H       A       R       D
				    |<      O       R

				interlude Edition

		     K i m a g u r e    O r a n g e     R o a d 
				 F a n f i c t i o n

				   by Robert Kwong
				      ver 1.0
				   Finished: 2-01-99


Based on characters from the Kimagure Orange Road Series created by
the venerable Matsumoto Izumi.

As you can see, this is fanfiction harkening back to the old Kimagure Orange
Orange Road Series. In the Prelude edition, it outlines the events following
the breakup of Hikaru and Kyousuke which sets the stage for Shin Kor and
HARD Kor series.  These stories were written in the attempt to clarify
certain details assumed and to provide clues for future Hard Kor episodes.
Book A and Book B chapters provides the events after Shin Kor I. This Book C
will attempt to bridge the gap between Shin Kor I and Shin Kor II.


HardKor Web Site (With Disclaimer and back-stories:
Prelude, Book A and Book B chapters)
http://www-ucsee.eecs.berkeley.edu/~rk/HardKor.html

My SuperPage for the General Kimagure Orange Road enthusiast
http://www.animeyahoo.com

My contact email address for comments or further correspondence:
rk@soda.berkeley.edu

Feel free to email me your impressions and suggestions for the series. Beta
readers always welcome. If you want new stories emailed to you, please e-mail
me at the above address.

Thanks for reading my stories and making it one the most popular KOR fanfic
on the web! (33000 can't be wrong!)I hope you enjoy reading it as I did
writing it. Thanks again.
Robert Kwong
Ark Productions -98-


Legend:
-------
Akane     =  Akane  Kasuga
Kurumi    =  Kurumi Kasuga
Manami    =  Manami Kasuga

Muroke    =  Koji Muroke
Shijama   =  Shijama Zumi
Taku      =  Taku Morisaki
Shinohara =  Shinohara Asuma

Shun      =  Shun Kisaragi
Hasegawa  =  Hasegawa Kazuya


[]      - denotes scene changes
()      - indicates person thinking to himself
(**)    - indicates action or special effects.


Book C: Interlude: Chapter 10: Exchanges

[Back in the hospital]

Hasukawa: I feel groggy now.

Kurumi: Gomen for hitting you again.

Manami: You need to keep your agressive tendencies under control.

(Hasukawa falls unconscious again)

Mitsuru: (starts to eye Kurumi over and rubs his chin) I still can't believe
your voice and Miya's sound so similar.


Kurumi: Who the hell is this Miya-san?

Mitsuru: Old Miya-chan? She used to be his girlfriend before she dumped him.
Now he's been heartbroken ever since.

Manami: That sounds so sad.

Kurumi: Yeah, but that's not my problem.

Mitsuru: (puts his arms to his chest) My heart also goes out for the little
munchkin.

Kurumi: Aww, too bad! But still no reason for touchin' me!

Mitsuru: I'm sure you're right. Say ladies. I have an interesting
idea for you two.

Manami: Uh oh.

Mitsuru: What's the matter? You haven't heard what I have to say.

Manami: That's the point. Something strange is going to happen.

[Outside the room]

Shinohara: Ah, arrived finally. Exceeded my expectations of you females.

Shun: Hey! What's up with you two?

Akane: This is something between the two of us.

Shun: Well I'd better stay out of the way. I'm going to see how Suka's doing.
(enters the room)

Shinohara: Shun-san won't be in our way now. Say your peace.

Akane: Oh, I'll tell you what I'm feeling right now, you chauvinistic pig! You
and all you scummy men in this country are the problem! Looking down on the
opposite sex.

Shinohara: Petulant girl. You are unworthy to talk to me.

Akane: If you called me down here just to have a insult, shouting match, then
I'm leaving!

Shinohara: Leave if you must. I was right. You girls are too inferior
to take up the challenge.

Akane: Challenge? You want a fight? Is that why you chose a hospital to meet?
Well, I'm game! Let's go! I'll take you  on any day! Convenient place to ship
your caucus after I smack your hide!

