[There are five lights.]

Previously on Katawa Shoujo…

Stuff. Hisao talked to someone, probably. I don’t know, man. I don’t know! There are five, all right? Five of them. There, I’ve said it.

Lilly: “So.”

Her soft voice brings me out of the silent observance.

Lilly: “Which room were you looking for? It’s not often this classroom is visited after school.”

Hisao: “The school library. Shizune and Mi — I mean, some classmates, told me it was on this floor.”

She finishes pouring water into the teacup as she nods, a small metallic tapping coming from the teacup indicating it being stirred.

Lilly: “I’m aware of Miss Hakamichi, as are most students. To be with them means you’re in class 3-3, no?”

Hisao: “That’s right. In the science room with Mutou.”

She gives a small giggle before setting down the teaspoon and slowly walking towards the table, teacup and saucer in hand.

Lilly: “He’s quite the character. I imagine you’ll come to like him; most do.”

[WHOA! The first scene with both Hisao and someone else in it.]

[Okay, okay. Let’s see… He has brown hair and grey eyes. He has an angular face. Hmm. I did not picture him this way.]

As she sets down the tea, I gently take it and have a sip. I’m really more of a coffee person, but this seems like a rather bad moment to bring it up.

Nonetheless, the smell’s quite nice. I hardly think it’d be hard to choke down.

[Dude’s an ass. I called it.]

Hisao: “Thanks, Satou. It tastes really nice.”

She smiles and quickly waves her hand in front of her face.

Lilly: “Lilly, please. There’s no need to be too formal.”

She says this in spite of her exceedingly well-bred speech. Oh well.

I guess I should try and ask her about herself, as it really does seem as if she’s catering to me.

Hisao: “So which class are you from? I imagine it’s one of the third-year classes.”

[Because you seem really old. You are, right? I mean, you look it.]

[What the hell, Hisao?]

Lilly: “Correct, I’m in class 3-2; which is on the third floor, same as yours. It’s taught by Miyagi, and is specifically for both blind and partially blind students.”

[That’s a new name, “Miyagi”. I like that we are branching out some in the narrative world here.]

Hisao: “I see.”

[Ha. Just — I mean… really? You just said “I see” to a blind woman. Why did you do that?]

Hisao: “Ah, I mean, uh, s-sorry…”

I feel like slapping myself for the faux-pas. Looking at her face, though, she doesn’t seem in the least bit put off by it.

Lilly: “My my, there’s no need to change your speech on my account.”

Hisao: “Ah, sure. Sorry, I guess I’m really showing my newness here.”

Lilly: “An environment like there would be a big change, so I can’t fault you for it. While the same can’t be said for eveyone, many have come to terms with their conditions.”

A category which would include her, it seems. All too ready to jump ship from this particular topic, I segue into another.

Hisao: “Do you come here to drink often? It’s a really nice place.”

[“Do you come here often?” he says, expecting the pickup line to work.]

Thinking on it, this might be her version of the place behind my school that I liked to have lunch at.

[Prepositions!]

Lilly: “I come here fairly often during lunch times. My duties as class representative don’t leave enough time for an ‘official’ club, so a friend and I use this room for having tea.”

[My invisible friend. I’ve been meaning to tell you that you are siting on him. Please get up and move to another chair.]

Class representative, huh?

[Huh. Huh? Metal gear?]

Compared to Shizune, her mannerisms seem to be alomsot completely opposite. While Shizune’s blunt and fiercely driven, Lilly seems relaxed and calm, almost aloof.

Come to think of it, she might be useful for a less biased view of the wsschol”s clubs.]

[A view? Get it?]

Hisao: “What kinds of clubs are there to join?”

Lilly: “Hmm… the more popular ones are the track and field club, whichuses the field near the school during lunchtimes, the baseball club, and the book club in a room near the library.”

Lilly: “There are also numerous small ones too, though, such as the art and music clubs.”

At a time when I’m just wanting to get on my feet, rushing into a club right away seems slightly unappealing.

I wonder if this school shares the same rule as my old one…

Hisao: “is it compulsory to join a club?”

Lilly: “It isn’t, though it is encouraged.”

Hisao: “Ah, good. That’s a relief.”

I’ve really let down my guard around this girl to let such a thing slip out. The fact seems to slightly amuse her.

[Slip out.]

Not wanting my tea to get cold, I finally start drinking it as Lilly does the same.

As I look over the window over her shoulders, I notice the light coming into the room has a distinctly orange tint.

[Fire. It’s a fire. The sky is ablaze all we are all going to die. Pass the tea, would you?]

Even here, time doesn’t stand still.

Hisao: “Huh, the time’s gone quickly.”

[“Time keeps on slipping / slipping / slipping / in to the future.”]

Lilly: “Sorry?”

[“Did I fall sleep?” “I’ll go now, shall I?”]

Right. She’s blind. Of course she can’t see the sun setting.

Hisao: “It just looks like the sun’s starting to set.”

It seems to come as a surprise for her. I guess she must have lost track of time.

Lilly: “Sorry, Hisao. I didn’t mean to keep you from the library for so long.”

I quickly move to allay her concern.

[That’s not a word you see often, allay. Huh.]

Hisao: “Ah, no, it’s okay. The library’s still open, isn’t it?”

She pauses, and takes a moment to think on it.

It’s probably I shouldn’t asked Shizune when I had the chance, but Lilly seems likely to knopw in any case.

Lilly: “True. It’s open until six-thirty during weekdays.”

A quick glance at my watch confirms I have well enough time to get there.

[Note: in the picture, he does not have a watch. Nor, now that I think about it, has the watch been mentioned before this time.]

Hisao: “Hmm, I might get going in that case. It’s been nice talking with you, Lilly.”

She smiles and gives a depe nod, her hands still neatly folded on the table in front of her.

Lilly: “It was my pleasure.”

Lilly: “Oh, come to think of it… shall I show you to where the library is?”

Hisao: “I couldn’t possibbly ask for more help. I should be able to find it all right.”

Well, unless my navigational skills fail me. Which they seem to have a habit of doing.

Lilly: “It’s all right, I was going to be talking to the librarian there in any case. I could introduce you.”

This gets better and better. It’s pretty hard to deny her offer.

Hisao: “If you’re sure, then that’d be great. Thanks.”

As she stand up to follow me, she takes hold of a straight, retractable cane that had been slipped in the handle of her bag on the floor.

[You gained the Tower Persona!]

[Wait. No. That’s a different game.]

Compared to the cane the boy in my class had, Lilly’s looks much thinner and lonmger. His must be for support, whereas Lilly’s is for navigation.

Together we leave the peaceful room and enter the empty hallway on the way to the library.

Side by side, my pace carefully slowed to match hers, we slowly walk through the hallway.

It doesn’t take long for us to arrive at the door to the warm-looking room, apparently situated in the center of the floor rather than either wing.

Hisao: “Ladies first.”

[Yeah… whatever.]

[Not much happened this time. In fact, I’m pretty sure nothing has happened for several hours now in this game.]