27 October 2010

Gymnasium, Yasoinaba High School

After School

Midori looked at the others on the team. "Anyone seen Saki?" She was honestly worried for her friend, given that she didn't look well that day in class. "She was in class today, but I wasn't told if she had gone home sick or something like that."

The others shook their heads. "No," Kanako said, being in the same class as well. "You want me to call her place?"

"No, I'm captain. You guys pair off and play some practice sets." Midori waved at the open floor space where she knew the others would set up a couple nets while she went for her phone.

Walking briskly back to the locker room, Midori tried to figure out how to phrase this to Saki's parents. Simply asking if she was sick was bound to raise some concerns, given that they may not know about it either. She could check the nurse's office first, but then again she would have found out about that from one of her other sources first... unless?

She picked up her phone out of her locker and held it in hand as she rushed to the nurses' station, but found it empty. Worried now, she started to dial Koinishi's store, hoping that Saki got home safe.

Dojima Household

Evening

"I'm home," Midori announced as she slipped out of her shoes.

"You're early," Ryotaro said without looking up from his paper. "Problems?"

"No," Midori said as she kissed Nanako on the forehead and went for the kitchen to start supper for the three of them. "Family stuff."

That was putting it lightly. She still wasn't sure of all the details, but after she had showed up for her usual Wednesday evening work shift, she found the store to be very emotionally charged, and when Saki arrived home during the middle of Midori's mopping, things got very tense. Eventually, Mr. Koinishi informed Midori that she should head home for the night after her cleaning, and they would take care of the deliveries.

Naturally, she didn't tell her Uncle all these details. He simply grunted and flipped the page. "By the way, your father called."

"Oh? What did Daddy say?" Midori was already changing her mental calendar to accommodate a longer business trip just as she got the noodles into the pot to boil and pulled out a cutting board for the meat.

"His stuff was done early, so he'll be back tonight. You and I are going to pick him up from the late train after we put Nanako to bed."

"I don't wanna go to sleep!" the young girl objected.

"Not yet, Nanako." Ryotaro smiled at his daughter. "Later. After you're tucked away, Big Sis and I will go out."

"Oh, alright." Nanako was obviously sad that she was going to be left alone, even if it wasn't for that long. "When's supper?"

Midori shook her head. "Soon, Little-Sis. Uncle, how is the new guy working out?"

"Adachi? Oh, he's eager." Ryotaro put down the paper to think. "Just need to temper him a bit. Why?"

"No reason~!" Midori said as she checked the noodles. "Just seeing how your work was going."

"You know, that's actually a good idea," Ryotaro said. "I think I'll invite him over for supper on Sunday. That way he can meet you two girls, so you'll know what to expect."

"I can do that," Midori said. "Should I invite Daddy over as well?"

"Why not? It's a social meal, so maybe we can see if Amane-miko and Mari-sensei can come over as well."

Midori did some math in her head, then looked over the dining area. "There's not enough room at the table," she observed. "Unless the you adults took the table, while Amane, Nanako and myself take the living room."

Ryotaro saw what she was pointing out. There was no way to fit seven people around that small table meant for four. "You're right. I'll talk to the others, see if we can arrange a time." He looked around for the phone, but after seeing it still on the cradle on the wall, decided against doing so when food was being cooked. "After, of course."

Yasoinaba Train Station

Night

The three of them walked out of the station, each carrying a bag. In the parking lot, Ryotaro's car sat, waiting in the gentle snow for them to arrive. Mamoru was the only passenger that took the train all the way to Inaba this ride, so it wasn't like there was a lot of traffic.

"Let me, Daddy." Midori reached out with one hand to take the bag her father was carrying. "You grab a seat, I'll put these in the trunk."

"Alright Midori." Her father passed it over, then opened the driver's side rear door. He dropped into rear bench-seat, and waited for the other two to load the trunk.

At the back, though, Ryotaro made a decision. After the trunk was closed, he called out to Midori. "Catch!" he said, tossing the keys to her, which she caught reflexively. "You drive."

