Kimagure Orange College [Writer's foreward: This pilot story and any episodes that follow it are fan-fict based on the characters in Kimagure Orange Road. They are intended to take place after the movie, "I Want to Return to that Day", and follow the characters Kasuga Kyosuke and Ayukawa Madoka as they start the next phase of their lives in college. Although we will see some of the characters from the original KOR series make appearances, the focus is on the two main characters, their challenges as they progress through college, the friends they meet and how their lives and relationship evolve around a different environment. It is our intention to try to keep the writing with a similar style of the humor that the KOR series exhibited. Yes, Kyosuke is still an esper. Yes, he's still going to get into trouble once in a while. Yes, he's still a little unsure of himself at times. However, almost all of us were when we first went to college. One of the things I wanted to write about is his continued growth as a student and a person. Ayukawa Madoka faces this new challenge in life with Kyosuke. Like him, she enters college with a few "freshman jitters". For the first time in quite a while, she's now the underclassman; an uncomfortable position for someone who's usually so sure of herself. Having a boyfriend whose an insecure esper doesn't make things easier. Many of the new characters that we create will be along the lines of the type one will meet going to college: roommates, study partners, club members, TAs and professors. Some may be based on real people we know, others may be "anime stereotypes." While the stories that revolve around them are going to be told in humorous fashion, I hope that you the reader will be able to see some of the real-life experiences that they stem from. One thing I would like to say up front: Although I and my co-writer have both graduated from college, our experience is in the American college system and culture. The span of our experience in the Japanese advanced education system is limited with what we can pick up watching anime, reading manga, and consulting with friends, pen pals and anime clubs. Any mistakes, inconsistencies, etc. are neither intentional nor are they meant to show disrespect for the Japanese education system. In fact, we would appreciate any constructive criticisms, corrections, and insight any readers might offer us. Mail all such letters, praises or flames to acombs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu.] Episode 1 - Brave New World [Cut to slow pan of a downtown university. It's early in the morning and the streets and sidewalks are flooded with students, professors and parents as they prepare for the upcoming classes. Amid the bustle of people, the camera slowly zooms in on two familiar faces as they walk along the sidewalk, window-shopping the bookstores and student supply shops.] Kasuga Narration: Today was the first day Ayukawa and I spent on campus as entering students. Spring classes begins in three days, and there's a lot of activity on the academic buildings and the bookstores that ring the campus area. I've only been in this town for a few days and my mind goes back to a few years ago the last time I moved to a new town. I can't help but remember what it felt like. The expectations and anxieties that I felt before have returned, but this time, I feel optimistic. This time, I'm not alone. [Cut to the campus bookstore. Ayukawa and Kasuga walk in and drop off their satchels in the front waiting area.] Ayukawa: Let's meet by the magazine rack when you've found your books. Kasuga: Uhh...hai. [Ayukawa leaves] [Kasuga walks over to between two tall racks of text and reference books. He is looking at his list of classes and starts fingering through a row of books. He finds to the one he's looking for] Kasuga: Oops! [As he pulls it off, another hand simultaneously reaches and grabs the book.] Female Student: Oh-oh! [The book both were reaching for was the last one.] [The girl turns to face Kasuga. She's a short, cute redhead. Her face beams a smile and she giggles...] Looks like they ran out. You're taking Mathematics I too? Kasuga: Uhh...yeah. [Smiles and offers the book] Here, you can have it. There'll be more tomorrow. Female Student: No! That wouldn't be fair! [Thinks for a moment] Say, who's your prof? Kasuga: Uhh...