hontou ni sou omou?

"I also understand Rin-chan’s situation. But on that, I won’t retreat."

After Rin presses her on the recent changes in her behaviour, Asa confesses that she likes Rin. He does not reject her but with the pain and lingering emptiness of his own past still weighing on him, he can’t give her a clear answer. Rin also learns more about Primula’s origins but, in the context of this thread, is to give him some basic information so that later information about Ama and Asa will make sense to Rin.

As usual, any comments and notes on errors and omissions are most welcome!

20/7 (Tue)

Results are out. Mayumi is one of two in the class who have to attend summer school.

Beside the track, Rin runs into a rather shy Asa. He notices that her facial expression and timid way of calling him aren’t normal at all. She very shyly asks if he is free for cake today. Rin thinks it over and realizes he hasn’t had much chances to have a good chat with Asa and so agrees. Asa is happy. “Un!” ~musical note~ Rin notes that he hasn’t seen Asa’s cheerful look for a while. Recently because her weak body, he hasn’t heard her happy voice.

They go to Café Flora. It’s unusually not crowded. They are greeted by Kareha who obviously enjoys her work. She asks if Rin and Asa are on a date. Asa asks Rin what does he make of it. [A change from the last time when she denied it straight away.] Rin’s face flushes but he says it’s just a normal day out. Asa says “Datte.” [From the tone, I’m guessing it’s fairly neutral but the word implies contrariness i.e. “but” and “yet”.] Kareha: Maa! Asa-chan sounds disappointed [with Rin’s response]. It’s definitely a date! Rin: Err… there’s clearly some misunderstanding here. Kareha [say it with me, folks] Ma-ma-maa! Rin is embarrassed! Rin thinks that Kareha’s imagination has gone berserk as she says how suitable Rin and Asa-chan are as a couple. Asa tries to steer the conversation away, suggesting that they find a place to sit. [But she doesn’t contradict or berate Kareha. Again, another difference.] Rin is all “…….” Rin thinks that Kareha’s imagination is particularly active today. Asa-chan hastily chases her off by saying they don’t want to impinge on Kareha’s work. Kareha happily assures Asa not to worry and that she not impinge on their couple-date any further. Rin is rescued from the exhausting conversation with Kareha when another customers asks for a coffee refill. [This is reminds me of Anna Miller’s Bottomless Cup of Coffee.]

The Boy strikes. [This scene is in ep 8 during Rin’s date with Sia.] Yes, that little blue haired boy. Kareha is wearing pink and white stripes. With a little pink bow. [ Zyl nosebleeds.] Asa is amazed by the boy who tend comments on Kareha’s “shima-shima” (stripe-stripe). Rin notes that Kareha is in a bit of trouble but Asa seems sanguine. All the guys are staring by now. The mom retrieves her kid, Masao, and apologizes, asks him what the heck he is doing. He replies it’s because Oneechan is so beautiful. Kareha thanks him for the compliment. [facepalm] The mom correctly points out that that isn’t an acceptable reason. She apologizes again and promises there won’t be a second time. Kareha the Angel of Mercy says it’s no trouble and asks her not to be too angry with her son.

Asa teases Kareha about providing beautiful scenery. Kareha whines that her dear Asa-chan is being mean to her. She shyly asks if Rin saw. He apologizes, indicating that he did. Kareha asks him to forget about that. Rin thinks how cute Kareha looks.

Back home, Eustoma and Foebeshii are waiting for him on the street. Foebeshii asks very seriously and slowly with solemn backing OST… would you like to go to the beach. Music changes to the ojiisan enka type. Rin takes them for their trouble (indicating reluctance at imposing). Eustoma backslaps him with his massive hand. He says summer means the beach, the beach means family trip and family trip means family togetherness. Blah blah from the two who basically force him to go.

22/7 (Thu)

The school pool is open. Nadeshiko-sensei in a leopard print bikini. Asa and Kareha appear in their swim suits. Asa says that summer are definitely about the pool, the beach, festivals and shaved ice. Kareha notes that Asa loves summer. Itsuki declares summer is good because of sexy female swimsuits. Lisianthus, Kaede and Mayumi turn up. Nerine appears, her top is very tight. Mayumi falls into the pool. Concern for her blah blah. Sia says it’s because Nerine’s breasts are so huge. Nerine is embarrassed.

