Lenny woke up the next morning, he decided to get his usual routine done before heading to class. He was still thinking about the whole library from yesterday but he didn't attend as he had promised to see Rin for something. Now with the day beginning. He decided to take his time. Hisao was a few steps ahead before he entered the room to speak to Mutou.
Katawa Shoujo- Fripperies
"Good morning Hisao, I haven't seen you this late. Oh wait, it's still a few minutes before class begins. Is there something you wish to say to me about?" Mutou asked Hisao if there was something on his mind that he wanted to speak to him about. Hisao began to think about it but he had to get straight to the point.
"It's about Lenny, I don't think he's adjusting to the school as fast as I wished him to. I don't know what to say about this, I thought he was going to be as outgoing as the rest of us. Or so I thought." Hisao began to make his case to Mutou that the second academic star of the class seemed to be keeping something close to him.
"Hisao, I thought about this and I will say but he's probably feeling out of the blue to say that. He's feeling the same relapses of his condition. I know I had Hanako deal with that for some time as sometimes she wishes to run and hide because of her condition. Lenny isn't that much different from Hanako." Mutou began. "I always catch them together with my eyes as I wander through the hallways. I know Hanako is still your girlfriend Hisao but I need to know a bit more about this."
"I don't want either of us to set ourselves up for a situation where we're going to have some kind of misunderstanding that could end the relationship. I don't know what plan Hanako has in mind." Hisao expressed his concern over the fact that something must be up between them. He wanted to figure out what it was. Mutou thought about it for a moment before he began to speak.
"I probably assume they're friends. This is good… for Hanako. Hanako is getting to know more people and trusting them but there is one other person I saw Lenny spend his time with." Mutou told Hisao that Hanako wasn't the only girl that Lenny was spotted with.
"Who might that be?" Hisao asked.
"Emi Ibarazaki, the track girl. I bumped into them that one weekend and they were heading for the park last weekend. We talked but I don't remember what they said. They were off within a couple of minutes." Mutou explained to Hisao who he bumped into. Hisao began to think about it.
"Could there be a second girl in all of this?" Hisao asked.
"Yes there is. I'll have a talk with Emi directly later on today and see what her opinion is when third period class is over." Mutou expressed what the plan was;
"I agree. I'll wait for the word to get to her if I see Emi later today." Hisao told Mutou. Then the door opened with Hanako and Lenny walking in.
Katawa Shoujo- Generic Happy Music
"I heard everything you said." Hanako began. Hanako sat down next to Hisao while Lenny was sitting in front of them. "Don't worry I'm not mad at you, I'm just doing my part and keeping a lookout for Lenny."
"So what were you talking about?" Hisao asked Hanako if there was something she managed to keep Lenny busy with her own conversation while he was having one with Mutou.
"I asked how he was feeling. I'd figure you'd ask him about the library and why he didn't show up but I'd figure he was with me and Rin." Hanako explained to Hisao what yesterday's events got in the way of what he wanted.
"That's okay. Library wasn't a good idea. I managed to talk to Emi and brought up the whole situation. She nodded before telling me she was going to visit Rin and I came along with her and that's how I found you two." Hisao explained to Hanako. Hanako gave a nod as the rest of the class trickled in. Lenny was still nervous about Hisao and Hanako's conversation. He was more worried about Shizune and Misha finding out about this.
Mutou was teaching for much of the morning as third period was wrapping up. Emi was preparing to enjoy her break when Mutou decided to flag her down.
"Hey Emi before you go, can I speak to you for a moment?" Mutou asked Emi if this was something she needed. Emi turned her head to Mutou, curious to see what he needed her for.
"Sure what is it?" Emi asked.
"I've talked to Hisao this morning and I wanted to ask when do you see Lenny?" Mutou asked.
"Track and Lunch. That's it though. Is there something you want me to do with him?" Emi asked Mutou.
"Yeah I think Hisao brought up the fact that he's not been doing too well but he said he's seen the two of you hang out a lot. Is there a reason for this?" Mutou asked Emi. Emi seemed to be slightly embarrassed by this, trying to figure out what Mutou was asking for.
"Well… I like him. He's pretty nice to hang around and I've spend my fair share with him." Emi began. Mutou nodded, taking note of what Emi was saying.
"I was wondering if the two of you could spend more time together this afternoon. I want to see how you two would interact with each other." Mutou was giving the suggestion for Emi and Lenny to spend more time together. Emi blushed at the prospect.
"Well… I originally planned on doing something later on today after class with Rin but it wouldn't hurt to take Lenny along for the ride. Thanks Mutou, I have to get going, it was nice chatting with you." Emi explained before she turned and walked away.
"Take care Emi." Mutou explained. Emi was going to keep what Mutou had said in her mind.
Strange that it feels so natural for Lenny to go up to the roof these days. He never would have done such a thing at his old school. In those days he was more used to eating alone... no, that's not quite true. Though he liked to sit alone, Lenny also liked to watch people. He always wanted to figure that was the sort of person I was, but it appears I was wrong. Then again, I also thought I was the sort of person who had a normal heart, so there you have it. Lenny doesn't know himself that well. Now he was on the roof so that he could have lunch with a couple of people. And they are both girls and another girl and boy, which is even stranger. Oddly enough, he felt closer to Emi and Rin than he felt to anyone at his old school. Somehow he got the feeling they'd at least visit Lenny if he wound up in the hospital. He tried his best to shake the feeling out of his head. Lenny focused on the view from the roof, banishing such thoughts from his head. There's a light breeze blowing, and the sun is shining high in the sky. The sky itself is a deep blue, with hardly a cloud in it. It's gotten pleasantly warm, and as he sits down to wait for his friends, Lenny decides to close his eyes and enjoy the feeling of the sun seeping into his skin. Voices intrude upon the edge of hearing.
"—seems to have fallen asleep on us, Rin." Emi told Rin that they had managed to miss out on everything.
"Maybe he's faking, to lull us into a false sense of security." Rin explained to Emi.
"Why would he do that?" Emi asked Rin if she had an explanation.
"No idea." Rin gave her reply.
"Come on Lenny isn't that scary." Hanako told them. Emi began to explain what her plan was.
"Still, you make a good point. We should kick him or something to make sure he's really asleep." Emi explained to Hanako and Rin that they should give him a tap with one of their feet. Lenny woke up as he wanted to see what was going on.
"Huh? What?" Lenny gave a yawn. "I'm probably spending too much time sleeping." Emi looms over Lenny like only a short girl can, peering at him intently.
Katawa Shoujo- Ease
"Oh, you're awake. I guess we don't have to kick you then." Emi explained to Lenny that they were planning on waking him up.
"Was it part of your master plan?" Rin asked if this was something Emi was planning all of this time.
"What are you talking about?" Lenny asked. Emi shrugs, her twin tails bouncing with the motion.
"I'm not sure either. You must be pretty tired to fall asleep out here. Although it's pretty comfortable, I suppose." Emi began. "I think I was at the nurse's office and I didn't see you today on the track Lenny."
