Chapter 7: Hearing Something A Hundred Times Isn't The Same As Seeing It
Once*
                 * Expression similar to "A picture is worth a
                 thousand words"
 
  Translated by                   : Kaori Hasegawa
                                    
 
  Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto
                                    
 
  Proofread by                    : Mike Chapman and Shampoo
                                    
 
  Story and Art by                : Masakazu Katsura
 
 <134>
       Hiromu:   Gee! Who is it, at such a time.
        Sound:   Tyururu.
        Sound:   Pi.
       Hiromu:   Yes! Hello.
        Youta:   Ah, hello? Is this Taguchi-kun?
        Youta:   Good evening. This is Moteuchi.
       Hiromu:   Oh, hi, good evening!!
        Sound:   Peko peko.
      Toshiki:   Hey, you. Isn't it too rude? Do people usually fart
                 after each meal?
          Len:   But... I was so embarrassed I could die, but...
                 But... For Hiromu-kun...
 
 <135>
      Toshiki:   Can you really heal Hiromu's wounds? You look like
                 you're making it worse.
          Len:   Gusu.
      Toshiki:   If you really came out of the VCR, then...
          Len:   Then?
        Youta:   It sounds exciting over there.
       Hiromu:   Ah... My friends are here...
       Hiromu:   What could it be... Did he find out about the broken
                 statue.
        Sound:   Doki doki.
       Hiromu:   Well, then... What is it...
        Youta:   Well, nothing really, but...
 
 <136>
        Youta:   I'm a busy-body, so. Sorry, I'm just anxious...
       Hiromu:   Oh... No. Don't apologize, please... And?...
        Youta:   See, you've never skipped class before, and seem to
                 be working hard... But, you haven't come recently,
                 so I was just curious.
           Ai:   Hey! Dinner is ready, dinner!!
        Youta:   Okay!
        Youta:   If you want to come again, any time is welcome.
       Hiromu:   Ah... Sure...
                 What should I do...
 
 <137>
      Toshiki:   Let's hit the VCR that is playing you.
          Len:   Eh? Eh?
      Toshiki:   Sometimes electrical things get fixed if you hit
                 them. You must be having a problem. Let's hit it.
          Len:   Waa, don't! If you do something weird, I'll
                 disappear.
        Youta:   Well, Taguchi-kun.
       Hiromu:   Ah... Yes.
        Youta:   Can I come by your house now? I have something to
                 give you.
       Hiromu:   Eh?
 
 <138>
       Hiromu:   Right now!!
       Hiromu:   I'm not going to leave because a guest is coming,
                 but...
          Len:   Really! Good!!
       Hiromu:   Don't feel relieved! I haven't forgiven you! I don't
                 want him to be with such a vulgar person!!
          Len:   Eh.
       Hiromu:   You can't complain if you're ever returned!!
 
 <139>
       Hiromu:   Then...
       Hiromu:   After about an hour, Moteuchi-san came...
        Sound:   Gacha.
        Youta:   Good evening.
       Hiromu:   Ah. Hi...
 
 <140>
       Hiromu:   As soon as Moteuchi-san arrived, he became like a
                 stone... I wonder why...
       Hiromu:   I soon noticed, it was because of Len-chan's bizarre
                 clothes...
       Hiromu:   She's Momono-san. And, he's Karukawa-kun.
      Toshiki:   Hi.
          Len:   Nice to meet you. I'm Len Momono, I've been taking
                 care of Hiromu-san's place.
       Hiromu:   I don't know about that.
 
 <141>
        Youta:   You're wearing some very unique clothes.
          Len:   Eh.
       Hiromu:   ...Not good, if he asks Len-chan more about this...
                 I don't want Moteuchi-san to be shocked, and I don't
                 want things to get any bigger.
                 How can I manage...
      Toshiki:   She came out of the video tape we rented from some
                 weird video shop.
       Hiromu:   Idiot! Toshiki!!
      Toshiki:   It's all right. He won't believe it, he'll think
                 it's a joke.
        Youta:   Oh. I want to see this video shop. Would you take me
                 there?
      Toshiki:   Do...you believe it?
        Youta:   If you take me there, it's supposed to be true, and
                 it will be.
        Youta:   Hearing something a hundred times isn't the same as
                 seeing it once.
 
 <142>
       Hiromu:   So then, I wanted to surprise Moteuchi-san and one
                 more reason...
                 Anyway, we came out of the top of the building...
        Youta:   Gokuraku, huh. It's been a long time. I didn't
                 expect to see another Video Girl while I was still
                 alive...
      Toshiki:   What is he. He looks like he's enjoying it... I
                 wonder if he just enjoys being like a kid, and
                 listening to kids' nonsensical words. Hah, he'll
                 soon pop his eyes out.
       Hiromu:   Moteuchi-san is a nice person... He didn't even
                 doubt me. He must be full of curiosity.
       Hiromu:   He said i only have to pray with this membership
                 card.
       Hiromu:   Please come out! Please come out!
 
