So without further ado, let’s rock!

*

(In the middle of the night, Shiine-chan looks absolutely destroyed after playing the killer’s game…)

Shiine: (to himself) They wanted her to come back more than me…why…

(Shiine is feeling really depressed…)

Shiine: (looks over at Negi) I thought we were so similar…yet if you had gone out…would it have been…

(Suddenly, the phone rings…Shiine gulps and hides in the covers, not wanting to have anything to do after the KG, ironically because he’s the most awake of the detectives…)

(…Negi stirs briefly, mumbling something about ‘Evangeline-san…don’t take so much…’ but footsteps are briefly heard. Shiine could have swore he heard Triela’s voice, but he’s still shaking in fear or despair…)

Shiine: (faint whisper and nearly crying) Cha-cha-san…

*

(Whilst we saw Kotone early in the middle of the night after they got back, Aya and Triela had a quick change which wasn’t expected…)

Kotone: So…you’re together now?

Triela: (shrugs) I hate sleeping on my own…

Aya: (smiles) Yes, a training young lady in firearms and martial arts who can speak several languages, hates sleeping on her own.

Triela: Hey, I’m still only 13!

(Kotone laughs as Triela pouts…)

Triela: Stop giggling – it’s not funny!

(Triela ‘sulks’ as Aya begins to laugh as well…as we see Fai-san inside the kitchen making his first attempt at miso soup courtesy of Kotone’s help…)

Fai: Hmm…this looks…and tastes different in my world…

Satoshi: You’re an expert in travelling different worlds then…

(Fai looks over at Satoshi, who is reading a book as he looks and smells Fai’s craft…)

Fai: You could say that – my wish is simply to NOT return back to my original world, so travelling to other worlds isn’t just being an expert, it’s a simple necessity in my life.

Satoshi: Hmm…well…slightly different from the worlds I’ve travelled to – I guess you don’t have any experience travelling through paintings?

(Fai has to think for a moment…)

Fai: Well, travelled through a virtual reality world that became real – does that count?

Satoshi: No.

Fai: Darn.

(Kotone pops back in as Satoshi leaves, with a few thoughts on his mind.)

Satoshi: (yawning) I’m only 14…stupid wake up call…

*

(As Triela and Satoshi moan about who had the worse problems sleeping last night…breakfast is being served – without Shiine-chan…)

Hinata: (yawning) Time to eat…

Triela: Now that’s a sight I never thought I’d see…

Hinata: (still half-asleep) Triela-san…not now…how come you’re so inhuman…

(Triela pouts as Aya and Kotone laugh…)

Aya: (laughing) When half-asleep, Hinata loses that nervous edge…I like it…

Triela: Man, I’m so crushing her next time I glomp her…

(We’ll get to that of course if for some reason you HAVEN’T read the main story, but with no Shiine-chan, the discussion soon becomes…Shiine-chan…)

Negi: I think…he needs to be looked after today…I don’t know what Miyabi-san will have done for the investigator, but I think he needs a guiding light, otherwise he’s not going to be much use to anyone…

Satoshi: (nods) You’re probably right.

Fai: I saw what happened basically…both he and Miyabi-san thought they were right. Personally, I thought both of them were in a way, but obviously the majority agreed with Miyabi-san…

Ban: …but the killer didn’t.

(Ban, after saying that sentence, finishes off his meal and puts the dishes away, before stepping outside for a smoke.)

Aya: Not exactly succinct is he…

(The team finishes up, as Ban coughs outside…)

Ban: Need to get this smoke in…WHY AM I ON DISH DUTY?!!

Triela: BECAUSE IT’S ON THE ROTA!

(Ban curses Triela’s enhanced hearing, but it isn’t long before they finish up…Kotone puts some food out for the still unawake/depressed Shiine-chan…)

*

(…whilst he feels better (despite the ‘ninja girlfriend’ comment from Ban), he seems to feel a bit guilty as he WAS awake and could have joined them in the clean up duty of Kensuke’s murder…)

(…but then, after meeting Nabeshin – maybe it was for the best.)

(So, after the introductions, Miyabi nominates Satoshi as Team Leader, and Satoshi, following from the advice given by his teammates, nominates someone to look after Shiine-chan, Hinata. However, does Satoshi have other reasons for doing that?)

