I ran with all my might.
<4625>
// I was uneasy about leaving Mei-chan alone, so I returned as quickly as I could.
<4626>
// But the ball flew towards where the trees were planted, so finding them took a bit of time.
<4627>
// Finally finding it, I passed it back.
<4628>
// \{\m{B}} "... Mei-chan?!"
<4629>
// When I returned, I saw her with the ball in her stomach.
<4630>
// \{Mei} "Ugh..."
<4631>
// \{\m{B}} "W-what's wrong?!"
<4632>
// \{Mei} "Ah... haha..."
<4633>
// \{Mei} "The ball... hit me a little bit..."
<4634>
// \{\m{B}} "Hit? Are you okay?"
<4635>
// \{\m{B}} "Or not, that's hitting you isn't it...?"
<4636>
// \{Mei} "That's wrong."
<4637>
// \{Mei} "I was just daydreaming a little bit, and then I got hit."
<4638>
// \{Mei} "I'm slow... aren't I?"
<4639>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4640>
// \{Mei} "You don't have to be that worried."
<4641>
// \{Mei} "Ah, it's coming again! I'll go and get it!"
<4642>
// She slowly comes up to the rolling ball.
<4643>
// In haste, I chased after her.
<4644>
// \{\m{B}} "Owaah!"
<4645>
// Another strong shot flew right by as if to cut the space between the two of us off.
<4646>
// At that moment, even though she was close, she hesitated. When Mei-chan went to pick it up, she crouched down.
<4647>
// Clunk, the sound.
<4648>
// The sound of hitting one's skin.
<4649>
// The shot that flew hit her thigh.
<4650>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan!"
<4651>
// In haste, I went over to her fallen figure.
<4652>
// \{Mei} "I'm, fine!"
<4653>
// \{Mei} "I'm okay!"
<4654>
// \{Mei} "Ah, ball, ball..."
<4655>
// The ball rolled around and around.
<4656>
// Picking it up, her legs were limp.
<4657>
// Staggering two, three steps, and then...
<4658>
// \{Mei} "A-ah...!"
<4659>
// Her body falls over.
<4660>
// I rushed to reach my hand out to catch her, but it didn't make it in time.
<4661>
// Mei-chan dropped on top of the ball like that.
<4662>
// The members had a burst of laughter.
<4663>
// \{Mei} "...!"
<4664>
// But, Mei-chan had decided not to cry.
<4665>
// Biting her lips, she got up and threw the ball back.
<4666>
// \{Soccer Player} "Here it comes again, don't slack off!"
<4667>
// \{Mei} "Okay!"
<4668>
// Her legs were limp, but she tried her best to chase after it.
<4669>
// No matter how far the ball flew, she chased after it with all her might...
<4670>
// And when she got close, the ball would hit her. Even at times they'd attack her...
<4671>
// And every time she got up, she'd continue getting balls.
<4672>
// \{\m{B}} (Why are you going so far...?)
<4673>
// That's not what I should be thinking.
<4674>
// \{\m{B}} (Why is it... that you can do this much?)
<4675>
// \{\m{B}} (Sunohara, even though your sister's suffering this much...)
<4676>
// \{\m{B}} (What the hell are you doing...?)
<4677>
// When it had become completely dark, the practice finally ended.
<4678>
// Mei-chan frequently held her stomach.
<4679>
// \{\m{B}} "... Does it hurt?"
<4680>
// \{Mei} "I-it's fine!"
<4681>
// \{Mei} "It's nothing..."
<4682>
// She's trying her best to hide it...
<4683>
// But, her delicate body has a number of bruises, doesn't it?
<4684>
// \{Captain} "Good work."
<4685>
// In contrast, the captain wore a cheerful mood.
<4686>
// \{Captain} "Ah, sorry for the trouble."
<4687>
// \{Mei} "No, its' nothing at all!"
<4688>
// \{Mei} "A-and... about my brother!"
<4689>
// \{Captain} "Ah, before that..."
<4690>
// \{Captain} "Could you take the field rake and level the grounds?"
<4691>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<4692>
// \{Captain} "I'm counting on you!"
<4693>
// Waving one hand, he quickly returned to the clubroom.
<4694>
// Mei-chan lowered her head at the start for a while.
<4695>
// \{\m{B}} (That asshole...)
<4696>
// \{Mei} "... Okay!"
<4697>
// Even so, she lifted her head instantly.
<4698>
// \{Mei} "Let's do it!"
<4699>
// And then, she quickly took the rake and headed out.
<4700>
// Her body's at her limit now...
<4701>
// It was very pitiful, seeing Mei-chan face forward no matter what.
<4702>
// Carefully leveling the grounds, we then opened the clubroom door.
<4703>
// Already six or seven club members were left, changing into their school uniforms.
<4704>
// \{Mei} "Ah... we're done."
<4705>
// \{Captain} "Oh, good work."
<4706>
// \{Mei} "Umm, where's everyone else..."
<4707>
// \{Captain} "Went home."
<4708>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<4709>
// \{Captain} "Because club activities are already over."
<4710>
// \{Mei} "B-but... about... what we talked about..."
<4711>
// \{Captain} "Now, now, you'll hear it from us."
<4712>
// \{Captain} "Well, I dunno about the other guys agreeing with what we say."
<4713>
// \{Mei} "No way..."
<4714>
// \{Captain} "So, what was it?"
<4715>
// \{Mei} "About my brother... Sunohara Youhei!"
<4716>
// \{Mei} "I thought that I'd like for him to return to the club."
<4717>
// \{Mei} "If that can't be done, just let him play for a little bit."
<4718>
// \{Mei} "That's all I want..."
<4719>
// \{Captain} "Oh, was that it?"
<4720>
// \{Captain} "Nah, sorry."
<4721>
// \{Mei} "........."
<4722>
// \{Mei} "... Eh?"
<4723>
// \{\m{B}} (... These assholes...)
<4724>
// ... Certainly there was nothing to be hopeful about.
<4725>
// Mei-chan had worked so hard.
<4726>
// They didn't feel anything seeing her like this?
<4727>
// They didn't even think the least bit, taking any of her feelings...?
<4728>
// \{Captain} "Having said that, give it up."
<4729>
// \{Mei} "P-please, somehow, anything!"
