acombs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (The Kimagure Orange College People)
Kimagure Orange College
[Writer's foreword: This is the fourteenth episode of a fan-fict
series based on the characters in Kimagure Orange Road. They are
intended to take place after the movie, "I Want to Return to that
Day", and follow the characters Kasuga Kyosuke and Ayukawa Madoka
as they start the next phase of their lives in college.
If you missed the previous episodes, notes about the new
characters, and previous events are listed after the ending
credits. In addition, previous episodes are available at the
wpi.wpi.edu ftp site.
One thing I would like to say up front: Although I and my
co-writer have both graduated from college, our experience is in
the American college system and culture. The span of our
experience in the Japanese advanced education system is limited
with what we can pick up watching anime, reading manga, and
consulting with friends, pen pals and anime clubs. Any mistakes,
inconsistencies, etc. are neither intentional nor are they meant
to show disrespect for the Japanese education system. In fact, we
would appreciate any constructive criticisms, corrections, and
insight any readers might offer us. Mail all such letters,
praises or flames to acombs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu.]
Episode 14 - The Dangerous Blind Date
[Cut to the Saito residence. Saito is typing away at his computer
as Kasuga and Ayukawa are looking over some class textbooks.]
Kasuga Narration: Ayukawa decided it was time she brushed up on
her computer skills, and invited me to come along. To be honest I
was initially unenthusiastic...but as it was a chance for us to be
together, I decided to accompany her to our resident computer
expert, Saito-san...unfortunately for us, his mind was preoccupied
by other matters. Relationships can start in all sorts of strange
and unexpected ways...a coincidental meeting, an accidental kiss.
This one started harmlessly enough, with a blind date...
[As Saito finishes typing something on his computer, a knock on
the bedroom door is heard. The door opens and Kasamatsu comes in
with his bookbag on one shoulder and a surprise visitor on the
other.]
Saito: Come in! Ah Teruhiko-kun, glad you could make it!
Kasuga: EHH!??! You brought that little monster along?!?
Kasamatsu: Oh lighten up...what harm did he do?
Kasuga: ...
Kasamatsu: [To Baka.] Say hello to Kasuga!
Baka: Kasuga sukebe*! <Squawk!>
*<Netiquette violator>
Kasuga: What...?!?
Kasamatsu: [Scoldingly.] Bad boy! Say it right!
Baka: Kasuga no sukebe! <Squawk!>
Kasamatsu: [Puts a piece of food in Baka's beak.] Good boy!
Kasuga: [Getting up.] Chikusho...*
*<Netiquette violator>
Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun, it's alright. [Smiles.] Think about whom
you're getting mad at.
Saito: [Looking at his computer.] Ah! More mail!
Kasuga: [Glad to be changing the subject.] Mail?
Saito: Electronic mail from the school computer. [Directs
Kasuga's attention to the computer.]
Computer:
Mail version SMI 4.0 Type ? for help.
"/usr/spool/mail/baka": 1 message 1 new
>N 1 chun-li@ugrad.edu.butsumetsu.ac.jp Sat Jul 23 16:16 20/646 Re: Date
&
Message 1:
>From chun-li@ugrad.edu.butsumetsu.ac.jp Sat Jul 23 16:16:46 1988
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 1988 16:16:52 +0900 (GMT)
Subject: Re: Date
To: baka@ugrad.cs.butsumetsu.ac.jp
Hi!
I was happy to see your note yesterday. Your advice continues to be a big
help with homework!
I've been thinking that I've not been able to go out with a nice guy since
I starting going to college, and I thought about all the wonderful things
we've had the opportunity to share. Why don't we go out for real?
I'll meet you at Lover's Park tomorrow
at 1:00pm. Look for the girl with the red ribbon.
Chun-Li
Kasuga: [Reading the note.] "Chun-Li"? Is she an exchange
student?
Saito: Oh, those are just handles. When I was in high school, I
was in the computer club. I spent so much time on the computers,
I sorta got called the "jester" or the "village idiot" and stuff
like that. The nickname sorta stuck. Don't know why she calls
herself "Chun-Li".
Baka: Chun-Li no kawaiikochan!* <Squawk!>
*Cutie
Ayukawa: So what's her real name?
Saito: [Laughs, then stops abruptly.] I don't know.
Kasuga: Then what does she look like?
Saito: [Laughs weakly, then stops.] Err...I don't know that
either. [Puts his hand behind his head and blushes slightly.]
Kasamatsu: [Motioning to his hand-held scanner.] Why don't you
send her a picture of yourself through the computer?
Kasuga: Eh? How are you going to do that?
Ayukawa: Why not just ask her for her real address?
Saito: [Starts blushing and stuttering.] No, no, no! That'd
be...that'd be...
Kasamatsu: [To Ayukawa and Kasuga.] Ken-kun here has never been
able to ask a girl if he could hold her books for her. No way
he'll work up the guts to ask her that.
Saito: ... [After a few seconds.] Oh yeah?!? We'll see about
that! [Reaches up to a photo book and yanks out the first picture
of himself he has, then slaps it down on his desk. He turns on
the hand-scanner and runs it over the picture then loads it into
his computer.] There, I'll send it to her right now!
Ayukawa: That's not quite what I meant...
