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Tonna passed a door, while walking towards her desk. Mirii and Hun were walking right behind her, as the boy stopped near the door, pushing it back: the door made a clicking sound.
"Alright… let's see what I can do." Tonna sits on her office chair, bending her back forward, as her right hand was holding her smartphone.
Her thumbs were pressing on the screen, as her cheeks blushed. Her right hand brought the smartphone near her right ear, as her irises were pointed towards the ceiling.
"… siiigh…" Her left fingers were tapping her desk in succession. "… hmm… maybe he's"
Hello?
"Ah!" Tonna lifted her posture, as her irises shrunk and her whole face got more red. "H-h-hi, Mike!"
Oh, hi Tonna! How are you?
"I-I'm fine…" Her left hand picked a pen, rotating it clock-wise.
Her heart began beating faster.
"… you?"
I'm fine, I'm fine! So, how things are going in the Headquarters?
"Th-the usual: endlessly busy, incredibly time consuming…" Her throat swallowed silently.
Yeah, you told me about that… right now, I'm at the Cafè eating a brioche and finishing my espresso. Today's shift begin in a hour, so I can really relax and enjoy the nice air around here.
"H-How lucky!" Tonna's mouth smiled, opening a bit and showing her upper teeth. "I have several papers to finish within this lunch… as well as assigning Agents for ordinary missions."
Tonna's back fell on the office chair's backrest.
"Listen, I have Mirii in front of me… she wants to talk with Mr. Surfeln."
Now? … wait, let me check something.
"Sure." Tonna's head nodded.
… Mr. Surfeln… … Mr. Surfeln is here, today. He has to act for a commercial about Ink-Fly, the travel agency.
"Oh, really?" Tonna's mouth smiled widely, as her left hand grabbed her right side. "I used to visit their offices for my few holidays…"
Yes, its registered offices are located in this city, actually. I think I know where he might be…
"Are you going there, now?" Tonna's left hand put the pen on the desk.
Yes, I drank the coffee and I'm keeping the brioche. Mr. Surfeln doesn't come around the studios all the time… usually when it's Audition day, since he has experience in the entertainment industries. I still don't understand how he can see those talents so well… but I'm not doubting a professional like him.
"Yes, I remember those shows where he was the host… I always had the impression he could have been a great actor and a great comedian too!" Tonna's irises pointed up towards the ceiling, as her mouth smiled widely. "Sigh… that sure brings me back a lot."
Nostalgic, uh? Whenever I see the past, I don't feel being dragged there, you know… except when Greta was around. I know you can't understand me, but… when she was around, I kept on seeing a lot of optimism on people. We used to laugh much more, we used to even care more about our jobs…
"Hmm? Really?" Tonna's back bended forward, as her left elbow rested on her desk. "Why, I heard Grina talking about her past… she said that her job was a nightmare and she wanted to quit at all costs."
Mirii was sitting on the chair: her ears rose.
… what?! She really told you that?!
"Huh?" Tonna's irises shrunk. "Why are you shouting…?"
"Tonna, active the speakers!" Mirii stands up on her feet, as her face frowned. "I want to listen!"
"… Mike, Mirii wants to listen our conversation." Tonna's posture lifted. "I think I know the reason…"
Well, I'm not seeing any problems with it… go ahead.
Tonna's head lowered, as her right thumb pressed the smartphone's screen.
"Done." Tonna's right hand put her smartphone on her desk.
Mirii, can you hear me?
"Yes, I can." Mirii's head nodded, as her feet took two steps towards the desk.
Good… … so, Greta told you she couldn't stand her job?
"I confirm that." Mirii's head nodded, as her hands rested on the desk's edge.
I… I don't really believe that.
"Why?" Mirii's eyes squeezed a bit.
Greta was full of energy, all the time I saw her. Friends of mine, who worked together with Greta, told me several times that she usually talked about her show and her acting career.
"What?!" Mirii's eyes expanded and her eyebrows lowered.
I even heard her one time, when I was inside one of the buildings… I distinctly remember her shouting "I don't care about trophies, I care about my passion for acting!".
Mirii's irises shrunk.
Her father, Mr. Surfeln said to me once that Greta goes beyond acting! She could understand her characters in a matter of seconds, passing her dad's skills rather easily. She could even adjust characters, making them feel more interesting and natural.
"Wait… she was the protagonist of Ink, Turf, Splat! Could she…?"
Ah, yes… I thought she told you that: Greta was responsible for the 1/3 of the entire show.
"I-Incredible!" Mirii's feet took some steps backwards, as her mouth opened wide. "At such young age, she…"
Greta was supposed to play an assistant role, at first… in fact, I'm sure that somewhere in the studios there is still that pilot episode, where the main protagonist is a captain man of old age. He acted like Father Squidsmas with some random pirate-like lines said here and there.
