The next couple of days went by without much of a hitch. Sunday was mostly running in the morning with Emi, lunch and spending the time reading the book. Lenny took notes and stuck the slips of paper in pages that seemed to interest him. Astrology, spaceships, physics, even a couple in chemistry, earth and biology. Lenny definitely had a lot to talk to Mutou about. Monday was much the same as any other day as Lenny told Mutou about the stuff that caught his interest. Also, the dreaded exams were coming closer and closer as Mutou announced this was the last week of normal classes before finals were there. After that there was going to be ten days of rest and then summer vacation was going to begin. Those rest days were going to be for students that ended up missing their exams on the days that were presented or needed extra time to do them.
Katawa Shoujo- Nocturne
Tuesday was much like Monday but there wasn't homework to be done as all the time was being devoted to the exams and preparing the students for them. Mutou wanted to see Lenny, Hisao and Hanako after classes had concluded for the day. Lenny meanwhile headed down to the track after telling Hisao he would see him at Lunch with Emi and her friends. However what Lenny didn't realize was the fact that Shizune and Misha were paying much closer attention to Lenny than he was comfortable with. Once getting out to the track, several students were preparing for one last run together when it came to Anchor, the last track event that Lenny had watched last week with Meiko and Rin.
Here's a small part of his mind that is still paranoid that this has all been some kind of joke. That he'll meet up with Emi at the track, and she'll act like nothing happened these thoughts to the back of his mind, Lenny threw on his running clothes and opened the door, walking out to the track as many of the students were waiting there. Emi's waiting for Lenny with her usual smile.
"You're late! Or at least, you're not early today. Are you tired or something?" Emi asked Lenny about his condition when it came to him being late. Lenny would find himself ruefully rubbing the back of his head.
"Something like that, yeah. Lots to think about and all that." Lenny had to admit that he was being worn down regarding the entire classes and the exams that were coming up. Emi giggles at his mild understatement.
"Yeah, I didn't sleep that well either. I was actually glad you weren't early, 'cause I wasn't early either." Emi admitted that she was growing exhausted as well. Lenny began to wonder if the same thing kept them awake. The image of either one of their weeping faces passes through their minds.
"What kept you up?" Lenny asked Emi if there was something that kept her awake. Emi's expression falters, but she quickly notices his curiosity and forces a smile.
"Nothing important." Emi explained to Lenny that there was nothing that kept her awake. She's obviously not telling Lenny something. The question is, should he press the issue? Something's clearly been bothering her for a while. Lenny wanted to help her, but would it just come off as him being nosy? She's got to know that he does care about her, though.
"Are you sure? If something's bothering you, I'm here to help you sort it out." Lenny tried his best to explain to Emi that he was there if she needed something from him. Emi laughs then, but it's not her usual laugh. There's an edge to it that seems almost bitter.
"Sort it out? I'm not sure it can be sorted out, Lenny." Emi tried to explain even though there wasn't much for either one of them to fix. An almost grim smile crosses her lips. It's like a smile of resignation. "I don't think you could help me, anyway. It's my goal to still try to help you." That hurts. Lenny doesn't want to say that it hurts to her, but it does. Doesn't she realize that Lenny wants to be there for her when things go wrong? At least Emi is still willing to be with him in case something is wrong on Lenny's end but even then, Emi wasn't willing to accept any form of help.
"Well, I won't push you on the matter. But I'm here for you if you decide later that you'd like to talk about it. It might help." Lenny explained to Emi that he was there in case there was something she wanted to talk about. Lenny can see the debate raging behind Emi's eyes. It seems like she wants to tell him, but she's not sure whether or not she can. Lenny had to change tactics and try to focus on the class ahead. "Hey, forget about it for now, okay? We've got running to do." The mention of running, something that she can handle, brings Emi back to her usual self.
"Right! Hurry up and stretch out, Lenny! We've got to get moving!" Emi told Lenny that they needed to stretch themselves out. "Miki and the others have decided on something special that we should do today." Emi explained. Lenny was curious, what did Miki want from him?
"Hey you arrived!" Miki told Emi and Lenny. She stood there in her carefree way as if she was ready to start explaining the situation. "Since last week was the last track meet of the season, we're standing here pretty bored with nothing to do. I was thinking, "Want to run anchor before the trimester concludes?"" Miki explained that they should have one last run before the year concluded.
"Last run. Yes please but who's in it?" Emi asked, she wanted to see who was going to be running anchor today when it came to this.
"I'm on one team, You and Lenny are on another." Miki explained. Lenny's eyes widened, he never ran for anything this serious even if it was just for fun when it came to this type of thing.
"I don't know if I can do this?" Lenny began nervously. Emi looked at him with a smile to her voice.