Kasamatsu: You gotta be kidding Ken-kun! No girl will want to go
out with you looking like that! Here... [Leans over to the
computer and starts a program.] If you want to impress a girl,
you gotta look your best!
Kasuga: Eh? What are you doing now?
Kasamatsu: Saito's father runs a computer outlet and so he can
get the best stuff. This is a photo image editing program.
[Starts pressing several keys, and moving the mouse around the
image, selecting key tools to edit the image of Saito.] There,
see how much better he looks?
Saito: [Looks dubiously at the retouched image.] Err...I don't
know about this. It doesn't even look like me anymore!
Ayukawa: [To Saito.] This will never work. [Sternly.] When you
base your relationship on deception and distrust, you're hurting
yourself before you even get started.
Kasuga: [Watching Kasamatsu work the computer image.] Wow...this
is really some impressive stuff!
Ayukawa: Don't you think so Kasuga-kun?
Kasuga: Can you touch up the lip?
Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun!
Kasuga: [Abruptly changes his tone.] Ahh...I mean...right...it
won't do you any good to try deceiving people! No one should be
hiding behind a ...[Starts looking back towards Ayukawa, then
barely manages to get the last word out as he comes to a grinding
halt.] mask...[Puts his hand behind his head, turns towards
Ayukawa and tries to laugh weakly.] Ah...hah...[Laughter dies in
his throat.] Sorry...
Ayukawa: ...
Kasamatsu: [To Saito.] Well, are you going to do it? Come
on...it's not like you're asking that mean-tempered Yuko you were
seeing last week.
Saito: [Defensively.] Yoko's the mean-tempered one.
Kasamatsu: [Casually.] Whatever. Send her the picture; after
all, how much can it hurt doing it by e-mail?
[Cut to the Butsumetsu gymnasium. Several students are taking
advantage of the summer break to utilize the school's athletic
equipment. Yoko is dressed in a karate gi stacking five 1-inch
boards; behind her, several older male students are eyeing her
figure.]
Man1: [Almost ready to nosebleed.] Kawaiikochan...!
Yoko: [She carefully centers her hand in the middle of the stack
of boards. Then she breathes in a controlled manner as she pulls
her hand back, and explodes forward with power.] HYAA!! [Splits
the boards in half.]
Man1: ...
Man2: [Nervously.] So how about that baseball game...Swallows
really crushed the Giants !*
*Yakult Swallows and the Yomiuru (Tokyo) Giants
[Most of the male students leave as Yoko continues her workout.
Without noticing the attention, Yoko carefully stacks five more
boards, then dubiously looks at one of the concrete blocks used to
support the attack dummies. Then, with resolved determination,
she picks one of the slabs up and places it on top of the stack.
She carefully centers her hand again, pulls back, and strikes the
stack.]
Yoko: HYAA!!! [The concrete slab cracks slightly down the
middle, but Yoko immediately drops to her knees, clutching her
hand with obvious pain.] K-kuso...*
*<Netiquette violator>
[Cut to the Butsumetsu student medical center. Yoko is having her
hand taped by an intern as a doctor examines some quickly taken X-
rays.]
Doctor: Hmm...hairline fractures in the primary and secondary
bones of the fourth and fifth phalanges. [Turns his attention
back towards Yoko.] You're very lucky. The bones in the hands
are rather delicate; as it is, it's more painful than serious.
Hsu-san, when you're done wrapping the fingers, put the fingers of
her hand in a metal finger splint. [Hands the medic a slip of
paper.] Then give her this prescription from the pharmacy for the
pain.
Hsu: Hai sensei. [Finishes the wrap and tightens it.]
Yoko: [With pain.] I...TAI!* [Angrily.] NOT SO TIGHT!
*Ouch!
Hsu: Can't be helped. We have to immobilize it for at least a
week. Sensei will want to see you in two weeks for a follow up
appointment. Until then, don't do anything stressful to the hand.
[Completes the form and hands it to Yoko.] Take this to the
pharmacy dispensary and they'll fill it. Take them as you need
them for the pain, but not if you're driving or doing anything
that requires motor skills.
Yoko: [Still irritated at her bad luck.] Hai Hsu-san.
Hsu: [Smiles.] Call me Ted.
Yoko: [Evidently not in a social mood.] Hrumph! [Takes the slip
and leaves. After picking up the medication, she goes to the
nearest bus stop and heads for home.] Of all the lousy luck...
[Cut to the street just outside the boarding house. The setting
sun paints the sky with dark red colors, with clouds overhead.
Yoko walks back towards the top of the hill and stands just
outside the surrounding wall of the house. Thinking herself
alone, she takes a moment to look at the sunset.]
Yoko: [Smiles as she looks at the sun.] How pretty...[Suddenly,
Eiji comes running up from behind her, bumping into Yoko, and in
the process, banging her splinted hand.] I...TAI!
Eiji: [Playfully.] Oops, err... konbanwa* Yuko-neechan**!
*Good evening
**Older sister, or in this case older female friend
Yoko: [Angrily cracks the knuckles in her good hand.] WHY YOU
LITTLE...!
Eiji: [Runs in terror for his life back into the boarding house's
yard.] T-TADAIMA!*
*I'm back; standard greeting when returning home
Yoko: [Runs into the yard, slighly slowed down by her hand not
being able to move freely.] COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE...! Eh?!?
