H       A       R       D
                                    |<      O       R

                                Book D: The Book of Four

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

                                   by Robert Kwong
                                      ver 1.0
                              Finished September 30,1999

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. This is the 4th book in my fanfiction series. The timeline
for this occurs after ShinKOR II novel and covers some details in Shin Kor III
and beyond. 


HardKor Web Site (With Disclaimer and back-stories:
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.geocities.com/Tokyo/2143/Kor.html

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! (40000 can't be wrong!)I hope you enjoy reading it as I did
writing it. Thanks again.
Robert Kwong
Ark Productions -99-


Legend:
H	  =  Hikaru Hiyama
M	  =  Ayukawa Madoka
R	  =  Ryusei Haroken
K	  =  Kasuga Kyosuke
	
Akane     =  Akane  Kasuga
Kurumi    =  Kurumi Kasuga
Manami    =  Manami Kasuga
Muroke    =  Koji Muroke
Shijama   =  Shijama Zumi
Taku      =  Taku Morisaki
Shinohara =  Shinohara Asuma
Shun      =  Shun Kisaragi
Hasukawa  =  Hasukawa Kazuya
Tasuya	  =  Tasuya Youta

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


Book D: The Book of Four 
Chapter 7: Breath of Beer

[Back to the Shin ABCB...]

Taku Morisaki: Where's the tape?

Hasukawa: Shinohara should have it. But where the hell is he?

Mitsuru Hayakawa: (taps the microphone and looks at his watch) And once again,
we await the showing of the next film.

(A person comes running)

Tatsuya Youta: (*huffing and puffing*) Here! Catch!

(goes in a baseball pitcher windup and throws the tape across!)

(Hasukawa catches it one motion!)

Shun: Good catch Suka!

Mitsuru: Now, without further delay....

Opening Title Screen:

                B R E A T H     O F     B E E R

(We segway to a scene already in progress...)

(We see people stuck in a huge black pot)

"Oh Great!"

"How come you're blaming me?"

"Look! We're stuck in a vat of beer and we're going to be cooked by a toad!"

(scene disappears and returns to the beginnning)

(Narrator played by Tatsuya Youta appears in medieval bard gear, one hand
carrying pan pipes and the other, a tin cup)

(Narrator looks into the camera)

"Hullo, stranger? New to these parts? I'm a traveler too, wandering the lands
in merriment and song. Might we rest here while thee narrate one of the many
wonderous tales to pass the time? Yes? Good. shall we begin?

Once upon an olden time, whee dragons roamed the land, layed the kingdom of
Cornoa, reknowned for its legendary brew. It was the age of the rule of Baron
von Bud IV, whose vassals enjoy merriment and mirth as a result of the
wonderous well known as the "BIG TAP." For centuries, the wonderous liquid
from the "BIG TAP" help cure ills, liven spirits, and keep the land at peace,
Yes, nothing could go wrong in this fair land. But little were they prepared
for the great tragedy that was to befall on them.

"Your majesty."

Baron von Bud IV: What  is it, guard?

"Reports confirm our worst fears. The "BIG TAP" has been completely sucked
dry!

Baron Bud IV: What? How can this be? The "BIG TAP" has been supplying the land
with its wonderous liquid for many moons. My ancestors have never encountered
such a calamity. Surely my kingdom will be ruined! We cannot surivie a drought
of the dry tap!

"Your majesty. Madam Michela Michelob here to see you."

Michelob: Your majesty. (curtseys)

Baron Bud IV: Michelob! My most trusted advisor. What are you doing here?

Michelob: I heard of the calamity and came right over.

Baron Bud IV: But I am at a loss at what we should do. Surely we can't survive
the upcoming bitter winter! There will be revolt amongst the land.

Michelob: We need to keep cooler heads, your majesty. Perhpas we should start
by consulting the ancient barrel texts.

Baron Bud IV: A wise suggestion Michelob. And crack open our remaining kegs.
We must have a drink to thik things through clearly.

((Scene changes to a dirt road, where we see two peasant-looking figures
walking up the road, carrying sacks on their backs.))

"Are you sure this is the right area to sell our wild turkey Kirin?"


"I'm positive Aasahi. Let's stop here. Wait for me. I need to take a leak."

