My name is Reina Chisaki.
I am 29 years old. I work as a legal clerk for the Shanzen Power Corporation, the electricity generation conglomerate, on the 19th floor of the main HQ administrative building. I live alone in a small apartment not particularly far from the office. I am not married.
I usually get home around 8:30 in the evening. I don’t smoke, and I rarely drink. I try to be in bed by midnight, although lately that has become increasingly difficult because of my workload assignments.
I make sure to get at least four hours of sleep whenever possible. After a cup of hot tea in the morning, I leave for work at approximately 7:30.
I answer emails. I write demand letters. I attend virtual meetings that should have been emails. I spend twelve hours beneath harsh fluorescent lights, pretending that I am making a contribution to society.
I am an ordinary, insignificant employee in the belly of a terrible machine.
Most of my meager salary barely covers my rent, food, electricity, and cat food.
The cat food is particularly expensive, because my cat, Garf, eats a lot. He is a very large cat.
That reminds me: I should tell you the story of how I met Garf.
I found him on one of the restricted floors of the Shanzen Power Corporation headquarters.
I don’t remember exactly how I got there.
I remember leaving work late one evening, and the elevator door stopping at the 76th floor that should not have existed.
I remember walking down a pitch-black corridor that seemed to go on forever.
I remember hearing the sound of roaring waves, growing louder.
Then, the faint smell of seawater.
Suddenly, I found myself standing in a shore of black sand, and an ocean in front of me.
There was no moon. No sky. No horizon. Just an endless expanse of black water stretching further than I could see.
In that darkness, I saw a colossal beast emerge out of the ocean.
But as the beast approached, it became smaller, and smaller, until it was the size of a common house cat.
He looked at me, and he uttered the words:
“Wake up, Human. Your world is not real. You are within the Quietus of Infinity, Earth Type A-235.”, the house-cat-beast spoke.
“Word. You should totally tell that to my boss. He thinks our jobs should be our entire lives. He sucks so much.” I replied.
“Human, this is no jest. I have been trapped here by my ancient enemy. Together, we can emerge out of this false dream. You must assist me.”
“Heh. You’re a funny cat. You like pets, don’t you?”
I tried to pet him.
“Fool! You are fortunate that the Divine Code has restricted my power. Still, there is a loophole. The leylines do not inhibit me from granting a willing subject infinite power…” The cat seemed upset about something, as it licked its paws.
“Tell me human, if you help me, is there anything you wish in this world? I shall grant you the sharpest fangs to devour the sky, nails like knives to lacerate your enemy’s throats. Make a contract with me, and become a priestess of entropy!” The cat said.
“You know, I was just thinking about buying an electric guitar.” I told the cat.
“Mortal, I will grant you the wisdom of beasts, and together we shall dine in…hold for a moment, is that all? You understand that you can ask for unfathomable powers and you want a meager musical instrument? If that is your will, I will not question it.” The cat-beast said.
“Hey, don’t make fun of me, music can change the world too, don’t you know? It saved my life, after all.” I told him.
“You have knowledge of the resonance arts and reality manipulation? I did not expect a human to know this, at least, not in this world. I am intrigued.”
“That’s one way to put it. So, I just need someone to join me pick out a guitar from the music store tomorrow. I always get anxious when i’m alone there. Could use a friend to not make it awkward.” I told the cat, quite candidly to my own surprise.
“I see. You deny my borrowed power, and you would rather seize your own destiny with your own hands. You’re an interesting human. I would like to join and observe you.”
The beast’s stomach growled.
“Curse this mortal form and its strange bouts of whimsy…” The cat grumbled.
“Poor thing, you must be so hungry.”
I tried offering him some candy in my coat pocket. The cat-beast stopped his monologue, sniffed the candy, and ate it.
“You have my gratitude, human. The contract is sealed.” The cat declared.
“Uhh, sure. Now, what should I call you?” I pondered.
“I am that which remains without a name. In another world, the humans referred to me as The Great Darkness.” the cat boasted.
“That’s too long for me to say. Hmm, okay, I got it! I’ll call you Garf.”
“Gwhorf?” The cat-beast tried pronouncing its name, but it sounded more like a kitten’s meow.
“Yes, Garf. You remind me of the darkness of Mondays. But as my mom always said, for every Monday, there is a Friday.”
“Your riddle vexes me, human. You really are an interesting mortal. Very well, take me to your domicile and we shall conjure our plans to destroy the Eye which binds us to this false reality.”
“You say a lot of funny words, Garfy boy.”
I picked up Garf and held him under my arms. Garf’s fur was surprisingly soft, like a ball of cotton.
“So this is what they call the cat distribution system, I suppose.”
I retraced my steps, and soon, the harsh fluorescent light seeping out of the elevator door to the Shanzen office was in my view, to my mild annoyance.
As we walked home, Garf continued his monologue about an angel with a thousand eyes (which I assumed was Garf’s ex or something), some cool knights in space, the law of entropy, and the end of the universe. I really wasn’t listening much. But I can say he was a pretty good story teller for a cat. I wondered if he was talking about his favorite anime. Sounds like a good fit for some sci-fi isekai story.
I continued going to work after that day, but nothing as interesting has happened since then.
The numbness of life continued, but I tell myself that at least I found a new friend.
-The Diary of Reina Chisaki, Life of The Ordinary Office Lady
