script-a2-Hanako

label en_H2:
    "As we are setting up the pieces, there is a noise at the door."

    li "Ah, you're both here, as I expected."

    show lilly basic_weaksmile
    with charaenter

    ha "Lilly…"

    hi "Oh, hey there Lilly. Are you finished?"

    li "Yes. Our teacher managed to round up some extra help, so I was able to leave. Have you been here since you left?"

    hi "Pretty much, we've just been playing a bit of chess."

    ha "W-would you like a cup of tea?"

    li "Actually, I think it may be a good idea to go outside for a little while…"

    show hanako def_worry
    with charachange

    "The instant drop in Hanako's face shows her objection to this plan, yet she says nothing."

    "I feel strangely compelled to speak for her."

    hi "I… I kinda think that we should just stay here…"

    li "Really? It's so crowded here that I was thinking we should leave the school and head for the local teahouse."

    ha "You mean the S-shanghai?"

    show lilly basic_smile
    with charachange

    li "Of course; with everyone at the festival it should be practically empty."

    hi "Tea house?"

    li "Oh, that's right, you probably don't know of it."
    #Odds are fairly good he does instead; damn Shangai Amnesia will be a fucking headache to check for in final release. Note to self: check. -SC

    li "There is a tea house not far from here, we go there quite often."

    li "Well, perhaps \"tea house\" isn't the correct word, but that is what the place calls itself."

    li "\"Café\" would be more appropriate, I believe."

    "Lilly's attempt at an explanation is leaving me a little befuddled. A café that calls itself a teahouse..."

    "Aren't they the same thing?"

    hi "I… don't quite follow you, to be honest, but I'm game, I suppose."

    hi "Hanako, what do you think?"

    "Hanako jumps a little at being forced into the conversation, but at least she seems less distraught than before."

    ha "If… if it's the Shanghai, I think it'll be nice."

    li "Well then, it's settled. Let's be on our way."

    "Hanako and I rise from the table and our preempted chess game."

    "Before I can do anything, Hanako has poured the pieces into the small container and put the board away."

    hi "Looks like we're ready now. Please, lead on."

    "Hanako moves to Lilly's side and we venture onto the school's corridors."

    "The pair leads me through a series of unfamiliar doors, and we emerge on the side of the building opposite to the festival grounds."

    scene bg school_gate

    "Insulated by the heavy stone of the building, the noise from the crowd has faded to a murmur."

    #"Even around the gate there is only a limited amount of human traffic heading into the grounds."
    #I don't think that would be in sight from this angle. Need2check comparative geography. -SC

    hi "Strange; I thought by now that most people would be beginning to leave…"

    li "They're probably here to view the fireworks."

    hi "Fireworks?"

    li "Yes, apparently the school puts on quite a show."

    li "A lot of people come from town just to watch it."

    "Lilly's decision to leave the school grounds seems to make sense now. Hanako would probably have a hard time with the whole town descending onto the school."

    "I wonder if they do this every year to avoid the inevitable crowd?"

    scene bg school_road

    "For the second time since arriving at Yamaku I find myself walking down this road with Lilly."
    #Again need2check flow, but this seems likely to be true. -SC

    "Only now that I can't hear the incessant noise of the festival do I realize how loud it was. In the still evening air I can hear my ears ringing slightly as they recover from the day's assault on them."

    "Hanako clings to Lilly, but still manages to guide her along the road. That, and avoiding the occasional gaze from curious pedestrians, appears to totally sap her constitution."

    "She rarely raises her focus from the ground in front of her, nor does she utter a word."

    "Lilly seems to be a little less comfortable here than in the school, as well. Her cane waves in an arc to her front faster here than it does in the school."

    "Once you leave our insulated world it's impossible to change."

    "Inside, everyone is \"special\", which negates the \"special-ness\" of it."

    "But once we venture outside the school gates, we are returned to the status of \"outsider\" and generic labels."

    "Especially when we are still in school uniform. It's like hanging a sign around your neck challenging people to figure out what is wrong with you."

    "I'm surprised that so many of the students keep it on. Then again, with canes and wheelchairs common amongst the students, I guess it's not really that much of a giveaway."

    "Or maybe I'm the only one that sees this as a stigma? Maybe you get used to it after a time, like any other school uniform."

    scene bg suburb_shanghaiext

    "The tea house seems fairly standard from the outside; just a ordinary building with typical signs decorating the entrance."
    #Writing from here on might need major refurbishing, as above. -SC

    "It looks like the type of place you'd walk by without a thought, just another generic café in a sea of thousands."

    "If Hanako hadn't steered Lilly into the entrance I would have continued on down the road without ever knowing that it existed."

    scene bg suburb_shanghaiint

    "Inside the tea house it takes on a more traditional feel. Everything seems to have been made from the same lump of timber, from the counter and benches to the high-backed booths around the walls."

    "But the most striking feature of the room is the lack of life. I think I can faintly hear something bubbling away in the background, but otherwise the room is silent."

    "Without any direction, we simply wait near the entrance, politely obeying the \"Please wait to be seated\" sign."

    hi "Er, is this place closed or something?"

    "The sound of a chair falling over echoes through the empty room, and a head shoots up from inside a booth."

    #show yuuko shang_panic

    yu "I wasn't asleep and welcome to the Shanghai!"

    "Yuuko, dressed in a pastel apron and clutching a menu, rushes to greet us. Her misaligned glasses and ruffled hair cast suspiscion on her previous statement."

    "But whether she was asleep or not isn't the first question that leaps to my mind."

    hi "You work here now? What happened to the library?"

    yu "What? Lilly? Hisao?"

    yu "Welcome to the Shanghai!"

    "Yuuko, still waking up, jerks into a violent bow, dislodging her glasses in the process."

    yu "Uweh!? My glasses…"

    "As I pick up her spectacles off the floor, Lilly offers an explanation."

    li "Yuuko works here part-time when she's not at the library. It's one of the reasons we like to come here."

    yu "Yes… that's right… thanks…"

    "Yuuko takes her glasses from my hands, shakily putting them back on."

    yu "Shall I show you to your table?"

    yu "There's no-one else here so you can sit wherever you like and order whatever you like, but there may be a delay as I will have to make it myself…"

    li "It's alright Yuuko, you can calm down. Just a pot of black tea and a plate of sandwiches will be fine."

    yu "Right! I'll get right onto that!"

    "Yuuko hurries off to the back of the café, leaving us still standing at the entrance."

    "She pushes the swinging half-doors open before realizing that she hasn't seated us."

    yu "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, sit where you'd like! I'll be right back!"

    "Following her advice, I lead Lilly to the nearest booth, and Hanako follows."

    "As I began to sit myself next to Lilly, I realize the appropriateness of this place for Hanako."

    "The high-backed booths totally separate you from the rest of the room, and it doesn't look like it gets all that many customers."

    "All of the furnishings, from the cushions on the benches to the condiment holders look dated but aren't overly worn."

    "I wonder if Lilly deliberately selects places like this to take Hanako?"

    "She seems like the type that would go to lengths to cater to Hanako's unique predicament."

    li "So, Hisao, I didn't know you played chess…"

    hi "Well, not very well, but I know how to play."

    li "Now, don't keep me waiting… who won?"

    "Lilly's innocent smile makes me hesitate. I don't really want to look like I'm lording my victory over Hanako."

    ha "H-Hisao did."

    hi "Yes… but not by much…"

    "Damn. Saying that out loud makes me feel like I've done something terrible."

    li "Well then, congratulations are in order. Good job, Hisao."

    hi "Er, thanks. But I haven't played in ages. It felt kinda good to play again."

    ha "Y…yes it did."

    "Hanako fidgets with her hair a little and looks away as she replies, but a small smile emerges."

    "It's a little more extreme of a reaction than I expected, but still kind of cute in a Hanako-esque way."

    "It throws me a little off guard, and only Yuuko's cataclysmic re-entry shocks me back into conversation."

    #show yuuko shang_worried
    #with charaenter

    hi "Are you alright there, Yuuko? Do you want a hand?"

    yu "I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine. I have to do this properly, it's my job."

    "Concentration plays across her face as she stares at the tray in her hands, as if simply looking at its contents will hold them in place."

    "Sadly, this doesn't prove all that effective; the cups and saucers slowly dance around, occasionally clattering as they collide with one another."

    "With great care, Yuuko sets the tray down on the table with only the subtlest of crashes."

    #show yuuko shang_happy
    #with charachange

    yu "There, see!"

    hi "Er, well done?"

    li "Thank you, as always, Yuuko."

    "Yuuko's head rockets downwards in her distinctive bow before answering."

    yu "You're very welcome."

    li "Would you like to join us? I would like to discuss those books we were going over the other day…"

    "Ah, that's right. Lilly and Yuuko were discussing a pile of books when I first met Hanako."

    "Something about Lilly helping with the braille…"

    yu "Ah… yes. We didn't get the chance to go through them, did we?"

    "Yuuko hastily sits down next to Hanako."

    "Apparently her dedication to this job only goes as far as her concentration; once it is broken, she suddenly loses it."

    yu "I'll be in the library tomorrow afternoon if you'd like to try again then…"

    li "That sounds perfect, I'll meet you there after classes."

    show hanako def_worry
    with charachange

    ha  "Um… L-Lilly…"

    #show lilly basic_shock
    #with charachange

    li "Oh dear, that's right. Tomorrow is Monday, how could I have forgotten?"

    "I'm starting to feel a little left out of the loop here. Then again that's to be expected; I have been here for barely a week so it's impossible to know everyone's schedule."

    li "Well, perhaps we could come to some other arrangement."

    li "Yuuko, will you be in the library later in the week?"

    #show yuuko shang_worried
    #with charachange

    yu "Hmm, maybe, but this is already overdue…"

    ha "A-and I am out of supplies…"

    li "This is quite the dilemma."

    "Lilly ponders for a second before discovering the answer."

    show lilly basic_smile

    li "Hisao! Hisao could do it!"

    hi "Um, do what? You lost me quite some time ago…"

    "Being volunteered for something without even having the slightest idea what is going on isn't really my thing."

