cashew (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} cashew) wrote,@ 2006-03-10 03:05:00 |
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PsyDai: Psychic Evaluation - Side Shishido
Title: Psychic Evaluation - Side Shishido
Author: Me
Series: PsyDai - Psychic Evaluations
Rating: Unrated
Summary: After her brush with Atobe, Machiko tackles Shishido. Unsuccessfully.
Author's notes: As penance for not writing PsyDai in way too long, the next installment in the Psychic Evaluations series.
===
Machiko sighed with relief as Atobe Keigo finally left her office. Thankfully that the likes of Atobe were rare and the university did not have more than one such boy. Writing off Atobe’s behavior as the result of being born to influence and privilege, taking care to omit any unsavory details and erasing the “die die die” scrawled on the side of her notes, Machiko straightened herself for her next client. The one good thing about having the likes of Atobe Keigo for her first client of the day was that it had at least mentally prepared her for any unpleasant surprises later in the day.
Surely, she thought to her self, Keigo-kun had to be the worst of it. Anyone else has to be an improvement.
Thus, it was with a light heart that Machiko greeted the next boy that walked into her office.
The boy had stuck his head into the room before entering at her beckoning, then stood awkwardly in front of her desk while shifting his weight between his feet, looking hunted.
Putting on her least threatening smile, Machiko asked, “Shishido Ryou-kun?”
The boy nodded his head.
“Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable,” Machiko invited when the boy continued to stand.
When the boy finally sat down, legs sprawled apart and resting an elbow on his knee, Machiko clarified, “You can sit back more, Ryou-kun.” Then, catching the uncomfortable look that stole over in a scowl across the boy’s face, she asked, “May I call you that?”
“Um, I’d rather not,” he answered bluntly as he leaned back into the leather of the soft seat. Machiko took a few seconds to wonder at how anyone who was nearly lounging in the leather chair could look so utterly stiff.
“Shishido-kun then?” Machiko offered. At the stiff jerk of a capped head, Machiko decided to take the sharp movement as consent and continued, “Now Shishido-kun, please relax. This is a very routine evaluation, mostly to determine if you’re fitting into the school’s environment or if you needed some extra help. You’ll benefit most if you would just relax.”
“I’m fitting in fine,” Shishido-kun growled under his breath. The scowl grew deeper.
Like a square peg was on the tip of Machiko’s tongue. Even someone without a degree in psychology could tell Shishido was uncomfortable and ill-adapted to social situations. Scribbling down the notes in short hand, Machiko went on with her questions.
“Now Shishido-kun, I’m going to ask a few personal questions to get to know you better and I hope you can answer as truthfully as you can to the best of your abilities,” she announced in the most soothing voice she could muster. When Shishido-kun gave a jerky nod, she decided that this was as relaxed as she can get the boy and began reading off the questions.
“First, what are your extra curricular hobbies?”
“Tennis.”
Machiko blinked at the short response. At least this explained how Atobe had figured out who was her next appointment. No doubt the two had discussed their upcoming evaluations during a game, if their familiarity with each other was what Atobe had implied. Making a mental note to discuss with the administration about scheduling familiar people in consecutive sessions and the possibility of skewing analysis, Machiko pushed on.
“What is it about tennis that intrigues you?” she asked, filling in the blank as appropriate.
Her pen hovered over the notepad waiting to jot down notes. When no answer was forthcoming, she looked up at a confused looking Shishido-kun who was frowning back at her with a perplexed scowl.
“Shishido-kun?” she prompted.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking for, Sensei,” Shishido-kun answered honestly. “I mean, I don’t usually think why I like tennis, you know. I’ve been playing it practically all my life and now it’s something I do. Like I go to classes or study.”
Machiko blinked a little at the analogy, wondering when extra-curricular and school-work became interchangeable. However, over coming her hesitation, she clarified, “What started your interest in the sport?”
“Oh, that,” Shishido-kun breathed, looking a little more relaxed. “It’s because the bastard Atobe…ah, sorry, it’s because Atobe made me practice with him. I sucked at first, so I wanted to beat him, you know? ‘Cuz he’s always this kid who was good at everything, so I wanted to do something better than him. Not that it worked out.”
