DAY 7: DEI SKATES
On the path to school, Dei meets Film Fanatic. (I've noticed a distinct tendency for this game to have love interests waiting around for you at the start of the day).
They make chitchat walking to school, heading for the library. Both Dei and FF are quite intelligent, they know the importance of boning up (sorry, I couldn't resist) on their revision before class.
Studying proceeds efficiently. Bones is also there in the library, but he keeps to himself.
Afterwards, Dei goes for a stroll and is met by Mind Detective in the breezeway. MD asks her what she thinks of Gusto. Dei says while they're not close friends, he's a decent enough guy. MD tends to agree.
Dei's stroll takes her through the courtyard. Nobody's there, it's a serene scene.
Heading back through the breezeway to class, she encounters Dirona who asks her, "It's better to keep impure relationships under control, isn't it?" What are you trying to say, Dirona? Are you talking about Dei and FF, or are you worried about your next move with Cheesy?
No sooner does Dirona leave then FF reappears and propositions Dei right there. Really? Right here in the breezeway? Dei tells him to use his head. She has him follow her...
To the gym storage room.
But no sooner do they arrive than FRANK barges in and starts trying to talk to FF. Dei is incredulous. What's a girl gotta do to get some privacy around here?
Trying to get Frank to get the hint, she plants a big smooch right on FF's lips. Frank isn't THAT dense. He makes himself scarce. But now everybody's too self conscious to do anything more.
(Also get a look at low rez FF's face in the above screenshot, on the left. ROFL. He looks like Dei's eating him alive)
The class bell rings, putting paid to any further hanky panky anyway. The unresolved tension of the morning undoes all the preparation and study that came before it, and Dei finds herself bored in class.
Finally, it's time for lunch. FF says he need to take care of something first, but asks Dei to wait for him on the rooftop. She agrees.
She chats briefly with Kags about schoolwork before heading out.
On the roof, Dirona speaks with her while she waits. Dirona confides that she has misgivings about what constitutes a "safe" day or "dangerous" day, when it comes to the possibility of pregnancy, and she doesn't really believe that safe days are all that safe.
Shakey shows up and talks with Dirona, leaving Dei to ponder once again whether Dirona is referencing herself, or Dei, or something else.
Then Jay shows up.
Dei's worried, she's heard about his reputation. But he just wants to talk about the homework.
Then Kags shows up and Jay's out of Dei's hair. Frank has also arrived and is talking to Dirona. FF has yet to show.
Bones is also waiting there alone. He strikes up a conversation about the sports clubs.
When that's done, Tin Whistler comes over and asks what she thinks of Bones.
And there's still no sign of FF.
People start leaving, having finished eating. Frank comes over to talk.
Eventually there's nobody left on the roof with her but Terrik.
Dei tries to engage him in conversation about the classwork, but he's not in the mood for that, or much else. Doesn't seem to be much chemistry here between them.
Frank comes back again and talks to her about sports. Dei's starting to wonder if there's a reason he keeps coming back to talk to her here, and what could be keeping Film.
Frank and Terrik then head off to the other side of the roof, talking. It's clear they're the thickest of friends.
Dei tries to strike up a conversation with Lana. She knows Lana doesn't have much in the way of friends at school. But try as she might, Dei can't get Lana to carry her half of the conversation.
Finally fed up with waiting, Dei goes looking for FF. She finds him at the entrance lockers, looking as though he was heading her way too, finally. He says, "hold still a sec." Eh? Sure..
Aaand GLOMP.
And then Lana Karron comes along and sees them necking and yells at them to break it up. No wonder she's got no friends!
At Dei's prompting, the two decide to finally head to the roof for their long delayed lunch. When they arrive, they've got the whole place to themselves.
When they finish, the area is still empty. Film Fanatic gets a look on his face, and repeats his suggestion from that morning. The guy has a thing for wanting to do it in public!
And he looks so crestfallen when she turns him down.
She consoles him, and while she cheers him up, her decision is proved quite correct when Lana Karron and Little Kagsin both come out onto the roof seconds later. How humiliating THAT would have been.
There's no more time for trysts though, it's the end of lunch. Afternoon classes don't interest Dei any more than the morning classes did.
Film Fanatic notices her frustration, and attempts to help with soothing words. Once she's a little more her normal self, he suggests they go warm up together. It's a transparent excuse to spend more time together, of course, as they're in different clubs and so of limited utility, but what the heck.
The calisthenics are invigorating, even though Tennis isn't her usual gig. However, Film Fanatic can't really keep up, as he's half the athlete Dei is. But now she's gotta head off to her own group.
She just makes it to the hall as others are arriving, starting with Tin Whistler and Bones NoBeard, shortly followed by Frank the Tank. Kendo is very popular at this school.
She heads into the girl's locker room to get changed. Dirona arrives shortly thereafter, looking unfocused. She talks to Dei and it's clear she's got another Kendoka on her mind. Everybody knows by now about her and poor hapless Cheesy. Shakey can't keep a secret for anything. Dei encourages Dirona to take the initiative, because lord knows Cheesy can't seem to.
Most of the club members have arrived now. Tin and Bones are done warming up, and Jay is talking to Shakey. It's time to start.
As feared, warming up with Film Fanatic seems to have done more harm than good at Kendo Practice. Dei's mind is elsewhere and is totally off her game. The entire day has been a long cavalcade of frustrations.
She waits in the courtyard adjoining the Tennis Courts. Frank finds her there and asks about her studies.
Looking around, it seems Frank's towering figure obscured her tiny frame from sight and FF didn't even see them, and walked by. Dei finds him at the gates, talking to Luna. Dei isn't sure what to make of that development, and doesn't cause a confrontation, but interrupts anyway.
FF and Dei go for a slow walk around campus, and FF eventually leads them around to the passage behind the gym.
And there... he wraps his arms around her...
And MIND DETECTIVE comes and admonishes them for their lewd behavior. Jeez!
Dei takes the clueless Film Fanatic by the scruff and decides they'd best continue their conversation somewhere off the thoroughfare. Like an empty classroom.
The concept of privacy, and its benefits, suddenly dawns on FF and he decides to go one further and invites her home with him. FINALLY.
What happens next is awkward, fumbling, and inexpert, but thankfully a long-awaited release from a day's frustration, and above all, uninterrupted and discreet. FF walks her home afterwards.
END OF DAY 7
Edit: oops, forgot the scoreboards. It was late.
Epilogue: I have no comment at this time. Last one for the night, kids. Tomorrow I will either have no time for this, or lots of time. It's not clear yet.