<4730>
// \{Mei} "Please, let my brother play soccer once again!"
<4731>
// \{Captain} "No."
<4732>
// \{Mei} "Why... not?"
<4733>
// \{Captain} "Because I hate him."
<4734>
// \{Mei} "Hate...?"
<4735>
// \{Captain} "Is there anyone here who likes him?"
<4736>
// \{Soccer Player} "Of course not."
<4737>
// \{Soccer Player} "He's cheeky and annoying."
<4738>
// \{Soccer Player} "He's crappy, I don't want to be with him."
<4739>
// Each one of them put him down.
<4740>
// \{Captain} "Well, that's how it is."
<4741>
// \{Captain} "Want me to make it easy on you? They hate your brother."
<4742>
// \{Mei} "That's why, you can't...?"
<4743>
// \{Mei} "... Why..."
<4744>
// \{Mei} "Does... everyone hate my brother?"
<4745>
// \{Soccer Player} "Because, he's incompetent."
<4746>
// \{Mei} ".........?"
<4747>
// \{Soccer Player} "He's got no guts."
<4748>
// \{Soccer Player} "He's weak and cries."
<4749>
// \{Soccer Player} "Guess he's a loser?"
<4750>
// \{Mei} "Loser...?"
<4751>
// \{Captain} "He quit soccer, and can't keep up with studies."
<4752>
// \{Captain} "That's a loser, isn't it?"
<4753>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan is a loser...?"
<4754>
// \{Captain} "However you think it."
<4755>
// \{Soccer Player} "Speaking of which, he got any reason to live?"
<4756>
// \{Soccer Player} "None."
<4757>
// \{Mei} "........."
<4758>
// \{Captain} "Well, little sister?"
<4759>
// \{Captain} "Is there any reason to be working hard for crap such as him?"
<4760>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... isn't crap..."
<4761>
// \{Captain} "Garbage is fine."
<4762>
// \{Mei} "...!"
<4763>
// \{Captain} "You knew from the start, didn't you?"
<4764>
// \{Captain} "Sunohara knows that this stuff is happening to you, you know?"
<4765>
// \{Mei} "Eh...?"
<4766>
// \{Captain} "Seems he came to our club."
<4767>
// \{Captain} "Looks like he heard about you."
<4768>
// ... He probably investigated after I told him about Mei-chan.
<4769>
// About where she was, and about what she was doing.
<4770>
// Sunohara knew.
<4771>
// Knowing that, he...
<4772>
// \{Captain} "So, how's that?"
<4773>
// \{Captain} "Your big brother ain't coming."
<4774>
// \{Mei} "T... that's..."
<4775>
// \{Captain} "He's abandoned you."
<4776>
// \{Captain} "He's afraid of fighting with us, and ran off."
<4777>
// \{Soccer Player} "He can't save a single person."
<4778>
// \{Soccer Player} "He's probably shaking in his boots at home right now."
<4779>
// \{Soccer Player} "Actually, will he even come to school starting tomorrow?"
<4780>
// \{Soccer Player} "Maybe he'll give up?"
<4781>
// \{Soccer Player} "Sunohara being scared and dropping out is just like him."
<4782>
// \{Soccer Player} "Since that suits crap like him!"
<4783>
// \{Mei} "... Uh..."
<4784>
// Mei-chan only closed her eyes, bearing those words.
<4785>
// She had decided not to cry... no matter what treatment or pain she felt.
<4786>
// Her shoulders began to faintly tremble.
<4787>
// \{Soccer Player} "Ahh, you made her cry."
<4788>
// \{Captain} "Is that my fault?"
<4789>
// \{Soccer Player} "Come on, don't be sad, Mei-chan!"
<4790>
// \{Mei} "Uh... uh..."
<4791>
// \{Soccer Player} "Rather, get ahold of yourself."
<4792>
// \{Soccer Player} "You can, go home now, you know?"
<4793>
// \{Soccer Player} "Even if you cry, onii-chan ain't coming."
<4794>
// \{Mei} "... Wrong......"
<4795>
// \{Captain} "... Huh?"
<4796>
// \{Mei} "You're wrong..."
<4797>
// \{Mei} "You're... wrong...!"
<4798>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan will come...!"
<4799>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<4800>
// \{Mei} "He'll definitely come..."
<4801>
// \{Soccer Player} "What's with that?"
<4802>
// \{Soccer Player} "He ain't coming, he ain't..."
<4803>
// \{Mei} "He will...!"
<4804>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan will come to save me...!"
<4805>
// \{Mei} "He'll definitely, definitely come...!"
<4806>
// \{Soccer Player} "... What's with her?"
<4807>
// \{Soccer Player} "She an idiot?"
<4808>
// \{Soccer Player} "She's Sunohara's sister after all."
<4809>
// \{Soccer Player} "Cry a lot louder, onii-chan can't hear you~"
<4810>
// \{Mei} "U-uu...!"
<4811>
// They grab her arm and swing it.
<4812>
// \{Mei} "Fuuuu... it hurts...!"
<4813>
// \{Mei} "It hurts... it hurts...!"
<4814>
// \{Captain} "Come on, say onii-chan!"
<4815>
// \{Mei} "Uuu... onii-chan...!"
<4816>
// \{Captain} "Like that, onii-chan ain't coming."
<4817>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan, onii-chan...!"
<4818>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan...!!"
<4819>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4820>
// ... There was nothing more to wait for.
<4821>
// We had gone past the point of no return.
<4822>
// I'll give Mei a lot of respect for being so patient for what she wanted...
<4823>
// That somewhere, she might have believed in him.
<4824>
// But, that was also over.
<4825>
// \{\m{B}} (Sorry, Mei-chan...)
<4826>
// Watching only to the end...
<4827>
// But, I couldn't just watch anymore.
<4828>
// It's several guys against me.
<4829>
// It feels bad, but this is the only thing left.
<4830>
// \{\m{B}} (... Sunohara...)
<4831>
// Cursing him, I remember his face at the end.
<4832>
// But, I shook that off quickly.
<4833>
// I formed a tight fist.
<4834>
// Taking a breath, I looked straight ahead.
<4835>
// I take one step forward.
<4836>
// I swing my arm, and then...
<4837>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't make Mei cry-----!"\shake{4}
<4838>
// I see someone come sprinting right in, jumping with a kick.