Aasahi: Boy, I hope this is the road to Carlsberg.

[Back to the castle]

"Baron!"

"Yes Michelob?"

"I have scanned the barrel text and they have revealed to me that inthe time
of Miller, Baron von Bud I face a similar predicament."

"He did? What did he do?"

"Not much apparently. They suffered through 10 years of dry tap."

"10 years! How dreadful!"

"Legend has it that he dispatched his best knights in an act of desperation
for the kingdom. Their search was for the "Holy Hop."

"The Holy Hop? What is that?"

"Only the most sacred relic as we know in this barondom. It is believed that
it possesses fantastic powers, of which its cup never runneth empty. One
single drop of it will surely refill the "Big Tap."

"Then good. Let's go get the Holy Hop."

"There's a problem. This ancient artifact has been lost through the ages. It's
last known whereabouts was the caverns of Schlitz, domain of the hideous magic
dragon!"

"Damn thee dragon. Curse me for not having knights here either. We are
doomed!"

"Might I suggest something your majesty? Why don't we post a reward to some
adventurer to help retrieve it for us? I'm sure there is a brave soul who is
willing to serve his land."

"And excellent idea. Make it so. And more rounds for everyone!"

((Back to the peasants))

Kirin: I'm back. Hey. where are the sacks?

Aasahi: It's gone,

Kirin: I can see that. Why?

Aasahi: I sold them.

Kirin: You did already? Great! That will lighten our load. Where's the money?

Aasahi: No money. But I got something even better!

Kirin: What could be better than money?

Aasahi: This!

Kirin: (looks at it) A bunch of beans?

Aasahi: Not just any beans. Magic beans. At least that's what Jack told me.

Kirin: Who?

Aasahi: The guy who I traded with.

Kirin: Baka! You got jiped! I'm gonna smack you for your stupidity!

(Kirin chases after Aasahi who runs up the road)

(They enter the town center)

Kirin: (*Huff, puff, huff, puff*) Screw it! I've run out my agression.

Aasahi: Gomen. I'm so sorry. Why don't we refil up at that bar?

Kirin: That's the first bright idea you had today. Let's go.

They approach the bar:          B E C K 'S      B A R

Inside, you see the wildest bunch of scoundrels, roughshods, criminals, and
cuthroats. You also see several men dressed up badly in drag, playing pool. A
band called 'The Coors' are playing on stage. They are singing "Bottlecaps are
falling on my head."

Master: What'll be?

Kirin: Lite Ale.

Aasahi: I'll have the same thing.

We hear an argument ensuing.

"I say the secret is because it tastes great!"

"No way! He's gotta be less filling."

"Tastes Great!"

"Less Filling!"

"Tastes Great!"

"Less Filling!"

"I'm going to kick your heiny for that blasephemy!"

(A brawl breaks out)

Kirin: Just my day! Let's get out of here!

Aasahi: But we should help that poor folk.

Kirin: Who cares? They started the fight.

Aasahi: But I do.

Kirin: Blasted! Oh, what the hell. If it's a brawl they want, then it's a
brawl they'll get!

(We are treated to a classic fight scene, with fists flying and bodies all
over in a heap)

(After the brawl, the whole bar is a mess)

"Thank you, young squires for your assistance. A noble gesture, for they
surely would have kicked my heiny if you had not intervened.

Kirin: You got any money?

"No, I don't. I am just a humble monk of the Tsing Tao Brotherhood."

Kirin: Just great. This ain't my day.

"Allow me to introudce myself. I am Ro Sapporo. My nickname is Sap.

Aasahi: I'm Aasahi and that's Kirin.

Sap: I thank thee for thy assistance. I am on a pilgrimage, traveling from
monastery to monastery to sample the finest brews. My quest is to find the
perfect laeger. But alas, it is not here. I must go now. May thy travels fare
thee well.

Aasahi: That fellow sure talks funny.

(The Baron's guards rush in!)

"Who is responsible for this?

"They are!" (everyone points to them)

"Take them away!"

Kirin: This is all your fault!

(off to the castle they go!)

"Your baronhood. We have arrived with the prisoners. They're the ones they
caused the whole brawl."