    "And here I thought I had finally escaped the clutches of the Student Council and their repeated attempts to recruit me."

    li "Oh, of course. The other day I was helping Yuuko sort the new Braille books in the library."

    li "But Hanako and I usually go shopping on Monday afternoons; it's quieter on that day than on weekends."

    li "Last week we couldn't go because I was busy with the festival. I managed to slip away later in the week but Hanako couldn't make it."
    #Again, need2check if this is flow-conditional or not. -SC

    hi "Well, since I can't read Braille, I'm assuming you'd like me to go shopping with Hanako?"

    li "Correct. You were a great help to me the other day."

    hi "I think I can handle that. Hanako, what do you think?"

    show hanako basic_bashful
    with charachange

    ha "I-if you wouldn't mind…"

    hi "Of course not. I'm still not familiar with all the stores in the area, so it sounds like a good idea."

    ha "O-okay."

    li "Well, now that's all sorted, shall we have some tea?"

    li "It's been getting cold all this time…"

    #show yuuko shang_neurotic
    #with charachange

    yu "It's my fault! Let me pour that for you…"

    "Yuuko reaches out with shaking hands, but I intercept her."

    "She looks in no state to be handling hot liquids."

    hi "It's alright, I've got it. Besides, you've already made the tea and sandwiches, hence have fulfilled your duties, right?"

    #show yuuko shang_panic
    #with charachange

    yu "I… I guess."

    "Yuuko relaxes a little, but still watches eagerly as I share out the assortment."

    "As I am about to bite into the sandwich, a low, loud rumble can be heard, along with a flash of light from outside."

    li "Ah, I take it the show has started."

    "Only now looking outside, I realize that dusk has come and gone, leaving us in the peak of twilight."

    "Sparking tracers arc upwards ready to explode in the floral colors of fireworks."

    #show yuuko shang_smile
    #with charachange

    show hanako basic_normal
    with charachange

    show lilly basic_weaksmile
    with charachange

    yu "Let's go watch!"

    yu "Oh… sorry Lilly…"

    li "Please, don't miss the show on my account."

    li "From what I've heard, this isn't such a bad place to watch them from…"

    "With the exception of Lilly, we rush to the window of the small tea house to watch the show."

    "The strobe of colored lights play across Hanako and Yuuko's smiling faces, and for a second I forget to look out the window."

    "In this totally new world, there are a few things that don't change."

    "I think that's why the school makes such a fuss over this festival. It's a chance to show the similarities between everyone."

    "The show is over all too quickly; fireworks are expensive, even for the most well-funded schools."

    "Before we return to our tea and sandwiches, Hanako turns to me."

    #show hananko basic_bashful
    #with charachange

    ha "Um, t-thanks for today."

    ha "… and tomorrow."

    hi "That's okay; I don't think that I could have faced those crowds either."

    hi "On days like this it's more relaxing to spend some time away from everyone, don't you think?"

    ha "Y-yeah."

    hi "Anyway, we've been delaying this tea for far too long now, let's get back."

    ha "S-sure."

    "We return to the booth and our light meal."

    li "That sounded impressive. Bigger than last year at least…"

    yu "Yeah it was great! I've never seem them put on such a show."

    yu "It gets better every year!"

    li "I'm afraid, however, that during that time, the tea has gone cold."

    #show yuuko shang_neurotic
    #with charachange

    yu "Oh no! Let me make some more! This is my fault!"

    hi "Calm down, Yuuko, it's no-one's fault."

    "I take a sip from my cup, just to prove the point."

    hi "This tea isn't too bad cool, anyway. It's like an iced tea."

    #show yuuko shang_worried
    #with charachange

    yu "Really?"

    hi "Yes, really. If you add a bit of sugar it's kinda nice."

    yu "Are you sure?"

    hi "I'm positive. Now why don't you sit down and we'll finish this together?"

    yu "O-okay."

    "Yuuko doesn't seem convinced, but sits down regardless."

    "She carefully measures out about five teaspoons of sugar and adds them to her tea."

    hi "Er, I said a bit of sugar…"

    yu "I know but I like my tea sweet anyway."

    "Curiously I peer into her cup. As expected, hardly any of the sugar dissolves in the cold liquid."

    "She stirs it twice before upturning the cup and drinking the contents, sugar and all, in a single mouthful."

    #show yuuko shang_smile
    #with charachange

    yu "You're right! That's not bad at all!"

    hi "Er, that's good…"

    "I look back to Lilly and Hanako, both of whom have finished their meal as I witnessed Yuuko's personality in action."

    "Not wanting to hold anyone up, I use her tactic and finish the remainder of my tea in a single swill."

    hi "Well then, it seems we're all finished."

    li "Should we head back now or do we want seconds?"

    #show yuuko shang_panic
    #with charachange

    "Yuuko's expression shows that this is quite clearly not a good idea."

    hi "I think that it would be best if we got back soon."

    hi "We do have to get back before curfew, after all."

    li "Oh, that is a good point."

    li "I'll see you tomorrow, Yuuko."

    yu "Okay, have a safe trip everyone and thank you for coming."

    scene bg suburb_shanghaiext

    "We make our way out of the small tea house and into the dark of the night."

    "Lilly and Hanako once again take point, but under the cover of darkness Hanako seems slightly less stressed than she did on the trip here."

    "We move against the occasional group of people emptying the school grounds, but Hanako seems to lead us along a few minor roads, avoiding the bulk of the crowd."

    scene bg school_dormext

    "Outside the dorms the school seems strangely quiet when compared to the noise of the day."

    hi "Well then, thank you both for today. I think I learned a lot."

    li "You're most welcome, but I'm afraid that I really must be going."

    li "Today really wore me out."

    "That's right; Lilly would have spent all of today on her feet, and I can imagine that walking outside of the school would be pretty tiring for her."

    "I feel a pang of guilt as I remember that I was probably the only one in the school that got up around ten this morning."

    hi "Sure thing."

    hi "Well, I'll see you both tomorrow. Goodnight."

    li "Goodnight, Hisao."

    ha "N…night."

    "The girls return to their dorm, and I to mine."

    "Actually, now that I consider it, today tired me out as well."

    #Fade through black to the next scene.
    #I also know that this is a late request, but I think that this is a good place to put the Act 2 Card.
    return

    #---------------------------------------------------------

label en_H3:
    "My alarm blares some cheesy pop tune into my ears, only to be swiftly silenced by my fist."

    "My body switches into auto-mode, carrying my subconsciousness out of bed and into my uniform."

    "Before I know it, I'm opening the door to class 3-3, glad to see that I'm not the only one who seems to be a little hung-over from festival week."

    "Every face in the classroom looks gaunt. With the festival now over, it's as if everyone's life dreams have been achieved."

    "With nothing left to live for, the students have relied on instincts alone to guide them to class."

    "Or maybe I'm just looking into it too much."

    "I slowly make my way to my seat, and it's only then that I realize why the room is so peaceful."

    "The seats beside mine are blissfully empty; the world's loudest interpreter-for-the-deaf has yet to arrive."

    "Just as I am about to sit down, the door flies open, revealing a resplendent Misha; her drills bob from the dramatic entrance and arms stretched towards the sky."

    mi "Ya-hooo! It's all over!"

    "It would appear that not everyone is affected by the post-festival depression."

    "The rest of the class glare at her, obviously thinking the same thing I am."

    "Misha, still frozen in the doorway with her arms still in the air, nervously looks around."

    "It's obvious that she senses the foul mood, but can't work out exactly what to do."

    "Suddenly, she jerks forward."

    mi "Hey!"

    "As she stumbles into the classroom, she reveals Shizune, arm still extended from where she shoved Misha."

    shi "…"

    hi "Thanks for the entertainment, but shouldn't you two take your seats?"

    shi "…"

    "Still slightly embarrassed, Misha takes a few seconds to realize she has to translate."

    mi "Oh! Yeah! Shizu-chan says she's not happy with you ditching us last week."

    mi "We were really busy!"

    hi "Is that so? What about all the work I did for you two?"

    shi "…"

    mi "She says that only counts for Council members. Since you declined, she doesn’t owe you anything."

    "Misha leans closer, and whispers conspiratorially into my ear."

    mi "Actually, I think she's just a little sore that you didn’t spend the day with her."

    mi "She's really thankful for your work last week though."

    "Sensing that she is being talked about, Shizune lightly raps her fingers on her desk until Misha turns around to face her."

    "I can't understand any of the fast-paced signing that's going on, but from Shizune's slightly embarrassed expression, and Misha's poorly contained laughter, I can guess."

    "While this exchange is happening, the door opens once again, but this time at a much more reasonable pace."

    "Hanako quietly enters the room, and pulls the door closed behind her."

    "Peering out from under her hair, she quickly scans the classroom."

    "Our eyes meet, and she suddenly stiffens. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then walks over to my desk."

    ha "G…good morning Hisao."

    hi "Morning Hanako. You're a little late, aren't you?"

    "In fact, this is the first time I can remember coming in before Hanako."

    ha "I… was talking to Lilly."

    ha "A-about today."

    hi "Ah, so you've got her list then? We can leave straight after classes in that case."

    ha "S-sure."

    hi "I'm looking forward to it."

    "Hanako briefly flashes her embarrassed smile at me then hurries off to her seat."

    "During classes, it becomes apparent that it's not only the students that are a little despondent now that the festival is over."

    "Mutou simply gives us a list of exercises from the textbook and then sits behind his desk."

    "For a moment I totally forget the brief lunch period, such is the banality of the day."

    "It's mind-numbing, and everyone seems surprised when the bells signal the end of the lessons."

    "As I am packing up my bags, Shizune and Misha flank and entrap me."

    mi "Say, Hicchan, it's still not too late to join up. There's a lot of post-festival paperwork for us to complete…"

    hi "Er, sorry Misha, I've… got plans…"

    "As if sensing her cue, Hanako appears behind me, holding a small bag, and trying to avoid eye contact with the world."

    "Misha's eyes open wide, then she bursts into laughter."

    mi "BWHAHAHA! Hicchan, you move fast, don't you? We won't disturb your date any further! Bwahahaha!"

    "Behind the roaring Misha, I see Shizune taking far too little interest in the scene. I might be taking this the wrong way, but I think she's deliberatly ignoring me."

    "I feel a gentle tug on my shirt, and turn to see Hanako, eyes fixed firmly on the floor."

    ha "L…let's…"

    hi "Got ya. Shizune, Misha, I'll see you later."

    hi "And I'm still not interested in the council."

    mi "Spoilsport."

    "Misha and Shizune retreat into the hallway, happily signing to each other."

    hi "Got all your stuff? Let's head off."

    scene bg school_road

    "Floods of students pour out of the school gates and onto the road into town."

    "It's a little weird. It's almost a scene from any other high school, but the illusion fades because of the occasional missing limb and wheelchair."

    "One thing I do notice is that no-one is alone."

    "And, as Hanako and I pass through the gates, I notice that she closes the distance between us."

    "Not enough to be considered \"close\", but she certainly isn't at her usual just-a-little-far position."

