Scarlet

“Your job here is to start up the machines every morning,” Mr. Ichikawa says, “it may not sound very important, but in factories like this, the faster we get things running the better. Some of the machines here have a long startup time, so you’ll be mainly tasked with getting here before everybody and turning on each one. Specifically, I need you to start up the air compressor systems, paint curing oven, spray booths, ventilation system, the conveyor lines, and lastly, the control terminals so that our operators don’t have to sit on the bootup screen for too long.”

I nodded, taking note of each system and button I have to press as he takes me around the factory and shows me how to turn on each machine.

“Afterwards, your job will be to make sure that none of the gauges overflow and notify our maintenance workers and other specialists if they do. It’ll be a lot of watching but they rarely overflow so it actually might turn out to be pretty boring. Still, the job is very important, which is why you won’t be overseeing it alone. You’ll be watching it over with Itsumi, who’s one of our maintenance workers.”

“The other artist?” I asked.

“Yup! It’s a bit coincidental I know, but I promise I’m not putting you two together just because I think it’s funny.”

“Sure…” I said as he gave another one of his iconic hearty laughs.

“Well then, if you don’t have any more questions you can head over to your station. If you need any help later on, feel free to just call me over the radio or ask Itsumi.”

I nodded and made my way over to the small room where I found her waiting.

“Hello,” she says, “in case you forgot, my name is Itsumi Shimada. It seems we’ll be working together from now on.”

“And my name is Mashiro Fujimori, it’s nice to meet you,” I introduced myself, “Mr. Ichikawa tells me you’re also trying to get into art school. Is that true?”

She nodded.

“I’ve been trying to get into one for a couple years now. My parents didn’t really support the idea so I was all on my own to get the money. Fortunately enough, I met Mr. Ichikawa back in Osaka when he was first trying to get funding for his plans. After he landed a place here, we moved here along with the rest of the workers he picked up with his charisma.”

“Haha, he really does have a way with talking,” I said.

“He’s a good man,” she agreed, “sometimes I feel like he’s just too good of a person—like there’s a catch to his kindness, but he genuinely seems to want the best for everyone.”

“Well, it’s not like making enemies with people is going to make him successful,” I pointed out.

She laughed.

“Well, what about you? What’s your story?”

“Believe it or not, almost the same as yours,” I said, “I wanted to go to art school too, but my parents were against it because they didn’t believe I would be successful... I’m sure the only reason why they haven’t kicked me out yet is because my grandpa is against it.”

“Your grandpa sounds like a nice person.”

“He is. He’s the only one who seems to believe in me, even when I sometimes don’t.”

Itsumi looks away with distant eyes.

“Must be nice having someone who’s got your back like that,” she finally says, “but I suppose right now, Mr. Ichikawa serves to fill that role for me.”

I give her a pat on the back.

“I’ll fill that role for you too,” I said, “however much a stranger’s belief in you is worth for you anyway”

She smiled and said, “thanks, Mashiro.”

The room then fills with an awkward silence, inducing me to try to strike up another conversation.

“So… you’re part of the maintenance crew?” I asked, “where’d you get skills for that?”

“You pick up a few odd jobs here and there and learn a thing or two when you’re desperate for employment,” she says, “but what matters is that I have the skill set I need to at least do checkups on the machines and do a few simple repairs so we don’t have to waste money on hiring an actual professional. Similar to your schedule, I have to go check on the machines every morning. There’s a few daily ones I have to check like the spray booths and ventilation systems, but there’s also the ones I have to check once every few weeks like the paint curing oven and the conveyor lines.”

“Wow… sounds like Mr. Ichikawa is actually quite meticulous about who he chooses to hire despite saying he’ll accept anyone,” I said.

“Hehe, he has to be that way if he wants this factory to succeed. I suppose I was chosen specifically to reduce the cost of maintenance, and you were chosen to keep me company here.”

“I promise I’m not putting you two together just because I think it’s funny.” his words repeat.

Yeah right, I thought, turns out he’s just a top tier social manipulator… but one that keeps the best interest of his employees in mind. Maybe I should take this job seriously as well… he’s already helping me out big time, so I might as well help him achieve his dreams while I’m here. Plus, the more successful the factory turns out, the higher our payouts, and I’m going to need as much money as I can get.

I clenched my fists, firmly resolving myself in trying to improve the efficiency of production.

                                                                -✧─✦-. ⁺【❤】⁺ .-✦─✧-

A couple weeks had passed by and I had gotten used to my daily routine on the job.

Every morning I would come here before everyone else, running through each room and building and flipping on the switches as I go. I had even mapped out the most efficient pathway during the routine.

Ventilation system, conveyor lines, paint curing oven, air compressor systems, spray booths, control terminals, I think to myself as I flip each and every single one on, and lastly, it’s time to head back to my room.

I opened up the door to the room that Itsumi and I spent our time together in.

Mr. Ichikawa was right—the gauges rarely went overboard, and on the odd occasion that they did, Itsumi would notify the rest of the maintenance crew to fix the problem as we turned off the operations. It was a simple job, but crucial to the chain of production and safety of the factory workers.

Over time, I also came to realize that he was right about another thing; the environment at the factory truly felt like a family, and I felt more connected to them than even my own parents. Every person here was here for a reason, and everyone had their own dreams and aspirations they wanted to pursue. It was the first time in a long time that I felt safe to voice my own dreams of becoming a professional painter out loud.

As I waited in the room for Itsumi to arrive, I noticed that she was later than usual.

Hmm, I thought, she’s usually here by now…

Suddenly, I hear the door to the room open, my eyes lighting up as I expected to see her, but instead, Mr. Ichikawa comes in.

“Hey Mashiro,” he says with his usual cheery smile, “is Itsumi not here yet?”

“It appears she’s not.”

“Dang,” he says, “I was hoping to commend both of you at the same time, but I guess we’ll have to do them separately after all. Anyway, I just want to thank you for coming in so early every morning and getting our operations started. Ever since you came here, our production has increased by about 5%, which doesn’t seem like a lot at first, but it’s small victories like this that show our company is growing.”

I smiled, glad that my efforts were being recognized.

“Thanks, Mr. Ichikawa,” I said, “I try my best.” .

“Mr. Ichikawa!” a male employee suddenly shouts from behind him, “the paint curing oven seems to be malfunctioning. Can you get one of the maintenance workers to check it out?”

Huh? I wondered, I could’ve sworn it was fine when I turned it on earlier.

I opened my mouth to say something but was cut off my Mr. Ichikawa.

“Oh yeah, it’s been acting a little strange lately so I had Itsumi check on it earlier today. She should’ve reported the situation to me by now, but seeing as she’s not in the room right now and the fact that I haven’t heard anything from her yet, she probably didn’t come today…”

I paused.

“There’s also the ones I have to check once every few weeks like the paint curing oven and the conveyor lines.” her words from two weeks ago repeat back to me as a horrible realization dawns.

“Have another one of the maintenance workers check on it instead,” Mr. Ichikawa ordered.

“Yes sir,” the employee said as he walked off.

There’s no way, there’s no way, there’s no way, I thought over and over in my head, maybe she’s just late today. There’s no way that I—

“Hmm? Is there something wrong, Mashiro? Your face looks pale,” Mr. Ichikawa says.

I averted his gaze.

“Mr. Ichikawa…” I murmured, “I think I—”

A loud terrified scream suddenly cuts through the factory.

Oh no.