Baron Bud IV: (*hiccup*) They have? Those two only?

"Affirmative. Shall I lock em up in the cellar? "

(Michelob comes over and whispers something into Baron's ear)

Baron Bud IV: No. These men sound very resourceful and stoutworthy. To be
able to take on the whole bar by themselves. I shall send them off to retrieve
the Holy Hop.

Kirin: Holy what?

Michelob: We need you brave lads to retrieve it for us. If you do, we will pay
you handsomely in the stuff that glitters as gold.

Kirin: Gold you say? Now you're talking! We'll do it!

Michelob: Great! Guards. Send them to the fork!

(At the fork)

Captain of the Guards: Here is where we let you go.

Kirin: Ow! (rubs his wrists after being tied up) That pretzel knot realy
pinches the circulation.

Aasahi: Where do we go from here?

Kirin: Oh no. You're not following me. You're bad luck for me. I'm taking this
path while you take the other. And don't you plan on following me.

Paths signs read "Rolling Rock" and "Red River."

[At another location]

A creature peers through a crystal ball. Those foolish humans think they can
find my lair along the Schlitz ravine. Brhahaha! They're soon find out it's no
strohl in the park.

Narrator: Groan. Our fair travelers have gone their separate ways now,
seemingly unware of the traps.

(showing of hourglass passing sands)

Kirin: (sweat flowing) I've been walking for hours now! Just where the hell am
I going? Am why do they call this place 'Rolling Rock'' anyway? I'm going back!

(Just at the moment, some boulders fly down towards him.

"Oh S h i i i t t t t!" (runs downward)

(segway to the other road)

Aasahi: This is a strange place indeed. The river here looks like blood. I
wonder if it's really blood or not.

(*Woah!*)

(Aasahi steps on a trap which flings him right into the river and down the
rapids!)

Narrator: Is this the end of our intrepid adventurers? In that case, I'm
taking a break to pour myself a cold, frosty one. This break to you by Simply
Sake. Whose motto is why eat rice when you can drink it? Now back to our show.

(return back and we see a point where the two forks leads right into the
other. Right over a waterfall cliff!)

Kirin and Aasahi: AARGH!!!

(Both fall off the waterfall cliff!)

(The boulders fly just over their heads)

(*CLUNK*)

Kirin: What the hell?

Aasahi: Oww! (rubbing his butt)

Kirin: Man, you're dripping wet! And you smell like red wine!
What are you doing here?

Aasahi: Are we alive?

Kirin: Of course we are, jughead! That's why we'll yelling at the top of our
lungs in pain.

Aasahi: Fate must have brought us together again.

Kirin: I wish.

Aasahi: What did we land in? Is it a cauldron?

"More like a vat."

Kirin: Who said that?

"Your worst hangover!"

Aasahi: Oh no! The dragon!

"What are you? Stupid? I'm a toad, not a dragon. Though we do both belong to
the reptillian family and have tough, scaly skin. But that's where the
similarities end. by the way, I will be having you two for dinner.


Kirin: Oh great!

Aasahi: How come you're blaming me?

"Look! We're stuck in a vat of beer and we're going to be cooked by a toad!"

(the toad starts pouring liquids into the vat)

"Sherry, brandy, wine, and vinegar! I'll make my favorite!
Drunken human flambe!"

Aasahi: don't we get a last request?

"Hmm...no one ever asked me that before. Then again, I never had my meals
alive before I cooked them. Tell you what. I'm a sporting fellow. If you can
answer my riddle three, thee can be free to go, my precious!


Kirin: We got nothing to lose. Ask away!

"If you have 100 bottles of beer on the wall and one bottle of beer should
fall, then how many bottles of beer on the wall do you have left?"

Kirin: Wait! This must be a trick question.

Aasahi: Won't you have 99 bottles of beer on the wall?

Kirin: Argh! We're dead!

"Correct!"

Kirin: Just beginner's luck.

"Second question. What is the land speed record of a spotted tiger in
Schlitzenberg Weinhart county?"

Kirin: Ha! The answer is none. There's no such thing as a spotted tiger.

"Good, good. You two are pretty smart. Eating you two would make me smarter."

Kirin: We're not dead yet. What is the last question?

