Where Talent Goes On Vacation: Free Time Events

As with my previous fic, this is also a collection of Side Stories for Where Talent Goes On Vacation, including but not limited to Free Time Events. I recommend that you be caught up with the main fic before you read these, but there will be warnings as to what, if anything, each chapter will spoil.

Free Time Events: Chiyuri Nagato

SPOILER ALERT: Minor Prologue Spoilers

EVENT 1: Nagato got started in tech support by helping her mother. She was happy to help her mother and to be recognized for her abilities.

Nagato and I spent a while together, and she listened intently as I talked about my career, since I was her favorite actress. She wasn't willing to talk about herself until I took the initiative to ask.

"I'm curious about your talent, Nagato," I said. "Why choose to become tech support, of all things?"

"It's not so much that I chose it as it chose me," Nagato said. "I don't know if I would have set out to do it if not for a few personal experiences."

I suppose Nagato's remark made sense. After all, a lot of people sought to pursue dreams that they could never achieve themselves, only to end up falling back on something more in line with their talents. Because of that, I had to admit that I was lucky to be able to realize my dream of becoming an actress.

"I'm not sure if you know," Nagato said, "but my mom isn't very good with technology. When she bought a smartphone back when I was in elementary school, I ended up having to walk her through getting it set up."

I couldn't help but chuckle. Maybe it was because my mom used her smartphone a lot as my manager, but I couldn't imagine Nagato-sensei being that incompetent. Of course, since my mom also set up and ran my official website, maybe I set the bar a bit high.

"Wow," I said. "Talk about being behind the times."

"I know," Nagato said. "Of course, Mom does catch on easily, with some help. She learned how to use her phone, her computer, and other electronics, so I'm sure she can do anything she puts her mind to."

"I'm glad to hear it," I said. "Of course, it looks like you played a role in that."

Nagato smiled.

"I was happy to be told that I was talented at something," Nagato said, "since for most of my childhood, I got mediocre grades, was a so-so athlete and wasn't very popular. I had no idea what sort of career I could pursue, or what I'd want to do for a living."

I nodded. Nagato probably knew that I'd been a talented actress since I was young, but there was no reason to tell her that, since it'd only make her feel bad about herself. We were each talented in our own fields, in our own right, so there was no point in comparing

"But most of all," Nagato said, "I was also glad to be of some use to my mom. Parents invest a lot of time and effort into raising their children, so if you think in terms of money, it's a debt that the children may never be able to repay. Still, because I love my mom, I want to help her and ease her burden however I can."

"I know the feeling," I said. "My mom knows that raising a daughter's hard work, but she says that if she had to do it all over again, she wouldn't do anything differently. That's why I want to do my part to help her out, too."

Nagato didn't ask why I'd never mentioned my father, and maybe she didn't need to. On the other hand, both of us had one very important thing in common- we owed a lot to our mothers, and we would do anything in our power to repay our debts. Because of that, we could probably become close friends if we had the time to get to know each other well enough.

EVENT 2: Nagato ended up helping some of her schoolmates with their problems. They weren't all that grateful, but she was glad to help.

I met up with Nagato again. Since we'd talked about most of my work, neither of us was sure here to begin.

"Just wondering, Azuki-san," Nagato said, "but where did we leave off last time?"

"I think it was when you said you helped your mom out with tech-related stuff," I said. "Does that sound about right?"

"It does," Nagato said. "In other words, it was the first time I was recognized for my talent."

It was all well and good to have confidence in yourself, but your skills had to be acknowledged. The Ultimates had to attract recruiters' attention, and even the hoi polloi had to prove that they were able to do their jobs when seeking employment.

"With that in mind, I'm curious about something," I said. "You had to be at least somewhat famous to be an Ultimate, so how did you get your reputation?"

Nagato paused to think for a moment.

"At school, I guess," Nagato said. "Back in middle school, I noticed one of my classmates had trouble with her smartphone, and I offered to help. I solved the problem quickly, and she was really grateful, even if it was the sort of problem that anyone who used a smartphone a lot how could fix."

