Chapter 3: The Campaign

Month 12, Day 12. 13:54

Uzume walked towards the Basilicom, humming to herself. She was coming back early since Histoire had called her. She had managed to at least do three more quests in the two hours she was out.

"Why could Histoire had called me?" Uzume wondered, "Did a another dream request arrive for me?"

As she got near to the Basilicom's entrance, El and At ran at her from the door.

"Hey, Elsy! Atsy!" Uzume called out cheerfully.

"It's Miss CPU!" El said, "Hey!"

"Hello, Miss CPU." At replied timidly.

"We're friends now, call me Uzume if you'd like." Uzume replied.

"Nuh uh" El replied, "You're Miss CPU and that's that."

"Miss CPU. Miss CPU." At nodded.

Uzume sighed, "Well then. What's the hurry?"

"Miss Histoire sent us shopping!" El said, showing Uzume the grocery list and money, "She said it was important for something."

Uzume noted that El said 'Histoire' instead of 'History'. Histoire must've lectured them… She shivered at the thought of a lecture. Uzume pushed the thought back before nodding, "I see. Very good. You're working so hard, Elsy. Atsy." Uzume smiled.

"It's all thanks to you, Miss CPU!" El happily replied, "You helped us accomplish our dream! Mama and papa were so, so happy."

"So happy." At agreed.

Uzume smiled, "Hey, Elsy. Could you do me a favour?"

"Anything, Miss CPU!"

"Could you buy me some limited edition Planeptune pudding?" Uzume asked, "I heard it's divine. Uzume wants to try it, but Histoire called me urgently."

"Hmm, I dunno. Miss Histoire only gave us enough to buy what's on this list."

Uzume grabbed five Planeptune dollars and handed them to El, "You can keep the change. Or buy two more puddings so we can try them together."

"Will do, Miss CPU." El said, taking the money and rushing out with At behind him.

Uzume watched the siblings go until they were a tiny speck before opening the Basilicom doors and looking for Histoire.

Histoire was talking with a man dressed in a blue hoodie and jeans. They did not notice Uzume approach until she called out.

"Histoire! I'm home!" Uzume called.

"Ah Uzume." Histoire looked at the guest.

"So that's Lady Uzume." The man said, "A pleasure to meet you."

Histoire cleared her throat.

"Oh yes, sorry." The man pulled away his yellow hood, revealing his brown hair. His black eyes stared at Uzume with respect.

"Histoire, who's this man?" Uzume wondered, puzzled.

"This man is part of the organisation we're working with. Uzume, from today onwards, you will be working with this man on a grassroots publicity campaign."

"Lady Uzume, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The man bowed respectfully, "My name's Umio."

"Umio? That's a nice name." Uzume smiled, "What's this campaign about, Histoire?"

"Your rule so far as a CPU has been quite pleasant. However, your shares are not nearly high enough as they should be. Your recent actions have raised them quite a bit, but not everyone sees you as fit to rule Planeptune." Histoire explained, "Therefore, we've decided on a campaign that will help the citizens see you in a positive light."

"That's quite a good idea, Histoire." Uzume said, "What am I doing for this campaign?"

"Allow me to explain." Umio intervened, "Since the retirement of the previous CPU, relations between the citizens have been somewhat strained. They are only thinking about themselves and their hardships. Our campaign is focusing in healing the strained relations so we can help each other as a nation. By having you, Lady Uzume, work with us, I'm sure we'll be able to accomplish our goal."

"Oh, That's a wonderful idea!" Uzume said cheerfully, "I'll be glad to work alongside you."

"It's a pleasure to work with you!" Umio replied.

Uzume left the Basilicom with Umio, who guided her towards his organisation. They reached the building. It was a one floor building painted purple, the organisations logo of two shaking hands was displayed on the top.

Umio pushed open the door, holding it open for Uzume to get inside.
The inside of the building was barren. Some furniture spread around with some desks filled with paint and big papers. Some posters and signs were propped on the wall with slogans such as 'Help each other' and 'Help your neighbour as you would your sibling.'

"Those are..." Uzume looked at Umio, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow, "Uh nothing."

"Oh haha." Umio looked at the signs and posters, "Those are from my colleagues. I do find them cheesy as well, but that's their choice."

"So, Umio. What am I doing?"

"Ah yes." Umio went through a door and when he came back, he was pulling a pull-wagon with different items inside, "For now, we want you to pull this pull-wagon to the retirement home at the end of the street."

