Chapter 5: Worst-Case Scenarios
Monday, February 27, 2017, Afternoon, Yukiko's POV
After asking all the questions about Yagami-san's background and skills that she could think of, Mother got to the most important part of the interview- how Yagami-san would approach the position.
"There's one thing I would especially like to know about your approach to managing the inn," Mother said. "What, if anything, would you change?"
Yagami-san paused for a moment, realizing that this question would require careful of the other interviewees, including a few who were at an advantage over Yagami-san in terms of experience, had struggled with this part, whether because they were ignorant of what our inn needed or because they insisted on pushing an agenda that was incompatible with our inn.
It seemed as though the "safe" answer was to insist that no change was necessary, but this wasn't true at all, and we knew it. One of our interviewees, who had a habit of telling us what she thought we wanted to hear, gave this answer, and that was all Mother needed to decide she was out of the running. If Yagami-san didn't carefully word her response, she'd be eliminated just as easily.
"Good question, ma'am," Yagami-san said. "Before I answer, I'd like to clarify something. Since the manager is responsible for running the business, shouldn't I leave the final decisions in this regard to her?"
"You should," Mother said, "but it is your duty as assistant manager to advise her, so giving her poor advice or failing to give her any at all amount to dereliction of your duty. As such, what advice would you give?"
Yagami-san paused to think over her answer, then replied.
"First, I would advise the manager to stay true to the spirit of the Amagi Inn," Yagami-san said. "This establishment is not and never will be just another chain hotel or a seedy love hotel, but a cultural icon of our community. We should do our part to keep it that way."
Mother nodded approvingly.
"However," Yagami-san said, "there are things we can do to improve the business without compromising our identity or values. The inn needs to revamp its website and increase its social media presence in order to make itself more visible and spread the word outside of Inaba. We should both consider which suppliers provide the best products and services at the lowest prices, but should also strive to keep our money local. In short, there's nothing wrong with what we do, but if we can find a better, cheaper and/or more socially responsible way to do it, we should do it that way."
Mother nodded once again. She had a knack for politely listening to people she didn't care for as long as necessary, one she'd practiced when the other candidates gave their answers, but this time, Yagami-san seemed to have succeeded where the others failed.
"Was that a satisfactory answer your question, ma'am?" Yagami-san said.
"All those are excellent suggestions," Mother said, "but when it comes to public relations, what is your strategy for the media?"
"We should work to cultivate good PR and get our name out in the media," Yagami-san said. "As famous as we are, there are many who still have not heard about us or may not fully understand what we can offer them. If we can inform those people, we can attract them to our inn, and if they enjoy their visit, they may stay again."
Yagami-san herself had been one such satisfied customer when she'd briefly stayed at our inn. Of course, since she was always welcome at the Dojima residence, she chose to stay there when she came for the interview, since it was hard to pass up free room and board with beloved family members.
"However, we should be careful which shows feature us," Yagami-san said, "and should stick to high-profile and reputable news shows. I'm aware that a 'news of the weird' program attempted to interview people from the inn, and you were wise to refuse it."
"Ah, yes," Mother said. "I remember that all too well. Fame has its downsides, and one of them is less than savory types taking an interest in you."
I knew what Mother meant all too well. I was well-known for being good-looking, the top student in my grade before Yagami-san transferred in and the heiress to the local inn, so I ended up attracting a lot of unwanted attention, which only became exacerbated when I got a reputation for turning everyone down.
"On a lighter note," I said, "a Tokyo-based news channel came out to interview me. They were highly respectful and professional, even if the announcer felt the need to throw in a comment about the 'beautiful' proprietress."
I hoped that the announcer did not have a significant other who might get jealous upon hearing him compliment a younger girl, or in the event that he was single, that he didn't have his heart set on a young lesbian who was in a secret relationship. Still, as inappropriate as his remarks were, he at least did his job and didn't try to drag the inn's name through the mud for the sake of ratings, unlike some "journalists" I could think of.
Sunday, July 3, 2011, Afternoon
I walked through the residential districts of Inaba, looking around to make sure that I wasn't being followed. I'd never been stalked before, not even by my more obsessive admirers, but I'd learned to take precautions in case of that. When I was walking Kujikawa-san home after her rescue from the TV, she told me a little about how she dealt with stalkers, and I thanked her for the useful advice.
