un: jMan93 | video

[critpei]

[ The video starts with a boy in a baseball cap, wearing a bright grin and lifting a hand in greeting. An I-come-in-peace kind of greeting. He's in his bedroom, sitting on his unmade bed and while his room isn't messy per se (he hasn't been here long enough to accumulate a mess), there are a few shirts haphazardly draped over the back of his headboard. ]

S'up, Etraya? The name's Junpei Iori! I'm pretty new here. Still getting the lay of the land and all, but uh...

[ He rubs the back of his neck, glancing past the camera for a moment. ]

My birthday's on the 16th. Which I guess is operation day? So I'm thinking of celebrating early. Anyone wanna maybe...hang?

[ God. That feels so pathetic. Like coming on here and pretty much announcing he's a friendless loser. Junpei quickly pivots: ]

Or I guess you could just give some recommendations of good places to check out and party it up? What place has the best food or where can a guy get a good cake...that kinda thing? Yeah, sure. I can probably go find somewhere on my own, but the best reviews are usually word of mouth!

[ Junpei shifts, palms planted on his knees as he leans forward. ]

Sooo, lay it on me, folks. Where would you spend your sweet seventeen in this place?

Comments

[critpei]

Dude.....seriously? Work and a burnt cake to cap it all off? That's just a bummer.

[ Of course. Junpei gets to spend his actual birthday on a planet that's on the chopping block and it doesn't sound like it's going to be a Very Fun Time. So maybe he can relate....a little? Maybe work and a burnt cake is actually a step up? ]

But if you could have done anything else and chose how you wanted to spend it, what would you have done?

[cheffeur]

Well, none of my friends are particularly gifted in the kitchen, so the fact that they spent all that time and effort for me was touching. It would have been simple for them to go out and procure one instead, but instead they truly wanted to try.

[He had to think for a moment on if he would do anything differently, though! He's not usually one for wistfulness.]

...I'm not sure if I would change anything, to be honest. Perhaps I could have withdrawn from one of the meetings with some of the more pedantic councillors, or made an excuse to leave earlier?

And yourself? It sounds as if you're looking for something exciting and lively. What would be your ideal?

[critpei]

[ Junpei has to laugh when instead of going along with a what-if scenario, the other guy chooses to say he wouldn't really change a thing. Here he had the opportunity to dream up just about anything and instead he chooses just a couple of hours off of work. Geesh. His friends must have their work cut out for them! ]

Maybe you oughta come party with me, then, since it seems like you missed out? It was cool of your friends to do that, though. So I won't fault them for the cake. I'd probably burn one too if I tried to make it. And that's why I stick to the simple things...like instant noodles!

[ It's basically his entire diet. ]

But maaaan, if I had to pick my ideal? I'd probably start it off with going to see a baseball game. And then, when my team wins because it's my birthday so they gotta, I'd head out for an enormous sushi spread. Maybe get some people together. Play some games. I think only part of that is possible here, though. Unless you came across any Etrayan baseball teams during your exploration?