Satoshi: (to himself as the teams get ready) I’m sure it was…

Ban: Gah – if it wasn’t for the fact these two kids could give me a better fight than monkey-boy and strings-boy combined, I’d sue this game…

Triela: What was that?

Ban: DAMN YOUR HEARING TO HELL!!!

(As Triela is about to give Ban a beating, Satoshi watches Aya and Kotone mingle with Fai, as Shiine tries to explain to Hinata just how bad he feels…)

*

(…Shiine and Hinata of course have their inquiry where Tamahome likes beating up little girls apparently (though it’s not like she doesn’t retaliate. After the first inquiry with Jet, Aya raises a few concerns as they head off to speak to Yomi…)

Aya: Kotone-chan?

Kotone: Hmm?

(Aya and Kotone have told Fai they are going to the ‘toilet’. In reality of course, it’s the old game of ‘backstabbing.’ Seems Aya is surprisingly good at it…)

Aya: …did you think Fai wasn’t really doing anything? He seemed to be just following us on what we said…

Kotone: Well…

Aya: Miyabi-san seemed to think that as well, but her problems on the second day with Shiine-chan overshadowed those thoughts.

Kotone: Are we being a bit…

Aya: I know…but we have to think about it sooner than later, and I suggest if there is any reason to eliminate someone now, it will be used. At least…let’s use an actual reason than a make-believe one as Ban seems to like doing…

(Kotone notices Aya’s reaction to Ban…)

Kotone: Let’s just give him a chance right?

Aya: O.K…

(That chance is metaphorically screwed of course when we get to the end of the episode…but a change over for Shiine-chan as they head back after a day at the destruction…)

*

Shiine: That was awesome Hinata-san!!!

(Well, Hinata’s mission for the day: recover Shiine-chan seems to have worked, though maybe not quite as expected, it still worked…)

Hinata: Shiine-chan…th-this is embarrassing…

Shiine: But that was fantastic! I wasn’t thinking how to do it, I was just worrying about screwing up – but you did it, you took the initiative and kicked…er…what’s that’s word Ban sometimes uses?

Hinata: I’d r-rather not you said something like that…

Shiine: Either way, you’re incredible!

(Hinata blushes, her slightly longer hair flowing as she uses a rag to wipe some sweat. With her eyes covered, Shiine blushes and turns away, un-noticing Hinata’s hand on her back slightly…)

*

(…as Ban, Negi and Triela who are the first back, wondering about what Satoshi was planning…)

Ban: It’s a bit oddball…

Triela: Ban, anybody here paired with you would be a bit oddball…

Ban: Very funny…

Triela: (shakes her head) No…very true.

Ban: (veined up) I’m almost wishing Fai would come back with those stupid names…that’s far better than the abuse you give me Triela!

Negi: Guys…

Triela: Don’t worry your cute head Negi. This is what the girls at the dorms call ‘enjoying themselves.’ Praying on the idiotic…

Ban: I’LL KILL YOU!

Triela: Yosha! Your snakebite vs. my arm…

(Triela puts her arm down on the table, as we quickly now see what this series of insults is REALLY leading to…an arm wrestling match!)

Negi: …and go!

(Cyborg power would easily beat any human…but Ban Mido isn’t just any human – witch powers inherited from his grandmother give him a kilogram grip of inhuman properties, powered up even further with his snakebite technique…)

(…the table is being reinforced thanks to Negi’s magic as Ban’s tension crushed faces is the opposite to Triela’s calm smiling one – though both are putting a lot of effort though, neither arm is budging…)

(…just outside, we see Shiine and Hinata returning…)

Shiine: …but seriously, the only person I thought could have beaten him was Ban-san…

(Ban sneezes…)

Triela: An opening!

(Triela slams Ban’s arm through the table!)

Negi: Triela-san wins!

Triela: Yatta!

Ban: Hey, no fair! I sneezed…someone was talking about me!!!

Triela: Excuses, excuses…

(Shiine wisely decides to avoid been seen by Ban, as Hinata greets them…)

Triela: Ah, you guys done?

Hinata: (nods) Perfect…

(Triela notices a twitch in Hinata’s movements…)

Triela: Are you alright?

