The surroundings of the living room were soundless, calm, as the attentiveness of its two inhabitants matched simultaneously for the task at hand. Nariyuki took a heavy breath, collecting his composure as he brought himself into character. Considering that it was just a mock interview, he was a lot more nervous than he was expecting from himself.
Though once the reality of the little time that was left for his preparation came into play…his reaction was a lot more comprehensible. There likely wasn't a single person on earth who wasn't nervous the day before their first job interview.
Even if the person that was helping him prepare was his girlfriend.
"Okay, next question…" Fumino said, doing her due diligence in appearing professional.
"Why did you decide to apply as a teacher for Kokasu specifically?"
Nariyuki paused, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.
"Well…" He started thoughtfully. "It's no new news that Kokasu is one of the most prestigious high schools in all of Tokyo. The faculty, the students…working among such respectable individuals would be an absolute honor. The standards and caliber of education that the academy upholds is nothing less than magnificent…to educate its students through exposure to new ideas in hopes of giving them a sense of how they want to best serve the world…it's an admirable ideology. I believe working in such an environment would be very beneficial to my growth as an instructor."
Fumino nodded promptly.
"And how would you benefit us if we were to hire you? What makes you different from our other candidates?" She continued.
Another pause.
"I would say that…the biggest difference can be attributed to my grades," Nariyku explained, albeit somewhat unassertively. "I…was able to maintain all A's throughout my undergraduate studies, so I would hope that speaks to some form of diligence from myself. And…another reason would be my experience. I previously interned at Ichinose University and was able to grasp many first hand applications of what it's like to work in a classroom setting. Curriculum building, discipline of conduct, administrative tasks…all of these are skills that I'm fortunate enough to be familiar with."
"With those reasons in mind…I would consider myself as a strong candidate," he finished.
Seconds ticked by as Fumino wrote studiously in her notebook, likely jotting down his response in hopes of perfectly emulating the behavior of his evaluators tomorrow. Eventually, the girl looked up from her notebook and gave him a thumbs up, signaling the conclusion of their third practice interview.
Nariyuki let himself deflate, putting his head in his hands as he let out a heavy sigh in the process.
"This won't do, it still feels like I'm reading off a script, doesn't it?"
"Sort of…but that isn't necessarily a bad thing!" Fumino replied reassuringly. "You're saying all the things that the interviewers want to hear when it comes to your resume. That's what you're aiming for right?"
"I suppose…but it just doesn't feel right. I know it's important to highlight my accomplishments and positive points but…"
Nariyuki averted his gaze hesitantly.
"Is that going to be enough..?" He asked. "Kokasu is always trying to find sophisticated teachers. From what I've heard…there hasn't been a single applicant under the age of thirty who has been successfully employed…probably because they're always looking for those with a significant amount of experience. For an applicant like me…my credentials just seem a bit…lackluster."
The doubt seeped into his mind heavily, despite all his ongoing efforts of preparation.
"I'm not sure if I have enough to show them…what makes me so special."
As soon as the words left his lips, Nariyuki felt himself filled with shame. Here Fumino was giving it her all to help him in a cause that should've been his own responsibility, and yet he couldn't even bring forward his full confidence. He had every reason to be confident. This was a goal of his that he had been preparing for nearly two years now, and even more so…in the past two weeks, Fumino had done nothing but serve as an inspiration for him with her efforts at her start at the NAO. Being assigned to separate departments in the facility…the girl had given it her all day and night to learn different studies she struggled with for the sake of moving forward with her dream.
But despite what he had promised for himself…despite all the hard work he had given towards preparing for this moment…
When the day of challenge truly stood before him…
Nariyuki couldn't help but recall his past feelings of doubt.
'Am I really enough…for a place like Kokas-'
"Then why don't we practice that instead?" Fumino said suddenly, interrupting his thought process.
Nariyuki blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Showing why you're special," She explained. "You said that you're not sure if you have enough to show them why…so let's practice just that."
"H-how do we do that?"
Fumino smiled softly.
"It's easy. We'll just put all these interview practice questions away for a second, and then…"
She scooted over to sit close to him.
"Just talk to me like you always do."
And then with a familiar and earnest gaze…
"Why do you want to be a teacher, Nariyuki?" Fumino asked.
Nariyuki stared with wide eyes, still coming to terms with the shift in focus. But more than anything…it was the tone in the girl's voice that caused him to stir. It was kind…nonjudgemental, characteristics that were so very Fumino-like that it couldn't help but instill a sense of nostalgia within him.
Afterall…it was the same way she had spoken to him on that one fateful day.
'You're great the way you are, Nariyuki!'
It was the same way...
That she had always been able to speak to him.
And with the heartwarming fact in mind…
Nariyuki felt himself relax as he spoke.
"Do you remember the night…that we spent outside your house…right after you made up with your dad?"
Fumino smiled immediately in reminiscence.
"Of course. As if I could ever forget you almost getting pulled away by security for being a stalker," she said teasingly.
Nariyuki blushed lightly.
"That's a detail that I'd rather us both forget…"
Fumino giggled brightly at that, and Nariyuki smiled tenderly, continuing with a wistful expression.
"That night…when we sat on the bench together…you said something to me that I would have never have expected to hear…something that made me more happy than I could truly ever comprehend."
…
"'I'm really happy...that I got to meet someone like you,'" he recalled vividly. "I told you...that I felt the same way afterwards, but…truthfully…I don't think it was even close to describing the encouragement that I had felt when you said it. After everything that you had gone through that night…after all the courage you were able to muster to stand up for your dream in front of your dad…the only thing that I could feel afterwards…"
His eyes settled on Fumino lovingly.
