A Centaur's Life (セントールの悩み)

This is Quetzalcoatl Sassassul-san, from Antarctica.

You'll sit next to Kimihara-san.

Kimihara-san, as her neighbor, show her the ropes, okay?

Nice to meet you.

Y-Yeah... You, too.

Now, let's start class.

Stand.

Bow.

I'm sorry!

No problem.

Take your seats.

Focus on the lesson, everyone.

"I wish to drink it, but a mounted pipa player urges me on."

A classic poem...

Chinese, at that.

Would she know that?

Kimihara-san!

What happened?!

Hime was startled.

Hey, you're awake?

Are you okay?

She's not in here.

Whew...

Don't "whew" us.

I mean, sure, she's scary, but...

If you faint at every little thing, you won't be able to come to school.

That, too, but it could also be interpreted as discrimination.

Oh, no! Discrimination has nothing to do with it!

It's just... snake people...

They bother you?

Better not let anyone else hear you say that.

You're asking for trouble.

Yeah...

Why do they bother you, anyway?

Remember that movie, The Fear of Antarctica?

Which one? The old one or the remake?

The one that's in color.

We watched it at home when I was little, and...

Who's there?!

I get it.

The one where the centaur heroine gets swallowed, huh?

Then it spits up her skin and disguises itself as her.

They show that on TV sometimes.

I kinda like it.

It's a movie that gets referenced a lot these days.

That whole thing is so far-fetched, though.

It worked fine in the novel it was based on,

but the rough edges stand out a lot in the film version.

The part where it spit up her skeleton was realistic, though.

Realistic in a sort of fake way.

The production quality doesn't matter!

The point is, they've scared me ever since I saw that as a kid.

What should I do?

You're asking us?

You have a problem with snake people because of a movie, right?

Then maybe you should watch it again and overcome your trauma?

Huh? I couldn't...

That'll just make her even more scared.

No, no. I get that it might've been scary to the baby princess,

but the film itself just an old B movie.

One that's a little... you know.

If you watch it now, you'll think, "Wow, that's all it is?"

And your trauma will be gone!

You really think so?

You have nothing to lose, right?

By the way, did you guys carry me in here?

Do I look like a professional wrestler or weightlifter to you?

Jeez...

May I come in?

Yes.

How are you feeling?

I'm all right now, thank you.

Shigetoki-san carried you here.

Komori and Nekomi helped, too.

Thank you very much.

No trouble at all.

Um... It seems I scared you.

Oh, no, not at all...

I was trying to smile, but I didn't do a very good job.

Really? What'd it look like? Let's see.

Yeah, that definitely packs a punch...

Maybe I can never fit in with all of you, after all...

H-Hey, come on... The thing with Hime is, there's this movie...

A movie?

Man, Kimihara sure is heavy.

But... she felt really soft.

Nurse's Office

So, um... that's the story.

It's a terrible movie, really.

I see. So a thing like that exists.

Now look!

Yeah, but...

It sounds highly interesting.

Earth Sciences Prep Room

I'm not allowed to enter the classroom, so I'll leave you here.

Okay, got it.

Yo!

It's unusual for you guys to come in here yourselves.

We cleaned the aquarium before, didn't we, Shrimp-senpai?

Who are you calling a shrimp?

Hello. I'll be joining you.

H-Hello...

Oh, wow! It's an Antarctican!

Pleased to meet you.

We can talk later.

Vice Prez, you have a lot of videos stored here, right?

Found it!

Well, let's watch it!

Huh?!

What?

I'm not ready for this...

I'm putting it on.

No closing your eyes.

But...

Is this okay?

I just hope she doesn't get mad.

Alyssa, what's wrong?!

Eyes on the screen.

You aren't Alyssa!

Who have you turned into this time?!

Let's check your blood!

S-Sorry!

Play Movie | Audio & Subtitles | Chapter Select | Extras

What did you think?

It was still scary!

It was scary.

Humans certainly are incredible.

To come up with a terrifying monster like that...

It ate people... Do you...

No, no, don't be silly!

Please don't see me in the same light as a monster in a movie.

We don't even have venomous fangs.

Unlike mammals that chew food,

our jaws aren't strong at all.

Even if one of us did bite you, it would feel like a kitten biting you.

Of course, we can't kill by constricting like snakes do, either.

And we don't have expanding rib cages,

so we can't swallow things whole.

I can't even entertain the thought of eating someone I can speak with like this.

But if I'm seen as a monster like this one...

Well, there's nothing worse than that, for sure.

Are you going to sue them or anything?

No.

I came here to put an end to misunderstandings like this, after all.

I would be honored if you would be my friends.

Oh, it's nothing...

We'd be happy to be your friends.

Smile

Hey, Hime!

Hime!

Wha—

Princess!

Antarcticans Are Like Walking Rumors.

But In the End, The Antarcticans' History and Roots Are a Mystery, Too.

Quetzalcoatl-san.

Yes?

I'd like to ask you a question. May I?

Sure.

I would, too!

Me, too!

Okay, okay. Everyone in order.

You're taking charge again?

Well, can I go first, then?

Quetzalcoatl-san, you're a reptile...

or rather, not a warm-blooded creature, right?

How do you live in Antarctica, where it's so cold?

Good question.

There are two things you're mistaken about.

First, we are warm-blooded creatures.

We're more like birds than primitive reptiles such as snakes.

Also, although we're commonly referred to as "snake people,"

that's only a vernacular term based on our appearance.

Our actual link to snakes is believed to be quite tenuous.