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Chapter 61: 6/21-6/22: Maaku Versus Determinism (New)
Music: Tokyo Daylight
Let’s hang with Maruki today.
It’s gotten so hot lately. Really makes me reconsider the lab coat, to be honest.
Can’t be a proper science… guy without a labcoat, though! It’s just not done! I learned that from Hououin Kyouma!
Actually, I’ve been planning a little—uh, well, I should just ask: are you free today?
Maybe a break wouldn’t be so bad… Are you gonna help Maruki with his research?
Ah, great! Well. Come on in. Make yourself at home…
Music: Ideal and the Real
Or will it!? Today’s your lucky day! Please take a look at what’s on this table!
I found these cookies in an underground mall! Now we can have a little break! They’re kind of fancy cookies, too… I thought I’d get a surprise for you, since you’ve been kind enough to indulge me all this time. Go ahead, enjoy!
Oh, I know. As long as we’re talking about cookies…. They actually reminded me about this psychological experiment. The scientists prepared two containers, and put the same kind of cookies in both of them. In one container, they put only one cookie. But the other one was filled with cookies—ten of them. So then they had their subjects try cookies from each container, and asked how their tastes compared. Which container’s cookies were marked as tasting better? Any guesses?
Correct. Easy to guess, huh? There’s something called the “law of scarcity.” It’s about what you’d imagine from the name: people are drawn to things that are more scarce. You can see this law in action just by observing how excited people get over limited-edition merchandise.
In becoming aware of scarcity, we trigger our own desires, and cause a change in our cognition… Not only that—the effect spreads to our senses, and creates a subjective, observable difference in our reality. Basically, your perceptions can be changed by your cognition or preconceptions.
You know, you don’t have to tie everything back to cognition. It’s getting a little forced. And I get what you mean, but I don’t think it can be both “subjective” and “observable” in a scientific sense.
How do you feel about that idea? That your unconscious desires may have changed the taste of the cookie?
“My senses lied to me!” is some prime, grade A Dumb Guy Shit, and I wish I could have picked it.
It probably sounds like an exaggeration, but something about that seems so beautiful to me. Maybe the human heart can falter, or be unreliable sometimes… But if this experiment proves anything, it’s that even a simple preconception can be enough to bring someone more joy. For example, take that story I just told you… What if you’d eaten that one cookie, and it had been the best cookie of your life? Say I never revealed the trick behind it. That cookie would have remained more delicious than usual. It would have been a subjective truth of your reality.
Man, you’re really into this cookie shit, huh?
Basically, what I wanted to say was… If this idea of preconception could be studied further, and actually applied to treating people… I feel like it could help a lot of people. Maybe even more than I could help through counseling. Then again, it relies so heavily on perspective. Some people might call it a lie, or see it as running from problems. …Still, even if that’s true, I still believe that method could save a lot of people.
I really need to watch myself. Whenever I’m talking to you, somehow I always end up going back to my research.
It’s more like… it’s as if I’m talking to an old friend.
I can sense a strong bond of friendship from Maruki…
A bit weird, to be frank…
Ooh! Mindfulness! When we’re bottoming out on SP, there’s a chance for it to recover by a small amount on Joker’s turn! Not a huge chance, though! Only seen it once or twice, actually! …But still!
What I’m going to teach you today is…
Music: Break it Down (Elp Version)
It was supposed to be a chance for us to relax, but it ended up being another big academic discussion…
Hmm… yes… and how does that make you feel?
…I’ve always been like this. I get so hyperfocused on my own research, I don’t notice anything else. Back when I was a student, people kept warning me about that…
All right, see you again soon.
After School → Evening
Music: Beneath the Mask -Rain-
He prolly thinks his money’s just gonna come rolling in.
He does have the upper hand on us, after all…
If that picture got out, who knows what would end up happening to Maaku…
Guess worst-case scenario’d be he gets expelled.
No, there is a more serious alternative… He’s currently under probation, meaning… …I’m so sorry. This whole situation is my fault.
Don’t be like that. It’ll be fine!
>Easy for you to say…
We just gotta fight our way outta this! And when we do, we’ll be taking down a target even the police couldn’t! We’ll be heroes!
Right!
Very well, then. I put my faith in all of you.
Why are people so obsessed with changes in cognition today?
In any case, we’re in big trouble if we can’t change Kaneshiro’s heart. Let’s do this.
At an event in the city, several people started feeling nausea and were taken to the hospital. The health department suspects food poisoning and is carrying out an investigation.
You should be careful too. Even phantom thieves would get dragged down by a stomachache.
Have you ever given it any thought? What is “justice” to you?
I see. That’s one way to look at it, but you only perceive what is on the very surface. The boy who was featured in that TV discussion is still in high school. Akechi, was it? He is well-spoken and skilled in the art of debate—almost as good as I was at that age.
Tonight, we go to the Shinjuku flower shop and buy two Mega Fertilizers for our plant.
Then we head to Kichijoji for some darts since Makoto just joined up.
It wouldn’t be happening if they hadn’t spent years turning society into a capitalist nightmare!
HELL YEAH, DUDE
Both the aggressor and the victim here are looking for easy money. That’s the only reason this happens.
…Eh, on second thought, maybe not. When it comes to the mafia blackmailing literal children, you do not, under any circumstances, gotta hand it to them.
Well, let’s get in there and play some darts.
Music: Kichijoji 199X
Starting with Makoto, of course.
Hey, Maaku, can we go first? I’d like to test this technique I’ve thought up. As for the rules… Let’s try 301. It’s best to start with the basics, no?
Good start from Maaku. But can they keep it up!?
It’s already round 3… Make sure to stay focused!
Yes. The answer is yes.
Makoto, you switched off your targeting computer. What’s wrong?