    "I guess we're not familiar enough for her to get as close as she does to Lilly."

    "However, even though she has moved a little closer to me physically, mentally she seems to have traveled a mile."

    "Her hands clutched around the leather straps of her bag to the point of whitening her knuckles, her head down and her mouth pursed closed."

    "She almost looks like she's being walked to the Principal's office for the first time."

    "I try to stifle a giggle at the thought, but it is futile."

    ha "W-what's the matter…?"

    "I guess there's no point in hiding it…"

    hi "Sorry. For a second there it looked like you were getting in trouble."

    show hanako defarms_worry
    with charachange

    ha "W-w-what do you mean?"

    hi "I think you need to relax a little. We're not going too far, and it's only students around, right?"

    ha "R-right."

    "It bothers me a little to see Hanako so worked up."

    hi "And you do this every week, don't you?"

    ha "Y-yes. With Lilly."

    "Of course. \"With Lilly.\" I wonder, has she ever left the school without her?"

    "It doesn't seem like much at first glance, but Hanako's dependence on Lilly is absurdly heavy."

    "If she can't even handle leaving the school without her, how would she have managed to survive if the two had never met?"

    "Maybe I'm looking into it a little too much."

    hi "Well, I'm here. Besides, we're not going far. It'll be over before you know it."

    show hanako emb_downsmile
    with charachange

    "Hanako's knuckles slowly regain their color as she tries to hide a small smile, but the effort of that seems to prevent further conversation."

    "We walk, side-by-side, down the winding road towards the town. As we continue along the footpath the crowd of students thins."

    "Faster students rush ahead, and the less mobile ones fall behind, rarefying the crowd into nothingness."

    "By the time we reach the convenience store we are practically alone."

    scene bg suburb_konbiniint
    with locationchange

    "Using me as a shield between herself and the attendant, Hanako moves through the narrow aisles, adding an assortment of items to her basket."

    "Bread, milk, tea. …thyme?"

    "What kind of convenience store sells herbs?"

    "Then again, nothing about this town seems normal, which may not be such a bad thing in retrospect."

    "Everything is so different and confronting; dwelling on such matters isn't really an option."
    #..."confronting"? Wtf did you mean by this, crud... -SC

    "When I think about, it reminds me of Hanako."

    "No matter how much you try, you can't escape her scars. They still interrupt my train of thought when I see them."

    "As much as I don't want to admit it to myself, I think I'm forcing myself to ignore them."

    "But, in a way, they remind me that we're all in this place for a reason."

    "…"

    "Hanako throws one last item into her basket then sheepishly holds it out to me, along with a few bank notes."

    show hanako emb_downtimid
    with charachange

    ha "C-c-could you p-please…"

    "It takes me a second to understand what she's trying to say."

    hi "Oh, you want me to pay for this?"

    "She nods, but doesn't look up."

    "I guess this task falls to Lilly on the usual occasions."

    hi "Sure. Lemme just grab a couple of things…"

    "Hastily I grab a few essential items for myself and head for the counter with Hanako in close tow."

    "The attendant gives me an indifferent nod as he scans in the items."

    "I suppose just ignoring us is one way to deal with the anomalies of Yamaku. They must get a lot of students here, being the closest store to the school."

    "The staff must all have their own way of dealing with us. Or maybe they don't; maybe it's only me who thinks that thinks twice about my unique schoolmates."

    "Our transaction complete, Hanako and I head back out onto the street."

    scene bg school_road
    with locationchange

    "The road is pretty much abandoned now. The students that were heading out have already left, and no-one has started returning just yet."

    "And, with only the school ahead on the road, there doesn't seem to be anyone else around."

    "The emptiness certainly reflects on Hanako; her arms by her sides each carrying a bag, her head no longer bowed, and back to the correct position…"

    "It's almost as if she were enjoying this walk."

    hi "So, why all these weird things? Thyme? I can barely say that, let alone know how to use it…"

    ha "I… sometimes… like to m-make food."

    hi "Well, yeah, so do I but… Thyme?"

    hi "That's a little more advanced, don't you think?"

    show hanako emb_emb
    with charachange

    ha "N-not really."

    hi "Well, I think it's cool. You'll have to teach me one day."

    show hanako emb_blushing
    with charachange

    ha "S-sure."

    "She doesn't seem all that sure, but pushing the point doesn't seem all that wise."

    "At the very least, she seems a great deal happier than she did on the walk down here."

    "That alone makes me a little happier."

    scene bg school_dormext
    with locationchange

    "Outside the girl's dorm, Hanako and I sort out the grocery bags with our respective purchases."

    "In comparison, my things look positively plain."

    hi "I tell you, you're putting me to shame here…"

    ha "N-no I'm not… I just…"

    hi "I'm only joking."

    hi "I have a stack of homework that I skipped last week, so I must leave now."

    hi "Will you be all right getting that to your room?"

    ha "Y-yeah."

    hi "Sure? Okay then. I'll see you tomorrow."

    ha "B-bye."

    "We part ways, and I return to my room."

    scene bg school_dormhisao
    with locationchange

    "Piles of papers sit upon my desk, begging to be completed. With the entire ruckus of the last week, I've had barely any time to catch up."

    "I tried to keep up with my studies while I was in the hospital, but some of this stuff I've never seen before, even back in my old school."

    "Totally unprepared, I pop the top on a can of drink, and get to work."

    return

    #---------------------------------------------------------

label en_H4:
    scene bg school_dormhisao

    "The days are really starting to heat up."

    "This morning, I awoke covered in sweat, which is a little disappointing if you're alone."
    #What. -SC

    "By the time the student body starts leaving their dorms for breakfast and morning duties, the sun has taken full effect, and oddly that puts me in high spirits."

    "It's not even eight, yet I feel that this day is going to be one of those pleasant, tranquil warm ones."

    "If I weren't at a school that considered every absence from class as a sign of a life-threatening situation, I'd consider skipping the whole day and just relaxing on the hill near the track."

    "Yes, today will be a genuinely lazy day."

    "For a second, I stop, mid-stretch, and consider the Nurse's warning about exercise. Maybe I should have kept up those morning jogs."

    "Running with someone like Emi might have been a little testing, but if I worked at my own pace…"

    "Ah, who am I kidding? I couldn't stick to something like that without some kind of motivation."

    "It's not like I sit around all day. The walk to and from Auramart counts as exercise, right? Especially the walk back up the hill…"

    "Yeah, it's no big deal. Compared to months lying in a hospital bed I'm getting plenty exercise."

    scene bg school_scienceroom

    "It seems that I'm not alone in my appreciation of the day."

    "Nearly every member of the class is glancing through the window and into the tantalizing sky."

    "Even the steadfast Shizune seems to lack her usual vigor for schoolwork."

    "Misha, as brazen as ever, has even unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt and is fanning herself with a note book."

    "I must have been staring, as she's now sticking her tongue out at me."

    "However, she shows no signs of halting her efforts, nor is she trying to hide the fact."

    "The lunch bells seem to catch everyone by surprise, and the class empties at a much slower pace than usual."

    "The heat seems to be draining the need to rush from everyone."

    "Well, almost everyone."

    ha "H… Hisao?"

    hi "Hey there Hanako, what can I do for you today?"

    "Hanako already has a lunch-bag in hand."

    "I don't have to be a scholar to work out where this is going."

    ha "Um… would you like to have lunch with us again?"

    ha "I… I brought enough for everyone…"

    hi "Awesome. You don't have to be so formal about it though."

    ha "Ah… right."

    hi "I take it we're going to the tea room?"

    ha "P…please."

    ha "Lilly said she'll meet us in there, so we should… should…"

    hi "Should?"

    ha "…should go ahead together…"

    hi "Sounds like a plan. This heat has made me pretty hungry."

    "Hanako breathes a sigh of relief, and I gather my things together."

    scene bg school_miyagi

    "As usual, the aura of the Tea Room is refreshing, isolated from the rest of the world."

    "Then again, the usual din of the school seems to be a bit subdued; most likely from laziness promoted by heat exhaustion."

    "Hanako slowly spreads her food on the table, intently focusing on every little movement, as if she's trying to keep her mind off other thoughts."

    "It's not much, but I can tell from her demeanor that she has specially prepared everything."

    hi "I guess Lilly isn't here yet. Should we start without her?"

    ha "S-she'll be her soon…"

    "Hanako struggles with the lid of the container of rice."

    hi "Here, let me help with that..."

    "I take the container from Hanako's hands, and try to force open the lid."

    "Try as I might, it seems wedged shut."

    hi "Let me guess, did you put this in while the rice was still hot?"

    ha "Y-yes. I was in a rush…"

    "I put the container on the table between us."

    hi "I thought so. It looks like this is wedged shut. We'll need some hot water to get it open."

    hi "But that could be a pain in here. We'd get water everywhere."

    li "Well, in that case, how about I contribute to today's meal?"

    show lilly basic_weaksmile
    with charaenter

    "At the door, Lilly holds up a bag bulging with various buns and bread rolls."

    li "Yuuko gave these to me as payment for helping her out yesterday."

    li "Since you two had a change of plans because of me, I thought I'd share the spoils…"

    hi "Lilly, you're a lifesaver. Here, let me get that for you…"

    "With a little guidance, Lilly's bread assortment joins Hanako's rice-less platter. I hastily make some tea to complete the picture."

    hi "Well, I'm looking forward to this."

    show hanako emb_downtimid
    with charachange

    "As I take a bite, I notice Hanako trying her hardest to not look like she is looking at me."

    "It's nothing special, but then again I can't really complain. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to cooking for myself."

    hi "Not bad, I guess this is made with the stuff you bought yesterday?"

    ha "Y-yes."

    "Hanako's eyes shout at me, begging for some kind of feedback."

    hi "Well it was clearly worth it. Thanks, Hanako."

    ha "I… I wanted to show you this… after yesterday…"

    hi "It's okay. I was just a little surprised at the stuff you were buying."

    li "Hanako's always liked to experiment like that when it comes to food."

    li "I think it's good… most of the time…"

    "Whilst Lilly's smile doesn't waver, the slight change in her tone tells me that things have not gone so well in the past."

    "And it's not like Hanako has many people to sample her cooking…"

    "Hang on… was Lilly waiting for me to go first? She didn't start eating until after I said it was alright…"

    "…It might be a good idea to start bringing a back-up lunch from now on."

    hi "Well, it's good, and that's all that counts, right?"

    ha "R-right."

    "Lilly, satisfied at not being the first to sample Hanako's creation, starts consuming her meal with clinical precision."