23/7 (Fri)

It’s a sunny day. Rin goes to Café Flora and meets Asa and Kareha. The latter isn’t working for once. Asa notes that once Kareha started working part time there, the café has had an increase in customers. Rin agrees and notes how many of the customers are guys. Kareha thanks them for their praise but also notes that the delicious cakes here are also a big draw. Rin thinks about how good Kareha looks in the waitress uniform.

Asa slyly notes that she’s never heard the male customers talk about the taste of the cake before. She says that even she likes to look at the cute uniforms. Kareha seizes the chance to ask Asa to join her in part time work there. Asa declines, saying that much cuteness doesn’t suit her. Rin says he doubts that is true and that he thinks the uniform would suit Asa. He is already imagining her in it and it’s not bad at all. Asa is surprised: Eh? Rin asks her not to look so surprised. He says that Asa is definitely more than cute enough so she shouldn’t worry.

Asa starts to stammer about “cute… ano… eto…” She blushes and looks so shy that Rin finds her even cuter. He tells her that if she has the chance, to go for it and that he is looking forward to seeing her in action. Asa says that since Rin has said so, she will consider it. Rin marvels at how cute Asa’s voice and demeanor are. Kareha chimes in about how cute Asa is right now. Asa complains that Rin and Kareha are making fun of her. Kareha assures that no one is making fun of her and asks Rin to agree. Rin affirms that and says that he is speaking honestly. Asa makes a very cute “u, u-u~……” whining sound. Kareha [say it with me ladies and gents]: Ma-ma-maa!

Asa asks then why is the face over there (Rin probably) is so red. Some Rin introspection about the maid qualities of the uniform.

Afterwards Kareha heads home on her own and Rin is walking back with Asa, he thinks about two people being together and notes the straight lines and deep red of Asa’s small lips. It’s a warm feeling inside. His own face starts to heat up. He’s not certain about his feelings which he hasn’t said out – he enjoys Asa’s laughter. Then there’s the quiet Asa, the Asa that he didn’t know about but has begun to meet.

Ama-san appears from behind. She asks if they are both going home now. Asa asks if Ama-san is out shopping. Ama-san is buying a few ingredients for Asa’s baking. Asa says she could have done that. Ama-san says it’s no trouble, that she can have a chance to take a walk and look around. Asa remarks how Ama-san likes talking walks in her free time. Ama-san replies that walks are healthy. Rin reflects on how close mother and daughter are and that Ama-san is a really down to earth person. He notices for the first time that Ama-san and Asa have the same ribbon on arm and hair respectively. [This comes out in ep 14.] Rin thinks about how he and Kaede no longer have mothers.

Suddenly, Asa collapses and Rin rushes to stop her fall. Both Rin and Ama-san are worried. Asa apologizes and assures Rin that it’s no big deal, just a bit of dizziness. Rin can hear how weak her voice is and how limp her body is. Ama-san is really worried. Asa apologizes again, insisting that it is nothing. She recovers a bit after a while and stands without Rin’s support but she still looks unsteady. He tells her not to be stubborn, taking one of her arms over his shoulder and putting his other arm around her waist and says he will escort her home and if Ama-san is ok with that. Ama-san: Ri-chan, onegai ne. Asa feebly tries to object but quickly accepts by thanking Rin. He finds that her body starting to relax more and accept his support. Ama-san looks upon them very kindly.

28/7 (Wed)

After school, Asa meets Rin beside the track. She’s back to her usual genki smiling self. Rin reflects that guys have it tough because it is so difficult to understand women. She asks if Rin want to go home together. Rin asks isn’t their homes in different directions? Asa says that they can walk together at least for five minutes. She hasn’t seen him for a while – it’s the wish of a maiden’s heart. Rin finds that Asa’s words have a different feeling from before. He recalls the time when she kissed him in her room. Asa says that Kareha has gone home already.

She takes his hand and starts to lead him out of the school. Rin starts to think about her and about himself.

