Disaster Report Diaries (Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories) Part Two

This is my exploration of the Disaster Report series, where I will chronicle my playthrough like a text-based Let’s Play. Now let’s continue Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories...

After surviving a bus crash, Yuko Ichikawa had made friends with teacher Natsumi Higa and three of her students as they looked for a way to reach the shelter at the school…

I took a moment to sit and reflect as I looked out at the broken Asagao Crossing. I considered the many people having trouble, how I’d travelled from a far away town this morning, and until just the day before I had both happy and sad days. Right now, I decided to go with the flow, so I stood up and took a deep breath.

Natsumi was standing under a tree, with two of her students near a convenience store and one watching everything from a footbridge. I entered the store and found a long queue of people patiently waiting for someone to man the cash register. Someone was struggling in the bathroom, asking for a toilet roll, and a man in a black T-shirt was half-conscious behind the fridge cabinets. He asked for water, and when I went into my inventory, I found a bunch of outfits but no water. I did change into Office Worker Clothes (Blue), though, as the shoes seemed more comfortable.

I checked on the students, wondering if Eri had many admirers, deciding that Hidemi was definitely a bully, before a building fell and covered the street to the south. I returned to Natsumi and the two girls joined us, with Hidemi arrogantly demanding that the teacher magically fix this situation. Eri asked for water to wash her hands, but Natsumi told her that was impossible right now and to just use a handkerchief. Upon being told that an earthquake had just happened and “normal things” weren’t going to always be possible, the students reacted as if Natsumi had shouted at them.

As the teacher went on, Eri commented on how she seemed very calm, so Natsumi reiterated that she had experienced disasters before, referring to when she was stuck under a piano. Hidemi whined that she couldn’t believe this was happening to her, then without a hint of irony turned to look at Hiroko saying that the brunette only thought about herself.

I went over to check on the other girl and thought about how she was likely being bullied. She muttered that she wished everyone would disappear before I left her, returning to the store where I located an employee cowering in the staff room. I grabbed a Standard Backpack (with 24 spaces) and spoke to the worker. He refused to tell me where the toilet paper was until I dealt with the customers outside, so he gave me a Convenience Store Clerk Uniform and I put it on, as well as a Red Hero Helmet, because I didn’t want to be recognised.

Each customer was understandably annoyed, so I took the correct amount, not over- nor under-charging them, earning 10 Moral Points. After confirming with the employee that the customers were gone, I was told where to find the Toilet Paper — next to the black T-shirt wearer in the fridge. I still didn’t have any water, but I grabbed the paper and gave it to the person stuck in the toilet, willingly. They thanked me and put their hand on my shoulder, but I resisted the urge to get away from it, just saying that they were welcome.

The person in the toilet was the store manager, Kumazawa, who returned to behind the counter and began barking for business — at a premium. He thought that I was an employee, but I told him I was definitely not, and he said that he’d forgive me because I confessed, and I should stop lying. The second person who said that I was a liar…

After buying some water, I went into the back and gave it to the person in need. I bragged that I had saved him from the scary-looking man and he thanked me, then asked if that man was close. Since I sent him in the wrong direction, that relaxed my new friend somewhat. Apparently, that man had started punching Black T-shirt for no reason just before the earthquake hit.

They asked what I planned on doing, so I said I was going to escape the city and go home, so they warned that the radio had said the tunnels had collapsed and flights cancelled. Since I needed to get on a boat to leave, Black T-shirt asked me to meet them there, after getting something from a locker in the subway. They handed me a Subway Locker Key, telling me to go to Akebonoutsugi Station, then bring the valuable item to the ferry terminal.

Back out on the street, I checked in with the School Squad, and thought that Natsumi was brave and cute. She considered gathering the students together — though only Hiroko stood apart — but seemed to want to remain in the area. Returning to the store, a mother ran in holding a baby and asking for mineral water, which Kumazawa had one remaining for the low price of 20,000 yen. I argued with him a bit, making him ratchet the price up to 40,000!

Luckily, the store owner entered at that point and told Kumazawa to sod off, which the larger man did whilst happily humming to himself. The owner gave me a First-aid Kit as thanks, and let the mother have the water for free. I also received 10 Moral Points. I bought three Plum Onigiri (and ate one), three bottles of Orange Juice, and a bento.

Upon leaving the store, the tall building just across the street began to collapse! I ran for it then watched most of it crumble, leaving only the top few floors intact. As I explored the area a bit more, I could hear someone calling the same thing over and over, but couldn’t tell from where (or what they were saying).

I came across an injured man who was being watched over by a woman. I worried whether he would be saved, before the woman asked me where the ambulance was. I assured her that it was coming, then left to keep looking for the shouter.

Eventually, I realised that a desk which had fallen out of the collapsing building was a perfect step up inside of it! As I approached the door of an office, a tremor shook all of the furniture in one direction, though I was well past it before that. I decided to take care of business in the men’s room, even though I had “No Need”, to perhaps forestall a future need. Then, I looked around in each room before heading up some stairs to repeat the act.

In a large office, I found someone next to a window. They had been in the bathroom when the quake occurred, and were there for a job interview — a lot of those going around… I suggested we look for others who had been left behind and we returned downstairs. Upon entering the office to get outside, the roof collapsed! It barely missed us as we ducked, but we crawled to the women’s bathroom and out through a new hole in the wall, leading us onto a fallen building.

A window was broken, allowing us to drop into the men’s room of the collapsing building, then down a couple more “levels” to another broken window. Before exiting, I turned around and crawled through a gap to fetch a Blouse & Jeans outfit. I helped my new friend climb out and they all but collapsed onto the road, seemingly falling unconscious.

I considered that they were probably exhausted and they shortly awoke, introducing themself as Yayoi Kasahara, and I introduced myself elegantly, which seemed to impress her. She said that she was going to rest there, and told me to be careful. I replied that I hoped to see her again, and she returned the sentiment.

As I walked onto the north side of Ajisai Crossing, the road was covered with water, crashed vehicles and building debris blocked the south road, and a tall hotel was on fire…