Intellectual conversation.

2007/02/25 20:35

In the school library.

Yes, the same library that has all those helpful literature, science, and history texts.

… Actually, it shames me to admit that when I was a student (okay, I still am a student),

I never got very much use out of it, so I’m not familiar with how it works…

The same library that has not a single entertaining book unrelated to study.

Yes, out of those school libraries packed full of (supposedly) intellectual textbooks…

… I have heard that some actually have copies of My Girlfriend’s a Geek, which is centered around distinctly unintellectual conversation between Y-ko and yours truly.

… It’s a thing to be grateful for.

Y-KO:	… I guess Japan’s education has really broadened its horizons recently…
ME:	It starts with “M,” so imagine looking down the row and seeing Macbeth right next to My Girlfriend’s a Geek.
Y-KO:	Yeah, I don’t think so.
	Shouldn’t it be organized by category? Then it’d go Junai Romantica, My Girlfriend’s a Geek.
ME:	…… Junai Romantica?
Y-KO:	The new volume is out this month.
ME:	Another BL manga?
Y-KO:	Close! Junjo Romantica is the comic version.
ME:	… Okay, I have no idea whether that’s a novel or comic,
	but I do know that there’s no library that stocks tons of BL!
Y-KO:	Huh? If they have our book, then surely it can’t be that big of a stretch, right?
ME:	……!
Y-KO:	… Right?
ME:	……

True, I guess it’s not that big of a stretch…

… Wait, what?

* Junjo/Junai series: The Junjo series is a manga while the Junai series is a novel. The Junjo Romantica manga is drawn by Shungiku Nakamura, while the Junai Romantica novels are written by Miyako Fujisaki with illustrations and concept by Shungiku Nakamura. In fact, the Junai novels are a story written by the Junjo manga character Akihiko Usami. In other words, it’s a story by Akihiko Usami told through the pen of Miyako Fujisaki. Confusing, huh?

Y-KO:	Well, if we’re going to get our book put in school libraries,
	then we probably ought to have some intellectual conversation sometimes, right?
ME:	… Intellectual conversation?
Y-KO:	What’s with that Can you do that? glance?
ME:	Ooh, close! It was actually You can’t, can you?
Y-KO:	How rude! I’ll have you know I’ve got an intelligent conversation or two in me!
ME:	Oh yeah?
Y-KO:	Follow me, Sebas! We’re embarking on a stimulating exchange of ideas!
ME:	… No idea what you’re so excited about, but I’m game.

Let’s see what you’ve got, Y-ko.

Y-KO:	So, the yen is down!
ME:	Its exchange rate against both the dollar and the euro are brutal right now.
Y-KO:	……
ME:	……
Y-KO:	…… Okay, I give up.
ME:	… Huh? What do you mean, you give up?!

Is that the end of it? Already?!

And what exactly did you think was “intellectual” about this, Y-ko?!

Y-KO:	… I guess charging into battle using your specialty of economic analysis was a bad idea.
ME:	This was a battle?
Y-KO:	It was a mistake to challenge someone who reads the newspaper cover to cover to a discussion about the Japanese economy. If I had to make a comparison,
	it was like Amuro attempting to fight the Sazabi before he had even read the manual.

* Sazabi: A psycommu-equipped Newtype mobile suit that appears in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. It utilizes the psychowaves emitted by Newtypes to control all the onboard systems. A very advanced craft miles beyond what was seen in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, where Amuro operated his first mobile suit with the manual in hand.

ME:	I’m afraid your example is over my head…
	And isn’t it normal for people to read the paper cover to cover?
Y-KO:	The newspaper exists solely for the TV guide section!
ME:	Only the TV section? No wonder you go through the paper so quickly!

I see!

The age-old mystery has finally been solved!

Plus, we get the Nikkei paper, which has the TV guide hidden in the middle. Must be hard to search for it!

Y-KO:	Don’t look at me like that, you first-page Sebas!
ME:	First-page Sebas?!
Y-KO:	First-page Sebas… Actually, wait. That’s kind of moe.
	Imagine the first page, covered with little Sebases.
ME:	Actually, I think that sounds more like horror than moe…

A first page covered with Sebas.

That’s an image that can only inspire fear.

If I saw it in a dream, it would be a nightmare by default.

Y-KO:

Oh, crap! We’ve lost the topic! This isn’t intellectual at all!

Did you just notice?

And I didn’t realize you were still focused on your “intellectual” discussion.

Y-KO:	Okay! Here we go with round two!
ME:	Well, I’m game… but no giving up right off the bat like last time, okay?
Y-KO:	… Did you know that Toru Furuya, who played the voice of Amuro Ray, also played the protagonist of Star of the Giants?
ME:	I give!

Voice actors?

And what happened to “intellectual”?

Y-KO:	And of course, you’re aware that Mr. Furuya also played the great Tuxedo Mask, mystery thief of Sailor Moon?
ME:	I told you, I give up!
Y-KO:	Also, Athrun (Gundam SEED) and Kaworu Nagisa (Evangelion) are played by the same actor.
	Murrue (Gundam SEED) was done by the person who played Misato (Evangelion) and Usagi (Sailor Moon). Also, Domon (Mobile Fighter G Gundam) and Yzak (Gundam SEED) are the same person…
	Oh, and I think he’s also Suneo from Doraemon, right?
ME:	W-well, I can at least recognize the names of some of those characters!
Y-KO:	Plus, isn’t the actor who plays Archer also the one who does Atobe?
ME:	Are you raising the difficulty level on these references?
	I’ve never heard of these characters before!
Y-KO:	What?! You don’t know them?!
ME:	I can’t believe you actually expected me to be familiar with them!
Y-KO:	Okay, here’s a hint!

ME:	That’s supposed to be a hint?
Y-KO:	Yep. Now repeat it together with me.
	Be awed at the sight of my prowess! And go!
ME:	Be aw…
	No way, I am not doing this.
Y-KO:	Be awed at the sight of my prowess! And go!
ME:	I told you, no way! Why do I have to repeat it?
Y-KO:	Because I was surprised at how embarrassing it was to say on my own!
	It’s not fair that I’m the only one who feels ashamed!
ME:	So you do have a sense of shame!

* Prince of Tennis’s Keigo Atobe and Fate/stay night’s Archer were both played by actor Junichi Suwabe. He’s also responsible for roles in Nana (Kyosuke Takakura), Nodame Cantabile (Toru Kikuchi), LoveCom (Kuniumi Maitake), Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (Sting Oakley, Malik Yardbirds, Mars Simeon). Is there no limit to his talent?! “Be awed at the sight of my prowess” is the catchphrase of PoT’s Keigo Atobe.