56Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or anything related. Sad days
Chapter 1 - Adaptability is Hard to Find!
If you asked Chisa Yukizome, "what makes a good teacher?", she would generally say one of the following:
"You must always be willing to help your students out. No matter the time, no matter the place. You must be okay with dropping everything to further their education, and their lives. Never forget that learning is a two-way street!"
Or perhaps,
"Attitude is everything. If you want pupils to remain attentive to your teachings, you must keep a positive outlook. A grouchy so and so is no better than a rotten orange. (You don't wanna be one of those!)"
Maybe even,
"Never slack off in your own studies! If you don't know the material, how are your students supposed to learn them!?"
Of course, in a school like Hopes Peak, that step wasn't as necessary. Still-
"Mou, you forgot the most important part!"
Oh, right.
You see there is one thing that, as an instructor, Chisa Yukizome believes in more than anything.
"Adaptability is key! You must be able to adapt to any given situation. A teacher's duty is to help their assigned class succeed. You cannot hope to do that if you aren't spontaneous and lack the ability to work on the fly."
These are the basic fundamentals every teacher must exemplify in her eyes. Anyone who follows these guidelines are groomed for success. Those who don't are doomed to fail.
Though, I suppose, that these do not apply to a teaching assistant.
"You want me to do what, Jin…?"
Chisa's smile was strained. To those who did not know the woman personally it would look as if nothing was wrong. The slightest twitch in her eye alongside the faint gripping of her apron being all the tells given.
Jin Kirigiri did know her, however. He looked apologetic.
"I know you're upset, Yukizome, but this goes beyond you, and me." He glanced up at her with an eyebrow raised. "The board is against your reappointment due to the actions of Komaeda-kun a few months back. I realize that you are a very competent teacher, one of the best I have in fact, but there is nothing I can do. My hands are tied here."
Chisa pouted.
"But why do I have to get a teaching assistant of all things!?" she looked frazzled. "I'd almost rather just have the board themselves sit in on my classes for the foreseeable future."
Jin's face drained. "No. No you wouldn't like that. Believe me."
Despite her annoyance at the current turn of events she could not stop the giggle erupting from her throat. Catching the usually serious man off-guard, never failed to be a source of amusement to her.
It didn't lessen her anger any, but hey, it was funny.
"Look." He laced his hands together. "I can give you a week to find someone suitable. After that the board will choose a representative to bring forward. I don't think I have to tell you that you should try and avoid such an outcome."
The teacher sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll be on the lookout for an assistant. I guess I can't just get Kizakura-kun to actually do his job for once and help me?"
Jin felt like reminding her that she brought this job on herself but decided against it. Things were better this way, after all.
"No. He got reassigned to the 78th class. While I must admit his teaching methods need work, he personally put together this group of kids himself. He was adamant in looking after them."
Chisa hummed in agreement. It was a surprise to everyone that he had wanted to try becoming a teacher again. Technically he still held the title as the 77th class's teacher as well, but everyone knew who really ran the show there.
"It's been just over a week since the term started, and so far, we haven't heard of any major incidents occurring..." He trailed off, as realization set in. "Though that could be due to him just not telling me what's happening in the first place…"
The Ultimate Housekeeper backed away as her boss kept mumbling under his breath.
She didn't feel like staying behind and watching as the well-tempered man finally erupted in anger.
Plus, she had a job to do!
She pumped her fist in the air.
"Alright! This'll be easy!"
Three Hours Later:
"Ahhhh! Why can't I find a single good candidate in this stupid school!?" Chisa cried out, as she lay her head down on her desk in defeat.
She searched all over but came out with nothing. No one was even close to what she was looking for. She thought for sure that a school as prestigious as Hopes Peak would have a great selection of possible teachers at its disposal. Apparently, she was way off the mark.
"How did Kizakura-kun even get hired in the first place?" she mumbled. While she felt bad for constantly dragging her friends name through the dirt, he deserved it. A good man doesn't equate a good teacher. Especially when he was a lazy, alcoholic, idiotic piece of-
"Ano, excuse me? Are you alright?"
She blinked. Looking up she was brought face-to-face with the concerned face of a student she had never seen before. Incredibly cute, all the while somehow looking unremarkable, she racked her brain to try and think of his name.
"Miss?" he asked again. "Are you feeling okay?"
She got up from her desk and smiled brightly. "Yes, sorry about that. I'm doing just fine." The teacher held out her hand. "My name is Yukizome Chisa, the teacher of the 77th class. It's nice to meet you!"
He awkwardly shook her hand.
"Ah, I'm Naegi Makoto. I'm the 78th classes' Lucky student."
Ah, that explained it.
After being told that she wouldn't have to worry about the other classes she had only given the new students a cursory glance.
Her smile never dimmed. "It's nice to meet you, Naegi-kun! Was there something you wanted from me specifically?"
The boy blushed lightly at the honorific given. He shook his head.
"Not necessarily. I was just coming around to try and meet my upperclassmen." His expression fell. "Sadly, no one was here yet."
Chisa put a finger to her chin in thought. "I'm sorry about that Naegi-kun. I wish there was something I could do."
"No, no don't worry about it." He shook his head violently. "I'll try again some other time!"
The teacher rose an eyebrow at the admission.
"So… you're saying you'll keep trying until you meet my class?" she grinned at his blush. "That's so cute! I'm sure they'll appreciate having such a sweet kouhai to dote on."
Makoto looked away, his cheeks now hurting. Then he shook his head. This wasn't why he approached her in the first place.
"Ah, Yukizome-sensei…?" he started, unsurely. "Are you sure that you're alright…?"
"Hm…?" she cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Yes, I am. I said I'm fine Naegi-kun, didn't I?"