I arrived at the Dojima residence, and was about to ring the doorbell when I saw Yagami-san outside, dressed in a short-sleeved T-shirt and dirt-stained overalls. She was bent over in the garden, and was harvesting vegetables.
"Good afternoon, Yagami-san," I said.
"A-Amagi-san..." Yagami-san said as she got up. "I... wasn't expecting you."
"I'm sorry to drop by unannounced," I said. "There's some... shady reporters around, and I'm worried they'll bother me."
"As they say, mi casa es su casa," Yagami-san said. "Come on in, and I'll treat you to lunch once I get changed."
After looking around to make sure no one was watching me, I bowed gratefully and walked inside with Yagami-san.
I sat down in the living room and said hello to Nanako-chan while Yagami-san deposited the produce in the refrigerator, then went upstairs to change.
"I'm sorry for the wait," Yagami-san said as she came down in a sky-blue blouse and a navy-blue skirt, her standard attire now that the weather had gotten warmer. "I was a bit embarrassed at you seeing me underdressed."
"It's fine," I said. "In fact, you don't look half bad in workwear, especially when you're doing a dirty task like gardening."
"Thanks," Yagami-san said, "but to be honest, I don't know how to wear clothes like this. When I bought these at Okina City, the clerk looked at me funny when I said I didn't want a pair with holes in them."
"So you like dressing well and keeping your clothes in good condition?" I said. "We're the same in that regard. I'm always so worried about getting my kimono dirty while working at the inn, even while wearing an apron."
"Speaking of aprons," Yagami-san said, "how'd you like a cooking lesson with Inaba produce?"
Yagami-san then put on an apron and we made lunch together, which we shared with Nanako-chan. After we were finished, Nanako-chan went to play with some friends, and when she left, Yagami-san's expression turned serious.
"So, Amagi-san," Yagami-san said, "what's this about shady reporters?"
"They're looking for a scoop on the inn," I said. "They're convinced that it's cursed because Yamano-san died there and wanted to make a horror-style special on it, with some raunchy undertones. Naturally, Mother refused their request, since she only accepts media inquiries that will help our inn."
I must have sounded incredibly bitter, because Yagami-san looked slightly taken aback.
"Good for her," Yagami-san said, "but you sound as though you don't approve of your mother's decision."
"Well..." I said, "if she were to let the 'news of the weird' people do a story on us, then the inn's reputation would suffer. Worst-case scenario, it could close."
Statistically speaking, the inn closing by the time I graduated wasn't all that likely, if only because we didn't seem to be laying anyone off at this point. Then again, I didn't have access to the inn's books, so all I could tell about it was what Mother said, most of which she did not conide in me.
"At which point your parents and everyone they employ would be out of work," Yagami-san said. "Your mother's wise to turn them down, but is there any reason she shouldn't?"
I shook my head.
"No," I said. "I guess I'm just being selfish."
"How so?" Yagami-san said.
I looked away.
"...Forget it," I said.
Yagami-san reluctantly nodded.
"This may sound like I'm attempting to change the subject," I said, "but does your family expect you to follow in their footsteps?"
"Not exactly," Yagami-san said. "My parents are business professionals, but they'd be perfectly happy with whatever path I take as long as it's respectable and pays well. My paternal grandparents were blue-collar laborers, and their parents were farmers, so our family name doesn't mean much."
"I see," I said. "So you aren't under any pressure to live up to your family name."
"Perhaps not," Yagami-san said, "but that doesn't mean that my parents weren't strict with me. They knew whatever path I chose would ask much of me, so to prepare me for that, they demanded much. I can respect them for that, but often, I felt like I was getting more responsibility without any freedom to go with it."
I nodded in agreement. When I was young- before I met Chie- I was proud to be an Amagi, part of a family with a rich tradition, since there were no apparent downsides to it. It was only after my status as scion of the inn's owners asked more and more of me that I started questioning whether it was worth all the trouble.
"But freedom always comes with responsibility," Yagami-san said, "because when you make a choice, you must accept the consequences. If you're prepared to leave Inaba, that's fine by me; I only hope you're willing to accept what comes as a result of it. Even if it seems as though you're crushed under the weight of others' expectations and unable to make your own choices, you can still decide whether to play your given role."
I didn't give a reply to that, since it wasn't a question, but out of everything Yagami-san said that afternoon, that sentence was the one that unsettled me the most.
"Sorry, Amagi-san," Yagami-san said. "I didn't mean to prattle on."