Hinata: Y-yes…just a little bruised…I’ll just be upstairs a moment…

(Hinata runs up, as Triela looks concerned…)

Triela: Something seems wrong – Negi, I may call you in a sec…I think she’s hurt…

Ban: HELLO?! MAN WITH ARM THROUGH TABLE HERE…

Triela: You’re not hurt…

(Instantly, Ban commences the worst acting since a Canadian group of actress thought dubbing Sailor Moon with incredibly bad editing was the best idea in the world…)

*

(Shot of Hinata with some ointment which she rubbing on her lower back before getting a bandage out of her backpack…)

Triela: Tut tut, young lady…

(Hinata nearly throws the ointment in the air, but recovers…)

Triela: Don’t make it worse…but what the heck happened? Did Shiine hit you, because…

Hinata: No!!! Of course he didn’t, he was the perfect gentleman…just…had a bit of a fight with Tamahome-san to get the bug on…

Triela: Bastard…

Hinata: No…it was my idea…a ninja always faces the consequences of his or her actions…

Triela: But is that ointment enough?

Hinata: (blushes) M-Maybe if I h-had some Kyuubi blood…

Triela: Huh?

Hinata: N-n-never mind!

(As Triela embarrasses Hinata further…)

*

Aya: …so we had to deal with both Jet AND Yomi – not exactly encounters I enjoyed…

(All the teams have returned, the table has been put on my tab, Hinata’s downstairs seemingly fine and Shiine-chan isn’t depressed…all is right with the world…well…maybe not…)

Fai: …wizards are the best cooks! We’ve proven it!

Ban: Yeah, well, it’s true you guys are the best here but I think Paul could give you guys a run for your money…

Shiine: (shakes his head) Being a wizard means having the ability to create and use at any time. Cooking is the same…

Fai: (continuing) …because like with magic, you have a basis of ingredients in your arsenal, and you use your ingredients like a weapon…

Shiine: …use that weapon to the best of your ability, but if it’s not complete, you need to add more things for it to be complete…

Fai: …it’s the same as magic, and by adopting those philosophies…

Shiine: …you become a great chef!

Fai/Shiine: Do you understand Ban-sama?!!!

(Ban’s eyes go all swirly…)

Ban: Apart from the Ban-sama bit, no…

(Cue the sweatdrops…)

*

Ban: So…who have we got then?

(He answer the phone…)

Ban: Idiot! I’m still in this game – remember, I leave, I win, we get all you can eat sushi, you know…

Ban: Ginji…you poor unfortunate soul. Let me tell you about the food I’ve been having here – the meat, the potatoes, the vegetables…

(Suddenly, Ban feels a little static shock…)

Ban: HEY, DON’T GO LIGHTNING LORD ON MY ASS – THERE ARE OTHERS WHO NEED THIS PHONE!!!

Ban: Himeko, you’re there?

Ban: Ha, well I’m still here…though I nearly fell at the 2^nd hurdle…but Ban-sama will never die!

(Ban ended the phone call…)

Ban: Yeah, yeah…you’ll get your tab…

*

Negi: (sweatdrops) Yes…it’s not like I have much of a choice…Triela-san kinda dumps me in the shower…

Negi: Asakura-san, it’s not like…

Negi: (sweatdrops) Ku-fei san…

Negi: Well…just making sure you guys are alright – anything that needs me to raise alarm?

Negi: (nervous) Master…

Negi: …and Chachamaru-san? Um…I’m afraid to ask, but how many are in the room…

Negi: (sweatdrops again) Never mind…

*

Shiine: (crying with joy) Chacha-sannnnn!

Shiine: How are you Chacha-san?! Energetic as usual?

Shiine: (sweatdrops) Poor Chacha-san…*serious* That mutt hasn’t done anything to you has he?

Shiine: You, you mutt…

Shiine: (angry) R-I-I-Y-A…

Shiine: (anger melts) Orin-chan? Is that you?

Shiine: Yeah…I had a scare yesterday, but I’m O.K now…how come you’re there Orin-chan?

Shiine: (sweatdrops) Dorothy-sama…

Shiine: Sounds like master…

(Shiine smiles, as all seems right for him at last…except for the ‘Riiya kawaii’ line of course…)

*

Fai: How did Nabeshin-san get a connection to wherever you guys are?

Fai: Yare yare…is Kuro-pee there?

