Magical Lotus - Episode 1 (Complete)

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm glad to hear it. Hopefully, I'll be the only one they'll have to gather for."

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm glad to hear it. Hopefully, I'll be the only one they'll have to gather for."

>"Well, I ain't heard talk of nobody else takin' nose dives, so you got the place all to yerself. But we all oughta get goin' anyway, let you get some rest. Ain't that right, Okuu?"
>Utsuho's face instantly turns deep red, and she rises out her chair very quickly.
>"Unyuuu! How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?!"
>"... innnn public?" Marissa drawls with a sly look on her face. The nurse's red face takes on a decidedly pinkish shade, which seems to descend down her body. Marissa laughs lightly, then gives you a wave before departing, followed by the other three. Utsuho, for her part, sits down heavily at her desk, muttering imprecations under her breath.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't let her get to you."
>Relax, and enjoy the laydown, as much as one can with a sore head. Can we tell what time it is?
>Do we have anything we need to do today?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have anything we need to do today?

>Nothing pressing. If you were going to fall down stairs, this was a good day to recover from doing so on.

>Relax, and enjoy the laydown, as much as one can with a sore head. Can we tell what time it is?

>You lie back and take a load off. The infirmary is well stocked with comfy pillows, so your headache will likely dissipate with time. This experience has left you feeling rather drained, however. You consider taking a brief nap.
>You cannot see a clock from your position, but judging from the amount of sunlight (the regular kind, you think gratefully) illuminating the room, you would guess that no more than an hour has passed since your tumble. You make it for somewhere between four and five PM, five-thirty at the latest.

>"Don't let her get to you."

>You think you can see little wisps of steam coming from the head of the winged nurse as she hasilty scribes notes, still flushed in the cheeks.
>"And she loves doing that too. Unyuuuuu..... There're times when I swear her getting involved with you is the only thing that keeps her in line. Or at least, that's what people say, but I mean, can't all be wrong."

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we have any idea what Utsuho was being teased over?
>If not: "Well, if nothing else, at least I have no idea what you were being teased about?"

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have any idea what Utsuho was being teased over?
>If not: "Well, if nothing else, at least I have no idea what you were being teased about?"

>Given that Marissa is involved, and that Utsuho's blush is more of embarrasment than anger, you are reasonably certain what that exchange was all about.
>To put it delicately, Marissa has won more than the hearts of many, and tales of her 'conquests' extend far beyond the limits of the school student roster. For someone who is only 18, she is reupted to have 'conquored' fully one third of the city. While you are absolutely certain this is an exaggeration, you, better than most, know that she is more 'active' than most, even if, despite the rumors that pop up now and again, nothing physical has happened between the two of you.
>The thought that she might have shared a bed with Utsuho doesn't surprise you in the least. Nor does it surprise you that she'd give Utsuho a good-natured tease after the fact. Marissa loves to do that, especially to the people she likes, and is wise enough to do so only when she knows the other person doesn't really mind.
>And you have to admit, Utsuho is very cute when she's flustered.

[Kips McKipzerson]

I thought her name was Marisa, not Marissa.
>Well, she does seem a little cute.

[Hello Purvis]

I assume it is a protest against the japanese pronunciation of an englitch name.

>"Don't let her get to you. She feeds off of it."

[Oldmansour]

I thought her name was Marisa, not Marissa.

I assume it is a protest against the japanese pronunciation of an englitch name.

Actually, I've used two 's's since I learned of Marissa's existance. Just seems more natural to me, 'Marisa' just looks wrong to me, somehow. Don't know why. Heck, I didn't even notice the games use one s. Guess that qualifies as a Derp on my part.

>Well, she does seem a little cute.

>You can understand why Marissa wanted to see her blush.

>"Don't let her get to you. She feeds off of it."

>"She's just.... so good at pushing people's buttons. Has she always been like that?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Has she?
>"She is quite good at it."
>How Buddhist are we, anyhows? In terms of devotion and following the dogma?

[Oldmansour]

>Has she?

>Basically, yes. For as long as you've known her, she's been a joker and a teaser, and she's only gotten better at it as the years have gone on.

>How Buddhist are we, anyhows? In terms of devotion and following the dogma?

>You believe in the concept of karma, that deeds done with good intent yield good fortune, while deeds done with ill intent yield bad fortune. You believe that the spirit is more important than the flesh, and that the world and its people should be seen for what they truly are, not as they appear to one's eyes. You believe in the cycle of rebirth, and those that remain in the world as ghosts and phantasms, as you know there to be, have 'fallen off' the wheel of life.
>However, you do not believe that desire (tanha) is inherantly a trait to rid one's self of. If one desires food to feed one's family, why would this contribute to one's suffering? If one desired to heal the sick, to take away the pain and suffering of the injured and helpless, why would this contribute to one's own spiritual suffering? You believe that is the intention behind that desire that should measure whether that desire is bad or not. Take Marissa, for example. She is a very physical person, who has many desires, and acts upon them frequently. However, her biggest desire is to make people happy. "Nobody frowns while I'm around!" she used to say. You cannot see this desire as inherantly wrong, nor is your own desire to make people 'better'. Rather than clash with Marissa's own stance, you've found your two goals compliment each other nicely, and are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
>Whether or not this stance of yours is a result of your own lack of understanding of the intricacies of the path of the Buddha, or a simple unwillingness to fully embrace the ideal that desire leads to suffering, you are not sure. You are, after all, very young, and have much more to learn.
>You realize that, strictly speaking, many 'true' Buddhists would not consider you as said. You have, however, taken some of the teachings of the religion and made them your own. Your brother, Marissa and Rin all have said the same thing to you on this subject, almost word for word, "Just one more thing that makes you special."

