F1。カレ戦

FRENCOUNTER #1 "he"

Takami Wh-Whoah, Mister Salaryman...is this li'l buddy, um, an acquaintance of yours? Salaryman You...could say that, yes. (Although I don't think I'd call it a "li'l buddy".) Takami It seems to me like he's kinda mad...but that's okay! We've got just the thing to turn that around! Takami (Hint: We just learned about it!) Salaryman (I know what you're referring to, Takami.) Takami (Okay, just making sure!!) Salaryman (All right...I suppose that it's time to put this "Frencounter" thing to the test.)

PHASE 1 START

PHASE 1 OPTIONS INTERACT > "Apologise" (Salaryman), "Call Over" (Takami) PRESENT > Business Card CONSULT > New! FLEE
INTERACT, PHASE 1
 INTERACT > "Apologise" (Salaryman) The Salaryman steps forward. Salaryman I apologise for attempting to bludgeon you with my briefcase. The Salaryman bows deeply. This is followed by a moment of slightly uncomfortable silence. Otherworldly Text Box he starin Takami Mister Salaryman? Salaryman ...I take it that it doesn't understand human language, does it. Takami Yeah, I think most cats don't. Salaryman (That was kind of embarrassing.) The Salaryman returns to his default position. /INTERACT INTERACT > "Call Over" (Takami) Takami floats forward. Takami Here, kitty kitty. ♪ Takami attempts to beckon the creature by patting her thighs with her hands. Eerie silence follows. Otherworldly Text Box he glarin Takami ...Um, somehow I get the feeling that it's more interested in you than me, Mister Salaryman. Did...something happen between the two of you? Salaryman It's, uh, it's a long story. Takami returns to her default position. /INTERACT
PRESENT, PHASE 1
 PRESENT > Business Card Salaryman (A business card...how should I go about using this?) The player can choose between "Formally Introduce Self" and "Throw It". IF the player chooses "Formally Introduce Self": Salaryman I am a salaryman, and I look forward to working together with you through this battle. The Salaryman steps forward and humbly offers the creature his business card, bowing as he extends it with both hands. Otherworldly Text Box he starin Salaryman ... Takami ...Mister Salaryman, I don't think cats are trained in business etiquette. Salaryman I am now painfully aware of this. /if IF the player chooses "Throw It": Note: This is the only correct choice for Phase 1. All other options will cause the Phase to loop. Salaryman (Perhaps I can distract it with one of these...) With a practised flick of the hand, the Salaryman tosses one of his business cards in the creature's general direction. A exclamation point of surprise ("!") appears above its head, before it immediately chases it down with a pounce. Otherworldly Text Box he sniffin Takami Ooh! Good idea, Mister Salaryman! Salaryman It looks like that distracted it... Takami Now it's time to show it we mean no harm! Salaryman (But how exactly do we go about that...) /if /PRESENT
CONSULT, PHASE 1
 Takami S-So you met this cat before, Mister Salaryman? Salaryman Er...yeah. Don't worry about it, Takami. Salaryman (If I can help it, I'd rather not recount having run away from a cat as a grown man.) Takami I'm surprised, though...there aren't really all too many creatures that spend time in this part of town. It's kind of deserted, actually. Salaryman Really, now...that's interesting to hear. Takami That must mean you're super lucky! Salaryman I-I wouldn't go that far. Salaryman Anyway...what do you suppose we should do about this cat? It's rather aggressive. Takami Hmm...maybe we should try distracting it with something first. Salaryman Distracting it...okay. (I wonder if I have something on hand that'll do the trick...) /CONSULT
ENEMY TURN, PHASE 1
 IF the player has not PRESENTed the Business Card yet: Otherworldly Text Box he still mad The creature lunges at the Salaryman, and the word "DEFLECT!" appears on-screen. The player is able to deflect the attack with a well-timed press of the A button, after which the Salaryman will parry the creature with his briefcase and avoid taking damage. /if IF the player has PRESENTed the Business Card: The creature is visibly distracted by the tossed business card, nibbling on it intermittently. Otherworldly Text Box he bitin Takami Aw, it's playing with your business card! Salaryman I guess this gives us an opening. Salaryman (Now I need to show it that I mean no harm...) /if