"That's okay. At least I knew where you were." Lenny told Emi. Hisao and Hanako looked at Lenny as they began to sit down and hand out their lunches. Emi plops down next to Lenny and begins to eat. Rin sits opposite from the two of them, a move which only makes me more aware of the girl sitting next to Lenny. If neither Lenny or Hisao didn't know any better, Lenny was beginning to swear Rin did it on purpose. Lenny began to concentrate on his food, trying to tune out the majority of the conversation that Rin and Emi are having. Despite my best efforts, however, Lenny still finds himself glancing over at Emi whenever she speaks. Lenny and Hisao notice how she purses her lips when she's thinking about something, squinting slightly as if that would improve her thinking ability.
Rin says something that makes Emi laugh, and I notice, perhaps for the first time, how she laughs with her whole body, rocking back and forth, head thrown back, almost like she's about to fall over. Lenny looked away, probably looking like a creep. It's about this time that Lenny realizes Emi's looking at him. Her voice raised slightly, so she's probably just asked Lenny a question.
"Huh? Sorry, I kinda zoned out for a moment there." Lenny expressed to Emi that he didn't catch the question she had just said Emi rolls her eyes, while a slight quirk of the eyebrow is the only sign that Rin's even paying attention.
"I said, did you get a career survey in your class too? You know, one of those "What do you want to do after high school?" things?" Emi asked Lenny if he had gotten a survey.
"I don't know what you're saying." Lenny began. Hisao decided to do some of the talking for Emi.
"Lenny, Emi was asking what you plan on doing after Yamaku. Do you have any sort of aspirations, goals, anything you want to accomplish in life?" Hisao asked if Lenny had anything. Lenny began to think about this. After coming to no conclusion. Lenny began to speak.
"I don't... think so. Maybe we'll get one tomorrow. I never planned on doing anything, especially with my whole condition. I don't know if I will drop dead on the job." Lenny tried his best to explain to Hisao with his condition, he hadn't thought of anything and he didn't know when his heart was going to stop working.
"What are you going to put down?" Emi asked Lenny if he was going to submit any choices. Lenny began to think and he began speaking.
"That's a really good question. I guess I always figured I'd go to college after high school, but I've no idea what I'd do once I got there. And with the heart attack and all, I'd really been concentrating on each day as it came rather than making long-term plans. Now I don't think I would want to go to college at all as I fear for my life. I don't want to drop dead." Lenny told them that he was still scared, especially after all of those months ago.
"Lenny, I suppose you can safely start planning ahead, again. I've always liked having at least a vague plan for my future, so it'll be nice to come up with one again. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that right now I've got absolutely no clue. I always kind of assumed I'd figure it out in college. That or just become a salaryman. That's pretty popular." Hisao explained to Lenny that he should begin looking forward to his future and consider what he wanted to do. "Hey I think I got the best idea, why don't you and I work together. You seem kind of cute enough. We can both have the same job."
"But do I really want to? That's a tough question. I guess I don't really want to do anything." Lenny asked Hisao before adding on, he wanted to be able to follow his dreams even if Hisao's offer to work with him was a tempting proposition.
"You don't sound very excited about that one, do you?" Emi asked Lenny if this was a tough call for him. She laughs as she says this, and Lenny was caught up in her laugh again. It's so... girlish. High and giggly, like a... well, pardon the cliché - like a babbling brook. It bubbles out of her, starting in her belly and working its way up her throat. Lenny can't help but laugh himself - it's infectious.
"Yeah, I guess I'm pretty unhappy with the salaryman idea Hisao brought to the table. But to be honest, I haven't given much thought to the future recently. I suppose that, these days, I've been more concerned with living one day at a time." Lenny explained to Emi that he didn't seem to be concerned with the future. Emi considers this for a moment and grins.
"That's a pretty good idea, Hisao! I just wrote down, "Pirate."" Emi told Hisao that he had the best idea for Lenny. What Emi had written down left everyone stunned momentarily then Hisao and Lenny started laughing. Neither of them stop themselves and manage to gasp out a question.
"You're... you're not actually serious, are you?" Lenny asked, trying to get himself to be serious with Emi's proposal. Emi looks mock offended.
"Well I've got the legs for it already, so I just kind of figured..." Emi tried her best to explain this to Lenny. Even Rin seems amused by this.
"Give us your best shot there." Hisao expressed to Emi that he wanted to see Emi's best attempt. Even Hanako was smiling, wanting to see Emi's best attempt.
"Just you wait, I'll be the terror of the high seas! I'll show you all! I've even been working on my pirate voice!" Emi called out with excitement.
"Unless you're up to stealing some of the treasure for yourself. I bet I would make your best mate there, Emi." Hanako expressed to Emi, nagging her on as she really wanted to see her best attempt. Emi smiled. She suddenly springs up and begins swaggering up and down the rooftop shouting orders.
"Yarr, me hearties, give 'em a broadside with the long guns! We'll wear their guts for garters!" Emi gave her best attempt as everyone seemed to be entertained by Emi's playful attempt. Except for Rin who was rather perplexed.
"Do you even know what that means?" Rin asked Emi if she knew what in ship terms that Emi meant. Rin's unexpected interruption stops Emi in her tracks.
"Not really. But it's all in the delivery!" Emi told Rin that she had it in her voice. Hisao and Hanako clapped.
"That was pretty good there, Emi. I think you did an amazing performance. Don't know how well you would do on stage." Hisao complimented Emi on her skills. Emi gave a nod in thanks. They were interrupted, however, the ringing of the bell prevents her from demonstrating her point further. Emi dashes off immediately, leaving the rest of the group alone on the roof. Rin stares at Lenny intently for a few moments.
"Is there... something wrong?" Lenny asked Rin. Rin considers this question closely for a moment. After a lengthy pause, she shakes her head.
"Nope." Rin told Lenny.
"Oh, um... why the staring, then?" Lenny asked Rin why she was staring at him. Rin shakes her head again.
"Nope, I don't get it." Rin told Lenny. Hisao cleaned everything up and was preparing to go to his last class
"Get what?" Lenny asked.
"The staring thing. You two seem to, but I don't." Rin sighed as she explained to Lenny. Great. She saw Lenny staring. Now she probably thinks he's a pervert or something. Actually, probably not. This is Rin we're talking about, after all. Still, Lenny feels the need to defend himself.
"I wasn't staring, I was just tired." Lenny tried to explain to Rin. Rin actually snorts at this, but she doesn't say anything. "No, really! I was just... distracted, is all." Lenny tried to explain as he had changed his tactics up a bit.
"Mmm." Rin sighed. She wasn't impressed. Eager to end this conversation, Lenny and Hanako head back down to class. They were talking about Emi's performance.
"I say she was pretty good in the presentation she gave us. Too bad she didn't give any more examples." Hanako began. She was still smiling like she was enjoying someone giving their performance.
"That was pretty entertaining. I'm impressed." Lenny added to what Hanako had said.
"I saw you laughing. I don't think I've seen you enjoying yourself. This can be the start of something beautiful." Hanako told Lenny. They were stopped and greeted by the twin specters of Shizune and Misha, looking like they mean business. Well, Shizune looks like she means business, anyway. Misha just looks like she's about to start laughing at any minute. The third specter, Lilly watched just to the right of them. They had gathered to see what Lenny and Hanako were up to.