Fai: Hai, and to you Sakura-chan, and as much as it tears me to be away from Kuro-pee, I just hope I can stay here as long as possible so I can make sure we won’t have to suffer on our journies…

Fai: Well, Sakura chan has always had good luck.

Fai: Nice to see you’re all having a good time…I will be back, just not yet…

(Fai smiles…yes, cue irony…)

*

Satoshi: I’m surprised…though glad that it wasn’t through to my father’s…

Satoshi: (inquisitive) Oh, Elder-Harada is there?

Satoshi: (smiles slightly) And younger Harada I s…hear.

Satoshi: Ah-ha…

(Silence…)

Satoshi: They are as noisy as each other…see, found something they actually have in common – you owe me 1000 yen…

Satoshi: I was kidding.

(Another breath of silence…)

Satoshi: I’m not sure I really know how to respond to that…

Satoshi: Quite the opposite Daisuke. This is more of a challenge than I expected…and am enjoying it. Not just with the case, but the people I’m around…

*

Aya: Please…you’re-you’re going to make me cry…

Aya: (crying slightly) Th-thank you…

Aya: R-Ran…

(Aya’s heart skips a beat as her boyfriend comes on…)

Aya: Second place-kun as well?

Aya: Otohata-kun…

Aya: Y-Yes…

Aya: T-thank you…

(Aya laughs)

Aya: Everyone’s here…I’m…I’m so happy…

(Aya laughs all the way downstairs…)

*

Kotone: (crying) Aoi-chan, Aoi-chan…

(The boy she once had a crush on – she takes a small breath, knowing of something of course…)

Kotone: Hiroyuki-san, I’m fine! Are you and Akari O.K?

(Kotone chuckles)

Kotone: No, I’ve met some nice people and some good friends…like…

*

Hinata: …Kotone-chan, she’s been my confidant and best friend since the start.

Hinata: How come this didn’t get through to my father?

Hinata: Hanabi – it’s been a while since I’ve seen her…

Hinata: (smiles) Kiba-kun!

Hinata: Er…yes…I think…

(Hinata chuckles…)

(Too late – Hinata has already fainted…^_^)

*

Triela: Oh…you don’t know how happy I am to hear your voice…

Triela: Ha ha – droll sense of humour Claes…

Triela: Of course I want it Claes-sama…

Triela: And I intend to stay here much longer so I hope she’s got the other half ready…

Triela: (sighs) Hillshire, always the party pooper…

Triela: Just make sure you haven’t changed when I get back Henrietta.

(The girls leave, and Triela is about to put the phone down…)

(Triela pauses and smiles…)

Triela: I didn’t think you’d care…

Triela: Well, I guess. But yeah, I’m fine – I’ve met a few decent sharpshooters here, and some really, really nice people. Almost makes me wish I was a real girl…being friends with Negi, Kotone, Hinata…

(A small moment of awkward silence…)

Triela: Hmm?

Triela: No…and I don’t intend to as long as I can remain here.

(Triela nods before putting the phone down…and a single tear drops down her face…)

*

The next day, a few emotions are risen after speaking with their loved ones, family and friends again…

Shiine: Triela-san, are you allright?

Triela: Yeah…my eyes are a bit red…

Aya: (smiles) Admit it tough girl, you were crying.

Shiine: What?!

(Negi (also at the table) is calm, obviously seeing Triela in pain…but these tears were for a different reason…)

Aya: I think she got a bit over emotional after hearing her friends over the phone…not that…I had any room to talk…

Shiine: But…well…

Satoshi: …we just don’t expect it from Triela to break face.

Triela: I’m…I’m sorry, but the moment I heard Henrietta’s voice, I nearly lost it there. I miss her…I miss her a lot – she’s my best friend and in a weird way, she’s like my daughter. She reminds me of a cute lost chick and I have to look after her. Claes once said, I spoil her – like she expects me to solve everything.

(Triela shakes her head)

Triela: But that’s my choosing – if that’s what she thinks, I’ll try my damndest to be there for her…I love her so much…

Aya/Kotone/Hinata: AWWWW….

Negi: That’s so sweet Triela-san.

Shiine: D-don’t…I…I’m not crying…

(Ban enters the room…)

Ban: Did I miss something?

