Episode X: Epilogue

“I knew I’d find you here. How’s it going, Elio?”

“Boss.”

The ice in Reiko’s coffee clinked. The glass stood opaque against the colors of the oak countertop. Reiko wiped the condensation with a napkin, slurped on the cold brew, then turned her attention to the morning paper.

“You look terrible,” Kazuo said.

“But I feel great.”

“You look like you haven’t gotten any sleep,” Elio frowned. “When you have a moment, go take a shower in the back. Get some new clothes. You’re going to scare away my other customers.”

“There’s almost no one here,” Reiko downed the drink. “Another.”

“Too much coffee is also bad for you, you know,” Elio said.

“I got a call from the PM,” Kazuo said. “It’s a bit of a mixed message. He’s congratulating us on a job well done. He also wants us to be ready to give eye witness testimony for what happened up there.”

“What happened where?”

“Reiko…”

Kazuo tapped the newspaper. The title Egregore Announce Baba Yaga Turns Against Lisa Everest During Castle Gramarye Incident ran across the front page.

“What can I say?” Reiko shrugged. “We live in a multipolar world now, chief.”

“You have no idea what you just said.”

“Not a clue.”

“Look,” Kazuo sighed. “I don’t want to know what actually happened up there, so you’re free to say whatever you want, but the situation’s very volatile. The Commission’s a disaster. Everyone’s picking up the scraps. Section Eight could be on a chopping block.”

“A chance for a promotion, maybe?” Reiko asked.

“Please,” Kazuo rolled his eyes. “Politics is a game for old men, and unfortunately I am old, so I play. It’s what I’m good at, but I’d want to be out there fighting if I was any younger.”

“Don’t take it so personally, Kazuo,” Reiko chuckled. “No one else in Section Eight knows how to avoid getting arrested, and we all need a job.”

Elio returned to the counter with a fresh cold brew. Kazuo gestured, asking for his own glass.

“I’m looking to expand the team,” Kazuo said. “I know you’re concerned after what happened to Miyuki, but sooner or later, the public is going to find out about its new Egregore. Times will change, Reiko. We’re going to need more people.”

“Fine,” Reiko said. “As long as I get to interview them myself.”

“I thought you resented me for that.”

“I changed my mind. It’s fun.”

Kazuo laughed and shook his head. He placed a hand in his coat pocket and fetched out a few pieces of paper.

“There’s a few talented young mages in the Commission,” he said, laying several dossiers on the table. “Have a look when you’re free. Elio, I’ll get that cold brew to go.”

“You got it, boss,” Elio looked at Reiko and grinned. “Looks like work’s about to get busy, Rei.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Reiko tipped her glass at him. “I think we’ll be just fine.”

Citypop from the early 1980s jammed on the vinyl. The curtains outside were folded open, and the bar was filled with warm natural sunlight.

Reiko surveyed the rest of the lounge. This early in the morning, almost all the booths were still empty. A few cars rolled past. A trio of junior high school students poked their heads in, then rushed out when they spotted Reiko’s bloody undershirt.

Maybe Elio had a point after all.

There was one regular, however. It was a woman dressed in a doctor’s lab coat, with square glasses, a plastic pen, and too many papers bursting from a stack of manilla folders.

Reiko couldn’t be more disinterested, but the logo on the folder at the top of the stack looked strangely familiar. It featured a black-and-white polar bear. Two stars danced above its fluffy coat.

Wait a minute.

Reiko slid out of her seat and approached the doctor.

“Kanna?” Reiko asked. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing?” Kanna Samukawa looked up at her. “I’ve been a regular here for years.”

“Wait. I mean. I guess I… “ Reiko stuttered. “I never noticed.”

“Of course not,” Kanna smiled. “The hard working doctor who seems so sure of herself just doesn’t catch your eye, does she?”

“That’s not–”

“You know,” Kanna smiled. “I’ve seen you go after just about everyone in this place except for me.”

“You’ve known this entire time,” Reiko blushed. “Why didn’t you say anything when we first met?”

“Why would I?” Kanna shrugged. “After all, I wasn’t even sure if it was you. You go by so many names. Sakura Hasegawa. Yumi. Ayane. How can I be sure of who I’m talking to right now? Are you the woman who swept me off my feet, or are you someone else, that person who looked like she wanted to drown in a cold place where no warmth could touch her heart?”

Reiko took her seat opposite Kanna. She snapped her fingers twice at Elio, who sighed and rushed into the backroom to fetch two new glasses.

“No, that's not me. That’s not who I am. My name’s Reiko Nakamura. It’s nice to meet you.”

END