Katawa Shoujo- The Student Council
"Up on the roof again, Leechan? You know that's dangerous, don't you~?" Misha asked Lenny why they were on the roof. Shizune makes some quick hand gestures for Misha to translate and tell them to Lenny. "That's right~! The school cannot be held responsible for any injury that comes from being up there, you know! Furthermore, we could report you for breaking the rules~!" Hanako stood back as if she was afraid, she was spending so much time with Lenny, she was worried she was breaking the rules too. Misha leans in and whispers conspiratorially. "But we won't, Leechan! You three are too cute together~!" Misha told Lenny that even with breaking the rules, there were going to be some exceptions she was going to make. She straightens up again, laughing at my sudden blush. "Wahahaha~! You're too easy to tease, Leechan~!"
"Hey, come on. I'm still new here, sort of. Isn't it mean to pick on the newcomer like this?" Lenny asked. This was probably still his first full week at Yamaku, Misha and Shizune were ganging up on him and Hanako wasn't being much help.
"Nope~! It's to help you get acclimated to your new surroundings!" Misha told Lenny that he needed to get used to his surroundings if he was going to be of any use in Yamaku.
"Ah, I see. Well...do you have to be so overzealous about it?" Lenny asked. Hanako peeked out to see Lilly who gave her a friendly wave hello.
"Yep! Ah! That aside, Leechan, we were looking for you this morning, but you weren't in your room!" Misha told Lenny that he and Shizune were looking for him but they didn't get the chance to tell him.
"Of course I wasn't. I was out getting to class, bright and early. Unlike you." Lenny retorted in a somewhat playful way. Shizune looks peeved, and a beat later, so does Misha. Or she tries to, at any rate. Shizune made some hand gestures to Lenny and she spoke.
"That was because of student council business! You should be grateful that we work so hard for you~!" Misha explained to Lenny. She wanted to pinch his cheek but Lenny backed away, nearly bumped into Hanako who was directly behind him.
"Oh, I am, I am. So what did you need me for?" Lenny asked Misha if there was something she needed. Not another attempt to rope me in to do their dirty work, I hope.
"We had to give you something~ but since you weren't around, we dropped it off in your room!" Misha explained to Lenny that they wanted to give him something but they weren't able to find him and therefore they decided to leave it in his room. Lenny was beginning to wonder what it was, was it a letter maybe?
"Something? Like what?" Lenny asked curiously. Shizune and Misha knew they needed to keep it a secret.
"Oh, you'll find out when you get back, Leechan~! Wahahaha~!" Misha told Lenny that the secret was going to be when they got to his room. They walked into the classroom as the teacher entering the room ended the conversation, and they all headed to their seats. It's only after Lenny settled down at my desk and the teacher started talking about something or other that something odd strikes him. What did Rin mean, "You two seem to?" Was Emi staring at something too? For a brief moment, Lenny considered the possibility that Emi was staring at me the way he was staring at her. Of course, that's ridiculous. Still, Lenny can't deny that he wouldn't mind if it were true... But it's best not to think of that. No need to get my hopes up. Come to think of it, when did he start having hopes like that anyway? Lenny shakes his head in an attempt to clear it, and focus on the lesson.
After class, Lenny made his way to his room. Mutou really piled on the homework today for the classmates that didn't get their work done. For Lenny however, there was nothing except for a few questions that he couldn't get done. He had to answer those as he was walking with Lilly, Hisao and Hanako.
Katawa Shoujo- Concord
"We're heading to the Shanghai in an hour or so. I was wondering if you wanted to come along?" Lilly asked Lenny if they wanted to head out together and spend the afternoon with them. Lenny began to think about it.
"I… I promised I was going to do something with Emi. Don't know how long it will be but I promise I will try to make it there and join you. How come you weren't on the rooftop?" Lenny explained that he had something planned out with Emi and Rin. He had to ask Lilly why she wasn't there.
"I had to help Yuuko clean up the library after yesterday's incident. It was over a nice uniform too. Kenji isn't allowed to come back there for a month because of it." Lilly explained that she decided to help Yuuko out with the library so it explained why she wasn't there.
"Oh. I guess you had your reasons." Lenny explained to Lilly. He was willing to accept the fact that Lilly hadn't shown up. Lilly smiled in her response, taking a deep breath in.
"Oh and Yuuko wishes to see you so that's why I invited you to come over. She wishes to speak to you whenever she has the chance to." Lilly explained to Lenny that Yuuko wanted to speak to Lenny about something.
"If Lenny is to do something with Emi, I hate to cut it short but those clouds up there. They don't look pleasing." Hanako explained to Lenny that he should look up. Indeed Lenny did. The clouds had rolled in and they were giant gray clouds. The blue sky he was seeing earlier was now gone. Looks like it was going to rain.
"All right, let's get our homework done and then we can discuss what we should do. I'll see you both later." Hisao told Hanako to calm down and get their homework done then they'll hang out together. Lilly and Hanako nodded before they parted ways. Hisao and Lenny left for their building. Hisao was going to get used to following Lenny around.
"I haven't seen your dorm yet. It must suck just being the only student there." Hisao began explaining to Lenny. Lenny seemed to give an awkward nod as they rounded the bend on the they could make it to the third floor, however, they were suddenly intercepted by Kenji, who had just exploded out of his own room in a flurry of papers.
Katawa Shoujo- Out of the Loop
"Hey, we need to talk. These rooftop shenanigans of yours, man. They've gotta stop." Kenji began speaking to Hisao and Lenny. Lenny said nothing and Hisao knew he was going to do all of the talking.
"What?" Hisao asked Kenji what he was talking about.
"You're running around on the rooftop with the limbless wonders! They're women, man! You'll get yourself killed running around like that!" Kenji scolded Hisao and Lenny for spending time with the women. Lenny and Hisao were confused by this.
"I don't follow." Hisao replied Kenji sighs and adjusts his glasses, before what could be understood as an attempt at explaining himself patiently.
"Look, we're friends so I'm telling you this for your own good. But if I were going to kill someone, I'd do it by throwing them off the roof and making it look like an accident. And if I've thought of it, you can be sure they've thought of it too. They're crafty - almost as crafty as I am." Kenji explained what he had to say to Hisao and Lenny. Lenny remained silent as Hisao began to speak.
"I see." Hisao sighed. There was no way he was going to shake Kenji off of his back.
"Good! I'm glad we had this chat. Loan me 500 yen." Kenji demanded what seemed to be a king's ransom.
"...I'm sorry?" Hisao asked Kenji why he needed the money.
"I need to get a drink, man! I've been inside all day and the tap water's been compromised, as I'm sure you know. So I need to stock up on something canned, got it? But to do that, I need 500 yen. And since I've just saved your life with my timely advice, you can at least spare me 500 yen." Kenji explained that he needed something to drink and getting the Yen would be the fastest way of getting him out of the way. You know, if it'll make him go away, 500 yen is a bargain. Hisao hands the money over to Kenji, who nods in thanks and dashes off down the hallway, but not before he locks his door. What an exhausting person. they better go, in case he changes his mind.
"What a moody person don't you think?" Lenny asked.
"Yeah. Kenji is… pretty annoying if I had to describe him. I don't take anything seriously from him and just giving him that yen was what got him out of the way." Hisao explained to Lenny that his dorm neighbor was a nuisance and getting him to shut up means giving into his demands.
