Chaos in Kadoma Ward – Chapter 4

I’m his freedom. I wasn’t expecting that. But sitting on the train and observing the rigidity of their society, I understand the subtle oppression, a soft, warm blanket you sleep under, making you feel safe and cared for, but it eventually suffocates you.

What is it about this society that Rin needs freedom from? They seem well-fed and content. The corporations appear to take care of their people. The man and woman sitting behind us dote on their animals, him petting his cat and her kissing a brown rat on its head. Cat and mouse, sworn enemies, but here they live together peacefully. That has to be a sign.

“Will we have to worry about your head?” Rin asks, tapping his temple.

I turn from staring at the people behind me and shrug my shoulders. “Probably. It always happens when I transition to and from orbit. I doubt this will be any different. Do you have access to weather systems information?” He reaches into his bag for his tablet, and I glance over his shoulder to look at the map. “Low-pressure systems and storms tend to mess with my head.”

“You know you have access to this as well?” He zooms in on the map of Shin-Osaka, and the weather model indicates we’re in the middle of a high-pressure system. Good news.

“I – I don’t trust your tablets. But I suppose I’ll have to get used to them.” I glance out again at the scenery zipping past the window. Long, low grassy fields blur by with the occasional train station surrounded by smaller suburban housing. People wait on platforms staring into space, but they go by so fast, I can’t get a good look at them.

Something feels off about everything around me, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“I’m sure you’ll get used to them in no time. From what Kazuo told me, they’re not much different from your own tablets. There’s even a camera,” he says, swiping to a camera application and showing me where the front and back cameras are placed. I angle my head so I’m in frame next to him and he snaps a quick photo before I can pull away. “For posterity.”

He smirks, and I reach over and pinch his leg. “Ow! Yumi!” He laughs and then quiets as he looks around, guilt flashing in his wide eyes.

What? Are they not allowed to laugh and have fun? Or maybe that’s just him and his personality.

“Please behave,” he admonishes me, but I can still hear the chuckle under his voice.

“Yes, sir.”

Out the window, we’re about five minutes from the city limit, and I’m excited to cross the threshold and see what this place is like. When I think of my hometown of Yamato on Orihimé, I’m reminded of the many sizes of buildings, the flowers planted along the stone driveways, colorful pops of murals in hidden alleyways. Every day, people in the street strut the latest fashion trend and the blinking billboard signs call onlookers to try today’s special or read the newest novel from their favorite best-selling author.

What will Shin-Osaka be like?

Rin leans over me to see what I’m looking at, his hand on my leg. I move my leg to force him to disconnect from me because all of these little touches are making my blood pressure skyrocket. My heart is torn in two, and one half wants to go home, and the other wants to stay and check out this Rin-guy who cared enough to help me and seems interested in my well-being. My brain, though, reminds me that anyone I find even remotely attractive is ripe bait for my wonderful yet jerk of a brother. I don’t believe Rin is gay, but I didn’t think Takéji was either.

“I know we’ve been dancing around the subject now for the last three weeks while you’ve been recovering from your injuries, but this is as good a time as any.” Rin clears his throat, and my chest flutters in anticipation of what he’ll ask. Are we going to talk about our living arrangements? How we’ll explain to others who or what I am? He saved me from sexual slavery. What does that say about his feelings towards me? “We need to figure out what kind of job you can do here.”

Ah, work before play. Always.

“I’m not good at anything. I already told you that,” I mumble, turning away from him again. This time he’s having none of my poor attitude, and he reaches over to tap on my leg. “You got a raw deal, remember?”

“Look. It doesn’t have to be anything specialized or even grandiose. You could do a normal job. Work at a produce store or be a schoolroom helper or whatever.”

“Don’t people have androids to do those kinds of jobs?”

“Well, androids are expensive. More expensive than humans. Many corporations would rather employ humans than androids, especially nowadays when androids are failing more and more every hour. So I think you’ll find there are plenty of jobs available for people without specialized skill sets.”

His tablet peeking out of his pocket catches my eye, and an idea comes to me. “What about a job in the entertainment industry? Surely the work I’ve done editing videos and my journalism background could have some cachet there.”

“Entertainment industry?”

Every time he does this, questions a simple phrase I’ve said, I have to pause and think about how I said what I said. Are we not communicating because of the terms I use? Or does he not know what I’m talking about?

“Yeah. Films, dramas or comedies, documentaries. Back on Orihimé, I often volunteered at this one studio, and the people there seemed happy with my work. You may not have a free press, but I saw the displays at the spaceport and on the train station platform. You have movies. Hell, you even said it’s one of your favorite things.”

He smiles briefly, his eyes warming. “You remembered that?”

I shrug my shoulders. “That and you love to run races.” I wave my hand in a no-no-no motion. “You won’t catch me doing that. I’d rather be dead.”