"Was just how much hope…you were able to give me for my own passion." The girl continued to listen in silence, and Nariyuki allowed that serenity to guide him forward. "The reason I want to be a teacher…is for those exact feelings that you allowed me to face in my heart. The dream that I love...the hope...to help students reach the same passion that you've always been able to dedicate your entire heart to…that's the hope that pushes me forward everyday. That's the very dream...that you've always believed in me for."
Fumino smiled in a knowing manner, bringing herself naturally closer to him.
"So why does it have to be Kokasu?" She asked gently.
A pensive silence.
And a moment later Nariyuki continued, confidence imbued into his voice.
"Because…I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be," he answered with a tender smile. "No matter how hard it might be to prove myself in a competitive workplace like Kokasu, it doesn't change the fact that there could be so many students there who need support from someone more than just as an instructor. I want to be that person for them. And any less…would be betraying the very person that has always believed in me and supported me...with everything in her heart," he whispered.
He smiled heartfeltly.
"I want all of the students at Kokasu to be able to face their futures with a smile. That's the first big step forward for my dream."
Once he finished, he raised his gaze, meeting the girl's eyes in silence.
Fumino's lips curled warmly.
"That wasn't so hard was it?"
And with an affectionate gaze, Nariyuki's eyes crinkled with gratefulness.
"Thank you…Furuhashi."
The girl smiled in reply, resting her hand on the top of his.
"Of course. I promised I would help you prepare, didn't I?"
Nariyuki shook his head in correction. "Not just for this…for everything," he said emotively, causing Fumino's eyes to widen curiously.
His hand squeezed the girl's gently.
'You don't have to be like anyone else…'
...
'You're you.'
"I really...can't ever thank you enough…"
A delicate beat later, and Fumino shook her head as well, smiling softly...
Conviction held fully in her eyes.
"You don't have to thank me for anything," she said firmly. "It's always been with you, Nariyuki. Your courage and your passion for your dream. From the very first day you became my tutor…I've always known that it was there."
She squeezed back tightly.
"You're going to do wonderful tomorrow," she whispered.
"..."
In the tenuous silence that followed, Nariyuki wasn't sure how long he remained staring, lips gradually trembling with emotion. All that he knew was that he was drawn forward, as if it was the only response possible to quell the unfathomable affection blooming in his chest.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Fumino's firmly, pouring all his gratitude into the kiss with tenderness.
They broke apart, and their gazes met, absent of any other emotion except wholehearted fondness.
"I love you." He whispered.
And with expectedness...
Yet so very...very...preciously...
Fumino returned his devotion with all the earnesty in the world.
"I love you too, Nariyuki…"
Their smiles matched ardently, and the world stopped as they treasured the unsaid trust sung between them.
Their hands held even tighter. Their foreheads rested tenderly against each other.
And a loving giggle escaped their lips together...enveloping them in warmth.
Yes...
There was nothing in the world...to ever take them away from this.
'It's always...been with you.'
A life shared...of incomparable...
And indescribable belief.
A few more moments ticked by, and Fumino eventually reached over to pick up her papers from before, turning to him with returned animation.
"Are you ready for one more practice run?"
...
Nariyuki smiled...
With all the eagerness and resoluteness he could offer.
"Yeah!"
It was huge.
That was Nariyuki's first thought as he walked through the large rotating doors of Kokasu, heading in the direction towards the stairs at a brisk pace. He had an apprehension that the school security would somehow label him as suspicious and force him to leave, especially with his track record of being falsely accused of stalking. Luckily, he made it to the desired floor without much impediment, where his next obstacle came in the form of the administration room, the location of his interview.
Or rather, the next obstacle was to first try to calm his pounding heart. It felt like his entire body was shaking from the thought of the task before him.
'Relax…you've practiced more than enough for this. All you need to do now is show it.'
He allowed Fumino's soothing voice to filter back from his memory.
'You're going to do wonderful tomorrow.'
He entered the administration office and approached the reception desk steadily.
"Hello." The woman at the desk looked up at his voice. "I'm here for an interview. At eleven?"
"Ah yes. Nariyuki Yuiga, correct? Please, take a seat. Mr. Uchida, our hiring supervisor, will be out for you shortly."
Nariyuki nodded and did what he was told, seating himself in the waiting seats nearby. Subconsciously, his eyes roamed around the room, taking in its characteristics. He already had a taste of the exterior of the facility as he was walking in earlier, but from how well maintained the office appeared to be as well, Nariyuki could sense the air of professionalism that seemed to emanate from the entirety of the place.
He wasn't given much more to admire it as a figure approached him.
"Yuiga-kun is it?" The middle-aged looking man adjusted his glasses inspectingly. "My name is Kazuo Uchida. I'm the hiring supervisor for this school's human resources department." The man extended a hand towards him in greeting. "Thank you for coming in today."
Nariyuki smiled back politely, returning the gesture.
At least they seemed friendly enough.
"Nice to meet you, Uchida-san. Thank you so much for having me."
Kazuo nodded before motioning for him to follow. "Come on in and we'll get started. We have a few members of our staff who will be joining us for your interview today. I hope you don't mind speaking in front of an audience," the man added with a chuckle.
Nariyuki could only offer a stiff smile in return, doing his best to hide his true feelings for the notion.
As if he wasn't already nervous enough.
"So tell me Yuiga-Kun, what made you want to apply for our institution?"
The first question arrived before Nariyuki could truly get used to the surroundings. The meeting room was large, enough to likely seat twenty people, but for the interview there was only Kazuo, and three other faculty members whose names he was already struggling to fully remember. If he was perfectly honest, the fact that the room wasn't filled to its normal capacity somehow made the whole ordeal just that much more nerve wracking.
His only choice really was to toughen through it.
"I've always had a connection with education, and that holds especially true for high school teaching." He smiled professionally. "I wanted to start my career off with an institution that houses the demographic of students that I yearn to serve most while also holding the same values that I believe should be part of a school's standard for education."
