Clouds, Time Travel, and Thou/Transcript
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NARRATOR: "The hands on the clock finally set me free from the tedium of yet another fun-filled class."
NARRATOR: "Getting up from my seat proves to be more of a problem than I anticipated."
NARRATOR: "My legs are killing me from the morning's run."
NARRATOR: "Maybe doing these morning runs with Emi isn't such a hot idea after all."
NARRATOR: "Still, the run's given me a hell of an appetite."
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NARRATOR: "I'm halfway down the hallway to the cafeteria when I remember that I've got my lunch with me."
NARRATOR: "My parents saw fit to provide me with some prepackaged stuff when I moved in, and a good thing too."
NARRATOR: "The hallway is packed with students headed for the cafeteria."
NARRATOR: "Going back is like swimming upstream—but I've got an appointment to keep on the rooftop."
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NARRATOR: "It takes me a moment to find the staircase leading up to the rooftop, but I'm willing to bet that Emi and Rin aren't up there by now anyway."
NARRATOR: "In fact, I think I saw Emi among the bodies in the hallway headed for the cafeteria."
NARRATOR: "I step out of the door to the roof and take a deep breath."
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NARRATOR: "The fresh air blowing against my face and body almost makes my legs hurt less."
RIN: "Maybe if I'm upside down..."
NARRATOR: "Part of me wants to be surprised that Rin's already up here."
NARRATOR: "That is the same part of me that wants to believe that there's a reason she's currently throwing her legs over her head."
HISAO: "What's that going to accomplish?"
RIN: "Things in the clouds."
HISAO: "Couldn't you just...look at them right-side up?"
NARRATOR: "Rin rolls her eyes in something approaching exasperation."
RIN: "Then I wouldn't get a new perspective."
HISAO: "Is upside down really a new perspective?"
NARRATOR: "Ah ha! That caught her off guard. Rin looks pensive."
RIN: "You may have a point. Maybe sideways."
NARRATOR: "As Rin lays down on the bench to look at the sky, I give up."
NARRATOR: "Fortunately Emi chooses that moment to burst through the door carrying two bags."
NARRATOR: "She nearly takes the door off the hinges."
EMI: "Sorry it took me so long! There were a ton of people in line."
NARRATOR: "She drops the first bag in front of Rin and takes a seat on the bench next to her."
HISAO: "You buy Rin's lunch for her?"
EMI: "Sometimes, yeah. I'd have Rin buy my lunch for me in return, but I'm not sure how she'd carry it."
NARRATOR: "Did she really just say that?"
RIN: "Plus I'd never buy her lunch."
NARRATOR: "If Rin's offended by Emi's comment, she doesn't show it. Emi sniffs."
EMI: "How ungrateful of you."
NARRATOR: "I'm not sure whether the two are joking with one another or if I'm witnessing the beginnings of a cat fight."
NARRATOR: "The two girls stare at one anther for a few tense moments before breaking into smiles."
RIN: "Hey Emi, do you think being upside down is a new perspective on things?"
NARRATOR: "Didn't I already have this conversation?"
NARRATOR: "Emi looks thoughtful, apparently giving the question some thought."
NARRATOR: "After a deep and profound pause, she speaks."
EMI: "I have no idea."
NARRATOR: "Well, at least she's as lost as I am."
EMI: "Hey Hisao, you're coming to the track meet, right?"
NARRATOR: "The question comes out of the blue and catches me off guard."
HISAO: "Um... I don't know yet?"
NARRATOR: "Emi glares at me."
EMI: "Honestly, Hisao, after I went through all the trouble of letting you run with me in the morning, you won't even show up at my track meet?"
NARRATOR: "Wasn't she the one that asked me to run with her?"
NARRATOR: "Actually, she didn't even give me a choice in the matter."
HISAO: "Wait, no, I didn't say that..."
NARRATOR: "Emi's face brightens considerably. She beams at me as if I'd just agreed to give her a million dollars."
EMI: "So you will come after all! That's great!"
NARRATOR: "I didn't say that either!"
RIN: "I'll be going too, so I'll make sure he comes, Emi."
NARRATOR: "Emi smiles again."
EMI: "Good idea, Rin! Maybe we can get some food or something after the meet's over?"
NARRATOR: "I feel like I've just been conned, but not by these two."
NARRATOR: "More like by some outside force, pushing me irrevocably toward my Destiny."