I couldn't help but notice that this wasn't really an Ultimate-caliber feat. Of course, neither was my starring in my elementary school play, and we all had to start somewhere.

"Eventually, word spread," Nagato said, "since the girl I'd helped was somewhat popular, and knew a lot of people. Other schoolmates, even those who hadn't talked to me much before, asked me for help, from their phones to their personal computers. I solved their problems, too, and I eventually became the go-to person for problems that didn't require a professional repair job."

"So in other words, they didn't so much as give you the time of day until you proved yourself useful to them?" I said. "That's kind of self-serving."

"Maybe it is," Nagato said, "but to me, it felt nice to be needed for something. I'd rather be known as 'the tech support girl' than... well, a nobody."

I wondered how Nagato planned to finish the sentence. She wasn't quite shy, but she seemed more or less fine being average, so I had to wonder- what did she want to avoid being seen as?

"I guess I see what you mean," I said, "but it's still a bit insulting that they only know you for the one thing you're good at. I'm more than just an actress, after all."

"I know," Nagato said, "but many people are judged by what sort of job they possess, and how well they do it. Tech support may not be a prestigious job, but I hope that by doing it well, I will earn others' respect."

It was clear that Nagato had a strong desire for others' approval, but I had to wonder- why weren't they giving it to her? The answer would have to wait for now, but perhaps I'd eventually get that answer if I got to know Nagato well enough.

EVENT 3: By helping out the right person, Nagato got a ticket to Talent High School.

When Nagato and I met up again, the topic turned to Talent High School admissions. Apparently, each prospective Ultimate had a different entrance exam, so to learn more about the process, we started with ours.

"Just wondering, Azuki-san," Nagato said, "but how exactly did Talent High School judge you worthy of being the Ultimate Actress?"

"The recruiters watched all my work," I said, "then called me in for an interview. I had to give an in-person performance to prove I had talent. Luckily for me, it wasn't too hard, since I do acting all the time."

Nagato nodded, but seemed a bit uncomfortable, even if she didn't say why.

"That makes sense," Nagato said. "From what I understand, here's two prerequisites for any aspiring Ultimate, regardless of the school- become famous enough to attract a recruiter's attention, then prove that talent to the administration. It's only natural that anyone good enough to become famous could easily back it up."

"What about you, Nagato?" I said. "How did the Talent High School Administration hear about you?"

"Well..." Nagato said. "The headmistress told me that she knew a parent of a student at my school, who'd told her about me. She didn't say which parent or student, though."

I didn't know why the person in question chose to remain anonymous, but maybe they didn't have to. Maybe Nagato had helped so many people that the headmistress couldn't keep all of them or their parents straight.

"Gotcha," I said. "And what about the test?"

"The headmistress invited me to come to Talent High School for an interview and talent evaluation," Nagato said, "which involved sitting in another room, answering the phone and helping her solve a problem with her laptop. It was a fairly easy task, so I wondered why the headmistress hadn't dealt with it herself."

"Maybe she wanted you to show her what you could do," I said.

"It's possible," Nagato said, "but since it didn't seem like a difficult problem, it wasn't much of a test of a tech support person's skills. I've heard that the tests for talents are supposed to be ones that ordinary people couldn't pass, but that didn't seem to be the case for me."

I shrugged. The people overseeing my exam had suggested that I was nearly into Talent High School based on my work, but I had to demonstrate I wasn't all talk. A lot of people who had an entire portfolio of work, like Sasaki or Kojima, could easily be judged based on that work without having to provide a demonstration.

"Who knows?" I said. "They probably have different tests for different occupations, so it's easier to evaluate certain prospective Ultimates than it is for others."

"You might be right, Azuki-san," Nagato said. "In any case, though, I passed, and was deemed worthy of the Ultimate Tech Support title... and, of course, so was Asakura-san."

"Ah, yes," I said. "Why do you think you got the same title?"

"Perhaps he had a different set of examiners," Nagato said, "one that wasn't aware that I had been already given the title... or maybe he was chosen first."

I shrugged. I could think of any number of reasons why we had two Ultimate Tech Supports, but none of them were Nagato's fault or justified Asakura acting like an asshole toward Nagato.

