> Budget: $105.500
> Date: May 18, 2015 (Monday, Week 21)
> Calendar event: None
>
> Time ticks forever onwards.
> What’s your plan for the next week?
>
> Every week an idol’s stress is automatically reduced by 30.
>
> Manager Task: Nagata Miho
> >1 - Write-in
>
> Idol Task: Enatsu Mari (150 Stress)
> >1 - Have Enatsu work on her SKILL_HERE (40 stress)
> >2 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Enatsu Mari
> >3 - Tell her to take a week off (-50 stress)
> >4 - Write-in
>
> Idol Task: Chigusa Iki (20 Stress)
> >1 - Have Chigusa work on her SKILL_HERE (40 stress)
> >2 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Chigusa Iki
> >3 - Tell her to take a week off (-50 stress)
> >4 - Write-in
All-in-all, you've thoroughly enjoyed your weekend.
The nurse at the hospital did say you should relax and keep your stress down and you've tried to do right by that advice.
Other than a trip to the grocery store and a gift shop, you've stayed home.
Monday has arrived and it's time for work.
Kitabayashi did say that nobody would mind if you took a few extra days off, but that would just mean offloading your tasks to Matsui.
You can't do that to her when you feel healthy enough to work!
As you've got a good hour left until it's time to drive to work, so you're enjoying a modest breakfast, your bare feet swaying gently beneath the kitchen table.
Your phone is propped up against a scented candle, displaying a newscast while you finish your meal.
“Last Sunday evening saw a fire at a college dorm in the outer Tokyo area,” says the male newscaster, “The building in question was an older building so faulty wiring is suspect, but investigations are proceeding. Luckily most residents were able to evacuate the building in a timely fashion. One woman, a college student, wasn’t so lucky and has been brought into the care of a local hospital with severe burns.”
“We wish her a speedy recovery,” says the female newscaster, “And now for the weather….”
Goes to show that things could always be worse.
Off to work.
----------------------------------------
The bruise on your face has discoloured into a harsh yellow-ish purple.
You tried to cover it with make-up as best you could, but it still peeks through.
Naturally, you get some looks as you make your way through the lobby, purse swaying at your side.
Some of those people have heard what transpired at the event and either commend you on your actions or wish you a speedy recovery.
Before you head to your office, you make a quick pitstop at the breakroom for some coffee.
Kitabayashi happens to also be there, "Hello, hello~" she says, holding a cup of coffee of her own, "How are you feeling?"
Honestly? Crappy.
But you're not gonna tell Yui that, she's gonna overreact.
"Good," you say, "A lot better than on Friday, at least. Got some proper rest."
"I know," says Kitabayashi, "Didn't see your name pop up in the time tracking program, so you at the very least weren't at work."
You give Kitabayashi a look and press some buttons on the coffee machine, "This is sounding suspiciously like stalking," you say jokingly.
"Aren't you lucky?" says Kitabayashi, shrugging, "Getting stalked by a pretty, caring girl like me?"
"Suppose I am," you reply, retrieving your coffee from the machine, "Well, I should get to work. I'm probably behind on a bunch of stuff."
"Take it easy on your first day back," says Kitabayashi, "And if anyone comes to complain, just send them my way. Issues between workers should be handled by HR."
You give Kitabayashi a confused look, but then remember, "Ah."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Contrary to your expectations, those idols and their managers haven't blown up your phone, but that might've been because they wanted to confront you in person.
"I can handle it!" you say, walking away before Kitabayashi can complain.
----------------------------------------
Coffee in hand, you make the short journey towards your office.
"Morning, Matsui-san," you say.
"Morning, Nagat--" she takes one look at your face and winces, "Does it hurt?"
"Not as much anymore, no" you reply, then sling your purse around, "Thanks for taking over Chigusa's debut and my other tasks," you add, reaching into the purse.
"Not at all," says Matsui, looking on curiously.
"These are for you," you say, presenting a wrapped package, "Wasanbon. Enjoy."
"Aw," says Matsui, a smile on her face as she accepts the package, "You shouldn't have. Thank you."
"It was the least I could do for dropping a stressful event in your lap like that," you say, zipping your purse shut and swinging it around, "Anything worth mentioning that occurred when I was locked away?"