"WHAT?" Midori nearly yelled in the early-winter night. "I can't do that!"

"Yes, you can." Ryotaro said. "I'll be sitting beside you, so take your time. The snow isn't that bad, so you don't have to worry about slush."

"But I don't have a license!" Midori complained. Taking a truck around to do deliveries was one thing. Driving her Daddy and Uncle around was another thing entirely.

"That's why I'll be beside you. Take it slow." Ryotaro made his decision clear as he circled around to the passenger side and went in. "Well, come on!"

Midori hesitantly set herself into the driver's seat, buckling in by rote memory. Surveying the others in the car, she saw that her Daddy was giving his approval. That, plus the empty parking lot, meant that even if she did make a mistake, it wouldn't be insurmountable. Putting the keys into the ignition, she took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

The trusted her to drive them home, right? She knew this was true, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that this was something that couldn't be taken back.

No matter. She turned the key, checked the gas, and the engine turned over.

29 October 2010

Yasoinaba High School, Class 2-2

Lunchtime

Midori literally cornered Saki away from the doors, but she didn't care. She was too wrapped up with worry for her friend to notice just how predatory she was as she stared at Saki. "Why?"

"Look, I don't have time for it any more!" Saki couldn't meet Midori's glare, shirking away even as the space between them stayed the same. "I'm sorry!"

"You can't just quit like this!" Midori complained, even as she tried to figure out why. "You've got to tell me the real reason!"

"No, I don't!" Saki shot back. "Just leave me alone!"

Naturally, this conversation was being deliberately ignored by everyone else in the room. No one wanted to get in the way, even as one of their classmates surreptitiously fled to alert the President that his Vice President and girlfriend was in an argument.

"I can't do that." Midori countered. "You're my friend, and anything that worries you worries me." She at least had enough presence of mind to check to see if she was the problem before confronting Saki directly. There was no sense in having another Chie to deal with. But no, everything she could figure out and was told had that not being the case, so here she was, trying to get Saki to reverse her decision. "And you don't have to attend the Tennis Club full time! You can go part time!"

She didn't miss Saki's wince at the 'part-time', but she didn't know enough to figure out why.

"Look... just...!" Saki had enough of Midori's interrogation and stepped in, shoving Midori out of the way to try and get some space to flee.

Surprised, Midori let herself get pushed back by the sudden physical contact, and couldn't bring herself to stop Saki as she left the room.

In the silence of the class, Midori counted to five, then punched the nearest wall, delivering a resounding thump that carried into the classroom next door. Where had she gone wrong? They were friends! She should be able to fix this!

31 October 2010

Residential District

Daytime

Amane watched with some amusement, but mostly trepidation as Midori escorted her little sister through the Halloween treats. There had been a heavy fog settle over the town that day, and it muffled more than just the light – the sounds themselves seems distant, even when coming from across the street.

Nanako, currently wearing the cotton angel costume that Midori had sewn, and her father had constructed the wings for, was oblivious to that, as she and her friends walked door to door collecting candy from the neighbors.

"Relax," Amane said as the two high-school girls waited along the street for the huddle of children to make their latest bid for more candy. "You've been worried for days now."

"I can't let it go," Midori complained softly. "Saki's my friend. I should be able to help her."

"And your tenseness will do you no good."

"Easy for you to say."

"Yes, it is." Amane confirmed what she supposed Midori meant as an insult. "With the supper tonight, I want you to be on your best behavior."

"Yeesh," Midori grumbled. "I can do that."

"Honestly, not pretending." Amane warned even as Nanako and the other kids her age returned to their chaperons. "I mean it. You're my friend as well, and what worries you, worries me."

Having her own words and intent thrown back at her like that, Midori could only surrender. "I'll try."

Dojima Residence, Evening

Adachi checked the cabbage in the bag before knocking on the door to his partner's house. Having received the invitation, he knew that it was more than just a casual meal. Others would be there as well, and he slicked back his hair to put on a good impression.

