A/N: Ugh I intended this to be up a while ago…but then that stupid email problem happened.
SnowyStar3000: Hi! I believe I mentioned in a past author's note that Hajime will be appearing at the end of this story, in line with SDR2 and DR3, but not before then. I have tried to give his relationship to Chiaki attention when I can, but he himself will not be showing up until then except maybe in a flashback.
TheRoseShadow21: It's the Victorian definition! In hanakotoba pansies mean "thoughtful/caring", which is kind of along the same lines, but not really.
MedicusAestecus: It would be heartbreaking if he just disappeared, wouldn't it? Fortunately, I don't think that's quite what happens...
Automatically brushing a strand of black hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture she'd adopted to cover up how she checked her wig was still in place, Chiaki glanced up at the doors to the third division building. It was situated on the corner of the street, and had been constructed to be similarly curved at the front, with a wide, triangular back. Tall and towering, it stood at least five or six stories high, pale grey brick and black glass windows. She flinched as someone whizzed by on a bike, centimeters away, and tugged her business suit jacket closer, as if to shrink away from the crowd pressing in on her; after a year in the country, she was struggling to readjust to the busy, high-speed nature of city life.
Chiaki hadn't known where in Japan they'd been hiding out, and hadn't particularly cared. Kamukura-kun, it turned out, had taken them all the way north to the Iwate Prefecture, near a town called Shiwa. Future Foundation's headquarters were stationed back in Tokyo—a gutsy move, considering it had one of the largest rises of despair and death during the Tragedy. Rumor had it that Munakata Kyosuke had declared the Future Foundation was reclaiming the city for hope, and would not take a single step out of it until then. He and the other division heads had kept that promise, impressively managing to restore order to half the giant metropolis—and that was before Enoshima's demise.
Since then, Future Foundation has established other division buildings—or branches— throughout Tokyo. The trip there had taken almost an entire day, rather than the normal six hours—they kept having to drive off the roads whenever the pavement suddenly broke apart in slabs, cracked and destroyed from the Tragedy. Kamukura-kun's luck had ensured the ambulance's gas held until they reached her new apartment building. He'd helped her move her things in, disposed of the ambulance, and left in the morning. But he'd given Chiaki a cellphone with his number in it, as well as the disguise she was wearing. It was easy enough that she could put it on without him, just a black wig and some fake glasses, but Kamukura-kun had promised it would be effective despite the simplicity. She hadn't yet tried it out. She'd been hit by a sudden bout of nerves and fear, and now was paralyzed right outside the building. And her interview was in ten minutes.
Telling herself to stop stalling, Chiaki forced herself to take one step forward, then another, and another, until she was pushing open the doors and striding into the building. It was simple and clean, with white walls and the symbol of Hope's Peak Academy emblazoned on the back wall. Beneath it was a large receptionist's desk, the woman at it preoccupied by texting.
Chiaki approached her. "Excuse me?" she said. The woman glanced up, her nametag reading Yokono Shizue. "I'm here for an interview with Iguchi-san?"
"He's up on the third floor. The elevator's down the hall to your right." She turned back to her phone.
The gamer swallowed, mouth automatically drying. "Um, actually, I need to take the stairs instead. I can't go in elevators. I'm sorry for the inconvenience…"
The receptionist looked up again, her face softening. "A trigger? Don't worry about it, most people who survived the Tragedy have at least one. Can you walk past elevators? The stairs are little ways beyond them…"
"I…don't know? If I don't look at it or go in it, I should be alright, I think…"
Yokono-san slipped her phone into her pocket. "Alright, I'll walk with you. I could use a reason to stretch my legs anyway."
They set off down the hallway, and for Chiaki, it was like creeping through a horror game, distinctly aware of danger around you but not sure where or when. She refused to look left or right, instead keeping her gaze fixed on her feet, hoping no one was using the elevator, wherever it was, hoping that she wouldn't have to hear it ding or accidentally see it slide open and get transported back to that betrayal or Enoshima's sneer or the pain—
A hand on her arm. "We're past them," Yokono-san said, and Chiaki started; she hadn't realized how close she was to hyperventilating. The other woman was looking at her with slight concern. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah," she mumbled unconvincingly, and Yokono-san nodded and left. Chiaki only got up the first flight before she had to lean against the wall, pressing a hand over her eyes and breathing deeply. Don't work yourself up over it. That's almost as bad as seeing it. Just relax…if you know where they are, you'll know how to avoid them.
And then: Is this what it's going to be like every time I enter a building from now on? Worrying about whether each turn of the corner will trigger a flashback? What a disheartening thought.