"It's fine, Yagami-san," I said, "since I have some understanding of what you mean, due to you being our leader. You not only risk your life going inside the TV but accepted the job of leading us all in battle, even though you won't get paid or praised by anyone outside our group. You could have walked away from the TV world after accidentally ending up there the first time, but you persisted. I owe you my life, as do Kanji-kun and Kujikawa-san."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Yagami-san said, "because in truth, there are times that I'm frustrated that we haven't made much progress. But we can't afford to give up, and I can't do much without you or the others. I'm counting on your support."
"Yes, ma'am!" I said.
I soon went home, since it was getting late and I was sure the "news of the weird" crew had given up, but I kept looking behind me on the way back.
Monday, July 4, 2011, After School
The next day, after school, I visited Tatsuhime Shrine with Yagami-san. While she'd been there for Golden Week, she humored me as I gave a historical description of the shrine.
"You seem rather fond of the shrine, Amagi-san," Yagami-san said, "not to mention knowledgeable."
"I'm glad you think so, Yagami-san," I said, "because it's one of my favorite spots in the shopping district. It's a shame that I'll never be able to visit this shrine, or this town, again once I leave."
"Not even to come back to visit?" Yagami-san said. "That's what I'd do at least once if I spent half as long in any of the places I lived as you did in Inaba."
I shook my head sadly.
"No, never" I said. "If I abandoned the inn, I never would be able to face my parents or the staff again."
Yagami-san sighed.
"I'm not saying you should stay purely based on a guilty conscience," Yagami-san said, "but is it possible that you're having second thoughts about your decision?"
"Wh-Why would I?" I said.
"Because you're determined to burn your bridges behind you," Yagami-san said. "Do you remember yesterday, when you floated the idea of the inn closing? I think I understand now why you did it."
"And why is that?" I said.
"To you, the decision is one between doing what you want and upholding your obligations to your family," Yagami-san said, "and if the inn closes, you can pursue what you want without any guilt, since finding another job is quite literally your only choice in that scenario. There's not necessarily anything wrong with choosing to blaze your own trail in life, but it sounds as though you want an easy way out that prevents you from having to make a difficult decision. Is it because you're feeling guilty about going against your family, or because you're not sure it's right for you, let alone them?"
"I can't deny what you're saying," I said, "but what about you? Have you ever disobeyed your parents on an issue this major?"
Yagami-san paused for a moment, then shook her head. She clearly was taken off guard by this question, but there was no doubt in her mind as to what her answre would be.
"No," Yagami-san said. "When my parents announced I'd be living and going to school here for a year, I had no other options, nor did they. They couldn't bring me along on their business trip or leave me to my own devices, so they left me with the closest relative who was able to take me in, and I went along with that. I'll concede that it took courage to decide to refuse to inherit the inn and walk away from everything you've ever known. But is that what you really want?"
"W-well..." I said. "My Shadow said I wanted to be free of this place, so that has to be true, right?"
The moment that reply left my mouth, I realized it sounded rather weak, even to me.
"Not necessarily," Yagami-san said, "since while your Shadow speaks truths about you that you don't want to admit, it's only a part of you. You always seemed so happy- nostalgic, even- when talking about this town and your inn. Are you really ready to leave the town behind and see the inn close?"
This time, it was my turn to be asked an uncomfortable question, but this time, I didn't have an answer.
"I.. I don't know," I said.
"Then I don't think you should commit to any course of action until you do know," Yagami-san said. "There's over a year and a half left until you graduate high school, so you have plenty of time to think about it."
"I will," I said. "I'm just scared that if I make the wrong decision, I'll regret it for the rest of my life... not that I know which one is the wrong choice, or if there's even a right on"
"I completely sympathize with that," Yagami-san said, "but that's exactly why you should think carefully about what you want to do."
The conversation ground to a halt, and eventually, I said goodbye to Yagami-san, saying that I had to help out at the inn again. Even though I'd sunk a lot of my time into helping out at the inn, it was a rather convenient excuse to use when had to go, so I had to admit that it did have its benefits.
Evening
In my room, I opened up my history textbook and looked at a map of Japan, marveling at all the places I could possibly live, most of which were as different from Inaba as night and day. But would I be happy in my new home?
I thought about Yagami-san and wondered if we'd be able to live together if I left Inaba. But where would she go once she left Inaba in the spring? Where would she attend college? And what sort of job would she find, and where would she work?
