for genegod

[gothics]

Tomoko set her phone down on the table, and sighed. She was finally at the end of a busy day; there were a few meetings she attended and, while she wasn't expected to do more than smile and nod at times, she found them draining, nonetheless. Her agent did most of the talking, and while she's grateful for that she also found it mildly annoying that it meant her presence in these meetings was mostly for show.

But that was over. Her next appointment with him would be in two weeks, so for now she was free to do as she pleased. Which included meeting up with an old friend - one she hadn't seen for quite some time now.

Idly, she wondered how well he was doing, and if he was still in touch with the other members of the Kamen Rider Club.

And if he knew where Ryusei was.

Tomoko sighed again.

...maybe not.

Comments

[genegod]

JK had wondered, however briefly, how long was too far in the past to call in a favour from an old friend. He wasn't sure that she had ever even owed him such a favour, but dismissed that with vague ideas that he'd find a way to repay her at some point in the future. Tomoko was usually good about not keeping score of these things anyway.

He had asked her to meet him somewhere public, just because it was less likely to draw attention to them, and to put her on her guard. She'd had no problem with breaking into Amanogawa's databases as a schoolgirl but even JK had to admit that what he had in mind was on a slightly bigger scale.

[gothics]

She was a few minutes early, but that was fine - she needed to eat, anyway. Tomoko ordered for tea and some cinnamon swirls, then grabbed her bag to search for-- oh, that was right, her jar of natto wasn't in this bag. Disappointed, she set her bag down and waited for her order.

[genegod]

JK was a little late - fashionably late, as he called it, because of a phone call he'd had to make in the car. He almost thought that Tomoko might have left; and wondered whether he should have tried to text her before. It turned out he didn't have to worry, "sorry I'm late." JK slid into the seat opposite her and tried to call over a waitress.

[gothics]

"It's all right," she said, taking in his appearance. How long ago did they last saw each other, anyway? She was certain it was during their graduation. He didn't look like he changed too much, which was comforting to know. "I'm glad to hear from you, JK. How are you?"

[genegod]

JK still felt he wasn't quite used to seeing Tomoko with less eyeliner and without the full goth ensemble. He ignored a passing thought that told him this was a bad idea and it had been too long to sell her on the idea that she was helping a friend, "I'm doing fine ... thanks. Did you want anything?"

[gothics]

She quickly shook her head. "I ordered already, thank you." Tomoko indicated the half-eaten cinnamon swirls, and the cup of tea she already drank. "Although I'd appreciate a refill of tea. Did you come from work?"

It was probably a safe question, anyway - unless he wasn't working.

[genegod]

"Yeah." JK ordered her another refill and a large hot chocolate for himself, because no matter how childish it sounded, he'd never lost his sweet tooth, "uh - what are you up to? Written anything new?" He knew that the arts section of his paper had reviewed her first book, though he'd never got around to reading it.

[gothics]

--he knew she was a writer? How odd. Last she spoke with someone from the club, Yuuki seemed surprised at Tomoko's own chosen field. Maybe it was out of the blue, as she'd never shown any inclination for writing when they were still in Amanogawa, but like her mother said, it was a good outlet for her overactive imagination.

"...Mm," she said, bowing as the waitress set a cup of tea before her. "Though I'm almost done with writing it. How did you know?"

[genegod]

"Our arts correspondent reviewed the first one. I haven't got around to it yet." JK didn't recall ever reading a book that wasn't for school, but since he and Tomoko had been friends, he felt he should at least make an effort if time allowed, "what about ... computers? You still good with those?" It was worth testing the waters for what he had in mind.

[gothics]

Arts correspondent? Reviewed? She only knew a handful of people who did review her book, and most of them worked for newspapers or magazines. Did that mean--

"--yes?" Her reply seemed like a question because she didn't know where this conversation was going to lead to. "Why do you ask...?"

[genegod]

JK fought the desire to cringe. It seemed he'd brought up the subject too fast, and now she was suspicious. If he asked any further questions at this stage, she might say no out of hand, "just wondered. You used to be really good at that stuff."

[gothics]

She stared at him for a few moments. "It's not that hard to learn about computers. There are a couple of online guides you can visit that can walk you through them."

Tomoko was getting the feeling that JK asked her here not because he wanted to meet and catch up with her, but because he needed something from her - though it wasn't at all clear what it was. She fought the feeling of disappointment. "Is... that why you wanted to meet with me? Because you want to make sure I'm still good at them?"

[genegod]

There was no use hiding it any longer. JK would have to control the damage as best as he could, "okay, okay ... I need help. I wouldn't ask you unless I was in a pinch. We're friends, aren't we?" It was an audacious line but it was true, or had been. They had been through enough together that he'd thought he could still count on her, "I'm sorry, Tomoko-chan. I can't trust anyone else."