[pulls out his registration sheet and looks] Oinuma Hisato. Female Student: Really? [Beams even brighter] Mine too! So, I guess we're gonna be classmates! I'm Kimura Keiko! Kasuga: Happy to meet you. I'm Kasuga Kyosuke. Kimura: Say, Kasuga-san! Since we've got the same teacher and only one book, what do you say we study together! I can always use some help with math! Kasuga: Uhh...sure. I guess so. [Pauses to consider his choice, then presses the book towards her and smiles.] You keep it. When classes start, we can share until they get more. Kimura: Really? [Grabs book with both arms and holds it against her chest like a piece of treasure] Thank you! That's so generous! You're such a darling! Kasuga: Uhh [freezes for a moment, then smiles] hai... [Cut to sidewalk cafe. It's an hour later and Ayukawa and Kasuga are having light snack. Their new books and misc. equipment are stacked next to them on the tables.] Ayukawa: ...so I'll be busy with music rehersals after class. Say, did you decide on a major? Kasuga: Uhhh...well...I sort of decided on Literature. Ayukawa: [look surprised] Literature? You want to become a writer? Kasuga: [Looks a little more confident] Sure! I mean, I've got lots to write about. Ayukawa: Like what? Kasuga: Well, science fiction for one! I could probably write a pretty convincing story about espers! Ayukawa: [Smiles] That's true! [Cut to street going up a hill. Ayukawa and Kasuga are walking on the side of the road. Kasuga is noticably winded from his load of books along with the uphill climb.] Ayukawa: [Mildly annoyed] How much further? Kasuga: Just past this hill. Ayukawa: [after a few more steps] Why did you pick a place so far away? Kasuga: [Mildly annoyed] I didn't. It was the only one I could find that I could afford. Ayukawa: [Smiles; she's got him on this one] Well, that's your own fault. You shouldn't have waited until the last minute to find housing. I started looking right after we passed the Juken. That's how I found my place. Kasuga: [Stews silently; the only thing worse than blame is well- deserved blame...Then after a few more steps...] Say, why aren't you living at home? Ayukawa: My sister's moving back in. The family is expecting sometime the end of the year. So, since their family's growing, we decided to find somewhere else for me to stay. Kasuga: [Ponders the thought to himself] Family, huh...? Ayukawa: If I had known this was going to turn out into a forced march, I would have suggested riding our bikes. Kasuga: Ah, here we are. [Kasuga and Ayukawa enter a two-story boarding house. The house is a shade on the drab side and looks like it's in need of a few repairs. However, it does look like it can still do the job. Taking off their shoes, they walk up the stairs on the right side of the building. Even in the hallway, we can hear the noises of moving boxes and furniture from inside the door. Kasuga stops at Room No. 5 and pulls out his key. After unlocking the door, he pushes the door open and freezes as the sight of Jingoro flying directly into his face...] Kasuga: WHAT TH-? Kurumi: AHHH-! LOOK OUT! [Her warning comes too late as Ayukawa's and Kasuga's sudden appearance shatters Kurumi's concentration, sending a small avalanche of boxes on Kasuga's head. Fortunately, Ayukawa was behind him and didn't get piled on. Inside, we see the rest of Kasuga's family as they help him finish the last of his moving. Most of his stuff is still in boxes, but his futon and kitchen equipment are already set up. The rest of the room had the appearence of a "poltergeist effect" as boxes of stuff were, until a moment ago, still floating in mid- air. Ayukawa bends over to see if Kasuga is alright.] Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun...? [Writer's note: Please notice what happened and who was present to see it. Since it was more than implied in KOR's last TV episode, we are going on the premise that Ayukawa knows about the Kasuga clan's "unique gifts". Besides, if Kasuga didn't have the openness to come clean by now, then I feel that the trust built and cemented between the two in the movie doesn't mean a whole lot, now does it?] Kasuga: [Head pops out from underneath the pile. He turns his head to Kurumi and demands...] WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, GET ME KICKED OUT BEFORE I START?!? Kurumi: [Yelling back] WELL HOW ELSE ARE WE SUPPOSE TO MOVE ALL THIS STUFF, WHILE YOU WERE OUT GOOFING OFF!?! Kasuga: I WAS NOT GOOF-! Manami: [with hands in "settle down" pose] How about we keep it down while we still can? Takashi: Right Kyosuke. What's done is done. No need to make it worse by telling the rest of the tenants. Kasuga: [Stands up and brushes debris off. He shuts the door and mutters, almost to himself...] Some things never change...! [Cut to an hour or so later. Ayukawa and the rest of the Kasuga family have left. Kasuga is leaning back on his futon; a new piece of furniture in deference to the cramped quarters of his boarding house room. He breathes a sigh from the recent physical exertion and relief.] Kasuga: [To