My cell phone rang, and I saw Yagami-san's caller ID.
"Amagi speaking," I said.
"Hello, Amagi-san, this is Yagami," Yagami-san said. "I wanted to apologize for this afternoon. I must have sounded rather harsh and judgmental back then."
"Please don't apologize, Yagami-san," I said. "You helped me realize that I was looking for an easy way out of my decision."
"I know the feeling," Yagami-san said. "In the days leading up to my coming here, I was hoping that something would happen with my parents that would result in them not having to work abroad... maybe even them getting fired. Then again, the latter would result in us losing our income, and my parents' next job would probably take them to another city, so there were no upsides to that."
"But like you said, there wasn't any choice for you, was there?" I said.
"No," Yagami-san said, "and to tell you the truth, I actually admired that you were willing to make a risky choice for the sake of your own future. When I concluded that you trying to take the easy way out, I was disappointed and took it personally. Again, I'm sorry about that."
"Maybe you did," I said, "but you're not wrong. If I'm going to go through with my decision to leave Inaba, I'm going to have to be prepared for my parents and the inn staff to cut ties with me, and for the inn to close down when my parents retire, to say nothing of how my career might turn out."
"That's true," Yagami-san said, "but that's the worst-case scenario."
"It is," I said, "but Mother always says that when you make a decision, you take responsibility for the consequences- good or bad, intended or unforeseen."
"That sounds like something she'd say," Yagami-san said. "She probably makes her share of difficult decisions as a business owner."
"I know she does," I said, "and I do wonder sometimes if I can live up to the example she sets."
I thought about why I had decided to live outside Inaba. If I were to leave Inaba and blaze my own trail, I would face many challenges and possible resistance from my family, but in the end, I would only be responsible for myself, and not anyone else. Was it possible that this was the easy way out?
"Then again," Yagami-san said, "I have to admit that I don't know much about your inn apart from what others told me. I have some idea of the hard work that is necessary to keep it running, but I've never had my life revolve around the inn, nor did I grow up knowing that my calling in life would be to take it over."
"Perhaps not," I said. "Because I've grown up with the inn, I took it for granted, and stopped seeing it as special or unique the same way an outsider- someone outside the family, not just outside Inaba- would. Over time, I started to see it as a burden- the reason why my family couldn't own pets, the greatest time sink for me outside of schoolwork, and a mausoleum where I would wait to die. I was so focused on what it had taken from me that I forgot what it had given to my family, our employees, our community, and even me."
"I'm glad you seem to have remembered what's good about the inn," Yagami-san said. "My parents might not be business owners, but they believe that what you get out of something is equivalent to what you put in. I'm sure your parents and your ancestors made similar sacrifices."
"I'm sure they did," I said, "and there must have been times when they wanted to run away, too. I only wonder why they decided to stay."
Perhaps when I was young, I hadn't fully realized what made the inn special- that it was a product of generations of our family's efforts- nor had I realized what I owed to the inn.
"That's something only they can know," Yagami-san said, "but in the end, this is a question only you can answer."
"I'll do what I can," I said.
Yagami-san had helped me a great deal thus far, but in the end, i was up to me to take charge of my life.
"I should probably hang up soon," Yagami-san said. "I've talked an awful lot over the past two days, haven't I?"
"Maybe you have," I said. "Quite the opposite of your name, don't you think?"
Yagami-san chuckled.
"Good one," Yagami-san said, "but until this year, I hadn't often expressed my opinion, especially not when it might offend people."
"Feel free to speak your mind," I said, "since I respect your opinion. Even if I don't take your advice, I'll always appreciate you giving it."
"I'll do my best," Yagami-san said. "I'll talk to you later, Amagi-san."
"Until next time, Yagami-san," I said.
I hung up. A moment later, Mother knocked on the door to my room.
"Yukiko?" Mother said. "May I come in?"
"Please come in, Mother," I said.
Mother opened the door.
"I don't mean to pry," Mother said, "but who was that on the phone? A boyfriend, perhaps?"
"N-No, not at all," I said. "It was Yagami-san."
"Oh, I see," Mother said. "Your friend from school."
I nodded, then let out a sigh of relief. At this point, I not only didn't have to worry about Mother not believing me, but I didn't have to lie.
"Anyway, Mother," I said. "Did you need something with me?"