"My final riddle. WHAT IS MY NAME?"

Kirin: Urgh? Say what?

"I said WHAT IS MY NAME? You have 30 seconds to answer in the form of a
question." (starts to hum Jeopardy theme)

Kirin: Shit! We're goners!

"Time's up! What is your answer?"

"Who is Henry!"

"Impossible! How can this be? Who said that?"

Aasahi: (points) It's Sap.

"You thought you could crash my party. I'll have the three of you tonight.!"

Sapporo: Be gone demon! (starts to utter an incantation and wave his staff)

Taka Ra Co Lo Kala Minny Ha ha Tao!"

(A bolt of energy strikes the toad)

"Ouch, ouch. I'm outta here!"

(*hops away hopping mad!*)

Kirin: Man, you saved our butts there.

Aasahi: That's an interesting staff you have there. Does it have a name?

Sapporo: I just call it the "Moosehead" Mallet. Because it can take the lumps.

Kirin: How did you know his name?

Sapporo: It's elementary my dear fellows. I saw the sign to this area:
"Henry, the Horny Toad's Haven."

Aasahi: Do you want to come with us on our quest?

Kirin: A sorcerer in the group would be handy.

Sapporo: I have nothing better to do. Why not?

Aasahi: Great! The more, the merrier.

Kirin: But where do we go from here?

Sapporo: We follow where this river leads.

Kirin: But how do we know it's the right way?

Sapporo: Look at the sign (points)

"This way to the Dragon."

(Back in his lair)

"Curses to those humans! They have not been vanquished yet! But they will
fall prey to my death-traps!"

(The 3 adventurers are now traveling through the river into a cave in barrels.)


(A strange gas pervades in the air)

Kirin: I'm feeling groggy!

Sapporo: (covers his mouth) End of the stream here. Let move on foot.

Aasahi: My vision's getting blurry.

Sapporo: It's the vapors fumes here. We must get out of here quick!

Kirin: I think I see an opening up ahead. Let's go.

Aasahi: It's getting worse. I'm seeing double.

Sapporo: Me too. I see 6 openings now. Which one do we go through?

Kirin: It must be a trap. Only one of them is the right one.

Aasahi: Which one?

Kirin: You're the lucky one. You tell me!

Aasahi: Umm...I can't tell.

Sapporo: We can take a chance. One of us goes through each one.

Aasahi: No. We will be separated.

Sapporo: We must go quickly or we'll be overcome by the fumes and never wake
up!

Kirin: Wait! Punch me!

Aasahi & Sapporo: What?

Kirin: I said punch me! Real hard!

"Ok."

(*BAM BAM*)

(Kirin stands on his ass, looking dazed, as if birds were flying around his
head)

Kirin: I see it now...follow me...

(They follow Kirin's lead and into the opening...)

(A gust of fresh air blows through)

Aasahi: How did you know?

Sapporo: I think I understand. The fumes caused hallucinations, like getting
drunk. But by knocking him senseless, all the false visions got canceled by
the induced visions.

Kirin: Whatever you said. The point is we got through.

Aasahi: That looks strange. (points)

They see a chasm dividing them to the other side. Seemingly, there is not way
across. But curiously, they seem to see letters scattered about as if floating
on thin air.


Kirin: Now how do we get across?

Sapporo: This looks like a puzzle. And it looks like the letters might spell
out something.


Kirin: Great! A brainiac trap. You're the scholar here.

Sapporo: (gazing at the letters) I think I got it! A play on words. It spells
out SCOTCH. By hopping on them, it spells out HOP SCOTCH. Very amusing.

Kirin: Oh. Is that all? Then let's hop on to it! All follow me again!

Kirin: (yells out) S. K ya!!!!!!!

"I got you!"

(Kirin looks up to see Aasahi's arm holding on to his)

Sapporo: What's the matter with you? Don't you know how to spell?

Kirin: Isn't it S K O T C H?

Sapporo: (taps his forehead with his palm) No...I better lead....

(all make it to the other side)

Aasahi: Another opening. I wonder what it leads to.

(They enter another chamber, this time dimly lit)

Kirin: Man, it's dark in here.

"Care for a light?"

Sapporo: Who said that?

(We see a flame emanating from the nose of a dragon!)

