Free Time Events: Anzu Sugiura

SPOILER ALERT: Chapter II victim, Chapter II killer, Chapter II trial plot twist.

EVENT 1: Sugiura-san doesn't particularly enjoy being a waitress. (Not available until Chapter III)

I sat with Sugiura-san in the dining hall and discussed the Talent High School cuisine. Apparently, the school's food wasn't quite on the level of a fancy restaurant, but it was better than most high schools, and, as Sugiura-san put it, probably better than anything she or Iwasawa-san could make. I wondered if it would be nice to have Hope's Peak's Ultimate Cook make our meals, but Sugiura-san said she'd heard some unpleasant rumors about him.

"I'm curious about something, Sugiura-san," I said. "Specifically, your talent."

Sugiura-san chuckled bitterly, and I realized that I'd worded my question poorly.

"Figures," Sugiura-san said. "Now that everyone knows the 'truth' about me, my being the Ultimate Poisoner is all they want to talk about."

"Not that," I said. "I meant that wanted to hear more about your being a waitress."

Sugiura-san shook her head, slightly relieved that I wasn't asking about her "other" talent, but still not completely happy.

"There's not much to talk about," Sugiura-san said, "since most people have at least seen me in action. You have eaten at a restaurant classier than a fast food place, haven't you?"

"My family often goes out to dinner," I said, "sometimes to family restaurants, and other times to fancier places. Sometimes, I can get away with wearing my school uniform, or a blouse and skirt, but other times I have to dress up. I wore a nice pink dress when my family took me out to dinner to celebrate my getting into Talent High School."

As I shared the story, I noticed I was getting nostalgic. Five or ten years ago, I'd probably have found the entire experience to be a pain, since sitting still for a long time while staying on my best behavior wasn't a little girl's idea of fun. As a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, I was grown up enough to enjoy nice clothing and fine dining.

"My family's restaurant is probably on the fancier end," Sugiura-san said. "There isn't a strict dress code, but you'll definitely stick out in all the wrong ways if you don't wear a suit or a dress. As such, you probably have some idea what it's like there."

"True," I said. "Of course, while I do see our servers as they take our orders and bring us our food, that's only part of the story. I don't know what it's like to actually be one."

Sugiura-san chuckled bitterly, almost as if to say "Of course you don't understand." Perhaps some of her worse customers were also the most ignorant of what her job involved.

"Let me put it this way," Sugiura-san said, "you're probably lucky you never experienced it. In theory, it's a job a monkey could do, but in practice, it's stressful and exhausting. You have to carry people's orders to their table, get said orders right, and do all this quickly and with a smile. If anything goes wrong, it's on you."

"I... thought so," I said.

"Still," Sugiura-san said, "it's a crappy job, but someone's got to do it, so it's important to do it well."

I nodded in agreement, noticing that for all of Sugiura-san's complaints, she actually was serious abuo her job. I'd been forced to reconsider what I'd thought I'd known about her, but perhaps one thing was clear- she did have the work ethic and talent necessary to be the best young waitress in Japan.

EVENT 2: Sugiura-san got started working for her family's restaurant.

Sugiura-san had me do a mock job interview for a waitress to see whether I'd qualify for the job. According to her, I avoided the worst mistakes, but I didn't have enough experience to compete with some veteran servers. As a way of consoling me, Sugiura-san pointed out that most of the others wouldn't qualify for various reasons- some didn't have the right attitude or work ethic, others couldn't handle the task, and still others would consider it beneath them. When I noted that perhaps it was good that most of them had at least some idea of what they wanted to do, Sugiura-san paused to think for a moment, then asked a question.

"I'm curious about something, Miura," Sugiura-san said. "How do most people choose their occupations?"

"They make a list of all the things they're good at, and choose the one they like most," I said, "or they start with all the things they like, and then choose what could be a viable career. Unfortunately, there's not always a lot of overlap between the two."

"Figures," Sugiura-san said. "Most people wouldn't choose waitressing if they qualified for something better. I certainly didn't."

Unsure of how best to respond to Sugiura-san's astonishingly self-deprecating assessment of herself, I remained silent and let her continue.