Shinohara: Ha. What insolence. Violence is not my ploy. Instead, I declare a
challenge of events. Your group versus mine. To see whose is superior.

Akane: Event Challenge. Why for?

Shinohara: Aren't you keen on proving the worth of you womankind?

Akane: Yes, of course. But not against the likes of you. I rather spread our
cause through more word of mouth.

Shinohara: Directly what I'm opposed to. I won't let you spread this guerilla
dogma any further. I am upholding my duty to quell your insurgent group. So I
say it again. I officially challenge you. (takes off a motorcycle glove and
throws it to the ground)

Akane: (picks up the glove). If that's the way it's going to be, then
I gladly accept your pitiful challenge. And you will LOSE!

Shinohara: We're see who are the losers.

Akane: So what the hell is the challenge, you fool! And what are the stakes?

Shinohara: Your pride as a woman for one. And stakes to match the risk.
A series of 5 separate events to test the worth of each group. Each side is
allowed 2 events of their choosing, with a final fifth event tiebreaker, if
necessary. The consequences are the life or death of your group. If you lose, 
you agree to completely disband your group and cease the spread of your infidel
talk.

Akane: And if I win? Why should I want to get serious about this?

Shinohara: Your prize, in the unlikely event of your triumph will be my
personal transfer out of Waseda. I will cease all activities launched at
your group. I shall not stain my family's name and remain in a school 
where such ideology exists.

Akane: You're on sucker! And I get to choose the first event.

Shinohara: If you wish. I, as a chivalrious man shall allow you,
the lady to go first.

(Just as Akane is declaring the first event for the clash of the titans,
Shun, Mitsuru, and the Twins come out)

Shinohara: An interesting choice. I accept.

Akane: And another thing! I want Shun to be the judge!

Shinohara: If you wish.

Shun: Eh? What's going on?

[At the luxury apartment house]

"Hiya Taki-boy!"

(Muroke is petting Taki the dog inside #1's and his friend's apartment.)

Muroke: Long time since I've been back here.

#1: Missed this place already? I would if I were you.

Muroke: Hey, I have a score to settle with you #1! You screwed me up by
hooking me with that crazy, hybrid dormitory.

#1: Yo, you wanted cheap, you have to put up with wierd.

Muroke: How'd you find out about a place like that?

#1: Oh, a friend of mine who was a border there years ago referred me. 
But that's not why I brought you here.

Muroke: Yeah. You still haven't told me why'd you plucked me 
out of the blue.

#1: A matter of grave concern. I need your handy skills and connections
to trace the chemical reageant located on this cloth.

Muroke: Hey, this is nearly all burned up!

#1: That's why I need your help! Will you do it or not!?

Muroke: But why ask me? Can you find someone else to analyze it?

#1: I could. But there is rather hush, hush, and I would like to
keep it quiet.

Muroke: You must have obtained this illegally, didn't you?

#1: Whatever my methods does not matter. So are you in?

Muroke: Alright, alright! I guess I can first isolate a sample and get
Shijama to examine the contents. Where'd Kaori-san gone to?

#1: She trying to butter up the folks down in the "department" to try to find
out more details about the fire.

[At the Ayukawa Mansion]

Kyosuke: So what do you think?

Madoka: (chugging a Heiniken) I think that you're an extremely lucky boy,
Kasuga-kun. Do you always get propositioned by beautiful woman whenever I am
away?

K: Madoka!

M: I'm just teasing. I suppose your foray into Bosnia wasn't altogether a
wasted trip. It's made you into something of a celebrity.

K: I guess it did, though I didn't ask for it. That wasn't my intention for
going.

M: Stop  groveling and go call Miss Aso.

K: You're all for it?

M: Yes. Now go before she changes her mind like I would if I gave it a second
thought. (*winks*)

K: Now you're just being cruel.

M: It's only been a few hours for me. Give me a few days and I'll be cheeky
instead.

