No. 001 - Simple Addition [Written]

[reminded]

[It's about time to give this device a go. In neat, legible writing is simply the following:]

5 + 5 + 5 = 550

It appears I have my arithmetic out of sorts. However, it would be a shame to scrap the equation entirely. Can you help me correct it by adding a single straight line?

Comments

[reminded]

Oh, but now it's taunting you from up there. Driving you bananas, you might say.

[repudiate]

... That pun was awful.

[reminded]

Oh... My apologies.

[He thought it was quite humorous, himself.]

[repudiate]

Maybe you should be working on your puns first before attempting to drive other people 'bananas'. [ with the way she says it, it just sounds even more weird.. ]

[reminded]

[Using the very pun you just put down isn't the best way to show disapproval... but okay, he sees your point.]

Controversial wordplay notwithstanding, I believe you still owe me a solution. Unless you mean to say you've given up?

[repudiate]

[ Maybe Ange just isn't good at thinking up wittier ways to show disapproval, okay? Okay. ]

No way I'm giving up. But at the same time, solving a riddle like that is just bothersome.

[reminded]

I was hoping a more practical puzzle would suit a practical-seeming sort such as yourself, but perhaps I should have gone for something more overtly logical. I can't predict them all, I suppose.

[repudiate]

You actually give people puzzles based on what they seem like?

[ It's sort of interesting. Then again, on the other hand.. constantly handing out puzzles like that seems dumb to her. Maybe he should meet Featherine or something, she bets the two of them would have a ball together. ]

[reminded]

If I think it might appeal more to their inner puzzler, then yes. Then again, I try not to make assumptions about a person before I truly get to know them. That would be rather ungentlemanly of me.

[repudiate]

Not many people live up to the standards of gentlemanliness nowadays. In fact, I can say fairly accurately that hardly any people at all do.

[reminded]

[... Well, he can't really disagree with her.]

Which makes it all the more important that I try to uphold the ways myself. Though I like to think that the modern gentleman isn't extinct. Just a little more... subtle.

[repudiate]

Subtle? [ no, Ange, don't go ahead and say something about polite guys being like virgins trying too hard, stop your bluntness for once.. ]

In what kind of way?

[reminded]

[Young lady, please don't scandalize him like that...]

Well, even little gestures like holding a door open for someone behind you or stopping to help a stranger in distress find root in chivalry. I think it is the dedication to everyday selflessness, no matter how big or small the measure, which makes the way of the gentleman so admirable.

[repudiate]

[ It's okay, at least Ange apparently holds back from ruining everyone's enjoyment of the Professor Layton games. ]

I can't figure out just yet if you're a pretty good liar or just honestly that naive. [ not even naive in a bad sense this time. ]

[reminded]

[o... how flattering??]

I suppose I'll take that as a compliment.

[entreats]

[ she's.. so nice... ]

Sure, feel free to take it any way you want to.

[reminded]

[Fine then, he will!!]

Now then, I think I should take my leave. Before I go, might I have your name?

[entreats]

Sure, as long as you do nothing weird with it. [ of course she doesn't mean it seriously, it's just.. ange being ange. ]

It's Ange. Ange Ushiromiya.

[reminded]

[You puzzle him with that remark, madam, but he'll just let that one go.]

Hershel Layton. I've enjoyed speaking with you, Ange.

[entreats]

[ Heh. Puzzle.



Okay, puns aside, there's a moment where Ange actually hesitates before she writes back - it's not often that anyone says that to her, she's more used to hearing the exact opposite.. Okay, Ange, still just pretend to be all cool and calm, you can do this!! ]

I guess this is where I'm supposed to say thanks for the compliment. [ Thank god for making text so much easier to hide feelings behind. ]

[reminded]

[Completely oblivious to Ange's struggle with kawaiiness, Layton takes her half-met gratitude as thing of relatively easy production for her.]

Oh, no. The pleasure is all mine. [If he were in person, he'd tip his hat.] Good day, Ange.