<4839>
// \{Mei} "... Ah..."
<4840>
// \{Sunohara} "Are you bullying Mei?!"
<4841>
// \{Sunohara} "People who bully Mei, people who bully Mei...!"
<4842>
// \{Sunohara} "I definitely won't forgive that!!!"
<4843>
// \{Captain} "You bastard..."
<4844>
// \{Sunohara} "Uraagggghhhhh---!"
<4845>
// Bringing up his fist, he hits them.
<4846>
// It became anarchy all at once.
<4847>
// \{Mei} "Onii... chan..."
<4848>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan...!"
<4849>
// \{\m{B}} "Step back, Mei-chan."
<4850>
// \{\m{B}} "It'll be fine, onii-chan definitely won't lose."
<4851>
// \{Mei} "O-okay..."
<4852>
// \{\m{B}} "All right..."
<4853>
// I take a step back slowly and make sure, and then looked ahead again..
<4854>
// I saw the club members had grabbed ahold of Sunohara.
<4855>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't forget me!!"
<4856>
// Raising my fist, I rush right in.
<4857>
// Hitting them, a thick sound echoed.
<4858>
// The tall night sky spread out across my view.
<4859>
// It was terribly suffocating. I breathed hard, grabbing air.
<4860>
// Every time I did, everywhere around my chest hurt.
<4861>
// I had lied down with my body spread out across the dirt.
<4862>
// I didn't care that my hair or my clothes had all been dirtied.
<4863>
// My lips were beginning to dry with the sand and blood, and just that felt terrible.
<4864>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}..."
<4865>
// Sunohara said, his body laid out in the same way.
<4866>
// \{Sunohara} "Did we win...?"
<4867>
// \{\m{B}} "Who knows."
<4868>
// \{Sunohara} "Then, did we lose?"
<4869>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm pretty sure we didn't lose..."
<4870>
// I didn't know what the reality was.
<4871>
// At the time we jumped at the soccer club, my memories were all jumbled.
<4872>
// There was only one faint scene I remembered.
<4873>
// But, for my fists to hurt this much was probably because of that.
<4874>
// I had only been hit as much so that the blood in my mouth went into my throat...
<4875>
// I'm not exactly sure how it all ended.
<4876>
// "You guys have lost." Those lines were said, with the figure of the club members stepping back.
<4877>
// Though we made chase after them, our legs wouldn't move.
<4878>
// With a staggering way of walking they left. The only thing I remember about that was continuing our glare at them.
<4879>
// \{Mei} "F... fueee..."
<4880>
// Mei-chan remained sitting there, sobbing.
<4881>
// The voice of her crying came through.
<4882>
// \{\m{B}} "You idiot."
<4883>
// \{Sunohara} "Who's an idiot...?"
<4884>
// \{\m{B}} "Who else would it be other than you?"
<4885>
// I struggle to move my painful body.
<4886>
// \{\m{B}} "You're a really big idiot."
<4887>
// \{\m{B}} "Apologize."
<4888>
// \{\m{B}} "Apologize to Mei-chan!"
<4889>
// \{Sunohara} "Why do I have to apologize...?"
<4890>
// \{\m{B}} "You're still saying that?"
<4891>
// \{\m{B}} "You're a failure as a brother."
<4892>
// \{Sunohara} "What'd you say?"
<4893>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan also waited, suffering for this older brother."
<4894>
// \{\m{B}} "If you had done things properly, something like this wouldn't have happened."
<4895>
// \{\m{B}} "You really are a hopeless brother."
<4896>
// \{Sunohara} "You picking a fight?"
<4897>
// \{\m{B}} "Guess so."
<4898>
// With an infuriated face, Sunohara also got up, facing me with a sharp glance.
<4899>
// Yet staggering, I got close to his chest. We both stared each other down.
<4900>
// \{Mei} "Please... stop..."
<4901>
// Mei-chan's thin voice could no longer reach us.
<4902>
// \{\m{B}} "You damn asshole!"\shake{4}
<4903>
// I catch Sunohara's head, butting it.
<4904>
// Holding his nose, he staggered backward, and fell like that.
<4905>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't screw around, Sunohara!" 
<4906>
// I get on top of him and grab his blonde hair.
<4907>
// \{\m{B}} "How do you think Mei-chan feels thanks to you?!"
<4908>
// I beat him with all my might.
<4909>
// \{\m{B}} "How... miserable do you think she feels?!"\shake{4}\wait{300}\shake{4}\wait{300}\shake{4}
<4910>
// I hit him in the cheek two, three times.
<4911>
// \{\m{B}} "It's all your fault!"
<4912>
// \{\m{B}} "What are you going to do with you being unreliable?!"
<4913>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you a damn brother?!"
<4914>
// Blood spilled from the spilled tissue around his forehead. Did I wound him?
<4915>
// \{\m{B}} "Apologize...!"
<4916>
// \{\m{B}} "Apologize to Mei-chan...!"
<4917>
// The flowing blood fell to the ground, creating a dark blot.
<4918>
// \{Sunohara} "Damn you..."
<4919>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh?"
<4920>
// The bottom of his eyelids were swollen black.
<4921>
// Glancing at me, I could tell he was scowling.
<4922>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}...!"
<4923>
// His hand stretches out, and also grabs my hair.
<4924>
// \{\m{B}} "You got no excuses, do you?!"
<4925>
// \{\m{B}} "You never thought of Mei-chan, did you?!"
<4926>
// \{Sunohara} "I have...!"
<4927>
// \{\m{B}} "You liar!"
<4928>
// \{\m{B}} "Even though your sister was tricked by weird guys..."
<4929>
// \{\m{B}} "You didn't do anything! You weren't worried, were you?!"
<4930>
// \{Sunohara} "I was! I was worried!"
<4931>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, why'd you do nothing?!"
<4932>
// \{\m{B}} "Why'd you leave it be?!"
<4933>
// \{Sunohara} "Isn't that obvious?!"
<4934>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, tell me!!"
<4935>
// \{\m{B}} "If you got any excuses, spill it!!"
<4936>
// \{Sunohara} "Because I thought it'd be fine if it were you!"
<4937>
// I stopped my hand at those words.
<4938>
// At that moment, my vision went blank. 