K: 


[Back in New York]

"Knock knock!"

Shuri: W-w-what?

Hikaru: (walks into Shuri's apartment) Did I startle you?

Shuri: No, no. Why you ask?

Hikaru: That's not your typical response whenever I come over. You seemed
surprised to see me. Something come up?

Shuri: Oh no. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Honest.

Hikaru: Now I know something is up! You're not feeling your perky self. Are
you still bummed out by the audition?

Shuri: Oh? Yeah, that's it. Major bummer that was.

Hikaru: And to think I came over to blab about my problems.

Shuri: You have problems? I can't see why you be the one with problems.
You're still in the running.

Hikaru: I know. It's an awkward feeling for me to be a semi-finalist,
after having so many rejections in my life.

Shuri: If you say so. I guess we can both cheer each other up, I suppose. 
But let's drink first and talk later!


[The Next Day]

[At the Cable Station]

(Kyosuke walks in)

Old woman at the desk : Yes? Can I help you?

Kyosuke: I'm looking for Miss Aso?

"She's in back room with the others."

K: Arrigatou.

(enters to see everyone huddled around the TV, while Aso Tamaki is preparing
her bag)

Kyosuke: Ah, Miss Aso. Regarding the offer...

Aso: You've decided to accept, ne?

Kyosuke: Yes, and I...

Aso: Here. (flips him the bag). No time for chit-chat. You can accompany me
on your first assignment. 

Kyosuke: Wow, so fast!?

Aso: That's the nature of the business. The scoop does not wait for anyone.
You can also carry this. (hands him a TV camera). Follow me. We'll take
the scooter. 

Kyosuke: What's the hurry?

Aso: Fire last afternoon at Tojo penitentiary. 

Kyosuke: So why the rush to get there? Are we a little too late to cover
the story?

Aso: (puts on her helmet and hands Kyosuke one) Not at all! Being a small
news station allows us more time in relaying the news. Better than trying to
compete with the super stations to get to the scene. By this time now, all
the big-shot TV stations' crews and staff should be leaving the scene, leaving
us plenty of room to talk with the secondary people. 

Kyosuke: I see your point. So you get a different angle on the situation,
instead of the conventional take given by the other stations.

Aso: Precisely.  I see I will be enjoying working side by side with you.

[Back at the Tokyo Police Station]

(A voice bellows out)

"J-a-c-k-son! Get into my office right now!"

Jackson: Great! What does he want now?

(enters to see a short, balding middle-aged man with a frown on his face 
and a cigar lying in the ashtray)

Jackson: Yes, Chief Nogami. You wanted to see me?

Chief: I assume you heard about the fire yesterday at the Tojo pen?

Jackson: I may have had a whiff of the news pass my way.

Chief: And do you know which scumbag you just put away is at this joint?

Jackson: I do reckon that you're referrin' to the Colonel?

Chief: Yes, I am. I'm glad my making you an inspector hasn't dulled your 
senses yet.

Jackson: So what does this hafta do with me?

Chief: It seems that your Colonel Kijama Zanbata was in involved with the fire,
since it happened in his cel holding area!

Jackson: I still don't see what this has to do with me.

Chief: There is a problem. We have 2 missing immates, but found only
one body in the fire that's charred beyond recognition. Zanbata and another
guy are missing. Need to do DNA testing for positive ID. 
Till then, that presents a problem...

Jackson: You don't know whose body it is.

Chief: Listen. I'm not taking any chances on having the Colonel ravaging
on the streets of Tokyo. You know how this guy operates, so I want you
on the case.

Jackson: My gut feelin' tells me he's loose. If you assign to me, I'll take it!

Chief: Here. Forensics report. (flips him a booklet) In it, you're find that the
metal latches were melted away by a foreign chemical. 
Boys down in the lab still doing tests.

Jackson: Ok chief. I take it up from here.


[Back at Ryokurin Ryo boarding house]

Shun: Ohayoo!

