Clouds, Time Travel, and Thou/Transcript

NARRATOR: "The hands on the clock finally set me free from the tedium of yet another fun-filled class. Getting up from my seat proves to be more of a problem than I anticipated. My legs are killing me from the morning's run. Maybe doing these morning runs with Emi isn't such a hot idea after all. Still, the run's given me a hell of an appetite."

NARRATOR: "I'm halfway down the hallway to the cafeteria when I remember that I've got my lunch with me. My parents saw fit to provide me with some prepackaged stuff when I moved in, and a good thing too. The hallway is packed with students headed for the cafeteria. Going back is like swimming upstream—but I've got an appointment to keep on the rooftop."

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. In fact, I think I saw Emi among the bodies in the hallway headed for the cafeteria. I step out of the door to the roof and take a deep breath. 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. 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. Fortunately Emi chooses that moment to burst through the door carrying two bags. 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. The two girls stare at one another 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? Emi looks thoughtful, apparently giving the question some thought. 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? 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. More like by some outside force, pushing me irrevocably toward my Destiny. Or maybe I shouldn't read books that feature conspiracy theories so heavily. Otherwise I might wind up sounding like Kenji. Still, now I suppose that I've got to show up. I don't think that I could stand against both of them being disappointed. 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. The fact that I realize this now frightens me a bit. I wonder if Emi gets this feeling all the time. 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. 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. I didn't notice the lunch period slipping by at all. It was far too interesting hanging out with these two. 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. Emi ignores Rin's comment."

EMI: "Sorry Hisao, but could you make sure our garbage gets thrown away? 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. She's probably used to Emi taking care of cleanup, and for some reason I doubt Emi's ever raised the issue with her. Cleaning up from lunch doesn't take long, so I have plenty of time to toss our garbage and get to class."

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."

Next Scene: Questions That Need Answering!