But there are some things he doesn’t understand and it makes him uneasy. He feels that he hasn’t seen the real young girl’s heart of Shigure Asa. Now he wants to her the answer, the answer that he himself longs for. He asks her why she kissed him before. He asks if she was serious then and why him? He can’t see her feelings and doesn’t clearly understand the situation himself. Asa withdraws her hand and takes a few steps from him.

She says that the reason is hard for her to say. Then perks up, saying that it can’t be helped and closes the distance, saying that it is because it’s because she likes him. Framed by the crimson dusk reflecting this feeling, Rin finds that Asa’s smile is the most wonderful. She doesn’t want to be his sempai anymore.

Rin asks why, suddenly… Asa says she is the same as the person she respects most in the world. She wants to be as strong as that person, to try as hard – that to love a person is reason enough. [This is Kareha’s mantra to Asa in ep 7 which she rejected at the time.] It’s enough to think so. She understands the feelings of Kaede, Lisianthus and Nerine but she won’t retreat. Because she can’t see anyone but Rin. With those words and her expression, Rin realizes that he has seen Asa’s true heart. In her smile and expression, he finds real beauty.

Asa asks if he thinks that she is not the one for him. It’s the first time for her to find someone who is special to her in this way.

Rin thinks that he has the beginnings of feelings for Asa. He thinks that the girl before him now, Shigure Asa, is the first really special girl that he has met.

He replies, “I don’t really know…” But thinks now he will try with all his might, taking one step at a time towards the inside of himself that no one else can suppress. [Seems that his difficult childhood makes it difficult for Rin to know his own feelings. Also goes some way to explain why he’s not been interested in any of the girls so far.]

Asa smiles: In other words, you’re not saying no, let’s go forward splendidly.

At night, Rin gets a mysterious visions related to Primula and a purple haired girl. [Licorice?]

29/7 (Thu)

He wonders if the vision last night of the purple haired girl was a dream. It felt weird and disturbing. Kaede and Primula are out. He recalls the artificial life experiments that Foebeshii told him about the day he brought Primula home. He reflects on Primula as a made being and somehow feels uneasy. He wonders what is the relation to the purple haired girl.

He meets Eustoma outside the house and takes the chance to ask him about the artificial life experiments. He replies that it is a joint top project of the Shinkai and Makai. Rin has been told about the three attempts previously by Foebeshii [who was not at all forthcoming about this until Ep 13], he asks what happened to the first two, whether they are dead and whether Primula might share that fate? Eustoma looks serious for once and says that Ma-bou (Foebeshii) hasn’t explained things clearly to Rin. Eustoma says it’s unpleasant stuff but Rin has the right to know. [Of course in the anime, Rin overhears this in Ep 13 and Foebeshii tells him instead of Eustoma.]

On Rin’s question, it is simple to answer. It could not be endured. He asks if Rin knows the reason behind the experiments. Rin is unclear, something about research and use of powerful magic. Eustoma says it involves the most powerful magic and asks if Rin knows why so much magic is being used to research artificial life. This first aim is to find ways to strengthen oneself. [Rationale seems different from the one enunciated by Foebeshii which hints at the possibility of bringing back the dead.] However the magic could not be contained inside the Mazoku candidate – her body could not endure it. [It is presumed that she died. I didn’t get any indication of the full scale destruction of the research facility as in Ep 14.] The first second failure involved using the human equivalent of clones. [That would be Licorice.] The two worlds had combined their knowledge to use these means to forward the experiments but failed twice. He says not to worry too much about Primula. [Primula’s magic does not go berserk in the game, or at least this thread of the game, so there isn’t the crisis that makes the story arc of the anime from ep 12 to 14.]

After the first two failures, there is a way - “birth.” The artificial life form starts from zero. Rin is incredulous that something can be created from nothing. [This was mentioned by the scientist in Ep 14.] Normally that is impossible but Primula is the result of a miracle and is the real thing. That’s why Primula is so important, she is the only one. [I didn’t devote much effort at all to decipher this whole conversation – just the surface of it but it suggests different motivations for the experiments compared to the anime – how to bring back the dead and for Primula’s origins.] He then goes back to the usual topic of Rin and Lisianthus.

Rin reflects on Primula’s loneliness and that he treasures her smile.

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