hisapprentice | [Puzzle 018]

[For house 48]

[A typical day in this house begins with Luke up and about, making breakfast and tea. Whether Firo shows up to have any is up to him. School's back in session and he needs an earlier start, that's all. This morning is no different, Luke pulls on his sweater while walking into the kitchen, headed for the refrigerator. It's when he pulls open the door that everything gets weird - starting with the whole room losing its household vibe and becoming much more...archaeological.]

[Action]

[Incredulous adventures aside, Luke finds it difficult to adjust to the busier lifestyle that comes with school starting and warmer weather ending. It gets darker, colder, Luke grows lonelier. He's out and about in the autumn sun, off to his usual stop at the bakery (okay, okay, one of his three or four usual stops) when a brownish figure passes him going in the opposite direction.

Luke stops. Spinning left, he sees the figure retreating down the path the way he came, and though all logic tells him it can't be real, he takes off running after it.]

Professor! [Because there is no one else. It must be him.] Professor, wait! Just- hold on a minute, please!

[Luke did not realize a vision from the past could hurt so much. When Layton's back and top hat fade into a false mist and then nothingness, Luke has run himself all the way back across the village, nearer to the rec center. Out of breath and out of spirit, he sits down on a bench to stare at the dirt.

Today is awful.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes... an ability to vanish, or to jump between dimensions! I have faced such people. [Naruto characters are ridiculous stay away.]

But... ah. [His expression sinks.] Your new point seems to settle it. Gai-Sensei didn't respond to me, either. I thought it was part of the test... but if you believe with your heart that this man should have responded to you as well, then... [He closes his eyes.]

Perhaps it is connected! You must be telling... a bittersweet truth.

What exactly is sweet about any of this, then?

That... that their images appeared at all!

How is that sweet? All it did was cause problems for us, and there's no reason for Luceti to 'remember' them or something.

Because seeing them again, if only for an instant is sweet! Or rather it is bittersweet. In this instance... it is more bitter, but that does not eliminate the sweetness!

I rather think you're making the sweet part up, actually.

[Unlike Lee, Luke does not engage in frivolous shouting this time. He sits back down on the now-righted bench, back in a slump.]

[Rock Lee looks on uncertainly and then perches himself nearby on the bench.]

Sometimes... sweetness must be searched for. It is not always so visible!

[He's just making all of this up as he goes, isn't he? Luke looks at Lee and tries not to make faces that reveal his opinions.]

But you're not going to find it if it isn't there.

[Possibly. Who even know. He focuses intensely.]

But! What if, all along, it could be found... [He points dramatically towards Luke's heart.] right here?!

[Pointing dramatically!

A language Luke understands!

But he is not in the mood for pointing activities. He looks at Lee's hand, snorts a short laugh, and shakes his head.]

Is everyone like you where you're from?

[Almost... Lee lowers his hand thoughtfully.]

Ah... To tell the truth, few people seem to embrace youth as much as myself or Gai-Sensei. Gai-Sensei has only been able to pass on one of our jumpsuits to Naruto-kun. But I do hope that if we keep working hard, our other peers will see the true values of the springtime of youth and join us!

[The true values of the springtime of youth...

No. It's like they speak two just-different-enough languages.]

You don't...want to get old, is that it?

I suppose... it is something like that! I do not mind becoming experienced - but I want to make sure my fighting spirit stays forever youthful! Then, life will always be exciting!

But "experienced" isn't really the same thing as "old." You can have a whole lot of experiences in just...you know, a few years.

Ah... That's right! In these last years alone... I am sure that I've been through many experiences that many people who are older never have experienced!

You're talking about while you're here, right? Because it's true for stuff where you come from just as well.

I suppose I am talking about both! Even at home, I believe I have gone through some unique struggles.

That's not unusual. Everyone's struggles are unique, aren't they? [What are they talking about, again? Ah. Right.] So it's not really fair to say that age and experience have to happen at the same time.

I- I see! That's true. Does this mean that are you supporting the springtime of youth!? [He's not sure what this conversation is supposed to be about either.]