So. As time flows in a linear fashion, the cafe drama is behind us. But, let’s diverge from such basic concepts for a moment, and explore, perhaps, what happened if we had drawn attention to Azami’s martial arts instead of her scooter?
“What’s all this, Tera?”
“I think you think about him all the time even now!”
“What are you talking about, kid?”
“You practice your elegant kicking technique every day, right? You’ve been preparing a special move for your reunion with him, right!?”
“K-kicks…?”
“… you’re right, I have. Grit your teeth, mister fava bean. You’ll regret dumping me until the day you die!”
Whump! Thud! And so the oasis of soothing parakeetitude was transformed into a scene of avian fury, the Wrath of God falling to earth in the guise of a sparrow’s legs. I never saw Azami or mister fava bean after that day…
A much less romantic, but perhaps more fitting end to this curious saga. Farewell, Azami and Rabu.
“I slept way too late! School starts today, right? I’m gonna be late!”
The protagonist rushes to school, metaphorical toast in mouth. I don’t really know if the protagonist eats toast.
“Sir! I’m sorry! I’m sorry I overslept!”
“Overslept…?”
“… aaah! My homework! I forgot to bring my homework!”
“Aren’t you getting a little bit ahead of yourself, Thielle?”
“Huh?”
“What’s the number in the top left-hand corner say?”
“Oooh…”
Remember, fourth wall breaks can strike at any moment, from any character.
“You’re just a little bit early.”
“Waaah…”
“Though, since you’re here… Could you lend me a hand for a bit, Thielle?”
“Lend you a hand?”
“I was about to start grading the freshmen’s exams, and I thought maybe you could help, if you don’t have something else. … of course, you have a test in September, so if you want to go and study in the library…”
At this point, we may opt to help mister Nanaki, study in the library, or “return to [our] glorious abode.” Since we don’t really have any pressing business with Kazuaki or the library, we’re going home, for reasons that shall soon become evident.
“… forgive me, sir, but I need to go home. I must return to my people with the spoils of war, lay my bloodied sword at the feet of my great king, and celebrate my conquest of all the lands from here to distant Macedonia.”
This might be one of the best lines of dialogue in the whole game.
“Oh? Have fun!”
Kazuaki is not particularly impressed. Oh well.
“Coo!”
(Okosan is always having fun!)
“Yup, yup.”
“What is this ‘fun?’”
“Once summer’s over, time starts slipping by faster than ever. Try to stay focus…ed… … zzz.”
“Focus, sir! Focus!”
Ah, how wacky.
“A student ID?”
Whose is it? Someone from 2-2? … not a name I recognize. Should I go find their classroom? They might already have gone home, though… Well, any teacher will do, right?
“… zzzzzz.”
“SIR!!”
“Oh! Hello, Tera. Did you forget to turn in your homework…?”
“I found someone’s ID card, sir. It’s someone from 2-2… I thought I should take it here.”
“Oh? Thank you, Tera. I can take care of it. … huh?”
“What is it?”
“Nothing, just… you did find this today, right, Thielle?”
“Yes. In the corridor just outside…”
“This student has been absent since the middle of June… How strange.”
So then, was the card lying there all summer? Nobirdie noticed it? It’s awfully clean, though… Shouldn’t it at least be dusty?
“Anyway, I’ll take care of it. Thank you, Thielle.”
Mysteries are afoot here at St. Pigeonation’s. However, we won’t be solving any of them in this route. Or really, seeing much more of them. Oh well.
There’s another elective day in here, and of course, we’re off to gym class.
“Cooo!”
(Take this! OKOSAN SMASH!)
“Have at you!”
For gym students, we sure are a bunch of nerds.
Tera leveled up! Vitality increased by 5!
A little later in the day, we encounter Okosan out on the track again.
“Coo, coo!”
(A beautiful autumn day for all doves!)
“You’re in a good mood, Okosan.”
“Coo!”
(Okosan was granted a vision in his dreams!)
“A vision…?”
“Coo, coo!? Coo…!”
(A vision from Lord Pudi himself! Do you know the legend of Lord Pudi, Tera!? Clad in feathers of the purest white, his golden pudding steed shining like the sun itself…!)
Umm…
Obviously, we know absolutely nothing about whatever Okosan is going on about. But we’re expected to back him up nonetheless. We may assert that the pudding is invincible, or simply that at last, he returns. Of course, invincible pudding is a little far-fetched, even for Okosan’s strange fantasies. So, let’s go with the more grounded messianic return.
“At last he returns to his lost home, guiding the pigeons to the pure, promised land!”
“Coo, coo! Coooo! Coo, coo!”
(Yes! Yes! Tera knows the legend! The Lord of Pudding appeared in Okosan’s dreams! The pudding must be nearby! Okosan believes that one day Tera might meet the Pudding Lord, too!)
We can only hope so.
“Coo!”
(Okosan must now go! Farewell!)
And he’s gone. What was that Lord of Pudding thing…?
Really, let’s not lose any sleep over it.
I don’t have anything to do, so I guess I’ll go look around.
Are you ready? I hope you’re all ready… for MAID BIRDS.
“Coo, coooo!”
(Unhand Okosan! Unhand him at once!)
“An all-too familiar battlecry emanates from one corner of the classroom.
“What now?”
Sometimes, I really wonder why we bother.
Oh yes.
Oh yes.
“Okosan’s on duty today, but… He doesn’t like the dress.”
“Cooooooo!”
Ryouta and Okosan are a flurry of feathers as one attempts to restrain the other.
“Aaah… this is kind of looking like something PETA would start a protest over.”
“Coo!”
(Okosan refuses these constricting garments! REAL MEN FIGHT IN THE NUDE!)
“You can’t go commando in a maid cafe!”
You can try, though.
“Come on…! Look, it suits you!”
I whip out my mirror and hold it in front of him.
The protagonist is well-prepared. Or just more appearance-conscious than you’d expect.
”!”
Okosan’s fit is not at all dissuaded by this gesture. But it does take on a different sort of tone…
“Cooooooo!”
“… he seems awfully…”
“H-he… He’s trying to court his own bemaided reflection…!?”
Good grief.
“Well, apparently that was a pretty common thing for pigeons, back in the day…”
He’s never tried to court me…
Honestly, I’d count that as a good thing.
I guess I’m not as attractive as maid-Okosan. Sort of like Narcissus…?
And with that thought, we’ll leave it there, for now. In an update or two, we should be at the end of Okosan’s route, adventure it has been. Until next time, everybirdie!