Location: Pinefall High.
Phase: Morning Phase.
Date: 06.09.1994.
Weather: Sunny
As the music continued in the background, the words of the man before them, who could really be none other than Mr. Oceandrop, resonated like a challenge in the crisp, clear air. The scent of pines and firs was stronger than ever and sun peeked out from behind the clouds to light up the parking lot where everybody had gathered. Twenty-nine students in total, a handful of staff members and one man who seemed to take it all in with something akin to pride brewing within him. Even that intense stare of his seemed to magnify as his anticipation grew, awaiting for the first one to take and answer his words that he had spoken.
And indeed, there was an answer.
First one. Then another. Then a third.
Because like it or not, this appearance and the words that he had said provoked a reaction from each and every student present, one way or another.
... Which might have been exactly what Mr. Oceandrop was hoping for.
To see how each individual student would react to such a bizarre situation.
"I suppose it feels like... hm. Like the ides of winter have just left, and spring has started to arrive, and I was there to witness the first flower blooming? Something like that, maybe? How do you feel, principal?"
"...whoa."
"I'm feeling a bit peckish, sir!"
"..."
“I feel like you should apologize to owls everywhere, sir.”
“I’m feeling quite splendid, Principal!”
"R-reasonably okay."
"Wondrously. Really looking forward to spending the year here."
[Lifts a Picture.]
[Shrugs.]
[Waves.]
“Fine, just fine.”
"Damn hungry is how I'm feeling!"
"... A bit chilly, if you must know."
"Like I just spent a week getting into Losersville!"
"...... Hahaha."
"Wondering if I made a mistake, coming here."
"Ready to learn of new points of view, sir!"
"Like the only sane person in this sorry little place."
[Hides behind Elaine.]
"Very well. Thank you for asking!"
"Eh, could be worse. At least the place is nice to look at."
"Ugh, whatever. Can we hurry this along?"
"Like a million bucks now that I'm outta that car!"
"Almost like there's a new adventure to be had."
"FREAKIN' EXCITED!"
"A-ah, yes, um, I'm doing very well, sir!"
"... Tch. Who cares?"
"My butt's sore!"
And as that cascading wave of various emotions, answers and words poured out... the principal began to laugh, an aura of cheerfulness and clear pride rising out of him.
"Individuality! Good! That's exactly what I wanted to see!" He finally roared, once he had calmed himself. "To have so many students who can express their own selves with just how they answer a simple question... that is great to see! After all, that is part of why you all have been invited here, and why I so wished to see that each one of you would make that journey that, no doubt, made many of you hesitate."
With a wave of his hand, Mr. Oceandrop made the marching band stop. The melody that had been surrounding them died down, but its echo still lingered in the air. Taking a good, long look at the group of students, Mr. Oceandrop rubbed his beard like he was deep in thought. Or, perhaps, he was searching for the right words to continue with. As he did this, other faculty members began to appear. There was a rather beautiful woman who gave Ms. Leuzinger the stink eye, a rather witty-looking rotund man who was grinning and a quiet woman whose eyes were as cold as ice. They, together with the other three who already were present, took their places on both sides of Mr. Oceandrop.
"Individuality is also something that is sorely needed in this day and age. As society grows and the amount of people increases, it becomes harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. To fall and disappear into the mass, to become just another nobody... that is something so easy to do it is frightening. And that's exactly why it should not be done!" He slammed his fist into his open hand. "But, alas, society tends to look down upon individuality. And as our attempts are rebuked, we rebuke the society in kind. No matter the reason, when our desire or need to be who we are is seen as 'wrong' or 'different' by the society at large, we distance ourselves from it and retreat into our own shells."
Those intense eyes scanned the group of students, and a shiver ran through them all.
"... You know what I talk of, don't you?" He asked, this time with a more quiet voice. "It is the reason why you are all here."
That was exactly it, wasn't it? To be different, whether through choice or due to circumstances out of one's control, meant that you weren't the same as others. Society as a concept only came about because 'people were the same as other people'. We find common ground in those that are similar to us and flock together with them, because we feel safe with them. We know what and who they are, and that's why we think we can trust them. So, when someone like you, who is different from those others, comes along... a rift appears. Someone who is different has no common ground, and thus, cannot be trusted. We separate ourselves from those who are not like us.
That is why we become rejected by society, or reject society ourselves.
