SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[transmittable]

[ Finally, an evening date. She answers after a moment with a surprised little laugh. ]

Are you... What have you been doing, are you a butler?

[cadmiums]

No, but close! I was starting to miss my job at the cafe, so I figured I could just do it here instead.

[transmittable]

Oh, that- that's what all that was about? That's...adorable, really, if only I could order a little pastry from you.

[cadmiums]

Yeah, it would be a more authentic experience with my uniform but that's OK. [ And then with a wink.] I'd be happy to serve you more than just a pastry~.

[transmittable]

G-good I'd- ask for a sandwich and soda too!

[ ...We are less than a minute into this call and she is already sputtering, good job Ryoji. ]

[cadmiums]

Oh, I could get you those too. But would you want anything else? As my favorite customer I wouldn't mind giving you preferential treatment.

[ He aims to please.]

[transmittable]

You, uh. Wouldn't get in trouble for that?

[cadmiums]

[ Things he had not considered until this very moment.]

I'm sure Makoto would cover for me.

[transmittable]

...Well, as long as you wouldn't...getting you some off-time to sneak off somewhere would be nice.

[cadmiums]

Mmhmm! Where would you want to sneak off to? Or what would you want to sneak off to?

[transmittable]

Nothing scandalous, it's only...uh, only the fourth...date, oh, I guess we're going on a different time-table.

But, um, I dunno. A park? A walk through the park sounds sweet and romantic.

[cadmiums]

[ He chuckles.]

This is all new to me too, so I wasn't sure myself. A walk in the park sounds nice... I've always wanted to be one of those couples at a romantic date spot.

[transmittable]

The kind that are grossly affectionate, with little pet names, annoying their friends to death. That's the kind of thing that sounds fun.

[cadmiums]

You would want to do those kinds of things?

[transmittable]

Well... I mean, I never have before. And, you know, whenever M-

[ She cuts off, abruptly. ...And then starts back up, hesitant and shy. ]

Um, whenever my friends...uh, whenever I saw them in relationships like that, it always...it seemed nice. It's something I wouldn't mind trying.

[cadmiums]

[ He catches that of course, but he's not going to press it right now.]

I think I'd like that too. The hardest part about all of this is...not being able to be affectionate with you in the way I would like. If I could have just that, everything else wouldn't really matter to me.

[transmittable]

Not a single thing...?

[cadmiums]

I still wouldn't like some things but... I don't think I would really mind so much. [ He hesitates, because it's hard to describe when he barely understands himself.]

I miss Tatsumi, but sometimes I feel like everything is alright without me, maybe even better...

[transmittable]

[ Her response is instant. ]

No way. There's no way anything's better without you.

[cadmiums]

[ That clearly catches him off-guard, but in a good way.]

O-Oh-! Thank you. [...] I don't know why I feel that way sometimes but I can't seem to help it... but when I talk to you, it doesn't bother me as much.

[transmittable]

[ She's quiet for a moment. ]

It- it's okay. Everyone's...insecure about themselves, sometimes. You know? I'm just glad that...I can do something to help.

[cadmiums]

Mm, yeah. [ Insecurity doesn't seem right, but he doesn't have a better guess to what it could be.]

...I still meant what I said before.

[transmittable]

Which part? ...We've talked a lot, you know.

[cadmiums]

I mean everything I say to you. But I meant about being affectionate with you. [ It's said softer than how he usually speaks.]

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

Oh... I- I'm glad. I'd... I'd like that too. I still wish I could hold your hand.