"Don't know? That isn't a word that we shouldn't be using. We will do this! Nothing will be holding you back. We will win." Emi told Lenny that giving up wasn't a word that she wasn't willing to use. He was going to go in there and defeat all of his enemies. Lenny nodded.
"Okay. I will." Lenny told Emi. Emi gave a smile, she was happy that Lenny was going to go in there and force his foes back. They walked off to get themselves ready.
Running anchor was divided into eight teams of four. What they quickly learned was that Miki had named all of the teams based on what Hanako had said. Teams Rat, Asp, Salamander, Rabbit, Phoenix, Leopard, Griffin and Dragon. Emi and Lenny were in Dragon team and they were going to be running the anchor. Lenny was at the front as he was going to handle the beginning part and the home stretch. Emi was going to be in the middle as the middle of the trip was going to be the intense part. Two other students had been assigned to the curves of the track where the resistance of running was less. Miki wanted payback against Emi for beating her the week before and she was going to see how well she was going to stack against her. Lenny however never participated in any race before and this made him anxious.
Lenny was going to be running both the first and last legs of the race. Emi was going to handle the middle. The two students with the bell were going to signal the people to begin the race. They picked up the bell and rang it. Lenny and the others took off. This meant that everything was now on him. Lenny tried his best to get one step ahead of the other racers while carrying his anchor. The other students looked astonished, He was just going when they expected him to fall behind as they were fast moving people too. Lenny managed to get two steps ahead of the other racers when he handed the anchor off to the other students. Lenny dashed back to the beginning to receive the anchor again and finish the last leg of the race. Lenny takes a quick glance as his heart monitor as it was giving him an even rhythm.
"Going strong so far. Hopefully this shouldn't go off with an issue." Lenny told himself. He had to take a quick cool down. Emi looked at Lenny heading back before a couple of students were handed the anchor and dashed off. Emi then grabbed the Anchor that was handed to her and ran off. The other two students were surprised as Emi quickly sprinted her way to the front. They continued to run but with Emi being faster than the both of them, they had no way of closing the gap on them. Emi then stumbled sharply before tossing the Anchor to the student ahead. She got up as the student caught the Anchor and ran off. Emi's leg where it met with the prosthetics was starting to bleed badly. A couple of the students ran over to help her up.
Lenny wasn't going to have much time to rest as the student came around the corner and tossed Lenny the Anchor. Lenny caught it and began to run as fast as he could. He didn't know how fast the other students were so getting a headstart was important. The other students received their anchors but Lenny had gotten a head start on the whole thing. They ran as they wanted to be the one to win. Lenny meanwhile was halfway down the track when he turned his head to see the others were starting to catch up to him. Lenny tried his best to run faster as beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. He continued to run as he bounded his way through the other side of the track. The other students looked on as Lenny not only brought the team into first place but he felt like it was all on him. Lenny, exhausted but triumphant, bounded his way back.
"This feeling I have, this willingness to risk a heart attack for something so trivial as a morning run, feels out of character for me." Lenny began while panting with his voice, he was surely exhausted by this. Emi came up to Lenny as her leg had been patched together.
"But is it? Or rather, should it be? You've got a weak heart, sure. It'll never be capable of the kind of speed and endurance I'm capable of. Though I probably wouldn't be able to get that good even if you had a healthy heart. As I saw you run off of the track, I bet you could feel your legs screaming in protest, but for the first time, you ignored them. I'm so glad you were able to make Dragon Army win." Emi told Lenny that their team won because of the Anchor play that they pulled off which helped Lenny get a headstart. Lenny nodded, if Emi didn't plan this in anticipation, that was never going to happen, of course. Still, Lenny thinks that the contest run feels surprisingly good in more ways than one. Oh sure, his legs feel like they're about to catch fire, and Lenny was having trouble staying upright. But there's been a shift of some sort today. And it's all thanks to the girl grinning at the finish line, waiting for him.
Katawa Shoujo- Standing Tall
"That felt a little faster than usual." Lenny told Emi and it wasn't because of him running Anchor. His comment is met with a grin and a shrug.
"Can't have you think I was going to go soft on you, now can I? But you managed to handle it just fine." Emi told Lenny that he was getting better with his running. She was more or less enjoying it.
"Well, I couldn't have done it without you." Lenny told Emi that the win wasn't on him rather on her. Still feeling the high from the run and moved by a surge of gratitude, Lenny had to seize Emi in a hug. "Thanks. Really, I'm not just saying that. I'm in your debt." Emi seems flustered by his words, squirming uncomfortably.
"Don't be silly, Lenny. Someone had to haul you out here, didn't they? And it's not like you're not doing anything for me, right? I needed a running partner, remember?" Emi told Lenny why she did this in the first place, having a running partner for her. Lenny didn't know if this was turning into something more than running. Lenny shakes his head, still pointedly not letting go of Emi, who stops squirming and merely looks up at him with a quickly deepening blush that almost seems out of character.
