Zeroth Directive

Archive II

[Schedule Report] X-21 Request: Retrieve stud that had fallen into a shredder's collection bag Tied a stocking to the mouth of a vacuum cleaner and ran it while pouring out the bag's contents, successfully retrieving the stud that was caught on the stocking. The client sneezed when she opened the collection bag, sending shredded paper flying everywhere, which I helped clean up afterwards. Did I need to write that too? X-24 Request: Investigate the 'haunting' of Elevator No.5, which had been ongoing for three weeks I was curious at first, but quickly realized that the so-called 'hauntings' simply involved uncommanded movement and red lights turning on. After referencing the elevator operation logs from Engineering, I found that the malfunctions corresponded to changes in humidity. I asked X from Engineering to take a look at the air conditioning and found that the malfunctions were caused by a leaky air conditioning pipe, causing water to fall on the elevator's floor sensor and triggering false inputs. X took care of the leak, saying that she was returning the favor for helping clean up her office. The client did not seem to believe it when I said the elevator was not haunted. X-25 Request: Find appropriate sound effects for a ghost story party Found a bottle of soda that was running out of gas in the cafeteria and recorded the sound of bubbling as 'underground well water'. Used a spoon to scrape against an air-conditioning vent to simulate the sound of a metal door opening. Placed a scrap paper at the output tray of a printer and let it run on idle to record the rustling of paper against the rollers, serving as the sound of a 'ghost' moving. Looped the effects with the client's stories late at night. Still not sure how word about the 'haunted' elevator got out. And did I really have to be around to play the SFX manually? Received a reprimand alongside the client. Apparently, these things require prior approval. X-30 Request: Find a way to make sure that projects are approved No clue what the client's asking for. I agreed to bring back a suitable omamori next time I went back to Mitsukue. Will ask the high priest whether it's in his line of work.

Archive III

As more and more operators come into possession of his expertly designed business card, the name 'Moriuchi-san' gradually became a part of everyday life. At sunset, a corner of the cafeteria became covered in steam from Matsukiri's pot, the aroma spreading to the bridge and causing a long line to form in front of his stall. The place was always noisy, filled with exclamations of operators who were tasting oden for the first time, and Higashinese-accented praise from other operators for whom it is a taste of home, both mixed in with unusual requests and the latest gossip. Matsukiri was an expert at finding the right conversation topic: A special receipt that he figured out last night, the latest kaidan of Mitsukue, or a timely word of consolation. Yet when the topic turned to himself, he would put another chikuwa in the soup and direct the conversation elsewhere. The origins of oden was always a good diversion: It was said to have been invented by a chuunagon of the court who was accompanying the imperial army on a campaign against rebels. The campaign was going poorly, and morale had hit rock-bottom when that chuunagon made a big pot of soup, putting in all the food they had brought with them from Kannogi-no-Miyako and handing it out to everyone in the army, from soldier to general. Their bellies filled and their spirits lifted by the advisor's skilled cooking, the imperial army charged and broke the rebels' lines and gained victory. The advisor's recipe then became known far and wide. One who has had their oden and heard the story would be remiss if they pressed Matsukiri any further about his own background. It is not that Matsukiri is cold and indifferent. He simply weaves a screen of politeness, allowing him to keep a safe distance from others. He might be laughing and debating, having drawn everyone's attention on the dance floor a moment ago, but when the music stops, he might knock on the window glass with warm and trembling fingers and cast his gaze outside, towards the distant night sky beyond the corridors and decks. Once in a while, someone realizes that Matsukiri's passion is simply a courtesy-driven performance. The real Tooru Moriuchi exists only in the brief moments between Rhodes Island and Higashi. While Matsukiri often acts like a traveler—taking his stall, his wine, his gossip and urban legends with him, which admittedly helps Rhodes Island keep up with the latest developments in Higashi—the gaze that always seems to be cast towards the distance might, someday, meet the lights of this place.

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Matsukiri

Archive I

Promotion record

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Archive II

Archive III

Archive IV