[Comes to an abrupt halt as she ends up almost face-to-face with
Fujimoto. Eiji hides behind her, with a look of relief on his
face.]
Fujimoto: Ara*...! [Gingerly takes Yoko's splinted hand to
examine it more closely.] What happened to you?
*Oh my!
Yoko: [Slightly embarrassed, but visibly calmer in Fujimoto's
presence.] Tr-training accident.
Fujimoto: You should make sure to disinfect the area around the
metal splint. [Pulls out a bottle of povidone-iodine and
carefully dabs the area with a cotton ball. She then hands it to
Yoko.] Will you give this back to Katsu-san when you're better?
Yoko: Ahh hai. [Accepts the bottle and cotton balls.] Thanks.
Eiji: [Sticks his tongue out and pulls down one eye while hiding
behind Fujimoto's apron.] Beee...!
Yoko: [Gives Eiji a meaningful look and cracks her knuckles
again.]
Eiji: ...
[Cut to inside the boarding house.]
Yoko: [To herself as she removes her shoes] How does a lady like
Fujimoto-san have such a spoiled brat like that? [Lets herself
into Room 2.] Tadaima.
Yuko: [Shocked expression as she looks up while lying on her
laid-out futon.] EHH?!? What happened to you?
Yoko: I had an accident in the gym. [Yanks her futon out of the
oshiire*, but because she can only use one hand, it comes unfolded
and flops onto the floor.]
*Special cupboard used to hold a folded futon during the day
Yuko: [Looks at Yoko a little slyly.] Don't tell me you tried to
split 5 boards again!
Yoko: [Confidently.] Don't be ridiculous! I can split 5 wood
boards now! [More subdued.] Concrete still gives me problems...
Yuko: Baka...
Yoko: Speaking of problems, where's Katsu-san? [Sets the
disinfectant bottle and the pain killers on her dressing table.]
Yuko: He said he'd be with Keiko-san studying in the library. Do
you think there's any chance he'll ask her out?
Yoko: Not unless Hayashibara-san's dumping her! I mean, how can
the "mad scientist" compete?
Yuko: Well, that was a bet. Maybe he's got his eye on someone
else?
Yoko: [Nonchalantly.] Maybe. [Notices that Yuko looks a little
depressed.] Eh? What's wrong?
Yuko: [A little sad.] Saito-san called today. He said that he's
not going to be able to make it to see the movie with me.
Yoko: [Surprised.] Eh? [Turns her nose up.] Well, maybe he's
planning to spend the evening with his computer.
Yuko: [Sadly.] I think he's seeing another girl or something.
Yoko: Honestly, it's not like he's a special prize.
Yuko: [With concern.] But I gotta do something! I don't want
this to end up like Nakayama-san in high-school again!
Yoko: [Resolutely when she sees Yuko's obvious concern.] Right!
We'll *kill* the other girl!
Yuko: Don't talk nonsense! [Notices Yoko pull out a small
picture.] Eh? Who's that?
Yoko: [Looks, then shows Yuko a black and white printout.]
Someone I met in school. He's a really nice guy!
Yuko: [A little enviously.] Wow...he's a handsome guy!
[Notices the picture's slightly textured appearance.] Where did
you get this kind of picture?
Yoko: From the school computer room workstations. It's...sorta a
new way to send pictures.
Yuko: What's his name?
Yoko: Ah...yeah...name...err...where's everyone else?
Yuko: [A little suspicious of the subject change, but decides to
let the matter drop for now.] Kasuga-san was supposed to be at
Saito-san's place trying to learn how to use a computer. I think
he said that Ayukawa-san was there too.
Yoko: Madoka the Pick hacking away with a computer? Who would
have thought it three years ago?
Yuko: Really. Tanaka-san's been upstairs all day with some guy
who came by this afternoon.
Yoko: [Surprised.] Guy?!?
Yuko: [Nods.] Un! All dressed up in a suit and everything!
Yoko: EH?!? [Points upstairs.] Do you suppose Tanaka-san's...?
Yuko: [Pulls her red hair ribbon out.] I wouldn't put it past
him. The guy gives me the creeps!
Yoko: [Looking as congenial as she can as she watches Yuko pull
her hair down for the night.] Say Yuko, can I ask you a favor?
Yuko: Eh?
[Cut back to the Saito family's apartment. Kasuga and Ayukawa
exit the apartment with their school books and walk towards the
bus stop. The nighttime summer air is warm as the lights of the
city come to life.]
Kasuga: Geez...who would have thought that computers were so
tough....
Ayukawa: Come on Kasuga-kun, it wasn't that bad.
Kasuga: That's easy for you to say! I'm not like Saito-san at
all...he was really smart in high-school...he never had problems
with math.
Ayukawa: He studied hard in school. You can tell by the way he
takes notes and organizes his material.
[They reach the bus stop and sit down on the bench. Across the
street, a neon light is humming and flickering. Every once in
awhile, a car passes by. After several long seconds of
silence....]
Kasuga: Ayukawa...about tonight...sorry....
Ayukawa: That's alright. It's not--
Kasuga: [Interrupting.] No! [Calms down.] We both played that
game. Pretending to be someone we weren't, even when we were just
by ourselves. And we both were hurt by it. I know I was. [Turns
to Ayukawa.] And I know you were too. It's important, to me,
that we remember that. But I guess I should also remember your
feelings. I suppose I'm not only apologizing for tonight, but all
the times I deceived you.
