FIRST NOTICE: I OWN NONE OF THE CHARACTERS OF AZUMANGA DAIOH. THEY BELONG TO AZUMA KIYOHIKO. ANY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS ARE MINE ALONE.
SECOND NOTICE: POSSIBLE OUT-OF-CHARACTER ACTIONS OR SPEECH IN THIS FANFIC. FOR AZUMANGA DAIOH "PURISTS", DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AN ALTERNATE ANIME UNIVERSE…….
On a cold December morning, Comrade Sakaki walked the cobblestone streets leading up to Scarlet Circle as she normally did. Bundled up in her trademark burgundy longcoat, beret, scarf and earmuffs, the Commissar for All Things Cute and Cuddly walked alone and unguarded. In her coat pocket, also bundled up in his own scarf, her pet cat Maya stuck his head out, snuggled next to her heart.
"Only a little further, Maya," she said calmly. She stroked his furry head with a gloved hand. He purred in reply, letting her scratch behind his ears. Her other hand carried a locked valise full of important papers.
The Government Complex Building, which dominated the Circle, was as drab as the rest of the city, colored in dull cement grey or brick red. The overcast sky, threatening to snow, added to the drabness. Even the flags on their poles hung limp and lifeless. The menacing quarter of the armed guards near the entrance made it the more threatening.
Spying the approaching young woman, the four men gave a sharp salute. "Good morning, Comrade Commissar," they shouted in unison.
"Good morning," she softly replied, bowing her head slightly. The two nearest the doors opened them for her, as she bowed a thank-you to them. They smiled as she entered the building, while the clouds above them opened here and there, exposing patches of blue sky.
Down the long hallway she walked, her face serious yet serene. As a member of the Politburo, she took her job seriously, although her post had a silly name and even sillier duties. Nonetheless, Sakaki bore the office's responsibility with efficiency and quiet grace. She was also one of the most trusted and respected Commissars in the government, as well as a bulwark of the "Sensible Faction" within it.
The "Sensibles" believed in common-sense and logic, acting as normal as an anime character could. They did their best to govern the country as possible with faith, courage and justice. In their hearts, they despised all forms of Socialism, but worked quietly to wean the nation away from that foul ideology.
Their opponents in the "Silly Faction" believed that anime and common-sense didn't mix. They talked stupid, acted stupid, and pushed policies that reflected their own personal chaos. If they promoted their brand of Socialism, all the better. But in the end, it didn't concern them one way or the other. The silliness was all that mattered. To them and to their leader, Commissar Yukari, there wasn't enough silliness in the world.
Sakaki walked down to the end of the corridor, which ended in a circular hall with doors all around and manned desks in front of each door. Unlike the rest of the Politburo, she had no personal secretary or staff, preferring to do much of her work alone. Being the fastest with a typewriter didn't hurt either.
The secretaries, all in military uniform, stood as one and shouted "Good morning, comrade commissar." She nodded her reply, as she unlocked the door to her well-furnished office.
She walked to her desk, took Maya out of her pocket as she removed his scarf. She smooched him three times on his nose, then squatted to place him on the carpeted floor. He leapt from her hands to wander around the room, letting curiosity take him where it wished. Draping her coat and scarf on her chair, her beret and earmuffs on her desk, she sat down in her leather chair to plum through the daily reports and briefings.
Two hours later, deep in her notes and reports, she heard a loud shout outside her door. "All Hail the Chairperson! Long Live the Chairperson!" the secretaries cried in unison.
"Good morning everyone," came the cheery reply from a bright young voice, followed by a knock on her door. "Miss Sakaki, are you there?"
"One moment, please," she said, allowing a smile on her face. She enjoyed these moments with her friend and leader of the country, the child prodigy Chiyo Mihama. Zipping to the door, she opened it and saluted.
Chiyo, dressed in beige from head to foot, returned her salute. "Good morning, Miss Sakaki. Are you busy?"
"I always have time for the Chairperson of our great fatherland," she said, stepping aside to let the wunderkind pass. Chiyo walked to the desk, stopping to pet Maya on the way.
She opened her briefcase, placed a folder on Sakaki's desk. "Miss Sakaki, I'm sure you know today is our weekly Politburo meeting."
"Yes, I do."
"In this folder," she said, pointing to it. "In this folder are some policy changes I'd like to implement this year. I've gone over them several times, and they look good enough to please everybody."
"Everyone?" asked Sakaki. "Even Yukari?"
Chiyo sighed and bowed her head, letting her trademark pigtails go limp. "Gee I hope so. Miss Yukari can be so…so…demanding."
Sakaki nodded, squat down to Chiyo's height, giving her a hug. Chiyo gave one in reply, the smile returning to her face.
"You know I'll be there for you, Chiyo-chan," she murmured.
"I'm so relieved. Having you there makes things feel so much easier." She giggled. "The meeting's at noon, as usual. It'll be a working lunch, so they'll be the usual buffet in my office, all right."
"Yes, thank you."
"Okay. Let's go over these notes, so we'll be ready for anything."