Chapter 94: Job Shadowing
Shizuka's birthday was August 2nd.
Seeing Hiratsuka Sachiko buy so many gifts for Shizuka that day made Akishin realize that, despite how long they'd known each other, he had never actually given her a proper, physical gift.
The cookies he made every day probably didn't count as a 'main' gift, right?
So, he decided he would get her something fitting for her birthday—and maybe see if he could finally make a formal confession (Kokuhaku) when the day came...
...
"Shizuka-chan, is everything okay at work? You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Akishin set down his copy of Zhao Hua Xi Shi and looked over at Hiratsuka Shizuka. She was sitting next to him, clutching a piece of paper and looking deeply troubled.
Shizuka put down the printed sheet and picked up another one covered in handwriting. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. "It's not my personal life, it's just the Job Shadowing program next week. Honestly, Chishima-kun, what on earth are you teaching that student of yours? Tell me, what is this even supposed to mean?"
Akishin took the paper. It was Hachiman's application for the Job Shadowing program. It read:
[An ancient proverb says that if you work, you lose. Working is the act of trading risk for a reward. Therefore, my choice to 'not work and instead enter domestic life' is not a mistake; it is, in fact, the correct path. Thus, for this Job Shadowing program, I have chosen to shadow the workplace of a househusband—my own home...]
"Haha, what's wrong with that? Isn't that Hikigaya's dream? Being a househusband and all..."
Akishin burst out laughing, raising a hand just in time to catch Shizuka's incoming fist. He set the paper down and smiled. "Alright, I get it. I'll make him rewrite it. This doesn't have anything to do with what I taught him; it's just Hikigaya being Hikigaya. Talking is one thing, doing it is another! If anything, this just proves he hasn't changed at all."
Shizuka's face darkened instantly. "What do you mean he hasn't changed? I put him in the Service Club specifically because I want him to change."
"Ahem, not like that. I don't mean a physical change. I mean Hikigaya hasn't let his ego grow even though his status has shifted. Sure, his appearance and the way he carries himself have changed, but his core—his 'good' side—is still there."
"...I'll leave him to you then. Seriously, this school has way too many problem students."
Shizuka waved him off, picking up a Japanese textbook from Akishin's desk and starting to read. Normally, she'd be reaching for a cigarette by now, but since Akishin started hanging around, her smoking frequency had dropped significantly. Now she could only sneak a smoke at home.
Still, the book was quite good. She hadn't realized Chinese history had such a past! Human nature really was fragile under pressure. She often found herself subconsciously projecting her own feelings into the stories.
Akishin glanced at the paper in his hand. He could practically hear Hikigaya's 'rotten' voice through the words—it was strikingly similar to the kid's old essays about "Youth" and "Bears."
Job Shadowing, or workplace experience, was a classic staple of Japanese education. It involved students spending time at a company or institution, interacting with staff to gain real-world experience in a profession.
MEXT (The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), along with local governments, professional organizations, and schools, took it very seriously. They worked together to build a social system to make these programs happen.
The official goal was to help students form a healthy perspective on work and careers, helping them understand why they were studying in the first place and boosting their motivation.
It was also tied to Japan's social reality. Even in such an advanced society, a large number of students either couldn't afford or chose not to attend university.
Many would go home to take over a family business after high school or find a regular job and stick with it for life.
Compared to a university, a Japanese high school felt much closer to the 'real world.'
Plenty of high schoolers would get married right after graduation—statistically more than university grads. It was exactly why Japanese schools didn't forbid students from dating.
He checked the time; there were about ten minutes left before the next period.
"Shizuka-chan, I'm going to go make Hikigaya rewrite this now."
Akishin left the office and headed toward Class 2-F. On the way, students who saw him would step aside and offer polite greetings. "Good morning, Chishima-sensei."
"Good morning."
Akishin nodded and smiled back at every one of them. He was a legitimate celebrity at Sobu High now; he drew eyes wherever he went.
The sunlight, feeling a bit harsh, poured in through the windows on the left. Akishin was wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt, revealing arms that, while not overly bulky, were clearly defined and toned.
Combined with his clean, short haircut, he radiated the image of a handsome, reliable older brother. Add in his status, and it was no wonder so many female students were blushing as he walked by.
When he reached the door of Class 2-F, the usual cacophony of laughter and chatter drifted out—Tobe Kakeru and Miura Yumiko's voices being the most prominent.
The moment Akishin stepped inside, the entire room went silent within two seconds. Every student turned to stare at him; the impact of the tennis court incident was still fresh in everyone's minds.
Akishin rarely visited the classroom outside of lesson hours, so they all assumed something big was happening.
Akishin gave them a general nod before walking straight to Hikigaya, who was currently tuned out with earphones in. He slapped the paper onto the desk and asked with a grin, "You know what this is about, right?"
Hachiman looked at the paper, then up at Akishin's wide smile, and answered hesitantly, "I think... I do."
"Good. Then I'm off. Oh, and the Job Shadowing is done in groups of three. You'll need to find two others to be on your team."
Akishin turned and left. He really had only come to deliver the paper. Why were they all so tense? It's not like he was some kind of demon.
Hachiman watched Akishin walk away, then scanned the room which was still eerily quiet. A ghost of a smirk touched his lips before vanishing. He pulled out a pen and started drafting a fake, 'acceptable' Job Shadowing application.
...
Ten minutes after school ended that afternoon, Hachiman arrived at the Service Club as usual. As he set his bag down on a chair, Yukino immediately asked, "Did you not run into her?"
Hachiman was confused. "Run into who?" Aside from a teacher, who would be looking for him?
"Ah, found him!"
Yui's cheerful voice rang out.
Yukino, clutching a cat-themed notebook, spoke without looking up. "Since you were taking so long to get to the club room, I sent someone to find you. Yuigahama went."
So it was Yuigahama. Hachiman looked at Yui, who was walking toward him with her hands hidden behind her back. He'd actually been at Hiratsuka-sensei's office to hand in his new application and got stuck listening to a lecture.
He looked at Yukino, who was acting like she couldn't care less. "You don't need to use such an inverted sentence structure just to emphasize that you'd never do it yourself. I already knew that," he said flatly. Honestly, it feels like every time we talk, we're just trading barbs.
He then turned to Yui and apologized. "Sorry, um... I was just at Hiratsuka-sensei's office."
"Oh, that's totally fine!"
Yui looked away quickly, her face dusting with a light pink. She fidgeted with her fingers, not quite daring to meet his eyes. "So, um... could you maybe give me your email address? For your phone?"
Suddenly feeling like her phrasing was a bit weird, she quickly held up a finger to explain. "I mean, think about it! Having to walk all over the place just to ask a question is super weird, right? And it's kind of embarrassing. Someone even asked what my relationship with you was... It was totally ridiculous!"
...
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
50 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
You can purchase this novel directly on Patreon without subscribing. Please check out my Patreon page.
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —