Room 2

[testingphase]

[The room, once you've entered it, has a number of ear buds laid out on a table.]

Now, pop those ear buds in and we'll begin the test! Failure to comply will result in desyncing and forcing your team to pay for a replacement body.

Comments

[wawko]

...Wow. So many important people.

[thirtysteps]

Ah, as Vice-Secretary, I'm not as important as perhaps you might expect.

[wawko]

But you're still important, right? I mean, you're working for your king in the government, so it isn't like anyone could just do the job.

[thirtysteps]

Well, of course - but all government officials must undergo the same rigorous testing. Some do better than others, and that helps guide their potential placements.

[wawko]

Huh... So you got placed as the Vice-Secretary when you were 17? I guess that's what happened after graduating high school?

[thirtysteps]

High school?

[wawko]

You don't have high schools where you're from? Well, high school's the school you go to after middle school. Kids start out at elementary school, then go to middle school after that, and then they have to test to get into a high school. After that, they can either go find a job or try to get into university, but there's another test for university as well.

[thirtysteps]

Oh... We have small schools but there is nothing terribly organized. Most families that can afford it have tutors for their children.

[wawko]

Really? Can I ask where you're from?

[thirtysteps]

It's a land called Saiunkoku -- it seems old fashioned compared to this one, if that helps.

[wawko]

It does. The things you've said make more sense now.

I'm guessing that means you didn't know anyone here before coming here.

[thirtysteps]

You would be correct - but that leads me to guess that perhaps you are in the opposite situation?

[wawko]

Yeah. Takuto—the Gamma with red hair—and Sugata—another Gamma, but he's not taking this test—are here with me, and they're both from the same place I am.

[thirtysteps]

And they're your friends.

[wawko]

[actually, they're her boyfriends, but she figures that might not go over so well with someone from a place that seems to be so long ago in the past]

Yes. They're two of my dearest people.

[thirtysteps]

I don't know whether to call you lucky or cursed that they've been brought here to this place with you.

[wawko]

[bittersweet smile]

I'd say it's both.

[thirtysteps]

But at least it makes you team easier to deal with, I'm sure.

[wawko]

It does. My other teammates are really great as well. How about you? How's Kappa?

[thirtysteps]

I don't dislike them - but truthfully I barely know most of them.

[wawko]

Well, at least you're all getting along? I feel like Gamma's case is really special, since my other teammates all know each other as well...

[thirtysteps]

Aside from the initial death threats it hasn't gone badly. Yet.

And... it does seem that Gamma is in a unique situation. But in a place like this that relies upon a team, this is preferable, perhaps.

[wawko]

D-death threats?

[thirtysteps]

I don't think it's anything to be worried about.

[wawko]

Even so... Who gave you death threats?