Chapter Text
July 7, 1993
(6 am.)
My first week... I never imagined how ridiculously exhausting the day-to-day life at a news station could be. Even worse if it is the most important in the area and not to say in the entire state.
I think that from all this I managed to get a good job, I mean how many people after university get a job doing what they want most, and for a future reporter with many ambitions in this life, I guess I won the lottery. with the first shot.
I mean... graduating and getting a direct transfer from Japan, in just a few months, is one of the few things that can go well for me, although not everyone is happy here, I mean I'm the foreign rookie, someone who likes You can send the most miserable tasks and you won't be able to complain because it's part of the process in every job..... Great... and to be honest that really changed the way I see everything.
Well maybe I should stop talking to myself and get up, I have to leave quickly, I really don't feel like putting up with the manager's shouting.
---------20 minutes later-------
Very good, I'm really ready, despite my moment of reflection in the morning I feel that today will go very well! You've already endured several years of university... that's a couple more hours on the news...! Well, I must hurry, leaving the fifth floor of this apartment complex reminds me of a terrible labyrinth.
Poison Yami! NO ONE WILL STOP YOU!
------- Outside the residential complex------
-Good morning Miss Aiko-I receive a greeting from the place's concierge.
Forget how irritable I sound when they call me by my real name.....
-EH...sir, just tell me Yami...no...I don't know any Aiko-
-Well, I would really like to believe you, miss, but the information you provided when you moved here says otherwise-He responded with a smile-In any case, I am not taking any more of your time, have a good day-I saw him walk away.
Eh...well...don't let these little setbacks stop me...I still have time for work.
One of the things I like about Louisville is that you have everything at your disposal. Now Yami stop rambling and let's go fast to the Triple N station.
It's incredible, every day I spend in this city I discover something new, maybe I should go to that movie theater that was recommended to me... well, if this week I'm starting my boss isn't intense, sending me here and there.
And I'm still curious about the famous Spiffos hamburger, according to some colleagues they told me that it is the best in the area.
Well I can see the studio a couple of streets up.
------- Entrance to TripleN studio------
(8 A.M.)
I did it! I arrived on time and maybe today my boss won't scold me for getting lost in this huge city like I've been doing for 4 days.
-Stop there! -A voice stops me just when I was about to enter.
-Little... you do know that children are prohibited from entering the studio, right? -I recognized that voice instantly. It's the security guard, the only idiot who can recognize his jokes about my resemblance to a girl.
-To start, good morning, right? Besides, I don't dress like a child... it's my style and the way I will mark a before and after in this place.
-Whatever... Sato or Aiko? Yami or whatever your name is, I don't understand Japanese names very well. -He looks at me blankly. -It's good to see that you're finally getting used to life here, you don't get lost anymore. more than necessary, perhaps as a recommendation you should...well stop pretending to be something you're not? -Again with your senseless attacks on my style.
-Thank you, I will keep that in mind, there is nothing more to report, right? In any case just let me enter-
-Something else... take this-He handed me a mask. -You know that these days many of the employees are falling ill, I guess we have a small pandemic within the studio-His look changed to one of concern.-Although it is nothing serious and it seems like it is a simple cold, it is not There's no need to be cautious, right?
I responded with a look and simply entered, it seems that the atmosphere is chaotic, only upon entering I can see people running with paper in hand throughout the main hallway. I suppose this has to do with what the guard told me?
I approached my position and the small studio to which I was assigned, I hope that all this does not upset my boss... he really is irritable when he is angry.
-DAMN AIKO, AIKO! WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE? I'VE NEEDED YOU FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE FIRST THING I FIND OUT IS THAT YOU'RE WASTING YOUR DAMN TIME OUTSIDE - Angry and furious I hear it from a distance. - YOU FORGET THAT I HAVE EYES ON THE ENTIRE DAMN BUILDING - I only felt a slight chill down my spine, I It would be better to try to solve the problem right away before it really explodes.
It really won't be a good day, huh?
It seems that his annoyance begins when he finds out that we do not have permanent reporters, most of them have reported sick or are out of the county covering some events that are beginning to take place in the country.
Since when and why does all of Louisville have military security? Because the other nearby towns are excluded and left to their own devices.
-So... all this happened while we were sleeping?