"Sounds like you two don't have a good relationship." Lenny explained to Hisao about Kenji.
"He's just annoying and not like he means what he says. His bark is worse than his bite." Hisao explained as they got to the fifth floor. They began to walk to where Lenny's dorm was located. "I mean, I wouldn't mind if I moved my dorm stuff to you. It would be a nice way of keeping company plus you're a nice person. I would trade something like that." Hisao explained.
"Yeah it's always nice to have company." Lenny replied. Lenny placed his things down when he went to close the door. Hm? As Lenny closes the door, his heel taps against something lying on the floor. It's a brightly-colored rectangle of paper. Ah, this must be the "something" Misha mentioned before. Probably a student council leaflet she slid under the door. Hisao was looking at it curious to see what Lenny had received in the mail.
"What is it Lenny?" Hisao asked. He relaxed on his bed to see how Lenny's bed stacked up to his. It wasn't much different. Lenny decided to pick it up, he found out that he couldn't have been more wrong. Someone actually wrote him an old-fashioned, hand-written paper letter.
"Looks like someone wrote me a letter." Lenny replied while examining the letter. Hisao began to think about it.
"Who bothers doing something like that in this day and age, anyway?" Hisao asked Lenny. Lenny continued to look on the outside of the letter.
"Yet, as unlikely as the prospect of receiving one sounds, this is definitely a letter I have in my hands. I was planning on finishing my homework, getting some dinner, and going to bed in order to be ready for tomorrow morning's run. However, the letter has naturally caught my interest." Lenny explained to Hisao. Lenny decided to sit at desk to examine it properly.
Katawa Shoujo- Caged Heart
It's the first piece of mail Lenny received here at Yamaku, so it'd feel special even if it wasn't something as rare as a handwritten letter. What causes him even more trepidation is the name of the sender, written neatly on the back of the envelope. "Iwanako." Lenny had no idea why she would write to him specifically. Lenny hasn't been in contact with anyone from his old school since he transferred, and Iwanako is the last person he'd expect to want to write him a letter.
The last time Lenny saw Iwanako was terribly awkward; embarrassingly so. She came to his hospital room, peeled him an apple out of courtesy and then they practically sat in silence for half an hour. She said "goodbye" and didn't look Lenny in the eye when she closed the door. It might've been a natural end to the series of visits that were probably pretty painful for both of them. Every time she visited him in the hospital Lenny wanted to talk to her about how he felt and how much he missed his classmates, but something stopped him every time. Every time that he didn't get to speak made the next time even harder.
She looked so guilty that he didn't want to say anything that might upset her, and Lenny never could figure out the right words to say. He thinks Iwanako blamed herself for Lenny's heart attack. That's ridiculous, of course, but knowing it and believing it are two very different things. Lenny told her that it wasn't her fault, she nodded and he really thought she understood that if it hadn't been that, then sooner or later something else would've made his heart give out. Yet she looked so hopelessly sad every time she opened that door and entered my room. So he never managed to say the things he wanted to say. In the end, that might've hurt her even more.
Carefully, Lenny opens the envelope and draws out the folded letter from within. Hisao watched as Lenny was performing surgery on a patient and he didn't want to screw it up. Eventually, he got the letter out.
Dear Lenny
How are you doing? Everyone in class misses you and I miss you the most. You were always the sunshine to a cold day and we miss the chance of spending time together. However after that cold winter afternoon, you were different. I must've cried harder when I thought I had taken down two people. I always thought about you and how much I wanted to visit. You seemed to be silent every time. Was something on your mind? I stopped visiting as the classes were starting to catch up. Well it seems that your accident happened a month after… I still don't feel comfortable with who I want to bring into this. I hope you're doing better in your new school and I hope to see you back.
Iwanako
Lenny sat there. Shaking a bit. Hisao got up and walked over to see who decided to bring the letter to him.
"Lenny, are you okay?" Hisao asked. Lenny sharply placed his hand on his chest as the heart monitor was going crazy. Hisao was worried for his friend, so he grabbed him and dragged Lenny onto his bed to calm him down. "Stay calm Lenny. Who was the letter from?" Hisao asked Lenny. He was worried about Lenny having another heart attack.
"The letter on the desk." Lenny responded. The Heart Monitor was calming down now. Hisao nodded to where Lenny got the letter from. Hisao made his way to the desk as he picked it up and began to read it over.
"Iwanako?" Hisao told himself. "But… how does she know Lenny?" Hisao began to ask. Hisao began to reflect as the cold snowy afternoon began to replay in his mind. He spotted Iwanako and her words began to reflect in his mind.
"You see… …I wanted to know… …if you want to go out with me…" Iwanako's words played in Hisao's head. After a moment he figured it out and drew in a sharp inhale. Almost as if a terrible memory was boring its way through his skull.
"Lenny. I know now isn't a good time and neither is it good for me. I'll write back to her telling her how you are doing and maybe she could write back to you okay." Hisao explained to Lenny. Hisao was curious to figure out more about this but sensing Lenny was not doing too well. He had to drop the subject for now and wait for Lenny to feel more comfortable about it. Hisao got up and left the room. Lenny had sat up as he felt calmness drift over him once more. Well Emi was going to get ready within the hour, time to get the homework done.
Lenny had completed his homework when he looked at the time. Didn't he remember that he was going to spend time with Emi and Rin? He decided to get himself ready and head straight for the girl's dorm. Once he arrived he spotted Emi who waved him over. Lenny still felt uneasy by the letter he opened an hour ago, he was still determined to push onward though.
Katawa Shoujo- Daylight
"So what's the plan for today anyway?" Lenny asked. He was waiting patiently in the hallway of the girls' dormitory just outside of Emi and Rin's rooms. Emi is apparently helping Rin with getting dressed. Lenny supposed that makes perfect sense, as he had no idea how Rin would get dressed otherwise.
"Picnic!" Emi called out with excitement.
"Picnic?" Lenny asked. He didn't know what exactly Emi was telling him about when she gave the suggestion.
"That's what I said!" Emi replied in her rather cheerful way.
"Sounds pretty exciting." Lenny told Emi. He began to think about the conversation he had with Lilly and Hanako earlier that day about the clouds. He didn't know if this was the best idea.
"I know, right?" Emi told Lenny. Emi was rather oblivious to all of this and she was ready to jump on in. Rin chooses this moment to make an observation.
"The sky seems threatening today." Rin told them. Lenny wanted to say something but he was cut off by Emi.
"Actually, I noticed that, too, on my way over. Despite the sunshine of the early morning, the afternoon seems to have taken a turn for the gloomy. There's a heaviness to the air as well that usually heralds a rainstorm. I wonder if I should have brought my umbrella..." Lenny tried to explain what he remembered seeing on his way back to his dorm. "She's got a point. Emi, you sure that you still want to risk getting caught in the rain?"Lenny asked. He doesn't even know why he bothered asking. Emi pops out of Rin's room into the hallway looking shocked that he even suggested canceling their plans.