NARRATOR: "Or maybe I shouldn't read books that feature conspiracy theories so heavily."
NARRATOR: "Otherwise I might wind up sounding like Kenji."
NARRATOR: "Still, now I suppose that I've got to show up."
NARRATOR: "I don't think that I could stand against both of them being disappointed."
NARRATOR: "I'd never hear the end of it."
HISAO: "When is it again?"
EMI: "Next week, silly! I just told you a few days ago."
HISAO: "Oh yeah, I forgot."
NARRATOR: "Emi looks horrified for a moment."
EMI: "You won't forget to come, will you?"
HISAO: "Of course I won't! I'll even make a note on a calendar or something!"
NARRATOR: "Rin nods sagely."
RIN: "That's probably a good idea, you know. Unless time changes its course."
EMI: "It can do that?"
NARRATOR: "Rin gives a noncommittal shrug."
RIN: "It hasn't yet, but you never know..."
NARRATOR: "This time it's Emi who gives a shrug."
EMI: "I suppose it can't be helped if it happens."
RIN: "Not unless you're a time traveler or something."
HISAO: "You don't actually think that could happen, do you?"
NARRATOR: "I have to check whether or not these two are being serious."
EMI: "I don't think we do...do we?"
NARRATOR: "Rin shrugs again. That seems to be her default response to everything."
RIN: "I suppose not. But I reserve the right to change my opinion at a moment's notice."
NARRATOR: "For Rin, this statement makes a disturbing amount of sense."
NARRATOR: "The fact that I realize this now frightens me a bit."
NARRATOR: "I wonder if Emi gets this feeling all the time."
NARRATOR: "If she does though, she's not showing it. Emi merely nods."
EMI: "As expected."
RIN: "What's that supposed to mean?"
NARRATOR: "This time, it's Emi who shrugs."
NARRATOR: "It's like she's using Rin's own weapons against her."
EMI: "Your response is the sort of thing I'd expect from you, that's all."
RIN: "Am I really that predictable?"
NARRATOR: "Emi smile almost seems gloating."
EMI: "Nah, I'm probably the only person who knows you well enough for you to seem predictable."
RIN: "Well that's alright then. I've got a reputation to protect, you know."
NARRATOR: "I don't get the chance to see whether or not Rin's being serious or not, as the bell rings."
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NARRATOR: "I didn't notice the lunch period slipping by at all."
NARRATOR: "It was far too interesting hanging out with these two."
NARRATOR: "Emi jumps up, a look of panic on her face."
EMI: "Oh no! I needed to stop by my room to pick up my notebook for the next class!"
RIN: "Betcha wish you had a time machine now."
NARRATOR: "Rin seems rather smug as she delivers this line; like she'd just won an argument."
NARRATOR: "Emi ignores Rin's comment."
EMI: "Sorry Hisao, but could you make sure our garbage gets thrown away?"
EMI: "I usually clean up myself, but I've got to run!"
HISAO: "Sure, no problem."
NARRATOR: "I don't bother asking why Rin couldn't help. She's already gone through the door."
NARRATOR: "She's probably used to Emi taking care of cleanup, and for some reason I doubt Emi's ever raised the issue with her."
NARRATOR: "Cleaning up from lunch doesn't take long, so I have plenty of time to toss our garbage and get to class."
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NARRATOR: "Misha greets me with a wave and a devious gRIN: as I walk through the door."
MISHA: "Didn't see you in the cafeteria, Hicchan."
HISAO: "Yeah, I decided it was too crowded there."
NARRATOR: "Misha's gRIN: gets even wider."
MISHA: "Oh really? Are you sure you weren't participating in an illicit rendezvous?"
HISAO: "W...what? What are you talking about?"
MISHA: "You were on the roof, right? With both Rin and Emi, no less! You Casanova, you!"
HISAO: "We... we just had lunch, that's all!"
NARRATOR: "Misha bursts into laughter, drawing the attention of several of my classmates."
MISHA: "Wahahaha! You're so adorable when you blush like that, Hicchan!"
NARRATOR: "She gives me a conspiratorial wink."
MISHA: "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
HISAO: "There's no secret!"
MISHA: "Oh?"
NARRATOR: "Misha seems disappointed, and then brightens up again."
MISHA: "Time will tell~!"
NARRATOR: "I don't know what the hell she's talking about, but blessedly our teacher comes in and the class starts."
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