Act Four - A beard. [Video]

[seventeenpills]

Well, the Gods didn't skip over me for this particular prank. It's not as noticeable as some other people's new facial hair but I'm still sort of proud of it.

[The camera zooms in on his chin where you can quite plainly see a downy fuzz. If you squint. And use a little imagination. It's there... just... less than prominent.]

I wonder how long we'll get to keep these?

Comments

[Video]

[seventeenpills]

I do. I was a little surprised to find out how much, actually - during the time I was aged up, I looked a lot like him. I look a little like my Mother too, of course. But more like him, yes.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

I see!

[Part of her wonders a little about who she takes after, but...]

I wonder if anyone else looked a lot like their parents when they got aged up...

[Video]

[seventeenpills]

I'm really not sure.

What about you? You were aged up - did you look like either of your parents?

[Video]

[saving_sound]

I don't know... Maybe it's because it was just a few years, but I still just looked like me.

[Video]

[seventeenpills]

That's true, you weren't quite as old as me. You looked like maybe you were fourteen or fifteen. Maybe a little younger.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

I wonder why there was such a big difference in ages for everyone... Some people only changed by a few years, but there were a lot who were much, much different!

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

I really don't know. There were a lot of people who became little kids, too. Not just older. I wound up cooking lunch and supper for a few of them who could no longer work the kitchen safely.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Ah... It must have been really difficult for people who became younger, too. To suddenly be unable to do a lot of what you're used to...

[Video]

[seventeenpills]

Yeah, I think so. Luckily enough I was able to help a couple of them out, but still. It was a strange, strange day.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

It really was. It made me glad I can heal... I would have been bruised all over otherwise.

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

Well, if you couldn't heal, I would have done it for you. I could hardly let you wander around all bruised up.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

That's kind of you, Hisao-san! Although it was probably my fault for insisting on going places even though I couldn't walk very well.

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

Well, you had no way of knowing how long it was going to last and you couldn't exactly just sit around doing nothing forever, right?

[Video]

[saving_sound]

No, but... I probably should have been more careful.

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

Well, what's done is done and you're OK now. Plus, you have something of an idea what to expect a few years down the line.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Mm! It'll be nice to grow up like that... Just not all at once again.

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

I think you'll have more time to get used to the extra leg length, that way, yes.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Yeah...

Ah, but I bet I could reach things much better like that!

[It's an exciting thought!]

[Video]

[seventeenpills]

No more step ladder to reach the tea?

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Right! And I could reach books at the library much easier, too!

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

Picking apples would also be easier.

Don't worry - Your turn will come in a few years. I hit my first major growth spurt when I was only a little older than you.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Haah... really? How old were you?

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

About eleven and a half. I suddenly got a huge boost in appetite and was shooting up before I knew it. I was the tallest in my grade level at one point.

[Video]

[saving_sound]

Then it'll still be a while for me.

[Since a year and a half is so long to wait.]

But... I'm looking forwards to it a little. Maybe I'll grow even more after it, too!

Re: [Video]

[seventeenpills]

I'm sure you will. Most people stop growing at about eighteen years old - my age. So, chances are I'm as tall as I'm going to get, thank goodness.