/jp/ - Otaku Culture

(1/4)
“You changed Your clothes?” Anon asked.
“Ah, yeah, red’s not really my color.” I say, fiddling with my hair.
“It looks good, you don’t see many people around here wearing Camo, but I guess that’s the point.” He chuckled.
I had recently allowed staff to modify their traditional shrine maiden uniforms, figuring allowing some personal expression would lead to an increase in synergy. Yukari hadn’t said anything regarding it, operational excellence seemed above her notice recently.
It had been an awful week, first a scheduling error caused us to be double booked, the incense ventilation had sprung a leak, and to top it all off Anon was mauled bad enough to call the Eientei bunny, Reisen back in. A particular awful series of events, but we re-shuffled schedules, I quietly ‘fired’ a few clients, the incense system was fixed by the ole’ rotten egg trick, and the ‘Injured Husband’ was a big success.
Ah what am I thinking. Yukari will probably just invite the belligerent customers back with coupons, Anon had to put up with the smell of rotten egg for hours, and that mauling was so bad I put in my employee discount coupon just to give Anon a long weekend.
“Sorry about the rotten egg smell.” I can at least apologize for that much.
“Oh, it’s no bother. Once upon a time I wasn’t the sparkling image of household perfection you see before you, once I accidentally dropped a raw fish behind a cupboard directly into a vent and gassed the entire dorm, the rotten egg smell was nostalgic really.” He waved off.
It was quiet for a bit after that. I’m no good with small talk and there seemed like so many mines I could step on. How’s work? How’s family? What about this weather? It would all lead to him thinking about something unpleasant. And I already asked him if he had any requested books.
I just, I can’t just talk to him about business without softening him up a little is all.
“Something’s on your mind, isn’t it?” He said, beaming “I’ve listened to all kind of things at this point so you can me anything.”
“When you get out of here, what do you think you’ll do?” It comes out of my lips before I can stop myself.
“What I’ll do… hmmm.” He said, tapping his arm. “I think I’ll go for a long walk, just by myself, empty my head, have a little snack, and just appreciate nature for a bit. Yeah, that sounds nice.”
I’m a little surprised. I thought for sure he’d say something like ‘hug my daughter’ or ‘run as far away from any shrine as I can’, but he hasn’t been truly alone since he was interned here. No, maybe since he got married.
“And how about you?” He asked.
“Well, you see…” I try to delay, I wasn’t prepared to answer this, not now, but I saw just a little spark of light in those eyes of his. Ah hell, “I want to start a daycare.”
His eyebrows raise.
“This business isn’t sustainable. The customers are rude, the staff’s always on edge, equipment failures are constant, supplies sourcing is all so sketchy, and I’ve, I’ve done all this before at the black market. It’s boring. So, I want to try the opposite, do some legitimate business that nobody can sneer at.”
I look up, not knowing whether to expect a face of encouragement or bewilderment. I’m met with a serious, stoic looking expression. Oh Gods, did he figure me out?
“Raising kids is a commitment you know.” He begins. “You must be careful since they’re impressionable and all, adults can forgive an outburst or two, kids will remember it for life. Are you ready to be responsible for that?” He asks.
“I don’t know.” Is all I can say. He slaps me on the arm.
“Well, that’s great! Cause nobody does!” He says with a joyous expression.