Old Lady Caretaker: Ohayoo Gozamashita. How is Hasukawa-san doing?

Shun: He progressing fine! He was so stressed out and all that he really
needed the rest. By tomorrow Sunday, he should be out and ready. I'm
going to see him now.

"Very good. But if you will be away, then who will be
managing Exchange Day today?"

Shun: Exchange Day? It's today?!?

"It says so on the schedule that was passed out."

Shun: Sona! It is today!

Exchange Day. Planned for the end of November two weeks before the finals
of the semester. Designed to give a breather for both lower and upper
classman before the cramming session begins. Also allows both sides of the
resident body to get together, with the upperclassmen passing advice to
those still in high school. Supposedly, me and Suka was suppose to
responsible for the planning of it this week, but it totally slipped
my mind since this week, I was visiting Suka-chan in the hospital.
Oh, what shall I do?

"Yo, Kisaragi-san."

Shun: Huh? It's you Shinohara-san. Is there something you wanted?

Shinohara: Go on and see the head guy. Today will be my concern. I'll take
care of Exchange Day for you.

Shun: But I can't exactly let you be in charge of this. It's not in the 
rules...

Shinohara: Exchange Day suppose to be communication between all the bodies
in this house. In your stead, I am taking charge of today's proceedings.
I believe you will find the agenda I have planned thorough and complete.
(hands her a piece of paper)

Shun: Wow, you planned all this in advance?

Shinohara: Yes maam. I mean yes sir! My prior military training has prepared
me for such an undertaking. Allow me to take the reins.

Shun: Military training? Didn't know about that. But
since you have made all the arrangements, and I have nothing prepared,
I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to head this. But no stunts or screwups
on your part, understand?

Shinohara: Understood Sir!

Shun: 


[Upstairs]

Taku: Hey Muroke-san, where are you going?

Muroke: Out. Why? 

Taku: I neglected to tell you that we're suppose to volunteer as part of
Exchange Day.

Muroke: Exchange Day?

Taku: Yeah. Shinohara discussed it with all the upperclassmen on this floor
when you were gone away. We interact and participate with our counterparts 
downstairs in a group outing to form better community relationships in this
house.

Muroke: Is that for real?

Taku: I'm afraid so. But it shouldn't be so bad. It sounds like a good idea.

Muroke: And Shinohara is in charge of this?

Taku: Afraid so. Looks like he's taken charge of things.

Muroke: I don't believe it! Hasn't that jerk caused enough trouble in this
house? Is this some kind of trick?

Taku: I dunno. 

(*knock knock*)

Muroke: Eh, it's you again! 

"Tatsuya Youta at your service. Our group is waiting outside."

Taku: I guess you don't have any choice now!

Muroke: You mean we're paired up with you guys?

Tatsuya Youta: That's what it stated on this sheet.

Muroke: Ok, okay. I guess we're going.  Let's get this over with.

[At the prison]

"Hey, no reporters beyond this point!"

Aso: I understand officier. But at least let me do my intro here. I'll be
sure to behave.

"Well make it fast."

(Aso motions with her hand to Kyosuke to roll tape)

Aso: (puts microphone up to her mouth) Aso Tamaki reporting outside of 
Tojo Penitentary one day after the mysterious fire which caused moderate
damage. Outside, you can still see residual smoke coming out of the building.
Details are still sketchy, as the authorities have not released any information
on possible injuries or deaths for both immates or guards. 

(Aso motions to cut)

Kyosuke: That seems simple enough. 

Aso: That's just the beginning. We are not finished here yet. 

Kyosuke: What else are we going to do?

Aso: There! We're going to talk to that sanitation man over there.
Let's hurry before that noisy guard catches us.

(Both Aso and Kyosuke run behind the big dump truck to escape detection)

Aso: Excuse me sir. What do you do here? 

"You're talking to me? What do you want?"

Aso: We work for a small cable tv station, and we just wanted to do a
spotlight on the little people in the community. Would it be all right
if we asked you a few questions?

