Crossroads?

[strong_heart]

-1- [Network - The Pond]

[If you're subscribed to this feed, you're the type that likes to be as updated as possible on technology. This qualifier also applies in reverse; everybody worth their salt who ironically (or otherwise) refers to themselves as being "on the cutting edge" pays attention to this Fujisaki kid's software releases. To say nothing of the handful of fanboys who think of Chihiro more like a moemoe idol. Sveral ribbits just went live; the first is just a download link labeled "alter tu free beta!". The following are still appearing even as you read.]

@it's a customizable soft AI! it takes a lot of calibration if you want full functionality, but i didn't want to preload a personality

@it's not as smart as eunice but hopefully it will be by final release! mech only as usual, i still haven't been able to make a deal with pear

@i'm sorry uphone users i want to cooperate but i don't know about some of the tos

@i mean i'm really sorry, i still feel so bad...

@i'm sorry i'm spamming this is supposed to be my business username

@sorry...


-2- [Planar Library]



[You might not notice there's anyone around but for a little noise. It's someone very small, with a face obscured by carrying a stack of books that frankly isn't all that big. Still, Chihiro has been standing there for a while, struggling under the weight and unable to move with them.]

I-is someone there yet? Anyone? I need help... please? This is why information should be stored digitally...!


-3- [Fightschool]



[Yes, you read that right. There's about an 85% chance you're male even if you're not he musclebound type or know nothing about fighting--though Chihiro may have gotten on good enough terms with a girl who definitely is prone to ass-kicking. Either way, you're surprised a timid girl like Chihiro called you out to a place like the entrance hall of the Fightschool, especially after hours when it's fairly deserted.]

I'm so glad you came... I was worried you'd think I was weird. I mean, well, about that! This isn't the kind of place where someone like me can just enroll, right? I wouldn't last a day... but you're strong, right? And I think I feel more comfortable asking you than one of the teachers here.... it's just... do you have any advice about getting stronger? O-or if it's not too much trouble, maybe you could even help me practice...? I don't want to be a burden, but I never got started when I decided to improve myself before. It's kind of a long story...

Comments

2

[wright_idea]

Okay, there's an accident waiting to happen. I'd better...

*He heads over and takes a few books off the top of the stack.*

That help, miss?

[strong_heart]

[Chihiro still has a perhaps unhealthy amount of difficulty staggering to the table and dropping the rest of the load. After a second of breathing a little harder than normal...]

Thank you! I was really in trouble until you came along, Mr. Wright!

[wright_idea]

Eh heh... No problem, Ms. Fujisaki! Couldn't let you handle that all alone, right?

Ah, she's so adorable. She'd have been my type ten years ago...

[strong_heart]

I just wish I could run simple guild errands like this without help...

[wright_idea]

Well, not everybody can just heft around a bunch of heavy things like nothing. That was a lot of books, after all.

[strong_heart]

Y-yeah...

[Chihiro doesn't seem satisfied with that. Complex and all.]

[wright_idea]

Hey, don't worry about it! You're way smarter than me with computers, so you're pretty much compensated, I think.

[strong_heart]

But being strong isn't even your best quality, Mr. Wright! You're talented as a lawyer and have such a commanding voice! And you're also really good at cleaning!

[wright_idea]

Ah ha, well I'm not THAT great...

...I'm not sure it was necessary for her to mention the cleaning thing though.

[strong_heart]

Well, I think you're a cool adult!

3

[the_potato_girl]

Hmm, okay.

I probably don't need to ask this, but do you have any sort of fighting experience at all?

[strong_heart]

No, nothing at all... I'm sorry...

[the_potato_girl]

Why are you so hung up on becoming strong, anyway? You're like ten times as smart as I am, and that's probably more handy in the big picture.

[strong_heart]

W-well it's not like you're not smart! And as for me, I just... hate being weak...

[the_potato_girl]

Next question! What does 'strong' mean to you? Do you want to be in good physical shape? Win fights? Impress boys?

Impress girls? I can't get a good fix on your personality.

3

[stinglikeabat]

You sure came to the right man for the job!

...Now just what is the job? Do you want to learn how to fight? How to be a hero? Or do you just want your own fine set of rippling muscles?

[Behold the muscles. BEHOLD THEM. It's not hard; he's flexing them all over the place.]

[strong_heart]

[They sure are rippling. Chihiro's a little intimidated.]

I don't really want to fight! Or, well, I'd like to be able to take care of myself, but not to actually hurt anyone... I just have a complex about how weak I am. I can hardly do anything by myself, and, uh... well, it's really complicated, I shouldn't say too much...

[The last time he fully explained his reasons, he doesn't exactly understand why, but it didn't go over too well.]

[stinglikeabat]

[Who doesn't want to fight? You sure do meet some strange people in this city!]

Then muscles it is! How much would you say you can lift, as you are now?

[strong_heart]

Just once? Maybe... ten kilo?

[That's a shot in the dark, but it's probably not too pessimistic.]

[stinglikeabat]

Just once, you say... Well, I've seen worse!

[He hasn't.]

My advice! Find something that weighs just a little less than that and start carrying it around with you.

1

[infinitejustice]

[And being both a Gundam character and a Coordinator, this guy here is watching more out of curiosity to how quickly this kid can progress than out of interest in being up-to-date.]

@It's all right, don't worry. Downloading now.