Maison Otonashi
Part 2
"Good morning. I am Katsuragi Misato, Captain, Operations Commander,
deputy head of Public Relations, and I represent the organization known
simply as NERV. Welcome to the NERV recruitment seminar."
"Oh, my God!" Sakamoto whispered. "She's a babe!"
"She's the Operations Commander!" Kobayashi breathed.
"She's my neighbor!" Godai exclaimed.
Sakamoto and Kobayashi stared at Godai.
"It's true!" Godai said. "She's that beer-chugging woman who lives a
room down from me. It's just that I've never seen her like this before."
Sakamoto blinked and took a longer look. "Hey! You're right! She's
the woman who always wears those really short denim cutoffs!"
"I told you."
"Let me get this straight," Kobayashi said, pushing back his
glasses, "this woman parades half-naked around Godai's apartment and
neither of you two jokers noticed how sexy she was until now?"
"Well, I was taken aback before," Sakamoto replied, "and I've never
seen her sober. But that's only because I don't live there. What's your
excuse, Godai?"
"I, uh, that is..."
"There will be a short instructional film clip after this," Misato
continued, "then a short recess. After that, you will be interviewed,
then classified according to aptitude, so that in the event of your
employment --"
"We wish," the three chorused.
"-- you will be assigned to a job best suited to your abilities."
"All right, Godai!" Sakamoto said, slapping Godai's back. "If NERV
has job openings for the chronically indecisive you'll be a shoo-in!"
"Hey, quit it!" Godai snapped.
"Pipe down and listen, you two," Kobayashi whispered. "They might
give a test on these things."
They quieted down and listened to the rest of the speech.
"Those with scientific leanings will be handled by Akagi Ritsuko,
Ph.D., Research Division deputy head," Misato continued, motioning to a
blond-haired woman who was at that point walking out dressed in a lab coat
worn over a blue blouse and short black skirt.
"That's their Research Division deputy head?" Godai said.
"Damn, I knew I should have studied harder for our Physics class!"
Sakamoto whined, snapping his fingers.
"The Information Division is headed by Kaji Ryoji." A tall,
pony-tailed man walked onstage, scratching the day-growth of stubble on
his chin and grinning wryly while facing the audience.
Squeals erupted from the crowd.
"I hate him already," Kobayashi muttered.
"I know him," Godai whispered. "He's Misato's lover, I think."
"No!" Sakamoto said. "I can't believe that loser is Miss Katsuragi's
boyfriend!"
"Believe it," Godai snickered.
"I will handle the Operations Division and, in the absence of Dr.
Ikari Yui, the Public Relations Division," Misato finished. "You will have
a chance to meet more of our staff during your internship. For now, thank
you for coming, and please make yourselves comfortable. We will now show
the instructional video. Lights, please."
The lights went out, and the projection screen went blue, followed
by the NERV logo, red on black.
"'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world'? What's that
supposed to mean?" Sakamoto whispered.
"Shhh!" Kobayashi hissed. "Pay attention!"
"The history of NERV," the voiceover said. "NERV was formed in
response to the Second Impact, a catastrophe that melted the polar ice
caps and caused massive flooding all over the globe."
"I remember that," Sakamoto said. "I was just a kid, then, and --"
"Will you shut up?" Godai chided.
"Sorry. Hey, isn't that Nobuyuki a few rows back? Who's that cute
blue-haired girl he's with?"
"Shut up!"
"Okay! Okay! Sheesh!"
"Greetings, Kanrinin-san," Yotsuya said, tipping his hat to Kyoko.
He was decked out in his trench coat again, and he looked like he stayed
up the night before.
"Welcome back," Kyoko said, pausing her front-step-sweeping. "May I
ask where were you all night?"
"At my job," Yotsuya replied casually. "Say, isn't young Godai's
application for internship today?"
"Why, yes," Kyoko replied. "I hope he does well. It'd be good job
experience for him."
"I suppose so, but what skills could he possibly bring to the outfit
he is applying for?"
"Ah, well," Kyoko said, searching for answers, "that is, well, I
suppose he could..."
"Hey, Kyoko!" Mrs. Ichinose yelled from inside Otonashi-kan. "Don't
we have tennis practice later on?"
"Um, that's right," Kyoko replied. "I better finish my chores early.
Excuse me."
"Of course," Yotsuya said. "I'll be heading inside now."
"Okay." Kyoko sighed as soon as Yotsuya entered the building. "Now
I'm more worried about Godai than ever. I hope he does well."
"Name?"