-And not only that, now there is a whole damn convoy of people outside of Louisville, between soldiers threatening to shoot and civilians-He answered me, somewhat uncomfortable with the situation.
-The worst thing about all this......we are losing exclusive news because of a bunch of misfits who chose to get sick at this time...For the worst case scenario... our star reporter, Jackie... He has been on medical leave for days. The anxiety in his eyes could be seen. Not only that, I could see how he was searching through all his desk papers to see if he could find any solution.
-We're screwed, Aiko...-His mood fell sharply. -Without a qualified reporter in the area we won't be able to cover anything... we will lose the scoop, dark days are coming girl-He said the last comically while still lamenting.
I really don't know if the guy who is supposed to be my boss is a complete idiot, or if I haven't noticed in the 6 days I've been working here that I'm also a reporter, in fact I developed very well in my city, well... I didn't discuss topics of this type, it was only about music and that... But hey, I have experience to back me up. Maybe if I insist... if I point out my mere existence and tell him... maybe he would let me go cover that report and not have me here making his coffee.
-Well... sir, if you allow me, I... well, me too... well, I don't know if you remember... but...
-Remember that? I only know that you come from another country...am I supposed to know something else? Do you have any mysterious ability or power that will fix this situation? -I looked at myself with emotion, but what's wrong with this guy? Is he really that desperate to cover all this?
-Yes... Sir, I... I am also a reporter... you received the notification directly about me.
-Which notification? -He answered me confused.
Indeed... the guy in question believes that I came from another country just to be his assistant.
-Whatever... reporter? What are you supposed to cover? Cats missing in the newspaper or how an old woman crossed the avenue?. You know this is on a large scale, right? He kept calling me a nobody. -Ah Damn well I don't have anyone else left now...you're inside.
Wait wait wait... what?
-Just don't do anything stupid... my reputation is in your hands rookie- I could see him lament.
Hehehe... did I make it? This is where my career to stardom begins?
-HEY, what's wrong with you? -My boss shouted.
-I'm... I'm sorry, all this was fast.... I...
-I don't care, you can't waste time, I need you in the area at the latest tonight, let me prepare all the paperwork for the necessary permits-I pick up the phone.
Hi Yes? This is David... umm yes well we have a substitute reporter... eh? .. no, she's the new one, yes... I just discovered that she is also a reporter... what? And am I supposed to care? just do your job..
-Well, you go with Frank, he will be your cameraman and who will be with you at all times-He wrote down several things in a small document, and then brought it towards me.
-I need you to sign this, make it quick... he's waiting for you in the parking lot... on the way to the exclusion zone he will explain the rest to you- He simply handed me a pen and turned around to continue making more calls.
Um...well it's nothing out of the ordinary...it just says that in case of accidents or things that endanger my life, the company will not be responsible since it is new.
But you know what Yami? That doesn't matter, it's just a small military revolt perhaps, it will be resolved in the next few days, let's do the job well and we will earn the respect of the boss and he may include me in more projects... little by little Poison Yami will aim for stardom.
-Ha.. Ha.. Ha...... don't worry boss, Poison Yami will do an excellent report for the studio!
-"Poison what?" His look of confusion made me more nervous.
-Eh... I mean, I'm leaving... as you say, I shouldn't waste the valuable time and this opportunity that you gave me.
I just ran out of the place, quickly grabbed my things, and headed to the parking lot.
------- Main parking lot------
(10 A.M.)
With everything and the excitement of the moment, I arrived at the right place, I could notice a studio van, awaiting my arrival. Suddenly a silhouette appears behind her.
-Sato? Well....too small for my taste...how about it?-He stretched out his hand in greeting. -I'm your cameraman for the occasion, and who knows for how many more adventures in the future, huh buddy? Frank Hemingway at your service... or simply Frankie.
-Aiko Sato, it's a pleasure to meet you.
Well, at first glance he seems like a good guy, he seems to be my age although good in terms of experience, he is way ahead of me.
-Well, leaving aside the quick introductions, get in, we don't have much time-He turned around and got into the truck. -We should not play with David's patience, believe me.
I got into the passenger seat and just sighed... it's still morning, it's going to be a very hard day... let's do our best.
After all, it's just another normal day at the office, right?