"No, that's not true. You wanted a running partner, but you didn't need one. If I hadn't shown up the day after the festival, you would still run, right? But it doesn't work the other way around. I only managed to make it out a few times before the festival. And without you, I probably wouldn't have made it out at all after that." Lenny explained to Emi that she had her wish completed and he had been sticking to that promise. Emi smiles at Lenny and prods his chest with one finger.
"You are pretty lazy, Lenny." Emi told Lenny that he must've not been into running before he met her.
"Hey, I was giving you a compliment!" Lenny tried to explain to Emi that he was just doing something she would want to appreciate.
"Well... you're welcome, I guess." Emi told Lenny that she appreciates the compliment.
"I'll pay you back somehow." Lenny promised to Emi that he better find something to give back to her. He didn't want to just take something without giving something back. Emi felt flustered as she didn't know what exactly there was to take back.
"Oh, uh, well... That's not necessary, you know. I mean I kinda like you, Lenny. And being able to run with you in the mornings isn't exactly a bad deal for me either, so..." Emi tried to explain as a blush crept over her face. For someone who gets so much praise, she seems unused to gratitude. Lenny couldn't think of anything else to say, so they fell silent. Lenny had become aware of Emi's breathing, of the dampness of her clothing, and of the scent of her. Coming off of anyone else, it would stink. Coming off of Emi, it fits her in a way nothing else could. Her skin is cool, slick with sweat, and a breeze causes goosebumps to rise. Almost without thinking about it, Lenny decided to lean down and meet Emi's mouth which has already moved to meet his own. Her lips are soft, and she hums happily as they kiss, sending vibrations from her mouth to his. There's a startling rightness to everything about this moment. Then fit one another perfectly. The kiss ends, and Lenny decides to finally let his arms drop back to his sides. Emi is smiling warmly at me, and giggles again.
"Come on Lenny, we'd better go see the nurse." Emi told Lenny that they were probably better in seeing the nurse and checking up on them. Emi and Lenny began walking away as Emi was still limping. Lenny tries his best to support Emi and then it happens. As she continued to limp onward she felt her prosthetic leg touch her in a particular spot, she gave out a tiny yelp and stumbled forward.
"Emi!" Lenny shouted. He leaps to steady her and notices with some concern that she's favoring the same leg as that weekend. "Your leg..." Emi seems panicked and pushes away from Lenny.
Katawa Shoujo- Caged Heart
"It's fine!" Emi panicked as she tried her best to tell Lenny. Emi looked at him, his expression must seem hurt, because she hastens to apologize. "Sorry! Sorry! Didn't mean to push you like that! I was just..." Emi begins the apology but she stumbles for something to say. "It's nothing, really." Lenny sighed though he felt his heart beat increase slightly due to the fact that Emi pushed him directly on his chest.
"Hey, don't worry about it." Lenny explained to Emi. She's so flustered, Lenny had to decide to shrug the whole thing off. But there's a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach now that won't go away. Lenny decided to try to step in and help her, and she pushed him away. Smiling, Lenny had to shove those thoughts to the back of his mind and concentrate on Emi. "I just don't want you getting hurt, that's all."
"You don't have to worry about me, honest. I'm fine!" Emi explained to Lenny that she was fine and there was nothing she wanted him to worry about. Yes, you say that, but Lenny doesn't believe her. Why won't you tell Lenny what's wrong? It's like she gets offended by him trying to help. What was he supposed to make of that? Lenny is still trying to sort out what happened on the track as they arrive in front of the nurse's office. Emi raises her hand to knock, hesitates and turns to Lenny smiling guiltily. "Hey, can you do me a favor?"
"Of course." Lenny told Emi that she didn't know how comfortable she wanted to bring this kind of stuff up with Lenny in the room, she wanted to have to do this alone.
"Can you tell the nurse that I'll see him later? I just remembered that I've got some... stuff to take care of before this period ends. So I really need to get moving." Emi explained as she felt indecisive about something. Lenny knew if she was trying to bring up what was wrong with her but she didn't want to say it in front of Lenny. Without a moment to spare. Emi limped off, still feeling off about the whole thing. Lenny peers at her closely, and she fidgets under his stare. Yeah, she's clearly just avoiding the nurse. That leg of hers... Well, whatever. Lenny promised he'd help, and so he will. But he'll make damn sure she sees the nurse before the day's out.
"Yeah, okay. I'll let him know." Lenny told Emi that he will let her know about this. Emi turned her head and gave a stare back at Lenny. Emi looks like he had just given her a pony on Christmas.