    "Her fingers dance gently around the containers, locating and retrieving portions of food like a UFO-catcher."

    "Not wanting to miss out, I start filling up myself."

    "Hanako takes a different approach, waiting until Lilly and I have our hands clear before quickly snatching up her share."

    "Before long the containers are empty, save for the still-shut rice container."

    li "Well, thank you Hanako, that was filling."

    ha "N-no… thank you for the bread…"

    hi "Yes, it would have been a disaster if not for that."

    li "You're both welcome."

    li "But now, I must be getting back. It is far too easy to be late after eating here."

    hi "Yes, I see what you mean. I think we'll just clean up here and then head off."

    li "Well then, good day."

    "Lilly leaves, her cane tapping away down the quiet hallway."

    "Hanako and I quickly pack our things and stay seated, waiting for the bell."

    "Together, we stare out the window and into the endless azure sky."

    "If it weren't for the pealing of the bells, I would have sworn that time had stopped."

    "The urge to skip class rises in my gut."

    "I shoot a glance at Hanako, who shows no signs of moving either."

    ha "Not… just yet…"

    "The interval between the warning bells and the end of lunch bells passes in the blink of an eye."

    hi "We really should go… people will freak out and start a search party if we skip…"

    "Hanako sighs."

    ha "You're right."

    "Slowly, she rises to her feet, and I follow suit."

    "Silently, we make our way up the old stairs to the third floor of the school building and then to our classroom."

    "At the door, I take point and open the door ahead of Hanako, bowing my head down in apology in advance."

    hi "I'm sorry we're late, teacher."

    "I am greeted not by stern words, nor an angered instruction to take my seat, but simply silence created by fifteen or so students trying not to laugh."

    mi "Pff… pffwa…"

    "Make that about fourteen students trying, and one student failing."

    mi "pftBwahahaha! The lovers return~!"

    "I quickly figure out what's going on."

    "Mutou, ever tardy, has yet to arrive."

    "However, the fact that Hanako and I have arrived together is blatantly obvious."

    mi "WAHAHAHA!"

    hi "Yeah, thanks. You can calm down now…"

    "I step into the door, and realize that Hanako is almost firmly pressed against my back, hiding herself from the class."

    "As I near my seat, she bolts for her desk at the back of the class and hides her face in her arms."

    "Quickly checking the door for any signs of the teacher's arrival, I make a trip to Hanako's desk and whisper in her ear."

    hi "Don't worry about Misha, she's always like this. I enjoyed myself today. Don't sweat it, okay?"

    "Hanako nods her head behind her folded arms, but still doesn't show her face."

    "I yearn to stay and console her more, but Mutou picks this exact moment to enter the class, half-way through his lecture, as if he started it in the hallway."

    mu "…which, of course, is directly proportional to the charge but inversely proportionally to the square of the distance…"

    "He's so engrossed in his speech that he doesn't even notice me sneaking back into my seat from Hanako's desk."

    return

#-----------------------------

label en_H5:
    scene bg school_scienceroom

    "Whilst Muto's spiel rambles on, Misha leans over to me."

    show misha perky_smile_close
    with charaenter

    mi "The teacher may not have noticed your tardiness, but I did."

    "That much is obvious from the show you just put on."

    mi "I have been instructed to let you off the hook for today, but only on one condition."

    hi "Oh? And what would that be?"

    show misha sign_smile_close
    with charachange

    mi "You have to help us this afternoon!"

    "I crane my neck to look over Misha's shoulder."

    "Shizune is conveniently not making eye contact with me."

    "I'm guessing that she would be whistling nonchalantly right now, if that was possible."

    hi "Fine. Just for today."

    hi "I've already told you I'm not joining the council, remember?"

    mi "Of course! Doing so could be considered… um, considered…"

    "She looks down at her notebook, obviously looking for her place in her script."

    mi "…under duress and hence would be against regulations."

    hi "How very strange of you to be considerate of the regulations now."

    mi "Things should be done by the book!"

    mi "It's just that the book hasn't been written for every situation, so there are times when it can be ignored."

    hi "And yet, you two wonder why no-one else wants to be in the student council…"

    #maybe a Misha sprite with her sticking out her tongue cold be useful

    "After poking her tongue out at me, Misha returns to her workbook, and we battle our way through the latter half of the school day."

    #SFX bells

    "Before I can even stand up, Misha and Shizune have placed their hand on both my shoulders."

    hi "Hey, I said I'd help out, damn…"

    mi "This is just insurance, Hisao, insurance!"

    ha "H-Hisao?"

    "Hanako timidly tries to leave the room by circling around us and I suddenly realise that this may be my one chance to escape."

    hi "Oh hey Hanako. What's up?"

    shi "…"

    mi "Hey, what makes you think you've got time to chat?"

    hi "Oh relax, this won't take long… Sorry Hanako, you were saying?"

    ha "I… I was going to go to the library, and… and I thought…"

    "Hanako's thumbs dance around each other and her eyes flit around the room, looking everywhere but at us."

    mi "Sorry Hanako, but Hisao has to come with us. He's got work to do."

    shi "…"

    mi "Oh! But you can help too if you'd like."

    ha "Um…"

label en_choiceH5:
menu:
    with menueffect

    mi "So, how about it Hisao?"

    "What do you think, Hanako?":
        return m1

    "I've done enough work for the council already.":
        return m2

label en_H5_1:
    #-----------------------
    hi "What do you say Hanako? If we all help it shouldn't take long at all."

    "Hanako's fidgeting answers my question before she can even form the words."

    ha "I… I really need to go…"

    "Well, that was to be expected. Looks like it's just me and the Council girls again."

    "It's easier to resign myself to another afternoon's work in the small Council office."

    hi "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

    ha "O-okay."

    mi "Right! Now that the farewells are over, it's work time!"

    "Misha and Shizune frog-march me to the Student Council office, never once letting go of my shoulders."

    "I feel a little bad for ditching Hanako like this, but if this is the price of getting Misha off her back, so be it."

    scene bg school_council
    with locationchange

    show misha cross_smile at twoleft
    with charaenter

    show shizu basic_happy at tworight
    with charaenter

    hi "So then, what are we up to today?"

    mi "Debrief!"

    hi "Huh? Isn't that supposed to happen after something?"

    mi "Yup."

    mi "We have to collate all of the information from the festival so that Shizune can debrief the teachers."

    "Shizune drops a large pile of paperwork on the desk in front of me, and smiles succinctly."

    mi "You need to sort those out into two piles."

    mi "One for financial stuff, like receipts, one for feedback, one for positive feedback, maybe one for things that look like they could be problems next year, one for problems that probably won't be able to be fixed…"

    hi "That's a few more than two piles…"

    show misha sign_confused at twoleft
    with charachange

    mi "Huh? Oh, right. Yeah I thought it would be only two piles."

    mi "My bad."

    hi "Right. Whilst I am doing this, what will you two be doing?"

    show misha sign_smile at twoleft
    with charachange

    show shizu adjust_smug at tworight
    with charachange

    mi "Well, we missed lunch because we were collecting all of these reports, so we're going to go get some food!"

    "Why didn't you just sort them out whilst you were collecting them…"

    "Thankfully my self-defense mechanism kicks in and prevents me from opening my mouth and further deepening my situation."

    show shizu adjust_happy at tworight
    with charachange

    mi "Eh?!"

    show misha sign_sad at twoleft
    with charachange

    mi "How is that fair?"

    shi "…"

    "I was fretting over the unfair distribution of work so much that I didn't notice that Shizune had kept on signing."

    "If it weren't for Misha's outburst, I probably wouldn't have noticed at all."

    "Shizune seems to be delivering a fairly long string of commands to Misha, and none of them look good."

    "Reaching a conclusion, Misha signs a couple of words back to Shizune, and then sits down at the desk next to me."

    "Shizune waves to the both of us before disappearing out the door."

    hide shizu

    hi "What was all that about?"

    mi "Shizune was worried that you'd get it all wrong unless you were supervised."

    mi "And since she can't tell you how you are messing things up, she's making me stay."

    show misha cross_smile
    with charachange

    mi "But she is going to bring us back some food!"

    mi "How good is that!"

    "Misha's flippancy is out of this world. From down in the dumps to on top of the world over a little food."

    "It's hard to imagine how anyone could operate at that level."

    hi "Well, it could have been worse."

    hi "So what are we supposed to be doing?"

    mi "Collation."

    hi "I gathered that."

    mi "Well, let's just start making piles. We'll work out what the piles mean later."

    hi "Right…"

    "We start to separate all of the papers into increasingly complex piles."

    "At first it's just simple categories; financial, feedback, incident reports…"

    "Then they split apart into the good and bad reports, and further still, until it starts to look like we've just thrown the papers onto the desk."

    hi "This is hopeless."

    mi "Huh? Why? We're doing what we were told, right?"

    hi "Yes, but it looks like we're just making a mess."

    mi "Ah, never mind that. That's Shizune's problem."

    mi "So I think we can stop about here then."

    "It's almost like Misha's common sense left the room with Shizune."

    "Still, there's no point in arguing."

    show misha perky_smile
    with charachange

    mi "Anyway…"

    mi "What's the deal with you and Hanako?"

    hi "Deal?"

    mi "You were hanging out with her today, weren't you?"

    mi "Have there been any fireworks? Any gossip that you're withholding from me?"

    hi "If I told you about my own circumstances, it wouldn’t be gossip, would it?"

    show misha sign_confused
    with charachange

    mi "Er… I guess not…"

    hi "We're just friends I guess."

    hi "Why are you so interested? I thought you and Shizune didn't like her…"

    show misha cross_frown
    with charachange

    mi "It's not really like that. You know Shizune and Lilly don't get along well."

    mi "And since you can't really get Hanako away from Lilly, we don't talk to her much."

    mi "But that doesn't mean that I can't be concerned for her."

    hi "What is there to be concerned about?"

    mi "Well, she never seems to connect with anyone."

    "If Shizune and Lilly dislike each other because \"their personalities are different\" then I hate to think how Misha and Hanako would get along…"

    mi "I mean, in one way or the other, we're all in the same boat here, right?"

    #But Misha's different...

    hi "Well, I guess."

    mi "This one time, when she left class half-way through, Shizune went to the teacher and asked what was going to be done about it."

    mi "They said that every student here has special needs, and the Shizune shouldn't worry herself about it."

    mi "She never does any group work; she just runs off."

    mi "Isn't that enough to be concerned about?"

    hi "I guess you're right. She still hardly says a word when we're talking."

    mi "Well, that's more than I have been able to do. Shicchan and I both tried when she started, but she got scared and ran off."

