Echoes of Legacy

"Confrontations and Compromises"

Early the next morning, Mayumi was jolted awake by the commotion outside. She looked out from her large window and saw a crowd of factory workers protesting about their wages. She shook Jun awake.

"What's happening outside?" Mayumi asked.

Jun, groggy, replied, "It's a protest. The workers are upset about their salaries. They're demanding better pay."

Mayumi quickly got dressed and put on her jacket. "I need to do something about this. Will you come with me?"

Jun sighed. "I'll go since Miss Zeo asked me to. But you need to be careful how you handle this."

They went downstairs, and Mayumi approached the crowd. "Listen, shouting here won't solve anything. You should take your grievances to the court."

An older man in the crowd shouted back, "You rich people will never understand the struggles of the poor!"

Mayumi, frustrated, retorted, "Everyone has their own problems! Stop making it personal!"

As tensions rose, Norio stepped in and pulled Mayumi away from the crowd. "Mayumi, you can't talk to people like that, especially not the elderly!"

Mayumi, surprised, demanded, "And who are you?"

Norio looked hurt and said, "It's Norio. Your childhood friend. It seems you've forgotten me. But it's clear you haven't changed. You're still the same troublemaker from back then."

Mayumi, taken aback, didn't respond. Norio turned and walked away, leaving her feeling unsettled.

Jun, observing Mayumi's reaction, said, "Mayumi, you didn't say anything back to him. He said some harsh things about you."

Mayumi, feeling both angry and hurt, said nothing and walked back inside the headquarters with Jun following closely. They encountered Joseph, who was disappointed to see Mayumi's disregard for him.

Mayumi retreated to her room, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with Norio. Dr. Michael entered shortly after, carrying a tray of syringes.

"Morning, Mayumi," Dr. Michael said with a clinical detachment. "I need to administer your injections now."

Mayumi, already feeling overwhelmed, flinched as Dr. Michael began the process. Each needle prick was a sharp reminder of her current situation. After administering the final injection, Dr. Michael said, "Mr. Ren has scheduled a board meeting this evening. It will include board members and their children, and you are expected to attend."

Mayumi, exhausted and annoyed, started to protest. "I don't really see why-"

Dr. Michael cut her off gently but firmly. "You should talk to Mr. Ren about it. You know how particular he is about these events."

Mayumi, recalling Ren's strict demeanor and the pressure to conform to his expectations, sighed in resignation. "Fine, I'll go."

Dr. Michael nodded and left her to prepare for the evening's meeting. Mayumi sat on her bed, feeling the weight of the day's demands and the ongoing complexities of her life.

That evening, Mayumi dragged herself up to the meeting room, her steps heavy with weariness. As she approached, she glanced through the glass window and noticed her childhood friends-Jun, Gaku, Norio, Asahi, Hiroto, Enji, Michi, and Midori-gathered inside. The sight was almost too much to bear, and she paused, her resolve wavering.

Jun, having followed her, noticed Mayumi's hesitation. "Are you sure you're up for this?" she asked softly, concern evident in her voice.

Before Mayumi could respond, Gaku appeared and, with a firm but gentle hand, pulled her inside the room. Mayumi's discomfort was palpable as she made her way to a corner, her body language radiating resistance and distress.