"So....you have finally arrived humans. Your time here is short. You have met
your match with me, Wicked Pete the Magic Dragon."

(*a few puffs arises from his nostrils*)

Kirin: We must warn you. We'll only here for the "Holy Hop." If you give it to
us, we'll let you live.

Wicked Pete: Ha! Is this your feeble attempt human to insult me? I'm glad I
sucked up the "Big Tap" to make all you humans suffer. Prepare to die!

Kirin: Use your staff now, magic monk!

Aasahi: Go get 'em Sap!

Sapporo: No use. Magic doesn't work on a magic dragon!

Kirin & Aasahi: What?!

Wicked Pete: I shall enjoy watching the 3 of you grilled medium-rare. Prepare
to meet my special attack, the Breath of Beer!

(*starts to spew out a stream of brown liquid*)

Kirin: Euu! Now I'm covered in this hideous, sticky liquid.

Aasahi: But we're not dead yet!

Sapporo: That's just the first part of his attack! He will ignite the alcohol
with his flaming breath. Stand behind me all!

(*The dragon starts to spew out fire now. Sapporo plucks an item from his
cloak and raises it to shield the party from the wall  of flame*)

Aasahi: Wow! What's that?

Sapporo: The Crest of Lowenbreau. A fire-resistant shield.

Kirin: There! Is that the best you can do dragon?

Wicked Pete: Hmm,..I could always use this to kill you.

(pulls out a gun!)

Wicked Pete: They call this honey the Colt 45. It's projectiles will pierce
through anything. Even your puny shield.

Aasahi: Ummm Mr Dragon! Hello Mr Dragon.

Wicked Pete: Just call me Wicked Pete. Now what do you want?

Aasahi: Since you're a magic dragon, I have some magic beans for you.
Would you let us go if I give them to you?

Wicked Pete: Well give them to me and I'll tell you.

Aasahi: Ok. Catch.

Wicked Pete: You're such a sucker! You fell for the oldest trick in the book!
I'll think I'll eat this and eat you three at the same time!

Kirin: (puts his hand over his face) (*groan*) Good going!

(*As the dragon devours the beans in the bag, a strange convulsion comes over
the dragon*)

Wicked Pete: (*Gag, Cough, Gurgle, Burp, Choke, Choke, Croak*)

(*The dragon starts to transform and warp and change color. It then
explodes!*)

(We see white foam everywhere. Most of it has stuck onto the three
adventurers.)

Sapporo: What a mess we are.

Kirin: You showed him Aasahi! What were in those beans?

Aasahi: Dunno, but the guy who sold em told me that we genuine ZIMA beans.

Kirin: Well, whatever it was, it sure did the trick. Time to get the HOP!

(There is a wooden door. They open it and is greeted with a golden glow)

They see cups, goblets, and drinking apparatus of all kinds. They see a
huddled figure in the center of it all. A hood is draped over. The figure
stands up and faces them. Lowering the hood, we see that it is the face of
Mitsuru Ikeda!

Kirin: Who are you?

"Who am I? I go by many names. But I prefer to be called Lemon Herb.

Sapporo: Not the same  fabled Lemon Herb in the ancient Grog texts. But you
disappeared nearly 200 years ago during the TAKARA crusades.

Lemon Herb: Is it? Has it been that long since I was entrusted with the task
of guarding the Holy Hop. Much too long if you ask me. But now my duty is
done. Time to go now.

Aasahi: But which one is the Holy Hop?

Lemon Herb: You have to choose. Pick a cup and go fill it with the basin of
beer.

Sapporo: What happens if we choose the wrong one?

Lemon Herb: First you get a bitter aftertaste, suffer a nasty hangover, vomit
all over yourself, and then you die.

Kirin: (sarcatic) Is that all? I thought it was worse.

Sapporo; So what will you get if you pick the right one?

Lemon Herb: Oh, the usual stuff. Eternal happiness, blah blah blah. Not very
interesting in my opinion. I would go for the horrible death. Better to watch.
But if you must choose, then choose.

Aasahi: But how can we figure out which to choose?

(Just then, a giant toad jumps in, causing a tremor within the room.

Sapporo: The toad is back!

