Transition And Restart

"Yes, I like my high school very much . Himekaizen is so much fun," Christina said and giggled inanely .

The anchor gave her a pained but professional smile in return . Most likely the woman had seen more than her fair share of beautiful airheads flaring into fame just to be forgotten half a year later .

"Well, you"re going to remember this interview," Christina thought . "You fired first and I"m responding with heavy artillery . "

"Is there something special that makes you like your school that much?" the anchor asked .

Christina stared into two uninterested eyes facing her . "This is where you expect yet another brain-dead answer . "

"Yes, as I"m a foreigner I"m very happy my school doesn"t tolerate racism the way Red Rose Academy does," she said and made her face light up in a wide grin . Christina knew it made her look stunning, and it offered the anchor an opportunity to gloss over the uncomfortable message .

"I"m happy that you have found a school to your liking," the anchor said and didn"t look happy at all . Her smile hardly reached her eyes .

They quickly moved on to Christina"s model career and she made an effort to balance between being an airhead and a professional model . Christina had to keep her persona as The Billion Dollar Empress in check, because it was one thing to stride down the catwalk as haughty royalty, and a totally different one scaring away a television audience who thrived on cuteness .

After the talk show Christina changed into her baggy incognito set of clothes after checking for needles and other b.o.o.by traps as usual . She found nothing, and hadn"t really expected to here at a television studio, but better safe than sorry .

When she left the studio she walked to the bike stand where her body guard stood waiting patiently . But for the attack on Ulf her agency would have dropped him by now . After the a.s.sault there was no way she"d have her privacy back .

"Pleasant evening?" Christina offered .

"Yes miss," her bodyguard answered . Nothing in his voice indicated whether he found anything pleasant or not .

Christina shrugged and mounted her bike . She plugged in the earpiece to her headset and dialled one of her new-found contacts in the computer club . After a few rumbling sounds; "ringtones" didn"t really describe the feeling of ringing someone in j.a.pan, he picked up .

"Ageruman here," she said . They had agreed she"d announce herself even though he saw her contact information when she called . Just in case anyone stole her cell .

For once she didn"t care if the paid muscle heard her conversation or not . She was embarking on a dirty smear-campaign and any kind of rumour-mongering would further her case .

"I dropped the bomb on the show," Christina said .

"They could edit it out . "

"Yeah, and break the contract . Costly, dangerous and they"ll never see a teen model on their show again . " Christina didn"t know if the penalty would really stretch that far, but her contact at Uniclo, Alice Kerringer, had pulled some strings of her own .

"I don"t believe you," came the response .

"Computer geek and a coward . " Immediately after that thought Christina felt ashamed of herself . She did this to avenge Ulf, and he started out his professional life as a computer geek himself . "At the moment I"m Uniclo"s little mascot and I told my contact there what could happen to their Korean and Chinese market if they glossed this over . "

"Why should I care about Koreans and Chinese?"

"We don"t accept that kind of behaviour at Himekaizen but that apparently doesn"t mean there aren"t people in school who thinks that way anyway . " "Would you care to repeat that for me?" Christina said and made an effort to lace her voice with the next ice age .

"Sorry Ageruman-san . I apologise . That was uncalled for . "

"Uncalled for, my a.r.s.e . You"ll be ostracised until graduation if you make an enemy of me . " "I don"t mind, but I"m certain Hamarugen-san would be unhappy if he heard you say those things," she said instead and felt her stomach cramp at the lie . She cared very much . You didn"t build a global fashion empire if you truly believed in eugenics .

"Ah, sorry . My bad . "

"Your bad indeed . " Ulf had garnered his fair share of adoration in the computer club after he ran some kind of tech seminar there a few weeks ago .

"Anyway, the show goes live tomorrow at five pm . Could you start those voices of indignation from half past five?"

"Sure, and you"re certain you only want those sites seeded?"

Christina nodded as she biked . "Yeah . I"ll give you another list with sites of importance together with a schedule later . "

He only needed the list . Explaining demographics would take too long . Explaining how she happened to know exactly where that TV-channel made an impact was impossible, and in truth she didn"t really know . Christina gambled on the demographics being mostly the same in this world as in her old one . She"d make certain the ugly rumours about Red Rose reached other local communities like rings on the water .

Next on her agenda was setting up a live protest . One that could be traced back to 9:1 but no further . After that a few well-placed libellous newspaper articles . As far as she knew the right wing loonies at Red Rose would take the bait, and Christina already had Noriko"s consent to detonate the real bomb .