"Me? You want to interview me?"

Aso: Yes. Will you accept? (bats her eyebrows)

"Okie dokie. Ask away."

(Kyosuke starts shooting)

Aso: What do you do here?

"I'm a sanitation engineer. I've been working here for over 10 years."

Aso: I see, and what exactly is your job duties?

"I'm responsible for hauling all the trash from this facility twice a day.
Once in the morning and once in the afternoon."

Aso: And about what times are they?

"Oh, it varies, but I usually come in the mornings at 10am and later in the
afternoon at 4 pm."

Aso: I'm just curious. Your job routine must be fairly regular and routine
over these years.

"Yes it has."

Aso: How about yesterday? Were you happen to be around when the fire broke out?

"Oh no. I was lucky. I was just through the outside gates when I heard shouts.
I didn't know what the commotion was at the time until I came home and saw the
evening news. It was then I  figured out it was probably that fire."

Aso: About what time was that?

"Since it was in the afternoon, I'll say 4:10 to 4:15."

Aso: Well, that has been a fascinating account of your job. Thank you for
sharing the details with us, Mr...

"Herada. Herada Kenji."

Aso: Thank you very much for providing us this community outlook Terada-san.
(shakes his hand)


[At the hospital]

Shun: Suka! You're up and about.

Hasukawa: Yes. I finally getting around. How long have I been in here?

Shun: About a week.

Hasukawa: That long?

Shun: You were out most of the time. You were in bad shape physically.

Hasukawa: (*sigh*) I was a jerk, wasn't I?

Shun: You were just depressed. I would be too if a girl dumped me.

Hasukawa: No, but you don't know the rest of the story.

Shun: Rest of story?

Hasukawa: It was that very summer day when I received the letter from
Igarashi.

Hasukawa: Right after I received the letter, I immediately took the subway
over to her place. But when I arrived there, I noticed it was empty. I
rang the bell and banged on the door for the longest time, but to no avail.
That's when it hit me that it was finally over. That she had moved out earlier
and didn't want to see me again.

Shun: So you knew already that she moved?

Hasukawa: Yes. But I tried to put on a brave face in light of the situation
with Ryokurin Ryo, so I phased out and devoted all my efforts to getting it
through. It enabled me to forget her for a while and I thought I was ok. I
wanted to save our beloved Greenwood at all costs from the land developers.
That's when the news about Shinobu hit me like a double whammy.

Shun: Hai; we were all shocked by the news.


Hasukawa: I just didn't believe that Shinobu was capable of committing such an
act onto himself.

Shun: It was so sad. Just his shoes and a note left on the dock by Tokyo Bay.

Hasukawa: I just went the situation over and over again in my head. Why? Why
did this have to happen to the Greenwood gang? Why must I be plagued by all
this misfortune. It got to the point that my mind couldn't take those two
tragic events emotionally anymore. I became a shell of myself and regressed.

Shun: So that's why you were so obsessive about that SNES and that game. It was
Shinobu-sempai's final gift to you.

Hasukawa: My high school graduation gift. He knew I didn't play computer games
nor was interested in it. But he brought it for me, just like the antagonist
he was. He told me that this Final Fantasy 6 game will teach me some valuable
lessons that I could take with me.  I thought he was his crazy self at the time.
Learning life lessons from a game? Absurd.

Shun: So then why did you take it up?

Hasukawa: In deference to his memory. It was his final gift for me, so I owed
it to him to find out that meaning.

Shun: Well, I certinaly have to give you credit for sticking to your word.
Your fanatical resolve nearly killed you!

Hasukawa: I know.

Shun: So, did you learn anything at all?

Hasukawa: I think so. The characters in the game come from all walks of life
and from different backgrounds, much like the makeup of our Greenwood family.
There King Edward and his zany brother Sabin. I know the feeling of having a
odd brother. There's Locke, the thief and Celes the wizard turned good.
There's the ninja and his dog along with the dancing Mogi. Plus the old cleric
and his granddaughter painter. And the noble warrior Cyan. And countless
others. And oh, I forgot the most important one of them all: Terra, the ESPer.