himself in thought] Well...here I am. Away from the silliness and non-stop calamity. [Smiles] I've made it. [Closes his eyes and sighs again. Suddenly, his eyes pop open. He sniffs and his nose wrinkles as a wave of odor permeates the room. He sits upright then stands up. He walks over to the front of the room and opens the door. Much to his surprise, he sees four of his fellow tenants run past his doorway going to his left.] What the...? [He looks right and...BOOOM! An explosion rocks the floor as a cloud of foul-smelling smoke fills the hallway.] What the...! [Storms down the hallway to see what this is all about. Behind him, his fellow tenants peek from behind the corner... Voice from next room: Oops! Sorry! [Coming out from the next room is a young man. He has blond hair, and looks about Kasuga's age. He puts his hand behind his head and laughs [a familiar position for Kasuga...:-)]. Kasuga smiles despite himself; after all he's been through, what's a little sulfur? The young man offers his hand...] You must be the new guy in No. 5. I guess we're neighbors. I'm Katsu Ritsuo. Kasuga: [Takes his hand] I'm Kasuga Kyosuke. Glad to meet you. [Looks inside Katsu's now-open room and asks...] Say, what are you doing? Katsu: Oh! Come in. [In the middle of the room is a large rectangular table. Under the table there's a medium size tank of propane, powering two Bunsen burners. Sprawled across the table is the largest array of chemical-filled glassware Kasuga has ever seen. In one corner of the table, there is some broken glass and a foul-smelling puddle. Katsu pulls a broom and shovel from the corner of his room and sweeps the glass into the shovel, then dumps it into the waste bin.] I was trying to brew some coffee. Kasuga: Ehh? [Looks around the room and sees no coffee pot] Where? Katsu: [Points to a large beaker] Here. [To the right is an Erlenmeyer flask boiling water. Mounted above is a distillation column filled with coffee grounds. The steam then dribbles down an adjoining tube into the awaiting beaker.] I got so caught up watching it I let one of the other test-tubes to go dry. Once the fluid was gone, the sulfur caught like a... Kasuga: [Waves off hearing the technical explanation] Heh, that's alright. I've been known to be absent-minded myself on occasion. But, [admiring the set-up] this is really something. Katsu: When I was a kid, I got a toy chemistry kit for my birthday. Since then, I've added stuff piece by piece. Before I even got out of junior high, I knew what I wanted to study. [He pulls two smaller beakers from a shelf and pours the dark coffee from the larger beaker into the two smaller ones.] Join me? Kasuga: [Takes offered glass] Sure. [Tentatively takes a sip, then smiles.] Say, not bad! Very smooth taste! Katsu: Isn't it though? That's the acid! Kasuga: [Stops drinking] Acid...? Katsu: [Smiles] Neutralizes the alkali base. Kasuga: [Lowers his beaker] Where? Katsu: [Looks confused. He thought he explained it clearly enough] Why, in the coffee, of course! Kasuga: [Coffee sprays out of his mouth. He coughs and gags] Katsu: Hey, don't worry! It's pH balanced! [Scene fades as Kasuga gives the coffee another try...] [Cut to a slow pan across a complex of apartments. Each apartment building has three levels and four living areas per floor. Several blocks away, we can see the taller buildings from the school. The complex is relatively new; we can see a pool and tennis courts nearby. As the picture zooms in we see Ayukawa's family unpacking the last of her boxes from the car. As the car drives off, Ayukawa stands and watches as it speeds away. After it fades into the horizon, she lifts the first of several boxes and walks up a flight of steps to the second story. When she reaches the door, she pulls out a key and unlocks it. As she enters, we notice the room is exceptionally clean, almost Spartan in layout.] Ayukawa: Ikemoto-san! [No answer. Because her arms are occupied, she doesn't bother closing the door. Walking into the room they had agreed upon, she puts the first box on a student desk. The room she enters already has several boxes, the desk and a bed. The room is even more neatly ordered; each box laid out almost symmetrically around the bed. She frowns; this isn't how she left the boxes the last time she was here. The sound of a slamming door interrupts her concentration. She walks to the front of the apartment and sees...] Ikemoto: [Stands by the now closed doorway. She is a tall woman, noticably older, and severely dressed. She brushes her black hair back with her fingers and says...] Since you're moving today, I'll forgive you this time. [Her head snaps up, abruptly making eye contact to emphasis her point.] But in