Wow, getting to see an Ai live show? Today really is my lucky day.

Ha ha, what're you talking about?

The fact that they let you put on a mini live show here illustrates how much the hospital staff trusts you, Ai.

Yeah. Maybe it's because I helped them transplant their flowerbeds a while ago.

Wait, you did?

Yeah. I mean, it sounded fun, after all.

But then Misato chewed me out for getting all muddy. Ah ha ha.

Oh, I think I heard about that from one of the patients. They said you've always got a smile on your face, but that was the one moment you looked down in the dumps.

Huh? Wait, you heard about that!

Geez! I told them all to keep it a secret!

Ah ha ha. Well, I'm glad I got to learn about one of your secrets.

Geez!

All the people we talked to today seemed like they had a really great time.

We all got so drawn into your stories it was like we could picture everything ourselves. That's what makes you win people over the minute they hear you.

It's kind of you to say that, but you're going overboard there.

And besides, it's not like I talk like that so people can picture it. It's more…

More what?

Oh, never mind.

What's wrong?

Ah, nothing. I just don't really know when to stop, I guess. I still have a lot to learn.

Let's not talk about this anymore.

Okay…

Oh, look over there!

Huh?

There's a place selling sweet potatoes! I'll race you!

Huh? Hey, Ai!

[Fade in/out.]

*Chomp* Mmm, this is so good and fresh!

Eating these when it's cold out really takes them to the next level.

Oh yeah. This crossed my mind when I was coming up with a menu in the life planning department. Sweet potatoes are really versatile, huh?

You think?

Yeah. You can use them in all kinds of stuff, not just having them on their own for a snack. That's another new discovery I made.

I see. You really do soak in a lot of info, huh? I'm impressed.

Well, they were keeping the lesson easy for beginners. It was more fun than anything else. I'm so glad Shio-ti put that program together!

I can't wait to see how the new school pamphlets turn out.

Yeah, me too! I hope we get more kids who'll choose to come to Nijigasaki…and, to be honest, more kids who'll join the data processing course.

How come you chose data processing anyway?

Huh?

I mean, you have tons of interests, right? I feel like you could have managed any of the courses.

So what made you choose data processing in particular?

Hmmm…

I guess it felt like the one with the most puzzles.

Puzzles?

Oh yeah, you mentioned that earlier. You said solving puzzles makes you feel excited.

Yeah, exactly!

Isn't technology incredible? But if you don't study it, you can't wrap your head around the theory at all. It's a bunch of puzzles that's super handy.

And with all its hidden secrets, I had no choice but to get interested in it.

Take phones, for instance. They're just these small little things, but I couldn't imagine living without mine.

Cell phones have tons of puzzles in both their software and hardware: what goes on inside, how they work, etc.

Whenever I unravel one of those mysteries, I always feel like, “Whoa! So that's how that works!” You feel me?

It's like there's fun hidden inside the puzzle.

Right!

And if you study technology, then you can even get a glimpse of what's coming in the future.

There's a lots of possibilities in tech for things we can't even imagine right now.

And that means there are tons more unknown fun bits hidden there for me!

That's why I chose to study it.

Huh, interesting.

Then maybe someday I'll get to see a whole fun, new world you've created.

A whole world? Nah, you don't need to go that far…

Actually? Yeah, why not. I'll go create a world, just you wait.

Thanks! Talking with you made me fall in love with tech all over again!