A Shady Visitor
Cast:
Cure Aqua, Minazuki Karen – age 16
Bunbee, Takagi Hachiemon – age 34
May, 2007
"Sharing resources, huh?" A blond man wearing a pinstripe suit rests on a bench next to Karen. He introduced himself as Takagi Hachiemon, but his business card only says "Bunbee". At the vice-principal's request, Karen has been showing him around the school festival.
The man sighs. "I wish I could do something like that at my company. I really do."
"Is there some reason you can't?"
"Well... there kind of are... and there kind of aren't. The different departments are meant to be cooperating already, but there's a school of thought where sharing resources means sharing credit. Nobody at my company really wants to share credit, especially when there's precious few accomplishments to go around. Everybody's busy all the time, and it's not like we can just hire more people, because salaries are already our largest expense. It's a bad situation all around." Bunbee takes a swig from his canned coffee then turns to look Karen in the eye. "You didn't really want to hear about my troubles, did you?"
"I was asked to show you around," she answers cautiously. "This could be considered part of that."
"That's right considerate of you. The reason I'm here... it was supposed to be a shake down, you know."
Karen's eyes widen. "What?"
"My company acquired an interest in some debt, which in a technical sense is payable by your school. In another sense, they're not really liable though. It's not like we can just bring a couple of police officers and a truck and do a foreclosure. All we can do is ask, and ask, and ask some more. It's a serious headache for everyone involved... but sometimes it works."
"Then why let me show you around? And peacefully, without any mention of the money until now?"
"Well... for the first part, I haven't been to a school festival since I was in school, and it was kind of nostalgic. As for the other part... this is kind of indoor baseball, but the people in charge here know who I am. I stick out enough that if I'm seen going around with a student, word should get to the right people and they'll understand that they won't get rid of me easily and agree to meet. Of course, they don't want to meet with me, so they pawn me off on you, who are the president of the student council. That way they can say that someone representing the school is taking care of me, while you actually can't address the debt I'm here to discuss. For one thing, you're a kid. You barely have the funds to run your festival, and even if you had any to spare, any check you might sign could be revoked-" He snaps his fingers. "Just like that."
Karen has yet to formulate a response when the vice principal arrives and addresses the guest. "If you would come with me, the principal will see you now."
Bunbee stands and cracks his knuckles. "It's about time! I was seriously starting to think you people were going to leave me hanging!"
As he follows the vice principal, Bunbee turns back to Karen for just a moment. "Hey, thanks for the tour. You're a good kid."