first at-bat [video]

[yoghurts]

[ as the video turns on, you're treated to the sight of a confused looking young man. something that must surely be a familiar sight to anyone who's been here for a protracted period of time... though this one seems perhaps a bit more dazed than most. ]

Ah... hello, everyone.

[ despite his confusion, he manages a weak smile. his voice sounds rather calm, all things considered. ]

Let's see... I'm supposed to introduce myself, right? My name is Satoshi Houjou. It's nice to meet you at all.

Um... what else was there? Sorry, this has never happened to me before so I'm not really sure what to say. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Or am I one who's supposed to be asking questions right now? Hm... Can anyone give me some advice? Introductions sure are difficult. I'll do my best to pay you back when I can.

Oh! But we're saving the world, aren't we? Ha... that sounds pretty hard. I've never saved a world before, either. Well, I'll do my best.

Comments

[yoghurts]

Yeah... I'm glad you told me. I didn't really realize how serious it was until now.

[ or that he'd have to make choices like that. he thought he'd put that sort of thing behind him. instead, it sounds like it'll only get worse here. ]

I'll try to make the most of it while I can. It sounds like things like that don't happen very often, right? So... the rest of the time should be okay.

[whatagoodgirl]

In just about five months, there have been three major attacks. That gives you an idea of how often they come after us. There's other stuff in between, nasty tricks the gods pull, but none of it is as terrible as the darkness. [She smiles faintly.] You'll have time to make friends, bond with people, work if you want to, maybe pick up new hobbies... I've done all of those, and I've been here since the first wave of travelers got here.

[yoghurts]

So attacks happen that much... [ troubling. ] I'd better do my best to get ready then. [ not that he knows what getting ready entails. ]

Still, that's good to hear. If you work together with others... [ things should work out? that's hard for him to say, since he's never really done it himself. others might have reached out to him, but he was always quick to push them away. ] I'm sure something good should happen. I mean, that's what we were brought here for, after all. 

[whatagoodgirl]

That's right. [Everything about her softens dramatically. He understands.] We can achieve anything if we work together. Saving the world doesn't have to be as scary as it sounds... it can mean sacrifices and loss, but it also means hundreds, millions, even billions of people get to keep living their lives. It's... rewarding.

[yoghurts]

Then I'll definitely do my best. I won't give up until everyone's saved!

Heh, that sounded kind of cool, right?

[whatagoodgirl]

[She smiles a little more broadly, charmed.]

You sounded like a real hero.

[yoghurts]

I don't think I'd make much of a hero, but thanks!

You don't sound too shabby either.

[whatagoodgirl]

You might surprise yourself. You don't know what you're capable of until you face it.

[She laughs and looks away, blushing.] I'm no hero, either. I had friends who were real heroes. I just did what I had to do.

[yoghurts]

[ unfortunately, he does sort of know what he's capable of... and he knows it isn't very heroic. ]

Friends? Really? [ hm... ] What did they do?

[whatagoodgirl]

Well... you talked about saving the world... me and my friends actually had to do that. It's a long, complicated story, but that's the gist of it.

[yoghurts]

Really? [ she doesn't seem to be lying... ] Then doesn't that make you a real life hero too?

[whatagoodgirl]

I - I guess some people would think of it that way... [She's obviously uncomfortable with the idea, though.]

[yoghurts]

Heh... I guess even if you are a hero, if you don't feel any different, it's hard to accept. It's not like being one really changes you as a person.

[whatagoodgirl]

Yeah, that's kind of how it is. One minute I was a normal kid, and the next I had to save the planet... there wasn't much time to adjust. And no one knew we did it, either, it all had to be kept secret. So even if I were home [and alive] nothing would have changed much.

[yoghurts]

That's not true. Even if nobody knows about it, you still saved the world. You might not get recognized for it, but at least you know you did it. [ a smile. ] And if nothing else, it must have changed you, right?

[whatagoodgirl]

Yeah...

[She tries not to think of the heavier implications of that, remembering instead the amazing clarity of mind and purpose she had as she finished her fight.]

Yeah, it did change me. I don't just take everything anymore - I know when someone is treating me wrong, and I know how to stand up for myself like my mom would. It may sound like a weird thing to come from a fight for the planet, but it's just - I'm stronger now, in a lot of ways. That's just kind of how it showed itself.