Shun: ESPer?

Hasukawa: You know; people with extrodinary sensory powers. Playing each
character throughout different scenarios in the game enabled me to understand
the tragedies and sacrifices that occur even to the best of us. But despite
all that, the most important lesson of all.

Shun: What's that?

Hasukawa: If you stick together with your friends, you will be able to get
through anything.

[During the expedition]

Muroke: Where's Shijama?

Taku: You mean Zumi-san? I believe he's with Shinohara's group.

Muroke: Where is he taking everyone anyway?

Taku: I think we're here. Look.

(Points up to Gainux headquarters!)

Muroke: An anime production studio?

(to the front led by Shinohara and Shijama)

Shinohara: Yo Shijama-san. Are you feeling well?

Shijama: I'll get by. What up with the sweatshirt?

Shinohara: It represents my Star Trek, the REAL generation tag. The best Trek
movie so far, Movie II: Wrath of Khan and the Project Genesis.

Shijama: I can read that. Why wear it here?

Shinohara: It is appropriate for the theme of this trip. Gainux studios is the
reknown studios for first-class sci-fi anime. Space Fortress Honnemaise,
Gunnmbuster, and Nadesico: Mystery of the Blue Seas is just a listing of
their reknown releases. In addition, they produced the classic Otaka yo
VidgirlAI.


Shijama: Forgive me for me lacking in anime knowledge.

(woman at desk addresses him)

"Excuse me. But why do you have a crowd of people at our facility?"

Shinohara: Sorry, but I phoned Yamaga-san yesterday. He is expecting us.

"And you are?"

Shinohara: Excuse me for not introducing myself. I am Asuma Shinohara.


"Ah Shinohara-san! Forgive me for not recognizing your likeness. I notify
Yamaga immediately."

Shijama: How'd they know you?

Shinohara: Family history.

(out comes out a man in a slick black armani suit and mousse hair)

Yamaga: Asuma! Long time no see. (shakes hands)

Shinohara: Likewise.

Yamaga: Before I forget, be sure to give your father my regards in letting us
visit his factory for our designers to do the sketches of the prototypes. It's
been invaluable.

Shinohara: I'll pass the word to father.

Yamaga: I see you brought an entourage with you.

Shinohara: Would that be a problem?

Yamaga: No, as long as you can get them to be in a line. Come with me and I'll
give you a mini-tour of this complex.

(back to Taku and Muroke)

Tatsuya Youta: I've always wanted to visit Gainux Studios!

Muroke: You have? It's just like any other animation studio.

Youta: It may be, but it's been a dream of mine to be one of the animation
drawers for an anime.

Muroke: You draw?

Youta: A little in my spare time, when I'm not playing any sports.

Muroke: That's good to have a hobby. For me, I play around with computers.

Youta: That sounds neat.

Muroke: Yeah. There's even drawings programs for the computer. Since you seem
to be our resident artist in the house, I guess you can drop by our room and I
can show you. Be sure to bring along some of your samples also.

Youta: Sounds nice.

(back to front of the group)
Yamaga: ...and this area is what we affectionately call our "warroom". Here is
where a bunch of us get together to brainstorm and get an idea of the focus of
the series we are working on. As you see now, there's a group inside now...


(inside the warroom)

"Damn it, why does this name thing always have to be the hardest thing to come
up with?"

"It always is y'know."

"What do we have so far?"

"Let's see, juding by the clipboad with all the key words of this series,
we have Aspostle Prophecy, Angel in Red, and the Menace Phantom.

"Hate it, hate it, and hate it."

"Any ideas people? Creative juices flowing people?"

"How about Nervo Shock?"

"Interesting. We keep that on the table. Any more?"

"Instead of Nervo, why not try Nuvo?"

