Katawa Shoujo - Akira Satou Route

Act 2-5 Great Expectations

The sound of running water bounces between the tiles of the shower droning out any noises that could possibly invade through the door. Everything that isn't less than a foot in front of me is obscured by clouds of steam.

But that all works out, because when I'm in the shower; outside world doesn't matter.

Unless Kenji winds up in here again. I locked the door to ensure that I'm guaranteed my private time; but it wouldn't surprise me if he knew how to pick the lock, or even if he had a set of keys he stole from the janitor.

Actually, the idea of him being able to access any room in the building is quite terrifying.

In fact, it's that ever-present worry that constantly has me on my toes when I'm in the bathroom. And it's not just here, more like anywhere, really. I've developed a fear any time I turn a corner: he's going to be there waiting. Adjusting his glasses, just waiting for a chance to level his newest conspiracy theory at me, or lure me into doing another mundane chore for him because he doesn't feel like leaving his room.

What's in there, anyway? A secret lab? A weapons cache? 'Anti-Feminist Mission Control' scrawled on a poster board and stapled to the wall?

Regardless of what it may be, it's one of the few things here that I have no interest in learning about. Kenji's business is Kenji's business and no amount of curiosity will ever push me over that fine line.

Speaking of curiosity; I still need to go shopping. Last time I went looking for a grocery store I got sidetracked and wound up having coffee with Akira at the Shanghai. Which was the second time I'd run into her within the past week, somehow.

She's Lilly's sister, so it's sensible that she would be here a lot; but the first time I met her was in the city, which had nothing to do with Yamaku at all. Pure dumb luck? Coincidence? What kind of a scientist would I have to be to find an explanation for that one?

At any rate; I don't have anything to do today besides read, and I'm not too into any of the books I grabbed from the library on...

What's the library's due-date policy? There weren't any signs explaining it, nor is there a date stamped on the card. Do I get the books for as long as I want? Does that even matter if I don't plan on finishing any of them?

No, none of that matters right now. Shopping matters right now.

I finish toweling off before throwing on my clothes in habitual order; plaid boxers, blue jeans, gray shirt. Following that, I commence my twice-daily ritual of choking down over a dozen pills. A pair of socks and shoes are pulled onto my feet afterward, and I'm ready to leave.

Phone, wallet, keys. Door locked in case a certain someone decides to load up my room with tracking devices. And that's it, I'm ready to go.

It only takes a few minutes to put the wrought iron gates of Yamaku behind me, my ears soon filled by a steady tempo of rubber soles patting against concrete.

I wonder if the school runs some sort of shuttle service. Does the town below get enough traffic to warrant such a thing? Do the more movement-impaired students just get their able-bodied friends to run errands?

Maybe the more daring ones have wheelchair races down the hills. I'll bet there's some kind of disabled underworld racing ring. Or would that be wheelchair-luge?

On that note, when is Kenji going to pay me back for that stupid pizza? He asked me to pick up some milk for him, but I don't see why he'd put off on paying me back for so long. It's been over a week n-

No. You know what? I'm not going to to think today. Too much thinking, then I start overthinking, then I start questioning stupid things like whether or not I'm in a dream. Or hell, what if I went into a coma when I had that heart attack, and what I'm seeing is just-