'Okay…that was a good first answer. Just keep up the momentum.' His mind relaxed slightly as the evaluators wrote down their respective comments for his response.
"Could you elaborate on what those standards are precisely?" One of the teachers asked shortly after.
"Prestigious places like Kokasu will particularly care about whether you see them in a respectful light. For my initial interview with the NAO, I did my very best to emphasize how and why they were as respected as they were. I think it would definitely put you in a good spot if you emphasized their core beliefs in an agreeable way."
Nariyuki smiled gratefully at the memory of the previous night, his heart warming at the image of Fumino giving him her heartfelt advice.
"A place that values the nurturement of our generation of youth into upstanding individuals," he answered, determined. "I believe that Kokasu's emphasis on quality and efficiency of learning is what separates it from other institutions. I think it's fair to say that any teacher would be honored to be a part of such an admirable establishment that cares as much as the growth of its student body as they do."
The hint of silent pride on each of the evaluator's faces told enough of a story for his answer.
"I see that you have previous teaching experience in your internship at Ichinose academy. Could you briefly explain what you learned from that opportunity?"
Nariyuki smiled, happy to explain his time spent at said internship.
"Of course. I had the pleasure of being a part of a mentorship program for many different instructors at Ichinose university. Not only was it a great learning experience for the practical skills that come with teaching a class, but I even got to understand what it's like to work with different personalities of instructors. One experience that was particularly memorable to me was when I got into a disagreement with one of the professors I was shadowing." He smiled reminiscently. "We had different views on what it meant to nurture the learning process for his students, and by the end of the program, we were able to reach a middle ground on the appropriate amount of resources given to them to help them prepare for their final assessment."
Murmurs of interest rang out quietly, the nods of the majority of the heads in the room giving Nariyuki an even more of a relief to his tension. There was a brief reprieve in the series of questions, but eventually the lead returned to Kazuo.
"What would you say is the most important characteristic in fulfilling a role as an instructor?" the hiring supervisor asked.
It was thankfully a question that he was well prepared for.
"Diligence," he answered promptly. "I'm very aware of the level of instruction that this institution upholds, and if I were to obtain a position as a teacher here, I want to instill the same hard working mindset that this school believes in into my classroom."
He finished in silence, and he patiently waited for the evaluators to look up from their writing to continue.
Though from the look of finality Kazuo gave him, it seemed that that was the last question.
"Well, Yuiga-Kun." The man smiled amiably. "I can say that you certainly have characteristics indicative of a responsible individual, and that is very reassuring to see. You've passed our initial screening, so congratulations. With that being said, we would be happy to have you continue in your final evaluation with our superintendent later this afternoon if you're available. Otherwise, we can schedule that for a later time."
Ah.
Of course there was still more. Any formal institution was bound to have more than just one level of interviewing. He had been a bit shortsighted on that end.
Still, it was a good start, and Nariyuki's shoulders deflated in relief for at least getting through the first round of screening.
"I'd be more than happy to proceed this afternoon."
Kazuo nodded. The man then stood from his seat motioned for him to follow.
"For the time being, why don't you follow me and I'll go ahead and give you a tour of our facility until the superintendent arrives."
"This is the floor for our third year classrooms. As you can see, classes are still being conducted at this hour. With entrance exams around the corner, our instructors are putting a heavy emphasis on practice exams and improving assessment taking skills."
As the man explained the background of the current curriculum for the third year's, Nariyuki naturally found his gaze drawn inside one of the classroom windows. The students were doing just as Kazuo described; in the middle of taking a practice assessment. Their instructor paced around the room steadily, observing the students' effort with attentive eyes.
"Wouldn't this be the time for club meetings and activities?" Nariyuki asked curiously.
"For most highschools yes, but here at Kokasu, we do things a little bit differently for our third years. For the students committed to pursuing a higher level education, we've made it imperative for them to participate in supplementary classes at least three times a week in the semester leading up to entrance exams. Which is why for them, dismissal times are different from their underclassmen. Most of them are encouraged to put off their commitments for extracurricular activities."
The explanation was news to Nariyuki, and he struggled to contain his surprise by the revelation. He knew of course that the school was strict, but he had no idea that they were this controlling towards their students' schedule, especially for time outside of normal school hours.
His eyes once again fell to the scene inside the room, though this time…the perception of the expressions on the student's faces became much more clear to him.
"You seem bothered by something, Yuiga-Kun. Is there something wrong?"
Nariyuki startled, quickly realizing how poor of a job he was doing at concealing his worry.
"Oh! It's nothing. I was just thinking that…"
A pause.
"Everyone looks so…stressed."
Kazuo blinked. "As they probably should. Wouldn't you say that your time preparing for entrance exams was just as stressful?" The man returned inquisitively.
Nariyuki nodded.
"It was, but at the very least…we had the decision to be so voluntarily," he answered truthfully. "As important as it is to prepare well for entrance exams, I still believe that they should have the freedom to control their own schedule after regular school hours."
"Why is that? You said it yourself that sufficient exam preparation is imperative, so why would they need that freedom?"
Silence. His answer didn't come in the form of immediate words. Instead, pleasant memories of his time with Fumino in high school came flooding back to him; the many times that he had seen her bring her telescope up to the school roof, the nights that she had gone on and on about the stories of the different constellations in the sky, the numerous extra hours she had put in to eventually get every practice question correct in their study sessions.
The answer was always there with them.
"Because their efforts are for their future…and that should always be something done with intent." He reasoned firmly. "More than just their grades, it's important for students to know what they're working towards. Many students choose to commit to university without even having an idea of a career in mind…simply because a higher level of education is expected of them. Classes oriented around exam preparation is one thing, but forcing students to take supplemental classes outside of the regular curriculum takes away the opportunity for them to grow in their own decision making."