[Kasuga leans towards Ayukawa. She leans towards him and closes
her eyes. Their lips meet, and for a moment, time freezes. Then
they're rudely interrupted by a honking horn. They quickly
separate.]
Man1 in passing car: Don't stop on our account!!
Man2 in passing car: Oi! Oi! You should make a video!! I'll
rent it!!
Man3 in passing car: Yeah, call it, "At the Bus Stop!"
[Kasuga and Ayukawa both turn bright red and stare down at the
street.]
Kasuga: [After the cars are long gone.] Um, so, uh, maybe we can
continue this in a more private setting?
Ayukawa: Yeah...
[They continue staring at the asphalt.]
Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun, does Saito-san remind you of anyone?
Kasuga: [Thinks a bit.] No. [Looks at Ayukawa.] Why?
Ayukawa: Well, think about what he's doing: going on a date with
some girl he barely knows and has never met. Meanwhile, he's
still dating another girl, but isn't going to tell her about this
new one. [Turns to Kasuga and fixes her gaze on him.] Doesn't
that sound at all familiar?
Kasuga: [Nervously.] A-Ayukawa! Don't joke around like that!
Ayukawa: Maybe you two aren't so different after all...
[Kasuga turns away.]
Ayukawa: [Noting Kasuga's reaction.] Maybe it's my turn to
apologize. [Smiles.]
[Kasuga turns back to Ayukawa, who leans towards him. She rests
her right hand over his heart, and lays her head against it.
Kasuga is a bit taken aback.]
Kasuga: Ayukawa, we uh....
Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun...remember the first time we were at a bus
stop together?
Kasuga: Well...
Ayukawa's voice from memory: Can I stay at your place tonight?
Kasuga: ...yeah...a lot's changed since then...[Places his right
arm around Ayukawa.]...but one thing hasn't...the way I feel about
you...[Kasuga inserts his left hand between Ayukawa's right hand
and her head. He grasps her hand.] Ayukawa, I've always loved
you...and I promise, nothing will ever change that...
[Ayukawa turns her head up to look at Kasuga.]
Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun...
[Kasuga holds Ayukawa tighter as the distance between their lips
slowly shrinks. Just as they touch, they're interrupted by a loud
rumble.]
Bus Driver: [Just having pulled up.] Oi! Are you getting on or
not?!?
[Both Kasuga and Ayukawa quickly pull away with embarrassment.
After taking a moment to examine the bus, they realize it's
Kasuga's.]
Kasuga: I...I guess I'll see you tomorrow then...[Gets on board.]
Oyasumi!*
Good night
Ayukawa: [Waves good bye and smiles] Oyasumi...[Watches the bus
pull away and sits down on the bench for the next bus. Across the
street, unnoticed by Ayukawa, a figure lowers his hat just a
little more to further obscure his face.]
Figure in the shadows: [Watches Ayukawa as she waits for the next
bus to get back to her apartment.] Ayukawa...does she know?
[Pauses.] Kasuga Kyosuke...did you trust her with your secret?
COMMERCIAL BREAK
[Cut to the post-apocalypse world. Burned out buildings form
silhouettes on the horizon. In one relatively intact building, a
small unassuming clerk sits behind a cash register. Suddenly,
from the distance, the sound of collapsing buildings is heard.
The clerk watches in shock as a powerful-looking man with black
hair walks right through the falling debris without even slowing
down, his body cutting a swath through the wreckage. He taps the
front door, causing it to explode with power. Purposefully, he
strides forward, as the clerk fearfully notices the multiple
battle scars of this obviously experienced warrior.]
Kenshiro: [Cracks his knuckles three times.] I am Kenshiro, Fist
of the Northstar...[Points at the clerk to underscore his next
point] and I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler!
Clerk: [Nods weakly and fearfully.] ...
Voiceover: Here at Midas, you won't pay a lot for your muffler!
We have experts who know how to fix it and fix it right!
[Cut to later that day. The clerk is just recovering from his
earlier shock when another large imposing figure walks forward,
his long white hair flowing in the wind. As he walks, blue
streaks of energy are seen arcing from his fingers. With a wave
of his hands, the newly-replaced door comes apart in neatly sliced
pieces.]
Ray: [Points at the clerk.] I'm looking for my sister, but until
I find her...[Cracks his knuckles.] I'm not going to pay a lot
for this muffler!
Voiceover: Midas! If it's not Midas, it's not fixed!
[Writer's note: Standard disclaimer.]
END COMMERCIAL BREAK
[Cut to Room 4 much later the same night. Cigarette smoke slowly
drifts up from the ashtray in the middle of the table. Tanaka
sits with an emotionless expression on his face as another man
wearing a business suit lays out some paperwork on the opposite
side of the table.]
Tanaka: [After taking a puff, he sets the cigarette down.]
Please continue, Ginga-san.
Ginga: [Going over his notes.] He left the Chez Kooun around
4:32pm and boarded the train at the Sakuragicho terminal, getting
off at Kannai station. Stopped off at Bikkuri Sushi for a bite to
eat, then visited Books Kinokuniya before walking back to the
boarding house.