"Sorry Ulf, but I won"t let him stay peacefully in his grave . " She"d use the evidence on the suicide victim, because that evidence included d.a.m.ning photos of two teachers and the princ.i.p.al of Red Rose . "When I"m done with you a.r.s.eholes you"re going belly up . Not even right wing loony parents will place their kids there . "

Christina used the time at a red light to place another phone call and continued her smear campaign .Yes, I like my high school very much . Himekaizen is so much fun, Christina said and giggled inanely . The anchor gave her a pained but professional smile in return . Most likely the woman had seen more than her fair share of beautiful airheads flaring into fame just to be forgotten half a year later . Well, youre going to remember this interview, Christina thought . You fired first and Im responding with heavy artillery . Is there something special that makes you like your school that much? the anchor asked . Christina stared into two uninterested eyes facing her . This is where you expect yet another brain-dead answer . Yes, as Im a foreigner Im very happy my school doesnt tolerate racism the way Red Rose Academy does, she said and made her face light up in a wide grin . Christina knew it made her look stunning, and it offered the anchor an opportunity to gloss over the uncomfortable message . Im happy that you have found a school to your liking, the anchor said and didnt look happy at all . Her smile hardly reached her eyes . They quickly moved on to Christinas model career and she made an effort to balance between being an airhead and a professional model . Christina had to keep her persona as The Billion Dollar Empress in check, because it was one thing to stride down the catwalk as haughty royalty, and a totally different one scaring away a television audience who thrived on cuteness . After the talk show Christina changed into her baggy incognito set of clothes after checking for needles and other b.o.o.by traps as usual . She found nothing, and hadnt really expected to here at a television studio, but better safe than sorry . When she left the studio she walked to the bike stand where her body guard stood waiting patiently . But for the attack on Ulf her agency would have dropped him by now . After the a.s.sault there was no way shed have her privacy back . Pleasant evening? Christina offered . Yes miss, her bodyguard answered . Nothing in his voice indicated whether he found anything pleasant or not . Christina shrugged and mounted her bike . She plugged in the earpiece to her headset and dialled one of her new-found contacts in the computer club . After a few rumbling sounds; ringtones didnt really describe the feeling of ringing someone in j.a.pan, he picked up . Ageruman here, she said . They had agreed shed announce herself even though he saw her contact information when she called . Just in case anyone stole her cell . For once she didnt care if the paid muscle heard her conversation or not . She was embarking on a dirty smear-campaign and any kind of rumour-mongering would further her case . I dropped the bomb on the show, Christina said . They could edit it out . Yeah, and break the contract . Costly, dangerous and theyll never see a teen model on their show again . Christina didnt know if the penalty would really stretch that far, but her contact at Uniclo, Alice Kerringer, had pulled some strings of her own I dont believe you, came the response . Computer geek and a coward . Immediately after that thought Christina felt ashamed of herself . She did this to avenge Ulf, and he started out his professional life as a computer geek himself . At the moment Im Uniclos little mascot and I told my contact there what could happen to their Korean and Chinese market if they glossed this over . Why should I care about Koreans and Chinese? We dont accept that kind of behaviour at Himekaizen but that apparently doesnt mean there arent people in school who thinks that way anyway . Would you care to repeat that for me? Christina said and made an effort to lace her voice with the next ice age . Sorry Ageruman-san . I apologise . That was uncalled for . Uncalled for, my a.r.s.e . Youll be ostracised until graduation if you make an enemy of me . I dont mind, but Im certain Hamarugen-san would be unhappy if he heard you say those things, she said instead and felt her stomach cramp at the lie . She cared very much . You didnt build a global fashion empire if you truly believed in eugenics . Ah, sorry . My bad . Your bad indeed . Ulf had garnered his fair share of adoration in the computer club after he ran some kind of tech seminar there a few weeks ago . Anyway, the show goes live tomorrow at five pm . Could you start those voices of indignation from half past five? Sure, and youre certain you only want those sites seeded? Christina nodded as she biked . Yeah . Ill give you another list with sites of importance together with a schedule later . He only needed the list . Explaining demographics would take too long . Explaining how she happened to know exactly where that TV-channel made an impact was impossible, and in truth she didnt really know . Christina gambled on the demographics being mostly the same in this world as in her old one . Shed make certain the ugly rumours about Red Rose reached other local communities like rings on the water . Next on her agenda was setting up a live protest . One that could be traced back to 9:1 but no further . After that a few well-placed libellous newspaper articles . As far as she knew the right wing loonies at Red Rose would take the bait, and Christina already had Norikos consent to detonate the real bomb . Sorry Ulf, but I wont let him stay peacefully in his grave . Shed use the evidence on the suicide victim, because that evidence included d.a.m.ning photos of two teachers and the princ.i.p.al of Red Rose . When Im done with you a.r.s.eholes youre going belly up . Not even right wing loony parents will place their kids there . Christina used the time at a red light to place another phone call and continued her smear campaign .