Akane was starting to get bored. She wasn't used to have so much free time; there wasn't much to do besides investigating, and that wouldn't be bad if she knew where to start. She had tried to ask for Monobear's permission to enter again to his office, but the bear had stated that she would have to show him her worth by 'bringing her the heart of a graduate' before being able to enter just once. Then he laughed in her face. The Chemist had no idea if he was serious or not, but she definitely wasn't going to find out.

So she decided to go check some of the library books. At least there should be some books she would like. When she entered the library, she saw Ginchiyo busy with a few of those.

-"Hi there, miss Ogata"- she said, looking up and smiling.

-"Ginchiyo-san, what are you reading there?"- Akane asked, approaching. She saw the letters of the cover. The Flight of the Red Crane

-"Somebody made a novelization of my short movie. So far it's pretty accurate"- she replied.

-"I have never watched it…what is it about?"-

-"No spoilers! But basically it's a plebeian's quest to find her destiny in the world, so she starts by turning into a servant in a Chinese empire"-

Akane's attention was piqued. –"That sounds actually watchable. What inspired you to create that short film?"-

Ginchiyo put down the book. She mulled for a moment. –"It's…complicated. It was actually inspired…based on my sister. I'm not saying she went to China to be a servant, it's just that it's based on her, her personality and our relationship"-

-"It's very sweet of you to have based it on her! I bet she's proud"- Akane said, cheerily. Ginchiyo didn't reply. For a moment she seemed like she was going to cry and she pushed down the sunglasses so they covered her eyes. Akane noticed it. –"Is there something wrong, Ginchiyo-san?"-

Ginchiyo didn't reply. She took the book and went towards the door. Akane stood in front of it so the Film Maker wouldn't leave. –"I don't want to talk about it"-

-"What's the matter? Are you and your sister in bad terms or something?"-

-"I said I don't want to talk about it!"-

-"But what's wrong? Ginchiyo-san, you'll feel better if you tell me. Please, let it out"- Akane pleaded. It was glaringly obvious that Ginchiyo was in deep internal turmoil, and the Chemist wanted to help her to feel better. The Film Maker didn't move, though. She grasped the book tighter and started talking.

-"Shizuka…she was a good girl. She was a good girl, I tell you. It was my entire fault, Miss Ogata"-

-"What happened to Shizuka?"-

-"She was alone that day. If I hadn't done it, she would be fine"-

-"Did something happen to your sister?"-

-"She's dead, Miss Ogata. That happened"-

-"…oh"- Akane felt really awkward now. Ginchiyo was not crying, but Akane could feel an aura of sadness around her. It was matter of time before she started crying. Akane judged it was a good moment to let Ginchiyo leave the library, so she stepped far from the doorstep, but Ginchiyo didn't leave.

-"It's a long story, Miss Ogata. I don't feel capable of actually telling somebody about it"-

-"You don't have to do it. Let's do something else to steer you far from those memories"- Akane felt responsible for Ginchiyo's actual mood. If she hadn't insisted on digging deeper, she wouldn't have been forced to reveal that information.

-"Alright. Have I told you you're good looking, Miss Ogata? It's said that a good starting actress needs good looks and talent when starting. It's harsh, but it's the truth. Let me see if you can act!"- Ginchiyo seemed to have cheered up a little.

Ginchiyo made me act some scenes of her movie

-ooooo-

Akane got out of the library, leaving Ginchiyo once again reading the novelization. Their acting moments helped to cheer up the Film Maker, she didn't seem depressed anymore. However, at the end Ginchiyo had made a promise to Akane.

-"Thank you for everything, Miss Ogata. Maybe someday I'll be confident enough to tell you about…Shizuka. Someday, I promise it"-

The Chemist felt a little uncomfortable. She felt like she needed fresh air, but seeing how she was in an underground shelter under the city, it was impossible to go outside. She decided to go to the garden, it was the closest thing to the outside there was.

The way to the garden included a stairway, leading upstairs. At the end there was a round room, filled with lamps and hoses on the ceiling. There was one person examining the plants.

Sakurai was leaning towards one of those, with gardening shears. He carefully cut some parts of the plant.

-"There, it's now done"- he said aloud, and started to coo at the plant. Akane cleared her throat loudly, interrupting Sakurai. The young man saw Akane, and whimpered comically. –"How long have you been there?!"-

-"Long enough to see how you almost sing lullabies to a plant, Sakurai-kun"- Akane said, trying to tease the Good Luck graduate. Sakurai wasn't happy.

-"That's really rude, you know. It was supposed to be a private time between me and the plants!"-

-"I didn't think it'd bother you that much. I'm sorry"- she said truthfully. Sakurai took a deep breath and calmed down, and continued attending the plants, this time without cooing. Akane approached and watched how Sakurai did these activities. He seemed like he knew what he was doing.

-"I didn't know you had gardening abilities"- she commented. Sakurai didn't look at Akane.

-"I do. I may have gotten into Hope's Peak due to sheer luck, but that doesn't mean I'm useless, dear. I consider myself a man of many talents"-

Akane smiled. So far Sakurai had seemed to her just like an average guy, with nothing special to tell. Maybe now her impression would change. –"Like what?"-

Sakurai left the gardening shears there and walked to the wall. There was a gray console in there, with huge bundles of wires coming out of it. –"Besides gardening? I'm also a good electrician. Whoever made this shelter is really careless…leaving these wires without something to cover them"- he opened the console and flipped some switches –"There. No more danger"-

-"Gardens and electrical stuff. What else?"-

-"Um…well, I'm also a good gamer. I wish there were videogames in here; I'm tired of playing the same one over and over"-

-"Okay, games may count. Anything else?"- Akane wasn't very impressed so far.

