[Bishop-chan's notes: Now a look at those people who were left behind...]
On the Other Side
by zero0hero
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"I'm only at this counseling session because my husband insisted I come." Kyouko said disinterestedly.
"Oh?" Midori asked.
"His company is testing some new mental health computer system."
"You mean the MHCP-002?" Midori brightened up, she'd read an article about it a few weeks ago. It was supposed to be a marvel of AI engineering. The government was already touting it as the solution to Japan's still rising instances of suicide and social seclusion. RECTO had even recently announced their plans to develop a mobile device that patients could carry with them to interact with the AI and receive ongoing psychiatric care.
"I couldn't say." Kyouko replied. "Everyone at the company and their families were all tested. Obviously the machine isn't properly calibrated yet." The woman looked completely convinced of this fact and Midori had a feeling she knew exactly the sort of woman that Yuuki Kyouko was.
"Oh, I see." Was all that Midori said in reply. "Well, you should try to make the best of it then."
"It's taking me away from my work, so I can hardly see any up side." The woman replied, hand coming up to rub at her temple tiredly. "Yes . . . my work . . . Its very important."
"Migraines?"
"For the last couple of months." Kyouko admitted.
'Since the disappearances' Midori thought, it had been the same for her.
Sleeping in an empty house just wasn't something she could do. It had gotten a little easier recently, now that some time had passed. Her husband had taken leave from work, they'd generously given him a whole month off, that had helped a lot, she only needed the pills she been prescribed a couple of nights a week. But looking at Kyouko, she didn't think the woman had been that lucky.
Sighing inwardly, she checked her watch. High technology was all well and good but sometimes the only thing on hand was a human. "The sessions almost over for the night. Have you eaten yet?"
"Excuse met?" Kyouko asked.
"Well, you said this was pretty far from your home, but I work in this area, I know a few places if you want to go get dinner or maybe just some tea. And besides, I'd like to talk to you about . . . Well all of this." Midori gestured to the doorway to the meeting room where the others were waiting for the session to reconvene. "It's up to you, but if you like, I wouldn't mind listening, or not, its up to you."
Kyouko starred at her with a look of disbelief. She rubbed at her eyes tiredly, leaning against the railing in front of the window."Thank you. I think . . . I think I would like that."