He smiled fondly.
"It's a chance for them to discover more about themselves, and find out the things they really want to do."
Once he finished, Kazuo offered no retort. Instead, the man that was just earlier questioning his motives, was now staring at him in silence.
Reality quickly caught up to him as he remembered the current state of affairs.
He was in an interview.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I totally got carried away there!" Nariyiku exclaimed while waving his hands frantically. "I didn't mean to say that what the school is doing is wrong or anything! I just-"
He wasn't given a chance to finish his apology as Kazuo chuckled deeply.
The man raised an eyebrow.
A hint of admiration bleeding through his amused expression.
"Perhaps you're onto something, Mr. Yuiga."
The tour of the school had felt a lot shorter than it actually had been, in no small part of Nariyuki's attentiveness for it. The auditorium had been the last building that they had visited, and once that had concluded, Kazuo had taken them back to the administration office, where the superintendent of the prefecture had arrived for his daily visit to the school in the afternoon to check up on the facility's operations.
And on occasion, the man was in charge of administering the final phase of interviews.
He was prepared. He had the entire duration of the tour to calm himself. This was Kokasu, one of the top high schools in the country. It should've been no surprise that such a well respected and admirable individual would be the last person to assess his capabilities.
Though that sure didn't make it any less daunting to the mind.
They arrived at the designated meeting room in short time, and a figure was already seated at the large table at the very front. The man stood up as they entered and walked over to introduce himself.
"You must be Nariyuki Yuiga. My name is Tora Ikeda. I am the education superintendent for the Chiba prefecture."
Nariyuki returned the proffered handshake with a polite smile of his own.
"It's an honor, sir. Thank you so much for having me today."
Tora nodded. "Have a seat."
Nariyuki sat himself in the seat directly across from the man while Kazuo took the seat next to the superintendent, exchanging a few pleasantries with his superior. Now that he thought about it, on paper, the head of the human resources department was basically the superintendent's right hand man.
That just made it all the more important for Nariyuki to not mess up here.
"I spoke with the evaluators for your initial screening, and all of them had good things to say in regards to your characteristics," Tora-san began positively. "You seem like a very capable individual, Mr. Yuiga."
Nariyuki let himself smile at the praise.
"T-thank you, sir."
"You graduated from Ichinose Academy, a very competitive high school, and completed your education degree at Tachibana University as an honors student all four years. Additionally, you received a letter of recommendation from the dean of Ichinose during your internship in your senior year. In terms of education background, you have a very competitive profile."
…
Despite the continued trend of compliments, Nariyuki felt his smile wane.
"But, there is one detail about yourself that I would like to address…"
There it was. The but. His anxiousness returned in full effect.
It was never going to be that easy.
"And that's the fact that this is your first teaching job," Tora-san continued. "As you may be aware, we here at Kokasu are looking for the most outstanding instructors to fulfill our institution's teaching postions. The fact that we are one of the few schools allowed to host external interviews outside of the normal prefectural assignment isn't to be lenient. It's for the purpose of bringing sophisticated talent overseas. Though it's true on paper that you've completed the necessary prerequisites to teach here, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but frankly speaking, as a non-international candidate, your experience is rather lacking compared to our current pool of faculty members."
Every word and reason uttered from the man couldn't have been closer to the truth. He was every bit short handed when it came to his credentials.
But that wasn't something he could change right now.
In this very moment, he could only go out there and be himself.
Just like Fumino had prepared him for.
"I understand that sir, but…there are qualities of myself that I truly believe can be of great contribution to your current pool of staff."
"Is that so?" Tora-san raised an eyebrow in reply. The man leaned in, eyes set on him attentively.
"Tell me, what makes you so special?"
Special. The familiar word incited a precise memory from the recesses of his mind.
"Why do you want to be a teacher, Nariyuki?"
It was the call of Fumino's kind voice that brought forth the earnesty he needed.
"Earlier…during our tour, I was walking with Useda-san along the hall for the third year students…and I was able to observe one of their classes." Nariyuki started steadily. "I got to see how hard working the students were. How focused they were on their practice exams. I got to see how committed their instructor was in providing them with supplement lessons…and how disciplined he was with his expectations in seeing them improve their scores."
His eyes found Tora-san's stoic gaze and his expression softened.
"And I realized…just how much I wanted to change what I saw. How much more I wanted to do for them. I believe that the relationship between a student and their teacher doesn't revolve just around the gradebook. As a teacher, seeing your students succeed is a wonderful thing, but being their instructor goes so much further than that. I want to be a part of their lives…their everyday growing process. What they want to do. Who they want to be. I want to see them take what they believe in and turn it into goals that they can wholeheartedly pursue with no regrets."
I want to be there for all of them…that's my dream.
His heart was pounding.
"Of course it's important to teach them the skills to fulfill great academic achievements, but…understanding who they are as individuals should come first. For many of them, they might not even know the answer to it, but they shouldn't have to go through that discovery process alone. I want to be there for all of them…and guide them with the encouragement they need to grow one step at a time towards that realization."
The finish line was there.
He gave the final push he needed to reach.
"Because that's the kind of teacher…I've always wanted to be."
His beating heart was now still, or perhaps it was beating so hard that it felt that he could no longer recognize if it was beating or not. Regardless, there was a ripple of silence. His audience had offered no verbal follow-up…and instead…the man's gaze was now set on him with wide eyes.
He took them in its entirety. Shock? Disappointment? Nariyuki wasn't sure how to read it. This was the scariest part of any interview, always plagued by the crippling fear of not having a satisfactory answer to the questions directed his way. And in this case, his evaluator was looking for ways to question his credibility.
But Nariyuki remained calm.
Or rather…
Firm.
