Entry 8: Preparing for Infiltration

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Today, I had social studies class again. I tried to listen to Ushimaru-sensei's lecture about the Japanese constitution and its various articles, but I just couldn't stop thinking about that other world, the Metaverse, and all the possibilities it opened up. (Also, Ann-san and Carmen. Damn. *Sigh...*)

I didn't realize I had been tapping my foot on the floor during the lecture until Ushimaru-sensei yelled "Kagetsuki-kun! Stop tapping your foot! This is not tap-dancing class!" And he threw a piece of chalk at me. It hit me right in the forehead, much to the entertainment of my classmates. So...that was exciting, I guess...

Also, I got a paper cut from my notebook. Just now, as I was writing in it. So that was like the cherry on top of an already painful school day.

Fun times.

Anyhow... Ann-san, Ryuji-kun, Morgana and I met up on the roof again after school. Both Ryuji-kun and I wanted to head right into the castle, but Morgana was like, "No! We need to prepare! We need equipment and medicine and stuff!" I asked him why he had been so eager to go yesterday, when we didn't even have a fourth party member, and he got incredibly flustered. It was really entertaining.

Me: It's because Ann-san's a girl, and you want to keep her safe, isn't it? Are you in *love* with her? (Well, obviously, he is, so this was kind of a rhetorical question.)

Morgana: Um... yes! I-I mean no! Of course not! I mean, I want to protect Lady Ann, but... THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT OKAY?!

Everyone else: (stifles laughs; remains totally unconvinced)

Ryuji-kun said he knew a "kick-ass place" to buy weapons. (That scared me a little.) As for medicine, I remembered that yesterday evening, a young (read: hot), goth-looking woman with a spiky choker and lots of piercings had shown up at Leblanc. Sojiro-san had said that she was in fact a doctor who ran a clinic near the cafe. However, Sojiro-san had also said there were some strange and rather unsavory rumors flying around regarding her and her practice. Apparently, a lot of the medicines she prescribes, she makes herself by hand. I mentioned both of those things to Morgana, and he was like, "The rumors mean she must just be misunderstood! Okay, we should DEFINITELY go over there and talk to her! What could possibly go wrong?"

So... I guess we're going over there. To get medicines from a shady back-ally doctor. Who may or may not also sell illegal drugs in her spare time. What could possibly go wrong?

Hopefully, Morgana's judgement will turn out to be correct.


So I got the medicine and stuff...

And, well, it was an interesting experience.

I entered the tiny waiting room and went up to the front desk, where the doctor I met in the cafe yesterday was sitting.

Doctor: ...Is this your first visit?

Me: Uh...

Doctor: Hm? I feel like I've seen you somewhere before...

Me: Yeah, we met at Leblanc last night...

Doctor: Hmm... Well, whatever... So what are you here for today?

Me: Oh, right, umm... (Lying skills, activate!) Uhhhhhhh... I've been feeling lethargic lately?

Doctor: ...Fine. Please head to the exam room.

So I headed to said exam room, where I described my "symptoms" in more detail. I also scanned the walls for any sort of certificate or diploma-just to check to see if she actually knows what she's doing. Thankfully, she had one. "Doctor Takemi Tae, MD, PhD."

Takemi: In a case like yours, it's usually just due to stress. I'm going to prescribe you some pain relievers, okay?

Me: Oh. Okay.

Takemi: Actually, I still need to restock those... So let's go with sleeping pills. Sleep is the best medicine, after all.

Me: Wait... with all due respect, I'm honestly not sure if those would actually help...?

Takemi: (laughs) Which type of pill do you want, a sweet-tasting one or a bitter one?

By this time, I had figured out that she was messing with me. I decided to play along.

Me: Do you have...chocolate-flavored pills?

Takemi: Just kidding. Alright, why don't we stop beating around the bush-you're not sick at all, are you? I'm not as dumb as I look, you know. I'm guessing you're here because you've heard the rumors about me, huh?

I nodded.

Takemi: You're one of those patients with an ulterior motive, huh? (Sigh.) What's the world coming to...?

She paused for a moment, considering.

Takemi: Well, fine. I'll prescribe you some medication.

Me: Really?

Takemi: But only medicines that accelerate the healing process. Use them on minor scrapes, cuts and bruises.