Henry the Toad: Nice of you all to dispose of that nasty dragon for me. But it
could never enter this tiny chamber because of its excessive size. Now the
glory will be mine!

Kirin: Ha! You have to get past us first! And you'll never figure out which
one to choose.

Henry: Oh, but I don't have to. I'll make each of you try it. If all of you
are wrong, I'll just capture more prisoners and make them try until I get the
right one.

Aasahi: How evil!

Henry: Evil is my middle name.

Sapporo: I thought it was horny.

Henry: Shut up and get a cup! You there, old man. Go. Before I belch you so
hard that you wished you'd croak.

Lemon Herb: Okie dokie. (he goes selects a giant size canteen the size of a
pitcher. He fills it up)

Lemon Herb: I wish to make a toast. May I?

Henry: By all means. I am a cultured toad.

Lemon Herb: (raises pitcher) To my compatriots past and present. This one for
you. Bottoms up! (as he proceeds to drink it, he instead tosses it in the
direction of the toad!)

(We see the liquid act like acid on the toad)

Henry: Aargh! I'm melting...I'm melting...

(Henry becomes a pile of sticky goo!)

Lemon Herb: I must have forgoten to mention that the wrong liquid makes a good
acid trip.

Kirin: Man, we are indebted to you for saving us.

Aasahi: Here! Let's drink and celebrate. (picks up a plain looking, grayish
looking cup and fills it up)

Kirin: Wait a minute! How do you know it's the right one?

Aasahi: Well, it's the only one that didn't topple over during the attack. I
figure that if it can survive that hopping of the toad, then it deserves to be
the Holy Hop.

Kirin: What crazy reasoning!

Sapporo: Hold it! I'm drinking with you.

Kirin: What? You're nuts too?

Sapporo: No. It's just all for one and one for all.

Lemon Herb: I join you too.

Sapporo: So. What do you say?

Kirin: Man...(*sigh*) What the hell? If we gotta go, we go together.

Aasahi: Excuse me, but how is everyone going to drink from this single cup?

Sapporo: Don't worry. We can try my invention. (picks something from his pack
and passes it to everyone)

Lemon Herb: Is this some sort of weapon?

Sapporo: No. It's a drinking device. I call it the straw.

Kirin: I don't care what it is, so let's get it over with. One, two three!

(as they are drinking from it, a glow starts to surround them)

(Back at the castle)

(The group reappear in the middle of the court!)

Michelob: What is this?

Baron: You have returned! And with the Holy Hop! We are saved!

Michelob: Indeed, it calls for a joyous celebration!

(servants rush out, balloons and confetti fall down)

Lemon Herb: (to the Baron and Michelob) Say, you two look awfully familiar...

Kirin: I hate to be a spoil-sport, but where's our reward?

Baron: Ah yes. That. Your group deserve it. Bring out the golden ale!

Kirin: Ale! I thought we were getting gold!

Aasahi: It does sparkle like gold. Hey, where are you going Sap? Are you
staying for the pary?

Sapporo: I have no need. My search for the perfect laeger is over. Sipping
that divine liquid from the Holy Hop has given me renewed vigor and purpose. I
know I must spread the gospel. It will be yet another chapter in the Tsing Tao
chronicles.

Kirin: No need to travel alone; we can go together.

Aasahi: Really?

Kirin: We are done with this place. Let's ride out before the sun sets.

(We see the 3 ride out on horses towards the setting sun)


                        T H E      E N D


Production Credits:

Narrator: Tatsuya Youta
Kirin: #1
Aasahi: Koji Muroke
Sapporo: Taku Morisaki
Baron: Hasukawa Kazuya
Michelob: Shun Kisaragi
Wicked Pete: Shinohara Asuma
Henry the Toad: Shinohara Asuma
Lemon Herb: Mitsuru Ikeda

(A standing ovation erupts from the whole bar at the showing of the end
credits!)


[At the penthouse]

(Ryusei is gazing intently over the shogi board)

Ryusei: This position is so tenuous now. These next few moves will decide
whether there is an endgame to be played.

(*Phone rings*)

Ryusei: Yes? Kobayashi-san. Good to hear from you again. I hope you have some
good news for me. You have? Good. I am pleased you made the tough but correct
decision. Make the changes for the shipping re-routes in May. That is all now.
Ja.