<4939>
// Sunohara got in a punch in that space of time.
<4940>
// Right between the eyebrows, the light blurs.
<4941>
// It continued with a thick pain at the nose bridge.
<4942>
// \{\m{B}} "... Gah!"
<4943>
// I could tell the blood was running.
<4944>
// Taking the opportunity, he pushed me off him.
<4945>
// \{Sunohara} "You apologize as well!"
<4946>
// \{Sunohara} "Apologize to Mei!"
<4947>
// I stood up, leaned over pretty badly.
<4948>
// There was a gap in my guard, where he hit me many times.
<4949>
// \{Sunohara} "Why'd you bring Mei this far?!"
<4950>
// \{Sunohara} "You should protect Mei!!"
<4951>
// \{Sunohara} "That's your damn responsibility!!"
<4952>
// \{\m{B}} "Sunohara, you asshole!"
<4953>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}--!"
<4954>
// Grappling each other, a cloud of dust builds up.
<4955>
// Pulling off each others' hair, we continued our fist fight, blood-stained.
<4956>
// \{Mei} "Please... stop..."
<4957>
// \{Mei} "Please stop!!"
<4958>
// Mei-chan's voice echoed.
<4959>
// Our breathing was wild. Scowling at each other, we realized what we were doing upon hearing that shout.
<4960>
// \{Mei} "Hic, uu... uuu..."
<4961>
// \{Mei} "Please... don't fight..."
<4962>
// \{Mei} "I'm, fine!"
<4963>
// \{Mei} "I'm not sad at all!"
<4964>
// \{Mei} "Because, because...!"
<4965>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei..."
<4966>
// \{\m{B}} "Mei-chan..."
<4967>
// \{Mei} "Uu... uuu..."
<4968>
// A lot of tears streamed as she groggily stood up.
<4969>
// She wipes her cheek, frequently rubbing her eyes, and then...
<4970>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan...!"
<4971>
// She jumped into her brother's arms.
<4972>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan... onii-chan...!"
<4973>
// \{Mei} "U-uuu...!"
<4974>
// \{Mei} "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry...!"
<4975>
// Mei-chan cried like a child.
<4976>
// Sunohara watched that look of hers for a while, dumbfounded.
<4977>
// But, that was also fleeting.
<4978>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei..."
<4979>
// He softly hugs her.
<4980>
// And gently brushes her head.
<4981>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4982>
// I watch them for a while.
<4983>
// And then finally get up.
<4984>
// Being covered in mud and blood stains here and there, it looked pretty bad, even for me.
<4985>
// I fix up my hair, which is in disarray and mixed with sand.
<4986>
// I'll have to take a shower when I get back.
<4987>
// I'll also have to get a change of my school uniform from the closet.
<4988>
// What should I eat for dinner...?
<4989>
// I absent-mindedly thought about it.
<4990>
// Putting my hands in my pockets, I turn around.
<4991>
// I walk for a while, then take a look around.
<4992>
// I see the figure of a brother hugging his younger sister.
<4993>
// Taking a breath of awe...
<4994>
// I begin walking again.
<4995>
// Mei Epilogue 
<4996>
// I slide open the classroom door.
<4997>
// The classmates who were all busy up until now suddenly fell silent.
<4998>
// Everyone looked at my face.
<4999>
// Blue bruises and compresses all over.
<5000>
// That kinda stands out, doesn't it?
<5001>
// They give me a glance for a while, and then all at once turn away their eyes.
<5002>
// Though they didn't care much about it.
<5003>
// The usual time as always...
<5004>
// I slowly approach my seat and take a seat.
<5005>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuwahh..."
<5006>
// A single yawn.
<5007>
// It's already afternoon.
<5008>
// The warm and silent day calls me to sleep.
<5009>
// And finally, the class returns to its noisy self.
<5010>
// And again, like being hit by water, the place falls silent for a while.
<5011>
// I sleepily look towards the door.
<5012>
// A guy stood there with a compress stuck to his face.
<5013>
// A strange guy, with blonde hair.
<5014>
// That was obviously Sunohara.
<5015>
// He hesitates at the class' looks, but then immediately walked off, slowly.
<5016>
// Our eyes meet.
<5017>
// Sunohara stops there.
<5018>
// We stared at each other.
<5019>
// At our fists, and at our bruised up faces, and then..
<5020>
// I laughed.
<5021>
// A laughter from the bottom of my heart.
<5022>
// The way we had completely looked different here was somehow too strange.
<5023>
// Unable to hold back my nauseous laughter, I brought up my voice.
<5024>
// Sunohara blankly looked for a moment...
<5025>
// And then, laughed as well.
<5026>
// Even though we pointed at each other and were choking, still...
<5027>
// We laughed.
<5028>
// \{\m{B}} "S-Sunohara!"
<5029>
// We did so for a while, and finally wiped the tears that came up.
<5030>
// \{\m{B}} "L-let's go and get lunch!"
<5031>
// \{Sunohara} "S-sure!"
<5032>
// After that, it was business as usual.
<5033>
// Nothing's really changed.
<5034>
// \{\m{B}} "The cafeteria?"
<5035>
// \{Sunohara} "That's nice!"
<5036>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, gehhhh---! I have to pay 150 yen?!"
<5037>
// \{\m{B}} "That's too bad."
<5038>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}, I guess I'll make do with a ramen cup from the convenience store."
<5039>
// \{\m{B}} "Where are you planning to eat that?"
<5040>
// The two of us leave the classroom.
<5041>
// What we talked about was somewhat strange again, and we burst into laughter.
<5042>
// That's right, we had this kind of relationship.
<5043>
// There was nothing we were worried, uneasy, or much less troubled about.
<5044>
// Lingering was left in our hearts. A very strong feeling of resentment.
<5045>
// A feeling that didn't disappear like a lie.
<5046>
// \{\m{B}} (... What have we been doing up until now?)
<5047>
// Even though this should have been fine.
<5048>
// Even though this alone should have been fine.
<5049>
// Yapping back and forth, we walked down the hallway.
<5050>
// The classmates only looked at us, dumbfounded.
<5051>
// \{\m{B}} "... You have to go home now?"
<5052>
// \{Mei} "Yes. You've been a lot of help."
<5053>
// That day after school.
