[Video]

[safevoyages]

[The video opens to a very nice view of Umi's right shoulder and the bookcases in the library behind her. Technology of this level is completely out of Umi's grasp, given the time she came from. The most modern pieces of technology she had access to were a landline telephone and an old tv.]

Good morning! I think I've finally managed to work out how this computer works. If I'm right then I should be recording a message to all of you right now. I hope you're all doing well today. I have a few questions to ask, if that's alright.

[Though most of Umi's face can't be seen from the position of the laptop, it's possible to catch the corner of a smile on her face before she goes on with her questions. She's aware that acting too normal might result in her disappearing, so hopefully this first question won't seem all that normal to most people.]

Would some of you be interested in helping me build a flagpole? It could go just outside the dorms so everyone could see it coming and going from their rooms. I've never made one myself before, so I'm not sure how much help I would be, however I'd be more than happy to make lunch for each person that helps out. [...] It would be a good way of skipping class and saving up your meal tickets, if you want to look at it from that point of view.

[Hopefully phrasing it like that will get a few people interested. If not she can always settle for going to the gardening club, borrowing a few canes used for growing climbing plants and then fashioning her own miniature flagpole that can be put up outside her dorm window.]

Secondly, I... Haven't made much of an attempt to use my phone yet. I had no idea phones could be so small, or that they could work without a cord attached. Whenever I try using it a message comes up asking me to pick an application for it, but there's so much to choose from I'm really spoiled for choice. Could anyone more experienced with these sorts of phones give me a few suggestions on what to get? Thank you very much.

[With her message finished, Umi moves forward in her seat and nods her head to the laptop. Even with the awkward position of the laptop its possible to catch Umi dropping her head forward for a moment before it goes back to a view of her shoulder again. Aah, technology.]

Comments

video;

[extraordinarily]

[ Haruhi merely smiles at this. It's kind of refreshing to see someone who's so nice around here, unlike the majority of jerks. And other people, too. ]

It depends on what exactly you plan to do with your phone the most, or what your hobbies are. That's how I usually choose my applications, anyway.

video;

[safevoyages]

I'm really not sure, I think I'll be mostly using it to keep in contact with people. It's going to take a little while to get used to the idea of using a phone for anything else other than that.

[Hmm, but let's see. Hobbies...] Do you know if there's an application for recipes and home cooking? Or maybe one that covers what the weather will be, like a forecast? I'm not sure if that's a long shot or not.

video;

[extraordinarily]

Hmm, that certainly is true, at the very least. Though I'm sure there should be a weather application, though I've never used one for cooking... since I can just search recipes on the internet or check the library.

video;

[safevoyages]

I guess using an application for recipes would be a bit silly when there are perfectly good recipe books around. My phone would only end up getting dirty that way anyway. Once I'm back in my room I'll look at what weather applications there are, there might even be one that covers temperature and wind speed too.

video;

[extraordinarily]

I'm 100% certain that there's one!

video;

[safevoyages]

You are? Well that's wonderful, thank you very much for your help. Hopefully I won't have too much trouble finding the right weather application. If i do though, would you mind if I got in contact with you again?

video;

[extraordinarily]

I don't mind at all; it's no problem off my back.

video

[onewayroad]

[Yeah, guess who stole a computer from the computer lab sometime in the last week? This guy. So he now has one for his dorm room, which you can see behind him.]

Just pick one at random. Most of them are pointless here anyway.

video

[safevoyages]

And good morning to you too, Accelerator. [Even if he's saying they're pointless, Umi smiles back through the laptop at him... Even if the video still isn't capturing all of her face.]

If you don't mind, perhaps you could tell me which of them aren't pointless then.

[onewayroad]

The ones you might possibly have a use for.

Seeing as I know jack shit about you, I can't exactly say beyond that.

[safevoyages]

I suppose meeting someone hanging from a building doesn't really give you much to go off of. [She sounds a little down upon saying that, though she's trying to be lighthearted about their first meeting. It was a pretty silly way to meet someone after all, being in the afterlife aside anyway.]

Then what about you, which application do you have?

[onewayroad]

Audio analyzer.

[safevoyages]

[Audio what now. She thinks for a moment, but the best she can come up with is that an audio analyzer is an app that analyzes audio, which... Doesn't tell her a lot.]

I think you might need to explain how it works exactly.

[tenminutes]

What's the flagpole for?

[ This is a very important question. And not just because Yuri can't cook so she lives.. lives? survives? Whatever she does, it's off of stolen meal tickets. ]

[safevoyages]

For what anyone wants to use it for. [She's not sure how many other people might have flags they want to fly, but well, at least the option is there if anyone wants to use it.] Though I'll be using it to raise signal flags. It's something I used to do back home every single day, so if possible I'd like to do it here too.

[tenminutes]

Signal flags for what?

[ There aren't any boats here.. ]

[safevoyages]

Sending messages, contacting people... That sort of thing.

[Even if there are no boats this is still the afterlife. What she's trying to do is certainly a long shot, but if there's even a small chance that she might be able to see her father by doing this then she'll do it. Also, old habits die hard.]

I know it seems a little silly given where we are, but it could be fun doing something like this.

[tenminutes]

No, I can see it being useful. Though maybe not for the same things you're thinking.

[ After all, this girl is definitely not an NPC-- no NPC would raise flags. But she's not exactly SSS-savvy or anything. ]

What's your name?

[safevoyages]

If we can both see it as being useful then I don't think it matters if we aren't thinking the same. I'm just glad to hear someone else might be able to get some use out of it.

[She would end up feeling selfish otherwise, being the one asking for a flagpole that only she would end up using.]

My name is Umi Matsuzaki. It's nice to meet you.

[mightletyouknowme]

Why do you want to make a flagpole? [That seems like an odd request.] But if it's for lunch, I'll find someone to do it. [Lunch made just for her would be nice.]

[safevoyages]

[It does sound a little odd, but in a way that's what Umi was hoping for. She was told acting normal might mean she would disappear, so hopefully this will give her a few points on the 'not normal' side of things.]

So myself or anyone else who wants to use it can raise whatever flags they might want to. [Thanks for offering to help out Sena, even if you're just going to give all the work to someone else.] Make sure you tell whoever you find that they will be getting lunch out of it as well, it wouldn't be fair otherwise.

[mightletyouknowme]

Huh? It's going to be a group lunch? [Is that better or worse? A small lunch would be fun and build bonds. A group thing meant the chance to make more friends...]

Anyway, it's not like it's hard for somebody like me to do.

[safevoyages]

Something like that. I was thinking of making everyone their own lunch boxes, I saw a few disposable containers in the convenience store so it shouldn't be too hard to do. [That way everyone has the option of taking their lunch and eating it where they want. Plus it would be a little easier to make and set up than a fully laid out meal.

But hmm, 'somebody like me' huh?] Are you be a member of the student council too, Sena?

OH! Thanks for telling me, I didn't know she'd gotten one!

[mightletyouknowme]

I'm the most important member. [She smiles and holds up a finger as if she's making a point.] So something like this is simple. We won't even need anybody else.

No worries! I almost forgot about it myself!

[safevoyages]

[That must mean she's the president then, right? Umi had no idea that she was rooming with the president this whole time!]

Even so, I wouldn't want you to abuse any student council privileges you might have for something like this... Though it would be a huge help.