Tanaka: Details?
Ginga: He had 5 white-plates and 2 red plates at Bikkuri. [Hands
Tanaka the last of the pages of his notes.] He picked up Tanizaki
Junichiro's "The Bridge of Dreams."
Tanaka: [Smiles with an amused expression.] I was always partial
to his work in "The Key"; "Bridge of Dreams" always struck me as
just a little too sentimental, especially for a class assignment.
[Face hardens again.] Then nothing unusual happened after you
picked up where I left off on trailing him?
Ginga: Not that I could tell. [Puts his notes down.] Why don't
you just do what you usually do? That's worked for a lot of girls
over the years.
Tanaka: Ayukawa-san is not just another girl. I need to find out
more about what she sees in him.
Ginga: Nothing I've seen from Kasuga-san indicates that he's any
different from any of the others.
Tanaka: Hito wa mikake ni yoranu mono*; [Extinguishes his
cigarette.] I have reason to believe that there's more to Kasuga-
san than meets the eye. [Looks at Ginga meaningfully.]
Something...that I can't fully describe, but must be at the core
of his being.
*People are not what they appear to be. (Japanese proverb)
Ginga: I see. So what do you need now?
Tanaka: For now, just more information. I think I'm beginning to
see a little of what Kasuga-san is hiding. I want you to fill in
the missing pieces; start by finding out everything you can about
Ayukawa-san.
Ginga: I shall do my best. Anything in particular you would like
to know?
Tanaka: [Lights a new cigarette.] Everything...where she goes,
what she eats, what she reads, whom she meets, what she likes,
[Pauses for emphasis.] what she hates. [Exhales a long thin line
of cigarette smoke to underscore his point.]
Ginga: [Nods.] Understood. [Leaves.]
[Cut to the next day at Lover's Park. Saito is sitting on the
park bench dressed in a button-up shirt and bow tie. However, his
face shows an expression of confusion. To his amazement, almost a
quarter of the girls present are wearing ribbons of one color or
another.]
Umao: Ushiko-san, wherefore art thou Ushiko-san?
Ushiko: Umao-san, wherefore art thou Umao-san?
[They lean towards each other, then suddenly pull back as they
notice Saito examining Ushiko's red hair ribbon.]
Saito: [Embarrassed.] Ah! Wrong person! [Goes away to another
bench with despair.] C-can't be... [Sits down at the bench.]
Well, she knows what I look like. Maybe she'll find me.
[He sits down and waits. As the minutes tick by, he becomes
noticeably nervous as the fact that he's alone in a park full of
couples becomes increasingly apparent to people who pass by.]
Saito: Che...looks like she stood me up...[Gets up and prepares
to leave.] Struck out col...[Turns and bumps into someone coming
the opposite direction.] <Oooff!> [Bounces off and falls
backwards.]
Yoko: <Oooff!> [Looks up and sees who she bumped into.]
Bakayaro! Watch where you're going!
Saito: [Picks himself up and looks up in surprise.] Eh? Yuko-
san?!?
Yoko: [Slaps Saito's head with her left hand.] That's Yoko!
Saito: [Somewhat annoyed.] Well you can hardly blame me for not
knowing the difference! What are you doing with Yuko-san's
ribbon?
Yoko: [Turns her nose up.] Hrumph! That's none of your
business! [Then turns to face Saito.] For your information, I'm
here on a date with a handsome guy!
Saito: Eh? [Looks behind Yoko and notices that she is very much
alone.] Where is this guy?
Yoko: [Suddenly not so confident.] He's...he's held up! [More
confidently.] He'll be here! I know it!
Saito: [Sits back down.] Maybe you scared him off with your
tomboy routine?
Yoko: [Sits down on the other end of the bench.] Shut up!
[Cut to 15 minutes later. Saito and Yoko are sitting on the same
bench, both waiting for their respective dates.]
Yoko: ...and what's the deal with you dumping Yuko?
Saito: I'm not dumping Yuko! I'm just here to meet someone I've
been writing to; a pen-pal.
Yoko: That's not how she sees it! She told me you were seeing
another girl! [Holds up her fist to Saito to make her point.]
And we both hate two-timers!
Saito: ...
[Cut to 30 minutes later. Saito and Yoko are still both sitting
on the same bench.]
Saito: [Returns from a vending machine and hands Yoko a soda.]
Here...
Yoko: [Pulls out her medication and swallows two pills with some
soda.] Thanks. [Looks at her watch, which says 2:00pm. She
begins to look a little depressed.] He's not coming.
Saito: [To himself as he pulls out his notebook computer out of
his backpack and starts typing.] Maybe she left a message...
Yoko: [Looks at Saito with disbelief.] What do you do, sleep
with that thing?!?
Saito: What? [Looks at Yoko with disdain.] It's tech stuff!
You wouldn't understand!
Yoko: [Equally disdainful.] You'd be surprised what I
understand!
[Cut to 15 minutes later. Both Saito and Yoko are getting
restless at the lack of activity.]
Yoko: [Watches Saito get up and go to a telephone booth and start
dialing.] Eh? Who are you calling?
Saito: Your sister. Since my friend apparently has other
commitments, I'm going to see if she still wants to come over to
my place tonight.
Yoko: Oi! You're going to get her drunk and take advantage of
her!
