Chapter 23: A Sad Game of Tag 
 
 
  Translated by                   : Kaori Hasegawa 
                                    <khasegawa@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu> 
 
  Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto 
                                    <Alberto@advanced.fido.de> 
 
  Story and Art by                : Masakazu Katsura 
 
 
 <109> 
         Sign:   [Teacher's Lounge] 
        Sound:   Gara. 
 
 <110> 
           Ai:   Video Girl? 
                 What is that? You're really talking about something 
                 weird. 
        Youta:   Ai-chan. 
                 Did she forget that she was a Video Girl? --or a 
                 different person with the same first name, last 
                 name,  and face? 
           Ai:   Not fair. 
                 It seems like you know about me, but I don't even 
                 know your name. 
        Youta:   Ah. 
                 Youta. Youta Moteuchi. 
                 I felt sad having to introduce myself to Ai. 
 
 <111> 
        Youta:   I wonder where she lives now. That's right, I might 
                 find out something if I go to her house. 
                 Well. 
           Ai:   Hey. 
        Youta:   Um. 
           Ai:   Let me ride on back! 
          Boy:   What. 
 
 <112> 
           Ai:   Bye, You;. See you tomorrow. 
                 But I feel like your face is very familiar. It's 
                 strange. 
                 Bye bye. 
        Sound:   Babobobo. 
        Youta:   Ah. 
                 The words she just said make it clear. She must be 
                 Ai! I wish she were a different person. 
 
 <113> 
       Nobuko:   She's the one you like. Amano-san. 
        Youta:   I like her in one way. 
       Nobuko:   The same as me then. 
                 It's a sad game of tag, isn't it. 
 
 <114> 
       Nobuko:   I run after you. And you run after Amano-san. 
        Youta:   Why do you like me, Nobuko-chan? 
       Nobuko:   Maybe it's your stolid face. 
        Youta:   It's glum, shy do you like that part? 
       Nobuko:   Oh, not it doesn't mean that. 
                 I'd better say studious face. I weak around people 
                 who do their best. 
                 The face when you were drawing. The face when you 
                 were teaching new students, like me, 
                 how to draw with charcoal. In your eyes, you were 
                 seriously trying to teach us. I felt you 
                 were a nice person. 
 
 <115> 
       Nobuko:   And. Basically, I like that kind of face. 
        Youta:   She really talks straightforward. Can I answer this 
                 bright smile? 
       Nobuko:   Hey-- What is it!? That strained smile. 
        Youta:   Eh. 
       Nobuko:   Was it difficult for you? 
        Youta:   Oh, now. It's not like that. 
 
 <116> 
        Youta:   Should I have said that to make her expect 
                 something!? Should I have!? 
                 Should I have? 
       Nobuko:   Ah, Senpai. 
        Youta:   Was it so strained? 
       Nobuko:   Yeah, very much. You looked like you were in 
                 trouble. 
        Youta:   Hehehe. Oh yeah, I meant to smile normally. Maybe I. 
                 Every time I begin to like someone, I have a 
                 difficult time smiling. 
 
 <117> 
        Youta:   Because Each time I was rejected. 
                 You have a good smile. 
       Nobuko:   Senpai. 
        Sound:   Gi. 
 
 <118> 
        Youta:   I'll cloud your smile right now. 
                 I'm sorry. 
 
 <119> 
        Youta:   I'm sorry, Nobuko-chan. Ai-chan appeared in front of 
                 me, so I didn't have the confidence 
                 to respond to your feelings. 
                 --But. 
                 That Ai-chan is. 
 
 <120> 
           Ai:   Youta, welcome home! 
        Youta:   She forgot about the times we spent together. And no 
                 more. 
                 No more. 
 
 <122> 
          Boy:   Hey! Look at Amano, her panties, her panties. 
          Boy:   Wow. 
 
 <123> 
        Sound:   Su. 
           Ai:   Um. What do you want? 
 
 <124> 
        Youta:   What a way to sit! Everyone is looking at your 
                 panties. 
        Sound:   Nu nu. 
           Ai:   Why not? I won't lose anything. 
                 Look!Look!! 
     Everyone:   Wow. 
 
 <124> 
        Sound:   Hyu-- 
        Youta:   You just acted so stupid!! 
           Ai:   Leave me alone! If people hide this stuff in the 
                 beginning, it only gets dirtier. 
                 I guess you want to see it too, don't you? 
                 That's fine, I can show it to you. 
 
 <125> 
           Ai:   I found your good side! 
                 You seem to worry about me a lot, even too much. 
                 I'll listen to you. I'll behave. I kinda like you, 
                 so. And it seems like I've known you for a long 
                 time. 
                 But if you overdo it, you'll be offensive Be 
                 careful. 
        Youta:   Ai. 
                 I feel pain every time I catch a glimpse of one of 
                 her old parts. 
       Nobuko:   Senpai! Good morning. 
 
 <126> 
        Youta:   No.Nobuko-chan! That. hair-style. 
       Nobuko:   You said you every time you began to like someone, 
                 you  have a difficult time smiling. 
                 I will like somebody, so I won't forget my smile. 
                 I'll do my best to catch you soon! 
                 Starting today! 
        Youta:   She taught me. I feel like I've just awaken. because 
                 of her positive attitude. But I would 
                 spend my attitude on Ai-chan. 
                 This might just be a sad game of tag.