Happy almost.
Because in the end he had provided an answer true to his heart.
He could live with the result that followed.
"I believe in you, Nariyuki…"
…
"Won't you?"
Surely.
"Nariyuki Yuiga."
He started at his name, and his eyes shifted over to Tora-san in attention.
He forced the knot in his throat down.
"You're a very passionate individual. I can see that. What you just shared…about your goal and aspirations as an instructor here…I can only describe it as moving."
A pause.
"You're the first candidate I've interviewed to say…that they wanted to change something at our school."
The words were positive. The implication suggesting that a favorable impression had been made.
It was everything that he could have hoped for.
"But…"
But…
"You're very young," Tora-san finally said, his features shifting with a clear sadness. "Your aspirations will take you far, and I'm sure you have the diligence necessary to be an astounding teacher, but what I believe would most benefit you right now is a gradual learning curve to have you establish your fundamentals as an instructor. In the same way for us, I believe that experience is what we ultimately need from our instructors."
The pity was now crystal clear on the man's face.
"Unfortunately…"
And the heaviness in Nariyuki's chest settled at full force.
"I don't think we can proceed with you for this position."
Seconds passed one after another, the result ringing in his mind on repeat.
In the end, Nariyuki could only force a smile.
"My apologies." He replied with a crack to his voice. "I—"
"You have nothing to apologize for," Tora-san quickly assured him.
Somehow the sentiment made everything just that more painful.
"Right…"
Nariyuki bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for taking the time to have me today."
The ringing in his head finally ended, and against his wishes, the reality of his situation settled in.
It was over.
"Ikeda-san. I've sent all the administration paperwork over to the staff room. I'll be heading home for the day if you don't mind."
When his intended audience offered no reply, Kazuo stuck his head into the man's office further.
"Ikeda-san?"
"You know…I've always wondered why that's Kokasu's school motto."
The superintendent was looking out the window of his office, expression in thoughtful pondrance.
"'Don't settle for yesterday. Live for tomorrow.' Seems like the furthest thing we're doing with our decision making," he said regretfully.
"Ah…" Kazuo perked up at that. "Are you talking about the interview from earlier? I don't think your decision was necessarily wrong, sir."
Tora scoffed. "Of course not. It's why I made it. The fact of the matter is that he's nearly five years short of most of the education experience of our instructors. That kind of discrepancy was bound to hurt his chances."
"Then what's the issue?"
The man sighed, placing his chin into both of his palms.
"I don't know…something about him just seems…different."
"Well…different is definitely the right word," Kazuo replied with an amused curl to his lips. "I already knew he would be something special when I was giving him a tour earlier in the day. He has some interesting ideals as an instructor."
Tora nodded slowly, his gaze once again deepening in serious reflection.
"We've been holding our usual standards for our hiring process for the past decade, and of course that brings us the faculty that we're expecting. Each year our ranking exceeds the other academies in the prefecture by a large margin simply because of how strict we are with our expectations for our students' academic achievements. Yet, we've had reports that many of our third years this year remain undecided for their major going into college. Some have even considered dropping the idea of pursuing a higher education altogether."
The man paused, hesitation pouring into his visage.
"I can't help but think…that something needs to change."
…
A smile of relief appeared on Kazuo's countenance.
"Well…change only happens when you're willing to take a risk," he offered.
Tora blinked, followed by a chuckle filled with what seemed like silent acceptance.
"Perhaps you're onto something."
"Next stop: Shizuko Prefecture, Odaiba."
Fumino sat herself in the seat of the train, stretching out her taut muscles that had accumulated throughout her endeavors for the day. Being assigned to separate departments was a lot more tedious than what she was expecting, especially with how much she was moving around in between buildings at the request of the different research heads. But still…there was no putting a damper on her spirited state. Today was the day of Nariyuki's interview with Kokasu, and she was currently on the way home to see him to hear of his results.
Though there was something that bothered her. She had expected Nariyuki to have already messaged her of the result once the interview concluded, but rather than a revelation to ease her own anxiety for the matter, the boy had left out the detail in his most recent text.
'Don't worry about coming home early today. I'll take care of dinner tonight, okay?'
She hadn't pried on the matter. If anything she would rather be able to speak to him face to face for it. Perhaps, she was overthinking things anyway, and the boy simply wanted to surprise her with the good news.
"Nariyuki…"
She could only hope.
"I'm home!"
The sound of a stove stop running was the first thing that graced Fumino's senses as she made her way inside the apartment door, followed quickly by the aroma of a promised supper.
She removed her shoes and headed towards the kitchen. Nariyuki awaited her, taking notice of her entrance and greeting her with a warm smile.
"Furuhashi. Welcome back."
In the midst of returning the greeting, Fumino smiled warmly in return, but quickly took notice of the vast array of dishes prepared on the dining table surface.
"Wow…" She said with sudden surprise. "You made so much food. What's this all for, Nariyuki?"
A certain answer was what she was hoping for, and a part of her was confident she would receive it. Afterall, a heart meal was usually a call for celebration.
Nariyuki however, simply chuckled in reply.
"I just felt like making something for you is all."
A sweet gesture, one very characteristic of the boy's kindness, but not the direction Fumino was hoping for.
Nariyuki worked on finishing the final dish, a stew, and Fumino watched on silently in observance.
Her mouth parted…and then closed.
She was hesitant, she realized.
"How was the interview?"
A pause, as Nariyuki's eyes met hers.
The boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
And the gesture was enough of an indication for Fumino to know.
"They turned me down," Nariyuki answered with a sheepish chuckle. "Though I guess that's to be expected, huh. They really are a prestigious school."
And then with a downcast gaze…
"I guess some things just aren't in your favor."
It was painfully clear. It didn't show in a blatant way, but the emotion was bleeding through the boy's attempt in hiding it.