Saito: [Look of shock.] D-do I look like that kind of guy?!?
We're just going to have a few drinks and talk that's all!
Yoko: [Smiles menacingly.] Oh...? Then you don't mind if I
accompany you to make sure?
Saito: ...
[Cut to the Saito residence.]
Saito, Yoko, Yuko: [Clink glasses of various drinks.] Kampai!*
*Literally "dry glass"; traditional salutation or toast before
drinking
Yuko: Eh? E-mail pen-pal?
Saito: Hai. I just wanted to meet her to find out a little more
about her. It's not like I was trying to two-time you or
anything.
Yoko: [Sarcastically.] That's right; that's why he was all
dressed up.
Saito: That's not it!
Yoko: Oh, then why were you so intent on meeting this mystery
girl?
Saito: Just hoping she wasn't anything like you!
Yoko: At least I'm not a computer nerd!
Yuko: Cut it out you two! [To Saito as she pours him and Yoko
another drink.] Yoko just doesn't want what happened to us in
junior-high to happen again.
Saito: Eh? What happened?
Yuko: There was this guy in Junior High we were both seeing named
Nakayama Sho; well, that is, we both wanted to see him. So we
took turns when dating him.
Saito: [Starts laughing.] Wow...I'll bet he never knew
a...[Laughing dies when he see both Miyasatos' reactions.] So
what happened? Did he find out?
Yuko: [Snaps.] Of course he did! [Looking apologetic.]
Sorry...when he did, he was really upset and who could blame him?
It was a really stupid stunt we pulled, and even back then we
should have known better than that.
Yoko: [Looking sleepy.] That's right...[Tries to stand up, but
falls.] I'm...not feeling so good...[Passes out.]
Yuko: [Puts her drink down.] Yoko! [Pulls her up and tries to
wake her, but fails.] Funny...she didn't drink that much. She
usually can drink more than this.
Saito: [Remembers the medication Yoko took in the park.]
Waitaminute! [He opens Yoko's purse and empties the contents on
the chair.]
Yuko: Oi! What do you think you're doing?
Saito: [Searching.] She took something while we were sitting on
that bench. [Finds the prescription bottle and notices that there
is a small label clearly marked "Do not take with alcohol."] Oh
shoot...! [Picks up the phone.]
Yuko: [A little worried.] Who are you calling?
Saito: Katsu-san. If anyone would know what this stuff is, he
would.
[Cut to the boarding house. In Room 6, Katsu closes off a valve
to a complex set-up of glassware, filling a beaker with hot tea.
On the other side of the table, Kimura finishes writing something
on a sheet of notebook paper.]
Kimura: [With a bubbly expression.] There, see? [As she
writes.] |a(n)|^(1/n) = (1/(2^(n+(-1)^n)))^(1/n) = 1/2*(1/(2^(-
1)^n/n)). But when we let n go to infinity, the second term drops
out, and we have 1/2, ne!!
Katsu: [Putting two beakers of hot tea down on the table.] Ah
sugoi!* You really know this stuff!
*Wow
Kimura: Hai! Okaasan and otoosan* said that the most important
thing in life is to study hard and go to a good university.
*Mother and father
Katsu: But you're here already. You don't have to push so hard
now.
Kimura: [While scrawling on another sheet of paper.] But okaasan
says that we have to keep studying and doing homework.
Katsu: [Slightly amused.] Does she really say that? [Looks down
at the paper Kimura is writing on.] By the way, you're doing my
homework now.
Kimura: [Looks down at what she's writing on.] Oh my...
Katsu: [Examines the paper.] What do you know? You got the
answers right without even trying. [Notices Kimura not paying
attention]. Eh? What's wrong?
Kimura: Katsu-san, remember last spring? When I stayed over at
your place for the night?
Katsu: Ahh...yeah?
Kimura: But...you told my parents that we were at the library
that night?
Katsu: Well...that's not...I mean...we were studying most of the
night.
Kimura: But...why?
Katsu: [Takes a moment to think.] Kyoiku Mama* want their
children to be "protruding nails"** in schoolwork, and they
usually don't want them to be spending the night with strange
guys. I...just didn't want you to get into trouble. People were
liable to misunderstand and I didn't want that to happen...
*Education mother
**A protruding nail gets hammered down. (Japanese proverb)
[Writer's note: In Japan, the "education mother" refers to women
who pressure their children to study constantly in order to excel
on standardized exams. Other nicknames include Onibaba (Devil
Woman) and Mamagon (Dragon Mother).]
Kimura: [Nods.] True. [Eyes turn doleful.] Hayashibara-san
hasn't talked to me since he took me out!
Katsu: [Falls over sideways.] ...!
Kimura: [Still dolefully.] Do you think he sees me as a bad
girl?
Katsu: [Nervously.] Well I think...I think, he'd be crazy not to
like a cute girl like you! [Holds his fist in an encouraging
way.] Do your best, ne?
[Just then, the telephone rings.]
Katsu: [Slightly annoyed.] Who could that be at this hour?
[Picks up the phone.] Hello?
Saito: [From the telephone.] Ah good! Katsu-san, I'm at my
place with the Miyasato twins and I think there's something wrong
with Yoko!
Katsu: Eh? What's wrong?
Saito: Well, she's passed out! I think she's taken a little too
much of her medicine!