Shishido-kun paused to laugh a little self-depreciatively.
Possible lowered self esteem, Machiko jotted quickly in a scribble. Moving on, she asked, “What would you consider to be the most memorable experience in tennis?”
“Memorable? I guess…” Shishido-kun paused again to scratch at his chin and ponder the question. “Getting my position back on the regulars after getting dropped by Kantoku. I was the only one who managed that at Hyoutei.” Here, Shishido gave a proud smirk.
Frowning internally at the contradictory behavior between this cocky boy and the previously self-depreciating one, Machiko made a few more notes, including striking out the previous line. Then, going with a hunch, Machiko pressed, “Would you care to elaborate on that?”
“Well, I mean, you know Hyoutei’s policy right?” Shishido-kun paused and Machiko shook her head. Looking slightly shocked at anyone would not know the policy, Shishido explained, “Hyoutei doesn’t reinstate regulars. Once you get dropped, you’re dropped for good. But then Choutarou helped me with some really unauthorized and non-regulatory training. Atobe was furious with me when he found out, but anyway, long story short, it got me back on the regulars.”
Going with a hunch and completely forgetting Atobe’s earlier warning, Machiko pursued, “This Choutarou person, he seems very pivotal.”
“Yeah, he is,” Shishido-kun responded as his eyes lit up with a fond sparkle. “Choutarou’s got this killer serve and we’d practice until two or three in the morning. Sure, I’d wake up the next day completely worked over and so freaking sore, but it was worth it.”
“And when did this take place?” Machiko asked, half wondering if she should notify the administration to keep a tighter watch on curfew if Shishido-kun has a history of late-night activities.
“Oh, this was back in Junior High. We wouldn’t even have the time to do it in Senior High, what with all the school work and me crashing at his place. Also, I didn’t want us to get too involved, ‘cuz Choutarou has this tendency to not be able to let go and with him being a year under—”
“What?” Machik couldn’t help but interrupt at this point. “He’s younger?”
“Yeah wh—” The answer was suddenly cut off as Shishido-kun seemed to catch on to what Machiko had been thinking. Then, face flushing red, he quickly denied, “No, no, it’s nothing like that. We’re not involved like that…well, we’re kind of but not really and…OH MY GOD what are you thinking woman!?”
At this point, Shishido-kun wasn’t the only one who was agitated. Machiko wished the floor would swallow her whole. The loss of professionalism was unforgivable, but with mentions of late nights, soreness, and getting involved along with the residual image Atobe’s illusions had imprinted in her mind, it had been simply a natural response to misinterpret Shishido-kun’s words.
Instead of apologizing and completely lose what little authority she has left, Machiko attempted to coax the now standing Shishido-kun back into his seat and to calm down.
“Please sit back down, Shishido-kun,” she pleaded with the agitated teen who had went from trembling with frustration to pacing.
Unfortunately, Shishido-kun did not seem to be capable of listening as he continued to rant, “How can you even…Choutarou’s not like that. I mean, I’m talking about TENNIS and…oh god IT’S TENNIS! Why would you even think that?! The only people who think like that are those Seigaku freaks and…OH MY GOD they’ve infected you haven’t they? Holy crap is there nothing that’s safe from them?!”
As Shishido-kun proceeded to continue with his freak out fest, Machiko noted with some alarm that a slight rumble was starting to build steadily. Then, with a loud crack, the blue mug splintered into pieces, spraying her morning coffee across the keyboard and many piles of paper with her notes and questions on them.
That seemed to be enough to drag Shishido-kun out of his self-absorbed tirade. Seeming to finally get a grip of his emotions, Shishido-kun offered a sheepish, “Oops.”
“Perhaps…we’ll end our session here,” Machiko suggested as she slumped into her chair.
“Oh. Okay, so I’ll just…” Shishido-kun trailed off as he gestured toward the door, already turning to it.
With a wave, Machiko dismissed the boy, feeling drained despite the day having not even reached lunch time. When Shishido-kun walked out the door, Machiko breathed deeply, trying to get her nerves back together.
