Welcome, once again, to Studio Bones.
The animation studio responsible for the product of Noragami Arigato.
Still dealing with the aftershocks of your talk in the car, your confidence and professional manner is stolen away by Kaiba who strides into the studio.
"Hello," says Kaiba to the receptionist, "I'm Kaiba Aoi from Matsuno Inc. Idol Agency. I'm here for the Noragami Arigato audition?"
"Ah," she adds, almost as an afterthought, "And this is my manager, Nagata Miho-san."
You bob your head, "Pleased to m-meet you," you say, "This is our second time here... Thanks for having us."
"Welcome to Studio Bones," says the receptionist, "Waiting room for the open auditions is down the hall."
"Thank you," says Kaiba, then looks over her shoulder, "Come, Nagata-san."
"Y-yes," you say, head held down.
Even though you're here with your idol on an important job, your mind isn't on the job at all.
What did Watase do that night? Did she honestly try something?
The more you think about it, the more the dread sets in.
The idea that somebody might've had their way with your body while you were completely out of it sends shivers down your spine.
Kaiba seems so pleased that by revealing your night with Watase that she might've pulled you one step closer to a loving relationship with Kitabayashi that she fails to consider the alternative scenario.
That even if something did happen, that it wasn't consensual.
That you've been sexually assaulted.
You want to go home.
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> Need one ACTING roll for Kaiba Aoi
> Kaiba's feeling pretty good about herself right now and gets a +10 to the roll!
> This combined with her 58 in acting gives her a modifier of 68.
>
> Please roll one 1d100+68 (DC 120)
>
> Rolled 9 + 68 (1d100 + 68)
"I'm sorry, but you fail," says the bones employee.
"Ehhh..." says Kaiba, "How? I thought I did great."
The man checks his notes, "It's true that you had great articulation, spoke with confidence, and altogether put up a splendid performance of a strong, capable woman."
"So, what did I do wrong?" says Kaiba, incredulous.
"You were typecast for a shy, mumbling character," says the man.
"W-what.. But I thought that..." stammers Kaiba.
"Nice try, but auditions are over," replies the man, "Better luck next time."
Kaiba shuffles back to the waiting room, then plops down in the seat next to yours, staring down, "I failed..."
You look up lazily, "Ah?" you say, your mind elsewhere, "Good job."
Kaiba glances to the side, "No, I failed..."
"Oh," you say, giving her a thin smile, "There'll be more auditions. Don't worry."
"...Are you okay, Nagata-san?" asks Kaiba.
You sigh, "I think I'll go home early today," you reply.
Kaiba nods, "Yui did say she thought you went back to work far too quickly."
"I'll be fine," you say, "We should go. You have a meeting for your livestreaming comeback, right?"
"Yes," says Kaiba, "I'll be happy to forget about this audition."
The both of you depart.
The owner of Studio Bones, the man who offered you a special job months ago, watches you leave in silence.
Anyone could see that it wasn't a good time to talk to you right now.
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You're back in the office and there's a lot on your mind.
Kaiba went off to her meeting, the comeback stream is scheduled near the end of the week and there's still plenty to do.
Try as you might, you can't seem to focus on work.
Furthermore, there's a deep-seated fear in your stomach that you might run into Watase.
You'll have to talk things through with her, but you can't seem to even consider meeting up with her right now.
It's only 3 PM, but you shuffle out of your office and apologise profusely to Matsui that you're calling in sick -- again.
"You are looking rather pale," says Matsui.
"Unlike you," you reply, forcing a smile, "Haircut and new make-up?"
Matsui smiles, "How kind of you to notice," she says, "Yes, I have a sort of company event later today."
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
You freeze up, "I wasn't aware there was anything like that..."
Did you miss an email or something?
"Oh, don't worry," says Matsui, reading your expression, "It's with an outside firm. Distant relations."
You visibly relax, "Oh, great," you say, "That scared me. Well, have fun."
"I'll try," says Matsui, "Hope you feel better tomorrow."
You take a moment to gather your courage, "Can you..." you say, "Can you schedule a meeting with Watase Yoko somewhere tomorrow afternoon? We have something to talk about. From Enatsu's event, that is."
Matsui has that particular tilt of the head that says she assumes there's more going on, but she asks no questions, "Sure," she says, "Get some rest for now."
"Thank you, Matsui-san," you say, "I'll be off."
You leave the office and sit down in your car, staring ahead.
Watase wouldn't do something like that, right?
Didn't she say something like that wasn't manly?
Then again, she may have just said that to cover it up.
Back then you did only know each other for a day or so.
She might've just considered you yet another office plaything at the time.
If you take into account what happened at the massage parlour and things, it did seem like she was quite aggressive in a certain way.
Kitabayashi did say as much.
That Watase didn't voluntary leave a lot of her previous jobs, but rather that the way she interacted with her coworkers, slightly older office ladies specifically, meant that things got heated to a point that she had to leave.
Guess you'll find out tomorrow.
You want to think the best of the situation, but maybe that's just naive.
The inability to trust your own memory is a special kind of scary.
You don't know what happened. But if something did, then what happens when you confront her?
Having somebody else there would be incredibly embarrassing, but at the same time reassuring.
You could also tip off security, just in case.