"Thank you so much! You're the best, Lenny!" Emi called with her excitement. Lenny felt rewarded for his complicity in her lie by a kiss that makes it all worth it, or so he would tell himself. As Emi heads out of the building, trying hard not to let her limp show, Lenny decides to knock on the door of the office.
Katawa Shoujo- Ah Eh I Oh You
"Ah, Lenny. Come on in. I don't see Emi with you. She's not sick again, is she?" The Nurse asked Lenny if he was more or less feeling okay but he was also asking for Emi's condition. From the tone of his voice, Lenny doesn't think the nurse is expecting him to say "Yes, she's ill."
"Er, she said that she'd forgotten to do something, and so she had to skip out, but she'll see you later today." Lenny explained as he wanted to try to answer the nurse's question but at the same time have Emi's promise be kept. The nurse heaves an exasperated sigh.
"Honestly, that girl..." The Nurse began. He didn't know if he wanted to laugh or feel disappointed about Emi.
"Hmm?" Lenny asked. The Nurse got out the equipment as he decided to check Lenny's heart to make sure it was alright.
"She's been avoiding me. Yesterday she was in and out of here without even taking off her prosthetics. And now this." The Nurse explained to Lenny as he continued to read his health. Well, at least it's not just me Emi doesn't want to worry. That's a... comfort, Lenny had to guess. Still, he feels like he should say something about her leg. Lenny said earlier today that he would have to lie for her, but she really needs to see him.
"Now that you mention it, she was limping pretty badly today. And last night as well when we decided to go for a walk around." Lenny explained. "She's been limping for the past few days now." The nurse's eyes narrow at the words "last night."
"And what exactly were you two doing last night?" The Nurse asked Lenny about what was going on between him and Emi.
"We were uh, on a walk. She really likes me a lot and I do too." Lenny explained to the Nurse what exactly was going on between him and Emi. The nurse raises his eyebrows as if surprised.
"Really? Interesting." The Nurse began speaking to Lenny. He was curious to figure out more about this.
"Huh?" Lenny asked, he felt perplexed about the whole thing and what the Nurse wanted to say to him.
"Oh, nothing." The Nurse explained to Lenny. His gaze turns thoughtful, and then he grins at him. "You don't think you could use some of that boyfriend charm to get her to come see me today, could you?" The Nurse asked Lenny if he could convince her about seeing the Nurse. Lenny wasn't sure about this but if the Nurse needed him to. He would have to ask.
"Of course! I was planning on doing that anyway. I think she's really hurt and just pretending she isn't." Lenny tried his best to explain to the Nurse about Emi's condition but if Emi walked away as if she was hiding something else that she didn't want to have Lenny listen to her directly, he had to cover it up for her.
"Hmm, yes. She does that. Afraid I'll make her stop running." Lenny explained. He began to think about what Emi had in mind; she wanted to talk to the Nurse alone and not bring Lenny himself into the conversation. "Will you?" Lenny asked, he wasn't sure of what to do as he felt his heart begin to race a bit. The Nurse decided to try to calm it down so it didn't turn into another incident.
"I don't like to, but if it's bad enough that she's been limping, well... I guess I'll have to see what's wrong for myself before I make that call." The Nurse explained to Lenny about what he planned on doing. He pulled away as Lenny was curious about his current health.
"I see." Lenny told the Nurse. Something lurked in the back of his head that he was scared of thinking about. Emi, not allowed to run? Perish the thought. Lenny wouldn't know if she'd be able to function without running. No wonder she's reluctant to admit anything's wrong. "Well, I'll make sure she sees you."
"Good. Oh, and before I forget..." The Nurse smiled at Lenny and began to speak to him. He grins at me again in what feels like a vaguely threatening manner. "Don't forget that I know what medications you're on. You should be careful around Emi, right?" The Nurse told Lenny that he knew what he was on if he was to take better care of his health and he, much like Emi, needed to be careful around her. Wow. He looks serious, too.
"Got it. Don't hurt Emi. Wouldn't dream of it." Lenny told the Nurse that he didn't want to hurt Emi at all when it came to this stuff. If not, he'd had to think of something new.
"Grand! I'd hate for you to be late." The Nurse told Lenny as he heard the Lunch bell. Lenny had an hour of Lunch time, so there was no rush to get there.
"Huh?" Lenny asked. The Nurse gave a smile as he was going to tell him a joke.
"Late, as in the late Lenny Hirahi." The Nurse explained. He frowns briefly, dissatisfied. "Sounded better in my head... Well, at any rate. Get out of here before you miss your free time! You've got things to do, I'm sure. Shoo!" Lenny nodded before picking up his bag and walking off. As he leaves, Lenny turns his head back to notice the nurse pulling out his phone and dialing a number.