    "I consider telling Misha that exactly the same thing happened with me, but she seems caught up in thought."

    "Listening to Misha without Shizune's influence is… interesting."

    mi "I think she needs to realize that people here don't care what she looks like, and that she can trust us."

    mi "If she could, I'd feel a lot better about her."

    "It strikes me that, without Shizune around, Misha is almost like a different person."

    "Also, I think it's the longest I have seen her without watching her sign."

    "When she's with Shizune, she is constantly waving her hands about, explaining the world to Shizune."

    "That amount of effort probably places a strain on even the brightest mind."

    "And let's face it; Misha isn't the world's brightest spark."

    hi "Well, I'll keep an eye on her for you."

    hi "But you should probably apologize for earlier. I don't think Hanako is cut out for that kind of joke."

    show misha sign_confused
    with charachange

    mi "Oh? Oh!"

    mi "I didn't even notice. Sorry."

    hi "Don't say it to me, just mention it to her."

    mi "Alright. First thing tomorrow, I'll speak to her."

    hi "Good."

    "A cacophony from the door heralds the return of Shizune."

    "I guess she can't really tell how much noise she is making."

    show misha sign_smile at twoleft
    with charachange

    show shizu basic_normal at tworight

    mi "Oh, Shizune! You're back!"

    #So tempted to put in a "What took you so long thing to use the epic sprite, but will
    #refrain

    "Shizune appears completely laden with goods from Aura Mart."

    shi "…"

    mi "There was some surplus left from the festival. Since this is officially festival business, I've splurged a little."

    mi "Nice idea Shizune, ten points."

    hi "Is that really allowed?"
    show shizu cross_rage at tworight
    with charachange

    shi "…"

    mi "For someone who refuses to join us, you seem to take an unhealthy interest in the politics of this council."

    mi "I shall punish your insolence by rationing your portion of the feast."

    show shizu adjust_smug at tworight
    with charachange

    hi "Fine, fine, I get it."

    "Misha slides the multiple stacks of paper to one side to make room for the avalanche of food Shizune is spreading out."

    "As I watch my hard, yet misdirected, work become wasted, I realize that it's little wonder why these two need help."

    "The convenience store meal isn't overly tasty, but at the very least it's filling."

    shi "…"

    mi "Thanks for helping today. Most of the time we just make up the reports for the staff."

    mi "This year we can at least make up some relevant headings on the debrief."

    hi "Are you sure this isn't a corrupt organization?"

    mi "Not at all, not at all. We're by the book. It's not our fault if the book isn't specific enough."

    hi "I thought that was the definition of corruption…"

    mi "You think too much!"

    hi "You know what? You're probably right."

    hi "Anyway, I must be off…"

    hi "…that is, if I'm allowed to leave."

    show shizu adjust_happy at tworight
    with charachange

    shi "…"

    mi "Your work has been deemed sufficient. You may leave."

    hi "Well, thank you."

    hi "You know, if you stressed the \"free meal\" side of things over the \"endless workload\" side, you'd probably end up with more recruits."

    show shizu cross_shock at tworight
    with charachange

    show misha cross_frown at twoleft
    with charachange

    mi "You might just have a point."

    hi "Well, think about it."

    hi "And think about what we talked about… you don't have to tell that to Shizune if you don't want."

    mi "What? Oh, right. I'll try to see her tomorrow."

    mi "G'night, Hisao."

    hi "Night Misha, Shizune."

    return

    #-------------
label en_H5_2:
    hi "Hey, Shizune. I know I said I'd help, but I forgot I'd already made plans. Besides, I helped out more than my fair share last week, didn't I?"

    hi "I promise I'll make it up to you some other time."

    "Shizune and Misha release their grip on me and have a long, deep, and silent conversation."

    mi "Well, you have a point there. To be honest, we were only going to spend the rest of the budget on cakes."

    mi "So, if you're not there, it works out better for us. More cake for us Wahahaha!"

    "Shizune about-faces and marches out the door, and Misha skips out after her."

    hi "Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Last week those two were like bloodhounds. Or prison guards."

    hi "Or maybe prison guards bred from bloodhounds…"

    "I can't believe I just thought that, let alone saying it out loud. I think I need to move away from Kenji."

    hi "…nevermind. Anyway, should we go to the library?"

    ha "S-sure."

    "Hanako follows me through the still-crowded halls to the library, using me as a shield."

    scene bg school_library

    show hanako basic_worry at twoleft

    "As soon as we are through the door, Hanako makes a bolt for the counter, where Yuuko is stacking books."

    "Before I can catch up, Hanako has whispered something to her."

    show yuuko neutral at tworight

    yu "Um, you'd find that in Non-Fiction, but I don't know where, exactly. If you want I can look it up…"

    ha "N-nevermind."

    hi "Hey Yuuko, what's all this about?"

    yu "Oh, Hisao… Hanako was just looking for a book on…"

    ha "N-nothing…"

    hi "A book on nothing? In the Non-Fiction section?"

    show hanako def_worry at twoleft
    with charachange

    ha "I… I was just…"

    "I shoot a glance at Yuuko. She looks like she's about to burst from the pressure of keeping Hanako's secret request."

    hi "Yuuko, what did…"

    show yuuko neurotic at tworight
    with charachange

    yu "Chess! She's looking for a chess book!"

    "I make a mental note to never entrust Yuuko with any important information."

    ha "Y-Yuuko…"

    yu "I'm sorry Hanako… It just slipped out…"

    hi "Well, it's not a secret anymore. Come on, I'll give you a hand. I should really brush up on my skills, too."

    ha "O...okay."

    hide yuuko

    show hanako basic_distant
    with charachange

    "Yuuko disappears behind the counter in shame as Hanako and I wander into the depths of the Non Fiction section."

    "I know there is supposed to be a system for categorising these books, but I don't see how anyone can decipher it without spending half of their life researching it."

    "That's probably why all the librarians I know are neurotic."

    #Dewey Decimal for Chess is 794.1, between magic tricks and educational games.

    "Towards the end of the aisle, between a book on card tricks and some book on kid's games, stands a single book bearing the title \"Chess tactics for Champions\"."

    "Before I can reach for it, Hanako has the book in her hands, clutching it to her chest."

    hi "Well, I guess that's yours then. Mind if I borrow it when you're finished?"

    show hanako cover_worry
    with charachange

    ha "S-sure. I… I just haven't played against anyone before, so I thought…"

    "Damn. It's not like I was trying to beat Hanako deliberately or anything, but she seems to have taken it to heart."

    "Then again, at least this means she wants to play me again. That's a plus, right?"

    hi "Ha, well it's not like I'm a master or anything. I played a bit before…"

    "It occurs to me that I haven't told Hanako about my condition. I falter for a second, deciding to cover my tracks. This is a conversation for another day."

    hi "…before I came here."

    "I don't want to tell Hanako that the only real time I played was when I was lying in a hospital bed, against some of the other kids in the children's ward."

    "They weren't exactly good competition either; the next oldest child was barely 15."

    show hanako cover_distant
    with charachange

    #To be replaced with "concern" if it gets made.

    ha "Are… are you alright?"

    hi "Yeah, I was just remembering something…"

    "When I think about it, I shouldn't be afraid to tell Hanako about being in hospital. Judging by her scars, she probably spent a fair amount of time in a hospital bed."

    "But, for some reason, I can't bring it up. At least not today, and not on short notice."

    "Eager to break off the conversation, I grab a random book from the shelf."

    #791.068 – Amusement parks

    "It's some book on the world's fastest roller coasters…"

    "…published in 1982. Well, not entirely accurate, but it should at least be interesting."

    hi "Well, we've both got books now, should we go sit down?"

    show hanako cover_bashful
    with charachange

    "Hanako seems to accept my bluff, and we head to the reading nook at the back of the library."

    "Neither of us says a word; we simply open our books and start reading."

    show hanako def_worry
    with charachange

    "I try to read my book, but it would seem that in 1982 roller coasters weren't nearly as large as the ones built in the decades since."

    "Most of the ones listed are made of wood. Something about that doesn't seem safe to me."

    "If I'm going to ride on something potentially dangerous, I want it to be made out of steel, or some kind of space-age alloy that has big words like \"titanium\" and \"Ruthenium\"."

    "I quickly lose interest, and my eyes wander across the reading area to rest on Hanako."

    "Hanako seems absorbed in her book, flicking back and forth through the pages, as if confirming what she just read. I wonder how effective that is, or if she's just overloading herself."

    "She unconsciously brushes her hair from her face, temporarily revealing her scar tissue."

    "I'm still not sure about the protocol here. Is it right to ask her about her scars? Or her past? How long was she in hospital? Does she still visit the doctor?"

    "These all seem like the questions that you'd ask someone who just transferred to your school, translated into the local language."

    "But, to date, no-one has directly asked me any of them. Well, except Rin, but I don't think I should use her as a guide to proper social behaviour."

    "For the time being, I'll just keep my mouth shut. If someone wants you to know something, then they'll tell you. Trying to force the issue might drive Hanako back into herself."

    show yuuko worried

    yu "Um… sorry to interrupt, but I have to close the library now."

    hi "Already?"

    "I check my watch. Somehow, as I was lost in thought, nearly two hours have passed."

    yu "Do you want to check out those books? I can do it on the way out..."

    ha "P-please."

    hi "I'm right. I'll drop this one back on the way through. It wasn't as interesting as I first thought."

    "Hanako marks her place with a slip of paper and stands up. The girls head to the counter and I return my book to what I think is the right shelf."

    "Yuuko scans Hanako's book with practiced precision, yet still manages to fumble it."

    yu "Oh… there we go. Third time lucky. Since this is a non-fiction book, you can only have it for a week."

    show hanako basic_smile
    with charachange

    ha "T-that's okay."