>"She is quite good at it."

>"She's definately one of a kind..." Utshuo admits, her blush finally starting to settle down.

[Hello Purvis]

>If we can reach her, pat Utsuho on the arm.
>"Don't worry, nothing will leave here. And I don't think anyone can blame you for follow into Marisa's charm."

[Oldmansour]

>If we can reach her, pat Utsuho on the arm.
>"Don't worry, nothing will leave here. And I don't think anyone can blame you for follow into Marisa's charm."

>You offer the nurse a comforting touch. She gives you a warm smile in return.
>At the mention of Marissa's charms, Utsuho blushes a little again and looks away slightly.
>"Yeah... She's almost impossible to resist." She then clears her throat soflty a time or two. "Thank you for your dis.. disc... discretion, is that the word?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's the word, and no worries. You can tell me anything you like."

[Oldmansour]

>"That's the word, and no worries. You can tell me anything you like."

>Utsuho merely stares at you for a moment. She appears to be thinking something over as she looks you in the eyes. She hasn't stopped blushing yet.

[Hello Purvis]

>Be patient and let her think it over.

[Oldmansour]

>Be patient and let her think it over.

>It seems like a very long time passes until Utsuho gives a small shake of her head, the sits backwards in her chair.
>"Thank you, Miss Hiji.... May I call you Byakuren?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Please."

[Oldmansour]

>"Please."

>"And you can call me Utsuho, if you like. ... To be honest, I never really liked talking all formal with people. I mean, it's okay when I'm on the job, diagnosing, treating, then it's okay. Part of the territory. But when I'm not being a 'doctor', I like being just 'Utsuho'. Know what I mean?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I understand. Formality is helpful when dealing with strangers, but past that can be a restriction."
>What do we know about this nurse, anyways, aside from apparently having affairs with students?

[Oldmansour]

>What do we know about this nurse, anyways, aside from apparently having affairs with students?

>For one, affairs with students isn't as uncommon in this school as it is in some others. Wriggle, for instance, was hired to replace a previous biology teacher, who eloped with one of his students. In fact, about the only faculty member considered out of bounds is Principal Unzan, and that's only because no student or faculty member truly believes they could keep up with his eccentricities. Even vice principal Mima has a fan following, but those few are (justifyibly) dismissed by their peers as 'masochistic fools'.
>As for Utsuho herself, you know she's about 6 or 7 years older than you, a graduate of the Mayoiga school system. You understand she finished the six-year medical program at MU in five years, proving herself a genius in the field of nuclear medicine. She studied under then-professor Eirin Yakogoro during her program, and when Eirin accepted the position of chief of surgery at Southern Cross hospital, she took Utsuho with her and got her a position as a lab technician. When the position of school nurse became available for this school year, Utsuho left the hospital to come work here, though you've never definitively heard why, especially since it likely involved a pay cut. You know she still works at the hospital now and again, but by all acounts, the students of Mayoiga High are her first priority.

>"I understand. Formality is helpful when dealing with strangers, but past that can be a restriction."

>Utsuho nods at your assessment. "Sensei always says 'Formality is only proper.', she's been calling me 'Miss Reizushi' since day one. I'm not sure I've ever heard her use anyone's first name, certainly never mine. I mean, the occasional 'Utsuho' wouldn't hurt, would it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Man that's some abuse of the student/pupil relationship. This is some Twin Peaks business! Fucking Lancer
>Nod. "How long have you two known each other, then, if she has an embarrassing nickname for you?"

[Oldmansour]

>Man that's some abuse of the student/pupil relationship. This is some Twin Peaks business! Fucking Lancer

>It's a very loose environment, in most senses of the word. Place was like this long before Lancer kicked the awesome up a notch.

>Nod. "How long have you two known each other, then, if she has an embarrassing nickname for you?"

>Utsuho blinks in confusion. "Sensei doesn't have a nickname for me."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sorry, I meant Marisa. My mind is wandering a little, I suppose."

[Oldmansour]

>"Sorry, I meant Marisa. My mind is wandering a little, I suppose."

>Utsuho offers you a reassuring smile. "That's hardly surprising, given what you've been through today."
>"If you'd like, I can leave you alone for a while, let you get some sleep. I need to call the Blue Lamp, anyway, let Orin know how you're doing. Not that I wouldn't have, anyway, but she made me promise."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright. Thank you."

[Oldmansour]

>"Alright. Thank you."

>Utsuho nods and rises, moving towards the door. She hesitates for a moment at the door, raising her head slightly.
>"What's that?" she asks, almost to herself.

[Hello Purvis]

>"What do you see?"

[E-Nazrin]

>Follow her gaze, if we can.

[Oldmansour]

>Follow her gaze, if we can.

>"What do you see?"

>Utsuho doesn't respond initially, merely cocks her head to the sight slightly.
>"Not see.... Wait, you don't hear that?" she asks, turning her head to face you, her face confused.