"My grades were so-so at best," Sugiura-san said. "Most of my friends at school who were in the same boat as I was had at least one subject they were good at, even if they sucked in just about everything else. I wasn't so lucky, and my parents knew it, which was why they suggested that I wait tables for them as a part-time job."

I wasn't sure what to say, so once again, I said nothing.

"I know what you're thinking," Sugiura-san said. "Dad hired me as a favor to family, knowing I wouldn't necessarily qualify, right?"

"Not at all," I said. "Your talent aside, I don't think business owners can afford to entrust important jobs to family members who can't do them well. I'm sure your father believed you could do the job."

"You're probably right," Sugiura-san said. "My father made it clear from the beginning that my mother, my older brothers and I wouldn't get any special treatment from him, and that if we screwed up, we'd be dealt with appropriately. I suppose the fact that we're all still working for him means that we're at least competent."

If that was the most positive reinforcement Sugiura-san could hope for, her home life wasn't a happy one at all. Most parents I knew of did let their children know they were proud of them, even if it wasn't always overt. As such, it seemed as though the Sugiuras didn't fully appreciate their daughter's efforts.

"That's kind of harsh," I said, "but I suppose that when you run a business, you can't afford to have people who can't- or won't- do the job as well as you need them to."

"I know," Sugiura-san said, "but I think he also applies a similar perspective to the family. He more or less sees our family as a benevolent monarchy, with himself as a king- he tells us what to do and we give him our loyalty and obedience in return."

"Not all families are that strict," I said, "but is it really that unreasonable?"

"No," Sugiura-san said. "My parents raised me, provided for me and gave me a job, so I do owe them my gratitude, at the very least. Still, since my family stresses making them proud, what would they do if they found out I was the Ultimate Poisoner? Would they stand by me, or would they abandon me and claim that they never raised a supposed murderer?"

That question- and even the fact that Sugiura-san had to ask it- was certainly sobering, and I didn't know any good answer to it. When and if we escaped, we'd likely have to break the bad news to the families of the murder victims and their killers, and it was possible that Sugiura-san's past would come to light.

EVENT 3: Sugiura-san doesn't seem to know much about poisoning for an Ultimate Poisoner... or maybe she doesn't want to talk about it.

Sugiura-san told me some stories about some awful customers at work. I wondered how she was able to put up with them, until she told me about one customer who'd pushed his luck too far and got banned from the restaurant. As Sugiura-san put it, there were some moments that reminded her that karma did exist.

"So, Miura," Sugiura-san said, "aren't you going to ask me about poisoning people?"

I sighed. I'd hoped that if we had this conversation, it wouldn't involve my being put on the spot like this.

"To tell you the truth, Sugiura-san, I do want to know more about it," I said, "but I wasn't sure how to ask."

"Well, it's fairly simple," Sugiura-san said. "You put the poison in the food without getting caught, give it to the victim, and after they take a few bites, voila! They're dead."

"That's it?" I said incredulously.

Sugiura-san shrugged.

"Well, Mitamura did something like that to Mizuhara, didn't she?" Sugiura-san said. "She only got caught because you and Edogawa helped figure out that only she knew that Mizuhara was allergic to peanuts."

"I suppose so," I said. "That said, your explanation sounds a bit simple. Most Ultimates know of advanced techniques to help them do their job better. For example, Iwasawa-san wouldn't just know how to milk a cow, but would probably also know how to keep them healthy and providing good milk."

"Maybe she does," Sugiura-san said. "But even assuming I do know secrets like that, do you think I'm just going to hand them out in a killing game?"

Sugiura-san seemed oddly evasive, but she did have good reason to not answer my question. The idea of someone you trusted poisoning you over a long period of time, with your death seeming like an illness was quite terrifying, so perhaps some of us had good reason not to trust her. Of course, the more isolated she was from the others, the more likely she was to try to kill someone and escape.

"No, of course not," I said. "But what about Talent High School? Weren't they trying to learn about your talent?"