He was hurting.
"Nariyuki-"
"Come on." The boy carried the finished bowl of stew over to the table, smiling invitingly. "Let's eat. We don't want the food to get cold now do we?"
Even with the prospect of a hearty meal in place, the forced happiness bled much too obviously for Fumino to not notice.
Afterall, growing up alone...hiding her pain was what she had known best.
Fumino ran her brush through her hair slowly, letting the sleekness run its course. The motion was calming, and it allowed herself to reflect on the events of the night with a clear mind.
She hadn't asked about it again.
Or rather…she hadn't been able to. The moment that they had finished dinner together, Nariyuki had taken it upon himself to take care of every chore of the apartment imaginable, insisting that she rest and take the time to relax for the day. The gesture had done the exact opposite, and all Fumino seemed to be able to do was worry more.
He was avoiding it. That much was certain.
He was no doubt uncomfortable talking about it.
But…
I can't leave him hurting…
She exhaled heavily, drying her hair with her towel one last time before exiting the bathroom door that connected into their bedroom.
Nariyuki wasn't waiting for her in their bed.
A faint light was coming from outside the bedroom in the direction of the living room.
Fumino made her way outside, and found Nariyuki sitting alone at the kotatsu.
She didn't say anything to alert him, rather her attention was drawn to the expression on the boy's face and the item he was holding in his hands.
It was a business card.
Even from afar, she recognized it.
It was the one given to him after he had completed his internship at Ichinose.
Her heart clenched at the realization.
"Nariyuki?"
The boy's head whipped to her as he put the card away swiftly. All at once, the melancholy in his expression disappeared…
And the thin smile returned.
"Furuhashi…are you done showering?" He asked.
She nodded.
"I am. But usually you're in bed waiting for me when I'm done."
Nariyuki looked away sheepishly at that. "S-sorry. I…still have some stuff that I want to take care of before bed."
"You've done plenty tonight," she said, seating herself next to him. "You should get some rest."
A chuckle, almost sad sounding, escaped his lips.
"I don't think I would be able to fall asleep anyway."
It hit Fumino. All too suddenly. The reason why the boy had spent the entire evening indulging in chores. The reason that he couldn't seem to look her in the eye…
He was ashamed.
"And besides…you have work early tomorrow," Nariyuki added with a smile. "I wanted to at least stay up a bit longer to start preparing breakfast for you before I called it a night-"
And that's when it was too much for her.
Without a second thought Fumino lunged forward and hugged him from behind.
Nariyuki froze in response.
"F-Furuhashi?"
"Don't."
"A-Are you sure? It's just breakfast. It's really not a big d-"
"Not that…" she corrected with a shaky voice.
…
"Don't run away…please."
The boy was dead silent, staring at her with wide eyes.
A moment later Fumino lifted her gaze, expression both soft and pleading. "You don't have to hide it. You don't have to hide your pain, Nariyuki." She said, reaching over to grasp his hands gently. "I know I'm not the best example. I've grown up only knowing how to hide my pain from the people close to me…and it's only after that I met you…that I was able to have someone support me through that pain for the first time. Having you be there for me…having you there to tell me that everything would be alright…no matter how much it hurt…I'll never ever take that for granted."
"..."
Her golden eyes bore into his vulnerable gaze assuredly.
"That's why. It's okay. No matter how much it hurts…no matter what it is that you show me from that pain…" She squeezed with all the comfort she could muster.
"I won't ever think any less of you for it."
And slowly but surely…
"I'm here, Nariyuki."
The facade cracked with promise.
"You can let it out."
*pomf*
The distance between them closed in a second.
"I'm sorry…" Nariyuki's embrace tightened. "I just…"
The tears fell freely now.
"I'm so frustrated," he choked out with a sob.
Fumino wrapped her arms around the boy's waist, a silent urging for him to continue with his honest outpouring.
"I thought…that I could be like you," he continued deprecatingly. "I thought that…if I had a dream to believe in…if I believed in the feelings in my heart…then I could be someone special."
"But it wasn't enough…I'm not enough."
"My dream…wasn't anything special to them-"
Fumino silenced him with her lips.
And once it again, it became deathly quiet.
When she drew away, her eyes were resolute, and she brought their intertwined hands up to her chest in a show of affirmation.
"Nariyuki."
The boy's eyes were set well on her, staring at her with a vulnerable and stunned expression.
It stirred her forward with a smile.
"You are enough." She said firmly. "You don't have to be like them…and you don't have to be like me. Your dream is your own and nobody else's…and that means…through both ups and downs…the journey to reaching it isn't going to be the same for everyone."
She looked to him knowingly, smiling with gentleness.
"You remember what I told you, right? Even if we face setbacks on the way there…even if we trip and fall trying our hardest…"
It was piercing, and Nariyuki's eyes widened in remembrance.
"What matters is that we don't give up."
The beat that followed was fragile, and Fumino brought her hands up to caress the boy's face, peering deeply into the tentative brown orbs held there.
"This is just the start for you…and failing doesn't make you any less of a wonderful person, Nariyuki. When it comes to overcoming obstacles and expectations…when it comes to facing your failures and frustrations…"
Her eyes melted with heartfelt trust.
"I know you'll always keep pushing forward for what you believe in."
She pressed her forehead to his tenderly…
"Afterall…"
'I'll support you with everything I got…for anything you want to do!'
She smiled with all the truth in her heart.
"You were the one who gave me the strength to do the same."
…
Moment followed by moment, the fateful tears fell from Nariyuki's eyes in succession.
Though in stark contrast from before…
They were now ones brimming with gratitude.
Broken.
But healing.
The fall would never come.
"T-Thank you…"
They remained in each other's arms for the rest of the night.
