Where Do We Go From Here?
Chapter 2 – Shiharu: Next Steps
Shiharu ran her hand lightly over the desk as she looked around the empty room. She wanted to be sure that she didn't leave anything behind. Today was her eighteenth birthday and time for her to move out of the orphanage. It was hard to believe that this had been her space for thirteen years. So much of her life happened here.
Memories came flooding back. She had spent most of her life so far here, in this room. She remembered her tantrums when she first arrived because she didn't understand what was happening in the wake of her mother's death. Until her realization that there were even younger children in the orphanage that needed help more than she did. That made her realize that she enjoyed helping young children and it became her goal to run a child care center when she grew up. Through the years, there had been a steady stream of companions coming and going, their circumstances changing even though hers remained the same. All the aspects of life—studying, friendships, illnesses, celebrations—played out in an alternative "family" life here at the orphanage.
Taking a deep breath, Shiharu fastened the latches on her suitcase and picked it up from the bed. All of her belongings did not even fill it, there was barely more than she had when she arrived at the orphanage. The only items in the case, besides her clothes, were the gifts from Matsunaga-san. Those few items—scarf, candy dish, mittens, cup, and ring—were her most precious possessions. The suitcase itself had been a graduation gift from the sensei at the Child Care Center where Shiharu had worked for two years.
Thoughts of the Center brought a whole new flood of memories. She fondly remembered her close interactions with the children as they played games, created crafts, learned exercises, fought over toys and friends, and celebrated all manner of holidays. Among those children were the two that became very dear to her heart, the twins Aoi and Akane.
Her job at the Child Care Center had led to an additional job as a babysitter in the home of Aoi and Akane. It had been a very unusual situation because they lived temporarily with their single uncle. Their mother had been killed in a traffic accident and their father had disappeared, overcome by grief. Her two years as part of a constructed family had been an absolute joy. After eleven years in the orphanage, she relished the experience of family life at home with Matsunaga-san and the twins.
On one hand, that had ended when the twins moved to Shizouka to live with of their grandparents, the Takegawas. On the other hand, the Takegawa's insisted that Shiharu continue to be part of the twins' lives and visit regularly. It would be a two hour trip each way but Shizouka was still close enough for an occasional day trip to be possible. They even welcomed her to stay overnight when her schedule allowed it.
March had been such a whirlwind month for Shiharu. First, there was White Day and Matsunaga-san's confession followed by a but-wait-ten-years, sort-of rejection. Then the twins' father finally returned just before Aoi and Akane moved to their grandparents' home. Finally, Shiharu had graduated from high school and received offers of scholarships from two of the five programs she applied for.
Now it was April, her birthday, time to move out of the orphanage, and on to the next chapter of her life.
"Rio, Takeru, thank you so much for helping me today. I just need to meet with the head mistress and then we can go," Shiharu said as she set her suitcase by the front door where her friends were waiting.
"Take your time," Rio replied glancing at her watch, "my mom should be here in fifteen minutes or so."
"Thanks," Shiharu tossed over her shoulder as she knocked gently on the head mistress's door and waited for a response.
"Come in."
"The room is empty and clean," Shiharu reported, a bit wistfully.
The head mistress looked up and smiled sadly. "I expected nothing less from you, Shiharu. You have always been conscientious with your chores. You will be greatly missed around here, and not just by the children.
Here is the stipend that you are entitled to as you leave the orphanage and here is the paperwork you need to sign.
Do you know where you will be going?"
As Shiharu picked up the papers, she replied, "I received responses from two of the programs I applied for. I chose to accept the scholarship to Tokyo Future University Welfare and Childcare College. It has the training that I want and it includes room and board in addition to a job at their on-site child care center."
After reading the paperwork thoughtfully, she signed it and handed it back to the head mistress. "Is there anything else I need to do?" Shiharu asked.
"Since you have already said your goodbyes, I think that is everything," the head mistress replied. Then she stood up and walked around her desk. Pulling Shiharu into a hug she murmured, "Take care of yourself and keep in touch. After you finish your training, maybe you could come back here to work?"
"Thank you for everything," Shiharu replied in a shaky voice, "And I will keep the job offer in mind." As she stepped out of the embrace, she picked up the envelope with her stipend, and turned to go. "I will always remember my time here fondly," she said as she stepped through the door and then closed it behind her.
Rio could see the unshed tears in Shiharu's eyes but decided not to mention them. Instead, she said, "My mom just arrived. I sent Takeru out with your suitcase. Are you finished with everything here?"
Taking a deep breath and wiping the back of her hand lightly across her eyes, Shiharu responded, "I am done here. It's time to move on to the next chapter of my life, becoming the adult that Matsunaga-san expects me to be."
"Too bad he couldn't be here today," Rio stated, "especially since it is your eighteenth birthday."
"It's not his fault," Shiharu replied, "The television station sent him to Hokkaido for some location shoots. He won't be back until sometime next week. They have been working him very hard since he became more available last month. It's no wonder that his popularity has been climbing even faster than the past two years."
As Shiharu and Rio climbed into the car where Takeru and Rio's mother were waiting for them, Rio's mother said, "We're taking you out to lunch for your birthday before we drop you off at the University."
"You don't have to do that," Shiharu protested.
Rio shook her head and replied, "We don't have to, but we want to."
"What better way to send you off on your new adventure than a good meal with good friends?" Takeru inserted into the conversation.
The four of them had a comfortable lunch discussing their plans. While Shiharu would be attending Childcare College, Rio would be taking classes at the same University Takeru attended. They reminisced about their adventures together and laughed about the good times. All too soon, it was time to drop Shiharu off.
After promising to keep in touch and waving goodbye as the car pulled away, Shiharu squared her shoulders and walked up the steps to the dormitory where she would be living for the next four years. It was time to check in with her new sensei and start the new chapter of her life.