"Of course! What, the threat of rain's supposed to stop me?" Emi asked, what was a little rain on her parade going to do to her? Lenny can't help but grin at her belligerent response. It's almost like she's daring the rain to come. If Mother Nature were walking down the street, Lenny would think Emi would probably start a fight with her. Or at the least challenge her to a race. In fact, Emi seems almost aggressively cheerful today. Rin wanders out into the hallway, looking like her usual self.
"Well then, are we all ready to go?" Lenny asked nervously. He didn't know what the sky was going to set them up for.
"I'm ready!" Emi excitedly told Lenny she was ready. Rin nods and says a single word.
"Basket." Rin told them about the basket.
"Beg pardon?" Lenny asked. He didn't know what Rin meant by basket.
"The basket. In Emi's room. You should carry it." Rin wasn't talking to Lenny but she was talking to Emi instead. Emi claps a hand to her mouth, embarrassed.
"Omigosh! I almost forgot all about it! Nice save, Rin!" Emi told Rin that she forgot about it. Emi darts into her room and emerges with what looks like a very well-stocked picnic basket. As she hands it over to him, Lenny begins to note that it feels heavy enough to be one, too. Good Lord, how much food did she pack? ...More to the point, where'd she get the money for all of this?
"Is this from all of the bets you two end up making?" Lenny asked. Emi brushed herself off while still having a large grin on her face.
"Nope. Meiko supplies me the money when I tell her about this stuff." Emi gave the answer. For Lenny, this wasn't dangerous… right?
"So, are we set to head out?" Lenny asked Emi and Rin.
"Yep!" Emi happily answered. Rin gives another nod, and we head out of the dormitory. Lenny can't help but frown when he began to notice how gray the sky's gotten in the hour he was inside. Lilly and Hanako were right about the weather turning on them and the offer to spend time at the Shanghai was still up in the air. Still, Emi does not seem concerned by such petty concerns as the color of the sky. She's positively skipping as they walk. Which reminds Lenny…
"Where are we going?" Lenny asked Emi if she knew where she was heading off to. This brings Emi up short and she shoots Lenny an embarrassed look.
"You know, I hadn't really thought of that. What do you think, Lenny?" Emi asked Lenny if he had any bright ideas of where they should set the picnic down.
"Well, there's the spot where the students hang out, but it might be nice to leave the campus for a while. However, I'm not sure if there's any good places to do that in town." Lenny explained to Emi that there could be a nice place for them to set up the picnic. Just as Lenny was about to open his mouth, Rin unexpectedly interjects with a suggestion.
"There's a park in town near the art shop." Rin suggested. Emi paused as she remembered walking in the park with Lenny the weekend before.
"Great idea, Rin! I totally forgot all about that place!" Emi happily told Rin that she remembered being down there. Rin nodded with a smile and to Lenny… Crisis averted.
"Do you know how to get there, Rin?" Lenny asked Rin if she knew how to get to this spot. Rin shrugs.
"It's pretty likely." Rin sighed. She wasn't too enthused by this plan.
"Good enough for me!" Emi chirped like a bird. She was happy. This wasn't helpful as Lenny would prefer knowing for sure... but, what the hell.
"Lead on, Rin." Lenny told Rin to lead the way. The three of them quickly make their way off campus and take the road down into town. This basket's a bit heavy. Lenny hopes that the park is close by. They pass the art supply store, Rin slowing her pace slightly as we go by. Emi notices Rin's change of pace and stops.
"You wanna go in, Rin?" Emi asked Rin if she wanted to go in and get art supplies. Rin shrugs in her usual response.
"Nothing I need." Rin told Emi that there was nothing she wanted.
"Are you suuure?" Emi asked if Rin really needed something. There's the slightest flutter of a smile on Rin's face, quickly replaced with her usual expression.
"Life's uncertain, but on this at least I am pretty sure. Nice of you to offer." Rin sighed though she still wanted to smile.
"Well it's not like I'm the one carrying the basket. But I'll bet Lenny wouldn't have minded anyway, right?" Emi asked while she was looking at Lenny.
"Oh, of course not. This is hardly a heavy load." Lenny nervously explained to Emi that this load wasn't even that heavy and it wasn't going to bother him that much. As much as Lenny wanted to flex for emphasis. Emi stifles a snort of laughter by pointing to the park at which they have suddenly arrived.
"Oh, I remember this place!" Emi excitedly called out. She bounced on her prosthetic legs while looking at this. "I ran into you here that one time, didn't I, Rin?" Emi asked Rin if she remembered being here. Rin's eyebrow raises slightly.
"Maybe. I'm unwilling to say for certain one way or the other. Memory's a tricky thing, you know." Rin told Emi that she didn't remember being here. Maybe she did. She didn't know. Well Lenny be damned. They made it in one piece after all. The sun's still nowhere to be seen, but neither Emi nor Rin seem to mind.
Emi was quick to find a spot to sit on the grass and Lenny set the basket down gratefully. There's a surprising amount of food prepared. Maybe we were supposed to be joined by some of Emi's teammates or something?
"I'm starving! Dig in!" Emi told them as she began to grab for something. She attacks the food as if she's had nothing to eat for years. Lenny was looking at the contents of the basket. What would be there that might interest him? If he went for anything he would certainly get an earful from Emi. But as he was reaching for the food himself when he felt the first drop of rain land on the back of his hand.
"Uh oh." Lenny began. Hanako was right in the end. "Looks like the weather's not going to cooperate with us after all." Emi glares at the sky as if that alone will hold back the rain. Lenny could very nearly believe she could do it. It's one heck of a glare.
"It had better cooperate. You hear me sky? You stop that raining right this instant!" Emi called out that she was someone's mother. The sky doesn't seem inclined to listen to her, despite the commanding tone she's taken with it. Instead, the rain seems to increase. Rin wrinkles her nose in distaste at this turn of events.
"Regrettable." Rin snorted. She wasn't too pleased with Emi's command of the sky.
"What do you mean?" Emi asked Rin if she knew what she was talking about. Rin shrugs.
"I could paint this if I weren't out here. Shame to miss it, is all." Rin explained that she could get a picture of the clouds coming in. Lenny felt another drop of water hit him this time it was in the back of his neck. She doesn't seem angry or annoyed about it, just a little disappointed. Emi laughs in response to Rin's comment.
"Guess we should have stopped in that art supply store after all, huh?" Emi explained to Rin. Lenny felt another drop, he decided to wince as it must've hurt. The rain increases a little more, offended that they haven't fled yet. Despite the warm temperatures they've been enjoying, the rain is rather cold. Lenny was beginning to wish he brought an umbrella.
"Hey, we should probably head inside to keep dry." Lenny suggested that they should find some shelter and dry themselves off.
"We're already pretty wet, Lenny." Emi told Lenny that they were soaked. For Lenny, he needed to tell them something.
"Yeah, but we can dry off this way and maybe wait out the storm. You don't want to catch a cold or anything, do you?" Lenny asked. He shivered, he didn't know if he was going to wait it out. Well he should've chosen the Shanghai with Lilly and Hanako. He was wondering if they were still accepting him at this point. Emi considers this for a moment. Lenny could tell that part of her wants to stay out in the rain just to spite the weather. Unfortunately for her, the weather hardly cares about what they do.