    "Yuuko shuts down the library's computer and herds us out the door."

    scene bg school_hallway2

    show hanako basic_normal at tworight

    show yuuko neutral at twoleft

    yu "Argh! I didn't think it was this late already…!"

    hi "But you're the one that told us you had to close…"

    yu "Yes but, I know but, that was before I looked at the time!"

    yu "I'll see you later."

    hide yuuko

    "Yuuko bolts down the hall, her handbag trailing behind her like an awkward streamer."

    hi "I guess all librarians really are neurotic."

    ha "Huh?"

    hi "Ah, never mind. I was just thinking that I've never met a librarian that can organise their time, no matter how good they are with their books."

    show hanako basic_smile
    with charachange

    ha "Oh… heh… I k-know what you mean…"

    #Geh I need to know how to verbalise a short laugh without using "heh"

    "What? Did Hanako just laugh? It wasn't meant to be a joke, but I must have reminded her of some other librarian… or something…"

    ha "I… I have to get back."

    hi "Yeah, me too. I didn't realise it was this late. Thanks for letting me hang out with you."

    ha "N-no problem."

    hi "Say, how about I walk you back to the dorms? The girl's dorm is on the way, anyway."

    show hanako emb_blushing
    with charachange

    ha "O-okay"

    "Hanako sets of ahead of me, and I need to jog a little to reach her side."

    scene bg school_dormext
    with locationchange

    show hanako emb_blushing

    "We walk through the gardens, eventually arriving in front of the dorm buildings."

    hi "Here you go. See you in class tomorrow?"

    ha "S-sure."

    hide hanako

    "Hanako waves a short goodbye before pushing her way through the dorm's doors."

    return


#-------------------------------

label en_H6:
    scene bg school_dormhisao

    "Chirping birds."

    "Normally, this will be a good time to reflect upon the beauties of nature."

    "But it is 6 am."

    "Covering my head with my pillow, I slam my face into the mattress, hoping that the impact will send me instantly back to sleep."

    "Futile."

    "I toss and turn, but sleep simply won't return to me."

    "Alright nature, you've won. See? I'm getting up now…"

    "The lack of sleep weighs my mind down, and there's only one remedy for this; a nice, hearty breakfast."

    scene bg school_cafeteria
    with locationchange

    "It would be nice to be the first person here."

    "To be the first to dig into a piping hot pile of food, to sit wherever I desire…"

    "It would have been nice."

    "But even my exceptionally early start has put me behind the most diligent students."

    "I guess there are quite a few people that have early starts here, for one reason or another."

    "A group of students in sports clothes huddle around one table, eagerly discussing game plans between inhaling great gulps of food."

    "Scattered around the hall are a number of bleary-eyed students, probably suffering from the same ailment as myself - noisy birds."

    "And, of course, the there are people that actually enjoy getting up this early, the ones with their bags stuffed with textbooks and completed homework."

    "It's hard to not want to despise people like that, even more so when you're tired yourself."

    "Picking out a familiar face from the thin crowd, I head towards the nearest table."

    "Lilly sits alone, delicately feeling her way around a small plate of eggs."

    "It's almost a shame to interrupt her and her clockwork movements."

    "I wonder, is this how a blind person zones out? Simply moving in pre-determined patterns learned over the years, just like how a sighted person would eat whilst reading a newspaper."

    hi "Good morning, Lilly. I didn't expect you to be here this early."

    show lilly basic_surprised

    li "Oh, Hisao, you startled me. I didn't know you took breakfast this early…"

    hi "I don't. This is an exception to the rule. I'd much prefer to be late to school than early to breakfast."

    show lilly basic_weaksmile
    with charachange

    li "Ah. Well, \"A change is as good as a holiday\", or so they say."

    hi "\"They\" say a lot of things…"

    li "That is also true."

    "My mind isn't cut out for conversation at this hour. I need sustenance or else my mind will shut down totally."

    "Commence shoveling."

    "Lilly continues playing out her mechanical-action eating process."

    "Each short motion lacks energy. I suppose this is similar to letting your eyes wander whilst performing any ordinary chore."

    "But after a few repetitions of the find food then eat it cycle, Lilly puts down her fork and dabs her lips with a napkin."

    #maybe spelling things out a little too much here.
    #also might be a little too perceptive for dipshit Hisao
    # It's okay.

    show lilly basic_sad
    with charachange

    li "Hisao, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

    "Damn. All I want is a little food and about four hours of sleep. And nobody says \"can I ask you a question\" for a simple question."

    hi "Sure."

    li "Do you think of Hanako as a friend?"

    "Huh, this seems like a leading question."

    hi "I… guess so. Why do you ask?"

    li "No real reason."

    li "Why?"

    li "I mean, why do you think of her as a friend?"

    "This is well above my level. What is she expecting from me?"

    hi "I'm not really sure. I guess it's because she's a little different in the way she deals with people…"

    li "Hmm. Since I've known her, she hasn't really connected with anyone."

    li "She doesn't seem interested in other people, and I think people are a little scared off by her appearance."

    hi "Really? I thought that kind of thing was, well, discouraged here. Discriminating and such."

    show lilly basic_weaksmile
    with charachange

    li "Hmm, if I were to put it one way..."

    "She furrows her brow in thought, a move which makes me slightly anxious as to what she's plucking from her mind."

    li "I'd say that you're a little naive."

    "Naive? I'd be insulted if not for the slight grin on her face."

    hi "I... see."

    li "While Yamaku has a stronger sense of community compared to other schools, it's far from being free of conflict."

    "That's something I've noticed, actually."

    "People avoiding each other in the hallways and such."

    "The deaf and blind acting almost like rival gangs without ever exchanging a word."

    "Even Lilly and Shizune could be considered bitter rivals, even though they both seem like fairly accepting people."

    "Well, at least the Misha-tinted Shizune does. Who knows what actually goes on behind her glasses?"

    hi "I guess you're right. But when I first came here, everything was a bit of a shock. I kept on making mistakes, or at least thinking I was making a mistake. Like when I said \"See you later\" to you."

    hi "I didn't know if that was considered rude or anything, so I tried to just put it in the back of my mind. Treating people any differently and that kinda thing."

    hi "So I didn't. I told myself that Hanako and yourself and everyone else was just normal, and I tried to ignore the obvious."

    hi "I talked to Hanako as if she were any other person, and so we became friends."

    hi "At least, that's how I think it happened."

    show lilly basic_smileclosed
    with charachange

    li "Hisao, I think you are naive, but I also think that you are a good person. It's perhaps one of your better sides."

    hi "Um, thanks."

    li "Are you free tonight?"

    hi "If you don't count homework, then I'm as free as the breeze."

    li "In that case, would you care to join myself and Hanako for tea?"

    hi "Er, I don't really have that much money at the moment, so going out isn't really…"

    li "Oh, I didn't mean going out. Just here, this evening."

    hi "You can access the classrooms in the evening here?"

    show lilly basic_giggle
    with charachange

    li "No, that's not allowed. But I do have a small setup in my room that we can use. Please feel free to drop by after dusk."

    hi "Er, sure."

    hi "What's your room number?"

    li "214, it's on the second floor."

    hi "Okay, sure."

    li "Well then, I had best be off. I have morning duties to attend to. Until this evening, Hisao."

    hi "Yeah, catch you later."

    "What just happened?"

    "Was I just invited to a girl's room after dark?"

    "Is that even allowed?"

    "There is the curfew here, but I've never heard any rules about visitors in the dorm rooms."

    "Even still, this is enough to get my sleep-deprived brain jump-started."

    "Add that to a lukewarm breakfast and you have one hell of a pick-me-up."

    "Now, to go through the routine and make it through classes…"

    return

#---------------------------------

label en_H7:

    scene bg school_dormhallway

    "I nervously rap on the door marked 214, checking my watch once again."

    li "Is that you, Hisao? I'll be with you in just a moment."

    "Lilly's voice lilts through the door and soothes my nerves."

    "This is the first time I've been invited to a girl's room after dark."

    "Even though I know there is no ulterior motive behind this invitation, it doesn't stop my mind running wild with possibilities."

    "One guy. Two girls. In a dorm room. With a tea set."

    "When I put it like that it sounds a little dodgy."

    "Before I can continue this train of thought the door makes a clicking sound and opens a crack."

    li "Please, do come in."

    scene bg school_dormlilly

    show lilly basic_smile_paj at twoleft
    with charaenter

    show hanako basic_bashful_paj at tworight
    with charaenter

    "The door opens completely and I catch glimpse of Lilly's room.."

    "Her furniture looks almost antique, but the bare walls and flat surfaces are barely decorated at all. In the center of the room sits a small table."

    "It seems that everything in this room has its place."

    "My eyes finish their quick sweep of the room, before returning their position onto the girls."

    "To my immediate front, still holding onto the door, is Lilly, wearing navy-blue pyjamas."

    "Behind her Hanako is kneeing beside a low table and adorned in light pink gown."

    "Her hands are firmly fixed between her legs, her shoulders forward, and her head down, as if trying to hide herself in her gown."

    "It would be easy for her to do; it looks about two sizes too big for her."

    "Folds of flannel flow from her frame, making her look like a child playing dress-up in their parent's clothes."

    "She looks up to confirm my identity, and a thin smile creeps across her face."

    li "A little lost for words, are we?"

    "I guess it doesn't take a sense of sight to realize when someone is gawking."

    hi "Um, no, I… you both look nice."

    show hanako emb_emb_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    "Hanako blushes and looks away, but her smile stays."

    li "Well now, there's no point in you standing in the doorway. Please, take a seat."

    "I take a step into the room, and Lilly gently closes the door behind me."

    "As she turns back toward the room, she bumps into me and grasps my arm."

    show lilly basic_surprised_paj at twoleft
    with charachange

    li "Oh, I'm sorry. This really is a small room with the three of us. Would you mind helping me take a seat?"

    "Cherishing the soft warmth clinging onto my arm, I guide Lilly to the table, where I see a small tea set at rest."

    "I also can't help but steal a quick glance into Lilly's top as she sits."

    "To be robbed of sight would be a most terrible fate."

    li "Well now, how about some tea. Hanako, could you please pour?"

    ha "S…sure. His…sao… Would…"

    ha "…would you…"

    show hanako emb_blushing_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    ha "…would you like…"

    hi "I would love some tea. Do you need a hand?"

    ha "N… no I'm fine…"

    ha "Thank you…"

    show lilly basic_giggle_paj at twoleft
    with charachange

    li "It's not like you to be nervous here Hanako… or is our guest making you uncomfortable?"

    ha "N…no. It's just… just…"

    hi "It's just been a tiring day?"

    ha "Y..yeah."

    "I take up my position at the table, with my back to the door."

    "To my left is the blue-clad Lilly and to my right sits the pink Hanako."

    "The tea set on the table looks exquisite; as if pure beauty had been frozen in bone-white china."

    "A highly appropriate set for someone as refined as Lilly."

    "I bet it cost a fortune."

    "There is a slight 'ting' as Hanako accidentally clips the teapot on a cup as she is pouring."

    show hanako emb_sad_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    "She breathes in sharply; I guess the set is as delicate as it is beautiful; a fitting metaphor for the pair of girls that grace my presence."

    "Hanako quivers at her mistake."

    show lilly basic_weaksmile_paj at twoleft
    with charachange

    li "There is really no need to be nervous…"

    show hanako emb_emb_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    "Hanako seems to find some confidence in Lilly's words and deftly pours the next two cups."

    ha "Here you are, Hisao… Lilly."