Me: (nods) Thank you for your help. (Wow. Medicine to make physical wounds heal faster... I might take some to Mishima. No, scratch that, I'm definitely taking some to Mishima next class. If it works as well as I hope it will.)

Takemi: You're welcome. ...Yeah, I think I can trust you. You seem pretty earnest, and you don't look like you'll be any trouble. It's your responsibility to take care of yourself, so if that's okay with you, stop by anytime.

Me: Thank you again. This will really help.

Takemi: Great. It's nice that you're so quick on the uptake...Saves me the hassle. (Eyeing me.) You're a pretty weird kid, you know? I wonder what you're going to use the medicines for...

Me: (Oh shit...) Uhhhh... I could tell you, but I honestly doubt you'd believe me.

Takemi: (Raises her eyebrow.) Hmm... Well, as long as you don't cause me any trouble, it's not my problem. (She quickly wrote down some stuff on her clipboard.) All the medicines that I sell here are original. I have a license to make my own formulas. You may have seen them being sold at various hospitals and pharmacies. (She showed me the clipboard. It had a list of different medicines that I could buy.) These are the medicines I'll allow you to purchase at this time. Take your pick.

Huh.

I take medicine (Concerta) to help me focus during school. Obviously, I'm there in the office when my doctor prescribes it to me, and most of the time I go by myself to the pharmacy to pick it up (okay, now that I'm no longer living with my mom or dad, I'm pretty sure that "most of the time" has been upgraded to "all of the time"), so I think I know how this stuff is supposed to work. That said...

Me: One question.

Takemi: ...Yes?

Me: Is this illegal?

Takemi: ...Maybe just a little...

Me: (indicating what I wanted to buy) There aren't any harmful side effects, are there?

Takemi: Probably not. Quite honestly, I haven't tested it on anyone other than myself. You can be my guinea pig.

Oh dang, I thought to myself as I picked out some stuff from her selection. I'm going to be screwed if anyone finds out. This is such a mistake...

And then I noticed I wasn't feeling too guilty. Sure, I was worried about getting caught, but guilty? Not at all. I should feel bad about this... Why am I not feeling bad about this?

I pondered this question as I payed for the tubes of topical healing ointment I chose. I kept pondering as I walked back out into the waiting room, moving aside for the next patient, who was a rather nondescript-looking guy. He entered the exam room and closed the door behind him.

Takemi: (sounding a bit bored) What's the reason for your visit? Do you have a cold? Stomach ache? Athlete's foot? Whatever it is, you'll need to take a number...

Guy: ENOUGH of this!

Now I was paying attention.

Guy: You're the only one who could have developed that type of medicine!

Takemi: I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about...

Guy: Don't play dumb with me! Rumor has it, it's a drug so potent, it can give a person unlimited power!

Takemi: Really? That's news to me.

Guy: Developing experimental drugs, medicine, and herbal remedies violates all health regulations! Are you attempting to create a super-stimulant? A drug like that would only become a social issue.

Takemi: You're really persistent, y'know that? I'm just a quack...

Guy: The police may not be taking action, but I imagine the media will soon pick up on it. You intend to ruin my reputation again, huh? You're a disgrace to the medical community!

Ruin his reputation...again? What does that mean? Is he also a doctor?

Takemi: Tsk.

Guy: What's with the look? That was your mistake, was it not? I won't be responsible for your criminal actions!

Criminal actions?

Guy: Dispose of that "medicine" immediately and resign! The name Takemi Tae will never-hey, is someone there!?

Nope! Not anymore, we weren't! By the time the guy opened the door to the waiting room, Morgana and I had left the building.

A drug that would give a person "unlimited power?" That might prove useful at the Palace. Also, even though she seemed pretty sketchy, I'm actually inclined to trust Doctor Takemi. That other guy did mention something about her "criminal actions," but I highly doubt she's really a criminal. I bet her situation is more like mine-a victim of the corruption that runs rampant due to the laziness and apathy of the people of Japan. She might have even been blamed for a crime she didn't commit.

I was intrigued. Morgana and I agreed that we'd definitely stop by at a later date and inquire about the mysterious drug.


Right after I exited the clinic...

SR: Hey guys!

KA: hey, what's up?

