???: "finally! I've come so far and now the results of my efforts have come to fruition!"

Frantically typing commands into his computer, Mikami, Tatsu prepares a machine that he claims could be capable of changing the course of human history. leaning back in his chair, he imagines what his future may hold for him with his soon to be famous self. His work would be recognized globally by all, and he would be deemed the greatest scientist of his time. He would then be granted immense funding by the government and never have to worry about his finances again. He would travel to colleges around the world, giving speeches to the students about his scientific genius. The thought of a government grant to continue his research had him drooling unconsciously.

II

[for those of you who have not realized it yet, this is Tatsu. Age: thirty seven. Intelligence: high. Weight: Average. Height: Average. Social Life: Zero. Not exactly the kind of person you would want to try making small talk with.]

>

Tatsu shook his head and shot back into focus. Looking at his handiwork, he realized that a lot of the machine's inner frame was exposed, if it were to get something caught in it, it might break. That made priority one creating a case for it.

Wait, that's priority two.

Priority one was making sure it works.

He input a few extra commands into his computer, which served as the main hub, and the machine whirred into action. "Like music to my ears" was the only way he could describe the noise.

Clatter!

Out of the corner of his eye, Tatsu noticed movement and quickly snapped around to identify it. It was…

Tatsu: "A squirrel?"

Staring at it for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time, Tatsu waved his hand and turned back to his work.

Tatsu: "Get out of here, quadrupedal rodent, don't you know what happens to critters that get too close to heavy machinery? Here's the answer: they go 'Splat'."

After a few minutes, Tatsu realizes the squirrel is still there, and swivels back around to confront it once more.

Tatsu: "Look, rodent, don't you have acorns to collect or something? Why don't you do that instead of hanging around here?

Squirrel: [Squirrel noises]

Tatsu: "Yes, really, now leave."

Squirrel: [More squirrel noise]

Tatsu: "Wait, are you making fun of me?"

Squirrel: [Squirrel noises]

Tatsu: "What's that about my mother?!"

Squirrel: [Irritated squirrel noises]

Tatsu: "how dare you say such things!"

II

[please take note that this is not an actual conversation. The fact of the matter is Tatsu is incredibly lonely and has resorted to concocting a nonexistent argument with a tanuki. My sympathies go to the rodent that got roped up in this human's sad attempt to communicate.]

>

The irregular bickering between Tatsu and the squirrel continued to the point where Tatsu made a rude gesture with his hand directed at the rodent. The squirrel found this highly offensive and proceeded to hurl rock at him.

Tatsu: "Hey! Cut it out! That hurts! What the-- That one's really big!"

Narrowly dodging a rock the size of his fist, Tatsu evades despite his lack of physical prowess. The squirrel chitters angrily, as it no longer has any rocks in the vicinity. Realizing this, Tatsu gets back up from below the desk he was hiding under.

Tatsu: "oh, the rock throwing is over? Did I win? I totally won. Come back when you grow a backbone, foolish rodent! Is that really the best you've got-- holy crap!"

Lunging at him at full force, was the squirrel, fully determined to rearrange Tatsu's face with the entirety of its fury. Tatsu frantically bumbled around to try and remove the squirrel from his face and eventually tripped over something. But when he hit the floor…

Woah…

It's dark…

Like, really dark…

What the hell?

Wait… I think…

I…

I see something!

It's…

It's!

It's dark…

Am I still at work? The last thing I remember was…

Tatsu: "That damn squirrel…"

[not quite, technically, she's a tanuki.]

Tatsu: "I see, thanks."

Tatsu: "Wait, who said that?"

[well, it was me, of course]

Tatsu: "Oh, okay. That's not helpful whatsoever."

[hmm. I suppose you are right.]

A few meters in front of Tatsu, a figure appeared clad in a white robe.

[My name is Zuriel, the god of your world, as well as many others.]