But by the time she reached the third floor and was directed to Iguchi-san, she'd managed to calm herself down. She had to stop in the stairwell again and take an extra five minutes to breath, trembling, but she'd done it.
Iguchi-san was a tired-looking man in his late thirties, with several days' worth of stubble and at least three cups of coffee on his desk. Still, he managed a warm smile and rose to shook her hand. "Watanabe Keiko, was it? Iguchi Tetsuya. Glad to make your acquaintance."
Chiaki shook his hand and took the seat opposite. "Likewise. Thank you for meeting with me."
He pulled out a binder and flipped it open, until he stopped at what Chiaki recognized as her fake resume. "Now, according to your resume, you're twenty years of age. You graduated high school, but the Tragedy struck and you never got to go to college. Subsequently, you never received any training in the field of therapy. So." Iguchi-san clasped his hands and met her gaze. "Tell me why, out of all the divisions you could have applied to, you picked the seventh?"
"I wanted to help others with the same problems I had." Chiaki fought the urge to fidget, instead digging her fingers into her skirt under the desk, away from view. "It's true I never got to go to college, but I used to be class rep, so I have some skill with people. My resume should have mentioned that." Kamukura-kun had kept that part of her history intact, deeming it could be useful in landing her a job.
Looking intrigued, Iguchi-san glanced back down at the papers. "Yes, there it is. Class rep, hm? That's certainly a start. Some degree of people skills is required for that position, and that's something therapists definitely need. Tell me about what you did."
"Well, I organized group activities on a near-daily basis and made sure everyone had some form of transportation on school trips. I brought my class's concerns to the board and took charge on occasions we were away from our teacher's supervision. I also did my best to protect my classmates during the Tragedy." All true except the last. Because it was technically before the Tragedy, and because I failed…
Iguchi-san questioned her a few more times about her class rep position: why she'd earned it, what activities she'd planned, what her classmates had been like, and she answered them all, heart pounding. With each word, she was afraid he'd somehow sense she was being false, or that he'd find some record that didn't match up with what she said, and would declare her a fake and drag her away to be arrested on the spot…
But despite her fears, he never seemed suspicious, and the rest of the interview went smoothly. Being class rep meant she'd had to step up her game when it came to public speaking and speeches, so she kept her composure, even when questions she hadn't expected came her way. Her fidgeting hands were hidden beneath the desk, and she didn't let any other outward signs of nervousness show.
Finally, the man leaned back in his seat with a sigh. "Alright, Watanabe-san. I won't hold the lack of a college degree against you, because thanks to the Tragedy, many people your age didn't get to even go to college. So, here's what I can promise." Iguchi-san steepled his fingers. "I'll allow you on as an intern for a trial of, say, a month. In that period, you'll get some basic training and work as an assistant for a therapist. Should you show promise, you'll become a permanent intern and commit to the training program."
"Wait, I'm hired? Just like that?" she exclaimed in surprise, and Iguchi-san laughed.
"Well, I'll have to speak to the seventh branch about finding someone for you to shadow, but I don't doubt there'll be people available; the seventh branch has been a little short-staffed lately. I'll probably get back to you on that in a week or so. But yes, just like that. Any other questions?"
Chiaki remembered that she'd prepared some, but they all seemed to have flown out of her brain at that moment. So she just shook her head. Iguchi-san turned to his computer, typing something rapidly. "Alright—I'm printing out some pamphlets for you about basic Future Foundation policy, as well as a list of books on therapy to get you started and where to buy them..."
"So, yeah, they called a few days ago and said they found a supervisor for me. I'm supposed to start at the beginning of next week. I've been trying to study the material, but it's kind of hard…" Chiaki glanced down where she was sitting cross-legged on her living room floor, books and papers spread out all around her. Yumigami sniffed inquisitively at a sheet, looking as if she was thinking about trying to eat it. Holding the phone against her shoulder with her chin, she moved them out of the rabbit's reach and continued, "I mean, I was just okay in science and health classes. I was just okay in most classes, actually. Didn't pay much attention…"
Silence from the other end. As expected.
"Still, maybe it'll be the kind of stuff that's easier in application? I hope so. I want to learn this." Part of the seventh division was dedicated to finding therapy techniques to counteract despair. It was a noble goal, and she hoped to contribute to it for her friends' sakes. Either by finding techniques to break the brainwashing in case the Neo World Program didn't work, or learning how to guide them through their trauma once they were free. I can use what I learn here to help them…and in the meantime, I'll still be making up for my mistakes by helping other people, too. "So, how are you? Where are you now?"
"Akihabara."