PHASE 2 START

PHASE 2 OPTIONS INTERACT > "Approach Quickly" (Salaryman), "Approach Slowly" (Salaryman), "Approach Normally" (Takami) PRESENT > Business Card CONSULT FLEE INTERACT, PHASE 2 INTERACT > "Approach Quickly" (Salaryman) Salaryman (Let's try approaching it.) The Salaryman walks towards the creature at a brisk pace, extending his hand. Salaryman Here, kitty... An exclamation point of surprise ("!") appears above the creature's head. It immediately lunges at the Salaryman. Note: This abruptly initiates the ENEMY TURN! /INTERACT INTERACT > "Approach Slowly" (Salaryman) Note: This is the only correct choice for Phase 2. All other options will cause the Phase to loop. Salaryman (Let's try approaching it, but...with care. I don't want to startle it.) The Salaryman takes slow, deliberate steps in the direction of the creature. Takami watches intently from the background, bringing her hands to her face in anticipation. Salaryman Easy does it... The creature looks up from the business card and glares at the Salaryman. Otherworldly Text Box he watchin /INTERACT INTERACT > "Approach Normally" (Takami) Takami I'll give it a shot! Takami floats over to the creature, which is still busy playing with the Salaryman's business card, and hovers closely around it. Takami Hey there, li'l guy. ♪ Havin' fun with Mister Salaryman's cool business card? Eerie silence follows. The creature expresses no interest whatsoever in Takami Takami ...T-Totally ignored... Takami Mister Salaryman, I'm just a ghost, so I can't pet cats or anything like that. If somebody's gonna show our little buddy that we mean no harm, it's gotta be you! Salaryman All right. (It seems like there's no way around it...I'm going to need to approach it myself.) Takami returns to her default position. /INTERACT PRESENT > Business Card The Salaryman tosses another business card in the creature's general direction. This time, however, it does not move -- it is still engrossed in the previous one. Otherworldly Text Box he occupied Salaryman (...It would appear that it's satisfied with just one.) /PRESENT
ENEMY TURN, PHASE 2
 IF the player chose "Approach Quickly": The creature lunges at the Salaryman from close quarters. It is still possible to deflect its attack (and thus the word "DEFLECT!" still appears on the screen), but the window in which to execute this is exceedingly brief. After completing its attack, the creature returns to its business card, and the Salaryman returns to his default position. Salaryman (...Okay, maybe I startled it. Let's try this from a different angle...) /if IF the player chose "Approach Slowly": The creature does not attack. It watches the Salaryman intensely from its position. Salaryman (...So far so good.) /if IF the player chose any other option: The creature does not attack. It is absorbed in its activity of tearing apart the Salaryman's tossed business card. Salaryman (It looks like it's still distracted.) /if /ENEMY TURN

PHASE 3 START

PHASE 3 OPTIONS INTERACT (sparkling button) > "Pet the Cat" (Salaryman) PRESENT > Business Card (same as before) CONSULT FLEE
INTERACT, PHASE 3
 INTERACT > "Pet the Cat" (Salaryman) Salaryman (All right...let's do this.) The Salaryman takes a few more slow, careful steps towards the creature, until he is within arm's reach of it. Salaryman H-Hey there, little guy. Salaryman (It still hasn't attacked me...) Otherworldly Text Box he watchin Otherworldly Text Box he waitin Otherworldly Text Box he... The background (and Takami) fades away to blackness, leaving the Salaryman and the creature alone on-screen. Text Box he never knew kindness. Shunned for its unsettling appearance, the cat wandered the underworld in suffocating loneliness for what seemed like an eternity. Text Box he never understood why. Pelted with boots, turned away at doorsteps, cursed at by strangers, it knew nothing more than rejection. Text Box he didn't ask for this. It was merely born -- a hideous cat in an unforgiving, selfish world of all-consuming darkness. Text Box he hated the world into which it emerged. And thus it followed suit, returning hatred with hatred, and turned to a life of crime. Text Box he only wanted love. The background (and Takami) fade back in, and the Frencounter returns to normal. Takami Um, Mister Salaryman? Are you okay? You...looked like you were kind of having a moment with that cat. Salaryman A-Ah, I'm...just fine. Don't worry. Otherworldly Text Box he watchin Salaryman (I don't know why, but somehow...I know what I must do.) The Salaryman kneels down before the cat, slowly raising his hand and then petting its head. There is a moment's pause as the man pets it. Otherworldly Text Box ... Salaryman ... Otherworldly Text Box he lovin it Salaryman There, there. The Salaryman rises to his feet. The cat looks up in his direction. Salaryman Sorry, little guy. I don't have any treats or milk for you, but I can at least do that. Otherworldly Text Box he existentially fulfilled Salaryman (Its expression hasn't changed one bit, but somehow, it doesn't feel hostile any more...) Salaryman I guess we're on good terms now, huh? Takami Looks like it! Amazing job, Mister Salaryman! You're a regular cat whisperer! Otherworldly Text Box he friend Confetti falls from the sky, and the words "NEW FRIEND" appear prominently in the centre of the screen. The Frencounter ends.

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