"Indeed. You've come here because it is our hope that we can heal that rift that has appeared between you young people and the society!" Mr. Oceandrop continued. "Not by making you just like everyone else, but by giving you a society that is as different as a society can be. You are all your own islands here, and it is up to you to make bridges between those islands. Of course, we are here to help, but the attempt must come from yourselves. We simply... give you a place where to spread those wings you might be afraid to spread. A society that does not judge you, in a school where you are among those like you, in a town away from the rest of the world! It is my firm belief that if given the right environment, and if you have the will for it, no wound or rift is too large to be mended!"
Yes, now it was easier to feel than ever. This booming charisma that was natural gift given to only few certainly resided within Mr. Oceandrop. No matter how his words resonated within you, it was undeniable that they did resonate. It was hard to look away, and even harder not to listen. Because what he said came with such a confidence that it nearly demanded to be listened to.
"It is my wish that once this year is over, you can return to that society that you rejected or the one that rejected you, look it straight in the eye... and give it the old sucker-punch below the belt!" Mr. Oceandrop exclaimed with a grin. "Healing is not the same as becoming uniform with the masses! It is being able to look at that difference between you and society and say 'So what?'. You can function as the other members of that society do, but you can also remain as yourself. As long as you have the courage needed to not care what others say and wisdom to know when to bend or ask others to bend. Those compromises, from ourselves or others, are what allows us to be ourselves even in the mass known as society."
Far above you all, clouds had all but disappeared. It might have been the beginning of autumn, but there was still light out. Almost like the sun itself was trying to encourage you.
"Because society is not evil and it is not the enemy. It is just another person, one made out of many, that we have to learn to live with," Mr. Oceandrop explained. "We live under its roof, we obey its rules. But we also demand it to do the same when it comes to our own behavior. That two-way street is what, I believe, leads to a healthy life. Loving ourselves, our individuality, but also knowing when to respect others and what they think."
Suddenly, Mr. Oceandrop spread his hands. Either he was trying to engulf the sky, or then he was about to make some grand announcement for the students.
As it turned out.
It was the latter.
"So! First Class of Pinefall High School for Troubled Youth, welcome!" he roared over the parking lot. "Welcome to a place where you can heal the wounds of your self, where you can learn to live within a society, and where you'll understand the importance of listening to others!"
Ah.
Now it hit you.
... It really was starting.
Your year away from home.
In a town, far from home, and with 28 other students standing around you.
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory.
Phase: Evening Phase.
Date: 06.09.1994.
Weather: Sunny
[BGM]
The day so far had been... a long one. A very, very long one. After the principal's speech, there had been just a moment to take your stuff to the dormitory building (rooms had been assigned for each of you, so there was choosing one of your own. A pity.) before the lot of you had been whisked away to a tour of the campus grounds and the buildings there. You had been shown many of the classrooms (and most of them were empty), the grand hallways, the faculty offices, the sports grounds (both the football field and the pool were rather grand sights), nurse's office, cafeteria (which only served to increase your hunger) and so, so many other places that would become even more familiar to you during the course of the following year.
Then, and only then, were the students allowed to move to the cafeteria to eat. The food there was surprisingly good, coming from the own chefs of the Oceandrop Program. Though then again, after a bus trip like that, just about anything would have tasted good. Nevertheless, you were able to fill your stomachs and then a mere ten minutes of peace and quiet before the whole circus started up again.
This time it was the personal introductions of the various teachers and staff present at the campus grounds. It seemed that most of them slept at one of the side-buildings, while few commuted from the town proper. Mister Oceandrop apparently had his own room somewhere, but nobody exactly knew where. As it had turned out, your philanthropist of a benefactor was quite the mysterious fella.
---------- But even that chaos had come to an end, eventually.
Many, many hours after you had arrived, you finally had a chance to relax and take moment to yourself. The whole afternoon and evening were for you to use, though the curfew was at 22:00 sharp, and running afoul the rules was perhaps not the wisest thing to do on the first day. Even more than that, your day had been a long one. It was unlikely that you'd be able to do anything else than sleep tonight. So, you'd have to take the most out of this chance that you had now.
... Judging from the sounds, there were some students horsing around at the common room, but just as many had went on their own ways.
The question was...
... How were you gonna spend this afternoon?
[The Free Event Period begins!]
[Acquired map of Road's End!]
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