View source for 2024-09-24: What Akito has been up to

{{CutsceneP2
|cast=Akito Tenkawa, Some Nergal Employee
|location=Fun Times Hibachi Restaurant
|date=2024-09-24
|summary=Akito gets a visit at his current job, prompting his return to the Nadesico.
}}
{{PhaseAndTurn
|phase=2
|turn=1
}}
The air is hot in the restaurant but that is to be expected with open grilling stations at every table. Each station is set up with several eager guests and one chef dressed in red. It wasn't a glamourous job but it was the sort of job that paid the bills for someone on their own. That was how Akito saw it anyway. 

"Welcome in!" Akito says as he wheels his cart to the table with a single guest. That was a little strange on its own. This was the sort of place that would sit families at tables. The sort of Britannian families that would make a loud ruckus as Akito went through all the tricks he was trained in...Not serious cooking but work was work. "Umm so you're having the beef combo with extra shrimp and a side of fried rice?"

"Haha, yes. But I'm particularly eager to speak to you, Mr. Tenkawa. Or can I call you Akito?" The man leaned forward, smiling in that way that these types always do. 

It was clear he was from Nergal. Akito could almost smell it on him. They always feigned these friendly little greetings when they showed up to talk to Akito. He was used to it by now. Akito just dropped his professional candor and went straight to his usual attitude with these types. "Sure whatever, pal. But you have to let me do my job....Now open up for these shrimp tails."

"Oh! With pleasure, Akito. With Pleasure." Mr. E says missing the first few shrimp tails but managing to catch the last few in his open mouth. There is a beat before he gets back to business. "Are you aware of the things we have been doing, Akito? The things with the Nadesico and such."

"Not really....Ok here comes the onion volcano train." Akito says with a mocking enthusiasm. "Choo..choo..." He was actively rolling his eyes now that he knew this guy wasn't here for the typical dinner and a show. "So I take it you're here to ask me to come in for testing or some such offer. I thought I made it clear that I'm not some lab rat....Look the rice is in a heart and it's beating..."

"Ah! Wonderful! Wonderful" Mr. E claps a little too joyously. "No, we are just informing you that we have found others for those particulars. I'm just here to check up on you. To see how the job is treating you. Nergal Heavy Industries cares about you, Akito" The man smiles in that way that is too bright to be real. There was something in it.

Akito stops dead in his tracks. Others? They were doing this to others? He looks the man in the face and frowns. "You're doing this to others? Great." He doesn't feel good about knowing the Boson jump ability he's been cursed with is someone else's problem now. "So what is it that you want?"

"Well when you get off, let's have a chat. Oh, the onion volcano is burning." Mr. E laughs.

"Damnit!" Akito switches back into chef mode, wishing he wasn't curious about what this man had to say.