Reading Between the Lines
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or it's wonderful characters. -sob-
A/N: If it wasn't so late at night, I'd make this longer. But it is, so I won't. Sorry. By the way, this is my first FB fic so bear with me, okay?
ENJOY!
Chapter One, Part One.
"Job Shadowing," Mr. Miyamoto repeated the words he had written on the chalkboard moments before.
Critical Skills.
That was the class name. Not just any class though, a mandatory class. A class where you learn how to properly fill out your resume, act appropriately for an interview, and discover the know how of your future career.
Just a weird name for job etiquette if you ask me, Nakamura Yukari thought to herself. Unfortunately her opinion didn't matter, nor did any students where their teacher was concerned. All that matter was this project, 'job shadowing' as they called it. Grabbing the paper that had been passed back to her, she studied the title and groaned at the sight of the big blank spaces next to the tiny questions.
"Is there a problem Nakamura-san?" the teacher asked, mustering up an authoritative glare.
"No," she mumbled back, sinking in her desk.
Holding his glare only a few more seconds, he turned back to the black board and began to write again. "Now you will each be required to find a person in your chosen career field and follow their actions for one week. In this week you will be excused from your classes. That being said, your information must be thorough and the man or woman you chose to shadow will fill out the second page of your packet confirming this. They may choose to be present when you share you're completed project. They do not count as a visual aid, though. This will be half of your final grade for this class so it is not something to blow off."
Yukari glanced back at the first page of the thick packet.
How has the field evolved—past, present, and looking into the future?
What do you do? Who do you work with? What do you like best about your job?
What kind of personal traits, interests, and styles match this job?
What is the basic education and training required for entry to professional levels?
And so on and so forth...blah, blah, blah.
Why exactly do we need to do this again? she wondered to herself.
Some students began giggling, turning to look at her, while the teacher gave her another icy glare.
"That, you will find out for yourself. And I suggest, Nakamura-san, that you keep your opinions to yourself," he scolded her in the same stern, yet utterly yawn-worthy voice.
Her eyes darted to the floor, as her cheeks turned a light shade of red. Funny, I thought that's what I was doing.
As if on cue, the school bell began blaring in their ears and without a second thought, the students grabbed their items and pushed their way out. In the midst of the insanity that was the end of the day, Yukari her name called, unfortunately in that same dull voice.
"Damn it," she whispered to herself but turned to go back to the classroom all the same.
"Now, this may seem like a joke to you," Mr. Miyamoto began, "but this is one of the most important learning experiences our school offers and you should take advantage. If not for the lessons you might need later in life, then for your grade. You didn't do so well on your first assignments, you know. Now, maybe I can help you get interested in this. Do you know what you would like to do when you graduate?"
She knew the exact answer to that question, but hesitated on replying. "Well...I'd like to be a fiction writer, but mostly for film."
Her teacher smiled, which was the first time Yukari had seen this, so of course she was a bit scared. Noticing this fear, and enjoying it a little, Mr. Miyamoto spoke again. "I can't say that I know any writers for film, but there is at least one author I might recommend you could shadow."
"Really?" she replied warily to the old man.
"I can't say that I can show much respect for his body of work, but he is an accomplished novelist." The teacher, tearing off a post-it, scribbled something down on it and handed it the young woman. "There is his name and the number where you might be able to reach him."
Yukari began to walk out of the room and squinted at his sloppy handwriting before repeating the name aloud.
"Souma Shigure?"
To Be Continued.