Asa quotes from Shuffle!

Rin

Seriously, you almost gave me a heart attack.

Asa

Thanks for your help

Rin

It's been so crazy, like I don't think I could handle another pair of breasts today.

Sia

Oh, handling breasts? Is that why you snuck off here without us. [Rin turns and sees Sia and Nerine standing there] Isn't that what you said? I took my eyes off you a second and now... I'd like to know exactly what you've been doing since you ran away.

Ama

Oh, is that Rin on the phone? It is? Hi Rin! Congratulations! I heard the good news.

Asa

Mother!

Rin

Ama?

Asa

Well, talk to you later Rin, by now.

Rin

Hey, wait a minute, Asa. Hello. Hello? Man, does everybody in town think we're getting married?

Asa

Kaede's number 1 in the kitchen, nobody else can come close.

Rin

That's quite a complement considering you trained her.

Asa

At the rate she's progressing, she'll be ready to become your wife in no time Rin.

Rin

Eh, my wife? Asa, please. Why would you say that?

Asa

If not Kaede, then Sia perhaps? You have to admit things got pretty exciting this summer.

Rin

But, that was a... It wasn't like that.

Asa

Okey-doke, I believe you. If Sia's not your choice it must be Nerine. Nerine's no stranger to the kitchen either. She has the cuts and blisters to prove it. She's more determined than ever to impress you with her culinary skills.

Rin

You're jumping to conclusions that aren't true.

Asa

If I'm wrong about those three, then who? Maybe you favor Primula?

Rin

You can't believe that. Please tell me you're kidding.

Asa

Uh-huh. Of course.

Kareha

Aha, did I catch you two on a secret rendezvous?

Asa

No, we just came back from the riverbed.

Kareha

The riverbed? Oh, how perfect. [starts fantasizing]

Asa

Kareha, get a grip!

Rin

I don't think a thing you or I could say will make a difference, she's made up her mind.

Itsuki

Relax Rin, nothing to be embarrassed about. You're a young man, she's a voluptuous woman, certain urges creep up. Why, it's nothing unusual.

Shut up.

Asa

What's going on here? You two are sitting way too far apart. [to Rin] Now you listen up mister, you better not have gone and done something to upset Kaede again.

Kaede

No, Rin hasn't done anything...

Asa

Don't you lie for him. You don't have to protect him. Come on jerk face, time to fess up.

Rin

Excuse me, I'm just not in the mood. [leaves]

Asa

[to Kaede] It's about Rimu, isn't it? Tell me what's wrong.

Kareha

I don't mean to sound morbid, but you don't think he's been in an accident, do you?

Asa

Or maybe on his way to my house this morning he got kidnapped.

Kaede

Kidnapped? [rushes away in a panic]

Rin

I see, a new kind of cookie, huh?

Asa

Yep, it's called a tri-colored cookie. When its finished I'll let you have the privilege of being the first one to taste it.

Rin

Hold on, doesn't that make me some kind of guinea pig?

Asa

Well if that's how your going to be, Rin, I'm not going to give you any.

Asa

Everyone here has their own selfish reasons to try and get you to do things Rin, but in the end all that matters is that you do what you truly want to do. Be honest with me, were you forced to go on this date?

Rin

Of course not Asa, I wanted to take you out.

Kareha

You guys should totally do it. Get the lovey-dovey tropical juice special. Drinking it together would be almost like... kissing.

Rin

No thanks.

Asa

I think I'll just have a milkshake.

Kareha

[disappointed] You two are no fun at all. Fine, I'll go get your order. [leaves]

Rin

Is it really a good idea to come here while Kareha's working? I know you're friends but you don't think she'll spread rumors about us at school, right?

Asa

Well it wouldn't bother me. You?

Kaede

[answering phone] Hi there, is that you Rin?

Rin

It's me. Asa's mom invited me to stay here and have dinner with them tonight so I don't really need you to make anything for me. [to Ama] If I ate all that, I'll explode.

Ama

A boy your age should be able to eat twice this much. I expect you to clean your plate.

Asa

She'll make you do it too.

Rin

Are you feeling better?

Asa

Well, my hand's certainly feeling better.

Kaede

I wasn't good enough to make him love me.

Asa

Kaede...

Kaede

It's not that surprising. Some of the awful things I've done shouldn't be forgiven. Nonetheless, I took care of his every need. He was all I cared about. Everything I did was for Rin. It was the one thing I could do to try to make up for what I've done. But then, after awhile, I realized that what I really wanted was for him to fall in love with me. I wasn't honest with myself. Everything I did was because I wanted to be with Rin. I haven't been fair to him. The truth is, I took care of him out of love, not debt. Despite what we've been through, I think I will always love him. I wasn't being honest. I was afraid of the truth because I knew he wouldn't love me the same way back.

Asa

But he knew, he knew that you cared.

Kaede

I could never forgive myself for what I did. Never. It makes sense though. I can't blame Rin for choosing someone like you over someone like me.

Asa

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Kaede.

Kaede

You will make him happy, won't you? Because, Rin deserves it.

Asa

I certainly plan to, but so far he's the one that's been making me happy.

Kaede

I can see it in your eyes, you really have fallen for him, haven't you Asa?

Asa

He caught me off guard.

Kaede

Good for you. I hate to think about the suffering he went through because of me. But if you make him happy, I think in some way it will sort of make up for it.

Kaede

Asa, I need you to let me make one selfish request. I want to see him. If I'm able to see him, I can keep on loving him. I know he's not mine. He's never been mine but I need to keep loving him.

Asa

Kaede...

Kaede

I'm so sorry, Asa. I know it's selfish, I just... I know how Rin feels, and Asa, I know that you love him. But I still, I still...

Asa

Stop that. If anybody's selfish it's me. I should have seen it from the beginning, you've been in love with Rin for as long as I've known you. I'm sorry. Forgive me.

Asa

So do you promise that you'll try to protect me Rin, just like she has, the person I admire more than anyone else in this world?

Rin

I promise, I'll protect you.