"A pilot episode about one of my favorite shows…?" Mirii's right hand covered her mouth. "A different version of that…?"
The producers were surprised by how much passion Greta was showing during the production. After the pilot episode was done, Greta was called by the producers… not only she received all the compliments, but she expressed her own opinions about the show. Opinions which, according to what I heard, were rather accurate. That's when Greta became an official part of the numerous briefings held for the show.
"I can't say I'm not surprised by this, Mike." Tonna's back went on her office chair's backrest. "Grina, nowadays, seems completely different…"
Yeah, I noticed that too. I remember there was a period where Greta felt… different. She seemed very passive… she was also more silent than before. The period… I think it was before her 14th birthday. A month ago or two. I heard she shout some mean words at the studios… and still to this day, we are still wondering why she changed completely.
"From the time we met, I remember Mr. Surfeln mentioning that he talked to Grina last Squidsmas about resuming her career." Mirii's face frowned. "I'm wondering… does he knows the true reason why Grina suddenly hates her acting skills?"
You wondered right: I have been hearing rumors that Mr. Surfeln holds the reason why Greta changed. However, my friend tried to ask that to him… he reacted badly.
"Badly?" Mirii's eyes squeezed a bit.
He shouted, he menaced my friend to take legal actions against him. That was the only attempt I can recall… … you want to ask this to him, right?
"No, not necessarily…" Mirii's eyes closed. "I want to ask him about Project Neo."
Project Neo? What's that?
"I cannot reveal more details about that… just the fact that even Grina is involved into this." Mirii's head nodded.
Oh… … ah, Mr. Surfeln! Mr. Surfeln, do you have a moment? … yes, I have Mirii on the phone. She wants to talk to you. … Mirii, I'm passing my smartphone to Mr. Surfeln.
"Thank you, Mike." Mirii's mouth smiled.
Mirii dear! What a great surprise hearing your voice, once again!
"Good morning, Mr. Surfeln!" Mirii's cheeks blushed a bit.
How are you? Still thinking about being a star?
Mirii giggles.
"I-I'm well, Mr. Surlfen." Mirii's mouth smiled widely.
Good! Is my daughter with you?
"No, actually…" Mirii's mouth flattened a bit.
No? Then, don't forget to give her my greetings!
"I… I can't really promise that." Mirii's eyebrows lowered a bit.
… eh?
"Mr. Surfeln… I have to talk to you about something important." Mirii's mouth inhaled deeply.
… Mike, I'm going to my room. Make sure no one is nearby, ok? … good.
"Mr. Surfeln…?" Mirii's eyebrows went up.
Yes?
"Can I begin my speech…?"
Sure, sure! Don't worry…
"Alright…" Mirii's eyes closed. "I have a question… do you know anything about Project Neo?"
…
Mirii's face became paler. Sweat formed on her forehead.
"… Project Neo… I… I can explain"
Mirii… wait…
"Y-yes!" Mirii's posture lifted, as her arms went on her sides.
… what you… what you know about that project?
Mirii's irises shrunk.
"I knew it! Project Neo has a connection even with Grina!" Her throat cleared. "I know quite a bit, actually… and so does Grina."
…
Mirii was shivering a bit.
"Mr. Surfeln… do you happen to know about it, too?"
…
"Mr. Surfeln?" Mirii's back bended forward.
Tuuuu…
"CURSES!" Mirii's eyes expanded, as her mouth opened wide. "HE CLOSED THE CALL!"
Immediately, Tonna's hands picked up her smartphone: her thumbs were pressing on the smartphone screen. Her right hand went on her right ear.
"… Mike?! Is that you?!"
Tonna, I'm sorry… Mr. Surfeln returned my smartphone, saying that he's busy. I can't do anything about it…
"I see…" Tonna sighed. "Then… thank you for helping us, Mike."
"Tonna, no!" Mirii's hands slammed the desk. "Tell him to"
"Mirii!" Tonna's face frowned. "No." Her head shook. "I will not let you throw Mike into any trouble…"
"Pl-please!" Mirii's teeth gritted, as her eyebrows went up.
"See you soon, Mike. Bye!" Tonna's right hand brought her smartphone in front of her face, as her right thumb pushed the smartphone screen.
"N-no!" Mirii's hands grabbed her tentacles, squeezing them.
"I suggest you to think of another solution, Mirii." Tonna's back bended forward, as her hands rested on her desk, clasping together. "With that said, I hope you will solve your problem…"
"Nnnggghh!" Mirii's teeth bited her lips' right side. "... and now?! Wh-what I'm going to do…?"