~The Next Day~
The administration office was busy, as it always was in the morning. It was when every faculty member was getting preparations ready for the day, and Kazuo was no exception. The hiring supervisor entered the room, saying his formalities to the other personnel, but in his first few steps, he found his attention whip towards a face that he hadn't expected to see at this time of the day.
The face of his superior.
"I-Ikeda-san!" He exclaimed in surprise. "You're here early today! It's not even the afternoon yet…"
The superintendent chuckled before smiling in acknowledgement.
"I decided that there was still some unfinished business from yesterday that I needed to address."
"Unfinished business?" Kazuo repeated. "You mean from the…"
Tora nodded, answering his curiosities in a premature fashion.
"Could you go ahead and make a phone call for me?"
The morning sunlight peered into the narrow gaps of the window curtains, striking the surface of a particular face with gentleness. Nariyuki felt himself stirred awake by the sudden warmth, and his eyes slowly opened in reflex. Usually there wouldn't be this much grogginess with the amount of sleep he had incurred, but the rawness from his crying last night must've contributed to the heaviness in his eyelids.
With the realization of his physiology in play, the event's of the night played back freshly in his mind.
One detail shining most prominently in recollection.
"It's okay…you can let it out."
The sensation of Fumino's warmth and slender arms surrounding him still lasted in his conscience.
He smiled softly.
The memory gave him the strength to rise from the bed and undergo his morning routine with his usual vigor, washing himself up and putting on a casual set of clothes. He headed to the kitchen to fix up something to eat, but as soon as he came close to the dining table, his senses were quickly overwhelmed with a pleasant aroma.
Breakfast had already been made; a beautiful set of tamago, miso soup, and toast sitting on the wooden surface.
Even more to his surprise was a note left to the side of it.
'Good morning. A tasty breakfast for you to get started with your productive day.'
'I love you.'
…
A laugh, soft and tearful, managed to escape Nariyuki's voice as he caressed the surface of the paper in a heartfelt manner.
He didn't deserve the faith given to him.
But in every way possible, Fumino was always there to remind him how much she thought otherwise. Failure wasn't the end. There was always a way to push forward...just like the girl had done time and time again for herself and the dream that she believed in.
With a bright smile, Nariyuki felt the direction for the day's events now filled with intent and confidence. As Fumino had suggested, there was much to do. He was going to give Ichinose's hiring manager a call to set up a potential interview for a teaching position. Even if he had been given a recommendation from his time interning there, he still needed to follow the normal protocol for their hiring process.
But before that…he needed to first give a follow-up call to Kokasu's hiring department.
To thank them for at least giving him a chance to interview with them.
RING RING RING
'What a coincidence.' His mind chuckled as he pulled out the vibrating device from his pocket.
Though his amusement was quickly replaced by stillness when he recognized the number of the caller.
He picked up.
"H-hello?"
"Yes, is this Nariyuki Yuiga speaking?"
"This is him."
"Good morning, Yuiga-kun. This is Kazuo Ichida. I was the hiring manager in charge of your interview yesterday."
"O-Oh! Good morning, Ichida-san! I was actually just about to call you."
"Convenient timing then. I wanted to ask you something if that's okay with you.
"W-what is it?"
…
"Would you be able to take the time again to come down to our office later today?
The same meeting room.
The same seat.
The same man who had turned him down less than twenty four hours ago.
The interview was over. There really was no reason for him to be nervous anymore.
Yet here Nariyuki was, with an anxious and beating heart once more.
"I apologize for asking for you to come in on such short notice, Yuiga-kun," Tora said guiltily. "I told Kazuo to call for you as soon as I saw him this morning."
Nariyuki shook his head in reassurance. "It's no problem at all, sir, but…what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?"
The man took a brief pause, bringing his hands together in a fist and rested his chin on top of it.
He looked to him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"What are your plans?"
"M-my plans?"
The superintendent nodded.
"Now that you've faced a hurdle in your original path," he elaborated. "What will you do now?"
"I…"
Nariyuki hesitated, taking in the abrupt question with an unprepared heart. He recalled the sorrows of the previous day. The regret. The rejection. It didn't take much for him to incite the precise feeling that had plagued him following the interview.
Yet…
It was quickly overshadowed by a warm presence.
The feeling of having someone see him for who he really was. The possibility of overcoming the doubts and insecurities from his failures.
It guided his next words with confidence.
"Find another way forward." He replied firmly. "That's all I can do if it means facing my dream for what it really is. I'm going to apply to Ichinose Academy, and obtain the work experience I need over there. Five years is what the average baseline is for successful candidates here at Kokasu. Once I've acquired that, I will reapply here."
Tora stared for a moment, receiving his answer silently.
"And…if you fail then too?" He asked.
…
Contemplation.
And then Nariyuki smiled with brightness.
"Then I'll reapply again after another five years."
"..."
The silence from the superintendent lasted indefinitely.
Nariyuki shifted in his seat, unsure of what to make of the reaction. To be honest, he was quite surprised with his own answer. It wasn't like what he said now would affect his chances when he would apply again in five years. There was no guarantee that Tora would even be the one to interview him again.
Before he could settle on his reasoning, Tora sat forward with a serious gaze set on him.
One that caused Nariyuki to wonder if he had misunderstood everything the entire time.
"Usually…even if we do choose to move forward with a candidate, we wait at least two weeks before giving them their congratulations. I suppose you'll be the first exception, Yuiga-kun."
He blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"W-what..?"
"Unfortunately, you won't be starting as an instructor," Tora continued. "No matter how much I admire your beliefs and work ethic, your work experience is simply just too lacking for me to grant you an immediate position."
The man then smiled earnestly.
"But thankfully for you, I spoke with the board of directors yesterday evening, and the school has decided to start a mentorship program for outstanding and young candidates just like yourself."