"You make it sound like a prison," says Matsui, laughing, "And, no. Nothing happened."
"Really?" you say, surprised, "I assumed people would've come by to try and skin me alive for putting their talent through a traumatic event like that."
"It's true that some idols are shaken-up by what happened," says Matsui, sighing, "But people seem to be very understanding."
"Oh," you say, your mood instantly improved, "Lucky. I was preparing for the worst."
"You ended up in the hospital," says Matsui, "I wouldn't call that lucky."
"All things considered, I mean," you reply, taking a few steps towards your office door, "I'll be answering email and taking care of backlog for a while. Afterwards we'll have to see to the schedule for Chigusa and Kaiba."
"Not Enatsu?" says Matsui.
"No," you answer, "She looked like she was falling apart even before the debut. I might've overworked her with those two large jobs back-to-back. Enatsu always seems to have endless energy, but last week I noticed that wasn't true. Combine that with what happened last Thursday and I think she can do with some rest."
"That's fair," says Matsui, "Can I still call those companies she and Chigusa worked for that they no longer need to hold their material?"
Unlike Kaiba, Enatsu and Chigusa hadn't had their debut yet, so their contract mentioned that any material produced through their efforts would have to be kept private until the debut.
"For sure," you say, "It's the ideal follow-up to their debut. Send those companies some gifts for agreeing to hold off on publishing their things -- as a thanks. I'll call Enatsu myself."
"Understood," says Matsui, bobbing her head, "Good to have you back, Nagata-san."
"It's good to be back!" you say, winking as you disappear into your office.
Matsui smiles and returns to her own work as her phone buzzes.
A single glance at the caller ID strips the smile from her face.
Hada Midori.
Matsui takes a deep breath before she picks up.
Whatever it is. Whatever task Hada has prepared for her. It'll be worth it.
Out of nowhere over a dozen complaints had been filed against Nagata.
Emotional damage, reckless endangerment, and enough damage claims to drain the budget to a hard zero.
Matsui had to make the deal.
Nagata-san would've lost her job if she hadn't.
Matsui had to do it for herself, too.
To prove something to herself.
One phone-call to Hada Midori was all it took.
All complaints disappeared instantly, as if they never existed.
Not even a trace left in the software that previously held them.
As if somebody deleted them straight from the underlying database.
The people that were screaming bloody murder only last week are now quiet.
One of them arrived at work in a brand-new company car.
A different one is suddenly wearing a Rolex that he claims he always had, but just never wore.
It's obvious what's going on.
Matsui answers the phone.
----------------------------------------
You spend the first few hours of the day clearing out your inbox and completing any stray tasks.
Truthfully, there isn't a whole lot. Matsui seems to have taken care of almost everything.
Over the course of the morning, you kept stealing glances at your office phone.
But despite the willpower you try to channel into the device -- it doesn't ring.
Eventually, you sheepishly call Matsuno Inc's support department and ask if, maybe, a person by the name of Muratagi Tetsu has called for you.
Up until this morning your phone would've been set to "Out-of-office" and any calls would've gone to the general support department.
No luck. He hasn't called.
"Maybe I should've asked for his number instead..." you say to the empty office.
No! That'd seem desperate. Isn't it the job of the man to ask for a girl's number?
Though you ended up giving him your number unprompted either way.
You pout.
Back during the fortune telling the fortune said all signs pointed towards love, but maybe you're putting too much stock in the astral guidance of a teenage girl.
Still have her phone number from back when she asked you to pay through LinePay.
Though the fortune mentioned you should be putting in some effort yourself if you want love to flourish.
You gave out your number, didn't you?
That's something.
Well, you gave it out with the disclaimer that he should call if he wants his medical costs covered.
Not really a clear romantic invitation.
Muratagi Tetsu.
With everything that happened, you didn't get a chance to speak much.
You're not entirely sure if you feel anything for him, but anyone that's willing to fight to protect your idols is worth getting to know a little better, right?
Besides, it's exciting to think that somebody might call because they're interested in you.
A man, even!
Or... to he'll call to get his medical bills covered.
"I should've been more clear..." you say, sighing as you bury your face in your hands.
The clock strikes 11 AM.
Back to work.