Staring at the clock on the opposite wall, Machiko consoled herself, only seven more hours, only seven more.
Title: Psychic Evaluation - Side Shishido
Author: Me
Series: PsyDai - Psychic Evaluations
Rating: Unrated
Summary: After her brush with Atobe, Machiko tackles Shishido. Unsuccessfully.
Author's notes: As penance for not writing PsyDai in way too long, the next installment in the Psychic Evaluations series.
===
Machiko sighed with relief as Atobe Keigo finally left her office. Thankfully that the likes of Atobe were rare and the university did not have more than one such boy. Writing off Atobe’s behavior as the result of being born to influence and privilege, taking care to omit any unsavory details and erasing the “die die die” scrawled on the side of her notes, Machiko straightened herself for her next client. The one good thing about having the likes of Atobe Keigo for her first client of the day was that it had at least mentally prepared her for any unpleasant surprises later in the day.
Surely, she thought to her self, Keigo-kun had to be the worst of it. Anyone else has to be an improvement.
Thus, it was with a light heart that Machiko greeted the next boy that walked into her office.
The boy had stuck his head into the room before entering at her beckoning, then stood awkwardly in front of her desk while shifting his weight between his feet, looking hunted.
Putting on her least threatening smile, Machiko asked, “Shishido Ryou-kun?”
The boy nodded his head.
“Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable,” Machiko invited when the boy continued to stand.
When the boy finally sat down, legs sprawled apart and resting an elbow on his knee, Machiko clarified, “You can sit back more, Ryou-kun.” Then, catching the uncomfortable look that stole over in a scowl across the boy’s face, she asked, “May I call you that?”
“Um, I’d rather not,” he answered bluntly as he leaned back into the leather of the soft seat. Machiko took a few seconds to wonder at how anyone who was nearly lounging in the leather chair could look so utterly stiff.
“Shishido-kun then?” Machiko offered. At the stiff jerk of a capped head, Machiko decided to take the sharp movement as consent and continued, “Now Shishido-kun, please relax. This is a very routine evaluation, mostly to determine if you’re fitting into the school’s environment or if you needed some extra help. You’ll benefit most if you would just relax.”
“I’m fitting in fine,” Shishido-kun growled under his breath. The scowl grew deeper.
Like a square peg was on the tip of Machiko’s tongue. Even someone without a degree in psychology could tell Shishido was uncomfortable and ill-adapted to social situations. Scribbling down the notes in short hand, Machiko went on with her questions.
“Now Shishido-kun, I’m going to ask a few personal questions to get to know you better and I hope you can answer as truthfully as you can to the best of your abilities,” she announced in the most soothing voice she could muster. When Shishido-kun gave a jerky nod, she decided that this was as relaxed as she can get the boy and began reading off the questions.
“First, what are your extra curricular hobbies?”
“Tennis.”
Machiko blinked at the short response. At least this explained how Atobe had figured out who was her next appointment. No doubt the two had discussed their upcoming evaluations during a game, if their familiarity with each other was what Atobe had implied. Making a mental note to discuss with the administration about scheduling familiar people in consecutive sessions and the possibility of skewing analysis, Machiko pushed on.
“What is it about tennis that intrigues you?” she asked, filling in the blank as appropriate.
Her pen hovered over the notepad waiting to jot down notes. When no answer was forthcoming, she looked up at a confused looking Shishido-kun who was frowning back at her with a perplexed scowl.
“Shishido-kun?” she prompted.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking for, Sensei,” Shishido-kun answered honestly. “I mean, I don’t usually think why I like tennis, you know. I’ve been playing it practically all my life and now it’s something I do. Like I go to classes or study.”
Machiko blinked a little at the analogy, wondering when extra-curricular and school-work became interchangeable. However, over coming her hesitation, she clarified, “What started your interest in the sport?”
“Oh, that,” Shishido-kun breathed, looking a little more relaxed. “It’s because the bastard Atobe…ah, sorry, it’s because Atobe made me practice with him. I sucked at first, so I wanted to beat him, you know? ‘Cuz he’s always this kid who was good at everything, so I wanted to do something better than him. Not that it worked out.”