He laughs again, and I wonder why he finds me so funny. I am trying to be charming, but he always looks so pleased I’ve entertained him somehow. He leans close, and I shrink away until I realize he wants to whisper in my ear. His proximity borders on being too intimate, too affectionate. I don’t hate it.

“I think this is an excellent idea.”

I relax, my head moving a millimeter or two closer to him.

“But…”

“But?” I whisper back.

He sighs while pulling away, and again, I’m like a child who doesn’t know the basic rules of society. “Those corporations only hire within the artisans class. Ume Corp and Sakura Corp are the biggest entertainment corporations, and they have strict hiring practices. Only the best and brightest,” he chirps, and I get the feeling it’s something that’s said often enough to be a catchphrase. Ume and Sakura Corps. How many more corporations are on this planet?

Rin shakes his head. “That’s not to say I think it’s impossible for you to try it.”

“Wait. What class am I? We got in line with the samurai.”

He reaches past me, his arm brushing against my pant leg as he grabs my native tablet from the space between my leg and the armrest of the train seat. It’s not like I have a bag or even a pocket to keep it in.

“Swipe here to access your personal information.”

On the screen are all my vital stats.

Yumi Minamoto, Age 26, a birthdate I don’t understand. Contract Status: Contracted to Aka Matsuba; Contract Type: Proxy; Indentured to Rin Hara, Kiiroi Yama, Kenryōshi, Samurai Class, Level Ten. Current Employment, Class and Level Status: Unemployed, Samurai Class, Level One.

“Hmmm. I’m contracted to Aka Matsuba, but they can’t find me a job?”

“Contracts and employment can be two separate things. Your status can be owned by one corporation while you work for another. You can also have an independent contract and work on your own. There are many variations.”

“What does this mean for me? Are there only certain jobs I can do in the samurai class?”

“We’re mostly law enforcement and management.”

“Two things I’m not qualified for. What happens if I can’t find a job in my class? I’m already at Level One, which I’m guessing is the lowest level of the class.”

He stays silent.

“Could it be that I pissed someone off and this is my punishment?”

Who now? Owl-eyed Tamura? His assistant, Sayaka? Uh, who else here hates me? So far, a lot of people, but I’m not sure they’re in a position to determine my class.

“Possibly.”

“Quite possibly,” I say, sighing and rubbing my head. Yeah, a migraine is not far off.

“I’m surprised you’re not farther down the class structure, but someone saw fit to put you in my class since we’re in the same household. It’s your credit situation, unfortunately. Aka Matsuba is cushioning any debt you incur, but we’re both independently assessed by the system. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me. You might be happier in a different class.”

Stuck with him. I try to imagine Rin going to work every day, and me left in his apartment all by myself. Or going our separate ways each morning after having a nice, platonic breakfast together. If I can’t get a job in the entertainment industry, then I need to think of something else.

“Can’t I work with you?”

He blinks as his eyes widen. “You want to hunt down and halt malfunctioning androids? I, uh, saw that particular skill set in action on Kurai, and I wasn’t impressed.”

“Thanks. You really know how to flatter a girl. I thought maybe a desk job with Kiiroi Yama?”

“A desk job?” His eyebrows furrow together. “Ah, you mean administrative duties? I’ll look into this for you, but right now, something tells me you’d be blocked from being added to our system. My boss, the supervisor of the kenryōshi division, is strict, and she’s pissed at me right now. I’ll have to work on it.”

I guess that’s the best he can do.

“I’m not sure what else I’m good at, so I may need some time to explore Shin-Osaka and figure it out on my own.”

“Of course,” he whispers, and though his words acquiesce, his jaw tightens, and his face falls into a frown. Unemployment is not a state I’ll be able to linger in for very long.

A change in the light of the car snaps my attention to the window. The train has moved underground, and my view of Shin-Osaka is gone. Damn. I wanted to see it before I’m thrust into it.

We sit in silence for a few minutes as Rin types away on his tablet, and I catalog the things I’m good at. Not much. I really should’ve learned the sciences like my brother.

My previous problems with Aka Matsuba, Aoi Uma, and Shiroi Nami fade into the background. Surely, Tamura is happy to be rid of me, off to build his animal empire and more now that I gave him the animal translation chip technology. Narumi and Aoi Uma may still harbor a grudge, but I doubt they’ll bother me now that I’m under Rin’s care. Shiroi Nami got what they wanted. They have no use for me until they decide what to do about leaving Hikari and possibly allying themselves with Orihimé if my people ever show up.

I’m now an indentured servant with nothing to do.

“I know you’re hungry, all that talk of noodles. Ready for something good?” Rin asks, leaning over to grab his bag as the train slows down.

“Yeah. I could definitely eat.” Eating is the thing I’m best at now. I wonder if they have professional eaters here?

“Great. I have someone I want to introduce you to.”