<5054>
// I exchanged words with Mei-chan, who had collected her things into her luggage.
<5055>
// \{\m{B}} "If that's the case, you could just stay until next week."
<5056>
// \{\m{B}} "Not like you're missing much, are you?"
<5057>
// \{Mei} "If I could, I'd also like to do that."
<5058>
// \{Mei} "But, my parents said I had to."
<5059>
// \{\m{B}} "They're angry, I guess?"
<5060>
// \{Mei} "Well, that's..."
<5061>
// I can tell from the way she leans her head.
<5062>
// Mei-chan gave nothing but a bitter smile.
<5063>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, it can't be helped."
<5064>
// \{\m{B}} "Take care."
<5065>
// \{Mei} "Yeah, I know."
<5066>
// \{Mei} "I just regret it a little bit..."
<5067>
// \{Mei} "But, I'm glad I came."
<5068>
// \{Mei} "And met you, \m{A}-san..."
<5069>
// \{Mei} "And... also met onii-chan."
<5070>
// \{\m{B}} "I see..."
<5071>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'm glad too."
<5072>
// As I thought, the way Mei-chan smiles is cute.
<5073>
// Though it was just a little bit, I was also happy to have helped her.
<5074>
// \{Sunohara} "Geez, what was with that old guy..."
<5075>
// With a nod, her brother appeared.
<5076>
// He got pressed hard by the teacher over his injuries.
<5077>
// \{Sunohara} "Ain't that great for you to be released so early, \m{A}?"
<5078>
// \{\m{B}} "There's only one way to say that."
<5079>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides that, you made something up, right?"
<5080>
// \{Sunohara} "I suppose, just leave it to me."
<5081>
// \{Sunohara} "We're innocent victims, yeah."
<5082>
// \{Mei} "Umm... what do you mean by that?"
<5083>
// \{\m{B}} "Talking about the injuries. We made the industrial high school guys the culprits." 
<5084>
// \{\m{B}} "They picked a fight with us, and we got beat up one-sided... like that."
<5085>
// \{Mei} "Then, there aren't any problems?"
<5086>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, none, yeah."
<5087>
// Though I'm scared of the tell-tales the soccer club guys have, that too is also fine, I think.
<5088>
// We had passed by the captain in the hallway...
<5089>
// Just from our eyes crossing each other, he lowered his head, and left as if running.
<5090>
// Judging from that, he was already scared out of his pants, not wanting to follow.
<5091>
// Besides, they have a match coming up soon.
<5092>
// They also figured that it wasn't anything too big to deal with right now.
<5093>
// \{Mei} "... I'm glad."
<5094>
// \{Mei} "If you ended up dropping out of school, you'd be like an idiot."
<5095>
// \{Sunohara} "I guess..."
<5096>
// \{Mei} "I'd like onii-chan to come to this school."
<5097>
// \{Mei} "To... stay in this city."
<5098>
// \{Sunohara} "Mei..."
<5099>
// \{Mei} "... Truth is,"
<5100>
// \{Mei} "Up until I came here, I didn't think that was possible."
<5101>
// \{Mei} "I thought it'd be better for you to leave school."
<5102>
// \{Mei} "And that you should come home."
<5103>
// \{Mei} "Showing yourself to be tough as much as you could..."
<5104>
// \{Mei} "I didn't like that kind of onii-chan."
<5105>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<5106>
// \{Mei} "Gramps... ah, you know old man Mitani, right?"
<5107>
// \{Mei} "He asked what you thought of opening a car garage and stuff..."
<5108>
// \{Mei} "Our friends might come in and stuff, he said..."
<5109>
// \{Mei} "And thought it'd be nice if you came back."
<5110>
// \{Mei} "And live like old times..."
<5111>
// \{Sunohara} "But, that's..."
<5112>
// \{Mei} "Yeah, I know."
<5113>
// \{Mei} "But... that's wrong."
<5114>
// \{Mei} "You have reasons for being here..."
<5115>
// \{Mei} "Don't you...?"
<5116>
// Mei-chan's words.
<5117>
// Sunohara took those, and slightly lowered his head.
<5118>
// He kept quiet for a while...
<5119>
// And finally, he slowly nodded.
<5120>
// \{Sunohara} "... That's right."
<5121>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm here."
<5122>
// \{Sunohara} "And I'll be here until the end, for one more year."
<5123>
// \{Mei} "Even if you don't keep up with studies... right?"
<5124>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah."
<5125>
// \{Sunohara} "Because, right now..."
<5126>
// \{Sunohara} "This is the one chance in a lifetime, where I have to spend my most important time, right?"
<5127>
// \{Mei} "Important time..."
<5128>
// \{Sunohara} "The time to be an idiot."
<5129>
// \{Sunohara} "Because I won't be able to come back to being an idiot after this."
<5130>
// \{Sunohara} "And, I have a friend here who'll be an idiot with me during this time..."
<5131>
// \{Sunohara} "I can only get that right now!"
<5132>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan..."
<5133>
// ... And that friend would be me, wouldn't it?
<5134>
// That's why, I sighed in disbelief...
<5135>
// And then, slowly opened my mouth.
<5136>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry, I never thought of you as my friend."
<5137>
// \{Sunohara} "Think of it as such from now on!"
<5138>
// \{Mei} "H-haha... now, now, onii-chan."
<5139>
// \{Mei} "Having an argument over a joke is being friends, isn't it?"
<5140>
// \{Sunohara} "Though it was a bit of a close gag..."
<5141>
// \{Sunohara} "But you see, Mei,"
<5142>
// \{Mei} "Yeah?"
<5143>
// \{Sunohara} "The friend I have right now is not related to me just by the school." 
<5144>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if we graduate and move far away..."
<5145>
// \{Sunohara} "Even so, when we have holidays we'll come and meet... that kind of relationship."
<5146>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry for you come all the way this far?" 
<5147>
// \{Sunohara} "You should visit me as well!"
<5148>
// \{Mei} "I-it's a joke, onii-chan."
<5149>
// \{Sunohara} "That's true..."
<5150>
// \{Mei} "From now until you become an adult..."
<5151>
// \{Mei} "Even if your surroundings change..."
<5152>
// \{Mei} "You guys will still be friends, right?"