Nagasi: (entering room, adjusting her earring) Who was that?

Nagasi is wearing a hot red, skin-tight outfit with mini-skirt that makes her
look like a prostitute.

Ryusei: (moves a piece on the board) Not of your concern. where are you going?

Nagasi: Out. Unlike you, I have a life. I'm schmoozing with the hot new stud
in town.

Ryusei: Mishima-san?

Nagasi: Bingo baby! He's my new boy toy.

Ryusei: Don't wear him out. He is instrumental towards the next phase of my
plan.

Nagasi: Like I care. I'm going to party and have a good time. And I'm not
planning on coming back tonite. Bai bai! (blows him a kiss and slams the door)

Ryusei: In that case, I'll watch the vidoes ah May sent me. (turns on TV)

[At Ryokurin Ryo]

Muroke: You're finally back.

Shijama Zumi: Were you waiting for me?

Muroke: Sure am. Everyone else is at the bar for the competition.

Shijama: Why aren't you with them?

Muroke: I've decided to stay behind so I can talk to you privately.

Shijama: About what?

Muroke: I know what you've been up to, being distant and aloof at times.

Shijama: I'm sorry about that Muroke. YOu know how it is. First year of
college. Busy Busy. I want to make a good impression. That's why I don't have
time for extracurricular stuff after class to hang with you.

Muroke: Please don't lie to me like that. I know what you've been really up
to.

Shijama: What? Have you been spying on me?

Muroke: Calm down. I know you've been attending those spiritual sermons. I
don't have a problem with it. In fact, I want to join you.

Shijama: You do? So you want to seek out the Supreme Truth as well?

Muroke: If that's what they call it, then yea. I know how stressful college
life is with the competitive atmosphere. Need something to provide a soothing
influence.

Shijmama: That's great to hear! All this time, I've been keeping it to myself,
staying low-key. But with you now wanting to join, it will give me someone to
talk to about it. Asahara's teachings is all about humility and about brining
about an inner calm through self sacrifice and obedience. We all give so that
we serve a greater order.

Muroke: So when do we get to go?

Shijama: It just happens that the next session is tomorrow. I can talk with
the aide to let you in. They're always looking for more followers.

Muroke: Sounds super. 

[Back to the Shin ABCB]

Hayakawa Mitsuru: Hello everyone! Welcome back. Now, the moment we all have
been waiting for. In my hands is the results of the panel. (rips open
envelope...)The winner is...

Mitsuru: There's a score missing!

Kurumi: Hey! What's the big idea?

Mitsuru: We need a tie-breaking judgement fromt he third and final judge
"Izzy". Where is he?

(*SNORE*)

(We see "Izzy" napping on the counter)

Mitsuru: Wake him up!

Akane: I'll take care of this.
(throws water in his face!)

Izzy: Happy Birthday! Huh? Where am i?

Mitsuru: Mr Izzy-san. You haven't voted yet. What is your decision.

Izzy: I don't vote in the elections. It's all rigged anyway.

Mitsuru: Not political elections, you chump! This video play contest!

Izzy: No need tobe callin' names pretty boy. As for who I choose, I go with
the beer!

Shun: yes! We won! We won!

Hasukawa: Where's Shinohara?

Taku: I think I saw him outside sitting on his Hawley.

Kurumi: I can't believe we lost! We protest.

Akane: No need.. We lost, fair and square.

Manami: Our very first defeat.

Kurumi: What happen to your fire Akane?

Akane: Oh, I'm just bummed out to find out that Shun-san is really a guy!

Kurumi: You didn't know? You should have asked me. But what's the big deal?
Unless you...oh...I get it know.

Manami: Wondering when it would dawn on her.

Rikkako Muto: It's only a temporary setback Akane-san. Don't lose faith.

Yumi Kohama: Yeah. That person betrayed your feelings by leading you on.

Kurumi: That's right! You need to fight harder than ever now. You can't let
them see your weakness now.

Rikkako: We all will do what it takes. Right?

(who women's groups cheer)

Akane: Thank you for your support. I know what I must do now.

(marches outside to the bar)

[End of chapter]