A/N: Dr. Takinawa is just a little bit of pat-on-the-back. A long time ago in a college dorm far, far away, I re-ventured into writing with a horrifically obvious piece of quasi-self-insertion original anime-style fiction. It can be found on Fictionpress if you're enterprising enough to take a search or ten. That story never got finished, but he's a natural choice for the neurologist in this story, so go MJP, go. :-)
On with the show!
3: Developer
Offices of Dr. Hiroshi Takinawa
Edogawa-chome Kameido 14-ku, Tokyo
Saturday, September 23rd, 200X
2:35 PM
"So, how have things been with you, Kyoko-chan?"
Dr. Hiroshi Takinawa was the picture of a distinguished neurologist, or any other academician-slash-doctor that Japan could produce. He had the slight twinge of silver to his hair that marked his age and experience, rivaled only by the smile lines around his eyes and the open, concerned gaze of an experienced clinician.
"They've been going pretty well," Kyoko responded, tapping her chin in thought. "I've been studying for school and exams a lot... my parents signed me up for a cram school, which has been pretty good so far. I really need the extra attention, that's for sure. It's good being able to ask questions in class, rather than just being talked at."
"Do you ask a lot of questions in the classes?"
"Yeah, mostly I'm a bit behind in classical lit and English. My friend Kana somehow got fantastic in math and science, and I'm pretty good with history and Japanese. I could really have a good shot at college."
If I knew what to do with it...
"Have you felt different without the medication?"
Kyoko shook her head. "I've felt pretty fine the past few months. I just find myself taking lots of pictures as sort of an after-effect... more like a habit, kinda."
"No persistent headaches, upset stomach or nausea, no change in your appetite?"
"Nope, none of those."
"Excellent." Dr. Takinawa scrawled his last few notes in the illegible physician's script that plagued doctors worldwide, differentiated only by the language written. He set Kyoko's case file aside, clasping his hands together on his desk as he leaned forward. "Kyoko, I want to ask you a few more questions, but they might be a little personal. You don't have to answer them if you don't want to, but these will help us get to the roots of your condition's development. I hope you'll be willing to answer them, though."
"Okay..." Kyoko blinked, confused. "Sure, no problem."
"How has school been going other than classes? Are you still playing softball?"
"Yeah, I'm still on the team. I haven't been dropping much or anything... I'm even helping Kana-chan with her class rep stuff most of the time. It keeps me going, even with schoolwork."
"Good." Dr. Takinawa leaned back a little and smiled. "Very good. You're doing much better than anyone would have expected, Kyoko-chan. You have no idea how happy I am for you."
"I haven't really done anything special, Takinawa-sensei," Kyoko said, blushing a little. "It's really just a matter of getting everything straight. Taking pictures helps a lot."
Dr. Takinawa held up a hand. "Kyoko-chan, if that camera of yours lets you see the world in a way that helps your condition, I say to hell with everything else. You're not experiencing any undue stress, right?"
Kyoko shook her head. "No, not me... but a friend of mine is kind of going through rough times."
"Oh? That's too bad," Dr. Takinawa said sympathetically. "What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well..."
Year Three, Class D
Jindai High School
Saturday, September 23rd, 200X
8:48 AM
Somehow, the sliding classroom door spoke volumes. It wasn't because the classroom was waiting on him, it wasn't because of any failure to grease the door's tracks, and it certainly wasn't because he announced himself.
He'll be all right. He really will. He's going to be fine... eventually.
"Shinji..." Kaname was the first to approach him. "I heard about your father... we all – "
She paused as he met her eyes and looked right down at the floor. "It's all right," he replied weakly, trying to cover the forcing of his smile. "He's going to be just fine. It's just a lot of bad injuries, that's all. Nothing too horrible. He's going to live."
"Look, I can understand where you're coming from, Shinji. This might sound strange coming from me, but –"
I can talk to you. I can tell you everything. I could if I just wanted to. I could if I could just... oh, forget it.
"It's going to be OK, Shinji. We're here for you."
"Thanks," he replied impassively, going over to his desk. He sat down, not lazily but not actively, and opened up his AS Fan.
The door opened again, just a little. Kyoko peeked in a little bit, then opened the door the rest of the way. She exchanged a "Hi!" or two with a couple of the girls, and went straight for Kaname.
"He's probably not taking it too well," Kaname shook her head. "Geez. I was only a little kid when my mom died, but it wasn't fun... for her, it was over time, just like this."
"Yeah, this can't be easy on him," Kyoko added, nodding sympathetically. "Shinji looked up to his father a lot, despite how he kept trying to catch up with him, get him to understand how he felt."
"I wanna say he's lucky to have a father to show up," Kaname lamented. "I guess you're going to have to do two peoples' budgeting, Kyoko. Don't worry, I can help you."
"Nah, it's OK, I can handle it. I need the math practice, remember? I'll go talk to Shinji about it."
I need to read up on the M6. If I ever want to handle the single-seat model, I'll need every leg up... and then there's the matter of basic tr-
"Um... Shinji?"
He looked up. "Oh. Hey, Kyoko."
"Listen, I guess it goes without saying, but don't worry about the budget stuff for the class trip. Take the time you need to be with your family, and with your father."
"Oh, that? I finished it last night. Here."
"Huh?"
Before she could protest, Shinji had reached into his backpack and pulled out a columnar pad and a burned CD. "Everything's on paper and in this Excel sheet. I took all the data I could and crunched the numbers so we could run simulations on the funding transfers. You can take a look at it later."
"All this?" Kyoko's eyebrows shot up as she browsed the columnar pad. "Shinji, this must have taken you all night!"
"Well, I didn't have much to do... I stayed at the Narashino base hospital."
"Huh!"
"They brought me just when I got home from school yesterday, and I wanted to stay behind to make sure Dad was OK..."
...and to talk to Sergeant Major Nakayama...
"Wow. Shinji, you really didn't need to do all this."
"They let me use one of their computers. It's OK."
"Wow. Seriously, wow. I know! Let me buy you lunch to celebrate! I know a great ramen shop in Harajuku that I was going to go to with Kana-chan, but you should come with us!"
"That's OK... thanks, but I'm heading back to the base after school," Shinji replied morosely.
"Well, at least let me get you a yakisoba bread from the co-op! We can get one for your father, too; it'll help him get better!"
"Can't," Shinji shook his head. "He... he's still intubated, still on a partial ventilator."
"Oh... well..."
"It's OK," Shinji flatly replied. "I'm fine, really. It's no problem. Let me know anything else that needs to be done for the school trip."
"Shinji, I wish I could tell you I knew how this feels..." Kyoko ventured. "But... well... we're here for you, y'know. Nobody wants your father or your family to suffer."
"I know. I don't want him to suffer either. Not from something like a stupid bad joint on the Type 96." Shinji slammed the AS Fan closed angrily, avoiding Kyoko's gaze. "Sorry, I'm going to the boys' room."
"Hey, Shinji, c'mon, lighten up. Kyoko's just –" Kaname ventured, forcing the anger back at how he was treating Kyoko. He simply breezed past her and slid the door open and closed behind him.
"Geez, the nerve of that kid!" Kaname fumed, sitting down next to Kyoko. "It's like he's gone from otaku to jerk. His father's going to get better!"
"Yeah, he will," Kyoko nodded slowly, a concerned look on her face. "But that's no guarantee that a part of Shinji didn't get burned in that fire, too."
I'll call the Sergeant Major later today, Shinji thought as he walked down the hall, destined for the roof. He had no intention of going back to the Saturday classes. I'll call the Sergeant Major when I get to the base. After I see my dad again.
To be continued...