Her day had started out nice. She arrived on time for school had all her work done and had even made a hundred on the test she had been nervous about!
Then it happened.
Everyone in year one had been called to the auditorium and given a number, she was 157, and sat down in order. Then they were each called into a room where they never came back out.
She had been the last one there because she had forgotten her phone-one that Naru had given her if there was ever a case while she was at school-and she had gone back to get it. So it was near the end of classes when her name was called.
"Have a seat Mai. Do you know why you're here?" She shook her head, heart thumping wildly as the tips of her hair brushed gently over her skin. Her fingers twisted into the already thin fabric at the bottom of her shirt and she bit her lip in nervousness. Had she done something wrong? Was she in trouble? "Our school has been picked for an amazing experiment. Only Year One students are allowed to participate in The Baby Project."
Huh?
"These papers tell you everything you need to know about the child you will be taking care of for the next six months. Now since you were the last person to walk in, you don't have a partner to help you. So the school will be buying everything the child will need. The heavy stuff will be dropped off at your place of residence and once a month there will be someone coming to check on your child. Because of this is the end of the year you won't have to worry about school. Any questions?"
Mai blinked at her principal and shook her head in shock. A baby? She was going to be taking care of a baby? Wait, she had a job! What was Naru going to think?! Oh Kami, Naru was going to fire her!
"Good now Mai please grab your papers and walk to the door behind me, there you will read this entire packet and you will receive your child and the basics to take care of them for now." Numb, she followed the orders directed at her and she stood, grabbing the paper and shuffling through the doorway.
Race: American
Gender: Male
Name: Oliver John Smith
Allergies: None
Breast Fed: No
Mother: Amy Marie Smith (Deceased)
Father: Clinton John Smith (Deceased)
Comments: Oliver is very quiet and we have yet to see him cry. He sleeps a lot and loves it whenever someone reads/sings to him. For some reason he's scared of thunderstorms and he loves his stuffed ghost.
Mai set the paper down and picked up the next one, her thoughts stampeding around in her head. How did Oliver's parents die? Would he be connected to their spirits?
Those questions brought her up short.
She was acting like Naru! If she wasn't careful she would be dressing in black suits, ignoring her own feelings and loving herself to the extreme! With a giggle she turned her eyes to the paper in front of her.
Please fill out the information below and give it to the head nurse. All spaces marked with an asterisk need to be completely filled out. Please keep all answers truthful. The way you answer will determine whether or not you are eligible for this illustrious program.
*Name:
Age:
Parents:
*Partners Name:
*Parent/Student Phone Number:
*Address:
*Emergency Contact:
Previous Experience:
Comments:
Mai grimaced and then picked the pen out from behind her ear. It was as if she was filling out the paperwork for the scholarship she got every year. In seconds the paper was filled out with all of the information required and she set it on top of the previous before turning to the last page. Her eyebrow raised as she realized that it was actually a packet. It was the simple "How To Take Care of a Baby" packet that you could get off of the internet.
Quickly scanning the familiar packet she stood up, her hands automatically sweeping the table and straightening the papers as she walked to the door. She paused before it and took a deep breath. She could do this. She had done worse and if anything, she had a whole team of back ups at SPR. What could possibly go wrong? She grimaced and slapped her forehead. A lot could go wrong. First of all, she couldn't afford a babysitter even if the program allowed one, and because of this she had to take Baby Oliver to work with her. And Naru hates all children. He'd proven that plenty of times.
She opened the door and stepped in. There was a desk, a computer on top of it and a woman behind it. The woman had long red hair pulled back and kind green eyes.
"Ah! You must be Taniyama-San, please come in!" Mai smiled as she shut the door behind her and sat down in the available chair. "My name is Tsubaki and I am the Leading Nurse with this program. Did you fill out the form?"
"Oh, um, yes. Here it is." Tsubaki smiled as she looked at the blushing girl before her. Her brown hair fell softly around her heart shaped face and her brown eyes were downcast as her cheeks burned.
"Poor dear. You're that last one are you not? I bet you'll have a handle having to be by yourself." She quickly put the information into the computer before her before looking back up at the young woman.
"Oh no, I used to babysit for Uzumaki-San. She had a set of twins and because she was a lawyer she had a lot of work. I love kids and I think they really love me! In f-" Mai cut herself off at the woman's amused look.
"Alright, well then let's introduce you to sweet Oliver here!" Tsubaki sent off an email and a couple minutes later a nurse in blue scrubs walked in. "And there's the man of the hour! Mai, meet your son for the next six months." The nurse walked over to her and handed the bundle in her arms over to the young girl. Mai smiled and looked down at the young boy in her arms. He had tufts of brown on the top of his head and if you looked closely you could see a hint of blonde. His eyes were a blue grey and his little nose was so adorable. His lips were a light pink and his skin was surprisingly white. Of course, she should've expected that though. Based on the names of his parents, he was English.
"I have a question. If Oliver is English by race, why was he in a Japanese orphanage?" Mai looked up at the leading nurse, her eyes searching for an answer in the other woman's green eyes.
"I'm surprised you noticed! Oliver's parents were both only children and their parents had died of old age. They moved to Japan ten years ago.*" She explained before turning to the nurse. "Please grab the bags and accompany Taniyama-San to her house." The nurse left and Mai stood up, her hands automatically positioning Oliver to lean on her shoulder with a hand on his butt and a hand on the back of his neck.
"Thank you." Mai bowed and when she was level again, the previous nurse had already returned.
Alright! So...This will not just be a one-shot! This is going to be my first actual story! XD This is based on one of my first reads, "The Baby Project by DeathWillNotPrevail" It was an amazing story and I'm sad that the story had to end. Because of this, I am dedicating this story to that amazing girl. I hope she rests in peace.
Now, just because this based off of her story, doesn't mean that it's going to be word for word. Instead I will simply be using the idea. For example, I won't have Naru's parents show up, her house won't be burned down, and the Urado case will have already passed.
* To gain Japanese citizenship you have to have lived there for five years, be over the age of twenty, and have all of your paperwork filled out properly.