He knocked, and from inside, he heard a woman's voice call out "Coming!"

Tohru blinked. A woman? But his partner's wife was dead. That was something that the others in the department had drilled into his head upon him being assigned to work with Dojima. So who was this?

A young woman opened the door, and Tohru bowed in greetings. "Hello!"

"Oh! You must be Adachi!" The woman bowed in return, and invited Tohru in. "I'm Mari, or Doctor Mochizuki when I'm at work." She took Adachi's coat and hung it up. "This is our first time meeting, isn't it?"

"Yes. Yes it is, Doctor." Adachi wasn't sure what form of address he should use, so he went with the more respectful. "Thank you for having me."

"Oh, it's not me you should be thanking." Mari's response was cut short as Ryotaro stepped out of the living room and saw their newest guest.

"Hey, Adachi! You're not late, that's good."

Tohru stepped further into the house, and was greeted by some form of controlled chaos. In the kitchen, two girls were working their magic with the meal. He recognized one as the local shrine maiden from the Central Shopping District, and the other was, from the blue hair, Dojima's older step-daughter. That meant that the middle-aged man currently sitting in the living room hunched over a laptop and working was the other-daughter's father. "Where's Nanako?" He asked as he moved to the kitchen to present the cabbage to the cooks.

"She's in her room, changing." Midori replied while taking the vegetable. "Thanks for the food!"

"Of course," Tohru said as Ryotaro sized him up. The older man seemed to be slightly disappointed, but said nothing about that. "Thank you for inviting me to supper."

"You're welcome," Ryotaro said. "Relax a little, you're not being judged here." He gestured to the living room where the other man was still working. "That's Mamoru, Midori's father." At his name being called, Mamoru raised one hand in greeting without looking away from the screen. "He's working right now, so don't disturb him."

Tohru understood, and turned his attention to the elder daughter. "So, what does he do?"

"He's an advertising exec," Midori said as she washed the cabbage. "He's got a lot of paperwork he needs to do."

"Interesting," Tohru said politely as he had no idea what then entailed. "Did you girls need any help with the cooking?"

"We could," Amane said, "But there's no real room for a third person here."

"Set the table?" He offered out of politeness.

"Nanako's job," Midori cut off that line sharply. "Go ahead, do it and I'll assure you that you'll make an enemy for life."

Deciding that having the hostility of a six-year old was not in his best interests, especially when it was the daughter of his partner, Tohru wisely let the younger generation handle that end of the evening. Instead, he saw that the other adults were sitting around the living room, and so he went to joint them.

Unsure of how to greet the other man and woman, Adachi sat at the open end of the table facing away from the television. To his right was Mamoru, who was reading over something on his screen while on his left, Mari checked her phone. Ryotaro took the seat opposite him, with his back to the couch which had been pushed up against the wall.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I'm still on call."

"I get that," Tohru said knowingly. "Police, remember?"

"Ah, yes." She gave a polite smile as she put the phone away. "So, you're new in town?"

"Yep! Straight from the big city!" He was proud of his origins, even if he felt that this small hick town wasn't the best assignment. But he could make due. "So, you how long have you known Dojima?" He asked her. "I haven't been in town that long myself, you know. Straight out of the Academy."

"Oh, I moved here near the start of the year. I'm from Tokyo originally, and I'm part of a government program to place physicians in rural hospitals."

"That's a problem?" Tohru worked for the government directly, so he went where he was told. "I mean, you'd think doctors..." He trailed off, not sure where this was going.

"No, it is." Mari sighed. "A lot of people want to move to the larger cities, and that includes professionals. After that... unpleasantness last summer, I decided it was time for Amane and myself to find someplace less stressful, and this is what happened."

Adachi suppressed a shudder. He had been on the outside of the Circle during the attacks on that place, and he had his own opinions about what failings had happened. Part of his reason for taking any assignment out side of Tokyo was to get away from the disgraces of that department. "I get that."