"I don't think it matters why Asakura got the same title you did," I said. "The important thing is you got the title yourself. Talent High School saw value in you, even if it's in a different field from mine."

"I guess," Nagato said.

Nagato changed the subject, but it left me with a lot to think about. While I had my doubts about how much a Talent High School title was worth, I realized that this was due to my perspective as an actress who'd succeeded a lot on her own right, and that ordinary people like Nagato didn't have as strong of a basis for their self-confidence. That said, I hoped Nagato would one day learn to believe in herself, and that my belief in her might serve as the basis for that.

EVENT 4: Nagato doesn't feel as though she measures up to her classmates.

We talked for a bit about our old schools. I noticed that while Nagato often mentioned people she'd helped in various ways, she never actually called them her friends. She wasn't just being formal with them out of politeness- she wasn't close enough to anyone that she felt comfortable asking to switch to first names and/or drop honorifics.

"Just wondering, Azuki-san," Nagato said, "but did you have friends at your old school before you got your title?"

I nodded, and reflected on the friends I'd once known. Some of them were close friends, while others were just kids I hung out with sometimes. I hadn't seen them in a while, and wondered if they even remembered me, but I hoped we could meet again someday.

"I do," I said. "Unfortunately, we ended up drifting apart, mainly because I was so busy, but it was nice to have them. I'd like to think they're still watching for me and cheering me on. I did end up making new friends while working on various projects, but I'll never forget the ones I had in the past."

"That's nice," Nagato said. "I'm glad you could find people who appreciate you for being who you are, not just the Ultimate Actress."

By now, Nagato had spent enough time with me and learned enough about me that she was no longer just another fan girl of mine. At this point, she was somewhere between a friend and a close friend, a fairly significant accomplishment considering how recently I'd met her.

"That's right- I'm glad," I said, "but why do you ask?"

Nagato sighed.

"To be honest, I've always known that the most well-liked people are also the ones who are good at something," Nagato said. "For example, everyone loved my old school's student council president, who was at the top of the class and a good athlete. While the captain of the basketball team wasn't the best student, she was well-liked for her prowess on the court and for being a model teammate. As for me, while people considered me useful, no one saw me as admirable or 'special' in any way."

"Yeah, but who cares what they think?" I said. "If you're famous for something, lot of your admirers look up to you for superficial reasons, and turn on you if you don't live up to their insanely high standards."

The moment Nagato shook her head, I regretted saying what I did. While I knew fame wasn't all it was cracked up to be, my skill in acting and people's approval of me helped me foster a healthy sense of confidence. It could be difficult to believe in yourself if no one else believed in you.

"Maybe you're right, Azuki-san," Nagato said, "but I often asked myself- what do I have that makes me worth getting to know? What have I accomplished that sets me apart from my peers? Helping people with their problems is one thing, I suppose, but I never thought it set me apart from the crowd very well at my old school... much less this one."

I paused to think for a moment. On the one hand, I couldn't conclusively identify anything Nagato was good at besides tech support, and it was clear that she didn't want or need empty pity. On the other hand, I couldn't accept the idea that Nagato was simply a mediocre and unremarkable individual, not when she was special to me.

"You're right," I said. "At a school where everyone's the best at something, your skill with tech support isn't anything special... and neither is anyone else's Ultimate talents."

"Huh?" Nagato said. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that in the end, if everyone's the best at what they do, then having an Ultimate title isn't anything special," I said. "What does set you apart from the others is what kind of person you are, and I think you're a better person than most of the class."

"You really think so?" Nagato said.

"I sure do," I said. "Even if your giving tech advice to your classmates wasn't impressive, it was kind of you. You helped your schoolmates when they needed it, and if they're at all decent, they'll be grateful for it. If nothing else, you're more likable than that prick Asakura."

Nagato laughed out loud.

"That... isn't saying much," Nagato said as she composed herself.

"Maybe it isn't," I said. "At the same time, if one's accomplishments are like a building- the more you've done, the bigger and more impressive the building is- then the quality of one's character is the foundation. A lot of really talented people accomplish a lot, but if they're not decent human beings, it'll all come crumbling down sooner or later. A small house that's still standing is a lot better than a pile of rubble that used to be a fancy skyscraper with a penthouse suite."