Fai: Emotional overload from Triela-san…

Ban: Whoa…

Triela: Hey, stop picking on me! Aya was just as bad, Kotone was in the shower wiping away the tears and I had to drag Hinata out the room because she fainted!

(All three girls look embarrassed…)

Negi: Well…mine was embarrassing…

Shiine: Hearing Chacha-san with that mutt made me want to scream…

Ban: And I just wanted to pound Shinji…

Satoshi: Mine was fine.

(They all look at poker face Sato-kun…)

Ban: I think I can gather the reaction of the group gives an aura of ‘we’re not surprised…’

*

(A few tired eyes from crying and also the late night inquiries the night before make this seem more of a normal day. Not a boring one, but most of the cast would approve of more sleep, especially considering a few also did the early morning Kensuke death…)

Triela: They are cruel with this sun beaming at us…

Aya: It was so cold in Britain…

Triela: (yawns) I’m getting used to being lazy that returning to these late night and early shifts is making me remember being back at the agency…

Aya: Well…

Fai: Aya-chan, we’d best be off….

(Aya looks at Fai a moment before nodding…)

Aya: Well, best be off, and see if I can find a reason for trying to eliminate my teammates…

Triela: When did you get so cruel?

Aya: That’s the one thing that didn’t leave the group when Mizuki was ‘killed…’

(Aya winks as she leaves as Triela chuckles…before adopting a serious face…)

Triela: Irony…she’s right.

(She looks at the direction at Ban and Negi…)

Triela: Man, what am I thinking?

(Triela heads to meet her teammates as they head off, trying to avoid elimination…)

*

(The plotting of course is there with Aya and Kotone going behind Fai’s back (with the Tsubasa rep none the wiser) but this is the killer blow for poor Fai in the real episode. Back to the action, Ban admits something that he normally wouldn’t…surprisingly, he seems to trust Triela and Negi…)

Ban: …I didn’t want to admit it in there, but I guess that hearing Ginji’s voice made me want to return to the Getbackers.

Negi: See Ban-san, home is where the heart is!

Ban: (nods) I hate to admit it…but the thing is, I promised him that I’d win this, and make sure that we’d be able to survive in the business. So my philosophy is to play to win.

Triela: It’s working as far as skill, but…

Ban: (nods) I know, Fai warned me that attitude works as much for, as it does against. I’ve seen that with Miyabi and Kurz, and felt it already with me…

Negi: Er…didn’t you eliminate Miyabi for a different reason…

Ban: What do you mean?

Triela: Maybe you used Miyabi’s tantrum with Shiine to your advantage to eliminate a strong contestant perhaps the only one with true real world smarts to match your own…

(A slight vein appears at the back of Ban’s head…)

Ban: Of course not! If she and Shiine had stayed together, it would have been so uncomfortable…

(In his head, Ban is making a mental note to check if it is seriously Kotone who is the psychic in the group…)

*

(…and speaking of Kotone, after Team 3 do their press conference…)

Kotone: There, there, I’m the councillor here…you’ll be fine…

Hinata: I….HATE…speaking in public…

Shiine: You did fine Hinata-san!

Kotone: Well, it could have been worse…

Shiine: Why?

(Kotone is about to explain their little plan that they have with Aya…(and Negi and Triela having their little talk, we see how Satoshi worked out his own little mole…)

Satoshi: I feel the shards whenever something happens she does, and I’m sure she’s on my back…and with her power…

(Satoshi smiles…)

Satoshi: This chakra is dangerous…not only it is a weapon she can use, but with that other ability of hers, she can actually scan my notes. The fact that Kotone is a psychic as well, means those two are the most dangerous duo in the game…

(Satoshi smiles…)

Satoshi: But I can split them up tonight…or make this game a real nightmare for me. And whether no-one wants to admit it, she is extremely dangerous.

(Satoshi takes up a quill pen – with of course, a white feather rather than a black…)

Satoshi: Hinata Hyuuga…I don’t think even you realise what a threat you are to the game…

*

Kotone: He’s trying to make us nervous…

Triela: Well, he does have a final decision on the vote tonight…so he’s making us even more on edge, as one of us will be taking our thoughts to the graveyard tonight…

(Shot of Ban, who seems pretty concerned…)

Ban: If we fail…what will pretty boy do? I’m not sure I can really tell who he’ll vote for…he’s been really neutral with everyone…unless because I took out Miyabi…

(Ban begins to sweat a little…)

Satoshi: Oh, I knew who I’m going to pick.

