November 7, 2001
Second Log: Risa and Masaaki

Masaaki: Hello.
Masaaki: Risa?

Risa: Yes. Hello.

Masaaki: My name is Masaaki.
Masaaki: um... Do you remember me? We met last month, while you were visiting Chihiro. For her birthday.

Risa: Ah, yes. I remember.
Risa: You were the guy we met while being at McDonalds.

Masaaki: Right.

Risa: Great. How's Chihiro doing?
Risa: Haven't heard from her in a while.

Masaaki: Me neither. I mean...
Masaaki: She comes to school, and I see her there,
Masaaki: But she seldom talks to me.

Risa: Hm...

Masaaki: She doesn't seem to talk to anyone.
Masaaki: She's quiet like "Lain" or "Rei", if you understand what I mean.

Risa: I do.

(Translator note: they are referring to two anime series characters: Lain from "Serial Experiments: Lain" and Rei from "Shin Seiki Evangelion" (Neon Genesis Evangelion). Those are very introverted, silent characters.)

Risa: She has always been very quiet, keeping to herself.
Risa: Well, maybe not always, but in the last years, I guess.

Masaaki: I tried to talk to her a couple of times, but...
Masaaki: I think she avoids me.
Masaaki: I think she avoids everyone.
Masaaki: I sort of wait for her to ask or tell me something, I don't like asking stupid stuff myself.
Masaaki: But our conversations are always very short.

Risa: well...

Masaaki: I just want to help her. I'd like to understand her.
Masaaki: She seems like a nice girl.
Masaaki: Not like the other girls in her class, or mine.

Risa: She is different, I guess...

Masaaki: But..., that's why she's interesting, and...
Masaaki: But I don't find any way to talk to her.
Masaaki: It's like she's living in another world.

Risa: You're right about that, more than you know...

Masaaki: I'd like to know a bit more about her.
Masaaki: I know it's stupid to ask you, but... she once said you were her only friend.
Masaaki: And she wouldn't need any other friends any more.

Risa: Um... but how exactly did you find me here?
Risa: Did Chihiro tell you my screen name?

Masaaki: No, well, it's kind of embarrassing.
Masaaki: You see, Chihiro seems to be forgetful sometimes, and last week she forgot her bag during lunch.
Masaaki: I brought it her, but...
Masaaki: I don't usually do that, but I didn't know what else to do to find out anything about her, so I peeked into the bag. And there was the address book.
Masaaki: Not a single address was in there, but it looked like a present from you since your information was on the first page.
Masaaki: It seems true that she doesn't have any other friends.
Masaaki: Is that so?

Risa: Well, maybe she just started using the book.
Risa: So, Chihiro doesn't know that you are talking to me?

Masaaki: No, is that a problem for you? I'm sorry if it is.
Masaaki: I've tried to talk to her, but I'm afraid of being a nuisance.
Masaaki: I don't want to annoy her.
Masaaki: Maybe she has problems, and I'd like to help her.

Risa: Why?

Masaaki: Because that's what people do, help each other.
Masaaki: A few weeks ago we had that video night, watching "Ringu".

(Translator note: "Ringu" (The Ring) was made 1998, and very popular in Japan. Later a US-remake was made. It's a horror movie.)

Masaaki: I asked her to come, but...
Masaaki: I don't think she even considered.

Risa: I can imagine

Masaaki: She even said she's not old enough yet to watch it.
Masaaki: Like anyone would care.
Masaaki: And Chihiro seems older than the rest of her class.

Risa: Are you in her class?

Masaaki: No, I'm fifteen. I'm in 9th class, one class ahead of Chihiro.
Masaaki: I've noticed her already last year.
Masaaki: But she doesn't seem happy.
Masaaki: At first I thought it was the change, she said they had moved into town.
Masaaki: But it's been quite long now, and she still doesn't seem to have any friends.
Masaaki: She doesn't even seem to have a hobby, or do any sports.
Masaaki: I see her in the library, though.
Masaaki: But it's like she's dreaming all the time. If the school blew up, I think she wouldn't care.

Risa: Masaaki, you talk a lot.

Masaaki: Sorry, I wouldn't usually.
Masaaki: But it's been on my mind for quite a while now.

Risa: Why do you tell me all that?

Masaaki: Sorry, this is not really new to you, is it?
Masaaki: I just need anyone to listen to this. Nobody seems to care much about her.
Masaaki: I once tried calling her mother, but it's not easy to talk to her, either.

Risa: Well, it's not all that easy.
Risa: And I'm not sure whether I should talk to you or not.

Masaaki: I understand. After all you don't know me at all...

Risa: It's not that, I believe you, but..., I don't think Chihiro would like it when I talk to you.

Masaaki: You think so? Is anything wrong with her?

Risa: It's hard to explain. If she doesn't tell you, I don't think I should. And you wouldn't believe it anyway.
Risa: Maybe even I don't believe it.
Risa: Any more.

Masaaki: I don't understand. Are you talking about anything specific?

Risa: Let's just say it has to do with something that happened in her past.

Masaaki: You mean... she had been... hurt?

Risa: No, no, no.
Risa: Don't get me wrong. Nothing like that.
Risa: She's fine. It's... more like a family tragedy.
Risa: Listen, I don't think I should talk about this, at least not now.

Masaaki: You don't think I could help her?
Masaaki: Can you help her?

Risa: Of course I want to help her.
Risa: I stayed her only friend by saying I believed her.
Risa: And when she needs to talk, she can come to me, I promised her.
Risa: And she's also in professional care.

Masaaki: Oh my God, what's wrong with her? What happened?

Risa: Like I said, I won't tell you. She should tell you herself.

Masaaki: Um... How often does she talk to you?
Masaaki: When did you talk to her the last time?

Risa: It was... a while ago. She's not online that much.

Masaaki: I don't want to seem intrusive, but I think you should talk to her.
Masaaki: I think she needs someone right now. And if not me, then maybe you.

Risa: Maybe you are right.

Masaaki: If you want to, you can tell her we talked. I don't like secrets.

Risa: Um, Masaaki, maybe I should thank you.
Risa: Maybe I didn't realize how Chihiro is doing now.
Risa: I think it is pretty courageous that you talked to me like this.

Masaaki: Well this is online, and I don't know you, so...
Masaaki: And do you think Chihiro will be ok?

Risa: I hope so. Give her some more time to forget whatever she needs to forget.
Risa: I hope she wants to forget, it's been a long time.

Masaaki: How long?

Risa: It was spring '98, over three years now.
Risa: But I've already said too much. I think if you really want to help her you have to wait for the right moment.

Masaaki: That's what I did for quite a while now.
Masaaki: But you are right, I guess.
Masaaki: I cannot help anyone who doesn't want any help.
Masaaki: Thank you a lot for the talking.

Risa: Thanks too. You may call me anytime, if you want to.

Masaaki: Thanks, maybe I will. Bye.

Risa: Bye.