Katsu: [Wanting to get back to Kimura.] Well what kind of
medicine? Did you call the paramedics?
Saito: Well they're little pink, bullet-shaped capsules.
Katsu: [Growing a little irritated.] What does it say on the
label?
Saito: Err...[Looks at the label.] It says Darvon/propoxyphene,
65 mg capsules.
Katsu: [Almost panics.] Shoot! Did you say propoxyphene?! Has
she been drinking?!
Saito: Ahh...[Looks guiltily at the open bottle of liquor.]
Yeah. A few...
Katsu: [Tries to calm down.] Now listen very carefully. Don't
let her fall asleep, no matter what! If she does, keep her
breathing with artificial respiration! If you have any naloxone,
give her some! Then call the poison control center! I'll be over
as soon as I can! [Hangs up.] Kimura-san! I gotta leave!
There's been an emergency at Saito-san's place!
[Cut back to the Saito residence.]
Saito: [Starts shaking Yoko.] Come on get up! Oi, get up! [To
Yuko.] You wouldn't happen to have any naloxone with you?
Yuko: [Starting to worry.] N-no! What's that?
Saito: [Trying to calm down.] Right...go get some coffee fast!
Yuko: Un! [Heads for the kitchen.]
Saito: Oi, come on! [Starts gently patting Yoko's face.] Stay
with us here!
Yoko: [Drowsily.] Go away...I'm trying to sleep...
Saito: [Slaps Yoko.] Get up! [To himself with trepidation.]
Guess I'm going to have to get serious here. [To Yoko.] You'd
better stay awake, because I'm not giving mouth-to-mouth to an
otemba* like yo--Itai!
*tomboy
Yuko: [Rams her elbow into the back of Saito's head.] Oi! Watch
what you call my sister!
Saito: [Speaks with surprising force as he painfully rubs the
back of his head.] Bakayaro! If we don't keep her awake until
the ambulance arrives, she could die!
Yuko: ...!
Yoko: [Through a haze of alcohol.] Wh...what...?
Saito: [To himself with regret.] Sorry about this, but it's for
your own good...[Takes Yoko's right hand and raps it against the
table. While the pain killer manages to dull most of the effect,
Yoko still manages to notice.]
Yoko: ITE! [Beginning to get angry.] What the h***...?!?
Saito: [Takes a cup of coffee from the tray Yuko had just brought
into the room.] Sorry Yoko-san, this is for your own good!
[Tosses the coffee at Yoko's torso, then runs away to the other
side of the room.]
Yoko: ATSUI!!!* KONO...!!** [Staggers her way across the room
and takes a swing at Saito, but because of her reduced speed,
Saito manages to duck. She then loses her balance and falls back
down.]
*Hot
**<Start of a netiquette violator>
Saito: [As he watched Yoko's punch go through the wall behind
him.] Ikkene...!* [Fearfully.] Maybe mouth-to-mouth would have
been easier! [Manages to get around Yoko and head to the other
side of the room.]
*<Netiquette violator>
Yoko: TEME...!* [Pulls her hand out of the wall, and tries to
get to her feet, but falls back down. Undaunted, she starts
crawling towards Saito with single-minded determination, knocking
over furniture as she goes.] Bukkoroshite yaru!**
*<Start of a netiquette violator>
**<Netiquette violator>
Saito: [Looks left and right, and suddenly realizes that he's in
a corner.] Ah...ah...
Yuko: Yoko yamenasai!*
*Stop it!
Saito: [Bolts to one side to escape, but suddenly feels something
stop him.] OH SHOOT!
Yoko: [Finally manages to grab the back of Saito's pants by the
belt.] GOT YOU NOW!
Saito: [Fearfully as he realizes the chase is over.]
AAAIIIIEEEE!!!! [Watches the world turn upside down.]
Yoko: [As she lifts Saito up and over behind her.] SHI-NE!!!*
[Imbeds Saito into the ground.]
*Die!!!
<CRASH!>
[Just then, Katsu barges through the front door, with a medical
team behind him,. Much to his surprise, Yoko has just finished a
suplex on Saito.]
Katsu: Is everyone...[Sees Saito upside-down on the floor, and
Yoko just about ready to collapse.] ...alright?
[Cut to the Butsumetsu medical center. Yoko is having her hand
rebandaged by Hsu, who then tapes up Saito's forehead. Behind
him, Kasamatsu watches with an amused expression on his face.]
Doctor: [Irritated to be awake this late at night.] What did we
tell you about doing stressful things with your hand? You've just
tacked on another three weeks in the cast. [To Saito.] As for
you, don't you think you could have thought of a better way to
keep her active than that?
Saito: [Looking down.] Best I could think of on short notice.
Kasamatsu: Still striking out with girls ne?
Saito: [Embarrassed.] Be quiet!
Hsu: [Half-seriously as he finishes bandaging Saito.] You need
some pain killers?
Kasamatsu: Come on! [Drags Saito by the arm.] There are better
ways to kill the pain!
[Cut back to the boarding house. In Room 2, Yoko and Yuko are
both preparing for bed.]
Yoko: [Frustrated.] I can't believe it...whole day wasted. No
date, got my blouse ruined, hurt my hand even more...
Yuko: [Picking up on Yoko's speech.] ...got your life saved...