-"Eeeeh…carpentry. Yeah, that too. I could create wooden stuff. Of course there's no wood inside this shelter, so I can't demonstrate. I think that's all"- Sakurai finished.

None of them are of much help in here. Shouldn't have gotten my hopes up Akane thought grimly. Although it was good to see that Sakurai had talents, even if they weren't SHSL level, she still wished they were more useful to their situation.

-"Don't think less of me because I'm not a real SHSL"- Sakurai seemed to have noticed what was crossing Akane's mind. The Chemist forced herself to smile, and replied that she wouldn't. Sakuari picked up the garden shears again and continued tending to the plants. Akane decided that, at the very least, she should try to bond with Sakurai.

I helped Sakurai do gardening

-ooooo-

Akane entered her bedroom to take a bath. She was full of dirt, after the gardening. Sakurai insisted to deal with every single plant in the garden, but Akane did enjoy it. There was something nice in taking care of something alive.

She had just finished it when somebody knocked to her door for the second time that day. She dressed hastily and opened the door to see Miyata.

-"Hi Ogata-san. I was wondering if you'd like to spend some time with me"-

The Chemist nodded, and went to the hallway. Miyata led her to the cafeteria, where he had some tea ready. He gave Akane a cup, and sat, contemplating her. Akane couldn't avoid remembering that Miyata always seemed to be glad at her presence. Could it be that he had a crush on her?

-"So, Miyata-kun. Have you made any friends?"-

-"Don't talk to me like I'm a kid, please"- he said, frowning.

-"It's just curiosity. Who do you get along with?"-

-"I don't really get along with anybody here. They're all a bunch of people who couldn't do business to save their own lives"- he said, with clear dislike –"The only one who seems to be okay is you, Ogata-san. You're different"-

Akane couldn't avoid feeling flattered, having the CEO's approval. He continued. –"And as such, I expect great things from you. Would you like a spot in my company?"-

-"A spot? What kind of spot?"-

-"You could paint buses"- he said. Akane stared at him, and took a sip of her tea, hoping that he wasn't serious. His straight face, however, said the opposite.

-"I'm not interested"- she said bluntly. Miyata looked surprised.

-"Why not? I mean, you could be in the best company ever created by somebody of my age! I'm sure a lot of people would kill to have a position in it"-

Bad choice of words, man. Also, I doubt it –"Thanks for the offer; Miyata-kun, but I don't really want it. I'd like to do something better in my life than painting buses"-

-"But think of the chemical stuff you could do. You could learn a lot of stuff about paint and its components while painting vehicles"-

Akane felt more annoyed with each word. What was up with him? Was this really what Miyata said to his potential employees? She was baffled than anybody would accept.

-"Is it the pay? Want money? If you want to, I could set you with an interesting salary, the best I have given to any of my employees. You'll have special privileges compared to everybody in your tier"-

Now Akane decided it was time to end the conversation. She chose the most hurtful thing she could think: -"Is your precious company still on foot, even after the apocalypse?"-

Miyata looked as if she had spit on his face. He stammered. –"W-Well, it's…not as good as before, but…"-

-"If it isn't 'as good as before', then I doubt you'll be able to give me privileges and that pay you promise. So no thanks, and I'm not interested"-

Miyata looked disappointed and somewhat hurt. Akane regretted losing her patience. –"Sorry if I was harsh, Miyata-kun"-

-"Did I say something wrong?"- He asked softly.

-"That wasn't really a way to offer a job. You made it seem like…you were desperate, in my opinion"-

-"I'm not somebody who knows how to talk to people. I'm better at marketing and economy. I know it's odd to be good at marketing when one's unable to actually talk with people, but that's how I am"-

-"If you want to, I could teach you a few tips, let's call it that"- Akane offered. Miyata smiled.

-"I'd be grateful. So, what do you have to teach me, Ogata-sensei?"-

I taught Miyata some pointers on how to improve his relations with people

-ooooo-

Akane sat on her bed. It was now time to sleep, according to her clock. That had been a nice day, at least most of it. Relaxed, and she met better three of her partners. How long would that apparent peace last, though? It was doubtful it'd be for long.

She didn't want to think about it, though. She preferred to focus on the good sides of her actual life. With those thoughts, she fell asleep.

-ooooo-

Monobear was sitting on his chair, in his office. In the nights he was supposed to wait for his master to come to the office, that is, if there was need. He didn't mind. As it was in his actual programming, it wasn't like he had a say in the matter.

That night it was different, though. In his cybernetic mind he saw an ID approaching the office. He knew very well who had that ID. The bear got off the chair, ready to receive his master.

The door creaked, and the Mastermind stepped in. –"Night, Monobear"-. The Mastermind had acquired the habit to talk with Monobear as if he were another human. The bear almost never replied, though. The person the Mastermind had asked to modify the programming hadn't inserted a function like that.

The Mastermind continued talking. –"I didn't think I'd need to retouch your programming, my friend. But special circumstances require special measures"- The Mastermind walked towards the computer, and pointed at it. Monobear approached and inserted his claw on the computer tower, turning it on. The Mastermind opened a few files, and started typing. The code would make Monobear kill whoever uttered a keyword, depending of the place it was said.

-"Now time for the trigger word"- The Mastermind connected a portable microphone to the computer power. Then he said clear and aloud the word that would trigger the function he had just activated.

-"Volkos"-