(A moment of silence, before a sneeze brings the sound back up…)

Negi: Bless you Hinata-san…

Hinata: (wipes her nose) Thanks…

*

(To ad-lib Tenacious D, ‘needless to say, the Fai was stunned…’ but then it was even more needless to say, the group was stunned, when Hinata was Satoshi’s choice…this leads to a few moments, but a quick explanation…)

Shiine: …he’s my fellow wizard and chef in arms…I just couldn’t find the heart to vote for him…

Triela: (sighs) I guess, and Kotone and Aya got what they wanted in the end…but…

Kotone: I know…

Aya: I think he was always going to vote for her, but why…

Shiine: She’s a threat.

(They look at him…)

Shiine: Satoshi wanted us to see who was strong during those speaking terms – not just in skills, but in who people liked. He realises that everyone wants their friends to stay, but at the same time knows we all want to win. As the people wittle down, we’ll all have to vote for each other…and he’s trying to stir it up now, and at the same time, try to eliminate a threat to him.

Aya: I guess…he’s been suggesting this for a while…but still…and the worst thing, if Hinata goes…it is true. It would be easier to vote for Fai…

(All of them look sad – this leads to the moment between Hinata and Negi outside...)

*

(…and after said moment, shot of Hinata and Negi heading in…)

Hinata: I have to thank you for that…

Negi: I-It’s O.K…

(Both seem jittery…)

Shiine: You O.K Hinata-san?

(Both nearly jump at Shiine-chan’s voice – Shiine has brought in some hot chocolate…)

Shiine: Are you two alright? You look like you’ve seen a gh…er…sorry, wrong turn of phrase Hinata-san…

(Hinata blushes, Negi turns to avoid his blush being seen…)

Hinata: No…it-it’s nothing…

Shiine: Well…I-I will say that if worst comes to worse…I-I’ll m-miss you…

(Shiine hands his hot chocolate to Hinata, who as he passes the mug, his hands slightly touch hers. In his mind, he prays to God that Chacha won’t betray him as he turns to blush…)

Hinata: Th-thank you Shiine-chan.

(Shiine leaves, as Negi does as well, both shy or embarrassed? Dunno…but Hinata smiles slightly.)

Hinata: I guess…they’d be a nice three person team back in Konoha…

*

Fai: …I’m not sure what is going to happen if I’m found…

Ban: Well, which world are your friends in?

Fai: Some robot world apparently with human controlled robots and a master named ‘Misakichi’ or something…

Ban: You have a unique life don’t you…

Fai: I could say that…but it’s a life I certainly wouldn’t trade for anybody’s here.

Ban: You mean you wouldn’t be a mage teacher in charge of 31 cute girls or a genius detective with the ability to change into an arrow wielding angel?

Fai: Hmm…those have their points, but that means I’d be stuck in one place wouldn’t I? I don’t want that…

Ban: Ahhh..well…

Fai: Aw? Are you seriously going to miss me Ban-pyon?

(Ban veins…)

Ban: GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

(Fai chuckles…)

Fai: I just didn’t see it coming – I fell into this state of security and didn’t realise the girls were going against me. I can understand, but…even I felt a bit sad about that…

(Fai moves frowns…)

Fai: …but if I go, I’ll return to another world…just one I don’t particularly want to visit…

Ban: Hade’s Cauldron not on your pit stop of places…

Fai: You could say that…

Ban: Well…if this the last time…well…I guess…I will miss you – I can’t really infuriate anybody else here!!!

(Fai smiles.)

Fai: Thanks.

(He leaves, leaving Ban a bit confused…)

Ban: He…didn’t do a stupid comment?

*

(After the two are sent out, we see both Shiine and Negi in their room, looking a little depressed – and not sure what to make of themselves…)

(…elsewhere, Ban is also looking depressed in his room, wondering if he truly did miss Fai…)

(…shot of Kotone trying hard to cry, and Aya looking a bit tired as she sits in the kitchen, reading some notes…)

(…shot of Satoshi with a wry smile as he is on the exercise bike…)

(…shot of Triela punching a tree in training…or anger…)

*

(…and of course, leads to Hinata’s return to the HQ…with the hefty killer clue…)

Hinata: …it was so scary, that when I touched the sword…

(Shot of the last moments of the killer’s game…)

*

Hinata: …and this is it.