the future I would...prefer you to keep the front door closed. Ayukawa: [Surprise by the abrupt greeting. She almost says something about Ikemoto's attitude, not to mention the rearranging of her room, then stops] Uhh...sure. [Thinks to herself] No need to get confrontational about something so trivial. Maybe she's just having a bad day. [To Ikemoto] Say, could you give me a hand? Ikemoto: [Pulls out a flip-down phone.] Sorry. I've got to run. I'm meeting someone in a half-hour. I just dropped by to grab my bag. [As she starts to talk on the phone, both the viewer and Ayukawa notice that Ikemoto already has her bag. Instead, Ikemoto walks into her room and places her bag on her dressing table. There are two more bags on the table; she grabs another, slightly different colored bag, clicks off her phone, then leaves] I'll be back this a couple hours, Ayukawa-chan. Ayukawa: [To herself sarcastically] I can't wait. [As door closes, Ayukawa blows a lock of her hair from her eyes.] She wasn't like this when she interviewed me. [Thinks for a moment] Then again, we only talked for a few minutes. [Picks up the phone and dials the number Kasuga gave her. She lets it ring for a couple minutes, then hangs up.] Writer's note: [Sorry Ayukawa. Kasuga's having a beaker of distilled coffee w/ Katsu-kun.] Ayukawa: Shoot! He must have stepped out. [Looks at the front door, remembering Ikemoto's brusque behavior, then looks at the phone, thinking about Kasuga.] Maybe I should have gotten a room at the boarding house instead. COMMERCIAL BREAK [Cut to Kasuga's room. It's mid-afternoon and Kasuga is about halfway through unpacking his boxes. He looks at his phone, thinking that maybe he should call Ayukawa.] Kasuga: [To himself]...nah. She's probably too busy getting her stuff unpacked. [Keeps on unpacking for a while, then stops. He looks at the phone, thinks for a moment, then picks it up.] [Cut to Ayukawa. She's picking up the last of the boxes left for her on the street and carrying it up the stairs. Even with her endurance, the viewer can tell that the toil of carrying the load of several heavy boxes up a flight of stairs for several trips has taken it's toll.] Ayukawa: [Drops box on the floor by the doorway and brushes her hair back. Her hair and face is now moist with sweat, as she collapses on Ikemoto-san's just-cleaned, just-fluffed sofa. She closes her eyes for a moment and catches her breath. Then, she opens her eyes, and notices that the LED on the phone-answering machine is blinking.] Ehh... [She presses the "play" button and closes her eyes again.] Machine: ...Ikemoto-san, it's Namba-san. Call me... Ikemoto-san, this is your mother calling. Call me back when you get this message, bye... Ayukawa, it's Kasuga. Just called to ... Ayukawa: [Ignores the rest of the message and picks up the phone] Shoot! [to herself as she dials] I must have just missed him... [Cut to a few minutes ago in Kasuga's room. Kasuga hangs up after leaving his message on the answering machine.] Kasuga: She must have stepped out. [Lays back on his futon, then hears a heavy pounding on the door. He sits up abruptly and opens the door. Standing at the doorway is a short, squat, balding man. He has beady eyes and looks angry. Kasuga recognizes him immediately...] Ah, Karinin-san! What... Egami: My office! Right now! [Turns around and wobbles his way down the stairs.] Kasuga: [Looks a little concerned] What's going on? Did I do something wrong already? [He leaves and closes the door behind him. After he leaves, the viewer can hear Kasuga's phone start ringing.] [Cut to downstairs. Egami Isamu's office doubles as his room. Inside, we can hear the sounds of him yelling at Kasuga.] Egami: Since you didn't see fit to attend my tenants' orientation, I now have to spend my valuable time telling you the policies I expect and demand from my tenants! I expect rent on the first! Not a day later! If you are delinquent, your furniture goes out on the lawn until you pay! Penalty is 2000 yen per day! [He turns around, picks up his ledger and starts writing.] Kasuga: [To himself] That's it? He dragged me down here to tell me this? [Egami stops writing and looks up. He notices that Kasuga is still standing there with a questioning look on his face.] Egami: Well, what are you looking at? GET OUT OF MY OFFICE! [Cut to outside Egami's door. The door flies open and Kasuga comes barrelling out of the office, with Egami's voice cracking the whip.] Kasuga: Yeow! [Manages to keep to his feet and come to a stop] [To himself] Sheesh! What a grouch! [Cut to Ayukawa. She's tries dialing again, but gets no answer. In frustration, she hangs up.] Ayukawa: Where could he have gone so fast? [Gets up and goes