"Learn about what?" Sugiura-san said. "How to surreptitiously pour poison into someone's food? That's hardly a skill people would want to learn unless they're assassins of one sort or another. You could say that the Ultimate Soldier's skills could help other soldiers defend their country, but there's no sugarcoating it- poisoning is simply murder."

Sugiura-san stormed off before I could say anything else. Perhaps she'd brought up the subject, but I'd steered it into an uncomfortable direction, and so I owed her an apology.

EVENT 4 The poisoning happened on Sugiura-san's watch. Since she's convinced no one believes she's innocent, she's resigned to her fate.

I found Sugiura-san sitting by herself in the dining hall, staring off into the distance.

"I'm sorry about last time, Sugiura-san," I said, deeply bowing in apology. "I didn't realize my asking you about Talent High School would strike a nerve."

"Honesty, Miura, it's fine," Sugiura-san said. "I'm bitter about the circumstances, but I was actually glad to talk to someone about it. Bringing it up did open up a few old wounds, but not many people can be trusted to listen to what I have to say, so I appreciate it."

"Thank you," I said. "Let me know if there's anything you're willing to talk with me about."

"Sure," Sugiura-san said. "I think it's time I told you how I got 'recruited' to this school."

I nodded and sat down at a table with Sugiura-san.

"It was a day like any other," Sugiura-san said, "and the dinner rush was just starting when the victim arrived in the restaurant. He'd been here several times in the past, and he ordered his 'usual' meal. You have three guesses who his server was, and the first two don't count."

"You served him the poisoned meal," I said.

"Exactly," Sugiura-san said. "Unfortunately, I don't know who cooked it- there were a lot of unfamiliar faces that night, but it's not as thought I know everyone there, so I didn't have much of a clue who was supposed to be there. I just did my job and gave the victim his meal, not knowing what'd happen."

I remained silent.

"A few minutes later, when I served dinner to the Talent High School scout not far away, I heard a commotion from the victim's table," Sugiura-san said. "He died at the scene."

"That's terrible..." I said.

Sugiura-san nodded. By now, we'd seen more than a few people die, but she'd most likely never forget the first time.

"The police came and questioned everyone there," Sugiura-san said, "but they never ended up finding the suspect. As far as they and the public know, this is just another unsolved murder."

I had to wonder what Sugiura-san would think of Edogawa-san's work, since in the third volume, Aiko ended up cracking an unsolved case wide open, arresting a suspect who'd escaped justice and clearing an innocent man's name. Perhaps she'd dismiss the concept as unrealistic, or perhaps she'd hope that the real killer would be found.

"But the police have suspects, don't they?" I said.

"Oh, plenty of them," Sugiura-san said. "The man was a ruthless taskmaster at work, and he was under suspicion of sabotaging his competitors. He'd apparently cheated on his wife, and saw other women as his playthings. I don't know if he deserved to die, but there's no shortage of people who wanted him dead, and I doubt the police wanted to find his killer out of a desire to get justice for him."

I shrugged. Sugiura-san then changed the subject.

"By the way, Miura, this might seem like an unrelated question," Sugiura-san said, "but you said you proved yourself by doing well in a mahjong tournament, didn't you?"

"I did, Sugiura-san," I said, "specifically, being the MVP on my team and helping them win despite barely having played before."

"Did the scout who found you say anything odd to you?" Sugiura-san said. "Like maybe, suggesting that your performance was a bit too good to be true?"

"Not at all," I said. "My teammates were afraid that he thought I was cheating, but he said some people really are that good."

"Ah," Sugiura-san said. "After the police finished questioning us, the talent scout who'd come to the restaurant approached me in private, and told me that he had proof that I'd killed the victim, showing me a covertly obtained photo of me with the poisoned meal. He told me that if he'd wanted to turn me in, he'd have shown it to the police- instead, he found my talent intriguing and made me a deal."

"To come to Talent High School?" I said.

"Yes," Sugiura-san said. "Officially, I would be the Ultimate Waitress, but I'd have a secret second talent, the Ultimate Poisoner. If I refused, he said he'd inform the police about me."

"So you accepted?" I said.

