Rude to Women in Stem

I sat in a boardroom at the Magic and Monsters Association. The captain and vice-captain before me. They had pulled footage of the hunt up onto the screen. Small drones had been recording the whole event. The higher-ups were glad to have footage of the Hyottoko on camera. 

We were using it for the original purpose, evaluating if I was ready to go up from a gold rank hunter, to a platinum rank. Gold rank hunters were mid rank and had access to all monsters of elite rank and below, and also could use one time use relics.

Platinum hunters would be granted access to files on arch-monsters, as well as relic weapons, such as the vice-captains blade. They were hard to get and hard to produce. It also granted you the ability to request files from the association on hunters and events not reported to news. 

That’s why I was so nervous. If I failed today I would have to wait another year to try again. It would be another year before I could request the files on my father, and the hunting trip he disappeared on.

There was the fork/hunger monster, and the Joke monster’s intervention. Those wouldn’t be making anything easier. Those kind of things happened on a hunt, and the observers wouldn’t be any more lenient just because an arch-monster appeared. We also wouldn’t be penalized just because the observers had to intervene.

“Kawashima Rei, you were the first to locate the pin-cushion flower monster, as well as the one with idea to engage the two in a monster duel. Your communication with your teammates, both new and old was clear and quick.”

The captain was reading over his report, now wearing his reading glasses. He took them off and stared me down.

“You handled the sudden appearance of the fork monster well enough; I think it was the right decision not to use your petrification magic on it. It shows you weren’t overwhelmed. Not taking on the fork monster alone, was the right decision. It could be said you passed it off onto the other three hunters engaged in attacking.”

With the glasses back on, he kept reading.

“In terms of the engagement with the arch monster, I think you could’ve used your third spell to help evacuate your fellow teammates but due to the nature of the monster's tricks I don’t think observing was necessarily wrong either. You didn't get your second spell off, but it might've reflected it back on you like it did resize. Some may call it luck, but you have excellent instincts, especially in new situations. Was this your first encounter with arch-monsters?”

“Yes sir, I’ve seen a few flying overhead but never an encounter.”

“Their density of magical essence can be overwhelming. There are also very few monsters recorded more slippery to deal with than the Hyottoko. This was a good learning opportunity.”

As he said that my stomach rumbled so much, I felt it in my back.

“There’s still a lot of residual essence on you, so make sure you go to the lab and have them give you a cleanse. While you're there also ask them about issuing you a permanent relic.”

“Wait so does that mean?”

“Yes, welcome to platinum rank Ms. Kawashima.”

Captain Kawakami, couldn’t help but let out a small smirk. Vice-captain Kirigaya nodded along in approval.

“We look forward to seeing you in the field and you better get used to denser magic, as you will be scouting arch-monsters in the near future.”

“Thank you so much, I’ll continue to work hard. “

I stood up, trying not to be too obvious with my excitement. Gave them a respectful bow before returning the captain's smirk.

“That’ll be all.”

With the vice captain's permission, I turned to leave and head to the research lab.

-

“So why did you stop visiting him?”

Doctor Kawaguchi was very respected in her field. As one of the top monster researchers working at MaMA, I really should be giving a lot of respect to a woman in STEM. Science, technology, engineering and magic. 

“He used to talk about you all the time, now two years, you don’t even call.”

Most people knew who I was before I knew who they were, now the tables were turned.

"I get it, he's a shut in. He he still talks about you, he doesn't talk about anything from his past!"

I couldn’t be respectful, I don’t care if It affected the quality of my relic. I’d ask for a different researcher over my case. If she had the absolute audacity to take me on as a hunter, she would have to answer a few questions. Why did she look so sick?

“I know he can be petty, I know he can be snippy. You can’t just cut him off cold shoulder with no warning.”

The doctor was around her mid-thirties, dressed smartly in a lab coat. Minimal jewelry, it looked imported. We were seated in her office, scarcely decorated, the light of midday shining into my eyes.

 Up until two years ago she was the only other person to visit my brother. I didn’t visit him too often but when the doctor’s visits abruptly stopped, I started visiting more and staying a little longer. As soon as she saw me come in with a serious, albeit pointed expression, she made the smart decision to have a private conversation.

