Act 1, Scene 1: Okami

[opening_act]

[ A notification on your phone goes off, letting you know the purchase of your meeting with Exael has gone through.

There is an attachment. Where are you, when you open it? ]

Comments

[opening_act]

All of what? This city? It's a Tokyo.

[furrytailprince]

The Security you mentioned. Those... things by the television...

[opening_act]

Security works for Imepro! The audience is the audience.

[furrytailprince]

[ Well, that was pointless. Which should have been expected. Sighs. ]

Where are we to speak properly?

[opening_act]

Your detour shaved off time, and I'm not bringing you to my apartment if security might tail you.

[opening_act]

So, here. We talk here.

[furrytailprince]

Very well. I appreciate your taking time to meet with me.

[ Time to activate Echo ]

Where are the others? I thought this was proposed as a joint discussion.

[opening_act]

The shop processed all of you separately, probably. I've already met some.

[furrytailprince]

[ Hnnnngh. Did not expect to be handling this on his own. Not ready... ]

I see. I am interested in learning about the graduation, what is entailed, whether there is a time limit imposed, what happens to those who do not graduate and what is the next step for those that do. I imagine not everyone is suited to becoming a host of their own.

[opening_act]

You don't have to become a host to graduate, you know. Graduation is just finishing off being an idol.

[furrytailprince]

And what is required to achieve that status?

[opening_act]

Time, mostly.

[furrytailprince]

There is no way to speed up the process?

[opening_act]

Not really! An assessment takes as long as it takes.

[furrytailprince]

Assessment of what? I thought this was about entertainment. If the goal is just to exit the program, what is the purpose of an assessment?

[opening_act]

It's not just for entertainment. Though it's for that too.

[furrytailprince]

So what are you assessing?

[opening_act]

Me? Nothing.

[furrytailprince]

Someone else is then?

[opening_act]

The producers are.

[furrytailprince]

Is there a way we can see what they are assessing us on? Is there a rubric? A checklist?

[opening_act]

Nope! Especially since they're all looking at different things.

[furrytailprince]

[ Grrrrr. ]

... Ah, so more of a panel. How many are there? Producers.

[opening_act]

Classified.

[furrytailprince]

I expected that might come up sooner or later... What can you tell me about what happens to our home while we are here? Does time move forward?