(The large sword is quite heavy, and looked like a struggle for Hinata to carry it. Negi takes it off her hands (Negi is actually quite strong thanks to his magic) and puts it in the evidence room. Ban tuts but smiles…)

Ban: Sorry Fai, I will miss you…but I guess I can let the young ones enjoy their time…because I don’t think it will last too long.

(Ban heads outside for a smoke…and is soon joined by someone…)

???: Who says it will be up for us yet?

(Ban is surprised when Aya shows up…)

Ban: Aya…w…

Aya: Look – I’m like Satoshi. I’m neutral here, I enjoy everyone’s company, yet don’t go into a clique. I’m game and so is everyone else here…

Ban: Yeah?

Aya: But when justice is there to be done, I will take Ran’s place in trying to make it so. So…I suggest you pass all your inquiries for the remainder of the game…otherwise…

(Aya makes her statement as Ban is stunned…)

Ban: Whoa, these Shibuya chicks are dangerous…

*

(We see Satoshi alone, seemingly with a smile on his face.)

Satoshi: This is EXACTLY what I want. I might be in trouble…but it makes the doubt in their minds much better for this game. And if what I think will happen tomorrow…

(Satoshi smiles again…)

Satoshi: I think we’ll see someone of that group go in two nights…

(Satoshi with a cunning plan? Stay tuned…)

*

Nothing really much to say, other than Satoshi’s plan to take over the wo…I mean game is well and under way. The side relationship bring to play, and the phone conversations were really fun. Rewatching GSG and reading the manga shows just how attached Triela is to the other girls, especially Henrietta. She truly loves that girl, not in a shoujo-ai way (though I guess it can be argued) but as a mother and a daughter do. Rico adores her well, but fortunately Claes is there to put Triela in her place at times.

A word about Kotone and Aya’s relationship – if you’ve seen the original To Heart, you’ll probably wonder what the heck I’m on about. I suggest you watch the sequel – Remember my Memories. A lot of the original things in TH are rewritten – the Aoi/Kotone friendship being the key one. I’ll bring that up in more details if/when Kotone goes, but let’s just say that the relationship between Kotone and Hinata in this reflects very closely to her relationship with Aoi back home.

Satoshi’s relationship with Daisuke is really open to interpretation, but I shall say this. No matter how many yaoi fanfics there are, the official word is this. Riku and Daisuke are the pairing and they are unbelievable cute together. Which is why I slightly bring up Risa/Satoshi, which is brought up at the end of the anime, and more so in aspects of the manga.

Ban/Ginji? What is there not to love about them? They are a comedy duo who should get their own show. Oh they did…Getbackers.

That’s enough for now, but a few more notes…

Of course, the Piffle Princess reference is just a little joke that Syaoran-tachi in Tsubasa seem to have travelled to some world similar to Angelic Layer. There have been small references in the manga with the Blanche look a like in the virtual reality mode but no actual names as of yet. Plus, I’ve seen on various sites that if Sakura and Syaoran had a daughter, it would be Misaki. (Sakura’s energy and Syaoran’s determination combined) That same site also plugs the popular yet not in it’s lifetime going to happen pairing of Eriol and Tomoyo and suggests that in an alternative life, Hatoko is their daughter…(as Hatoko looks so much like Tomoyo yet has Eriol’s mystery and intelligence)…if I can find the site I’ll dig it you, just one of those random matches you see when you’re Googling…

Aoi vs. Ichijou during Kotone’s conversation is a reference to the brilliant School Rumble, where Ichijou, a.k.a. Karen Ichijou (also called Karerin) is a monster of a girl, whose strength equals that of Hanai and Harima (and surpasses them), yet on first glance, she is cute, sweet, shy and very thin and delicate. However, she has a fighting instinct better than anybody in anime, seeming to sense and avoid attacks in a split second. It’s no wonder then, that she should be the number one contender to face Aoi for the extreme title…*drools* Aoi vs. Ichijou – that’s a fight I’d love to see happen…

And until next time…