Yoko: Wh-what?
Yuko: Seems to me like you owe him your life; honestly, what kind
of fool takes medicine without reading the label?!
Yoko: Don't be ridiculous! I'm just...well...
Yuko: Eh? [Slyly.] Just can't stand being saved by a "computer
nerd"? Why don't you think about it?
Yoko: Just a second! That's silly...
Saito's voice from memory: If we don't keep her awake until the
ambulance arrives, she could die!
Yoko: [Looks at her new finger cast for a long time in silence.]
isn't it...?
[Cut to the Saito residence. Yoko is standing at the front door
ringing the doorbell. She has an apologetic look on her face, as
well as some embarrassment as she mentally goes over what she
wants to say. However, as minutes tick by, it becomes apparent
that no one is home. Sitting down, she pulls out a notepad and
begins to write. Because of the cast on her right hand, she is
forced to write with her off-hand. After several minutes, she
folds the note in half, then pins it against the door hinge. She
then walks to the bus stop down the block and waits. After a few
minutes, a bus pulls up and Yoko gets on board. Unseen by her,
two other passengers exit out the back door. Their stagger
suggests that they have been at bars recently.]
Kasamatsu: [Barely able to walk.] See...<hic!> there's more than
one way to take off the <hic!> pain!
Saito: [Still sporting the bandage on his face.] Really,
really...<hic!> That's the last time I help *her* <hic!> out!
Kasamatsu: Eh? You have a <hic!> note on your door. [Pulls the
note off the door hinge, but with a small tear against the loose
edges, which promptly fly away in the soft breeze.]
Saito: Baka...you <hic!> tore the top and bottom off you
clumsy...
Kasamatsu: [Hands the note to Saito.] So...<hic!> what's it say?
Saito: [Reading the note.] ...orry for what happened yesterday.
I know how much it must have hurt; and I can only say that what I
did was wrong and hope you'll accept my apologies.
Sometimes it's easy...to hide behind the mask, pretending to be
someone you're not. For me...well, I'm almost happier you weren't
home. It's easier for me...to be telling you like this. I don't
know if I would have had the courage to tell you this directly.
Maybe...you would like to go out on a date? This time, for real.
Sincer- [To Kasamatsu as he fingers the jagged bottom of the
page.] You know what?
Kasamatsu: Eh? What?
Saito: This must be from "Chun <hic!> Li"!
Kasamatsu: Your <hic!> computer girlfriend?
Saito: She tracked me down in the school <hic!> computer system!
Kasamatsu: [Staring at the note.] Why is her <hic!> handwriting
so bad?
Saito: CTS?* People who <hic!> use computers a lot get that!.
*Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Kasamatsu: [Reads the note again.] She...<hic!> sounds like a
nice girl...not at all like that otemba Yoko!
Saito: Hai...
[Cut to the bus as it pulls up at the bottom of the hill where the
boarding house resides. Yoko disembarks and walks up the hill.
The cool night air blows as she passes under street lights in
silence.]
Yoko: [Without warning.] <Ah-choo!>*
*Japanese myth; sneezing implies that someone's talking about you.
[Slowly pull back from the frozen scene. In the black background,
a blushing Yoko covers her mouth as she sneezes.]
END CREDITS
New Characters Designer/Writer Stephen Tsai
Doujinshi Artwork Tony Jung
Pre-readers Robert Carragher
Quincy S. Huoh
Lisa Richardson
Eric Shen
Robert DeLoura
Brian Edmonds
Andy Combs
Harold Ancell
Peter Van Overen
Very special thanks to Hitoshi Doi
Dr. Alan B. Combs
Ted Hsu
A tip of the hat and a deep bow to Matsumoto Izumi for starting
the whole thing
If I left anyone off, my apologies. Any mistakes/embarrassing
faux pas are entirely my own. If there is anything here you must
flame, aim them at me and me alone.
Thank you for taking the time to read this episode of my series.
If you are interested, previous episodes should be available at
the wpi.wpi.edu ftp site. Assuming that I don't get flamed off
the net, I've got the next episode in the works. If you have any
story ideas, or general ideas, please send them. Any tidbits
about the Japanese advanced education system will be especially
looked at (see first writer's note).
Hope you enjoyed it and thanks again!
For the new readers: I'll be doing character profiles, major
location descriptions, and situation updates on a rotating basis
for each episode. If there is a particular character, place or
event that you would like to know more about, and it is not being
covered, don't hesitate to email me and I will send you either a
note or a copy of the episode it is introduced.
Focus on Club Noir [Introduced in Episode 2]: The Club Noir is
one of the better known live houses. A no-frills basement
nightclub catering to a younger crowd, it boasts some of the
finest in native and imported jazz, jazz rock, and blues. With
the mixed schedules of musicians, the band's roster changes in
cycles throughout the week.
Club Noir has a dance floor, live bands, and sells beer,
liquor and some food, with doors opening at 6:30pm. Currently,
Handa Shun is the director of bands, as a side job to being the
Butsumetsu University Jazz band director.
Visual Description: The nightclub has a large, lit dance floor,
and a music booth to back up the live bands. At the edges of the
dance floor, there are areas to sit, have drinks and talk between
musical numbers. Close anime comparisons include (but are not
limited to) Disco Moebius from KOR.
