Chapter VI: Shadow Operatives
Mitsuru Kirijo closed the thick wooden door of her office behind her and allowed herself, uncharacteristically, to collapse into the familiar contours of her Herman Miller.
God am I tired, she thought as she let her fatigued eyelids slide shut.
It was an unending grind; 4-hour meetings and business functions, traveling to and from the far reaches of the world to represent the diverse interests of the Kirijo Group. There had been a party the night before at Yakushima to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the company.
It was also an endless game. The niceties, the gestures, the nuances of body language. Facial expressions, words, intonation. Double meanings, innuendo, irony. The weapons of choice of the rich and famous.
She can't remember when she learnt how to play the game. She never had a choice. Thrust into the world as the heiress to one of the most powerful conglomerates in the world, and born into one of the most revered families in high society, she accepted her role with cultivated calmness and confidence.
She did, however, remember the man who taught her how to play the game and so much more.
Almost all her memories of her early childhood involve her father. She remembers holding his hand and being introduced to goggle-eyed socialites which were inevitably followed by a "My, aren't you a cute one, Mitsuru-chan!" and a pat on the head. She remembers too sitting in her mother's lap in her white puffy blouse and red skirt listening to him address thousands of shareholders in the backdrop of an elegant ballroom.
Of course, he was not the perfect father. Far from it, in fact.
Circumstances had made him an embittered and rigid man, but that being said neither was he loveless. There were no hugs or words of affection, but when he reprimanded her or did what he did it was always in her best interests and she came to love and respect the man for all his flaws and defects of character.
That was why she had been so desperate to share the burden his own father had placed upon him, why Penthesilea had come to her that fateful night. That was why she had, despite her conscience, tried to conceal the truth about the Dark Hour from the rest of the SEES. That was why she had been so crushed when he died in her arms on the roof of Tartarus.
She was still picking up the pieces. Management of Kirijo Group's many divisions was still being reshuffled and the Board of Directors had, understandably, yet to ratify her appointment as Chief Executive Officer.
Emotionally though, she had had plenty of help. She could still feel that slap Yukari gave her on the banks of the Kamogawa, and there was also the boy who had shown her the simpler side of life.
There had been something therapeutic about enjoying a Wild-duck burger or slurping ramen at Hagakure which always proved to be an excellent distraction from all the pressure and stress she was facing. She still visited those places as often as she could, though of course opportunities were few and far between now.
Then again, it could also have been the company.
If he had been a year older… the thought brought a wry smile to Mitsuru's tired face.
The phone on the desk rang a few times, snapping Mitsuru out of her reverie. With eyes still closed, she lifted it off the hook and put it to her ear. Apologies for the interruption, but the Board of Directors is requesting the lady's presence at the boardroom, would the lady be able to grace them with her presence?
Mitsuru mumbled her assent and replaced the receiver before the operator could launch into her standard 8-second refrain. She shook her head and her eyes snapped open. Her duty called, but there was something she had to do first. The Board of Directors could wait.
Placed prominently on her desk was a slim matte black dossier, labeled 'Eyes Only'. It had been brought it that morning by one of her most trusted assistants. Mitsuru flipped open the cover and was greeted by the emblem of the Kirijo Ergonomics Division which prompted an immediate smile. That was one thing she had managed to wrest from the bureaucrats amid all the administrative wrangling.
The very existence of the Ergonomics Division was controversial. Many wanted it shuttered. The old traditionalists proclaimed there was no place for it in an honest company. Even Mitsuru herself had misgivings, but ultimately she felt that its' continued survival was a necessary evil.
After all, if could happen once, it could happen again. Korobanu saki no tsue. Prevention is better than cure.
More importantly, though, she had made a promise. First to fulfill and protect her father's final wish, and then to live her life to the fullest.
Yamagishi had already agreed to the proposal. Akihiko, who was God knows where "perfecting his punch" had indicated his interest during their last phone call. She decided she was going to consult Aigis next and passing that hurdle call a gathering at the old dorm. It was high time they all met up again.
This time, however, they would not come as members of SEES, but as Shadow Operatives.
