/jp/ - Otaku Culture

(1/3)
Business proposals in hand I, Takane Yamashiro, am making my way to the meeting with Yukari.

Things had been running smoothly at the HSE, suspiciously so. Delays due to injury was down, business remained steady, and the team was working well together. My projections had been that by this point, we’d be under major operating stress due to increased interest from violent Youkai customers, corporate sabotage, and emancipation attempts, but only one of those risks had manifested.

Youkai behavior is one of the great mysteries of the world, but a simple, business-minded approach is to consider the “Human Relation Index”(HRI). As an example: us Yamawaro have a medium HRI, as we only attack nefarious humans who enter our mountain uninvited, while something like a Kijo, creatures of pure spite, have an extremely low HRI. These kinds of Youkai are what necessitated the Hakurei Shrine as an institution.

As word about this place got around, more vindictive, low HRI Youkai had been crawling out of their holes and visiting the HSE, the kind that had a real axe to grind against the former Miko and her estranged family. I didn’t like them. They were rude to my team and always pushed the limits of what’s allowed. Sometimes I’d wish they’d cross the line just so Ran would have an excuse, but they were crafty.

Nobody knows for certain what drove the former Miko to strike her family and I still couldn’t tell you but dealing with these mannerless creatines I usually got to avoid? It makes one think.

I exhaled, clearing my mind, and placed my hand on the smooth furnish of the door. ‘Showtime’ I said to myself as I slide it open.

“Honorable Yukari Yakumo, I’ve come for our appointment.” I call to her.

“Yes, yes, have a seat.” She replied from behind a desk, as she continued to pour over some papers. For a moment she tapped her pen against her lip, made a few marks on the margin of whatever report she was reading, and dropped it into some space only for it to disappear.

“What is it that you wanted again?” She asked, even though I had sent her numerous memos throughout the week. I bite the inside of my cheek just a little.

“I have a few operating points to discuss with the sole proprietor, firstly: I’d like to propose we ban certain clients from the HSE, I have a list here with explanations that- “

She holds a hand up to stop me. “Have they broken any rules?”

“No, however they’re clearly impeding our operation, if you look here, I have some proposed policy changes that should- “

“I’ll worry about policy.” She interrupts again. Sighing, she bends over and produces a tray with two cups of tea from under her desk and places it in front of me. Both cups are at equal distance between us. A negotiation tactic to build trust, I take the left cup and have a sip.

“I believe I’ve explained this to you before, but just in case you’ve forgotten: this place is a punishment. Your proposal works against that.”

Sandbagged. Although I expected as much, which is why you never go into a meeting with a single proposal.

“Moving on then, I’ve worked with our clients and the team to compile a list of new courses which I’d like your approval on.” I say, handing over another stack of papers.

Yukari leafs through the stack, at least taking in the marketing illustrations and summery notes attached to the margins. Her eyes shift between squinting, bulging, and rolling while pouring over the papers. Two or three times she flips back through the pile before coming to her conclusion.

“These all omit the bedroom and theses courses, ‘Anon’s Ardent Affirmations’, ‘What Will We Name Our Baby?’ am I reading this right?” Not my choice of names, but let the boss pick the coat of paint as they say.

“Yes, that is the correct reading.”