"Ah, yes," Mother said, "a cable news program will be coming here tomorrow to do a story on our inn."
"Th-They're not going to interview me, are they?" I said. "I think that I was abducted because I showed up on TV."
Mother looked at me skeptically, then shook her head.
"No," Mother said. "I specifically asked that they not show inn staff on screen, but they will interview some of us for information. I will need you to come straight home to help out with the cleaning, though, since we want the inn to lookits best for the cameras."
"Yes, Mother," I said.
As Mother left, I thought about how I'd framed my choices until now. I'd previously viewed the decision to inherit the inn as sacrificing other possible careers, the ability to leave Inaba and countless hours of my life for the sake of the inn, my family and the town, whereas leaving was putting myself first. But if I left, I'd sever ties with my family, leave my home behind for good, and quite possibly doom the inn to closure, and for what? So I could work another job in an unfamiliar city for the rest of my days?
Now that I thought about it, my parents didn't ask all that much of me. I had to help out from time to time, potentially missing school if need be, but they also made sure that my grades stayed up and I kept up with my schoolwork. Perhaps I wasn't necessarily obligated to follow in my parents' footsteps, but I would be rather ungrateful to hope that the inn would close just because I was too cowardly to make a difficult decision.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011, After School
As the final bell rang, students in our homeroom began packing up their things.
"Not so fast, you lousy brats," Morooka-sensei said. "I've got an announcement, so sit down and open up your ears."
The students stopped short. I inwardly sighed in disappointment, since I had to get going.
"I've heard rumors that there are TV reporters roaming the streets of Inaba," Morooka-sensei said, "and they're looking for gullible morons who'll say anything they want to hear in order to get 15 minutes of fame or whatever. If they ask you to answer some questions, tell them that if they want an interview, they should contact the school and go through the proper channels. Don't even think of saying yes, unless you want to end up like the Konishi girl."
My stomach turned upon hearing him speak so insensitively about his former student's death. Nevertheless, he had a point, since everyone who'd been targeted so far had been on TV.
"I've said my piece," Morooka-sensei said. "Amagi, you're up."
"Yes, sir," I said. "Everyone, stand... and bow."
"Thank you very much!" we all said in unison.
As I picked up my bag, Yagami-san, who was in front of me, turned around.
"Do you have time after school, Amagi-san?" Yagami-san said.
"I'm sorry, I have to go straight home," I said, "but you can walk me home, if you'd like."
"Yes, please," Yagami-san said. "Satonaka-san, would you like to come?"
"Uh, sorry, I can't make it," Chie said. "I've... uh, got practice."
Chie whispered something to Yagami-san, who nodded and followed me out of the classroom.
"What was that about?" I said.
"Nothing, really," Yagami-san said. "Satonaka-san seems to be a bit more a ease about us spending time together."
"That's good," I said.
"Anyway, why are you in a hurry?" Yagami-san said. "Do you have to work at the inn today?"
"Sort of," I said. "They're doing a TV special, and I'll have to clean up in advance."
"Are you going to appear in it?" Yagami-san said.
I shook my head.
"No, of course not," I said. "Nobody connected to the inn will be shown. We had that as a condition for agreeing to the broadcast, and the reporters agreed readily."
"That's strange," Yagami-san said. "One would think that they'd push a little harder, but I guess they don't see the point of being stubborn. It's a win-win proposition; they get a story that boosts their ratings and you get publicity that will potentially bring in new guests.."
"I agree," I said. "The sooner our inn sheds its reputation as the place where Inaba's first murder in years took place, the better."
Inaba was by no means a crime-free utopia, as armed robberies happened from time to time, and fatal accidents often claimed lives. Nevertheless, it was a more peaceful place, and I hoped it would return to being that way soon.
"I feel the same way," Yagami-san said, "but does this mean you've given up on wanting the inn to close?"
"It does," I said. "Wanting it to close so I could leave without regrets was nothing but a selfish whim of mine."
Yagami-san nodded.
"Then again..." I said, "since I'm an only child, the inn will probably close anyway once my parents retire, unless they adopt an heir into the family."
"So your parents do have an alternative," Yagami-san sad, "albeit one they'd probably rather not pursue."
"True," I said.
As we entered the shopping district, Yagami-san and I encountered Kasai-san.
"Oh, Yuki-chan," Kasai-san said. "And who is this young lady?"
