The Future
"Miname-san, what would you like to do when you're older?"
"I would like to be a photographer, Sensei."
Risa Harada rolled her eyes and crossed one leg over the other. This was the first time that she had been called down to the counselor's office, and she was there with three other students, discussing their future. There were three girls, including herself, and then, lucky him, Satoshi Hiwatari. All the girls wanted a famous job so they would get to see male models and so on.
"What about you, Harada-san?"
"Eh?" Risa snapped to attention, and strangely felt herself blush. "Oh, I was... I was thinking of becoming a forensic anthropologist."
Everyone stared at her, including Hiwatari himself. She was kind of hoping that he would...
"Well..." the counselor wasn't expecting her answer. "Umm... why would you want to do that, Harada-san?"
"Because," Risa said, twiddling her thumbs. "It's not the happiest job in the world, but I can put faces to bones and identities to people who seemed to disappear from the earth. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to do the world some good and find a murderer by examining the body." She glanced at all the girl's horrified gazes. "And I heard it kind of pays well too, but I'm more interested in the science of it. Sure, I'm having trouble with math, but I've always liked learning in my anatomy, sex ed, and health classes..."
"But it's a very graphic job, Harada-san," the counselor said slowly. "You have to touch dead... things. You have to handle decomposing, and possibly new, bones. You may even have to deal with children. I don't know if you're skilled enough to do that..."
Risa stiffened. "With all due respect, Sensei, I think I can handle it. And those aren't just dead bones out there. With the right training, I'll be able to identify people who have fallen from the earth. Give them a name, a family, a proper burial. So what if there are kids? I can give them back to their families and everything! I can-" she stopped to take a breath and calm herself. She ended quietly, saying, "I just want to help people..."
The counselor cleared her throat, uncomfortable, and dismissed the students. As Risa gathered her things, feeling like an idiot, she glanced at Satoshi, who had begun walking away, but paused just long enough to glance over his shoulder at her. He smiled and said, "That's an admirable career path, Harada-san. I'm sure you'll do a great job with it."
He then nodded and walked away, leaving Risa to smile proudly at the two other girls, who were glaring furiously at her. She didn't mind. She just walked away.