2022-10-25: An Ultimatum I Don't Expect
- Cutscene: An Ultimatum I Don't Expect
- Cast: Akane Shinjo, her friend Ramo Marusa
- Where: Tsutsujidai - Yumi Foundation Office
- Date: 0096-10-25
- Summary: Marusan and Akane Shinjo talk on VERTEX on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Tsutsujidai. It spins out of control, a bit -- but out of whose control?
> Marusan? It's Akane. Can you do something for me?
Marusan hates that she's at the point where Akane VERTEXing her an yes-or-no question with followups makes her anxious; she's trying very hard to be her friend. Miss Mass said that would make things better, though, and... after so long dealing with being the last priority of every adult in her life, she wants to believe in the woman who saw her struggling and told her, 'You can do better.'
... she wants to believe in the friend who told her it was okay to find ways to get out of the house if she was unhappy in the house, too, though.
>> Yeah, sure. What's up? Is this about your little brother?
She doubts it is, but it's worth asking... if only because she hasn't heard anything about him, and ought to keep pressing her just a little bit.
A long silence passes. Marusan starts filing documents instead; if Akane won't answer... what is she supposed to do?
Beep.
> No, it's actually about my... you know Ouka from class? >> What, like, your sister? How big is your family?? > She's not really my sister. It's... a long story. But yeah. Anyway, she's sick. Do you mind picking up some stuff from 7-21? I guess it's like, a diet thing.
Marusan stares at the phone incredulously for a few seconds. What, is one of the pilots she dragged here diabetic or something...? No, that doesn't make sense, Akane wouldn't have to...
"Akane, what did you even do...? Who are these people?" she asks herself, rubbing at her own face. It's her turn for a long silence. She's got to keep going, though.
>> I don't mind... can you tell me what you need? What do you mean, though, diet thing? > She needs something she's not getting in the school lunches or the stuff I cook so far. I'm going to ask Ms. Ohta and Alouette to formulate something once we figure out what she's not getting. I'm guessing it's an electrolyte problem, though.
Oh my god. Akane, stop, Marusan thinks to herself. She can't really bring herself to be frustrated, but she can bring herself to be... baffled with faint irritation? Is that it?
>> That kind of sounds like a big deal. Are you trying to fix her diet with just... guesswork? > Yeah. I can handle it. It's my responsibility. >> I know Miss Mass has a medical background... I can contact her. She's been busy lately, but I don't think she'd say no. > No
Well, that was immediate. No punctuation, either.
> What I mean is... I don't think Miss Mass needs to hear about this. Like you said, she's busy, right? Asuka's with Ouka right now so she doesn't even have to get out of bed! >> Can she?
Yet another long silence.
> Sometimes.
I'm going to lose it. ... uuugh, I don't wanna nag her, but...
>> OK. November 12? > Huh? I'm not asking for food for later. This is kind of urgent, Marusan. >> No, like... we have a filing deadline for a grant application on that day. I know Miss Mass or Leina will be in and I know whoever comes won't be busy, because I already have the grant application done and sitting on my desk right now. If you can get things handled by then, fine, but if you can't or she gets worse, I'm bringing it up at work. They already do this kind of work. > oh
There's no grant application, of course. Marusan's just setting a hard deadline. If Akane can't communicate and wants to act like she can fix this on her own, that's fine; it might even be good for her to try. But... if someone's going to get sick over it, that's the bridge too far. Even if Marusan doesn't feel comfortable pushing people in that way, she can just... change the situation itself.
> That's okay. I don't think this'll take that long. Ohta-sensei and Alouette are smart! With all three of us on it, we'll be fine. >> And if you aren't? > Yeah, sure. November 12.
Marusan sighs. That sucked.
Akane sighs. That sucked.
She can't really fault Marusan for any of that -- it's just the way she was set up. A hard worker like her would definitely bring up that kind of thing at work. But...
... well, now she actually has to get everyone involved in this problem, a bit. Why can't everyone just -- be better the way she expects them to? They were supposed to receive a kinder world -- a dream just for them, so they wouldn't have to fight her anymore.
Ugh.