<5153>
// \{Sunohara} "... Yeah, that's right."
<5154>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if everyone does well... and gets really busy..."
<5155>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if I find a new place with a job and coworkers..."
<5156>
// \{Sunohara} "Even if I get married, have kids, and protect my family with all my life..."
<5157>
// \{Sunohara} "Even then... when we cross each others' paths, we'll be smiling."
<5158>
// \{Sunohara} "We have to be such friends."
<5159>
// \{Sunohara} "That's... what I think."
<5160>
// \{Mei} "Yeah..."
<5161>
// \{Sunohara} "That's why I'm here."
<5162>
// \{Sunohara} "For one more year, until the end..."
<5163>
// \{Sunohara} "Your brother will..."
<5164>
// \{Sunohara} "Be spending his most important time."
<5165>
// \{\m{B}} "And then after a year, I'd hear you say that you just want to play."
<5166>
// \{Sunohara} "Please, don't ever hear that!"
<5167>
// \{Sunohara} "I'm saying something real good right now!"
<5168>
// \{Mei} "But, I kinda agree as well..."
<5169>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<5170>
// \{Sunohara} "You guys..."
<5171>
// \{Mei} "... But, I think it's amazing,"
<5172>
// \{Mei} "That you want to be in such a school, even though you say you hate it."
<5173>
// \{Mei} "Just to play, right?"
<5174>
// \{Mei} "... Sounds fun."
<5175>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah."
<5176>
// \{Mei} "I'm envious."
<5177>
// \{Sunohara} "... Hey, Mei,"
<5178>
// \{Mei} "What?"
<5179>
// \{Sunohara} "Do you have any friends that will always be smiling?"
<5180>
// \{Mei} "I have a lot of friends but..."
<5181>
// \{Mei} "Friends that go that far, not really..."
<5182>
// \{Sunohara} "Then, when you enter high school, work hard and find someone."
<5183>
// \{Sunohara} "And be idiots."
<5184>
// \{Sunohara} "People who'll be idiots with you during your school life will always be there for you."
<5185>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if they don't like it."
<5186>
// \{Sunohara} "Something like that's fine."
<5187>
// \{Sunohara} "Afterward, in your life having such friends around..."*
<5188>
// \{Sunohara} "You'll definitely smile, no matter how much pain you feel."
<5189>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, that's right. Their life will be one where you hit them and they laugh going, 'Uhyahyahya!'"
<5190>
// \{Sunohara} "You've completely gotten the wrong idea!"
<5191>
// \{Mei} "........."
<5192>
// The usual exchange between me and Sunohara.
<5193>
// Mei-chan looked at us with a satisfied look on her face.
<5194>
// \{Mei} "Onii-chan,"
<5195>
// \{Mei} "I'll do my best,"
<5196>
// \{Mei} "And find myself friends."
<5197>
// \{Mei} "Good friends, like \m{A}-san."
<5198>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, hey, I'm not really..."
<5199>
// \{Mei} "\m{A}-san,"
<5200>
// She looked at me with widened eyes.
<5201>
// \{Mei} "I won't forget about this city..."
<5202>
// \{Mei} "I won't forget about you, \m{A}-san."
<5203>
// \{Mei} "For onii-chan to have such a good friend..."
<5204>
// \{Mei} "I definitely, definitely, won't forget."
<5205>
// \{\m{B}} "... Well, do what you like."
<5206>
// \{Mei} "I'll come and play again."
<5207>
// \{Mei} "Next time, I'll be at least really grown up and stuff, so be surprised, okay?"
<5208>
// \{\m{B}} "I look forward to it."
<5209>
// \{Mei} "Yup. See you..."
<5210>
// She carried the sports bag that was laid at her feet.
<5211>
// It was a little sad, but that was also fleeting.
<5212>
// She lifted her head, with a beautiful smile.
<5213>
// \{Mei} "Later!"
<5214>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, later."
<5215>
// \{\m{B}} "... Until next time."
<5216>
// Mei-chan left, waving her hand.
<5217>
// We stood there until she disappeared from our sight.
<5218>
// Sunohara 
<5219>
// \{Sunohara} "Hey, \m{A}."
<5220>
// \{Sunohara} "You awake?"
<5221>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm...?"
<5222>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry, fell asleep for a bit."
<5223>
// \{Sunohara} "Nah, that's fine."
<5224>
// \{Sunohara} "Just pretend you're listening well."
<5225>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it...?"
<5226>
// I squirm around, turning over in the kotatsu.
<5227>
// And then I slowly move my body.
<5228>
// \{Sunohara} "Well..."
<5229>
// Looking up at the night sky outside the window, Sunohara began to talk.
<5230>
// \{Sunohara} "I thought I was going into some stupid school."
<5231>
// \{Sunohara} "Full of everyone studying too much..."
<5232>
// \{Sunohara} "Though there are clubs, no one's thinking of everyone else afterward."
<5233>
// \{Sunohara} "I definitely thought I wouldn't be making friends here."
<5234>
// \{Sunohara} "Despite that, I wondered about being confident here..."
<5235>
// \{Sunohara} "But you see... doing that..."
<5236>
// \{Sunohara} "I felt like I wasn't too encouraged by that..."
<5237>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<5238>
// That talk seeps into my ears, as I gaze at the wood on the desk.
<5239>
// I'm also the same.
<5240>
// Thinking, and worrying in the same way...
<5241>
// \{Sunohara} "Everyone I knew from middle school was working hard when they went to high school..."
<5242>
// \{Sunohara} "They all ended up feeling they wanted to return to the good old days."
<5243>
// \{Sunohara} "Being irritated by the soccer club guys... half, just half of my feelings were that..."
<5244>
// \{Sunohara} "And then, I started that up."
<5245>
// \{Sunohara} "The big fight with the students from another school..."
<5246>
// \{Sunohara} "If I retired, I'd have to voluntarily drop out of school, and return to my family."
<5247>
// \{Sunohara} "Do you remember?"
<5248>
// \{Sunohara} "About our first meeting."
<5249>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah."
<5250>
// Something in my memory comes to mind.
<5251>
// It was a strong, clear, and vivid memory.
<5252>
// \{Sunohara} "The time that we met."
<5253>
// \{Sunohara} "At that time, you were with that gramps, Koumura."
