Missions were important. They were a way to gain experience in the field, aid in village and national concerns efficiently, when shinobi - or in this case, just any pair of extra hands - make the difference. Shiori was happy to be able to sign-up by herself, leaving straight from the Academy after class down to the Hope Hospital, down in the bustling Pearl Tenements. Contrary to her shyness, the crowded streets here offered some anonymity, and as long as Shiori did not look at other people, they generally did not look her way. It was not perfect, but it was home.
She lived here with her grandmother, her mother’s mother, a kindly woman still well enough to keep up with Shiori. Having wrangled the child for nine years, she knew how to talk to her and just what to say when things were down. As independent as the young girl wished to be, she knew that eventually it would be up to her to take care of her grandmother in-turn. Her father was young when Shiori was born, and her grandmother disliked to hear her granddaughter speaking like she was some ‘old lady’.
Reaching the Hospital, she gathered her breath and entered. This, she hoped, would be the hardest part; engaging the nurses so she could get to work. The Hospital reception was scattered with a few families. A crying infant, shrill in its discomfort, made for a horrid overlapping tone. People talking, colliding conversations; her hands were stuffed in their pockets gripping as old threads, trying to tune it all out as she stepped up to the desk. Her hair was down around her face again, and at her height, she could just barely see over the desk as the nurses discussed something about a patient. They did not see her at first, but after several seconds just standing silent, Shiori reached her hand onto the desk and stood up on her toes, quietly voicing her presence. ”Excuse me… I’m sorry… I’m supposed to clean… can… you…”
The nurses looked like they could barely hear her and smiled to each other at her timid the girl was. ”Oh yes! We are glad you are here, I can show you what to do. Following me young lady” Smiling the whole time, the nurse stepped around the desk and beckoned Shiori with a gesture. It was unsettling, and until was not until the girl made a awkward smile back that the nurse seemed to stop glancing over every few feet.
Shown to a group of rooms, she was given instruction on how to clear and clean them, and tried her best to audibly answer the nurse when she asked if she understood. An awkward parting later, Shiori signed as the door closed behind the nurse, returning to her post. The next couple of hours, she spent scrubbing floors, stripping bedding and emptying trash. Silent except for her work, the academy student did as she was asked. Piling the bedding in a cart, she finished out by replacing the sheets and taking the cart down to the laundry.
Deciding it was best to just leave when she was done, rather than finding the nurse and saying so. Shiori took the nearest exist. She was glad to be out of there. Missions were important, even when there were not.
She lived here with her grandmother, her mother’s mother, a kindly woman still well enough to keep up with Shiori. Having wrangled the child for nine years, she knew how to talk to her and just what to say when things were down. As independent as the young girl wished to be, she knew that eventually it would be up to her to take care of her grandmother in-turn. Her father was young when Shiori was born, and her grandmother disliked to hear her granddaughter speaking like she was some ‘old lady’.
Reaching the Hospital, she gathered her breath and entered. This, she hoped, would be the hardest part; engaging the nurses so she could get to work. The Hospital reception was scattered with a few families. A crying infant, shrill in its discomfort, made for a horrid overlapping tone. People talking, colliding conversations; her hands were stuffed in their pockets gripping as old threads, trying to tune it all out as she stepped up to the desk. Her hair was down around her face again, and at her height, she could just barely see over the desk as the nurses discussed something about a patient. They did not see her at first, but after several seconds just standing silent, Shiori reached her hand onto the desk and stood up on her toes, quietly voicing her presence. ”Excuse me… I’m sorry… I’m supposed to clean… can… you…”
The nurses looked like they could barely hear her and smiled to each other at her timid the girl was. ”Oh yes! We are glad you are here, I can show you what to do. Following me young lady” Smiling the whole time, the nurse stepped around the desk and beckoned Shiori with a gesture. It was unsettling, and until was not until the girl made a awkward smile back that the nurse seemed to stop glancing over every few feet.
Shown to a group of rooms, she was given instruction on how to clear and clean them, and tried her best to audibly answer the nurse when she asked if she understood. An awkward parting later, Shiori signed as the door closed behind the nurse, returning to her post. The next couple of hours, she spent scrubbing floors, stripping bedding and emptying trash. Silent except for her work, the academy student did as she was asked. Piling the bedding in a cart, she finished out by replacing the sheets and taking the cart down to the laundry.
Deciding it was best to just leave when she was done, rather than finding the nurse and saying so. Shiori took the nearest exist. She was glad to be out of there. Missions were important, even when there were not.