<@Satoshi> [Date: Sunday, February 29th in Orono, Maine / Monday, March 1st in Tokyo, Japan] <@Satoshi> [After a physically and mentally draining weekend, Satoshi's getting ready to turn in for the night. Suddenly, his phone rings! Caller ID says it's Kaede Takeuchi.] <@Satoshi> [Session Start!] * @Satoshi is startled by his ringing phone but grabs it, glancing at the caller ID in surprise. "Kaede? What's wrong? Did something happen?" * Kaede's voice is a bit equally frantic. For just a moment. His voice on the other end cuts through with a "Your mother? Really?" * @Satoshi sits down on his bed and runs a hand through his hair. "I don't *know*. But it's possible. I can't say with certainty that it *isn't* her." He sighs. "I didn't want to send everyone into a panic over nothing, but given even the *chance* that it's her... I had to put it out there." He's quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry," he says softly. * Kaede ughs and slumps back down on his bed, the rustling of the pillow joining the noise on the other end of the receiver. Fingers go up to pinch his nose. "It's fine. It's just...you know me when I'm in project mode. I get so focused..." * @Satoshi makes a semi-amused sound. "I do know you." He sighs again. "I don't want it to be her. I want it to *not* be her so very badly." * Kaede's voice is distant, almost sarcastic at the irony. "At least you still have that possibility..." Then consciousness from his own sleep deprivation pushes through and he adds, "What time is it over there?" <@Satoshi> 9PM. It's fine. I'm on spring break the next two weeks. Got games but no classes. * Kaede nods and goes silent. Thinking of things on the other end. Long silence. * @Satoshi finally asks, quietly, "You okay?" * Kaede responds, almost on reflex, "Project mode." His voice is unconvincing. * @Satoshi lets out a short breath. "You're not fooling me, Kaede Takeuchi. What are you really feeling?" His tone is still gentle. * Kaede groans but relents, adding. "Annoyed, Watanabe-san. I'm annoyed. Annoyed that coincidences keep lining up. Annoyed that we keep having to go through these cycles of bullshit. Annoyed that people still continuously repeatedly take advantage of people at a disadvantage, give them false promises, false hopes, false dreams, with the vague excuse that they *can*. What? Do you want a *list*?" * @Satoshi half-smiles, not that Kaede can see it. "Think you just gave me one. But yeah..." He's quiet again. "I was stupidly naive enough to believe that... not that it was *over*, exactly, but that we weren't going to have to deal with it for... for a reasonably long while, at least." * Kaede pauses. "...well *you* don't. And you feel pretty powerless about it." It's not a question. * @Satoshi looks down. "I didn't come here to run away," he says, quietly. "I came here because I had some big, crazy, possibly stupid dream that I wanted to pursue. And I still want it." There's a pause. "You told me to not be ashamed of having a life. And I'm not. But I... * Kaede cuts him off. "That's not what I said or meant, Watanabe-san. You're reading too much into it. You *don't* have to deal with it..." * Kaede pauses shortly before he adds, "None of us do, really. We could do what a lot did. Bury our heads in the sand. Pretend it isn't happening. Wait for it to go away. It would be rather simple..." * @Satoshi shakes his head. It's kind of weird when you have your phone. "That's not what you're going to do, is it." It's not a question. * Kaede snorts. "Since when have I ever done *anything* easy and simple in my life...?" * @Satoshi makes an amused sound. "Point." There's more quiet, and then Satoshi suddenly blurts out, "Should I come home?" * Kaede pauses in the response, mulling over what to say, though he doesn't seem startled by the question. "Watanabe. You *are* home. Right where you are." * @Satoshi blinks, surprised. "I..." He swallows. "I kind of love it here," he admits, "but then I'll think about something from Japan and I'll start missing it really hard. And I miss you guys. All the time." There's a pause. "I don't want something to happen to you - any of you - because I wasn't there. Especially if she's come back." * Kaede scoffs, shifting as he pulls himself up in the bed. "Or you being here would be irrelevant and instead of most of us dying and you surviving, all of us end up dying. Satoshi, we could go on crystal balling this continuously, there's nothing wrong with you pursuing what you wish to do and I think I speak for all of us that we're glad you have the opportunity to *do* it. I'm certain we would all choose it if we had the chance..." * @Satoshi swallows a few times. "Hey. You wanna... would you do a favor for me?" * Kaede stops his train of thought, but then replies, "Depends on the favor. You know I can't promise anything, details unheard." * @Satoshi says, slowly, "It's... okay, maybe this is me being stupid and egotistical, but... it's not inconceivable that we could go pretty far in the NCAA tournament. If... if we make it all the way... would you be able to make things so that anyone who wanted to watch could watch? Or is that too much to ask? I mean, I'm not saying you couldn't do it, I know you could, just... asking for things. Never been very good at it." He sounds kind of amused at the end. * Kaede pauses at the end of the request. Then it first starts out as a snicker that leads to all out laughter by way of reply. * @Satoshi starts laughing, too. "That's a no, huh?" * Kaede is grinning on the other end. "What? No. It's a yes. I'm sure everyone would want to watch it, I'm not sure why you thought it was this huge dramatic request you were trying to bring up." He stops his laughter, turning serious again as he types a few notes on his laptop. "Which number are you again?" * @Satoshi lies down. "Ninety-two. On the same line with sixty-seven and twenty-six, usually." * Kaede takes a few more notes. "Date?" <@Satoshi> If it's gonna happen... the final's April 10th. Probably evening here, so April 11th, your time. It'll be in Boston, same time zone as Maine. It'll take some time to set up but...I'm sure it won't be a problem. The problem will be if no signal actually exists but I'm certain if it's on the internet, it can happen. It's just that this may not be a live feed. Is that alright? * @Satoshi smiles. "Of course it's all right. Thank you." Anything else? * @Satoshi chuckles softly. "Well, now we have to make sure we don't do anything dumb like get eliminated in the first round." There's a pause. "What about you? Anything I can do for you?" * Kaede sighs, then looks at the phone, standing himself up and picking up his pack, his laptop. Everything. "No. I think your reality-warping days are over. And I've got to get to campus. Professor was out sick so I was finishing up a couple of projects but I have a lunch date with Katherine Andrews and you *know* how she gets upset when you're not punctual." * @Satoshi is quiet for a moment. "Yeah, I do," he finally says. "I don't want to keep you. Tell her hi for me, and that I'll schedule a chat soon. And Kaede?" * Kaede waits for Satoshi to continue. He doesn't ask what the question is for. Too busy making his way out of the apartment. <@Satoshi> Thank you. I'm glad you called. * Kaede does stop his pace, closing his eyes with a sigh. "E-mail works for a lot of things. Not for things like this." * @Satoshi grins. "Kaede Takeuchi, admitting there's something computers can't do. What is the world coming to?" But the gratefulness in his tone is still quite evident. * Kaede snorts. "There's a lot of things computers can't do. Especially when you're one such as me. Do you realize how much I've had to tune out my cell phone trying to get my attention during our conversation?" * @Satoshi makes an amused sound. "At least you don't have me accidentally broadcasting to you, too." There is that. Just so you know though, Watanabe-san. If *you* need to call, you can as well. * @Satoshi smiles. "Yeah. Thanks." * Kaede clicks the phone off on the other end and goes to get to class. No goodbyes from this one. * @Satoshi snerks. "Night, Kaede." He plugs his cell phone into its charger, keeping the ringer on, gets up and turns out the lights, and quickly falls asleep. <@Satoshi> [Session End!]