A Day Full of Mistakes

Vihal had wanted to ask Edwin about being given a night sky first thing in the morning during his trial period, but Edwin was already struggling through his consecutive shifts, and Vihal did not want to burden him with needless worry. So, a little earlier than he strictly had to, he headed for the rest area.

He thought that if he sat in the café space, he would inevitably end up talking with angels of his own year and others besides; and wanting to save his strength for the consecutive shifts to come, he went straight to the nap room, set an alarm, and drifted into a shallow sleep while remembering the night sky he had just painted.

When the alarm woke him and he went to the café space, it seemed noisier than usual, and so he asked an angel he knew nearby,

"Has something happened?"

"Oh, Vihal. Yesterday was rough on you, wasn't it?"

"Yesterday's was my mistake… but today I'm all fired up not to make one again."

He said it with a smile, and the angel looked half exasperated, yet also somehow accepting that this was simply what Vihal was like.

"You really are something… You don't have to accept even unfair things, you know. You ought to tell your superiors properly, or ask for help."

"Well… if I ever really feel that way, I will. But more importantly… everyone's so tense, or something like it. It's much noisier than usual—did something happen?"

"Ah… it seems there have been a lot of mistakes in the bulletins today. Normally about eighty percent of the requests we put in beforehand get reflected in the schedule, but today hardly any of them were, apparently."

"Eh… that's unusual…"

"One fellow asked them to cut down his consecutive shifts because he'd be wiped out physically, and they gave him consecutive shifts first thing in the morning. Another one had yesterday off and filed that he could handle morning consecutive shifts, and then he got no first shift at all, and no consecutive slots from the second onward either…"

"Right, right—I just came back from helping somebody myself."

"Me too.

Anyone who's physically done in—tell the people around you, all right? Whoever can go, we'll split up and help."

"We'll cover the Planning Division's absurd arrangements from our side!"

As they spoke, other angels nearby came over too, and they all began talking about the strange assignments of the day.

"Has anyone told the Bulletin Office about it?"

When Vihal asked, one of those who had gathered said,

"One angel went while checking his next assignment again. Even if it may be hard for them to rearrange things this late…"

He said it with an air that made plain he expected nothing of it.

"I see… Well, it's important just to tell them the situation as it is.

Then I'd better focus on my consecutive shifts next…"

"If it gets bad, you call for help too, all right?"

"Yes, I will. Thank you!"

Truly grateful for the offer of help from his comrades, Vihal thanked them straightforwardly and headed for his assigned room.

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