After a sweet little moment with Nikita and Reiner, and Will getting a present for Misato (semi-voluntarily) let's take a second to peek back in on Cynthia and see how she's handling things! She's gotten her recommendation letters from Ayame and Keya, but will they be enough? She also has to discuss the job with a member of the faculty, after all, and that could go several ways…
KedharS: Definitely full of wholesome vibes.
Arbiter8991: I think Misato's still working on figuring out emotions. We'll have to see how the gift-giving goes.
Hyphenman: Yep, it's hard to be in a relationship when you have no idea how you're supposed to relationship. But Nikita's doing her best!
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 1268
Cynthia took a deep breath and exhaled.
Here it was. Moment of truth time.
Serefina had told her that in order to work in the nursery, she needed recommendation letters from at least two juniors or seniors in the Caretaking Course, and a personal recommendation from a member of the faculty in the Caretaking Department.
She had the first two letters. Now she just needed to talk with a faculty member. And there was only one member of the department that she knew, Professor Leanne Reese, who she'd taken Pokemon Caretaking with.
Only problem?
Cynthia had not done well in that class.
The day before had been a combination of fun and stressful as she got to talk with Keya and Ayame about getting her recommendations. But they were people she knew, and at the very least were cool with her. She didn't know what Leanne thought of her. Would she throw Cynthia out on her ear for being one of the worst students in her class?
Possibly.
And that's why Cynthia had decided to go to bed, and come see her in the morning, hoping that her resolve would be strengthened after a good night's rest.
Unfortunately, no such luck. She was still incredibly anxious when she woke up, and anxious through breakfast, and still anxious right now, when she finally got to the professor's office.
It's fine. It's going to be fine. I can talk my way through a lot! Cynthia reminded herself. Summoning the courage she had, she raised her fist to knock on the door-
…Only for the door to swing in, causing her to swipe at air. She nearly fell over before regaining her balance, and looked up to see who was standing in front of her.
"Oh, hello there," Olivia said, slightly amused by Cynthia's presence. "I didn't expect to see you here. Excuse me."
"Buh…?" Cynthia mumbled in confusion, staggering to the side so the blonde could walk past her. Olivia didn't expect to see HER here? Because Olivia was the last person she would have ever thought to see at Kangaskhan Hall.
She was so stunned, in fact, that for a moment she forgot her initial purpose. It was only when Leanne cleared her throat and said "you can come in now" that Cynthia remembered she was still standing in the blue-haired professor's doorway.
"P-Professor!" She said, rushing inside and sitting down in front of the professor's desk. "I'm sorry to bother you today, but, um…"
"Yes, what is it?" Leanne asked, smiling warmly. It should have made Cynthia calm down, but it didn't. Because Leanne was the sort of teacher that always smiled, even when she was upset. Cynthia still felt on guard even when she was just acting casual.
"I, um… I was wondering…"
For once, Cynthia was having trouble finding something to say. She was so uneasy about this whole mess that she just couldn't get the words out properly.
"Is this about you working in the nursery center?" Leanne asked, narrowing her eyes.
This response caused a wide range of emotions in Cynthia. The first emotion was relief, relief that she didn't have to explain herself. The second was excitement, because that meant the professor had already heard her plan, and considered it. And the last, of course, was fear, fear at the thought that Leanne was about to tell her where she can shove it.
"Y-Yes, professor," Cynthia nodded. "I-I think that I could do some really great work there. And you were always saying in class that I needed to take more initiative when it came to my extracurricular hours taking care of pokemon, a-and helping out, so I just thought… well, maybe that this could be… um… I mean, you know…"
She was quickly losing the plot. Leanne's calm stare didn't help matters either. Cynthia was hoping so badly for Leanne to say something and take back control of the conversation, because at the rate she was going, she was going to talk herself into a mess of confusion and babbling.
Leanne didn't bite though. She just waited pensively for Cynthia to run out of things to say, and eventually the redhead went silent, staring down at the floor in shame and embarrassment. For once, someone had cowed the poor girl into being quiet.
"…So yeah. I think I could do a lot of good working the nursery!" Cynthia pleaded. "So please let me work there just for a little!"