I couldn't help but think of Prime Minister Ishimaru, whose rapid rise to power had been eclipsed by his downfall. The former had been fueled by his talent, but the latter was caused by his personal failings. Maybe if he'd been a good person, rather than a talented one (of course, the two weren't necessarily mutually exclusive), his life hadn't turned out this way.

Nagato smiled and nodded, having evidently gotten my point.

"You saying this means a lot to me, Azuki-san," Nagato said. "Thank you."

I left our meeting in a good mood. As much as I hoped that Nagato would one day learn to believe in herself, having her realize that other people believed in her was a good start.

EVENT 5: Nagato is grateful for my friendship and approval, and is starting to believe in herself.

This time, Nagato and I met up in our cabin and sat on Nagato's bed together.

"You know, Azuki-san, it felt really good hearing what you told me last time," Nagato said, "since I wanted you to acknowledge me most out of anyone here."

"Why's that?" I said. "Because I'm your favorite actress?"

"That's part of the reason," Nagato said, 'but also because of what you've accomplished. You not only mastered an exclusive profession, but became an Ultimate on top of that. If you could acknowledge my strong traits, then I felt like I was worth something."

"Anyone would say the same," I said, "as long as they have an open mind and an open heart, and took the time to get to know you."

Nagato smiled.

"Anyway, I'm touched that you sought my acknowledgment," I said, "but what about your mom? Doesn't she support you?"

"Mom believes in me unconditionally," Nagato said. "She's always rooting for me, and telling me she believes in my potential. I've always had her love, but I wanted to earn the respect of someone else I admire, rather than just have it given to me."

I sighed and shook my head. While I was glad that Nagato's mother was supportive, it was clear that Nagato hadn't yet learned the most important lesson of all.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she believes in you," I said, "and I feel the same way, of course. You should believe in yourself, though."

"I will," Nagato said. "Mom hoped that graduating from this school would be a stepping stone, proof that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to and a way to lead me to future success. I suppose she was trying to tell me the same thing you did, although I didn't understand that until just now."

"Better late than never," I said. "A lot of people go their whole lives without realizing what you just did."

"True," Nagato said. "Now that I understand that lesson you and Mom tried to teach me, I'll never forget it... or the people who believe in me. I'm glad I made a friend like you, Azukii-san."

"That makes two of us, Chiyuri," I said.

I shook hands with Chiyuri. She had a long road to travel before finding a healthy sense of self-confidence, and it would take more than one friend for her to succeed. Despite that, I hoped I would be the first step on that journey of a thousand miles, and she would meet many more friends like me.

Skill: Troubleshooting: Shows the correct Truth Bullet to use.

Nagato's Undergarments: A surprisingly ordinary pair of white panties.

This is the first of the Free Time Events for Azuki's classmates, and once I'm finished with those, there will be other Free Time Events. Beware- if you proceed past this point, you'll likely encounter spoilers.

This series of Free Time Events touches on various issues Nagato has relating to her self-worth, which will be explored more detail later on in the story. Since said Free Time Events could be done at any time, I decided to limit how many details are shared in this series of events.

Azuki's what TV Tropes might call a Jerk With A Heart Of Gold, but which side comes up depends on who she's interacting with. For example, her interactions with Nagato, who probably ends up becoming Azuki's best friend out of the cast, brings out her heart of gold, while Azuki isn't afraid to show hostility to Asakura, whom she's despised since they first met.

Below is Nagato's profile.

Chiyuri Nagato

Talent: Ultimate Tech Support

Birthday: October 10 (Libra)

Height: 153 cm (5'0")

Likes: Being seen as helpful.

Dislikes: Rude people.

Hobby: Listening to people's problems.

And since there's no other obvious place to put it, here's the profile for Chiyuri's mother.

Yukari Nagato

Talent: None.

Birthday: March 5 (Pisces)

Height: 175 cm (5'9")

Likes: Spending time with her daughter.

Dislikes: Having trouble with technology

Hobby: Making puns.