<5254>
// \{Sunohara} "He took over for us and gave us counsel because gramps was our homeroom teacher, huh..."
<5255>
// \{\m{B}} "I guess..."
<5256>
// \{Sunohara} "And also..."
<5257>
// \{Sunohara} "When you saw me with my face swollen and beat up...do you remember what happened?"
<5258>
// \{\m{B}} "... Yeah."
<5259>
// \{Sunohara} "... You laughed so hard, man."
<5260>
// \{Sunohara} "You were laughing while crying."
<5261>
// \{Sunohara} "It was so damn strange."
<5262>
// \{Sunohara} "I was thinking, why was this guy making such a weird face and laughing...?"
<5263>
// \{Sunohara} "Thinking that, I also became amused."
<5264>
// \{Sunohara} "I thought I could hold it in, but it was useless."
<5265>
// \{Sunohara} "I also ended up laughing."
<5266>
// \{Sunohara} "That was the first time I had laughed like that ever since I came to this school."
<5267>
// \{Sunohara} "It felt so great."
<5268>
// \{\m{B}} "I... guess it did."
<5269>
// I could already see it so clearly.
<5270>
// The scene at that time.
<5271>
// I let a smile break suddenly, remembering that.
<5272>
// \{Sunohara} "After that, you were taken in by gramps, who talked to you over tea..."
<5273>
// \{Sunohara} "Now I understand why he did that."
<5274>
// \{Sunohara} "Everything that gramps had planned."
<5275>
// \{Sunohara} "It was to introduce us to each other..."
<5276>
// \{Sunohara} "So that we'd graduate."
<5277>
// \{Sunohara} "He definitely noticed that if we were alone, we'd give up."
<5278>
// \{Sunohara} "Why don't we ask him someday,"
<5279>
// \{Sunohara} "Why it is that we're still in this school?"
<5280>
// \{\m{B}} "Indeed..."
<5281>
// \{Sunohara} "Well, we've still got a year ahead of us."
<5282>
// \{Sunohara} "Let's work hard together."
<5283>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<5284>
// It was peaceful inside.
<5285>
// I felt glad and relieved somehow, hearing just our words echo.
<5286>
// ... Two years ago.
<5287>
// There was a guy I passed by in the hallway.
<5288>
// A strange guy with blonde hair.
<5289>
// Just seeing how strange his face was even more strange, I laughed so hard.
<5290>
// Coming to school, that was a first.
<5291>
// Ahh, I felt that I could still laugh.
<5292>
// That made me so happy.
<5293>
// I found a little pleasure. 
<5294>
// Guess I'd try being idiots with him.
<5295>
// And trying that, as I thought, it really was fun.
<5296>
// Another big laugh came up.
<5297>
// It was fun and happy...
<5298>
// And many times, we laughed.
<5299>
// And even now, we were still...
<5300>
// Sunohara Epilogue 
<5301>
// \{Sunohara} "So this is the bakery where Sanae-san works..."
<5302>
// \{Sunohara} "Oh crap, I'm really getting fired up!"
<5303>
// How long has it been since Mei-chan went home?
<5304>
// It's finally the time where our bruises were going away...
<5305>
// The two of us looked up at the sign reading, "Furukawa Bakery".
<5306>
// \{\m{B}} "Should we stop?"
<5307>
// \{Sunohara} "Nah, let's not!"
<5308>
// \{Sunohara} "Before, in the end I became hazy about it..."
<5309>
// \{Sunohara} "But, Sanae-san is here, the woman I love!"
<5310>
// \{\m{B}} "I see, good luck."
<5311>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sure Sanae-san is also waiting for you!"
<5312>
// \{Sunohara} "Yeah, I'll get it on!"
<5313>
// Giving a thumbs up, he went into the store.
<5314>
// \{Sunohara} "........."
<5315>
// ... Or so I thought, he suddenly came out with a pale face.
<5316>
// \{Sunohara} "There seems to be some strange pops in here..."
<5317>
// \{\l{B}} "Who the hell's pops, huh?"
<5318>
// \{Sunohara} "Eek! He came!!"
<5319>
// \{\l{B}} "You enter a bakery and don't buy any bread? What's your problem?"
<5320>
// \{\l{B}} "You're buying, right?"
<5321>
// \{Sunohara} "Yes, I'll go and buy some!"
<5322>
// \{\l{B}} "You'll buy with all the money you have on hand?"
<5323>
// \{Sunohara} "I'll buy with everything I have!" 
<5324>
// \{\m{B}} (This person couldn't be...) 
<5325>
// A threatening man with a neckline. 
<5326>
// This person's probably...
<5327>
// \{Sanae} "Oh my, Youhei-kun, \m{A}-san!"
<5328>
// Sanae-san looked outside of the store to see all the noise in front.
<5329>
// \{\l{B}} "Kaah, someone Sanae knows?!"
<5330>
// \{Sunohara} "Y-yes! We get along well!"
<5331>
// \{\l{B}} "If that's the case, hurry up and say it!"
<5332>
// \{\l{B}} "Okay, I'll put a 10% discount on everything."
<5333>
// \{\l{B}} "So buy everything with all you've got."
<5334>
// \{Sunohara} "I-I'd be glad to!"
<5335>
// \{Sanae} "Akio-san, you shouldn't scare them."
<5336>
// \{\l{B}} "Tch... if that's what you think Sanae, it can't be helped."
<5337>
// \{\l{B}} "You narrowly escaped death, brat!"
<5338>
// \{Sunohara} "Eeeeeeek!"
<5339>
// Letting him go, he rudely returns back into the store.
<5340>
// \{Sunohara} "P-pant... pant..."
<5341>
// \{Sanae} "I apologize for letting you become so frightened..."
<5342>
// \{Sunohara} "W-who the hell is that guy...?"
<5343>
// \{Sanae} "He's my husband."
<5344>
// \{Sunohara} "Heh, is that so?"
<5345>
// \{Sunohara} "Wha, \size{30}\bEHHHHHHHHHHHH-------?!?!?!\u\size{}"
<5346>
// ... Pitiful Sunohara.
<5347>
// Looks like the time where reality kicks in has come.
<5348>
// \{Sanae} "So, what business might you have?"
<5349>
// \{Sunohara} "Ah, n-nothing..."