Nariyuki's mouth fell agape.
"You will be working hands-on with our faculty for two months, paid of course." Tora explained. "This includes assisting with administrative tasks and leading particular portions of our curriculum that your superiors deem appropriate. If you successfully make it through this program with a positive evaluation, I will transition you into an official position as an instructor here at Kokasu at that time."
With a hand extended, Tora offered his sincere invitation.
"What do you say?"
There was no answer.
Nariyuki was speechless.
Thankfully, Tora didn't take offense, and a chuckle of amusement left the man's lips.
"Should I take your silence as an affirmative?"
At that, Nariyuki shook out of his stupor with a visible startle, and he rushed forward to take a hold of Tora's hand.
"I-I'm sorry sir! I'm just…I just…"
He did his best to not let his voice crack.
"I'm just so grateful..." Nariyuki finished, voice still seeping with emotion despite his best efforts in concealing it.
Again, Tora chuckled in amusement.
"Don't thank me just yet," he advised carefully.
And then, with respect clear in his eyes…
The man walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Now's the time to prove the passion that you shared with me yesterday."
Hope.
No matter how much belittlement he had experienced in his doubt.
That was what remained when Nariyuki chose to look forward.
His own dream to reach for.
He smiled joyfully.
"Thank you, sir."
"Fumino-chan, want to get lunch with me!"
Fumino looked up from her desk, smiling apologetically at her senior coworker.
"Sorry, Alice-Senpai. I'm still working on getting this report done for the astrometry department." Which she truly felt guilty for. Aside from the fact that she had been her previous internship mentor, Alice really was one of the few coworkers that she was actually friendly enough with to enjoy a meal together.
"Aww, and here I thought you would be free today. You should take a break anyway. You deserve one with how hard you're working for everyone."
Fumino could only manage another regretful smile.
"Maybe tomorrow."
The older girl pouted, which had Fumino giggling lightly at the former's expense. Before her white-haired friend could truly leave her alone however, her office phone rang abruptly.
Fumino answered it on speaker.
"Hello?"
"Miss Furuhashi." It was the front gate security. "You have a visitor at the front gate who has requested to see you."
Fumino blinked in surprise.
"A visitor?" Both her and Alice said in sync.
It took her a couple of minutes to reach the front gate with how large the facility was, but once Fumino arrived and received her mystery visitor, the change in her expression from confusion to recognition to astonishment was strikingly clear.
Messy brown hair, soft brown eyes peering through those glasses, and that kind expression that she had come to cherish more than anything in the whole world.
She could hardly believe that he was actually there.
"N-Nariyuki..? What are you doing-"
She wasn't a given chance to voice her disbelief.
A single stride and Nariyuki was suddenly in front of her, arms around her and hugging her tightly.
Leaving her even more speechless.
"They hired me…"
"H-huh?"
"They hired me," the boy repeated while hugging her even tighter. "Kokasu hired me."
At first the words didn't process. In no world would it have. But eventually, the shocking news came full circle into her comprehension.
"W-what?!" She exclaimed disbelievingly. "But I thought-"
"They called me and told me to come in this morning." Nariyuki said while pulling away with a smile. "I was just as surprised to hear about the change. Turns out they implemented a mentorship program after my interview, and they're allowing me to work alongside faculty for two months to help me prepare for an official spot as an instructor."
It was a shocking explanation.
But a miraculous one that she was more than happy to hear.
"Nariyuki…"
She closed the distance again…
And embraced the boy with swelling pride.
"That's so wonderful..."
Nariyuki buried his head deeper into the crook of her neck, and she felt the slight wetness of tears form along her uniform.
"I…"
His voice shook.
"I really couldn't do it without you, Furuhashi..."
Fumino smiled lovingly.
"I told you…anyone can see just how wonderful of a teacher you are, Nariyuki."
Nariyuki's response to that was to tighten his arms around her waist, smiling gratefully in return. They remained in each other's arms for a few more minutes before Fumino eventually broke the silence with a sheepish giggle.
"I know that I'm not allowed to have my cell phone on at work…but still…I can't believe you really came all the way out to Nagato to tell me."
"I felt like you deserved to hear about it in person."
She shook her head fondly.
"Jeez…"
"Achoo!"
A sneeze from behind them caused them both to turn, and it didn't take them long to notice a white-haired woman behind the gate attempting to observe their interaction with subtlety, though clearly failing with the secretive aspect of the task.
"Is that your coworker?" Nariyuki asked in amusement.
Fumino nodded. "That's Alice-Senpai. She's about as nosy as it gets as you can see."
The boy chuckled. "I better let you get back to work then. There's still quite a bit of the day left for you."
"But promise me that I get to cook for you today, okay? So no getting a headstart without me."
Nariyuki giggled.
"Deal."
They shared one last loving glance together.
"I love you…Fumino."
"I love you too, Nariyuki…"
It was their fateful sentiment, one that would never tire or fail, and as Fumino waved him goodbye, heading back into the front gate to no doubt be teased by Alice, Nariyuki found the answer he was looking for with wholehearted clarity.
He was happy.
As he always had been and would always be with Fumino together with him.
But with her healing comfort in his moment of doubt…with her unwavering belief in him in a time of trial and adversity…
Nariyuki now knew with certainty…
'The promise that we made…to support each other…'
That the time was right.
…
"I'll make it official." He said to himself, determined.
A/N: Hello! Long time no post! Thanks so much for reading this chapter!
I know it's been a while. I've had applications for PA school these past 2 months, so most of my time has been commited to that. I finally managed to get finish them and so I'll be resuming the normal update schedule. Thank you so much for your patience.
Looking forward to continue writing for you guys. As always, feel free to leave a review, fav, or follow. Your support is very much appreciated.
Until Next Time!
