Shinohara I

I arrived in Tokyo nearly as the sun finished setting. I swung my car into the only available parking spot in front of some gaudy high rise across the street from Tokyo Central News HQ.

The last of the glowing red rays smothered the windows of the skyscrapers surrounding me like a crimson wool blanket pulled over one's head. I took a long look down the street as red rays turned to looming shadows that rivaled the darkness of the night above. But the city awoke as if ripping off the now suffocating cover of night, bearing its literal true colors. Every color on the spectrum grabbed my attention in a way I had never thought possible. Greens in the corner of my eyes while bright blues illuminated my face amongst purple pixels behind me. Yellow wrestled with orange, red and even white cheered them on. And the darkest black of night made it all possible.

If rainbows illuminated the night sky...

I shook myself from this stupor of thought and rushed to the entrance of HQ, disregarding everything around me. I pushed open the doors to my new life. A peppy receptionist greeted me. Sort of.

"Ms. Shinohara!? What took you so long?? The Doctor's nearly left for the day, you gotta talk to him before he leaves or you're finished before you even started!"

"Eep!" I squealed. Why did I squeal. Gather yourself woman!

"Where do I go?? Tell me where his office is!" I don't even really know who the Doctor is, but this sounds urgent.

"Up the stairs and directly ahead, HURRY!" She shouted as I ran past her.

"Thank you so much! I owe you one!!" I called out behind me.

First impressions are basically my specialty.

I burst through the doors labeled "Doctor's Office".

Must be the right place.

I entered an office the size of my high school gym. Reports, head shots, and nonsensical drawings lined the walls from the floor to the ceiling, and on the ceiling too. A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room commanded my attention from the mess on the walls. A throne dwarfed the desk, and sat in said throne was none other than the Doctor.

It all clicked. The Doctor. Japan's biggest gossip. Before retiring from the limelight he was said to be able to cure any and all drama amongst celebrities. Akihara Akira, Tokyo News Central's Doctor, and Editor in Chief. The myth, the legend, the deity -- for he hath transcended a lowly status such as man long ago.

I knelt in reverence.

"Get up, fool, there's no time to waste. You're on the clock so you're on my dime and I'm not in the business of losing money. There's work work work to be done in the big city OK? There's a story on the horizon and the time is now but you got here so late so there is no time and now I'm supposed to pay you overtime but that benefit doesn't activate until six months of tenure. So. You ready?"

Speechless. I mean, of course I'm speechless, I really just have nothing to say to all that. The Doc runs a tight ship.

"YES SIR I'M READY!" I shout. I really let him know.

"Atta girl, you got the right spirit, now let me tell you what's up, whose down and what's going on in this town. Big celeb right across the street from here. Kawakami Kai: absolute doofus, filthy rich. Head of Kawakami Enterprises, and let me tell you right here Shinohara, this guy has been busting our crumbled balls of newspapers for the last 5 years. I mean really grabbing not only our attention, but just about everyone online. His height, weight, shoe size, stylist. Dude has a million fans show up to a fake meet and greet that he doesn't even know is happening.

“Now like I said, he's a weirdo. Never seen it before. Gets his picture taken all day long from paparazzi but never, and I mean never, not a single time has sat down for a column. Nobody knows what makes this guy tick and that's why we brought you in. All you gotta do is get one column out of this stiff and you're putting ME out of work cuz you're gonna get my job - or better."

I felt my eyes dilate as passion coursed through me. Doctor... oh Doctor, more like COACH. I'm ready to run through a wall for you. This is my calling, this is my destiny. I will become legend through this opportunity. Kawakami Kai?? Are you kidding me?? This guy is the crown jewel of A-listers. The Human GDP. The Eighth Wonder of the World. An eccentric so powerful his might rivals the dominion over the tides granted to the celestial moon.

The Doc stared at me, and I realized I had said all of that aloud...

"Umm, I mean... I won't let you down Doc! It'll be my pleasure! No, my duty!"

"That's the spirit, hahaha, you may just last till tomorrow!" He cackled.

I pause. Did I hear that right?

"L-last till tomorrow?" I stuttered.

"Yes, yes. This Kawakami kid really is quite the troublemaker. Kid gets up to no good with all that money. Last week it was BASE jumping off Tokyo Tower, two days ago it was racing supercars through Shibuya Crossing. He's been pulling stunts like this every week and he drags along whichever writer we have assigned to him.

“Human resources is a whole nightmare around here trying to process all these new hires and no-shows. But that's not gonna be a problem for you will it, Ms. Shinohara? You will attend the Kawakami Enterprises quarterly gala tonight, correct? You will put up with whatever shenanigans he pulls tonight. And you will introduce yourself to Mr. Kawakami and provide me with an update tomorrow." His hands spoke more than anything he could've said. Knuckles white with tension as he fingered a ball point pen back and forth between both hands.

"... Like I said, it'll be my pleasure, sir!"

"Atta girl, that's what they all say. We have a dress for you already and dinner's in 15 across the street. Well, more like dinner in 14; you're taking too long already. Just standing there. Are you kidding me?"

"How do you know what size I am??"

"Ms. Shinohara, this is Tokyo News Central, we know everything around here. What size you wear is child's play. Dinner in 10."

The Doctor waved me away, and I somehow managed to get ready with the help of an assistant that bore a striking resemblance to the receptionist that first greeted me.

"Shouldn't you be at the desk right now?" I asked while fixing my hair.

"Uhh, like, no way. I only attend to Dr. Akihara and his clients. You are a client right?" She drawled.

"O-oh no, I'm starting today as the newest reporter--"

"Trying to get ahold of Mr. Kawakami mhm, ya good luck with that one sweetie." She blew a big bubble with her chewing gum. She could probably be one of those guys at a fair that makes different animals and things out of balloons, but with gum.

"Well, I guess you hear that often enough. I can take care of myself now."

I kicked that superficial broad out of the bathroom. I do not need that kind of energy for my big moment.

Dinner in 10, was it? Looks like I'm either 10 minutes late or it's 2 AM. Here's to hoping I’m just late.