"I didn't have a choice," Sugiura-san said. "If I'd been arrested, I would almost certainly have been convicted and spent a long time in prison. My family's restaurant's reputation would be ruined... assuming they didn't throw me under the bus to save themselves. Dad usually takes the customer's side whenever he gets a complaint, so he probably wouldn't believe me if I claimed to be innocent."

I remembered that Sugiura-san had avoided the question when I'd asked her whether she'd actually committed murder. It was clear that she'd been accustomed to being suspected, and of people assuming her guilt long before she'd been accused of killing Mizuhara-kun.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

"Well, it could have been worse," Sugiura-san said. "If he'd been an actual police officer, I would be in juvenile detention by now. Of course, that might just happen once we get out here."

Once again, I had to wonder what was in store for us once we left. In a best-case scenario, I'd be able to return to my family and my school, but Sugiura-san would likely have to live with being seen as a suspect.

EVENT 5: Despite everything, Sugiura-san feels some pride for being a waitress, and admits there are some good things about her job. Perhaps my first impression about her wasn't entirely wrong, and we are truly friends, at long last.

Sugiura-san invited me to her room. It wasn't quite a mess, but it was a bit more disheveled than I'd expect given my first impression of her- the bed wasn't exactly well made, and Sugiura-san had left a cookbook out on her desk.

"Well, here we are," Sugiura-san said. "It's really not very exciting, but it does have the essentials- a door that locks, a shower, changes of clothing and a bed."

"That's much the same as my room," I said, "but thank you for showing it to me, Sugiura-san."

I bowed in gratitude.

"You know, I'm a bit cynical about manners," Sugiura-san said, "simply because I have to force myself to act that way, and believe everyone else's faking it, too. But there's one gesture that I actually believe in and do try to practice- a simple, heartfelt 'thank you.' There's little better than knowing that you're appreciated."

"Oh, definitely," I said. "I can see why a waitress would feel that way."

Sugiura-san nodded.

"I only remembered this recently," Sugiura-san said, "but one day after the furor about the poisoning died down, and I'd agreed to come to Talent High School to stay out of juvie, I had a long day at work, with a lot of rude customers. One of the last people I served was a family of four- a mom, a dad and two boys in elementary school- but unlike the assholes until this point, everyone was especially nice to me. They all thanked me when I got the check, and the mom told me 'Have a nice day and keep up the good work, miss.'"

"That was nice of them, especially that lady," I said.

"It certainly was," Sugiura-san said. "I tend to forget sometimes, but my job is about helping people. Maybe I shouldn't think of putting on a smile and being nice as something I have to do, but a way of making things pleasant for others."

I thought of the polite façade Sugiura-san had put on during the first week or so, and found myself missing it. Not only was she more pleasant, but she also seemed happier back then, so I hoped that she could once again act that way- or perhaps become that kind of person.

"That's the spirit," I said. "You know, Sugiura-san, even if it's just an act, if you're able to give customers such polite and professional service, you truly are the Ultimate Waitress."

"Thank you, Miura," Sugiura-san said with a smile. "Assuming I don't end up in prison, I hope to get back and work at my family's restaurant. Any time you want a fancy dinner, stop by, deal?"

"Deal," I said. "Please keep an eye out for the brunette in a pink dress."

Sugiura-san and I shook hands. For a long time, I sensed she didn't fully trust me, and wasn't sure we'd ever become friends. That ice had been broken, now, and I hoped Sugiura-san would continue to confide in and trust me, no matter what happened next.

Author's Notes

Skill: Quick Service: Pick up more letter cubes at one in Psyche Taxi

Anzu's Undergarments: A set of bloomers with a rough surface. Woe betide anyone who tries to grope her.

Sugiura was the main motivation behind my decision to make some Free Time Events only happen after certain points in the story. Not only do her events deal with information revealed in the second trial, but she also wouldn't have opened up to Miura enough before then.

Anzu Sugiura

Talent: Ultimate Waitress/Poisoner

Birthday: April 4 (Aries)

Height: 140 cm (4'7")

Likes: Eating good food.

Dislikes: Sexual harassers

Hobby: Cooking