"I'm Yagami," Yagami-san said. "A friend of Amagi-san's from school."
"Oh, so you're Yagami-san," Kasai-san said. "Yuki-chan told me about you. I'm Kasai, a waitress at the Amagi Inn."
Yagami-san and Kasai-san exchanged bows.
"Nice to meet you, Kasai-san," Yagami-san said.
"Likewise, Yagami-san," Kasai-san said. "I'm sorry, but while I'd like to get to know you better, I have a critical message for Yuki-chan."
"I'm listening," I said, "but I'll need to get home soon to get ready for the news program, so maybe you can tell me on the way."
"Whatever you do, do not go back to the inn," Kasai-san said. "The news story is a sham; the news of the weird people are trying to trick us!"
So that's what was going on. The "news of the weird" lot noticed that their usual approach wasn't working, so they decided to pretend to be a reputable news outlet as a Trojan horse for getting inside.
"All right," I said, then turned to Yagami-san. "Sorry to impose on you, Yagami-san, but could I stay with you today?"
"Fine by me," Yagami-san said. "My uncle should be bu..."
"There you are," a man said. "The future manager of the cursed inn."
I turned around and saw a group of three men, which had clearly caused Yagami-san to stop short.
"Cursed?" I said.
"You know, because Mayumi Yamano died at your place," the reporter said. "The curse probably explains why business is drying up... either that or because your inn is a dump."
"How could you say such a thing?" Kasai-san said.
"Easily," the reporter said. "We took a look around your inn earlier."
I sighed.
"We might as well let him say his piece," I said. "He'll go home once he realizes we're not interested."
A frown crossed the reporter's face for a brief moment.
"Anyway," the reporter said. "once we publish our piece, 'The High-School Manager's Embarrassing Struggle: Renovating the Cursed Inn!' the inn will be famous and the customers will start coming back."
"That's not the sort of publicity we need," I said, "nor is it what we want to be known for."
The reporter rolled his eyes.
"Right," the reporter said, "because your service is so great now, isn't it? It's just another boring traditional inn. I say you fire all the waitresses, replace them with younger ones, and have the hot newcomers offer guests some 'special service,' if you know what I'm saying."
"I think I understand," I said, "and no, that's not the direction we want to go."
"Please leave, sir," Yagami-san said. "I believe she made it abundantly clear that she has no desire to speak with you."
"And I made it abundantly clear that her inn's up a creek without a paddle without our help."
Anger welled up in me, but I tried to stay calm.
"That's odd," I said, "because you seem a lot more desperate to get us to agree to this story of yours."
"Don't you get it?" the reporter said. "You and the rest of Inaba slowly rot away as you remain stagnant, and that inn of yours is no exception. If you had any sense, you'd do as I say. After all, if you cooperate with me, I can set you up with a cushy job in the big city, as far away from this dump as possi..."
Something snapped in me, like a dam bursting and letting loose a flood after being given enough pressure. I'd tried to keep things civil, but the reporter kept digging himself deeper and digger, and at this point, he'd unearthed something that should have stayed buried.
"Shut the hell up," I said. "I've had enough of you badmouthing my family's inn and our hometown. Even if we need to change or improve ourselves, we don't need the kind of help you're offering! From this point on, you're forbidden from contacting anyone related to the inn!"
"You bitch!" the reporter said. "I hope you'll be proud of what you say when those words are all over prime time!"
From what I could tell, the cameraman's camera wasn't running, but that didn't mean they didn't have a hidden microphone on them. Despite this possibility, I wasn't scared.
"Go ahead," I said. "If you choose to retaliate, we'll complain to your sponsors."
Unlike us, the "news of the weird" program didn't have to worry about its reputation. Everyone knew that it was trash and no one pretended it was anything more than that, but many people found it entertaining. But they did require money to keep themselves running, and picking a fight with us would be unwise if it cost them advertising revenue.
"Sir, this isn't looking good," one of the reporter's subordinates said. "We'd better cut our losses and pursue that alternative idea."
"Fine!" the reporter said.
The reporter then whirled around and left, with his subordinates in tow.
As I regained my composure, I looked around, and saw both Yagami-san and Kasai-san smiling, amused at my outburst.
"Wow..." I said. "I really lost my temper, didn't I?"
"You certainly dd, Yuki-chan," Kasai-san said.
"You were rather fiery," Yagami-san said. "Quite the opposite of your name, don't you think?"