"I agree," Leanne nodded.
"Okay, look, I know my grades were really bad, but please, I've made a lot of progress, and I really think that- wait, did you just say you agree?" That had been about the last thing Cynthia had expected her to say. She'd planned a scathing rejection and had been preparing to make some big argument in her favor like in the conclusion of a legal drama, and Leanne had just… agreed?
"I did, yes," Leanne nodded, confirming that Cynthia had not, in fact, gone crazy.
Unless she was still crazy right now. Cynthia stared at her with her jaw open, not sure what to make of what she'd just heard.
"…Seriously?"
"Are you saying you think I should disagree?" Leanne asked, raising her eyebrow.
"What?! Nononono!" Cynthia quickly shook her head. "I'm just surprised, that's all! Because I mean, usually, well… you've said some stuff, so I just…"
"Ah, because your grades were so poor, you thought that I wouldn't accept your application, is that it?" Leanne mused, cracking a grin. "Or maybe because you're a first year student?"
"Yes, both of those things," Cynthia nodded. "…More so the first one, but yeah, both. I mean, Serefina said, well… she made it sound like a big deal."
And that wasn't even the half of it. The most intimidating detail Cynthia had heard on subject of this potential job was what Ayame had told her the night before, about how she'd be responsible for not just looking after the pokemon, but for the Pokemon Academy's reputation as a school that produced qualified breeders. With that in mind, Cynthia could completely understand why Serefina had been reluctant to let her take up the job; if someone like her, a student who was primarily focused on pokemon battles, were to work in the nursery and screw everything up, she wouldn't just be harming pokemon. She'd be making it harder for other students in the Caretaker Course, presently and in the future, to find lucrative careers.
Cynthia may not have been a great student, but even she knew how important things like reputation were, and the idea that she might end up being responsible for trashing the school's and costing her peers a lot of time and money was terrifying for her, almost enough to make her reconsider taking this job.
At this point, she honestly only accepted the meeting with Leanne because she was riding the high of inertia; Keya and Ayame had both sent in their letters last night, and if she didn't show and try to get the job, then all their hard work had been for nothing.
So it was a total shock that the teacher in front of her had actually agreed that she would be a good fit for the department.
Leanne was still smiling. "I'll be honest with you, Cynthia, of the students I've taught, you would not be my first choice for working with newborn pokemon. Someone like Katherine Kuroso, your friend Kitty, is at the top of my list, but you? I have a hard time seeing it, to be honest."
Cynthia was confused. "Then… why did you say you agree?"
"Because I trust people," Leanne said. She held up the two letters that Keya and Ayame had written; she was taking this so seriously, she'd actually printed them out to go over them directly. "I trust the students I've nurtured. Keya and Ayame are two of the finest caretakers I've ever taught, and because of their presence, the senior class itself has been uplifted by being challenged by those two as peers. It's shaped up to look like one of the most successful batches of graduates in a very long time."
"W-Wow, that's pretty impressive," Cynthia nodded.
"It's very impressive," Leanne agreed. "So impressive that when two students like them write me recommendation letters explaining about how much work and effort a girl like you, one of my worst students, has put in taking care of her pokemon, I sit up and take notice. Because frankly, Cynthia, and I'm sure you'll agree with this- you're a slacker."
Cynthia winced, unable to disagree with Leanne's assessment.
"…Yeah, maybe a little bit."
Leanne raised her eyebrow. "A little bit? I think a lot," she said. "You were periodically late to class, you half-assed pretty much every assignment that wasn't directly related to taking care of an actual pokemon, and your test scores, well…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Cynthia said, turning red with shame. She couldn't even look at the professor, the other woman's smile was so judgmental.
"Usually, a recommendation from Ayame or Keya would be enough to get any student a position working with pokemon here, and you managed to get letters from both," Leanne continued. "That's quite a feat, especially for a first year. But for the first time, I wasn't sure if I should agree with their recommendation or not."
Cynthia winced, averting her eyes.