"Meiko Ibarazaki, your daughter's being a pain in the ass again..." The Nurse explained to Meiko that Emi was avoiding him.
"How? I haven't received a call from her in days, is there something going on with her?" Meiko asked as there was something definitely wrong with Emi.
"I don't know for sure, Lenny brought it up and I wanted to see if I can figure this out." The Nurse explained as Lenny left the scene, he didn't want to get involved.
"Speaking of which, I have Lenny Hirahi's papers from…" Meiko explained to the nurse about what she had received. Lenny was confused, what did Meiko Ibarazaki have his paperwork from and what was her plan. He had to figure this out from Emi when he had the chance. Hey, wasn't he supposed to give Lenny his results from his heart rate?
Lenny had to bring himself out of the stupor, trying to recall the conversation the Nurse was having with Meiko Ibarazaki, why was he involved and what did she want from the Nurse or Lenny more specifically? It didn't help that Lenny had a lack of sleep last night, coupled with the increased pace of this morning's run, has left him a little exhausted. Despite that, Lenny could still find himself skipping stairs up to the roof. There's a thrill of excitement now, in addition to the pleasure one gets from eating lunch with one's friends. True, both Emi and Rin are still his friends, but Emi has become more than that now. Rin is back in her usual spot on the roof, almost as if she'd never been absent.
"Feeling better, I take it?" Lenny asked Rin if she was getting over her cold. He hadn't seen her the day before and wanted to see what was going on. A raised eyebrow is his reward for speaking.
Katawa Shoujo- Parity
"Better than what?" Rin asked Lenny if she remembered getting sick.
"Er, better than you felt that weekend." Lenny explained to Rin about how she felt and if she was going to be sick. Rin gives his question some serious thought.
"I'm not sure. I think I might have felt rather good for some of yesterday, but it's all fuzzy." Rin explained to Lenny that her cold was something she didn't remember… at all. "It was raining yesterday so I was stuck at the library."
"Too much cold medicine?" Lenny asked Emi if she had taken too much of something and it knocked her out?
"Well, I was asleep. And that usually is pretty good. But I can't remember what it feels like to be asleep, because I'm not conscious for it. It's a real problem. Then again, if I knew how good it felt I might not sleep any more. But this way I keep trying so I guess that's how I can keep from being overtired." Rin tried to explain to Lenny about what happened that night and how it kept her from staying awake.
"An eternal mystery to keep you sleeping at night?" Lenny asked. He was no expert on this but maybe Rin staying asleep is what caused her to sleep.
"Maybe mystery's the wrong word. Intangibility might be the proper way to describe it." Rin sighed as she explained. This wasn't the best word to describe it.
"I see." Lenny sighed. No, he doesn't get it, at all. Lenny has no idea what she's talking about, but that's okay, since he rarely does.
"Do you remember what sleeping feels like? Like yesterday, do you remember what you felt like sleeping yesterday?" Rin asked Lenny if there was something he remembered about when it came to this. Lenny was stuck as he tried to think of her experience.
"Well, I actually didn't get a lot of sleep yesterday." Lenny explained to Rin that he didn't get that much sleep at all.
"Hmm. Maybe that's because you remember subconsciously." Rin sighed. Lenny nodded when it came to this but for her, this felt normal and he wanted to see what more he wanted to do when it came to the mysteries of life, was it a routine? Lenny had to express something he was worried about.
"Actually, I think I was worrying about Emi." Lenny began. He wanted to switch things up if it meant getting something to remember the nurse's conversation from earlier.
"Doesn't Emi worry enough about herself?" Rin asked Lenny if Emi was capable of doing that for her? Lenny hadn't considered that, but it gives him a pause.
"True, but would she ask for help if she needed it?" Lenny asked Rin if this was something she would really need about now. Rin frowns, and Lenny raises an eyebrow. Will he get a proper answer?"
"Probably not. Is there something she should be asking for help with?" Rin asked Lenny if he had anything specific she needed help with. Lenny had to think about that one.
"Her leg, for starters." Lenny explained to Rin that was the one thing that was plaguing his mind. This seems to catch Rin's interest.
"Leg?" Rin asked.
"It's hurt, but she won't see the nurse about it." Lenny explained to Rin. Rin shakes her head in disapproval.
"You have to make her. Like she makes me go to class. For her own good. Otherwise she could lose her legs again, and that's just too weird. Losing things twice. Especially if you don't find them again to begin with. Unless prosthetics are the same as finding something. But that's a different kind of lost, isn't it?" Rin explained to Lenny about losing something and then losing it again if its already been lost and never found.
"I think so." Lenny answered, he was confused about what Rin was talking about.
"Hmm. I wonder..." Rin began. What Lenny and Rin didn't realize was someone was going to catch them by surprise.