to the kitchen. She pulls a glass from the cabinet, drops in a few ice cubes and fills it with water. She takes a sip and sets the glass down on the table. Next, she opens the refrigerator and starts scanning the shelves, looking for something to eat. Her search is interrupted by a noise behind her.] Ikemoto-san! I didn't hear you... Ikemoto: [Picks up Ayukawa's glass and puts a coaster under it] Please, Ayukawa-chan, [with a condescending tone] surely even you should know what these [has another coaster in her hand] are for. Ayukawa: Well... Ikemoto: [Goes to the living room, but continues to talk] And do you have any idea how much it costs to clean this sofa? Try not to sit in it when you're sweating! Ayukawa: [Viewer can see her grip on the refrigerator door handle silently tighten] Hai... Ikemoto: ...and Ayukawa-chan? Ayukawa: [Pulls out a carrot] Yes...? [with a noticeable grate in her voice] Ikemoto: Don't drink from the bottle! Ayukawa: [Carrot snaps between her fingers]... [Cut to Ayukawa's room. She comes storming in with a growing look of impatience with Ikemoto's attitude.] Ayukawa: If I have to listen to another minute of this, I'll scream...or hit someone. [Picks up the phone] Kasuga-kun, please be there this time! [Cut to Kasuga's room. The door opens and Kasuga returns from his "new tenant" thrashing from Egami. He starts to open another box lying on the floor, when he is interrupted by a knock on the door.] Kasuga: [Frowns] Who could that be? [Gets up and opens the door, then freezes] Kimura-san! Kimura: [Beams her now-familiar smile] Hi Kasuga-san! I went to another bookstore and found some more copies of our text! So I got one for you! Kasuga: [Embarrassed; puts hand behind his head and smiles] Er...thanks a bunch! But you didn't have to come all the way out here. You could have waited until classes start to give it to me. [Pauses, then embarrassed look fades into curiosity] By the way, how did you find me? Kimura: [Holds up another book and smiles even more] Easy! [Hands him a copy of an address book. On the cover, it says "Student/Faculty Address Directory"] They're just starting to sell the updated versions at the bookstores! Kasuga: Huh... [He leafs his way through the book, verifying that his address is indeed correct. He then hands the address book to Kimura] Here. Kimura: [Pushes it back] You can have this copy! I was telling some of my friends how lucky I was to run into such a nice guy like you! So they said that I should ask you to come with us for dinner! Kasuga: Uhhhhh...! [Beads of sweat form on his face. Before he can answer, his telephone rings.] [To Kimura] Just a minute... [To himself] Saved... [Picks up the phone] Hello? Ayukawa [from telephone]: Kasuga-kun! Thank goodness I finally reached you! Kasuga: Uhhh...yeah! [Beads of sweat now dripping down his face] So, how are you doing on moving in? Kimura: [Whispers, but still can't quite stifle a giggle...] Who is it, Kasuga-san? Ayukawa: [Apparently, listening very intently] Is someone else there? Kasuga: Uhh...yeah. Just a...classmate. We're looking at some textbooks for calculus. Ayukawa: [Puts the thought aside] Say, Kasuga-kun. I'm a little tired of moving all these boxes, and I...kind of need to get out of the apartment for a while. What do you say we have dinner together? My treat! Kasuga: Uhh...sure! That'd be great! Where do you want to meet? Ayukawa: I saw an okonomiyaki place a block east of the campus on the main road. How about meeting me there in about an hour? Kasuga: I'll be there...[Hangs up] Sorry Kimura-san. That was a friend of mine and sh- uhh, I mean he was...just calling to remind me that we were going to meet for dinner tonight. What do you say I take you out tomorrow for lunch? My treat. Kimura: [Looks surprised, then smiles] That'd be great! I'll see you tomorrow then! [Leaves] Kasuga: Whew! That was close! [Cut to the Okonomiyaki-Maru. The restaurant is a casual place, packed with students. Inside, the sounds of conversations, and the smell of good food gives the dining area the look of a student union cafe. Kasuga looks around as he enters and sees Ayukawa sitting in a booth. She waves at him and he goes over and sits down.] Ayukawa: [Smiles he sits down] I'm amazed. You got here on time! Kasuga: [Laughs off friendly jibe] So, how's it going with your new apartment? Ehh? [Stops smiling when he notices Ayukawa look away for a moment] Something wrong? Ayukawa: [Smiles; but viewer can tell it's a front] N-nothing's wrong! And what about you? Kasuga: Well, I've got a neighbor who drinks out of chemistry beakers, cowardly fellow tenants [referring to their reaction to the first explosion], and a screaming landlord who likes to throw