[gothics]

"...of course we're friends," she said quietly. Or were - but it wasn't like friendship had expiration date, right? It was one of the things she'd learned from Gentarou as well.

"If there's anything I can do to help... you can tell me."

[genegod]

It was probably better to just get to the point, "I wondered if you could help me ... find something on someone. Once I have it, I can start looking for legit evidence, and then I'll have a story. But I can't do that till I know what I'm looking for, get it?" JK knew he was being too cryptic, but it sounded better in his head than outright asking her to hack into someone's files for him.

[gothics]

"Something... on someone?"

That, admittedly, sounded more suspicious than anything. But he said he needed it... for a story? Was he a writer like her? "JK... I think it would be better if you will tell me why you need to do this. Are you in trouble?"

[genegod]

JK considered for a moment how much he should embellish the story. Tomoko was more likely to help him, and not to ask too many questions, if she thought he was in direr straits than he was. On the other hand it made him uncomfortable to outright lie to her face, "... our paper is missing funds. If we don't find out where they've gone, our jobs could be in danger - and if I can find out, I'll be a hero. I'll get promoted. I need this."

[gothics]

Tomoko considered him for a moment. It seemed that JK was really in a rut, and far be it from her to deny him her assistance. It seemed that he needed her to hack into computers or even their own computer system, and even if her success would depend on lots of factors, the least she could do for him was try.

"...all right," she told him. "But you have to tell me everything you know about your situation. Do you already suspect someone in particular?"

Then she thought for a bit. "Or if you want, we can always do something more to catch whoever's responsible for your loss of funds."

[genegod]

"My money would be on one of the sub-editors, I know he's got gambling debts. Or there's someone in the legal department who -"

JK ended that sentence rather abruptly when she mentioned the ominous-sounding possibility of something more, "More? What did you have in mind?"

[gothics]

"There are lots of ways we can make them admit to their deeds. All you need to do is serve them something I'll brew for you. You can add it to their drinks or serve it sweetened with honey."

Tomoko reached for her cup of tea to take a sip while JK digested that option. "If they develop indigestion because of drinking the brew, then you know you've caught them. If they lose the ability to speak for a day, then you'll know they're innocent. The consequences are mild, I think, and worth risking it."

[genegod]

JK took a moment or two to consider his options. On one hand, if he didn't lose his job because of the paper's missing funds, he was in danger of losing it if caught trying to drug his co-workers. On the other, he thought maybe he should say yes to secure Tomoko's help with his scheme. Trying to slip unknown substances into people's tea was probably not the worst thing he'd ever done at work, "okay ... I'll do it."

[gothics]

Tomoko nodded decisively. "Good." She had no doubt it would work - she hadn't tried it herself, but the book she read it from was her favorite book and where she got most of her other milder, more 'innocent' brews and they all worked.

"Give me a week or so. Some of the ingredients in it are hard to find."

[genegod]

JK bit down on his lower lip. A lot could happen in a week, but Tomoko was his best chance of saving his and everyone else's jobs, even if that involved drugging his co-workers with substances unknown, "but then you'll break into our systems anyway, right?" he added in the vague hope of reassurance.

[gothics]

Tomoko hesitated a bit. This was different from having to hack into computer files to delete all the school pictures. This was something she could get in trouble for, something she would have to risk herself to accomplish. But this was JK and she did promise to help him out.

"It... would depend," she said. "What type of computers do you use? Does every computer need a password to operate? Are you all connected to a single network?"

[genegod]

"I think there's just one, yeah. I'll check ..." JK would have to make his enquiries discreet. He'd put Tomoko through more than enough already, and was already having troubling mental visions of having to bail her out of a prison cell for infiltration of the network, "I promise, Tomoko-chan. Nothing's gonna happen." The intervening years since they last met hadn't cured him of the habit of crossing his fingers behind his back whenever he made a promise.

[gothics]

Tomoko clasped her hands together. "I-- I sure hope not." She doubted her agent had enough power to pull her out of trouble if it ever came to that. But a promise was a promise, and she'd do all she could to help JK out, for the sake of their friendship.

"Where do you work? I'll meet you there."

[genegod]

JK recited the address, and then went to type it into his phone to send it over to her, "when can you make it? Thanks, Tomoko-chan. I'll ..."

At this stage he hesitated. Even he thought he'd probably taken enough liberties without trying to make promises he might not be able to keep, "I'll do something, okay?"

[gothics]

"Tomorrow. I can meet you at your office tomorrow, after work hours. Just text me if your building's vacant and we can do what we have to do."

Then Tomoko shook her head. "There's no need for that, JK. If I can help you with your problem that that'll be good enough for me." Besides, right now she didn't need anything... did she?

She bit her lip. Maybe she did need something, after all. "Have you heard anything about... Ryusei-san?"