"Nuvo Shock?"

"Replace Shock with Evangelist?"

"Then you get Nuvo Evangelist."

"Too preachy man! And it doesn't sound cool."

"Then if we twist the phrase to be Neo Evangelion?"

"Has a certain ring to it. Though something is still missing..."

"What are you talking about? It's adequate."

"No man, I mean it's that haiku thing. You need that one extra word to give it
that *UMPH*! Otherwise it's not complete. What coud that word be...

(everyone puts their hand to their chins in thought)

(A plastic arrow flies across the room, sticking to the window where
Shinohara's group is watching.)

"Sorry. Accidental trigger."

"Hey, that's it!"

"What?"

(guy points to the arrow which is stuck to the window and pointing at
"Genesis" word on Shinohara's sweatshirt.)

[At the Shin ABCB]

Aso: Thanks for treating me for a drink!

Kyosuke: My pleasure. That was some day today for me.

Aso: (giggles)

Kyosuke: What?

Aso: I remember the charge I got when I went out on my first assignment. I had
to cover a dog show. I was all nervous and jittery before then, but when it
came time for me, I relaxed. A big adrenaline rush to my head.

Kyosuke: Yeah. I guess the first time for anything is special. And the way you
handled that situation was very refreshing. It would have never occurred to me
to talk with the garbage guy. How'd you know?

Aso: It's all comes from here. (pats her stomach) You have to trust your gut
feeling if you want to be a reporter.

Kyosuke: Is that so?

Aso: Having a level of respect for everyone doesn't hurt either. You'll be
surprised how informative maintenace workers can be. Big-shot reporters
from the superstations don't want to deal with them because they don't want
to get their hands "dirty".

Kyosuke: I see your point.

Aso: Although I wouldn't mind getting my chance to hit it at the big-time.

Kyosuke: Well then, here's to you: Aso Tamaki: Ace Reporter.

Aso: Thanks! Cheers!

"Whose the reporter? Get them out of my face!"

Aso: What? (turns around)

Pan: Gomen for the disturbance. That's 'Izzy', our resident drunk. He seems
to be out of tune for the moment...

Izzy: No Ima not! I jist don't want no stinkin' reporters around me!

Kyosuke: Say, let's go across...

Aso: Wait! I want to listen to what he has to say. (to Izzy) Yes. I'm a
reporter. What's that to you?

Izzy: Reporters are just no-good disaster mongers who have no regard to
people.

Kyosuke: Now wait just a moment here, ...

Aso: Let him finish. What do you base that on?

Izzy: My whole life was ruined by a scumbag reporter. I believe J-J-Johnny was
his name. He was afta dirt to further his career. He twisted my words
ab...ab...about my dis-en....chantment with da drama writing biz and got me
fired and blacklisted. Oh, so sad, so sad....

(slumps down again)

Kyosuke: He out for tonight.

Aso: That's a shame. I could really hear the bitterness and pain in his voice.

(across the bar sits Akane, Kurumi, and Manami)

Twins: We'e got big news!

Akane: I've got big news!

All: Who goes first then?

Manami: Why don't you go ahead first Akane?

Akane: Nah, you guys go first.

Kurumi: Come on Akane. By the way you're beaming, you look like you're going
to explode if you hold it in any longer.

Akane: Well ok then. I'll go first. You know the big showdown meeting with
that Shinohara creep?

Kurumi: Yeah so?

Akane: I've agreed on you two and our women's group's behalf to accept his
challenge?

Manami: Challenge? What challenge are you talking about?

Akane: Challenge that he issued to me. I wasn't about to show weakness.
It's like the battle of the sexes. Five events to determine who is the
superior race.

Manami: Sort of like an Equality Olympics?

Akane: Precisely. And the first showdown event will be in two weeks, after
finals. I took the liberty of naming the event.

Kurumi: So what are we competing at?

Akane: Your favorite: Wrestling!


[End of Chapter]