"I suppose you're right. Where could we go?" Emi told Lenny before asking where they should go. Lenny began to think. The conversation he had with Lilly was still fresh in his mind. Did Yuuko still want him for something? Lenny was still figuring out his way around town and everything was still a mystery to him. All he knew is the art supply store, and that's only because they've just passed it.
"Didn't Lilly say that the librarian Yuuko worked in a tea shop and she needed me for something?" Lenny asked the group. Emi snaps her fingers, hearing about Lenny's idea.
"That's it! There's a tea shop nearby! We could have some tea and dry out, no problem!" Emi told them, taking Lenny's idea into consideration. That doesn't sound like a bad idea.
"Great! You know where it is? I still don't know my way around town." Lenny asked Emi if she was up for helping them out. Emi nods, looking fairly confident.
"Sure do! I think. But it'll be an adventure either way, right?" Emi asked as she definitely knew where she was going but was it going to take Lenny to where he needed to go.
"Adventure, huh? Well, I suppose we could use a little adventure." Lenny told Emi. Emi nodded before she began to lead the way with Lenny carrying the picnic basket. Lenny began to think as long as they get out of the rain he'll be happy. The picnic basket is a little lighter now, at least. "Lead on!" Lenny called out, it was to continue to battle the rain to find shelter. Emi took the lead while Rin and Lenny followed Emi as she weaved through the streets with something approaching confidence.
"Now, a left here... There! The Shanghai!" Emi called out to the group. Emi beams triumphantly as she points to the tea shop.
"I've never been here before. I'm sure you have good eyes like a hawk." Lenny expressed to Emi. He was rather impressed that she was able to find this place. Emi nodded with a smile. Lenny was more than happy to shake the water out of his hair.
"It seems fairly crowded inside; a symptom of the sudden rain, I'm sure." Lenny began. He felt drenched by the rain that came pouring down on them. The waitress came over to greet them.
Katawa Shoujo- Red Velvet
"Welcome! Can I—" Yuuko greeted them. Lenny was surprised to find out that the waitress is none other than Yuuko. She sure looks the part in her uniform. It's hard to believe this is the same librarian from the school. Does she work two jobs? Lenny guessed that must be it.
"Yuuko, I didn't know you worked here." Lenny told Yuuko as he couldn't believe himself. Yuuko looked at them before she began to speak.
"Oh, it's you." Yuuko greeted the three of them. Yuuko seems to know Emi. Emi grins brightly, pleased to be remembered.
"Hey Yuuko!" Emi greeted Yuuko but to Yuuko she wanted to speak to Lenny.
"Do I know you? You seem awfully familiar, but I don't think I've ever seen you in here." Yuuko began to speak to Lenny that she thought she remembered him from somewhere.
"Er, we met at your other job. At the Yamaku library. Remember?" Lenny expressed to Yuuko that he remembered her when they met for the first time. Her eyes widened in memory.
"Yeah, that's it! Nice to see you again... Oh no, this is bad! I should have remembered a customer's face! I'm sorry... I'm terribly sorry!" Yuuko apologizes as she felt down on herself for forgetting someone's name. Yuuko goes from realization to panic in a split second, performing a series of high-speed bows. Lenny narrowly avoids getting headbutted in the process.
"Whoa, hey, calm down! Listen, I wasn't a customer when we first met, in fact I hadn't ever been to the Shanghai, so it's all right." Lenny explained to Yuuko that he hadn't recognized her when they first met. Yuuko pauses for a moment while looking at Lenny and sighs. Not the best display of logic, but it seems to relax her a little.
"Do you really think so?" Yuuko asked Lenny if it was really him.
"Uh, yeah, I'm sure. Positive. Isn't that right, girls?" Lenny asked if they were sure it was him. Emi has been watching this little drama unfold with considerable bemusement.
"Yep, it sure is!" Emi expressed with her usual excitement. For Yuuko, she nodded.
"Well, okay..." Yuuko told them as she finally calmed down.
"So Yuuko, got room to seat us?" Emi asked Yuuko if there was a place for them to sit. Then another familiar person entered. It was Lilly.
"Ah Lenny. You kept your promise I see. I wasn't expecting you to show up with both Emi and Rin. Is there a reason you decided to come here?" Lilly asked Lenny.
"It rained on us. I kept your word in mind so this waa a back up plan." Lenny explained to Lilly what happened. Lilly nodded to that and she began to speak again.
"Well we're open for more company and you planned ahead a bit. Good job." Lilly passed a compliment to Lenny. "I bet I'll be taking them with me?"
"Yes of course." Yuuko explained to Lilly. Lilly nods and leads them to a corner booth where Hisao and Hanako were waiting, Yuuko appeared and she provided them with some small towels to dry themselves off before taking their orders. Lenny was wiping himself down with the steaming hot towel, it was good to use something warm on him.
"What will you have?" Yuuko asked the group Lilly, Hisao and Hanako were content with what they had but she was asking Lenny and his friends.
"Cake! And some tea too, I guess." Emi excitedly barked at Yuuko. She apparently was still hungry even after the rain poured on them.
"What kind of cake?" Yuuko asked Emi if she knew what she was getting.
"Surprise me!" Emi gave another playful bark. Yuuko looks uncomfortable at the thought of surprising anyone, but she gives a nod and turns to Rin.
"And for you?" Yuuko asked Rin what she was getting.
"I'll take a straw. My feet are all wet." Rin explained to Yuuko what she wanted to get.
"Sorry?" Yuuko asked Rin to repeat herself.
"The drinking kind of straw. One, please." Rin told Yuuko that she just wanted a straw for her tea. Yuuko is obviously uncertain of what to think about this. She fiddles with her pen and stationery for a moment, looking like she's about to cry, before turning in Lenny's direction.
"And you, sir?" Yuuko asked Lenny if he wanted something. For Lenny. There were still a few things in the middle that Hisao and his friends were sharing so he was more than happy to pick from the pile.
"Just tea, I think." Lenny began. Emi would probably yell at him if Lenny ordered cake. Lenny then remembered something. "Oh Yuuko, what was it that you brought me here for? You said you wanted to see me."
"Oh I ran into the School Nurse a couple hours ago and he explained that your new heart medicine was in a pharmacy not too far from here and I decided to go pick it up. I was holding onto it expecting you to arrive. If you didn't I was going to give it to Lilly who would drop it off at your dorm." Yuuko explained to Lenny about the medication he was going to be taking for now on. "And I might be curious, what is your favorite tea?" Yuuko asked.
"Vanilla chamomile with honey." Lenny gave his reply. Yuuko nodded.
"Aw, come on Lenny! Don't let me be the only one with food, I'll feel like a pig!" Emi protested that she was the only one getting food.
"Just trying to eat healthy. Your orders, after all." Lenny explained to Emi that he was just listening to her advice.
"You two share then?" Hanako offered some advice that they could split it up if they wanted to. Emi nodded with the idea.
"Well... today is your day off! You can be healthy tomorrow!" Emi told Lenny that she could make the exception. She nodded to Hanako, thanking her for the advice.
"Well then, I suppose I will have some cake after all." Lenny told Yuuko, it wasn't going to hurt him to reward himself. Yuuko seems slightly irritated that Lenny was changing his mind.
"What kind?" Yuuko asked, she was still remaining calm like she had before. Lenny gives a glance at Emi and a grin.