I see… The positive effects of synergy between two people yield unexpectedly strong results…!
So, that went well. Now we just have to get Ryuji or Morgana for the next round and we’re golden!
Fuck. I guess we just… reload? *sigh* Man, you had to go and ruin it, Ann? Couldn’t let me get through this optimally, nooooo…
Okay, that’s sorted, let’s just.
Huh. Well, that sucks. But what are the odds it happens a thi—
FUCK. Okay, I feel like I get what’s happening now and it’s probably just gonna keep happening, ri—
…We’re actually doing this, huh game? You’re really gonna do me like this?
I have the power to stop this. I HAVE THE POWER TO END YOU. My PS4 external hard drive will relish deleting all data from you, you piece of shit!
I was going to do a funny bit for this one where I take a picture “threatening” my PS4 with a hammer, but I couldn’t find a hammer. Or a screwdriver, for that matter. I don’t actually think I own a toolbox, which is mildly concerning, honestly.
In a desperate bid to avoid the cold hand of what may just be some deterministic RNG bullshit, I go run around a bit and talk to some NPCs.
Oh, hey. Ann’s not here this time, maybe it’s all gonna work out!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
Different path. Same result.
Music: Gate of Steiner
Man, I’m making a lot of references to Steins;Gate today…
Eventually, I come to the possibly-wrong conclusion that who gets chosen is determined by who is standing where during this initial shot, so I stop playing darts entirely when Ann is standing off to the right here and just reload instead.
Another reload, ugh.
Oh? She’s in a different spot! Have we done it!?
FUCK YEAH
We finally found the right worldline! (Well, sort of, it would be better if it was Morgana instead of Ryuji, but eh)
Whoa, 501? Settle down there, partner!
What’s happening here is that Ryuji is now TOO GOOD at darts and wants more of a challenge since he’s Rank 2. Whatever, it won’t affect anything.
I’m getting a handle on the darts minigame, as you can see.
Guess I’m up… I’m goin’ all out!
On to round 3. Hehe, you got this man!
Yep, doing pretty well for myself.
Heh… Man, I feel so motivated right now! Maybe ‘cause I knew you were countin’ on me?
Maaku gains Proficiency +2.
We got both a hat trick and a high ton, so that’s two extra points. Makes sense.
Maaku gains Proficiency +1. That’s the normal reward for not getting any bonuses.
We can train up, and have fun at the same time. This is a pretty handy place.
Well, see you around.
Anon: NO! Justice ain’t that simple
Anon: they’re up to something
Anon: NO. They piss me off.
Anon: Akechi-kun is right!
Anon: they got a criminal, so ya
Haven’t there been a lot of pictures leaked lately?
Want me to get you a job? It’s real easy.
So many weirdos lately… Is it that psychotic breakdown thing?
Been hard to meet my quota… I gotta find some suckers.
Anon: Justice? Sounds sketchy
Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental Version)
Early Morning
(Knowledgeable Office Worker) Yeah, I read something about that online. The beautiful fortune teller, or something… I hear she’s pretty good. A lot of people say her predictions come true.
(Fortune Telling Aficionado) Some say she can divine your very destiny. Maybe she can tell me who my soulmate will be… …I think I’ll pay her a visit.
A fortune teller in Shinjuku, huh… Didn’t we see her when we met with that journalist? She seems pretty popular. She said she’s there at night. Should we pay her a visit, too?
That floating bank really reflects Kaneshiro’s personality. He’s flying around so no one can trace his steps… He doesn’t trust anyone.
Wow, you come up with that yourself? What a cutting insight. It’s an incredibly obvious visual metaphor, Makoto, please don’t baby me about it.
…Sorry.
I bet security’s tight in there too. That’s why we should get moving soon. Why don’t we go to the Palace today?
You know, we could… But I have this thing… Ugh, such a pain, you know how it is…
Understood. I’m sure you have your reasons as the leader. I’ll leave my schedule open after school, so talk to me anytime.
Maaku didn’t actually have any plans, but he’ll be damned if he’s gonna let the newbie push him around!
Early Morning → Afternoon
He’s been demanding money, but I choose to ignore those messages.
Is that OK? Have any scary men shown up at your house?
No.
Kaneshiro still has the photographs in his possession, remember? Perhaps that advantage is why he doesn’t feel any urgency to act.
So do you think we’re safe for now then?
>I mean, it’s the mafia, guys. Keep an eye out anyway.
Just like Yusuke said, those pictures are bad news for us.
We will need to change Kaneshiro’s heart as soon as possible.
Agreed. I will do everything I can to help.
Afternoon → After School
Music: Tokyo Daylight
Music: Kichijoji 199X
…Anyway, the punchline to the asinine savescumming trial I just went through is that the only people available to hang today are Takemi and Ann, neither of whom I’m currently prioritizing, so… back to darts!
We’re finally gonna watch this motherfucking cat try to throw darts, and I’m here for it.
Woo! Another high ton!
What is that cat doi—oh god, everybody get down!
Unfortunately, we don’t get a good image of the jump thanks to the iris out, but it’s still very funny.
Pretty good accuracy, all things considered.
So, now we’re into round 3… We gotta really pay attention to the score now!
Man, you sure got a way with words! I think I’ve got this now!
It was because I could feel your motivation. It made me able to try harder than usual.
No thanks, Yusuke. We got all we needed for today.
Ah, don’t be so glum about it. I’m not sure I have it in me to play another round after stifling my laughter at the cat trying to do it for so long.
However, it may be best not to be overeager. The challenge can wait until another time!
Maaku gains Proficiency +1, and an extra Proficiency +1 for getting a high ton.
Now then, farewell.
Well, at least we’re done with darts. For now, anyway.