“I understand our families have some past, but that is no excuse to bring it into the workplace Ms. Kawashima. Your brother is an esteemed alumni, but what happens outside of work is personal. You'd do best to remember that. I’m sorry if choosing to focus on my work is seen as a slight to you and your brother. But it seems he hasn’t told you much about me.”

“He talks about you a little, nowadays I avoid the subject. I’m sorry that our first meeting has to be like this. Just give me someone else. Why did you even agree to oversee my case?”

Her shoulders relaxed a bit. My stomach ache settled, as if I passed gas. Which I definitely didn’t!  There was a pressure lifted. The air still felt tense as I talked to the doctor.

“I owe a lot to your brother. He opened a lot of opportunities for me. I knew this was going to be awkward, but passing you off to someone else seemed like an even bigger slight. I'd rather have you close than, running around with one of these nobodies."

She settled herself, her movements a little rigid, and she shivered once more.

"I’m sorry I can’t visit him, it’s just not going to happen. I don’t expect you to like it, but It’s just too hard to see him anymore. Things are complicated. A lot of people suffered here because he quit out of nowhere.”

It wasn’t like I didn’t understand but I don’t know if I could abandon a friend of fifteen years. I mean he did quit and leave Dr. Kawaguchi with a lot of projects going. Meika was my best friend but only of four years. What would I do if I had to carry-on a one sided friendship. 

“I see you met Captain Kawakami, the three of us used to be called the three rivers. All of our last names start with Kawa. We're childhood friends who drifted apart for, reasons. We were sorted alphabetically at the young hunter’s association and then just stuck together. We came up together. We learned a lot from each other and hunted so many strange monsters together. So even though I can’t visit him anymore, and that he probably hates me. I am going to do my absolute best to help you succeed here.”

There was my brother helping me out again, even though it was awkward, Dr. Kawaguchi was very talented. Getting a high-level researcher to oversee my case was something I couldn’t probably get on my own merits or connections. That meant getting assigned halfhearted researchers who would give me any old relic without looking over my needs. They wouldn't try to get to know me, doctor Kawaguchi knew me too well but that might be better than nothing. A researcher of Dr. Kawaguchi’s level could probably also modify or weaponize a relic.

“Okay then I won’t push the subject. I'll do my best to keep things, professional." 

Pronouncing "professional", just like she had "reasons" earlier. 

"Thank you, i'll be in your care.”

I looked at her desk, there were a bunch of curious trinkets, and paper weights. Judging by her whimsical taste she was definitely a friend of my brothers. I wondered if any of those were from him.

“You'e very welcome. I wouldn’t be so cold-hearted to turn away a promising young hunter. Your information gathering skills, and usage of an S rank essence like personification is very rare. You also have the brains to back it up. It’s kind of a boys club around here, so I’d feel bad if one of them overlooked a promising young lady like yourself, just because I couldn’t be mature enough to talk to you.”

I guess we could get along, she did seem reasonable. I wasn’t sure though if I was going to let Keisuke know I was going to have regular meetings with an old friend of his. Could I be friendly with his best friend behind his back. Even mentioning we talked today might be tough for him to hear.

 He did get worse after Dr. Kawaguchi stopped visiting him, but I mean that was kind of between them. Adults can be so weird, but it’s not like Keisuke couldn’t come out and visit her sometimes if he really wanted too. I’d like it if he came to visit mom and I sometimes too. 

That wasn't gonna happen though let's be real. 

“This was just a preliminary meet-up, I don’t have any relics ready for you to check out today. I will send you a message when I’m ready with some examples. Until then if you have any questions about high rank monsters, or magical essence please let me know. I know you have access to a very smart researcher yourself, but please try to lean on me. It is my job after all.”

She gave a half-hearted smile as she mentioned my brother. We shook hands and I felt a little better than when I came in.

“Now you really need to go get magically cleansed. I haven’t sensed such potency since one of the researchers started using natural shampoo.”

I nodded slightly offended but I agreed.