2025-08-28: The Position of a Pretty, Young Thing
- Cutscene: The Position of a Pretty, Young Thing
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Sergeant Ezoe
- Where: Sumaru Police Department
- OOC Date: 2025-08-28
- IC Date: Tuesday, July 03 2012
- Summary: Yua storms into the police department demanding justice for Myunghon -- only to find that the officer she speaks to is involved in the same conspiracy she is.
It's not easy for Yua to understand legal documents; she barely passed whatever they have for Civics class, when she was at school. (It was hard to be invested when Japan wasn't a shining jewel, in Yua's eyes.) Even so, she's tried to find documents to support her...
... and discovered surprisingly few.
Making the best of her insufficient results, Yua marches into Sumaru PD, one morning, after she's sent Miho off to work. (She has a minute-off-midnight operation tonight; she is still expected to attend to her instruction.)
"Excuse me!" She declares, in her black dancer's leotard, single visible eye all but burning, "I would like to speak with your boss!"
"Er..." The young, pretty woman at the desk hesitates, looking to her. "Could you tell me why, miss..?"
"I would like to make a complaint about one of your officers," Yua insists, head held high. "About Officer Ishiba! It's a matter of disgrace to your department!"
"Er... well, I can take a statement, and..." The young officer breathes a sigh of relief when an older man approaches, having recognised the name.
"Don't worry," he says. "I'm Sergeant Ezoe. ... that means I outrank this young lady quite a bit. I'll take your complaint. Is that acceptable?"
"That's just fine," Yua nods, trying to hide her own nervousness.
"Right this way," he leads her to an interview room and closes the door behind her. He pulls out a chair for her, and then sits behind the desk, logging into the desktop computer. Yua can't see the screen, sitting on the seat in front of the desk; that's by design. "Can you start by telling me your name?"
"... certainly," Yua says, with just a hint of hesitation. "My name is Yua Ooshiro. I'm a Health and Physical Education teacher."
"Very good," he says. "And you're concerned about Officer Ishiba?"
"That's right!" Yua affirms, and doesn't realise that he's pulling up her file instead of his as his fingers clack against the keyboard. "He's engaging in racial profiling! That's against the Constitution, you know, it's Article 14! His anti-Korean sentiment is causing irreparable harm!"
"You've seen this yourself?" Sergeant Ezoe asks.
"I've seen the effects it's had! That's good enough!" Yua snaps. "The victim's terribly afraid! You should all be embarrassed--!"
"I'm sorry," he says, "but hearsay just isn't enough. Couldn't you stand to be a little more cautious about your own reputation, marching in here with no proof and all these allegations...?" He asks as if he's concerned, though of course he isn't.
"I do have proof!" Yua snaps. "The proof is that they told me!"
"Please calm down, Ooshiro-san," Ezoe says, calmly. "If not for your own sake, at least think about the people standing behind you." She finds her hot blood running cold, for a moment, as he asks: "Won't your unruly behaviour reflect poorly on them?"
He doesn't specify who he's talking about; surely he must mean the school boards. But somehow -- it's in the way he looks at her -- Yua can't help but think of Miho, instead.
"I'm just concerned..." She starts, looking down.
"I'm sure you mean well," he assures her. "But a pretty, young thing like you should spend more time listening, and less time talking. Do you really think you're in a position to challenge the law...?"
Of course, Yua thinks, he's not speaking about the law. "I'm sorry," she says, quietly.
"We have eyes everywhere," he advises her, his voice still seemingly kind. "Think about where you're standing, and what you're supporting." He pauses, lightly, and adds: "... since it's not proper for a teacher to stake her reputation on rumours."
"I made a mistake coming here," Yua admits, still hushed. "Please forgive me. If you'll just show me out, I'll be going now..."
"I could hold you for an outrageous display like this," he warns her. "It would doubtless cause trouble for the people supporting you... but you need to focus on your work, today, don't you?" Tonight. It's all logged, in her file. They keep close track of their equipment, if nothing else.
Whether it's the ring -- or her.
"I-I need to finish -- an important project!" Yua exclaims, bowing her head. "I know I shouldn't have gotten distracted, so please don't cause anyone trouble on my account. Really, I'm very sorry, I didn't realise the situation... I acted thoughtlessly." Her hands tighten, at her lap. "Please let me go."
"That kind of humility is more attractive on a woman," Sergeant Ezoe smiles, leaning back in his chair. "... the door was never locked. Go about your day as you please... I'm sure you have responsibilities to attend to."
"Thank you," Yua mutters, as she turns and all but flies out of the interview room and the police station. It's fortunate that she's graceful, even when she's fleeing.
She doesn't start crying until she's safe in the car.