silent

I want to use my time to help Ms. Moore.

You want to take over her treatment?

Yes.

I thought you were interested in the research that Team 7 is conducting.

I was... but I saw how the two researchers responsible for taking care of Ms. Moore treated her.

If she paid an inevitable price for science, I don't think she should be treated like that.

I want to help her.

I'm sure, if the same thing happened to me, you would do what you could to help me, wouldn't you?

Of course.

But it's a good idea to be prepared. Working at Rhine Lab has its risks.

Huh?

Take yesterday, for example. I lost a bet and almost had to go on a vegan diet for a week. If that's not fatal, I don't know what is.

...Hehe.

You made your choice. Now you should make your preparations.

Hopefully, you'll learn a thing or two in the process.

They let some fresh grad take my job?!

I thought you couldn't wait to hand it over? Now you got your wish.

(Whisper) How much time are you planning to waste on a woman who got her brain fried in an experiment?

Well, then, Ms. Moore is your responsibility now, Silence.

Wait, you haven't told me what's going on with her yet...

Read her medical record yourself.

Huh? Ms. Moore? Why are you standing?

Let's see here...

'Joyce Moore exhibits cognitive and linguistic impairments. She has difficulty communicating. Frequently talks to herself, but what she says is unintelligible...'

You're still weak, Ms. Moore. You should go back to bed.

Is she mute?

Negative.

Huh?

(Come to think of it, I think she said the word 'affirmative' when we first met.)

(But it's impossible to tell what she's trying to convey with that word alone.)

You're Liberi, right?

Affirmative.

When you say 'affirmative', do you mean 'yes'?

Affirmative.

Warning: Potential misunderstanding.

Dialogue is logically valid even if 'affirmative' denotes negation of statement.

Huh?

Er... let me think...

You're right!

If 'affirmative' means 'no', you would still have answered 'affirmative' when asked whether 'affirmative' meant 'yes'.

You figured that out so quickly? Doesn't sound like cognitive impairment to me.

Anyway, it's getting late. I'll fetch you lunch from the cafeteria.

(She's gone silent again.)

Warning... system... unknown error...

Ms. Moore? Ms. Joyce Moore?!

Her breathing is steady, as are her vital signs... did she just fall asleep suddenly?

There are some similarities with my own symptoms.

How are you feeling today, Joyce?

Increase in flexibility detected. High intensity rehabilitation exercises possible.

Great.

But you just exercised yesterday, and it's the weekend. You should take a day off.

Dr. Silence's instructions have proven effective, indicating considerable medical expertise.

No, I only just graduated.

Correction. Dr. Silence is a recent graduate with considerable medical expertise.

(Blushes)

By the way, if you're not doing rehab today, I want to...

(Tilts head)

I want to watch a show in your room.

Today not a work day. It is recommended that Dr. Silence view the show at home with friends.

Well, I don't have any frien—

Dr. Silence is welcome to watch here, if the recommended scenario cannot be achieved.

Really?

Affirmative.

What is the name of the series?

Blood and Dividends.

Popcorn is recommended.

Is there popcorn in the office?

Leave this room, turn left. Proceed one hundred and fifty meters, then turn right and proceed two hundred and seventy meters to find a popcorn vending machine on the corner. Note that caramel-flavored popcorn is suboptimal for this series.

Oh, we're out of popcorn.

(Yawns)

Let's take a break, Joyce.

(Steady breathing)

Is she asleep?

...Affirmative.

It's fine. I have an Oripathy-related sleep disorder myself, so I understand.

Dr. Silence demonstrated below-average attention during playback.

Oh, you noticed.

I'm not a huge fan of finance-themed dramas, but my colleagues are all talking about it, so I felt like I had to watch it.

Inquiry: why do you feel the need to watch the same drama?

To fit in, I guess. Otherwise, we just don't have anything to talk about.

I'm from a backwater with very little entertainment. When I went to college, my classmates helped me a lot, and I never had to try to fit in with the crowd.

But now...

*sigh*.

Why do you find it necessary to conform to the collective?

Huh?

Dr. Silence does not appear particularly eager to build social relationships.

I... I just felt that I should establish a good relationship with my colleagues, so I could be happier at work...

Balance must be achieved between insufficient conformity, and excessive conformity.

You're... right.

Maybe I should return this—

What are you doing? You watched a show with her?

You're...

Don't mind me, just came to get something I left.

Kids these days have the weirdest ideas, using a soap opera to teach her how to talk like a normal person...

That's not it!

And Joyce doesn't suffer from any cognitive impairment. Your reports are wrong—

And...?

What do you mean by 'and'?

So she has normal cognitive ability. So what? What are you gonna do about it?

What in the—how could you falsify medical records like that, reporting symptoms that don't exist?!