"So I decided to make my own estimation about you, and went through your grades for this last semester," Leanne said, patting a portfolio sitting on her desk. "After all, one of the benefits of having a student in one of my current classes applying for a position is that their skill and ability is in the forefront of my mind, and I've got a lot of data to support it. And while everything I said before about your performance is true, I'm not sure how much of it is actually relevant."
Cynthia was taken aback. "R-Really?" She asked, glancing up curiously at the older woman.
Leanne nodded. "As I said before, your test scores are- well, frankly, abysmal doesn't even begin to cover it. I've flunked kids with better grades than yours."
That one stung.
"But then I considered your practical scores," Leanne continued, opening the folder. "And to be frank, I thought I was being hustled."
Cynthia didn't know what to say to that. "…Hustled?"
"That's right. After all, your grades, well… they're awful, but for your practical assessments, all your proctors had nothing but stunning praise. They wrote about how meticulously you care for the pokemon you're assigned to look after, how you anticipate their needs, and even how the pokemon have achieved phenomenal growth in terms of battle potential."
"W-Well, I mean, I played with them a little and taught 'em a few things, but…" Cynthia was fidgeting in her seat, not sure what reaction she should have. She was thrilled that Leanne was praising her so heavily, but she honestly felt like she didn't deserve it given the fact that she was in such a strange position. After all, Leanne had just finished chastising her for her bad grades.
"To put it bluntly I thought you cheated," Leanne said, a declaration that stung Cynthia even more. Her expression softened. "I'm sorry. That really isn't an appropriate thing for a teacher to believe about their students. But at first blush, I considered the possibility that you'd bribed somebody to do your practical tests for you."
"I mean, I guess I can see how you'd come to that conclusion," Cynthia admitted. "But I promise, that's not what happened! Everything I did, it was me! I swear!"
"I know that," Leanne nodded. "Because yesterday evening, I had a conversation with Serefina Kagefusa about you."
Cynthia turned pale. "S-Serefina, you said?"
"That's right, she was the one that first mentioned this whole 'you wanting to work in the nursery' thing," Leanne said. "She said that she figured you wouldn't actually go through with it, but at the same time… what was it…"
She thought for a second and then smirked. "Oh, right. 'That girl is the most stubborn human being on the face of the planet. And if she says she's going to get her way, then she will'."
Cynthia blushed sheepishly.
"W-Well…"
"And that's honestly quite an admirable thing," Leanne smiled. "As I'm sure you remember, Serefina was one of the students assessing your practical exams most often. In fact, one of the classes sophomore students have to take to get into the Caretaking Course involves observing and monitoring the freshmen caretaking assessments. It gives them the opportunity to test themselves and judge the skill of other people. Quite an effective system, especially for such a thorough student like Serefina."
"So Serefina backed me up?" Cynthia said, her eyes widening in amazement. Given the stink that the other girl had made about Cynthia working in the nursery, she never would have imagined that she'd go to bat for her.
"…Well, I wouldn't say 'backed you up' is the right word," Leanne dryly replied. "More like she just confirmed the truth, right?"
"Well, yeah."
Leanne smiled. "That's exactly my point. Serefina has a good eye for this sort of thing. Just like Ayame and Keya are the stars of the current senior class, that girl… well, I just can't get her into the Caretaking Course fast enough! With her potential, it's possible that she could be better than either of them! …Oh, but don't tell anyone I said that."
"I won't," Cynthia chuckled.
"Well, as I was saying, Keya and Ayame's letters really put in a lot of work for you," Leanne said. "And Serefina's testimonial solidified my decision. Cynthia, I think that you're one of the more special students I've ever worked with."
"Really?" Cynthia brightened, pleasantly surprised by that. "…Wait, when you say I'm 'special' are you talking about-"
"You have a unique way of approaching things," Leanne clarified, getting a little flustered herself. "I didn't mean… that way."
"Oh, good," Cynthia sighed in relief.
"Anyway, as I was saying, a good portion of caretaking work, the majority of it, in fact, is done in a practical sense," Leanne explained. "That's professional work, though. Before we can release students out into the professional world, it's not enough to show us that they can take care of pokemon. We need to make sure that they can pass our exams and such, to prove that they've managed to absorb and retain the relevant knowledge, even if it won't be useful to them 95% of the time."