"That's it?" Uzume asked.

"Yes, for now at least. This is just the beginning." Umio nodded, "And, Lady Uzume, could you please refrain from waving at the crowds while performing this task?"

"Uzume can't wave? Why?" Uzume complained.

"I'm sorry, Lady Uzume. But it is necessary so it does not arouse suspicion that you're doing this for selfish gain."

"I understand." Uzume replied, "But I can transform, right?"

"Yes. Most people know your appearance as a your goddess form than your human form." Umio said, handing the pull-wagon to Uzume.

Uzume closed her eyes as she transformed, "CPU Orange Heart has arrived!" She exclaimed as she was done.

"Very well, Lady Uzume. I will go ahead and make sure that your help does not go unnoticed."

"Thank you for this, Umio." Uzume smiled.

"It is nothing, Lady Uzume." Umio smiled back as he left the building.

Uzume stared at the pull-wagon and analysed its contents. It was random assortment of food and elderly items separated neatly into opposite sides of the wagon.

"Right. It's Uzume's time to pull this!"

While Uzume was psyching herself for her task, Umio was walking through the street telling people of what was going to happen.

"I have a favor to ask, everyone. If you see our CPU pulling a pull-wagon, please call to her with 'Lady Uzume!'" He told the crowd that had formed to watch the CPU.

Uzume had just left the building with the pull-wagon when he noticed the crowd.

"Lady Uzume!" A young kid shouted, Uzume couldn't help but smile back.

"Planeptune's amazing!" A young boy shouted, "The CPU is great too!"

"Uzume is so cute!" A young girl called out.

"Lady Uzume!" The crowd started to call out, "Thank you for everything!"

"Lady Uzume is a great goddess!"
"I'm glad I stayed in Planeptune… To think such a cute CPU would rule now" A young woman said.

Uzume smiled at the citizens that had come to watch her. She had to resist the urge to call back to them.

"Lady Uzume!" Umio called, "You're going to make a wonderful nation."

Uzume was halfway to the retirement home. The crowd that had started to watch her had slowly increased. All sorts of compliments started flying through the air. When Uzume had reached the retirement home, the crowd had grown so much, it felt like the entire population was watching Uzume.

As she entered the retirement home with the pull-wagon, a nurse approached her.

"Lady Uzume! What a surprise to see you here." The nurse noticed the pull-wagon, "Oh? Are these for us?"

"Yep! These are a gift from Uzume." She said, smiling at the nurse, "You need the supplies for the citizens here, right?"

"How did you know, Lady Uzume?" The nurse asked, astonished, "We were running low on supplies, and had little money left to buy enough. But the amount you carry… It should be enough for the month!"

"Uzume is glad to help!"

"Thank you very much, Lady Uzume!" The nurse said, accepting the pull-wagon's handle as Uzume left with a smile on her face.

Umio waited for her outside, trying to calm the crowd before they tried to rush into the building. As Uzume exited the building, Umio approached her.

"Everyone, I believe our CPU deserves our love and faith as compensation for being such a kind soul." Umio addressed the crowd, "Now, three cheers for our CPU, Lady Uzume!"

Uzume stood there, smiling at the crowd that had formed to watch her work.

Umio gently nudged Uzume, "Do you have any words for us, Lady Uzume?"

"Of course!" Uzume replied cheerfully, "Everyone, Uzume is very glad to be your CPU! I promise to help you all! However, it would please me greatly if everyone worked together and helped each other as well!"

"Of course!" An old man shouted, "We will help each other to help you as well, Lady Uzume!"

"Yeah!" Another man replied.

"Let's all work hard together to help Lady Uzume!"

Cheering started from the crowd, before dissolving completely when Uzume told them she had business to attend to.

Uzume and Umio met back at the building. Uzume was already in her human form.

"You did great, Lady Uzume."

"Really? Thank you, Umio. "

"Well, that was just the start of it." Umio rested his head on his fist, "There will be more to do later, but for now, want to go out and grab something to eat?"

"Ooh, Uzume would be really happy eating with Umio." She said as she laced her fingers together, "Maybe we could find a place to eat crêpes together and maybe have some refreshing drink as well in the centre of Planeptune. And we could invite Histoire and Elsy and Atsy as well.~"

"That seems like a plan." Umio replied, "Let's go ask Histoire to join us."

"Follow me, Umio!" Uzume said, leading the way to the Basilicom.

"As energetic as the day I first saw her." Umio muttered to himself before following Uzume out of the building.