Piracy on the High Seas/Transcript

NARRATOR: "Strange that it feels so natural for me to go up to the roof these days. I never would have done such a thing at my old school. In those days I always sat at a large table in the cafeteria, surrounded by people. I always figured that's 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. I don't know myself that well."

NARRATOR: "Now I'm on the roof so that I can have lunch with only a couple of people. A far cry from a jam-packed cafeteria table. Oddly enough, I feel closer to Emi and Rin than I felt to anyone at my old school. Somehow I get the feeling they'd at least visit me if I wound up in the hospital. That sounded incredibly bitter, even in my own head. I focus on the view from the roof, banishing such thoughts from my 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 pleasingly warm, and as I sit down to wait for my friends, I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of the sun seeping into my skin. Voices intrude upon the edge of hearing."

EMI: "—seems to have fallen asleep on us, Rin."

RIN: "Maybe he's faking, to lull us into a false sense of security."

EMI: "Why would he do that?"

RIN: "No idea."

EMI: "Still, you make a good point. We should kick him or something to make sure he's really asleep."

HISAO: "Huh? What?"

NARRATOR: "Emi looms over me like only a short girl can, peering at me intently."

EMI: "Oh, you're awake. I guess we don't have to kick you then."

RIN: "Was it part of your master plan?"

HISAO: "What are you talking about?"

NARRATOR: "Emi shrugs, her ponytails bouncing with the motion."

EMI: "I'm not sure either. You must be pretty tired to fall asleep out here. Although it's pretty comfortable, I suppose."

NARRATOR: "She plops down next to me and begins to eat. Rin sits opposite from the two of us, a move which only makes me more aware of the girl sitting next to me. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear Rin did it on purpose. I concentrate on my food, willfully tuning out the majority of the conversation that Rin and Emi are having. Despite my best efforts, however, I still find myself glancing over at Emi whenever she speaks. I 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. I probably look like a creep. It's about this time that I realize Emi's looking at me. Her voice raises up slightly, so she's probably just asked me a question."

HISAO: "Huh? Sorry, I kinda zoned out for a moment there."

NARRATOR: "Emi rolls her eyes, while a slight quirk of the eyebrow is the only sign that Rin's even paying attention."

EMI: "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?"

NARRATOR: "Did I? I don't actually remember."

HISAO: "I don't...think so. Maybe we'll get one tomorrow."

EMI: "What are you going to put down?"

NARRATOR: "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 many plans. Though I suppose I 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..."

HISAO: "No clue. I always kind of assumed I'd figure it out in college. Or just become a salaryman. That's pretty popular."

NARRATOR: "But do I really want to? That's a rough question. I guess I don't really want to do anything."

EMI: "You don't sound very excited about that one, do you?"

NARRATOR: "She laughs as she says this, and I'm caught up in her laugh again. It's so...girlish. High and giggly, like a...well, pardon the cliche—like a babbling brook. It bubbles out of her, starting in her stomach and working its way up her throat. I can't help but laugh myself—it's infectious."

HISAO: "Yeah, I guess I'm pretty unhappy with the salaryman idea. But to be honest, I haven't given much thought to the future recently. I suppose I've been more concerned with living in the moment recently."

NARRATOR: "Emi considers this for a moment, and grins."

EMI: "That's a pretty good idea, Hisao! I just wrote down pirate."

NARRATOR: "I'm momentarily stunned, then I start laughing. I stop myself and manage to gasp out a question."

HISAO: "You're not actually serious, are you?"

NARRATOR: "Emi looks mock offended."

EMI: "Well I've got the legs for it already, so I just kind of figured..."

NARRATOR: "Even Rin seems amused by this."

EMI: "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!"

NARRATOR: "She suddenly springs up and begins swaggering up and down the rooftop shouting orders."

EMI: "Yar, me hearties, give 'em a broadside with the long guns! We'll wear their guts for garters!"

RIN: "Do you even know what that means?"

NARRATOR: "Rin's unexpected interruption stops Emi in her tracks. A sheepish look crosses her face."

EMI: "Not really."

NARRATOR: "She brightens again."

EMI: "But it's all in the delivery!"

NARRATOR: "The ringing of the bell prevents her from demonstrating her point further. Emi dashes off immediately, leaving Rin and myself alone on the roof. Rin stares at me intently for a few moments."

HISAO: "Is there... something wrong?"

NARRATOR: "Rin considers this question closely for a moment. After a lengthy pause, she shakes her head."

RIN: "Nope."

NARRATOR: "Rin shakes her head again."

RIN: "Nope, I don't get it."

HISAO: "Get what?"

RIN: "The staring thing. You two seem to, but I don't."

NARRATOR: "Great. She saw me staring. Now she thinks I'm a pervert or something, probably. Actually, probably not. This is Rin we're talking about, after all. Still, I feel the need to defend myself."

HISAO: "I wasn't staring, I was just tired."

NARRATOR: "Rin actually snorts at this, but she doesn't say anything."

HISAO: "No really! I was just... distracted, is all."

RIN: "Mmm."

NARRATOR: "Eager to end this conversation, I head back down to class. I'm greeted by the twin specters of Shizune and Misha, looking businesslike. Well, Shizune looks businesslike, anyway. Misha just looks like she's about to start laughing at any minute."

MISHA: "Up on the roof again Hicchan~? You know that's dangerous, don't you~?"

SHIZUNE: "..."

MISHA: "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~!"

NARRATOR: "Misha leans in and whispers conspiratorially."

MISHA: "But we won't, Hicchan~! You three are too cute together~!"

NARRATOR: "She straightens up again, laughing at my sudden blush."

MISHA: "Wahahaha~! You're too easy to tease, Hicchan~!"

HISAO: "Hey, come on. I'm still new here, sort of. Isn't it mean to pick on the newcomer like this?"

MISHA: "Nope~! It's to help you get acclimated to your new surroundings~!"

HISAO: "Ah, I see. Well...do you have to be so overzealous about it?"

MISHA: "Yep~!"

NARRATOR: "Mutou enters the room and Misha waves a quick goodbye as she heads to her seat and I make my way to mine. It's only after I've settled down at my desk and the teacher's started talking about something or other that something odd strikes me. What did Rin mean, “You two seem to?” Was Emi staring at something too? For a brief moment, I consider the possibility that Emi was staring at me the way I was staring at her. Of course, that's ridiculous. Still, I can't deny that I wouldn't mind if it were true... But it's best not to think of that. No need to get my hopes up."

NARRATOR: "Come to think of it, when did I start having hopes like that anyway? I shake my head in an attempt to clear it, and focus on the lesson. After class I make my way to my room. Mutou piled on the homework today. Before I can open my door, however, I am suddenly intercepted by Kenji, who has just exploded out of his own room in a flurry of papers."

KENJI: "Hey, we need to talk. These rooftop shenanigans of yours, man. They've gotta stop."

HISAO: "What?"

KENJI: "Your running around on the rooftop with the limbless wonders! They're women, man! You'll get yourself killed running around like that!"

HISAO: "I don't follow."

NARRATOR: "Kenji sighs and adjusts his glasses, before explaining himself (or what he thinks counts as explaining, anyway) patiently."

KENJI: "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."

HISAO: "I see."

KENJI: "Good! I'm glad we had this chat. Loan me 500 yen."

HISAO: "...I'm sorry?"

KENJI: "I need to get a drink, man! I've been inside all day! And the tap water's been compromised, I'm sure of it! So I need 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."

NARRATOR: "You know, if it'll make him go away, 500 yen is a bargain. I hand 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. Now, about that homework."

Next Scene: Famous Last Words