"Wonder what?" Emi asked. Emi seems to have snuck up on Rin and Lenny, though Rin doesn't seem especially surprised. Which is itself unsurprising, Lenny would suppose. Rin manages to sit herself upright quite expertly, throwing her upper body forward and using her momentum to right herself. Hisao, Lilly and Hanako were also there, having to help Emi on the way there.
"Your leg. How's it feel?" Hisao asked Emi as he too noticed her limping. That earns me a frown and a bit of a glare from Emi to Hisao.
"It's okay, I think. Not worth worrying about." Emi explained. Lenny felt uneasy but Hisao had to be the older sibling to everyone if it meant keeping them together.
"Tell that to the nurse. He's quite insistent that you visit him, you know." Hisao explained to Emi about her condition and what she could do to fix it. Emi pouts like Hisao just told her she's been grounded.
"He worries too much. It's not a big deal, just a little soreness." Emi explained to Hisao. Lenny tried to resist rolling my eyes in exasperation.
"If it's nothing, then you should have no problem seeing him, right?" Hisao asked if this was going to be the case. Emi narrows her eyes suspiciously.
"Did he put you up to this?" Emi asked either Hisao or Lenny, trying to figure out who it was that told her that she should go see the nurse for her leg.
"Well, maybe. A little. But that's not the point. I would have reminded you to see him anyway. It would be terrible to see you really hurt and not doing anything about it. That would make it worse, and I don't really want to see you hurt, you know? Call me crazy, but I kinda would prefer to see you happy and healthy." Lenny explained that it was him that told Emi that she should try to fix her leg problem. With each statement, Emi's frown fades a little more, until eventually she's grinning, albeit a little shyly. Emi felt worried, she didn't want to bring this up with Lenny regarding her leg problem and if she did, she felt nervous about doing it, something else was in her mind that she didn't want to let out.
Katawa Shoujo- Daylight
"Well, if you're going to put it that way, then I guess I'll have to see him. Otherwise you'll keep worrying, and then I'll never hear the end of it, right?" Emi asked Lenny that she will go see him after classes for the day had concluded. Lenny nodded that Emi was going to do the right thing.
"That's right. We'll keep bugging you about it, and that might put a damper on your dates. "How's the food, Hisao?" "Talk to the nurse, Emi." "How was your day, Hisao?" "Talk to the nurse, Emi." "Hisao, I think I'm ready to go all the w—" "Talk to the nurse, Emi." See? It doesn't work that well." Hisao explained to Lenny and Emi that they should take their chances and talk to the nurse if they were having any sort of problems regarding their health, otherwise, a visit to the nurse wasn't going to hurt. Emi giggles at their high-pitched rendition of her own voice and gives Lenny an affectionate shove.
"My voice isn't that high, jerk." Emi told Hisao that she didn't want to be mocked, she looked at Lenny who didn't even say a word before Rin spoke next.
"I thought it was pretty accurate." Rin explained to Emi that she was impressed with Hisao's voice work and this was something she would be happy with. Almost if the pirate stuff Emi mentioned last week was bubbling its way back to the surface. Emi, Hisao and Lenny stare at Rin for a while before everyone except for Lenny bursts into laughter. Emi crosses her arms and huffs, mock-offended.
"You're all jerks." Emi told them before turning to Lenny who wasn't laughing along with the crowd.
"Such vile calumnies from you, young woman. I'm stunned that you would call me, of all people, a jerk. Honestly, I just... I don't know what to think." Hisao explained to Emi while Lenny didn't say anything. Emi sticks her tongue out at Hisao.
"You ass." Emi pouted to the group before Lilly interjected.
"All right now that we're all on the roof, let's dig into lunch and figure out how everything is going like a chance of topic." Lilly told them that there should be no arguing under her watch. Emi sighed as if Lilly was telling them to knock it off. Emi turned her head and began speaking.
"So Rin, how's the art club these days?" Emi asked Rin. Rin, seemingly as surprised by this sudden change of topic as Lenny was, takes a minute to think before answering.
"I believe it is okay. Although Nomiya keeps telling me to work harder. But I don't think he understands my methods." Rin explained that the art teacher was asking her to paint more and more stuff. Emi paused and turned a bit sideways.
"He always struck me as slightly creepy." Emi admitted to Rin. Lilly was curious to figure out what this was about.
"Rin, is there anything coming up that Nomiya is expecting you to paint more for?" Lilly asked. Rin ponders this statement for a while.
"I've never really noticed. But I don't pay much attention to him most days, so maybe that's why." Rin began. "There is an art festival coming up next week after finals have concluded, a fundraising event for the school. I never really intend on sticking around. I'd rather play my games than look at another kid's artwork." Rin continued to explain as Lenny was curious about Rin.