Cynthia felt a huge weight drop on her head from that declaration.
"But that's in terms of graduating," Leanne clarified. "Which only matters if you're seeking a licensed position on your own. When it comes to working in a controlled setting with pokemon, and someone supervising your work, you've proven more than capable of doing what's asked of you. That's why I don't have a problem with you working in the nursery in your spare time."
"Really?!" Cynthia gasped, her eyes lighting up with glee.
"Yes. Given what I've seen myself, and heard about from your other professors, I'm certain you're the kind of person who really excels in hands-on learning and applying what you know, as opposed to studying for a test or doing written work. The issue is, in a profession like this, it's hard to get the opportunities to work hands-on without getting a license, which requires a significant amount of testing. Most places won't give you the chance to work with actual pokemon if you can't even pass a simple exam, and I think you can understand why."
"Y-Yeah," Cynthia admitted sheepishly.
"Fortunately for you, though, the Pokemon Academy prides itself on providing its students with those opportunities," Leanne said. "We want to make sure that you can get the best education experience possible, and one that best speaks to your skills as a learner. And that's why I'm fine with letting you work in the nursery. Understood?"
"Yup," Cynthia said, nodding.
Leanne raised her eyebrow and grinned. "That's it?" She asked coyly. "Just 'yup'? This is what you wanted, isn't it? The chance to work in the nursery? How about a cheer for joy? That's more your style, isn't it?"
Cynthia blushed sheepishly. "I guess I'm just kinda overwhelmed," she admitted. "But really, this is great. I'm shocked!"
"I'm glad," Leanne smiled. "I'm sure you'll do some really good work here, Cynthia. Now, before we work out your hours, are there any questions you still have for me?"
Suddenly, the anxiety welling up in Cynthia's stomach made itself known again. As happy as she was to receive Leanne's support, there was still part of her that wasn't sure if this was something that she could do.
"A-Actually… there is something," she admitted, blushing a little.
"What is it?" Leanne asked.
"It's just… well… when I was talking with Ayame… she said all this stuff about upholding the school's reputation, and how important it is to make sure that the pokemon are taken care of to the specifications of their trainer, and I guess… I kind of maybe psyched myself out of this," she admitted. "So that's why I wasn't as enthusiastic as I could have been, sorry."
"I see," Leanne mused. "That's certainly something that I imagine you'd be concerned with. After all, you're still just a 16 year old girl."
"But I'm going to do my best!" Cynthia said. "I'm going to try really hard, I just… well, if I make a mistake, then…"
"Well, as your teacher, and the faculty advisor to your work with the nursery, I'm not going to tell you to make mistakes," Leanne said. "But I'll tell you something important. Working with pokemon, especially infant pokemon, is by no means a solved situation. There's going to be lots of times where you're faced with something that you're not prepared for. And if you make a mistake, or even if you don't make a mistake, and still don't succeed in your goal, there's nothing wrong with that. That's a part of life, my girl. Just resolve to make up for it next time, alright?"
Cynthia sighed. "Yeah, that… that really does help. Thanks."
She was still nervous about the possibility of screwing up, but at least Leanne made it clear that even if she did, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
"Great, then let's get started working on your hours," Leanne said, turning to a sheet of paper. "We'll have to make sure your time working in the nursery doesn't conflict with your volunteer hours, after all."
Cynthia turned pale. "W-Wait, I have to do both?"
Leanne glanced up from her paper. "Did you think that you could get out of your volunteer work because you're also working in the nursery?"
"Well… kinda?"
Leanne smirked.
"Maybe work on getting your grades up first, then we can talk about that."
Cynthia began contemplating the fact that her social life as she knew it would soon be gone for good.
Well, Cynthia got the job! Now we'll have to see if she's cut out for it! Meanwhile, what was Olivia doing talking to Leanne? What could the Empress be up to? Is she trying to make a power play and cut in on some of Marion's turf? Or is she looking for something else? We'll have to find out! In the meantime, let's see what else our students are up to!