"Oh, I love Akihabara! I used to go there all the time, they've got a great market for games. When I was younger I'd sometimes spend the entire weekend there, sleeping in internet cafés instead of my parents' house... It probably wasn't very safe, but I never ran into trouble. How's it doing?"
"It is on fire."
She winced. "…Yeah, I heard the Remnants in that area got particularly vicious after Enoshima's death. Apparently, some of the Future Foundation's branch heads even got dispatched to try and stabilize it. You're safe, right, Kamukura-kun?" From both the Remnants and the Foundation? went unspoken.
On the other end, he only gave a low hum of affirmation. Chiaki smiled fondly; Kamukura-kun was about as verbose on the phone as he was in face-to-face conversation, which was to say not much. But it was so, so good to hear his voice, to know he was doing okay and hadn't left her completely. She called him almost every day. She couldn't help it; she missed him with a familiarly painful ache. It was the same one she'd had when Hinata-kun had left. But much more manageable this time.
Insistently, Yumigami climbed into Chiaki's lap. Scratching her absently, she looked about, grimacing at the state of her apartment. It was tiny, one room with an additional kitchen and bathroom, and such a mess. Her potted pansies and wig stand rubbed shoulders on a shelf, her table bumped up against her television, and her futon was pushed into a corner. Everything had been rabbit-proofed as much as possible since Yumigami had free reign. It was no wonder Kamukura-kun had to leave; it was barely big enough for her as it was.
Well, that's the downside to having to find an apartment that allows pets… At least it was on the first floor, so she didn't have to run up and down the stairs all the time.
"Are there any video games you wish me to obtain for you while I am here?" In the background, there was something like the sound of glass breaking. "…People are too preoccupied to notice."
Remembering the ads about some of the newest games, Chiaki was tempted for a brief second, but she let it pass. "Ah, no, that's okay…I don't want you risking yourself over them." Her brow furrowed. "Why'd you go there, anyway? Did you want to buy a game for yourself?"
"No. I was travelling to a nearby ward for supplies and happened to pass through when you called."
Concern spiked. "Supplies? Are you running out of food? If you ever need something to eat you can always come here, you know."
"I have no difficulties acquiring food for myself. They were for something else."
"Something else?"
No answer.
She shrugged, softly cooing as Yumigami rubbed her chin against her fingers. "Well, you don't have to tell me. I'm glad you've found something to keep yourself busy with. Just…" Automatically, she frowned. "Please be careful?"
"I do not need to be careful."
"I know, but I still worry." Especially because you don't.
"…Your concern is misplaced. I will be fine."
She kept the conversation afloat for a few more minutes, but eventually Kamukura-kun pointed out that it was getting late and she should go to sleep. By that point her eyes kept drifting shut and she'd yawned more than once, so Chiaki didn't protest. The gamer just mumbled a soft "Goodnight, Kamukura-kun. Get some sleep yourself," and hung up.
When she woke up the next morning, she found he'd left a box with several of the newest releases on her doorstep anyway, and Chiaki was torn between squealing, because she was so hyped for them; getting exasperated, because she'd told him not to risk his life over them; and pouting, because if he were going to stop by anyway he might as well stay to visit.
Her internship was half school work and studying, half actual work. She shadowed her supervisor around, sitting in on therapy sessions and jotting down her own observations and notes. Sometimes she was sent to help patients with rehabilitation or physical therapy, just as an assistant. And twice a week she was required to meet up with other interns to share their experiences and formally study. It was very mentally taxing, not just the constant study of subjects she struggled to understand, but the living on edge, the hiding in plain sight, the false identity. Still, Chiaki pushed through it.
Near the end of her second week, she and the other interns were told to go to a conference room on the fourth floor. She was the last to arrive, panting slightly from running up four flights of stairs in a futile attempt to get there on time. At moments like this, it was difficult not to feel envious of everyone else's blissful ease in just being able to pile into an elevator. Chiaki hastily closed the door behind her, turned, and waiting at the back of the room was—
"Gekkogahara-senpai?!" she blurted in surprise.
Gekkogahara Miaya had been in the year ahead of Chiaki at Hope's Peak, a member of the last actual graduating class, Class 76. Even for an Ultimate she'd stood out, with her big, bulky wheelchair and the way she only spoke through that odd bunny avatar of hers. Chiaki had never really spoken to her, but she'd seen her around campus, sometimes with one of the guys in Class 77-A. Her impression of the therapist had been that she was a kind woman, especially compared to some of Chiaki's other upperclassmen.
The blue-haired woman blinked, looking up from her laptop. Rather than respond directly, though, her fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard. A white rabbit dressed in a magical girl uniform popped up on the screen facing them, and a high-pitched voice emerged from the speakers. "Hello…Watanabe-san, was it? I suppose senpai does work, given my seniority here, but I prefer Gekkogahara-san."
