At the office
（A: Akiko, T: Tina, N: Naoki）
A: Tina?
T: Hai?
A: It's Mr. Kumamoto, from the Comm-Journal...
T: Oh, right, the interview...okay, you can transfer him in...
T: Tina McGarry
T: Hi Kumamoto-san, how are you?
T: Okay, so, you're going to ask me questions...well, go right ahead then!
T: Is my situation fixed? ...I'm sorry, Kumamoto-san, I don't understand...
T: Do you mean...am I going to stay in this position?
T: That's kind of an odd assessment for you to make given that we've made such obvious progress in talking with our stakeholders...Hm?
T: ...well, yes, shareholders are stakeholders as well, but stakeholders also means our customers, our employees, the rest of the IT community here and overseas...
T: Uh huh. Uh huh. Well, MegaCorporation is dedicated to the highest standards of...
N: 寺島さん、あの熊本さんってどなたですか？
A: コミュニケーションジャーナル日本の編集の方です。
A: （ナオキさん、いつもティナのしてる事を細かい事まで全部知りたがるんだから。これじゃまるで…いやいや、そんなことはありえないでしょう）
T: That was the strangest interview I think I ever had.
A: Why, what happened?
N: Yes, yes, Tina-san, what happened?
T: Oh, hi, Naoki, I didn't realize you were going to be with us today...
A: （私も知らなかったけど…）
（A: Akiko, T: Tina, N: Naoki）
T: It was the weirdest thing...that interview today.
A: Why was it weird?
T: Kumamoto-san kept asking me if 'my situation is fixed'. And he didn't understand the word 'stakeholders', which you'd think a business communications editor would know about...
A: Oh. Did he mean that your situation was broken?
T: Well, that's what I couldn't figure out, at first. But then I thought he must be asking if my position is permanent.
A: 'Fixed' means permanent? （Fixed って言うのが永久に続くって言う意味もあるんだ。知らなかったな）
T: Well, it's a little unusual to use 'fixed' in that way in a normal conversation...that's what's so interesting about communications in Japan.
A: What is interesting?
T: Actually, it's an interesting point about communications in any language...it's easy to misunderstand even someone who's speaking the same language you are.
A: But English is very direct, isn't it? （英語だと表現がはっきりしているから、誤解なんかなさそうだけど）
T: Oh, I can tell you some horror stories that you wouldn't believe...speaking of horror stories, I'm going to lose you for 2 days next week, aren't I?
A: Yes, I'm sorry. I know you have the Peterson meeting...I will make sure things are ready.
T: Don't worry about it - you've really worked hard, you deserve some time off...So, is Naoki ready to work with me on the project?
A: Ah, Naoki-kun...（それが実は一番心配なんだけど。Tinaと話するの怖がっちゃってるみたいだし、コミュニケーションにも問題あるしな…何も問題なければいいんだけど）