<5350>
// Cat's got Sunohara's tongue there from that shock.
<5351>
// That's why I brought up my voice instead.
<5352>
// \{\m{B}} "He came to say that he likes you, Sanae-san!!!!!"
<5353>
// \{Sunohara} "Stop it----!!"
<5354>
// Thud, \shake{1}\pthud, \shake{1}\p thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...!!!\shake{1}\shake{1}\shake{3}
<5355>
// \{Sunohara} "H-he's here---!"
<5356>
// \{\l{B}} "So you're the asshole that's been laying eyes on my woman---?!?!"
<5357>
// \{\l{B}} "Come with me!"
<5358>
// \{Sunohara} "\m{A}, save me!"
<5359>
// \{Sanae} "Umm... was that true just now?"
<5360>
// \{\m{B}} "Hahaha, that's just a joke for him."
<5361>
// \{\m{B}} "So don't worry about it, Sanae-san."
<5362>
// \{Sanae} "Okay, I won't!"
<5363>
// \{Sunohara} "Don't follow up with that----!!"
<5364>
// \{Sunohara} "U-uwaah..."
<5365>
// UWAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa---------...!
<5366>
// The day I first met Sunohara.
<5367>
// From that day onward, small fun things piled up on and on...
<5368>
// And even now, we were still...
<5369>
// Laughing.\wait{5000}

Sơ đồ

 Đã hoàn thành và cập nhật lên patch.  Đã hoàn thành nhưng chưa cập nhật lên patch.

×	Chính	Fuuko	Tomoyo	Kyou	Kotomi	Yukine	Nagisa	After Story	Khác
14 tháng 4	SEEN0414							SEEN6800	Sanae's Scenario	SEEN7000
15 tháng 4	SEEN0415		SEEN2415	SEEN3415	SEEN4415			SEEN6801
16 tháng 4	SEEN0416		SEEN2416	SEEN3416			SEEN6416	SEEN6802	Yuusuke's Scenario	SEEN7100
17 tháng 4	SEEN0417	SEEN1417	SEEN2417	SEEN3417	SEEN4417		SEEN6417	SEEN6803
18 tháng 4	SEEN0418	SEEN1418	SEEN2418	SEEN3418	SEEN4418	SEEN5418	SEEN6418	SEEN6900	Akio's Scenario	SEEN7200
19 tháng 4	SEEN0419		SEEN2419	SEEN3419	SEEN4419	SEEN5419	SEEN6419
20 tháng 4	SEEN0420				SEEN4420		SEEN6420		Koumura's Scenario	SEEN7300
21 tháng 4	SEEN0421	SEEN1421	SEEN2421	SEEN3421	SEEN4421	SEEN5421	SEEN6421	Interlude
22 tháng 4	SEEN0422	SEEN1422	SEEN2422	SEEN3422	SEEN4422	SEEN5422	SEEN6422	SEEN6444	Sunohara's Scenario	SEEN7400
23 tháng 4	SEEN0423	SEEN1423	SEEN2423	SEEN3423	SEEN4423	SEEN5423	SEEN6423	SEEN6445
24 tháng 4	SEEN0424		SEEN2424	SEEN3424	SEEN4424	SEEN5424	SEEN6424		Misae's Scenario	SEEN7500
25 tháng 4	SEEN0425		SEEN2425	SEEN3425	SEEN4425	SEEN5425	SEEN6425	Mei & Nagisa
26 tháng 4	SEEN0426	SEEN1426	SEEN2426	SEEN3426	SEEN4426	SEEN5426	SEEN6426	SEEN6726	Kappei's Scenario	SEEN7600
27 tháng 4		SEEN1427			SEEN4427		SEEN6427	SEEN6727
28 tháng 4	SEEN0428	SEEN1428	SEEN2428	SEEN3428	SEEN4428	SEEN5428	SEEN6428	SEEN6728
29 tháng 4	SEEN0429	SEEN1429		SEEN3429	SEEN4429		SEEN6429	SEEN6729
30 tháng 4		SEEN1430	SEEN2430	SEEN3430	SEEN4430	SEEN5430	SEEN6430		BAD End 1	SEEN0444
1 tháng 5		SEEN1501	SEEN2501	SEEN3501	SEEN4501		SEEN6501		Gamebook	SEEN0555
2 tháng 5		SEEN1502	SEEN2502	SEEN3502	SEEN4502		SEEN6502		BAD End 2	SEEN0666
3 tháng 5		SEEN1503	SEEN2503	SEEN3503	SEEN4503		SEEN6503
4 tháng 5		SEEN1504	SEEN2504	SEEN3504	SEEN4504		SEEN6504
5 tháng 5		SEEN1505	SEEN2505	SEEN3505	SEEN4505		SEEN6505
6 tháng 5		SEEN1506	SEEN2506	SEEN3506	SEEN4506		SEEN6506		Other Scenes	SEEN0001
7 tháng 5		SEEN1507	SEEN2507	SEEN3507	SEEN4507		SEEN6507
8 tháng 5		SEEN1508	SEEN2508	SEEN3508	SEEN4508		SEEN6508		Kyou's After Scene	SEEN3001
9 tháng 5			SEEN2509	SEEN3509	SEEN4509
10 tháng 5			SEEN2510	SEEN3510	SEEN4510		SEEN6510
11 tháng 5		SEEN1511	SEEN2511	SEEN3511	SEEN4511		SEEN6511		Fuuko Master	SEEN1001
12 tháng 5		SEEN1512		SEEN3512	SEEN4512		SEEN6512			SEEN1002
13 tháng 5		SEEN1513	SEEN2513	SEEN3513	SEEN4513		SEEN6513			SEEN1003
14 tháng 5		SEEN1514	SEEN2514	SEEN3514	EPILOGUE		SEEN6514			SEEN1004
15 tháng 5		SEEN1515			SEEN4800					SEEN1005
16 tháng 5		SEEN1516			BAD END					SEEN1006
17 tháng 5		SEEN1517			SEEN4904					SEEN1008
18 tháng 5		SEEN1518			SEEN4999					SEEN1009
--	Image Text								Misc. Fragments	SEEN0001
										SEEN9032
										SEEN9033
										SEEN9034
										SEEN9042
										SEEN9071
										SEEN9074