Up on the 12th floor, the doors opened to a quieter, carpeted hallway. Plaques on the walls indicated this was the home of the branch's leadership: the Bureau Director's office, conference rooms, and a few high-ranking officials' quarters – including now, Assistant Director Hiroshi Kobayashi. A middle-aged woman in a navy suit stood waiting by the elevator – the branch director's secretary, presumably. She bowed hastily as Hiroshi stepped out. "Kobayashi-san? Welcome. I'm Tanaka, Director Takeda's secretary. The Director is expecting you in the main conference room for the division heads' meeting starting at 9:30." Her eyes flickered down to Akemi for a half-second – surprise registering at the odd companion – but she was too professional to comment. "Would you like me to show you to your office first?"
"Yes, please. And, ah, nice to meet you." Hiroshi returned her bow, maybe a tad deeper than protocol required, as if unused to being bowed to. Ms. Tanaka smiled kindly – he could tell she already pegged him as an unseasoned youngster to be gently guided. Perfect. "Right this way, sir."
As he followed her down the hall, Kirlia's grip on his trouser leg tightened ever so slightly. Hiroshi didn't break stride but focused inward: Akemi, what is it? The Kirlia's psychic voice wasn't as articulate as Daisy's, but he got a burst of feeling: wariness… a spike of caution. Not from the secretary – Tanaka seemed genuinely welcoming – but from somewhere nearby. Possibly behind one of those closed office doors they passed. Someone in an adjacent room might have noticed the new arrival and felt… threatened? It was hard to pinpoint. Akemi's abilities were radius-based; she sensed emotions flaring within perhaps a dozen meters. A sudden cold prickle on the back of Hiroshi's neck told him Daisy had also slipped into his mind – she must be tailing at a distance. In a faint whisper of thought, Daisy conveyed, Two people down the hall just started whispering about you. Her mental tone was wry. They were surprised you're so young. A pause. One is curious… the other is nervous. Hiroshi gave the slightest nod to show he heard. Likely some of the entrenched staff were uneasy at any shake-up – or, if one of them was a mole, they might be worrying who this "political appointee" really was.
Tanaka opened a door on the left. "This will be your office, Kobayashi-san." Inside was a modest but well-furnished space: a large mahogany desk, a few chairs, a bookshelf with empty shelves awaiting personal touches, and a window overlooking the Imperial Palace grounds. Not bad for a 21-year-old "rookie." On the desk sat a neat stack of folders and a nameplate reading Assistant Director Hiroshi Kobayashi. It all felt surreal to him for a moment – but Hiroshi quickly reminded himself that the nameplate was as much a prop as any disguise he'd ever worn.
He set his briefcase down and gave Kirlia a small nod. Akemi immediately scampered to a plush armchair in the corner and settled there demurely, as if trained to sit quietly. Tanaka watched this with faint amusement. "Adorable. I'm sure she'll be no trouble," the secretary remarked. "If you need anything, sir – setup on your computer, supplies, just dial 0 for admin support." She gestured to a phone on the desk. "Shall I escort you to the conference now? Most of the division chiefs are already gathering."
Hiroshi glanced at the clock – 9:28. Right on time. He felt a flutter in his stomach but channeled it into an eager, naive energy. "Yes, let's not keep them waiting! I'm still trying to remember who's who…" He grabbed a leather portfolio (inside which he had a pad for notes – and a hidden pocket with a tiny comm device that Daisy could use to whisper in his ear undetected). As Tanaka led him out again, he left Kirlia in the office – for now. "Be good, Akemi. I'll be back soon," he said over his shoulder. The Kirlia tilted her head and gave a sweet, warbling "Kirli~" in response, looking for all the world like a content pet. The moment the door shut, Akemi's expression blanked into focus. She was now alone – but through Daisy, she'd remain linked to Hiroshi's mind throughout the meeting.
At the end of the hall, double doors opened into Conference Room 12-C. A long oval table dominated the space, and floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the room in daylight. Around that table sat a dozen people – the section chiefs and deputy directors who ran the Kanto Branch's daily operations. At the head was Director Takeda, the man Hiroshi was theoretically second to. Takeda was a distinguished-looking fellow in his early fifties, hair thinning but posture stiffly upright, radiating authority. As Hiroshi entered, Takeda stood and managed a diplomatic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ah, Kobayashi-kun. Welcome," Takeda greeted, using the familiar -kun honorific that emphasized Hiroshi's junior status. "Please, join us. We were just doing introductions." The Director's tone was polite, but there was a subtle undertone one might mistake for condescension. Hiroshi bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Director Takeda. Apologies if I'm a few minutes late." He took an empty seat near the midpoint of the table, acutely aware of all the eyes sizing him up. This room held some of the very people he was here to investigate. He felt Daisy's invisible presence slide into the room as well – likely hovering near the ceiling corner, cloaked from view. Alakazam would be nearby too, perhaps monitoring from just outside the door or via telepathy relay. Game on.
The introductions continued. One by one the division heads gave their names and roles for Hiroshi's benefit. Hiroshi listened earnestly, nodding, sometimes jotting a note to look studious. Meanwhile, he focused on the subtler symphony of thoughts and feelings that Daisy and Kirlia were feeding him.