"C'mon, Misato, it's me, Godai!"
"Please show the proper decorum. We can talk when this interview is
finished. Name?"
Godai sighed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. The
suit he was wearing made him itch, and the tie was too tight. He was
beginning to sweat, and the tip of his nose begged to be scratched. "Godai
Yusaku."
Misato nodded and leafed through his application. "What is your
major?"
"Education."
"Any work experience?"
"I did several stints helping out at a local preschool, and I'm
applying to student teach at several high schools." There. He could be
professional when he wanted to, and he really wanted to give his
interviewer a good impression, even though he knew it was 'just Misato'.
Besides, she was really pretty when she was dressed properly, and a babe
IS a babe.
Misato nodded. "That's what it says here." She closed the folder.
"Mr. Godai, are you aware of the extent of NERV's holdings in the Greater
Tokyo Area?"
"Not very well, I'm afraid. Only what I learned from the film, and
even that is sketchy."
"Well, NERV runs several schools in Tokyo, including the one in the
Nerima District."
That's where Soichiro works, Godai thought.
Misato stood and held her hand out to Godai. "Well. That will be all
for now. Thank you for coming, Mr. Godai. You will be notified of the
results through mail."
Godai shook her hand. "Thank you for having me here."
Misato took off her glasses and grinned at Godai. "Well, that went
pretty well, huh?" She sat down. She picked up a bottle of water nearby
and opened it. "We still have a few minutes. Have a seat and relax."
Godai slumped in his seat, grinning. "You really scared me back
there."
"Did I? That's good," Misato said, taking a drink. "I'm not all
goof-off, you know."
"I can see that, now."
"Now you know why I'm so laid back at home. It's the only place I
can really relax."
Godai chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind the next time you lie down
on my desk."
Misato leaned forward, smiling. "It's not like you can complain or
anything."
"Well," Godai said, "I was really surprised when I saw you come out.
You're really pretty when you want to be."
"Thanks," Misato said, "but flattery won't help you get the job."
"What? No! That's not what I meant by --"
"Oops, look at the time," Misato said, looking at her watch. "Better
get going. Call the next applicant in on your way out."
Godai got up, flustered, but before he could leave Misato walked up
next to him.
"By the way, thanks," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "It's nice
to be told that now and then."
Godai could only stammer a "no problem" while Misato opened the door
and ushered him out.
"Hey, Kentaro, wait!"
Kentaro turned to see Yoshimi running up to him. "Oh, hi, Yoshimi."
"Can I walk home with you," Yoshimi asked, a puppy dog look in her
big, dark eyes, "please?"
"Oh, okay," Kentaro said, "if you really want to."
"I do. Besides, my house is just a few blocks away from yours, so
why not?"
They climbed the steps up the hill that led to the playground near
Maison Otonashi.
"Well, here's the daily exercise," Kentaro said.
"Yeah."
"Hey, Yoshimi..."
"Yes?" She turned to face him, and from this angle, with her
medium-length black hair in the sun like that Kentaro was suddenly
reminded of Ikuko.
"Uh," he began, stammering, "h-how are you and Ryunosuke?"
"Oh!" she exclaimed, blushing. "W-why do ask?"
"Um... it's nothing, really."
"Oh. Okay. Hey, did you hear? Soichiro-sensei is going to stop
teaching the level higher than us and concentrate on our batch, 'cause he
wants to get more rest."
"Yeah," Kentaro said, "must be the trouble with the manager."
"What trouble with the manager?"
"Well, Soichiro-sensei is our apartment manager's husband."
"Really? Wow."
"Yeah, so it gets pretty exciting around my place."
"Hey, Ken-chan..."
Kentaro gave a start. 'Ken-chan'? Not even his mother called him
that! "W-what is it, Yoshimi?"
"Can I visit your place one of these days?"
"Oh, sure! Sure! Anytime!"
Yoshimi smiled. "I'm glad. Well, here's my house. See you tomorrow,
Ken-chan! Let's do this again!"
"Sure... s-see you tomorrow, Yoshimi..."
He watched her enter the house before he finished his sentence.
"...chan."
Godai stepped out of the train station onto the sidewalk, which was
damp from the late afternoon rain. He touched his cheek as he walked home.
It felt good. It felt really good to have that kind of affirmation,
even if it was just from Misato.
Godai shook his head gently. Even if it was just anyone.
Just anyone? He frowned. Was that it? Would he be happy with just
anyone? Anyone? It disturbed him; the idea that it didn't matter who he
was with, as long as he was with someone. Was that truly how he felt?