SR: Yknow theres this shop in Shibuya that sells model guns

KA: let me guess...

KA: is this the "kick-ass place" you mentioned on the roof of Shujin this afternoon?

SR: Sure is!

SR: Ill take u over there tomorrow if you want

KA: sounds good. thanks!

SR: Sweet

KA: meet you at Shibuya station tomorrow morning?

SR: Sure!

TA: Hey, I can't make it... I made plans to go see Shiho-chan in the hospital, so tomorrow won't work.

TA: Can I trust you guys to check the place out for me?

KA: absolutely! you can count on us!

TA: Thank you!

KA: and ryuji-kun promises not to blow up more than one building.

KA: ;)

SR: Hey what is that supposed to mean?

TA: Lol.

KA: see you there!

SR: Why am I always the effin butt of all the effin jokes!?

She laughed at my joke!? (Well, I don't know if she did actually laugh, since she technically just typed "lol," and I don't think that usually counts, since most of the time people don't actually laugh out loud when they type that, and not to mention this joke was at the expense of Ryuji-kun, which is mean and also kind of cheating, since we can always make fun of Ryuji-kun...but still! She laughed, at least in text form! It's a start!)

Maybe Arsene was right. Maybe Ann-san really is closer to my league than I thought.

I texted her again. Not via the group chat, but personally. Ryuji-kun's input was unnecessary for this.

KA: hey.

TA: Hi?

KA: hi.

KA: so...

TA: What's up?

Aaaaagh. What do I say!? Or more accurately, HOW do I say it!? And not hurt her feelings or burden her!?

Stop worrying! Just go ahead and tell her!

...said Pixie just now.

Okay, I'll do that. Here I go.

KA: i want to share something with you.

TA: Oh yeah?

KA: it's that...

KA: i wish i could come with you.

KA: to the hospital. to visit shiho-san.

KA: because honestly...

KA: i was partially responsible for her suicide attempt, right?!

Good job, Akira. Dumping all my pent-up psychological turmoil onto my crush, whom I was hoping to date but now probably never will. So there goes that potential relationship. Nicely done. Great job butchering that...

TA: What? Of course you're not! What makes you say that?

KA: well...

KA: i lied to you, sort of.

TA: What? Lied to me? About what?

KA: i suggested that you should try and persuade him to lay off you and shiho-san...

KA: implying that you might be able to reason with him.

KA: i saw the inside of his soul!

KA: even at that point, ryuji-kun and i knew how his brain works even better than he knows himself!

KA: and i knew that you wouldn't be able to reason with him.

KA: but i gave you a false sense of hope.

KA: thus setting in motion...

KA: what happened.

KA: so even though it probably wouldn't have been much better if you...

KA: ...had gone through with...it...

KA: i'm sorry.

KA: please forgive me.

Kill me now.

TA: What are you talking about!? It wasn't your fault at all!

TA: Of course I forgive you!

TA: Stop beating yourself up for something that you didn't do!

Or...

Or not, I suppose.

But what do I say now?

KA: thank you.

KA: i still would like to come with you to visit shiho-san sometime, though.

TA: Absolutely! If our schedules line up, I would gladly take you!

She would gladly take me...?

Does that mean...?

I...

I HAVE A DATE! (Or at least a potential, non-romantic one.)

(;ω;) -tears of joy

KA: sweet! and thank you for letting me metaphorically cry on your shoulder via text.

TA: Haha! You're welcome.

TA: I'm paying you back for Thursday, when you let ME metaphorically cry on YOUR shoulder.

KA: it was my pleasure.

KA: so, we're even now?

TA: Yep!


I'm back at Leblanc.

I tested some of Takemi's healing gel on the paper cut on my thumb. And guess what? It works shockingly well. My cut felt super itchy for about fifteen seconds, and then I looked at my thumb and it was like it was never even there. Wow.

Anyway, I bought six tubes of healing gel-one for each member of the team, one extra in case we run out, and one for Mishima to help with his bruises. I'll deliver it to him at school on Monday.

Even though we didn't go into the Metaverse, today (that last part especially) still ended up being an emotional roller coaster. For now, it's time to wind down. I'll do some homework, I'll read a bit, and then I'll go to bed.

Bye, readers. I'll write more tomorrow.