I went into a brief laughing fit.
"In all seriousness," I said, "I know why I lost my temper. The reporters insulted the inn, and I got offended. I guess that means I really do love the inn after all, don't I?"
"I know you do," Yagami-san said with a smile.
"As do I," Kasai-san said.
I nodded. Having regained my composure enough, I recalled the encounter clearly.
"I hope that reportr doesn't go through with his threat," I said.
"Don't worry too much," Kasai-san said. "Worst-case scenario, him broadcasting your remarks from a minute ago would damage your reputation, but the story would have made us a laughingstock if we'd agreed to it. I'd say this is the lesser evil."
"Quite right," Yagami-san said. "In fact, all he has to gain from running that piece is petty revenge, which isn't worth a yen of lost ad revenue. Even if he's spiteful enough to run it, his bosses would almost certainly overrule him if they have any sense."
"Yes, I hope so, too," I said.
Yagami-san and Kasai-san walked me home, all the while checking to make sure no one was following us.
Evening
After dinner, I watched television with my parents.
"May we change the channel to the 'news of the weird' program?" I said once a commercial break began.
"Why do that?" Mother said. "If they had anything worth watching, I might have agreed to their story request."
"I had a run-in with them this afternoon," I said, "and I told them off. I just want to make sure that I don't end up on the TV."
"If you do, I'm sure they'll hear about it," Mother said. "Besides, Kasai-san did mention that you threatened to complain to their sponsors, so I doubt they'd be foolish enough to call your bluff."
A few days later, the program ran a story on a ghost of a woman in a white kimono who appears in the Tatsuhime Shrine at night, asking for fish. The package was rather hastily thrown together, mostly consisting of B-roll of the shrine at night and some interviews of teenagers. I couldn't tell if this was a rush job now that the Amagi Inn story had fallen through, or if it was their usual standard of quality.
"I have a question, Mother," I said. "Have you ever considered working a job other than manager of the inn?"
"Sometimes," Mother said. "If the inn closes down, your father and I will have to find some other way to support the family. The two of us have been able to brainstorm a long list of jobs we could do instead if need be."
"That's good to know," I said, "but did you ever consider not inheriting the inn?"
"I did," Mother said, "back when I realized that accepting an arranged marriage was part of my duty as heiress to the inn. But your father reminded me of how much I loved the inn, although he also made it clear that I shouldn't just go along with what my parents said."
"All I did was give you a little push, dear," Father said, "and ask the right questions to remind you of what you valued most. You did the rest yourself."
I smiled, realizing Father had done for Mother what Yagami-san had done for me.
"Basically, Yukiko," Mother said, "adults often have to make difficult decisions, which often involve sacrifices or giving up the things they love. But in the end, you should make your own choices, and take responsibility for your life, rather than going with the flow or doing what you have to."
As I thanked Mother for her advice, I realized I'd overcomplicated things, and the decision was about what I wanted. I wanted the ability to choose my own path, to do meaningful work that was suited to my skills and be able to protect those I loved. Managing the inn checked all those boxes, so there was no reason why I shouldn't take that path if I was sur I could walk it to the end.
Nevertheless, there was one doubt I had left, but I realized it was only of tangential importance to whether I inherited the inn. I had to tell Yagami-san how I felt and see whether she was willing to share her life with me knowing what sort of life I had chosen for myself.
Monday, February 27, 2017, Afternoon
I remembered the "news of the weird" incident with a mixture of fondness and embarrassment. On the one hand, it was immensely satisfying to tell those reporters where they could shove their awful story pitch. On the other hand, if I acted that way with a customer, I could expect to be reprimanded or worse, no matter how obnoxious they were. I'd dealt with my share of obnoxious customers over the year, from passive-aggressive to angry, and succeeded by keeping my composure.
Yagami-san's interview was in its most crucial stage, and I thus had to keep my emotions under control. Mother had asked many difficult questions, but she had an obligation to find the best candidate, even if it wasn't Yagami-san, so I couldn't fault her. But what if she didn't hire Yagami-san?
The answer was simple- Yagami-san could easily fall back on one of the other places she applied to. If none of them panned out, she could work as a waitress or at the front desk, overqualified though she may be. Even in the worst-case scenario, we had myriad possibilities left.
Author's Notes
The next chapter is the last in the first Act, and will include Yukiko confessing to Shizuka.