Please Hold, Your Call is Important to Us ...

[Sunfire]

Having finally made the decision to talk to these X-Men, Shiro Yoshida picked up the phone and dialed the number. 'The Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters' the advert proudly proclaimed along with an address and contact number. Shiro didn't really know what to expect or how he would be received.

The line rang at the other end.

And rang.

And rang.

Eventually there was a click and the faint hiss of prerecorded message. A cool female voice announced -

"Thank you for calling the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, unfortunately nobody is available to take your call right now. If you would like to leave a message and your contact details we will try to get back to you as soon as possible."

The message was followed by an electronic beep.

"Good morning," he began earnestly, "my name is Shiro Yoshida and I would very much like to visit your school to discuss the nature of your work, please call me back on seven eight six three four seven three. Doumo, doumoarigatou."

Then he hung up.

Would they bother to call him back?

That was a question best left to the fates.

He scooped up his cellphone and dropped it into his top pocket before leaving the small apartment maintained by the embassy and heading into the city.

[candice]

Candice had been checking messages, just as she was preparing to address the school. She found the one from Shiro Yoshida, and smiled. Finally, some good news. He sounded professional, and interested in a very good way.

Hanging up, she dailed his number.

It rang, and he picked up.

"Mr. Shiro?" She understood that in the east, the family name came first. "This is Candice Taylor, Administrator here at Xavier Institute. I'm calling in response to your message. I'm available to give you a tour in the next few days, if you're in the area."