Shishido-kun paused to laugh a little self-depreciatively.
Possible lowered self esteem, Machiko jotted quickly in a scribble. Moving on, she asked, “What would you consider to be the most memorable experience in tennis?”
“Memorable? I guess…” Shishido-kun paused again to scratch at his chin and ponder the question. “Getting my position back on the regulars after getting dropped by Kantoku. I was the only one who managed that at Hyoutei.” Here, Shishido gave a proud smirk.
Frowning internally at the contradictory behavior between this cocky boy and the previously self-depreciating one, Machiko made a few more notes, including striking out the previous line. Then, going with a hunch, Machiko pressed, “Would you care to elaborate on that?”
“Well, I mean, you know Hyoutei’s policy right?” Shishido-kun paused and Machiko shook her head. Looking slightly shocked at anyone would not know the policy, Shishido explained, “Hyoutei doesn’t reinstate regulars. Once you get dropped, you’re dropped for good. But then Choutarou helped me with some really unauthorized and non-regulatory training. Atobe was furious with me when he found out, but anyway, long story short, it got me back on the regulars.”
Going with a hunch and completely forgetting Atobe’s earlier warning, Machiko pursued, “This Choutarou person, he seems very pivotal.”
“Yeah, he is,” Shishido-kun responded as his eyes lit up with a fond sparkle. “Choutarou’s got this killer serve and we’d practice until two or three in the morning. Sure, I’d wake up the next day completely worked over and so freaking sore, but it was worth it.”
“And when did this take place?” Machiko asked, half wondering if she should notify the administration to keep a tighter watch on curfew if Shishido-kun has a history of late-night activities.
“Oh, this was back in Junior High. We wouldn’t even have the time to do it in Senior High, what with all the school work and me crashing at his place. Also, I didn’t want us to get too involved, ‘cuz Choutarou has this tendency to not be able to let go and with him being a year under—”
“What?” Machik couldn’t help but interrupt at this point. “He’s younger?”
“Yeah wh—” The answer was suddenly cut off as Shishido-kun seemed to catch on to what Machiko had been thinking. Then, face flushing red, he quickly denied, “No, no, it’s nothing like that. We’re not involved like that…well, we’re kind of but not really and…OH MY GOD what are you thinking woman!?”
At this point, Shishido-kun wasn’t the only one who was agitated. Machiko wished the floor would swallow her whole. The loss of professionalism was unforgivable, but with mentions of late nights, soreness, and getting involved along with the residual image Atobe’s illusions had imprinted in her mind, it had been simply a natural response to misinterpret Shishido-kun’s words.
Instead of apologizing and completely lose what little authority she has left, Machiko attempted to coax the now standing Shishido-kun back into his seat and to calm down.
“Please sit back down, Shishido-kun,” she pleaded with the agitated teen who had went from trembling with frustration to pacing.
Unfortunately, Shishido-kun did not seem to be capable of listening as he continued to rant, “How can you even…Choutarou’s not like that. I mean, I’m talking about TENNIS and…oh god IT’S TENNIS! Why would you even think that?! The only people who think like that are those Seigaku freaks and…OH MY GOD they’ve infected you haven’t they? Holy crap is there nothing that’s safe from them?!”
As Shishido-kun proceeded to continue with his freak out fest, Machiko noted with some alarm that a slight rumble was starting to build steadily. Then, with a loud crack, the blue mug splintered into pieces, spraying her morning coffee across the keyboard and many piles of paper with her notes and questions on them.
That seemed to be enough to drag Shishido-kun out of his self-absorbed tirade. Seeming to finally get a grip of his emotions, Shishido-kun offered a sheepish, “Oops.”
“Perhaps…we’ll end our session here,” Machiko suggested as she slumped into her chair.
“Oh. Okay, so I’ll just…” Shishido-kun trailed off as he gestured toward the door, already turning to it.
With a wave, Machiko dismissed the boy, feeling drained despite the day having not even reached lunch time. When Shishido-kun walked out the door, Machiko breathed deeply, trying to get her nerves back together.
Staring at the clock on the opposite wall, Machiko consoled herself, only seven more hours, only seven more.