So why did he insist on being in love with Kyoko? If he could be
happy with just anyone, why did he insist on trying to win a married
woman? What business did he have getting between a woman and her husband?
Godai loosened his tie; he was finding it difficult to breathe.
"I take it you weren't accepted, then?" Yotsuya said, sliding a can
of beer next to Godai.
"I don't know that yet," Godai replied, putting away his papers
under his desk. He grabbed the beer and opened it. "What even makes you
say that?"
"Well," Mrs. Ichinose said, between chugs at her personal bottle of
sake, "it's that long face you're wearing. Men only wear that face when
they're either having trouble at work or with women, and I doubt it's
woman trouble."
Shows how much you know, thought Godai.
"At any rate," Yotsuya continued, "Misato isn't home yet, so we have
to pace ourselves. We cannot get this sympathy party going unless we are
all here."
"Party? It's barely six in the evening!" Godai protested.
"The sun's down, isn't it?" Mrs. Ichinose said.
"I'm home, mom," Kentaro said as he entered the room. "I'll be going
off to our room now. I just wanted to tell you I was home." He turned to
leave.
"Hey, now," Mrs. Ichinose said, "what's with the long face, son?"
Yotsuya raised an eyebrow. "It is just me, or is the face your son
is wearing identical to the one on Godai?"
"Where've you been?" Mrs. Ichinose asked.
"Aw, nowhere," Kentaro replied.
"Aha! It's a girl, isn't it?" Mrs. Ichinose yelled. "Atta boy!"
"No!"
"Methinks the boy doth protest too much," Yotsuya said. "That's a
good lad."
"Hi," Kyoko said as she entered the room. "What's up?"
"Hello, Kanrinin-san," Yotsuya said, handing Kyoko another beer, "we
were discussing Kentaro's love life."
"Quit it!"
"Oooh, Kentaro!" Kyoko teased. "You're going to make this girl very
happy."
"You... you think so?"
"Aha! So there is a girl! So, is she cute?" Mrs. Ichinose prodded.
"Mom! I don't wanna talk about it!"
"All right," Mrs. Ichinose said, patting her son on the head.
"You're obviously embarrassed about it, so we won't force the matter."
Now if only they did that for me, Godai thought.
"Hi, guys," Misato said, entering the increasingly cramped room,
lugging two six-packs in a plastic bag. She was dressed in her denim
shorts and green sleeveless shirt, and she set herself down on the floor.
"Ah, what a day. So many applicants, so little time."
"Greetings," Yotsuya said, "you're just in time for the sympathy
party."
"For whom?"
"Godai," Mrs. Ichinose replied. "Who else. Job trouble."
"It is not!"
"Come now, Mrs. Ichinose," Yotsuya said, "let's give the young man
some credit. I earlier commented on the similarities between Godai and
Kentaro's expressions. Since we have deduced that Kentaro is having woman
trouble --"
"Am not!"
"-- I think it is safe to say that the nature of Godai's problem is
similar as well."
Godai nearly choked on his beer.
"Well, it isn't job trouble," Misato said.
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked.
Misato smirked. "Here," she said, handing an envelope to Godai.
"You're supposed to receive this tomorrow by mail, but I figured I'd hand
it to you myself."
Godai opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside, hands
trembling.
"Read it aloud," Misato urged.
"Godai Yusaku, we would like to inform you that you have been
accepted to student-teach at the NERV-sponsored Nerima Junior High School
starting this Wednesday...!"
"Yep," Misato said. "Congratulations."
"Here, here," Yotsuya said. "To young Godai, the educator. May the
minds he shapes never need psychiatric treatment when he is done."
"Uh, hear, hear," Kyoko said, flinching.
"This calls for a dance!" Mrs. Ichinose shouted, bringing out her
fans.
"Thanks, Misato," Godai began.
"No, no, don't thank me," Misato said. "You were the most qualified
person who applied for the job. Besides, there was an opening since one of
the teachers decided to reduce his work load for personal reasons."
"I know," Kyoko quietly said.
The room fell silent.
"Soichiro called this morning. He said he was going to teach less,
to devote more time to me, because that's what I wanted, he said."
"Then that means..." Mrs. Ichinose started.
"... That young Godai here is taking over Soichiro's place..."
continued Yotsuya.
"... and Kyoko will be leaving with her husband," Misato finished.
A second, longer silence descended upon room.
And then, the sirens rang.
To be continued...
=====
w.o.m
TimeRunner's Web Page:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/7482.
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All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental.
- Kurt Vonnegut