    "Hanako gently places a cup and saucer in front of Lilly and myself."

    "I could get used to service like this."

    li "Thank you, Hanako."

    hi "Yeah, thanks."

    ha "Y-you're welcome."

    "Lilly searches for her cup, and upon finding it, sips gently."

    "I do the same. This tea tastes somewhat better than the tea we usually have in the school."

    hi "This is nice, it's like it's not even tea at all…"

    li "Looks like you picked the right one, Hanako."

    li "You've done well, even if it was a bold move."

    hi "Yeah… it's… awesome. I've never had tea like this before…"

    show hanako emb_smile_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    "Hanako's smile returns, redoubled."

    "Even with her blighted face, her shy smile couldn't be called anything but \"cute\"."

    ha "I'm glad you like it…"

    "Hanako, finally beginning to relax, sips from her cup."

#--------------------
label en_H7a:

    "I think back to my chat with Misha the other day."

    "Is Hanako's behavior something to be concerned about, or is she just shy?"

    "And then there was Lilly earlier this morning."

    "The concern from both of them seemed to be genuine, and they know the situation better than I."

    "But, really, how could I possibly help?"

    "I'm no plastic surgeon, so I can't really help her appearance. Nor am I a psychologist that can make her more sociable."

    "So what the hell do Lilly and Misha want me to do?"

    "It's frustrating. Hanako and I are quickly becoming friends of our own accord, and because of that, it's like everyone wants me to solve all her problems."

    "And I have no idea how to do that."

    "No-one can cure my heart, nor Lilly's eyes, nor Misha's…"

    "…whatever is wrong with Misha."

    "However, I see no harm in becoming better friends with Hanako. Now that she's warming up to me I kind of enjoy hanging out with her."

#------------------------

label en_H7b:

    "Something about this makes me think about Lilly's question at breakfast."

    "Why am I friends with Hanako?"

    "Lilly seems genuinely concerned for Hanako's well being, but it's not like I can do anything to help her."

    "As far as I can tell, her scars don't hold her back physically, and everyone I've met seems to have overcome their disabilities to some extent."

    "I don't have any ulterior motives to hang out with Hanako, we just share similar interests."

    "Isn't that enough?"



#-----------------

label en_H7c:
    li "So, Hisao, are you enjoying this experience?"

    "Lilly's words break me out of my reverie, and I take second to reconsider where I am."

    "I'm in a room with two girls in their bedclothes. This is something to be enjoyed."

    hi "Yes, it's relaxing. Almost like I'm not in the school anymore. Do you do this often?"

    li "Quite often, but not as often as we take tea in the school building."

    li "If you do something like this every day, it stops being a treat and starts to become a chore."

    hi "I suppose you have a point there, but I think it would take some time for me to think of this as a chore."

    "I'm estimating around forty years for that to happen."

    "All too soon, I find my cup empty."

    hi "That was delicious. Thank you Hanako, Lilly."

    ha "You're welcome."

    li "Yes, you are most welcome Hisao."

    li "It's nice to have a third person here."

    hi "Well, any time you need someone to fill that position, I'm always available."

    hi "Always."

    "One must be sure to get your point across in these circumstances."

    #show lilly deflated_sleepy_paj at two left

    "Lilly lets loose a yawn, which she unsuccessfully hides with her hand."

    li "Oh, excuse me, I think I'm a little tired."

    ha "I think we're all a little tired…"

    li "My my, how astute we are tonight, Hanako."

    li "We really should head to bed, we all have class tomorrow."

    hi "Yeah… I should go."

    li "Thank you for your presence, Hisao."

    ha "Th..thanks. You'll come again?"

    hi "Not even a whole army could stop me."

    #lol, an acting army in modern Japan.
    #Actually the Japanese SDF puts a lot of militaries to shame…

    show hanako emb_downsmile_paj at tworight
    with charachange

    li "That's some determination there, Hisao."

    hi "Well, you know what I mean.. But I think I really should get going; it's getting late."

    ha "Yeah, it's getting late."

    "I stand up, and make for the door."

    "Hanako gingerly stands up behind me."

    "I stop and face her."

    hi "Are you coming with me?"

    "Hanako instantly blossoms into full blush."

    ha "No… I… not… this room… isn't…."

    show lilly basic_giggle_paj at twoleft
    with charachange

    hi "It's okay, I was only joking."

    ha "Oh… okay… goodnight…"

    li "Goodnight, Hanako, Hisao."

    hi "Night all."

    "And with that, our tea party finishes."

    scene bg school_dormhallway

    hide lilly

    show hanako emb_downtimid_paj
    with charachange

    "I'm still not sure what it is that Lilly wants me to do for Hanako, but I don't want to let her down."

    "I wait until the door has closed behind us before turning to Hanako."

    hi "Hey, Hanako, you know, you don't have to be nervous around me or anything."

    hi "I mean, we're friends, right?"

    show hanako emb_downsmile_paj
    with charachange

    ha "R-right. We're… friends."

    hi "If you ever want to hang out or anything, just let me know. We still need to have that chess rematch, remember ?"

    ha "S-sure…"

    ha "B-but I don't think you'll win…"

    hi "It wouldn't be any fun if it was easy."

    "Hanako seems to give a muted laugh, but she could have just as easily been exhaling."

    ha "G-good night Hisao…"

    "With that, Hanako quickly retreats into her room, located next to Lilly's."

    "I start to walk back to my dorm, but the simple act of walking seems to drain me of my energy."

    "I barely make it to my room before I am hit by a wave of exhaustion."

    "I kick off my shoes and fall into bed and fall asleep by the time my head hits the pillow."

    return


#-----------------
label en_H8:
    scene bg school_dormhallway

    "I pull my door closed, ready for another day of classes."

    ke "Sleep well?"

    show kenji neutral

    "Kenji's sudden arrival makes me jump, and I narrowly avoid butting heads with him."

    "I know he has poor eyesight, but he knows who I am now. Does he still have to stand this close?"

    hi "Oh. Yeah. Like a baby."

    show kenji tsun
    with charachange

    ke "Damn, why do people say that? Have you ever heard a baby sleep?"

    ke "They scream. All night. Every night. Babies don't sleep well, ever."

    "Well, there goes my restful state. I have to remember to never use figures of speech with Kenji."

    hi "Alright, I get your point. It was a figure of speech."

    show kenji neutral
    with charachange

    ke "Yeah, sure, whatever. Where were you last night? I had a favor to ask but you weren't around."

    "For a split second I consider telling Kenji the truth; that I was spending time with Hanako and Lilly."

    "Thankfully, that split second passes as soon as it came."

    hi "I was just out. Checking out the local area and stuff. You know, recon."

    show kenji happy
    with charachange

    ke "Good man, good. I knew you were the type to plan ahead…"

    hi "Anyway, what was this favour you wanted?"

    ke "I was going to get some take-out, but I needed change."

    hi "Wait, what? I gave you money last week and you still haven't paid me back!"

    show kenji tsun
    with charachange

    ke "Tch, and I was starting to think you were cool."

    "Kenji fishes around in his pocket and produces his wallet."

    "As he counts out the 420 yen he owes me, I can clearly see at least two 10,000 yen notes."

    hi "Hey, what the hell? Why are you borrowing money off me when you've got that much cash?"

    "Kenji hisses a little, realising that he's been had."

    ke "Get off my case, man. It's bad luck to break a big note for anything less than half its value. It's the tycoon's rule."

    ke "Last night's dinner is going to cost me seven years of bad luck. Seven years!"

    ke "Don't you think that's enough cause to help someone out?"

    ke "You'd get a shorter sentence if you just stole the stuff."

    "My common sense screams at me to say something to him, but thankfully I restrain myself."

    "Arguing a point like this with Kenji will just lead to further and more complicated discussions."

    hi "Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe you should plan these things a little better?"

    show kenji neutral
    with charachange

    ke "Yeah man, I know. But I've just go so much stuff to do, it's hard. And you're never around anymore so I'm on my own."

    ke "We're supposed to be brothers in brotherhood, remember?"

    hi "Yeah yeah, I get you. Global conspiracy and such. I'll keep my ear to the ground."

    "Kenji draws close enough for me to get a clear whiff of his garlic-tainted breath."

    ke "You'd better man. Already you're spending less time here. That's the first thing they do."

    ke "They'll try to split us up. Divide and conquer. Sun Tzu said that."

    hi "Roger that. Now, I've got to be going. I've got classes. You coming?"

    ke "Nah, I'm tired. I stayed up all night just to make sure nothing was going to happen after splitting that note."

    hi "As rational as ever, I see."

    ke "Whatever. Night."

    hide kenji

    "Kenji scurries back into his room, and I hear him throwing his locks as I walk down the hallway."

    return
    #--------------

label en_H9:
    scene bg school_scienceroom

    show muto smile

    mu "And that is why some people can't roll their tongue, or why their second toe is longer than their big toe."

    "Mutou beams a half-moon smile at us, obviously proud of his explanation of recessive genes."

    "However, no matter how impressed he is at the molecules that define who we are, the classroom seems to be reduced to a stupor."

    "Why is it that a bad explanation can make even the most interesting thing seem worthless?"

    show muto normal
    with charachange

    "I can see Mutou deflate as he realizes that nothing he's said in the past half hour has sunk in."

    "Whispered conversations start to break the silence, and like an avalanche, the noise level in the class starts to rise."

    "Defeated, Mutou identifies some questions from the text book and sets to clearing off the blackboard."

    hide muto

    "Almost as if expected, Hanako packs up her things and leaves as soon as people start talking and laughing amongst themselves."

    "The initial shock of seeing someone go truant so blatantly has started to fade, but it doesn't stop me from wondering."

    "Is she leaving because she doesn't want people to speak to her? Or is it just the thought of people around her shattering her peace?"

    "Before I can think about the topic any further, the lunch bells ring. I wonder if she was simply taking the opportunity to leave early."

    "The usual clamor of students exchanging books for lunch reverberates around the room, and while Misha is distracted I grab my lunch and head out the door."

    scene bg school_miyagi

    show lilly basic_satisfied

    "Lilly already sits in the tearoom, setting out her lunch alone."

    hi "So, Hanako's not here then?"

    li "Oh, Hisao, how are you? No, I haven't seen Hanako since this morning."

    "That's right, Hanako and Lilly live next to each other."

