A/N: This oneshot is a sequel/expansion to my entry for Naegiri Week 2020 Day Two: Work. Please read and review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Disciplined by Headmaster Naegi!
A young woman with short, blond hair and sharp brown eyes stood in front of the headmaster's door, confused as to why she had been suddenly summoned to his office. Though the headmaster was famous for his open-door policy, it was a rarity to actually be summoned.
"It's strange, why would I be summoned to speak to Headmaster Naegi?" She pondered "Well, it can't be bad, right? Usually, it's Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri who summons you for bad reasons. Though he did seem rather curt and urgent over the phone, so I wonder why…calm down, Watanabe. You're only gonna panic if you start entertaining what-ifs. For all you know, he could be giving you a surprise award. Whatever it is, standing out here isn't going to do anything; I need to knock on the door and let him know I'm here."
*Knock Knock!*
"…Who is it?"
"Ano, it's Watanabe Sachiko."
"Ah, enter, Watanabe."
Enter? Doesn't he usually say "come in"? And he's usually much more cordial…whatever could be on his mind?
Shaking the thought from her head, Sachiko nervously turned the doorknob and opened the door before she peeked her head in.
"You summoned me, Headmaster Naegi?" She asked as she walked in and closed the door behind her.
Makoto nodded and gestured to the open chair across from his desk, ordering "Sit."
The unnerved teacher quickly obeyed, sitting down in the chair and folding her hands on her lap as she waited for Makoto to speak.
"Do you know why you're here, Watanabe?"
"Ano…no, Headmaster Naegi. You never told me why you wanted me to come to the office."
Makoto sighed disappointedly before he opened a folder in front of him and pulled out a single photograph before he slid it across the table.
"Tell me, does this student look familiar to you?"
Curious, Watanabe looked down at the photo before she commented in realization "Shogo Suzuki, he's one of my lazier students."
Makoto grit his teeth as his eyes narrowed in anger, startling the young teacher as he nearly growled "That lazy student, as you put it, came to my office in tears while I was giving my parents a tour. He told Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri that he had asked for your help multiple times and you had refused."
"Sir, please!" Sachiko tried to defend "These formulas we're reviewing are simple; all of my other students have grasped them after the first practice problems! I can't be expected to just grind my lessons to a halt because one straggler isn't willing to put in the work to grasp it…"
"You call having the courage to personally approach you and plead for your help, refusing to put in the work?" Makoto exclaimed, startling the teacher across from him. "Every student has different needs and succeeds under different circumstances."
"Headmaster Naegi…" Sachiko interjected, only to trail off as Makoto hold his hand up to stop her.
"I'll be honest, I had my doubts about your style when you interviewed with me and Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri. I didn't believe that your cold style to teaching would allow students to connect with you, but Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri convinced me that having a teacher who knew how to be strict would be beneficial for keeping students challenged and motivated to learn, so I agreed to the hire."
You…didn't want to hire me…?
"However, if the result of your teaching, your abandonment of the students you're supposed to be teaching, causes them to come to my office and tears, hoping I or Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri will listen when you won't, then your value as a teacher is officially brought into question."
Sachiko's eyes widened, shocked that she was apparently on the verge of getting sacked.
Her fears were slightly put to rest however when Makoto sighed "However, Suzuki-kun also stressed to Vice-Headmistress Kirigiri that he didn't want you fired; he simply wants you to help him more. So, here's what you're going to do. You're going to apologize to Suzuki-kun for dismissing him, and you're going to offer tutoring sessions for him and any other students who need it. Are we understood?"
"…Yes, Headmaster Naegi." Sachiko agreed as she gulped and nodded.
"Good, now get back to teaching your class."
Sachiko hurriedly leapt out of her seat and walked towards the door, closing it with a soft slam as she hurried as far away from the headmaster's office as possible.
Now alone in his office, Makoto sighed and muttered "Well, that's one crisis averted. I don't like being the bad cop, but there are times when I have to be." Makoto took a deep breath and decided with a smile "Alright, time to join Kyoko and Mom and Dad for lunch!"
"Makoto!" Kyoko called as she saw her fiancé walk towards the small table in the dining hall where she, Hana, and Shingi were sitting at.
Makoto sat down, tray in hand as he kissed her cheek.
"So, son, how'd your meeting go?" Shingi asked, causing Makoto to smile.
"I think I got the message across pretty clear." Makoto told them, causing the three others to smile.
"I'm glad to hear that; you're certainly skilled at your new job, dear." Hana praised.
"Indeed." Kyoko agreed. "He's truly fit well into my father's shoes. Jin Kirigiri would be proud of him if he were still among the world of the living."
Makoto blushed before he laughed and waved off their praise by suggesting "Alright, alright. Now let's get eating; I'm starving!"
The others nodded in agreement as they all raised their silverware.
"Itadakimasu!"