the tenants' furniture out on the lawn [Puts his hand behind his head as he laughs at his own predicament.] Ayukawa: [absent-mindedly] Any spare rooms...? Kasuga: Ehh...? [Stops laughing. Now, he starts to notice the depressed look on Ayukawa's face as she lets her guard down] Well... not really. No. 5 was the last one. Why do you ask? Ayukawa: [Puts her guard back up and smiles] Just wondering. Ehh...? [Sees Kasuga stand up] Going somewhere? Kasuga: Just to the washroom. Be right back! [Leaves] [Kasuga walks to the back of the room and enters the washroom. He splashes water on his face and pats himself dry with a paper towel. He then exhales a sigh of relief and smiles on how well the evening is going. He turns around to pitch the now-moist towel into the waste bin, then freezes...] Kasuga: Katsu-san! What are you doing here? Katsu: Ah Kasuga! Fancy meeting you here! We're celebrating our last free days before school. Kasuga: We...? Katsu: Sure! Kimura Keiko's with me! Kasuga: What...! [Cut to the dining area. Ayukawa is sitting alone, waiting for Kasuga to return. Since both have ordered, she doesn't look concerned with Kasuga taking his time. As she takes in the atmosphere, the viewer can see Kasuga peeking from behind the washroom's interposing wall, trying to spot Kimura...] Kasuga: Shoot! Of all the...oh no! [Sees Kimura wandering around the dining area, talking with several people. After concluding a conversation with one of the other new students, she starts walking straight towards Ayukawa...] Kimura: Say, you're a new student, aren't you? Ayukawa: [Looks up and smiles. This girl reminds her of someone she knew...:-)] Why yes I am! How did you guess? Kimura: [Beams a smile] You've got that look! Say, are you with someone? Ayukawa: Hai...[Looks away from Kimura-san with a thoughtful expression] someone special. Kimura: [Sits down...in Kasuga's chair] I know what that's like. I met someone today that feels like that special someone. [Looks thoughtful for a moment] I wish I could be with him right now... Kasuga: [Clenches his fists and squeezes his eyes shut in fearful anticipation] This is it...! ...DRAMATIC PAUSE... Ayukawa: [Smiles] Well, I hope you find that special someone! Kimura: [Smiles] So do I! [Extends her hand] By the way, I'm Kimura Keiko! Ayukawa: [Takes her offered hand] I'm Ayukawa Madoka! Nice to meet you! Kasuga: [Watches Kimura go to another table] Pheeewww...! [Cut to the hallway outside of Room No. 5. Ayukawa waits as Kasuga unlocks and opens the door. It's nighttime and both are tired from the day's events. They both enter the room and sit on Kasuga's futon.] Kasuga: [Notices Ayukawa's look of fatigue] Rough day? Ayukawa: [Nods and then smiles] Yeah. But the night's still young. Say, do you remember this? [Pulls out a bottle she had been carrying concealed. It's a small black bottle of brandy with "Napoleon" written on the top of the label.] Kasuga: [Looks momentarily surprised] Sure...where'd you get that? Ayukawa: I snuck it out of my parents' cabinet before I left town. Kasuga: Like last time? [Smiles in recollection] That was a special night, wasn't it? Ayukawa: [Offers the bottle to Kasuga] Have some glasses? Kasuga: [Hands her two 100ml beakers. Ayukawa looks at the beakers with some amused curiosity, then pours...] [Pull back the camera. Kasuga and Ayukawa sip the brandy, then put the beakers aside. The lights dim as both inch closer together...] Kasuga Narration: Once before, a few years ago, I moved to a new town. I remember the newness; the feeling of insecurity. Everything was different and I felt alone. This time, I have someone with me. It makes the transition easier. Here, in this new town, we will both have a chance to make something out of a sea of change.] [Just before their lips touch, Kasuga suddenly pulls back. Ayukawa's nose wrinkles as she smells it too. ] Voice from next room: Sooorrrryy...! Kasuga Narration: Oh well, some things haven't changed... END CREDITS New Characters Designer/Writer Stephen Tsai Co-writer/plotter Andy Combs Pre-readers Ravi Konchigeri Derek Work Christian Gadeken Scott Bolland Very special thanks to Hitoshi Doi If I left anyone off, my apologies. Any mistakes/embarrassing faux pas are entirely my own. If there is anything here you must flame, aim them at me and me alone. Thank you for taking the time to read what I hope will be the first episode of my new series. Assuming that I don't get flamed off the net, I've got the next episode in the works. If you have any story ideas, or general ideas, please send them. Any tidbits about the Japanese advanced education system will be especially looked at (see first writer's note). Hope you enjoyed it and thanks again!