 <143>
       Hiromu:   Um.
       Hiromu:   What?
          Len:   S-Sorry! Nothing!
       Hiromu:   She was...for a moment...very serious...
        Sound:   Paaaa...
 
 <144>
       Hiromu:   Let's enter, Moteuchi-san.
        Youta:   Eh.
      Toshiki:   Hey, Hiromu, wait!
        Youta:   I can't see...
     Gokuraku:   You cannot get along if you're just pure. It means
                 you've become a grown up...
 
 <145>
        Youta:   Old man!!
     Gokuraku:   You've become dignified.
        Youta:   I thought you were killed...
     Gokuraku:   Yeah... It was close.
     Gokuraku:   I was saved by the new generation... Youth who
                 believe in "love," people who would doubt the
                 Gokuraku's ideas...
        Youta:   I see... Anyway, I'm glad...
 
 <146>
       Hiromu:   What? He isn't here...
      Toshiki:   Hey, that guy didn't come in. Did he get scared.
      Toshiki:   Who are you looking for?
       Hiromu:   The clerk... I'm thinking about asking him
                 something...since I'm here.
        Youta:   That man with the coat disappeared, so I guess
                 Gokuraku has become better, hasn't it. That Video
                 Girl looks like she has "heart."
     Gokuraku:   Well, no. Even though he disappeared, nothing
                 happened to Gokuraku...
        Youta:   Eh!? Then...
     Gokuraku:   Don't worry. We are the group against Gokuraku,
                 called Neo-Gokuraku.
        Youta:   Neo Gokuraku?
     Gokuraku:   They tried to deny "love." We're trying to nurture
                 "love".
 
 <147>
     Gokuraku:   We introduced "The Emotion System" into Video Girls,
                 so they are just like humans, and counseling
                 professionals are doing the programming, so. There
                 are no worries.
                 Except for Len, she was just finished, so we haven't
                 checked her yet. They took her by force.
     Gokuraku:   I hope they'll return her before any problems
                 occur...
        Youta:   Old man... Let me tell you something brash... If
                 they return her, please refuse it.
     Gokuraku:   Um... Why.
        Youta:   Because, she would be hurt. She was played as a
                 professional, and if she's returned without being
                 able to help, she would be hurt, if she's human...
        Youta:   She may expect it...or know it. She looks so sad, it
                 may be because of that...
     Gokuraku:   Um... You're right... Um... Sorry... ...I almost
                 made another mistake...
 
 <148>
        Youta:   Don't do that. I didn't mean that... You're nice,
                 and doing your best...
     Gokuraku:   No... After all, I may not be so different from
                 Gokuraku's people...
     Gokuraku:   My stupidity hasn't just come about recently... In
                 the past, I gave you a hard time...
        Youta:   Old man, everything about it is fine. Ai is fine.
        Youta:   She was able to become human because you risked your
                 life, and you did your best.
     Gokuraku:   It's a miracle... I thought it was hopeless...
                 Good... I'm very glad...
                 I see... I see...
 
 <149>
        Youta:   Please see her someday.
     Gokuraku:   Yeah. Please let me see her.
       Hiromu:   He isn't here. Where did he go...
      Toshiki:   What do you need the clerk for.
      Toshiki:   Are you trying to...
     Gokuraku:   Are you looking for me?
      Toshiki:   Oh...you're here?
 
 <150>
     Gokuraku:   Can I help you?
       Hiromu:   Yes, actually.
     Gokuraku:   Well, how can I calm him down...
          Len:   Oh well, I couldn't help it. I'm not shocked at all.
                 I'm not depresse!!
       Hiromu:   Shut up!! Would you be quiet!?
          Len:   U.
     Gokuraku:   Len...
       Hiromu:   We... This isn't good...
 
 <151>
       Hiromu:   Len-chan's clothes are too bizarre, so my neighbors
                 may be surprised.
                 Would you prepare as many normal clothes for her as
                 possible. She'll be living as a normal person for a
                 while, so...
       Hiromu:   Certainly, I thought of returning her a little bit,
                 just like everyone thought I would...
                 But when I saw her serious eyes... I'm insensitive,
                 so I noticed at that time...
          Len:   Thanks...
       Hiromu:   I realized her eyes looked so hard, so I
                 reconsidered. I couldn't act straight...
                 When I got out, Moteuchi-san was there, waiting. I
                 received the stuff he wanted to "hand to me"... It
                 was, surprisingly, Shirakawa-san's pouch...
 
 End of Chapter

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