"How often do you meet?" Lenny asked Rin how often did this club meet. Emi's eyes opened up with interest.
"Thinking of joining, Lenny?" Emi asked Lenny. Lenny paused before he needed to explain to Emi what was going on.
"What? Nah, I've already decided to join a club." Lenny told Emi that he had already signed up. This made Emi pretty excited.
"Really? Which one?" Emi sensed that Lenny had found something he was passionate about. Lenny scratched the back of his head as he had to explain this to Emi.
"Well, it's not really much of a club, to be honest..." Lenny explained to Emi. Emi was ready to play a guessing game with Emi.
"Oh, you joined the tea club?" Emi asked. Lilly smiled thinking Lenny decided to join her, Hisao and Hanako.
"No, I uh... joined the science club... I think." Lenny explained that he made a club that he was a part of. Emi looks highly confused by what Lenny had just said..
"We have a science club?" Emi asked. She wasn't familiar with this club, there was no club like this one before. Hisao stepped in and tried to explain this to Emi.
"Er, not really. It's just me, Hanako and Lenny." Hisao politely told Emi that it was most likely just the three of them. Emi pouted as she didn't like what this club was about.
"Hisao, that's not a club. That's sitting in your room reading books." Emi told Hisao that the science club was boring as you were most likely still doing class work.
"No, I mean it's just us three and Mutou. We're just the only students so far." Hisao explained to Emi as Lenny listened closely.
"Mutou? Really?" Emi asked about their science teacher. A thought strikes her. "Oh, is that what you were talking about yesterday? Your meeting with Mutou?"
"Yeah, that was our first meeting, I guess." Hisao explained to Emi that they managed to have a meeting regarding what happened yesterday and Emi was listening in on the conversation. Emi giggles.
"Nerd." Emi playfully told Hisao as she stuck her tongue out.
"Hey, I can't help being clever." Hisao explained to Emi. Lenny felt like he was being left out and decided to look at the time, lunch was going to be over within a few minutes.
"You know, I could have used your help years ago. You should've had your heart attack earlier in life, Hisao." Emi explained. Lenny felt uncomfortable at the notion. Would Emi have wished the same thing to him? He didn't know what her intentions were. Lenny had to admit that he can't help but laugh, and then realize this is probably one of the very rare times he's laughed about his own heart attack much less than someone else's.
"Hindsight..." Lenny sighed as if he wanted to call Hisao out on this.
"Yeah..." Emi began. Everyone was then interrupted as the ringing of the bell ended the conversation.
Hmm, guess we'd better go." Lenny told them as he packed his stuff up. He was going to follow Lilly and Hanako to his last class.
"Yeah, I guess so. Come on Rin, you too." Emi told Rin. Rin has apparently begun to doze off, so Emi gives her a sharp bump.
"I almost had it." Rin began as she was trying to see what brilliant idea she had this time.
"Sorry, but you need to go to class." Emi explained to Rin that they needed to go to class now.
"I disagree, but maybe if I nap in class I'll get it this time. Changing location is sometimes helpful for that kind of thing." Rin explained that her naps could help her get ideas. Neither Emi nor Lenny bother asking what "it" is. As Lenny and his friends arrive at the classroom, Emi gives Lenny a quick kiss and heads down the hallway, Rin in tow. Lenny turns to enter the classroom, to be met by the duo of Shizune and Misha. Shizune turned to make a few quick hand gestures to Misha. Misha seems to be fighting a losing battle to keep from breaking into a fit of giggles while she translates Shizune's latest rant.
Katawa Shoujo- The Student Council
"While we are pleased, nay thrilled, to see how well you've managed to make new friends and forge relationships - and with such a cutie too, Leechan~..." Misha began. She was breaking apart as if she was attempting to branch out and make new friendships herself. Lenny had to think that the last part was probably Misha. Shizune made a few more furious signs as she wanted to see that Lenny must've been breaking some of the rules but to Misha, this was all in good fun.
"We nevertheless feel compelled to politely remind you that public displays of affection are strictly forbidden - really? That's disappointing, Shicchan - by section eight of the code of conduct laid out in the student handbook." Misha explained to Lenny as Shizune made more of a furious gesture to get Misha back on track. "In this case, however, ignorance of the law may be your excuse, as we are feeling lenient..." Shizune was furiously signing to Misha that she was going off course and needed to be more strict with Lenny. "...and the paperwork required to punish the both of you would only add to the already mountainous volume of work which confronts us, the sole members of the Student Council - and besides, you two are adorable together~!" Misha told Lenny with a smile. Shizune slapped her face, this isn't what Misha was supposed to say. Shizune began signing again to try to get Misha to stay on course. "Therefore consider this a formal warning, and please refrain from such displays in the future. At least when Shizune can see you, Leechan~!" Shizune felt satisfied that Misha understood one thing but even she remained furious about what Misha had said. This whole spiel is so patently ridiculous that Lenny can't help but reply in the same pompous manner.