"Surprise me." Lenny told Yuuko that he would wish to be surprised. Yuuko sighs and nods.
"Very well. Your order will be out shortly." Yuuko told them that she was going to have the order out. She got up and left to get the order. Hanako watched before turning to Lenny.
"Well you seem to take my advice well. I think we can wait out the rain." Hanako expressed the fact that the rain will pass and they could go back to Yamaku. Despite the crowd, the order does indeed arrive quickly.
"Thanks, Yuuko!" Emi cheered as she really appreciated the order. Yuuko nods in appreciation. She looked at Lenny, foraging for something in her uniform pocket.
"This is a different guy than usual, isn't it?" Yuuko asked Emi if she wanted to play a trick on her. What? Different guy? Emi must notice Lenny's confusion, because she seems a little embarrassed.
"W-what? Oh, yeah, I guess he is. This is my friend Lenny." Emi explained to Yuuko that this was still her friend. Yuuko paused before she gave a nod.
"We've met." Lenny expressed to Yuuko that they've seen each other.
"Huh. Small world. Well, let me know if you need anything." Yuuko told them if she needed anything. She finally fished out the bottle of medication from her pocket. "For you Lenny." Yuuko told him before she handed over the bottle. Lenny nodded in thanks. With that, Yuuko took off like a shot to wait on some other tables, leaving Lenny to ponder her comment. Different guy, huh? He would have to guess it makes sense, right? Emi's pretty popular, or so Lenny had been told. It's probably that kid from the track team. This is stupid. He can just ask Emi.
Katawa Shoujo- Generic Happy Music
"So who's this other guy, huh? You got a secret lover or something?" Lenny asked Emi if she had any ideas about this track person that she had been talking about. Emi laughs again, only Lenny gets the feeling it's from nervousness as much as anything else.
"It's just the track team captain. He likes coming down here after practice sometimes. So if we have anything to discuss I tag along." Emi explained to Lenny who this track captain is. Hmm, sounds mighty suspicious to Lenny…
"Oh, I see." Lenny told Emi that he knew nothing about this track captain. He looked at the cake that Yuuko brought out for them. It was a red velvet cake with nice white frosting. Lenny could let the matter drop, but he can't resist at least getting another dig in. He grabbed a fork and took a piece of the cake and began to eat it. He definitely wanted to try his tea out.
"So it is a secret lover! I knew it!" Lenny told Emi in a teasing manner. Rin watches them play, seeming mildly amused before muttering something that they don't quite catch."
"... y'anyway" Rin told them.
"What?"
"Huh?" Lenny and Emi said at the same time. Emi was eating her cake while Lenny took a sip of the tea. Rin jerks back from wherever her mind wandered off to.
"Huh?" Rin replied. Everyone stood there in silence while they were trying to figure out what Rin was thinking.
"What did you just say?" Lenny curiously asked Rin. Rin didn't say anything.
"Huh." Rin replied.
"No, before that." Lenny tried to figure out what Rin was saying beforehand. Rin began to think about this for a moment while thinking of what she was listening to earlier.
"No idea." Rin sighed as she couldn't remember what she was thinking about.
"Oh. Well. Okay." Lenny sighed. No use in getting anything from Rin. Lenny decided to let the matter drop, but he can't help notice that Emi seems relieved that Rin interrupted the conversation. Maybe Lenny could have gone a little too far... Conversation dies down for a moment as Emi and Lenny busy themselves with cake. It was Red Velvet, and surprisingly good. Emi seems to think so too, as she suddenly reaches over with her fork and steals a bit.
"Thief!" Lenny teasingly told Emi. Emi knew she was just playing along for the joke.
"Pirate. There's a difference." Emi told Lenny. Lenny began to laugh again.
"We're not on water!" Hisao told Emi despite the rain pouring outside.
"Well, no. But there's a lot of water outside, so it still works, right? Besides, you can have some of mine. I think it's cranberry or something. I should have asked for the strawberry. I like strawberries." Emi explained. To Hisao, she wanted some strawberry cake. Hisao looked at his cake slice as he had one with strawberries on it. Lenny was being a little patient though this must've been a storm on the high seas.
"Feel free to help yourself to mine, if you really must." Hisao told Emi that she was okay to take some of his. Lenny watched Hisao give a piece of his cake away while Lenny for some reason, he feels compelled to add:
"Seeing as how you've already done it once, and all." Lenny told Emi while he was slowly digging into the cake. Emi turns to Lenny and sticks her tongue out at him, but that doesn't stop her from appropriating Hisao's cake. Hisao decided to try some of the shared cake, as well. It's pretty good. Rin turned her head to see the rain drifting away as if the sun was going to come out.
"The rain's let up." Rin told the crowd that it wasn't raining anymore. It would appear that Rin is correct. Good timing, too. Lenny finished his food, and it looks like Emi has as well.
"Well, we'd better pay and get a move on before it starts raining again." Hisao told the crowd that they should pay and get back to Yamaku before the rain was to come back. It takes a few minutes to get Yuuko's attention, but they pay and get out pretty quickly.
"So, do you want to return to the park?" Emi asked Lenny and Rin if they wanted to resume the picnic. Hisao's jaw nearly drops.
"Are you kidding? It's probably going to rain again!" Hisao told Emi that she was crazy. It turned out Rin's words of sunshine weren't to last. In fact, Lenny thinks he just felt some raindrops.
"Hmm... you may be right. Well okay, I'll let you off the hook this time, but you owe me a picnic now. Got it?" Emi told Lenny and Rin that they were going to have to make up for this. This wasn't a good day to do it after all. Lenny doesn't know if she's addressing him, Rin, or the both of them.
"Fine, fine." Lenny softly told Emi that he'll make up for this.
"Now hurry up! I wanted to get some laps in at the track, and it would be nice to do it without the rain." Emi playfully snapped to Lenny that she wanted to go back to the school and work off of this cake.
"I thought this was your day off!" Hisao playfully teased Emi. Emi paused in her tracks before she began speaking.
"Well..." Emi began, shen suddenly seemed reluctant to explain herself. "I need practice. And I need to burn off that cake, anyway." Emi explained. Hisao looked at Emi before looking at Lenny and then looking at her again. Why does Hisao get the feeling that she's leaving something out?
"Are you sure? It wasn't that much cake..." Hisao asked Emi if she was leaving poor Lenny on the wayside and she could have the track to herself.
"No, it wasn't that much cake for you. I ate most of it." Emi told Hisao that she ate most of the shared cake between her and Lenny. She's got a point there. Still, Lenny feels like he should at least offer to run with her…
"Hey, I'll run with you. I might as well, right?" Lenny explained that he might as well hit the track and good timing too as all of his homework was finished. Emi shakes her head emphatically.
"No you won't, Lenny. Rest is critical for you, remember? I won't allow you to push yourself too hard." Emi explained to Lenny that he deserved the rest if he was going to be up and over tomorrow. Lenny figured out to guess she's better at giving advice than taking it.
"Whatever you say, Emi." Lenny told Emi. Lenny began to think, it's probably best not to press the issue. She'll be ready when she wants to say it. As the group approaches the girls' dormitory, it starts to rain again. Emi's expression sours slightly.
