A/N: This oneshot takes place after "Third-Year Reunion!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Kiki and Shuichi's Career Counseling!
Kiki and Shuichi sat awkwardly on the couch in her father's office, Makoto sitting on the couch opposite them. Makoto smiled reassuringly, amusement dancing in his eyes as he saw his daughter and student avert their eyes.
"Relax, you two. This is just a career counseling session; you guys aren't in any trouble."
If we were, we'd be in Mom's office instead… Kiki thought dryly, though she kept that thought to herself.
"Ah, Headmaster?" Shuichi asked with a nervous smile. "Aren't career counseling sessions usually separately? And in the second year?"
Makoto nodded. "Normally that's true. But given how you two were training under Detective Saihara at the time, we made the decision to wait until your training concluded before starting your career counseling."
"We…you mean…my uncle and the Vice-Headmistress?"
Makoto nodded. "Correct. Speaking of whom, we also made the agreement that I'd be representing both of their inputs in this career counseling as well. Hence why I'm doing this with you two together instead of making separate appointments."
Kiki and Shuichi slowly nodded as Makoto folded his hands in his lap. The two detectives-in-training forced themselves to relax, taking deep breaths before they released the nervous tension from their muscles as best they could.
"Now then…you two are planning to become detectives, right?" Makoto asked before his two students confirmed with a simultaneous nod. "And have you two thought about how you're going to reach that goal after you graduate this year?"
"Well…" Shuichi began "I was thinking that I'd try to get more experience working with my uncle."
Makoto nodded before he turned to his daughter. "And what about you, Kiki?"
"Well…I've thought about what types of cases I'd like to specialize in…though admittedly I haven't thought that much about where to go after I graduate."
"I see…well, there's nothing wrong with not knowing what to do." Makoto smiled nostalgically, flashing back to his own days as a teenager. "I didn't really have a plan for what to do, either. So at least you two have an end goal. But that's why we have these counseling sessions; to help students develop a professional roadmap."
"I see…so do you have any suggestions for us, Headmaster?" Shuichi asked curiously.
Makoto nodded, explaining "Kyoko and I have talked at length with your uncle. He told us that, while he loves having you work with him and help him with cases, he also thinks that he's taught you all that he can, and that you wouldn't be able to grow as a detective if you stayed at his agency."
"Oh…I see…" Shuichi muttered, feeling equal amounts of pride and melancholy.
Makoto nodded. "And Kiki…your mother and I have talked at length about this, and your admission that you're not quite sure where to go after you graduate only strengthens our agreed recommendation."
Pursing her lips in curiosity, Kiki asked "…And…what's that…?"
"…We think…that the two of you should apply to attend college once you graduate high school."
"…College…?" The two of them asked, somewhat surprised by the suggestion.
"That's right. You both have some experience as assistant detectives under your belts, and that will certainly be useful in helping you to get good paying jobs as detectives in whatever fields you wish to go into. But a college degree is also important to have. A lot of employers today want candidates with college degrees, regardless of what experiences they already have."
"…But…Headmaster Naegi…" Shuichi began hesitantly. "Apologies if I'm speaking out of turn, but didn't the Vice-Headmistress succeed without a college degree?"
Makoto nodded. "It's true; Kyoko was an exceptional detective in her own right. She was a certified detective when she was only thirteen, which is what caused Hope's Peak Academy to scout her as the Ultimate Detective."
"Yeah, but we're still nowhere near her level." Kiki pointed out. "There's no way we're good enough to be comparable to Mom…"
"That's not what I'm saying, Kiki…" Makoto sighed. "While it's true that your mother was arguably the best detective in her time…that didn't mean that she planned to skip college." Seeing both teenagers stare curiously at him, Makoto explained "Before we could even think about college, the Tragedy happened, then the Killing School Life."
Makoto grew quiet, his lips drooping into a traumatized frown. Kiki and Shuichi's eyes softened as they realized he was reliving his past memories.
"Before we knew it, we were thrown into a battle to rebuild the world itself. College wasn't exactly an option for us. By the time the Tragedy ended, we had already rebuilt Hope's Peak Academy, so we had stable careers and college wasn't even a factor. You guys however…you guys have a chance that Kyoko and I didn't. You get to go to college and take whatever classes you want. I can't speak for Shuichi's uncle on this, but Kiki, your mother and I knew from an early age that we wanted you to give you all the experiences that we couldn't."
"D…Dad…" Kiki breathed in awe, touched once more by how much her father loved and supported her.
"Ultimately, it's your life to live, of course. Whether or not you two choose to go to college is up to you, but I think it might be good for the both of you."
The room fell silent as Kiki and Shuichi contemplated the headmaster's words. Their lips pursed and their foreheads creased as they took the question seriously.
"…Well…" Shuichi suggested "…Perhaps we could go into…Criminal Justice…?" Shuichi suggested, attracting both Naegi's attention. "Let's say, for example…something happens and we can't find jobs as detectives right away…at least we could have a backup plan until we can find our dream jobs."
"…I think…that's a good idea…" Kiki admitted with a smile. "Maybe…" A faint blush painted her cheeks rose. "…We could attend…the same university…?"
"Y-yeah…" Shuichi's blush matched her own. "That'd be great. Then we could study together."
Makoto chuckled in amusement as he commented "It seems like you have a good plan for the future." Both teenagers shook away their blushes and redirected their attention towards the headmaster. "Alright, I'll help you narrow down your list of universities so you can have a clear goal of what to study for their entrance exams. In the meantime, why don't you kids continue to enjoy your remaining days as high schoolers?"
Kiki and Shuichi nodded as the three of them stood up. "Okay…see you later, Headmaster." Shuichi bowed respectfully before he walked towards the door.
"See you later, Dad." Kiki waved before she followed Shuichi.
Makoto chuckled before he walked over to his desk and sat down. Those two…they're two peas in a pod. Makoto smiled knowingly as he pondered I wonder if they'll realize how they feel for each other before or after they graduate…?