"Well, I for one feel enlightened. I apologize profusely for my rash actions and will strive to contain my baser impulses which, I fear, impel me toward such inappropriate displays of public affection. It is hardly my wish to burden an already overworked Student Council with such petty matters, and will do my best to make your lives easier in this matter in the future. At least, when Shizune's watching." Lenny replied. He wanted to make Misha laugh at least. Shizune on the other hand… wasn't too thrilled. This last line is delivered with a wink to Misha, who finally loses control of her laughter.
"Wahaha~! Well said, Leehan~!" Misha told Lenny as she gave out a laugh herself. Chuckling a little himself, they enter the classroom. Class is uneventful, and after the final bell rings, Lenny and Hanako walk off to find Hisao.
After today, it seemed rather uneventful, much like the last period of class. The one thing that stood in the back of Lenny's mind was the beginning part of the phone call that he picked up between the Nurse and Meiko Ibarazaki, they found Hisao and entered the empty classroom and took their seats, they were alone with Mutou again.
Katawa Shoujo- Everyday Fantasy
"So, it looks like we've all assembled for the second meeting of the Science Club. Or is it the first? What do you think, should we count yesterday as a meeting?" Mutou asked, trying to figure out the meetings of the science club.
"Well, we formed the club last Saturday, didn't we? That seems like club business, so we can safely call yesterday a meeting." Hisao asked Mutou that with the formation of the club, yesterday was indeed the first meeting. Mutou smiles in his usual stilted and awkward way. Lenny began to wonder if the muscles in his face are just not shaped correctly to let him smile naturally.
"You really do have a knack for this, I think. Logical thought processes, that is." Mutou explained while giving some praise to Hisao's way of thinking. Lenny felt some jealousy over this as he was just as smart as Hisao but not as fast when it came to his thoughts.
"I guess so?" Hisao explained to Mutou. Mutou walked to the desk and decided to speak to Hisao.
"A scientist speaks with authority, Hisao. The answer here is "Yes, I do." When the world wants to know how it works, we tell it. Even if all we've got is a decent hypothesis. But we must sound certain anyway, because we're the authorities on the subject, right?" Mutou asked as he wanted to gauge all three of his students for the meeting today. Lenny listened as Mutou might ask him the same thing. He chuckles, to go along with his awkward smile at his awkward joke. Hisao was doing his best not to grimace, but they don't think he's being too successful. "That's entirely false, of course. We know a lot, sure, but nobody's an expert on how the world works, if only because nobody can be sure. With no certainty, there are no experts. But we like to pretend, sometimes."
"There's some things we can be certain of, right?" Lenny asked curiously. Mutou turned his attention to him.
"Yes... but no. We know gravity's there, for example." Mutou explained to Lenny as he walked over and grabbed a pencil. To illustrate his point, Mutou released his fingers and let the pencil drop to the floor. "See? Still there. But it's good to check every once in a while. That's why you'll still see researchers mucking about with gravity. We're pretty sure we know how it works, but there's always a chance that something isn't how we think it is. So you check, and check, and check. That's science in a nutshell, you three." The whole time they've listened feeling rather spellbound. Mutou seems to really be passionate about this stuff... Lenny had to think. It's hard to tell, sometimes. How the world works... How humans work. How the universe works. All these questions to be answered. And, depending on what Lenny wanted to go into, maybe he could even figure out a way to fix his heart and Hisao's, or it could be the other way around. The possibilities were endless. That said, Lenny doesn't think that's a real priority for him. Besides, as they start discussing the book he gave Lenny that Saturday, Lenny could find himself more and more interested in that than his heart condition. Before they even realize it, an hour's gone by. "Well, let's call this meeting over for now, okay? We'll have another meeting... tomorrow, or uh... the day after." He considers this for a moment. "Call it the day after. I've got a lot of grading to do." Mutou explained to them that there was a lot he needed to do and he didn't want to be busy regarding all of the grading. "Wait, two days from today. I have a meeting that Thursday."
"Okay. See you then." Lenny explained to Mutou that he was going to meet him until then. As Lenny exited the classroom, he began to realize that he didn't really have anything to do tonight. Emi and Lenny didn't make plans. He felt tired anyway, so might as well go to bed early he supposed.
Lenny was still thinking about the phone call, what could it mean?
[A/N]: I really wanted to update this as this would mean this story isn't dead. Its just the site crashed and I can't get any views which would hamper the ability to make these if I can't get the numbers. And the issue still hasn't been fixed. The issue needs to be fixed if I'm going to continue this. Get on with it. I'll be going now. See you later.