"Aw, man... Stupid rain." Emi grumbled. She might as well have to run in the rain.
"Hey, it'll let up shortly enough. You can go running then, right?" Lenny tried to reassure Emi that the rain will stop. Emi snorts, seemingly amused.
"Like I'm not going to run in the rain." Emi snorted. She definitely wanted the challenge to go running in the rain. Hisao seemed to be worried for Emi's safety.
"Well you shouldn't! You could catch a cold!" Hisao told Emi that wasn't the best idea to do. Emi waves her hand airily.
"Ridiculous! I don't get colds. My immune system is far too strong for something like that." Emi gave off the boast that she could handle any weather. Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then, okay?" Lenny asked Emi. Emi smiled as she seemed to be thankful for Lenny helping her out today.
"Yeah! Thanks for coming! Oh, and for carrying the picnic basket! I'll bring it for lunch tomorrow. We can have our picnic on the roof!" Emi told Lenny that in saying thank you, she will bring lunch tomorrow.
"Sounds good to me. See you then!" Lenny told Emi that he will be seeing her tomorrow. Emi grabs the basket from Lenny and shoots through the door. Rin gives me a sort of half-nod and ambles inside as well. Lilly and Hanako said their goodbyes for now and followed inside leaving Hisao and Lenny in the rain. Damn, it's wet out here. They need to get back to my room and into some dry clothes. They were at the front of the Boy's dorm. They pushed the door open and headed up stairs. Hisao was talking to Lenny about his new medication.
"One dose daily. That's some pretty potent stuff." Hisao began. "You're lucky Lenny. You're only taking one pill a day and I have to take seventeen."
"I know but I feel like my condition is as severe as yours." Lenny added on to what Hisao had said. Hisao began to speak.
"Come on, your condition will clear up in a few weeks, not your heart beat as we're both stuck with that forever. I might have to ask the Nurse about your new medicine." Hisao explained to Lenny. They were heading for Hisao's dorm first as Lenny promised to drop Hisao there and he could head back to get himself cleaned off. They were intercepted by the sudden appearance of Kenji, who appears to be carrying a stack of books.
Katawa Shoujo- Out of the Loop
"Hey man, give me a hand, would you?" Kenji began. Lenny was confused, wasn't Kenji banned from the library for the next month or so?
"Huh?" Hisao asked. The books are unceremoniously dumped into Hisao's arms as Kenji fumbles with his room key.
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver. If you weren't around I'd have to keep my door unlocked, and that's just begging for trouble. The perfect opportunity to set up an ambush, or maybe just plant a bomb if they don't want to get their hands too dirty. Probably not. Afraid they'll break a nail or something if they have to stab me. Women." Kenji explained. Lenny was confused about what Kenji had said but to Hisao, this was complete nonsense. Their minds began to think about digesting the verbal torrent that's just been unleashed, but elects to remain comfortably in the dark.
"Uh... huh." Hisao told Kenji while waiting for what happened.
"Anyway, where have you been, man? I could have used some help carrying these back from the library! I knocked on your door, but you weren't there." Kenji expressed to Hisao that he could have used his help when it came to the books. Lenny was sidelined as he listened to the conversation.
"Oh, sorry." Hisao nervously told Kenji. Not really. You appear to think that Hisao is some kind of pack mule. "I was out with Lilly and Hanako. Lenny, Emi and Rin showed up soaking wet and I was more than welcome to let them stay." Kenji staggers back in shock. It looks like Hisao just shot his dog, if he had a dog.
"The limbless ladies again? What'd you do this time?" Kenji asked Hisao why they were spending their time together and to only be joined by three more people.
"Well, we wound up at the Shanghai because of the rain—" Hisao tried his best to explain to Kenji but something was preventing him from continuing by a sudden exclamation of despair. Kenji knew he had to go beserk on Hisao.
"The Shanghai? Why the Shanghai? No no no no, man, you can't just go to the damn Shanghai! It's the most dangerous place in the city! A veritable stronghold of their best agents! I know! I've met them! They'll stop at nothing to lull you into a false sense of security, and then BAM!" Kenji explained about the place and how it managed to slip past his mind. The one place he didn't want anyone to go. Kenji hits his door for emphasis. "Wallet's gone. Bus pass? Gone. Identity? Fuckin' gone, man! Promise me you won't go there again!"
"Are you sure you didn't lose the said items there? Yuuko would have found out and put them in the lost and found and tell you that you left something behind." Lenny tried his best to ask Kenji if he wasn't paying attention and left his stuff behind by accident. Kenji grabbed Lenny by his shirt uniform and was ready to downright berate him.
"What, do you think I will lose my items like that? No! I have a good track with my items. The Shanghai is where I wouldn't want to lose them but I did, and the women got their hands all over and stole my identity!" Kenji shouted at Lenny that he knew where his stuff was and he had good track over them. He seems so vehemently opposed to the idea of the Shanghai that Hisao was willing to lie a little in order to get to his room.
"Sure, I won't go there again." Hisao lied in order for Kenji to release his grip from at least, Hisao won't ever tell Kenji he decided to go there again. This seems to mollify his bespectacled companion. This had the effect that he wanted. Kenji released Lenny and decided to speak to Hisao
"Good, good. Sorry to come on so strong, but I know the danger there too well to let you just wander into the lion's den again. You got out of there alive once, but twice is pushing it." Kenji explained to Hisao that he should be more careful and follow Kenji's advice.
"Yeah, well I need to get changed and uh, do homework. So... I'll see you later." Hisao explained to Kenji of what he needed to do. He turned to Lenny and gave him the signal for him to head up an get himself ready for the night.
"Huh? Oh, sure. Whatever." Kenji told Hisao that he was ready to see him again if he needed to. Hisao suddenly remembers that he's still holding his books.
"You'd better take these." Hisao told Kenji as he handed off the books to him. Lenny catches a glimpse of one of the titles, something about cryptography. What a weirdo. Kenji grabs his precious cargo from me and disappears through his doorway. Hisao opens my own door and walks in, grateful to get out of his soaking wet clothes. The rain outside picks up, and he finds himself hoping that Emi's not out running in this weather. She seemed so adamant about doing the run alone, both Lenny and Hisao can't help but wonder if her leg's still bothering her. Lenny try to remember whether or not he has seen her limping at all today, but he can't. Guess he was too caught up in enjoying the day, even if it did rain on us. And as Lenny thinks back over the events of today while walking back to his dorm after saying goodbye to Hisao, Lenny keeps finding himself focusing on my running partner. Her complete refusal to allow the rain to spoil her plans was incredibly cute. But there was something else there, too. Sort of an unflappable attitude when it comes to enjoying the day as it comes. Lenny couldn't help but really like that quality. Maybe he needs to do a little of that himself.
Lenny hops in the shower as he cleans himself off. He looked down to see his chest bleeding slightly. Kenji's grab was rough enough to tear open some of the skin and the scars a bit. After that, Lenny changed into some fresh clothes and decided to go spend the rest of the evening reading. After 200 pages, he was out cold.
[A/N]: Another long chapter for you to read and this took a bit to complete as you guessed it. I was working on other stuff. With that stuff completed, I have more energy to focus on this until I get bored with this story again and focus on something else. I will try my best to get this done.