Chiaki quietly cursed her slip of the tongue as she hurriedly took a seat. "Sorry… Also, sorry for being late. I had to take the stairs…"
It was hard to tell with the scarf, but she got the impression Gekkogahara-senpai—san, she was going to have to think of her as Gekkogahara-san now—was smiling gently. "It's no problem at all. The Future Foundation does its best to accommodate for its employees' triggers, but unfortunately there's a limited range of options for yours. Allowing you leeway for the extra travel time is the least we can do."
She rolled over and handed Chiaki a glass of water, which she downed gratefully. "Thank you…"
Returning to the front of the room, Gekkogahara-san clapped her hands gently. "Well, now that everyone's here, shall we begin?"
Happy music spilled from her wheelchair, a catchy, welcoming tune. The white rabbit on the screen smiled and spread its arms wide. "Welcome to the seventh branch! I hope your first few weeks here have been productive. If you aren't familiar, I am Gekkogahara Miaya, the branch leader of the seventh division."
Wait, she is?! Chiaki only knew that Munakata-san and Yukizome-sensei were branch leaders; the Ultimate Therapist was barely older than her. That's a high position for someone so young…then again, she is an Ultimate.
"And this is my avatar, Usami." Usami waved. "I'm a bit shy, so she'll be doing the speaking for me. Though I do handle cyber security at the Future Foundation, I am mostly known for my primary talent: Ultimate Therapist. And that's what I've called you here to speak about."
One of the other interns tentatively raised his hand. "Um…Gekkogahara-san?"
"Yes, Honda-kun? How may I help you?"
The intern didn't seem sure whether to look in Gekkogahara-san's eyes or at Usami. "Um, no offense, but…if you are the branch leader, don't you have more important things to do than speak with us?"
"…It's true, I do have many things fighting for my attention." The tinny voice was hard to ignore, and everyone's eyes seemed to gravitate towards Usami rather than Gekkogahara-san. "And it's because of this that I don't get to work with many patients anymore. I'm too busy, you see." Usami's ears drooped.
"But therapy, counseling others, isn't just my talent. It's something I have a real passion for. So, I decided I would set some time aside to pass on my knowledge to new aspiring therapists!" The rabbit puffed her chest out proudly. "That way, I can still contribute to the field I love! So every two weeks I'll be holding seminars and helping you through simulations."
"…Simulations?" Chiaki couldn't help but question.
"That's right! It's a headset you'll use to interact with an avatar with various types of phobias and mental illnesses. It is rather limited, but I believe it's a good way to help you gain experience without the risk of worsening a patient's condition."
She sat back as Gekkogahara-san turned to answer another question, frowning speculatively.
Learning from the Ultimate Therapist herself…that's something not everyone can claim. Still…will it really be safe for me to be around her? We didn't really talk, but we did spend a year at the same school…
Chiaki glanced at the front, where Gekkogahara-san was tugging her scarf over her nose as Usami babbled away. But it doesn't look like she recognizes me…so I guess it's okay. Kamukura-kun is good at what he does.
Maybe I can keep tabs on the Neo World Program through her, too…
A/N: For Chiaki's fake name, I picked a very common Japanese surname, and the given name of Keiko Erikawa, co-founder of KOEI and an influential female figure in the Japanese gaming industry. It only seemed right to make Chiaki's fake name related to her talent, somehow.
Speaking of, she was always planned to end up in the Future Foundation—I just could not stand the thought of her spending the gap for SDR2 doing nothing but waiting again—but deciding which branch was a lot harder. I wanted something that would let her use her touted charisma, so though I also tossed around fifth and fourteenth, seventh it was! Plus, I can now give some screentime to a sorely underdeveloped character.
I put Miaya in Class 76 because this lets her be at Hope's Peak at the same time as Yasuke, so she can meet him, while still graduating and surviving. I figure she and Yasuke would have discussed the Neo World Program theoretically, but not been able to actually start it until he meets Chihiro the following year, possibly through Junko. He'd then introduce him to Miaya, and, well, the rest is history.
I'm going to exercise some creative freedom with Chiaki's therapy training. It won't be something she'll learn instantly, but she will be going through it faster than you would in real life. Then again, in DR's universe a child can apparently become an executive of a famous company, so… Also, given how the Future Foundation allows kids (Mekuru Katsuragi), teenagers Komaru's age (Misaki Asano), and high-school dropouts (Seiko, Sonosuke, and Ruruka) in, and even puts the latter in high positions, I'm inclined to believe they don't care much for your formal education and just push you through training as fast as they can.