"Hey," Ryotaro said from the head of the table. I think that's enough business." He glared at Mamoru who was just finishing up. "Nanako, are you ready?" He called out.

"Yes, daddy!" Nanako came down from her room in a good dress. She saw Adachi and seemed to shrink in on herself.

"Say hello. This is Tohru," Ryotaro said gently. "Sorry Adachi," he apologized, "Nanako is shy around strangers. I'm hoping she'll open up sooner rather than later."

Tohru understood. As they were partners, it was inevitable that he would be around the little girl, and giving her a chance to get used to him. "Hey there!" He said calmly. "I'm Tohru."

"Say hello," Midori also encouraged from the kitchen.

"hello" Nanako said in a small voice before running into the Kitchen to grab at Midori's leg. "Can I help?"

"Because you said hello," Midori said, "I'll let you set the tables. Remember four places in the living room, and three here."

"Right!" Nanako began to busy herself moving cutlery and plates one type at a time from the cupboards to the tables.

Amane thought she saw something. "Nanako-chan?"

"Yes?"

"Did you have any of your candy already?"

Nanako paused for a moment, just long enough to confirm her guilt. "No!"

Amane and Midori shared a glance, deciding in the moment that Midori would pass that along to Ryotaro to deal with after supper and Tohru had gone home. "Don't forget to wash your hands, everyone!" Midori said to change the subject and remind people who had just arrived that cleanliness was still a thing. "Supper is almost ready!"

After supper, the girls were set free of their commitments in the kitchen as Mamoru dragged Adachi along to help with the washing. Amane and Midori pulled out some homework to deal with at the kitchen table, while Nanako joined Mari and Ryotaro in the living room.

Sitting in her father's lap, Nanako squirmed for a moment, then looked up. "Daddy, I don't feel so good."

Mari looked over at the young girl, and didn't like what she saw. "Here, let me look." She leaned over the table and pressed the back of her hand against her forehead. After a moment, she frowned slightly and Ryotaro's face hardened. "Are you alright?" He asked his daughter.

"My tummy hurts," Nanako said.

"She's also running a temperature." Mari announced as she looked around for the first aid kit. "Amane," she said without thinking that Midori would know better, "Please get me the aid kit."

Amane looked to Midori, who after a split second, got up and grabbed the small white box from under the sink. She passed it over the table to Amane, rather than go around, and it was quickly in the medical professional's hands.

Mamoru and Tohru stopped washing and started to pay attention as Mari opened the box and pulled out a thermometer. "Say 'Ahhh'" she commanded, and Nanako opened up for it to be put into her mouth. "Now, did you feel sick before or after supper?" she asked, and Midori's stomach lurched at the thought she had caused this somehow with bad cooking.

"Is she alright?"

Mari pulled the thermometer out, and checked the numbers. She stood up. "Get the car ready, I want to take her to the hospital."

Pandemonium erupted as everyone started to react. Midori went to comfort Nanako while Amane had enough presence of mind to stop her. Mamoru and Adachi stopped what they were doing, Adachi moving to the entrance to grab his keys and shoes. "I'll drive!" he said, indicating the keys in his hand. "Doc, Dojima, come on!"

Mamoru saw what the plan was and moved to aid Amane in intercepting his daughter. "Hold on Midori. They'll go ahead, and we'll follow."

Midori nodded, fear that she had caused this written all over.

Yasoinaba Municipal Hospital

Evening

Amane strolled calmly to the pediatric ward, trusting in the elder Komaki to keep Midori sitting in the lobby. She had been a wreck on the drive over, forgetting many little things in her blind worry.

She saw Adachi relaxing in the hallway, and knew then that everything was going to be alright. He saw her as well, and stood up to greet her.

"How is she?"

"Well," the young policeman said. "It wasn't food poisoning." They both knew that would save the elder sister a lot of premature gray hairs. "Sounded more like an allergic reaction or something."

"Ah," Amane said. "Perhaps it was something in the candy?"

