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]

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.

[cadmiums]

[ A part of him knows that he should probably press a little harder on why not now, but he's never been that way, and he probably never will be.]

I wish I could show you how much that means to me. [...]

Hm, we can't do most of those things you mentioned that you would like to try but...maybe we can do one of them.

[transmittable]

We can? Which- ...oh- ohh, you mean the doofy pet names thing, don't you?

[cadmiums]

I do! Unless there's a park in the hospital that we could visit together.

[transmittable]

Pff, no, probably not any time soon. ...You kinda already have one for me, though. Mita-chan.

[cadmiums]

That's too bad, I'd like to be able to see nature again.

[ As for the rest, he thinks for a moment.]

Yeah, but that was when I didn't know you very well. I know you probably can't tell me your name, but it would be nice to have something a little more personal to call you by.

[transmittable]

[ She's quiet, contemplative. Hesitantly, she'll ask... ]

Do you...want to know my middle name? I think...I can get away with that.

[cadmiums]

Yes, I'd love to!

[transmittable]

It's Renee.

[cadmiums]

...that's a beautiful name. Renee. [ From the sound of it, he likes the way it feels on his tongue.]

Thank you for telling me, Renee.

[transmittable]

[ He's heard it a few times, that sharp intake of breath. A little surprised, but mostly happy. The static dies down a little. ]

I like hearing you say it.

[ A very girlish giggle. ]

What...do you want me to call you, Ryoji?