    "Somehow I think their morning conversations are slightly more realistic than Kenji's ramblings."

    hi "That's strange. She left class early, so I figured that she'd come here."

    show lilly basic_displeased
    with charachange

    li "Oh, is she still doing that? Leaving class early?"

    hi "Huh? Yeah, I've seen her do it a few times."

    "Lilly drops her head a little, like someone who is used to hearing bad news."

    li "I was sure that she'd stop doing that now that you two are becoming friends."

    li "I suppose these things take time."

    hi "Well, I was wondering about that today. Why exactly does she leave?"

    show lilly basic_reminisce
    with charachange

    li "I'm not entirely sure myself. I personally think it's because she doesn't want to be put in a situation where she has to answer someone."

    "I have a flashback of my first meeting with her, when I thought she looked like a cornered animal. Maybe I wasn't far from the truth."

    hi "But she seems fine with talking to you, and with me a bit…"

    li "Well, it's a little more complex than that. I imagine that the first thing most people ask her about is her scars, and what happened."

    li "She rarely talks about it with me, but I can tell that she doesn't like to remember that incident."

    li "So leaving class and running away from discussions is her pre-emptive strike, if you will."

    hi "Huh… so then how does that explain her talking to me?"

    li "You said it yourself yesterday at breakfast; you tried to ignore her scars. Once she saw that you weren't going to ask her about that, she opened herself up to you."

    li "I think she wants friends more than anything else, but her fear of the past is holding her back."

    hi "Hrm, I guess you're right. Maybe. I dunno. You know her better so I'll take your word for it."

    show lilly basic_giggle
    with charachange

    li "I wouldn't worry about that. I'm sure you'll come to know her as well as I do soon enough."

    li "I've known her long enough to realize that she is excited at the prospect of a new friend. And the two of you have such similar interests…"

    hi "Well, I hardly count reading as a team sport, but it's good to have company."

    li "That's my point. Hanako is still a person. She also wants company at times like that."

    hi "Huh, I see. I think. To be honest both of you still confuse me a little."

    li "That's only natural, Hisao. We've only known each other for a few days; it's unreasonable to expect you to understand us, just as we can't understand you."

    li "But that is half the fun of becoming friends, right?"

    hi "Yes, yes it is."

    show lilly basic_cheerful
    with charachange

    li "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to start eating."

    hi "No, go ahead, I think I'll eat something too. I've got some books I want to drop back at the library before classes start so I'd better get a move on."

    li "You'll probably find Hanako there as well. If you do see her, can you tell her to stop by my room later tonight? I'd like to talk to her."

    hi "So, you're not coming?"

    li "Unfortunately I have a class representative's meeting later, so I'll be gone as soon as I've finished my lunch."

    hi "Okay then, if I don't see her in the library then I'll tell her in class. I'm sure she'll be back after lunch."

    "We fall silent as we start to eat, and I take a second to reflect on our conversation."

    "I've always thought that Hanako's shyness was simply due to her being self conscious of her scars."

    "But that is a pretty superficial way of looking at her."

    "Just when I thought I was able to see through the fog of Lilly and Hanako, I realize that I'm more lost than when I started."

    "Lilly quickly finishes her lunch, acutely aware of her meeting. I don't blame her."

    "Shizune is most likely going to be there, and I doubt she wants to give her the satisfaction of another argument."

    li "I must be off. Same time tomorrow?"

    hi "Same time, same channel. I'd better head off too; I don't want to risk being late."

    "Lilly smiles gently, picks up her cane and walks out the hall."

    hide lilly

    return

    #----------

label en_H10:

    scene bg school_hallway2

    "I turn my back on Lilly as we head in opposite directions. For some reason I find myself hoping she doesn't get in another fight with Shizune."

    "As much as I like Lilly, Shizune and Misha have been pretty helpful in helping me adjust, even if half of our conversations are thinly-veiled recruitment attempts."

    "Then again, I barely know either of them. Maybe they were previously leaders of some kind of secret society, but their love for each other drove them apart…"

    "Man, I need to stop reading cheap fiction. It's rotting my brain. Either that or I've got to move away from Kenji and his bad influence."

    "It's sad that I can't tell the two apart anymore."

    scene bg school_library

    "I slide my books down the return chute and they crash into the cart with a pleasant thud."

    show yuuko panic

    "Yuuko, however, doesn't seem as impressed as I."

    yu "H-Hisao! You scared me!"

    hi "Sorry, I thought you would be used to that by now. Or is the literacy level here so low that no-one borrows any books?"

    show yuuko worried
    with charachange

    yu "Huh? No I think everyone here can read fine…"

    hi "Yeah… never mind."

    "There are some battles that you can never win. Trying to explain jokes are one of them. My Dad taught me that the hard way."

    hi "Say, Yuuko, have you seen Hanako about? She left class early but she wasn't in her usual hiding place."

    yu "I think I saw her sneak in before lunch…"

    show yuuko panic
    with charachange

    yu "Oh! But I'm not supposed to tell anyone that!"

    hi "I just told you that I saw her leave, no need to stress out…"

    show yuuko neutral
    with charachange

    yu "Oh… of course. She's probably up the back."

    hi "Thanks. Get any new books in recently?"

    yu "No, sorry. I'll let you know when we do though."

    hi "Okay."

    "If there's one thing I know about librarians, part-time or otherwise, it's that they appreciate people that take a genuine interest in their work."

    hide yuuko

    "I walk the now-familiar path to Hanako's reading nook, picking out a few titles along the way."

    "Sometimes I find it hard to discover a book that will interest me amongst the shelves. An author's name and a two-word title don't mean much in a sea of similar words."

    "For that reason, I sometimes re-read books that I read in the past. Better to bet on the favourite than the new runner."

    "An unfamiliar title from a familiar author peeks out among the spines of its neighbors, so I remove it from the shelf."

    "At least I'm not going over old material."

    show hanako basic_distant

    "As expected, Hanako sits on her beanbag, buried deep in a copy of “Dance! Dance! Dance!”"

    hi "Hi Hanako. How's it going?"

    "I fight back the urge to ask why she left class early. If Lilly's suspicions were right, then asking her about that could have the opposite effect."

    "Best to leave it for the time being. Sometimes the best way to get an answer from someone is to never ask the question."

    ha "H-Hisao. I'm fine."

    hi "Good to hear. How's that book? I've heard it's a trip."

    ha "I-it's good… I think."

    ha "I've only j-just started it, so I d-don't really know."

    hi "Fair enough. Let me know how it goes. I might borrow it once you're done."

    show hanako basic_smile
    with charachange

    ha "S-sure."

    "There's a good fifteen minutes left in lunch. Not enough to really get into a book, but too much to stand around doing nothing."

    "And Hanako's already returned to her reading, so I doubt I'll get much conversation from her."

    "Oh well, I'd better make myself comfortable."

    show hanako basic_worry
    with charachange

    "I slouch into a beanbag and crack open my book."

    "The familiar style of the author leaps out at me from the very first line. As the sentences turn into paragraphs I start to relax a little."

    "But, no matter how I try, I can't seem to get myself into the atmosphere of the book."

    "This is partly due to the lack of time, but the more distracting item is Hanako."

    "Every ten or so seconds she peers over the top of her book, but when our eyes meet she quickly ducks behind the covers."

    "I guess she did want to talk about something after all."

    hi "What's up? You look like a prairie dog on lookout."

    show hanako emb_blushing
    with charachange

    ha "N-… it's nothing."

    hi "I've told you before, \"nothing\" means \"something\" when you say it like that."

    show hanako cover_worry
    with charachange

    "Hanako squirms a little in her beanbag, hoping that by changing her position she'll find the words she's looking for."

    ha "I… I was in an accident."

    hi "Accident? Just now? Are you alright?"

    "Hanako shakes her head, her hair flowing around her shoulders in wisps of amethyst on a background of pale and dark flesh."

    ha "N-no. When I was y-younger."

    "Realization crashes into me like a semi trailer."
    #I want to change this metaphor, but the minute I thought 'truck' I also added 'berzerker' in my head. Fuck. -SC

    hi "It's alright Hanako, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to…"

    "Again she shakes her head."

    ha "N-no. I want… I have to tell you."

    ha "When I was young… I was in a fire."

    ha "M-my house b-burnt down, and I nearly… I nearly didn't make it."

    show hanako emb_downsad
    with charachange

    ha "A-after that… I was alone…"

    "Hanako's eyes glisten in the dim light of the library, and I reach out to grasp her hand."

    hi "It's okay Hanako, you don't have to keep going."

    ha "B-but… I have to…"

    hi "Why? What brought this on?"

    show hanako cover_bashful
    with charachange

    ha "L-last night Lilly t-told me about your heart…"
    #Continuity check needed. -SC
    #Lilly finds out about Hisao's heart in A03b; I'm 90$% sure you can't get the H path without seeing A30b, but worth a check

    ha "A-and I… I didn't think it was f-fair."

    hi "Fair?"

    ha "T-that I knew about you b-but you didn't know about me…"

    "I squeeze Hanako's hand a little."

    hi "Don't be silly. But yes, I have arrhythmia."

    "I lean a little closer to Hanako."

    hi "What I didn't tell Lilly is that I had my first attack when a girl confessed to me."

    "I smile a little to break the tension."

    show hanako cover_worry
    with charachange

    ha "R-really?"

    hi "Really. I haven't heard from her for a while though so I guess it's all over."

    hi "So now, we both know a little more about each other. But you don't have to talk about things if you don't want to."

    "In fact, I feel a little bad even thinking about that whole incident. I can almost smell the hospital's disinfectant burning the back of my sinuses again."

    "I imagine Hanako is going through the same thing now."

    "When I was in hospital I went to the burns ward once, and only once. I was bored, so I went for a walk through all of the wards."

    "I went through oncology and thought I could take it, but when I got to the burns ward I turned around and went back to my bed."

    "To think that Hanako would have spent months in a place like that, smelling nothing but corrupted skin, strong disinfectant and sterilised air."

    "The really bad cases were kept in isolated pods that no foreign objects could enter. That would have meant no reading."

    "I would have gone insane if I didn't have my books in hospital."

    "And she said she was alone… Did her parents die? I'll have to ask Lilly about it. I can imagine myself saying something dumb unintentionally."

    ha "T-thank you Hisao."

    ha "I… I haven't told many people about this."

    hi "To be honest, I haven't told many people about my… circumstances either."

    show hanako cover_smile
    with charachange

    ha "T-then I won't tell a-anyone either."

    hi "Deal."

    "I change my grip on Hanako's hand into a handshake as the warning bells chime through the window."

    hi "Well then, we'd better head back to class then, eh?"

    ha "S-sure."

    return

#-------------