Adachi wasn't surprised at all that the little girl had gotten into the treats ahead of time. "Makes sense. There are some tests that need doing." He looked behind Amane. "Speaking of?"

"She is being held back to avoid a scene."

"Man, this must be most rough on her," Adachi noted as he rubbed his head. "How about you? Holding up?"

"I am," Amane said, having long since mastered the art of not showing how she was really feeling. "Thank you for taking the others here."

"Hey! No prob'!" Adachi smiled a little at the compliment. "I mean, it sucks, this happening when it was dinner, you know?"

"It does," Amane had to agree.

"Look," Tohru said, now looking behind him, "I had some things I wanted to do after supper, but this got in the way, and all that..."

"Go," Amane said. "When you leave, send Midori here, and I will let her know what's up."

"Hey, yeah. Thanks. Really." Adachi stepped past Amane and headed for the front lobby.

Central Shopping District

Adachi pulled into the gas station, cursing the fog that descended across the valley as it slowed him down. Carefully lining himself up with the lights of the stall themselves, he stopped beside one.

Instantly, a figure emerged from the fog. "Hey there!" He or she said – it was hard to tell with the limited visibility. "Fill 'er up?"

Adachi rolled down the window. "Yes, please! And thanks!"

"No problem," the young person said with a smile. "I'll take care of you, no problem at all!"

01 November 2010

Yasoinaba High School, Class 2-2

Before Class

Her classmates saw Midori's baggy eyes, and knew why. Someone had seen what had transpired at the hospital, and they had told someone, who told others, and soon a large segment of the school population had an idea of what had happened. No one was going to call her on being less than her best.

Even Morooka didn't call on her in class, feeling that worry for the child was enough of a reason for her to be off her game.

At lunch, Dan and Kanako swung by and told her not to worry about the Council or Tennis. Midori barely acknowledged their kindness.

After school though, she was stopped by Morooka. "Hey there, Komaki-chan." He said firmly. "Got to let you know that there's a cop waiting out the front door fer you. He says his name's Adachi."

"He's Uncle Dojima's partner," she replied, identifying him and their relationship to the teacher. "Did he say why he's here?"

"To give ye' a lift to the Hospital." Morooka said. "Riddle-san and yer team have things covered, so go on."

"Thank you," Midori said, bowing. "I'll be off."

"You take care of yerself," Morooka said sternly. "Ain't gonna do your little girl any good for you to be like that."

Midori forced a smile. "Of course, Morooka-sensei."

Yasoinaba High School, Exterior

After Class

Midori climbed into the back seat of the police car. "Thank you, Adachi-san," she said as she dropped her bag in the other seat, and then did up her seatbelt.

"Hey, no problem." Adachi replied. "How are you doing? You look like shit, pardon the language."

"I didn't sleep well," she told him honestly.

"You should," he said, repeating the same advice that her homeroom teacher shared. "Got a call from Dojima earlier. She's fine, but they're keeping her there for today so they can find out what caused the reaction."

"That's good to hear," Midori said, before her head dropped down, and she started to snore.

Adachi stared at her in the rear-view mirror for a moment. "I didn't mean right now!" he softly complained, but wasn't about to disturb her either.

Somewhere... Velvet

"Now that I see her, I believe you are correct." Midori thought she heard a female voice in the fog of her dream. She could see nothing, except the faint purple glow that suffused everything around her.

"I thank you for your approval," a familiar, but forgotten male voice replied. "I too was not certain that she could handle this, but she has his sponsorship."

"With what is happening, and reviewing what has come before, I doubt she would avoid the situation."

"Correct. However, there is more to come. We have another guest to prepare to receive. If you are done?"

"Yes, I am."

Dojima Household

Late Night

Ryotaro put the bottle in the medicine cabinet. It was some sort of medicine should Nanako have the same reaction again in the future. Alone in the house, he decided against heading over to see Mamoru this evening. The other man and his daughter had been far more supportive than anyone could ever hope for, and on some level, he doubted he could ever return the favor.