> Decision
> >1 - Meet with Watase by yourself.
> >2 - Meet with Watase with Kaiba present.
> >3 - Meet with Watase with Kitabayashi present.
> >4 - Meet with Watase with Matsui in attendance.
> >5 - Meet with Watase alone but tip off security to be on standby.
>
> Winner
> >1 - Meet with Watase by yourself.
Watase isn't the same person from back then anymore.
She'll have to own up to anything she might've done, but you feel like you could at least discuss it with the current Watase.
One that doesn't say suggestive things every moment.
But only every other moment. A big improvement.
Involving Kaiba is a no.
With her convictions she can probably only make it worse.
Suppose you could've told Kaiba that you're having this intervention because you're suspecting sexual assault, but you don't want to plant the idea in Kaiba's mind that that such things can happen even within the company.
Matsui would be an option, but you don't want her thinking any less of you.
She's like the only employee you have left that you have a proper, professional bond with!
Kitabayashi... no.
She's HR and being HR yourself you know that there's a very formal process for serious allegations like this.
Besides, how would you even begin to explain?
Hello, Yui. You know that aggressive lesbian that joined the company a while back?
Yeah, the one with the pierced nipples. Well, she may or may not have sexually assaulted me.
When was this? Oh, the first day we met, basically. We had some drinks and I don't remember much.
However, I woke up in her bed with her naked next to me. What? Lawsuits, you say?
You want to believe in Watase, having an HR member there might send the wrong message.
If nothing else, it'll clearly state that you think Watase lied and that you think she's the kind of girl that would molest somebody that's asleep.
Well, you do kind of think that might be the case.
Which is why you're having this talk.
But you don't need to broadcast that and piss her off.
Without anyone present, you can just quietly hear her out and explain why you need to know.
You'll just have to hope your faith in Watase well placed.
Still, it's a little scary having to confront her in a room by yourself.
But that's a problem for the Nagata of tomorrow! Take that!
For now, it's time to go home.
You get to stretch out on the couch and watch a movie or something.
Can't be helped! Doctor's orders! Plenty of rest needed.
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Tuesday evening, coloured lights tastefully shine through stained-glass windows.
Normally places like this, a downright medieval castle, are found only in western Europe, but it has been replicated here.
It's the ideal place for foreign investors and the local super wealthy.
That and the sons of influential connections.
Matsui walks towards the building, slightly annoyed how out of place the faux castle seems in the Japanese landscape.
The dress and shoes she's wearing were prepared for her and cost more than several months' salary.
A foreign man, a westerner, standing outside the castle's double doors gives a little wave, slicking back his blonde hair.
"You look radiant," says the man, pulling at his collar, "...I, uh, take it you've memorized?"
"Of course," says Matsui, "My name Takagi Miki, twenty-three, former model."
"Most good, most good," says the man, clapping his hands together, "And we met in...?"
"Spain," answers Matsui, "I had a jet ski accident and went unconscious into the water. You were on one of your yachts at the time and jumped in to heroically save me. We started dating after."
"Perfect!" says the man, all smiles, then leans in, "...It's a pretty good story, don't you think?"
"Modern day Cinderella story, I'd say," says Matsui flatly.
"It is. Isn't it?" answers the man, "I'm sure they'll buy it. And, well."
He looks Matsui up and down, "You understand that we have to, nevertheless, be convincing."
"Anything above the belt is fine," says Matsui, "But keep kissing to a minimum."
The man takes a step back, staring at Matsui in bewilderment.
"By god, you understand perfectly!" says the man, impressed, "Considering the arrangement... I, uh, well, I never expected you to be so cooperative."
Matsui sighs, "I know perfectly well what'll happen if I'm not."
"Don't get down in the dumps on me!" says the man, putting an arm around Matsui, then steering her towards the entrance, "Try to enjoy yourself! By the by, what's your actual age?"
"Twenty-five," says Matsui.
"Ugh," replies the man, wrinkling his nose, "Don't tell that to anyone. Actually, if anyone asks -- you're twenty-one. You Asians are lucky in that regard, it'll work. The other guys usually bring girls that are around eighteen, but at least I'll have some arm-candy myself this time."
"I understand," says Matsui.
"Splendid," says the man, placing a hand on the large, wooden double door leading towards the party, "And remember -- former model!"
"...I understand," says Matsui.
"Good," says the man, opening the door, "By the by, how do you know Hada-san?"
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Wednesday, May 20
No outside jobs, but still plenty to do at work.
Your stomach hurts a bit.
Yesterday's Nagata spend the entire evening on the couch, watching movies well past midnight and gorging on sushi.
Telling herself little lies like how it's alright since she didn't eat much in the hospital.
She even left today's job of confronting Watase to you!
Yesterday's Nagata sucks!
Not like you can do anything about it now.
"Morning, Matsui-san!" you say cheerfully.
"Ah, Nagata-san," says Matsui, "You feel better?"
"Yeah, I'd say so," you reply, "How was your party?"
"Exhausting," says Matsui with a tired smile, "It ran pretty late."
"Oh," you say, "Do you want me to get you some coffee?"
"Would you?" says Matsui, "I'd appreciate it."
"It's no effort at all!" you say, aggressively suppressing your impending intervention with Watase, "I'll be right back."