He looked into her eyes as if searching for something.
"Are you sure…?" he frowned. "I'm not good at a lot of things, but I am good at knowing when people aren't feeling well. If there's anything I can do to help, just ask me alright?"
Makoto finished his little tirade with a smile back on his face. Chisa was pleasantly surprised.
"Oh, well that's very sweet of you, Naegi-kun!" she beamed. "But I swear I'm fine. Don't worry about me!"
He nodded slowly.
"Alright… well I don't want to bother you any longer so I can go-?"
"No, no!" she answered quickly. "It's okay! I'm just sitting here waiting for my lunch break to be over. Don't mind me. I'd appreciate the company, if you don't mind…?"
Makoto looked surprised by the offer before accepting readily. Chisa seemed nice, and he personally didn't care that she was a teacher.
She appreciated that fact, greatly.
Their time together was enjoyable. Surprisingly so. Chisa has always loved hanging out with her students, just talking and getting to know them. But this was the first time she could remember having more fun around a student than a member of staff. It was odd.
She wasn't complaining, though.
Before they knew it, lunch time was over and the 77th class filed back into the room, giving weird looks to the unknown student having an animated conversation with their teacher.
Chisa saw this as a golden opportunity.
"Hello class!" she greeted, even more chipper than usual. "This here is Makoto Naegi-kun, a student in the class just under yours! He came by earlier wanting to introduce himself to you all and we ended up having a very nice conversation over lunch."
The class chattered with one another as the news was spread fast. A hand was tentatively raised.
"A-ano, Yukizome-sensei…?"
Chisa nodded. "Yes Tsumiki-chan…?"
"U-um, I was just wondering," the timid student began, "shouldn't N-Naegi-san be in c-class by now…?"
The teacher blinked. She forgot.
"It's alright, Yukizome-sensei." Makoto waved from the door. "I'll head out now. I'm sure if I explain myself, I can avoid getting in trouble. It was nice meeting you!"
"Wait-!"
The door closed.
Chisa pouted. There was something about Makoto that made him less normal than he initially appeared.
And she intended to find out what it was.
From that point on, and for the following week, Chisa began to watch the boy during each of his classes. Abandoning her own class to fend for themselves, she observed him from spots that seemed virtually impossible to get to and just as difficult to notice. Her binoculars were in full use as she observed his interactions with his classmates.
It caused her great confusion.
All her life leading up to receiving her teaching degree she always believed that to be successful in a social environment, one would need to be outgoing, willing and most importantly adaptable. Much in the same vein as teaching, following these three things led to success.
However, Makoto didn't prescribe to those things. Or at least, not well.
While she supposed he was willing, he was rather poor at actually executing things. Following this, someone as awkward as he was could never be considered outgoing; at least in the traditional sense. Her stance on that matter was rapidly changing, though. From what she saw, he was almost always the quiet one in any given conversation. Choosing to lead, only when he viewed it necessary.
In spite of that-
"He was successful in every social venture he attempted! He even got Togami-san and Ikusaba-san to open up."
After meeting with Makoto, the other day, she decided to study up and learn about the boy's classmates. Reading their histories revealed a severe lack of social interaction from either the affluent progeny or the soldier. Both reclusive by nature it took the Luckster just over a week to break open their shells, if only slightly.
Most importantly, however; was he adaptable? A question that needed an answer. She required someone who could keep up with not only her but everyone in her assigned class.
Watching his interactions with his own class answered it handily.
No matter the eccentricities his peers presented him with, the boy always had a solution. He never once rose to anger and did his best in all situations he was presented with. It was little surprise he was so well-loved already.
"It's decided then."
Jumping off the tree branch she was currently sitting on, she leapt into an open window on the adjacent hallway.
Smile in place, Chisa approached the classroom she had just been spying on.
She knocked on the door.
"Ah, yes? Come in."
Kizakura's voice invited her inside. Opening it up she walked to the front as everyone turned their attention to her. Inwardly she giggled at the attention the Luckster was receiving from a good amount of his female friends.
He looked oblivious to it though. That was almost refreshing in a way.
"Yukizome-sensei!?"
Makoto's surprised outburst caused everyone to look at him in confusion. Did he know this woman?
Chisa smiled brightly at him. Walking over to the teen she picked him out of his chair and onto his feet. She blinked. Did he weigh anything!?
"Wa-wait, who are you and what are you doing with Naegi-kun?"
The teacher raised an eyebrow at the affronted outburst from the 78th classes' blue-haired idol.
"Like Naegi-kun's words implied, I'm a teacher here. My name is Chisa Yukizome. It's nice to meet you all." She bowed.
Only Taka bowed back.
"Also, don't worry about it. Naegi-kun's not in trouble or anything, Maizono-san." she pinched his cheek. "I just need him for a while."
"You need him?" Kizakura asked in an aloof tone. Inwardly though he was sweating. The Lucky student provided a much-needed equilibrium for the class. With him gone he was worried what could happen. "What do you need him for?"
She smiled widely before hugging the boy tightly to her; the back of his head now snug in between her breasts. He felt his face flush bright red. Several squawks of annoyance were heard throughout the room while the boys growled in envy.
She ignored all of it.
"I have decided that Naegi-kun is going to be my Assistant Teacher!"
There was a moment of silence.
Then-
"EHHHHHHHHHH!?"
(A/N): Just a lil' one-shot I thought up. I have very few ideas on where to go from here and you guys know how slow I can be when I'm unsure about writing XD. (Half a year without updates:P) I thought I'd post this anyway to get a chuckle from some people. I'll leave this "in-progress" for now in case people are curious about it but I'm unsure at the moment if I'll continue... we'll see. xD (It's a bit of a strange concept and pairing :P).