Hachiman's Perspective
"I am so sorry, Trainer," Rice's mother sighed as we walked back. "I can't believe I actually left my wallet at home… If you hadn't been there, I don't know what we would have done. Here, let me pay you back for the groceries."
"It's fine, really," I said, taking the money. "But... is this a daily occurrence for you? If it is, I imagine you don't get many chances to actually relax, do you?"
"O-oh, no... Today has been a bit of an outlier! It doesn't usually happen this frequently."
I thought back to the first time I met Rice. Back then, she was exactly like her mother is now. There was the time she was shaking her foot because her shoe felt tight, only for the shoe to fly off and plant a horseshoe-shaped bruise right on my forehead. Or the time she showed up for a standard training session carrying a rucksack packed heavily enough for a month-long Himalayan expedition. Even our attempts at a simple lunch usually ended with every restaurant being mysteriously full, leading to us retreating to the Academy so she could cook for me instead. Our days together had been... unique, to say the least.
If I tried to list every little mishap, I'd be here all night. It's safe to say she inherited her mother's "disposition" perfectly.
"Well, if today is worse than usual, I'm glad to hear it," I said. "If your daily life was always this chaotic, you'd never be able to recharge."
"That's true..." her mother admitted. "I try my best to be careful, but things just seem to... happen."
"It's the same for me," Rice added softly. "I'm always so careful to make sure my tail doesn't bump into anyone."
"That's right! You have to be twice as careful so you don't cause trouble for others," her mother chirped. "I was exactly the same way when I was Rice's age!"
"It happens most when I'm with my friends," Rice continued, her voice trailing off. "Like when it's perfectly sunny but starts raining the moment we step outside. Or when I think my friend's lunch looks delicious, and a bird immediately swoops down and steals it. Or when we're cooking together and I mix up the salt and the sugar... so many unlucky things happen."
I'm betting Zenno Rob Roy gets caught in the crossfire of most of that, I thought. Though some of those sound less like 'unluckiness' and more like spectacularly bad timing.
"Um... look, after hearing all that, I feel a bit bad asking this, but... do you want me to take over the cooking?"
"No! Absolutely not!" her mother insisted, her face reddening. "I couldn't possibly let a guest cook for us! Besides, we've already imposed on you enough today, Trainer!"
"S-she's right, Big Brother!" Rice added. "You're our guest, so please, just sit back and relax!"
Easier said than done when I'm worried about the kitchen catching fire, I thought.
But they wouldn't budge. Now, the two of them are in the kitchen working together while I'm left alone in the living room. I haven't received any urgent pings from the Academy or my colleagues, so I assume everything is fine for now. With the silence, my mind drifted back to Rice's father. What kind of man is he? So far, Rice is the spitting image of her mother in both personality and temperament. Other than their hair color, they're practically identical.
"I wonder what he's like," I muttered to the empty room.
I guess I won't find out until tonight.
Mr. C.B.'s Perspective— Tracen Academy Student Council Room —
Rudolf sat at her desk, the steady scritch-scratch of her pen the only sound. Air Groove was flipping through a stack of documents, while Narita Brian was sprawled out, yawning at the ceiling.
And then there was me, swinging my legs restlessly.
"...C.B.," Rudolf finally said, not looking up. "Why are you still here? Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Haaaaah..." I let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Rudolf, can I be honest with you about how I'm feeling?"
"By all means."
"I want to see Hachimaaaaaaaaan!" I wailed.
Air Groove flinched, nearly dropping her papers. "Wh—!?"
"...Too loud," Brian grumbled.
"C.B., if my memory serves," Rudolf said, finally setting down her pen, "my brother only left the Academy earlier today. Isn't that right?"
"That is correct, President," Air Groove affirmed.
"...Until when?" I pressed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"How long is he going to be gone!?" I demanded, leaning over the desk.
"We don't have his exact itinerary," Air Groove said stiffly. "Perhaps you should ask Ms. Hayakawa?"
"Uuuugh, I want to see him... I want to act like a spoiled sister. I want to hug him. I want to nuzzle my head against his..."
"...Do you have to be so weird about it?" Brian muttered. "It's pathetic."
"Fine! Then when Hachiman makes his world-class meat dishes for me, I'm not giving you a single bite, Brian!"
Brian paused. "...That's a completely separate issue."
"Anyway," Rudolf sighed, "why are you here? If you don't have actual business with the Council, I'd prefer you to vacate the premises."
"Wow, Rudolf, so cold! I do have a reason to be here. You get it, right? Has there been any news about Hachiman's team?"
"Unfortunately, nothing yet."
"Tch. They're so slow to move."
"Now, now," Rudolf cautioned. "Don't say that. Even if it's something we both want, the Academy can't just make these decisions overnight. We have to be patient."
"Booooo..." I slumped onto the table.
Haaaaah... I wonder if Hachiman will come back soon. Maybe tomorrow?
"Hey, Rudolf? Do you have Hachiman's phone number?"
"I don't. And even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you. A phone number is private information."
"But Hachiman is like a brother to us! Family should have each other's numbers!"
"That is absolutely not how it works..."
"I can already see the exhaustion on his face," Air Groove muttered, rubbing her temples. "I almost feel a strange sense of... pity for the man."
"Life must be hard with someone as noisy as her following you around," Brian added.
"Hey! What's with you guys!?" I snapped. "I don't cause Hachiman any trouble! I just join in on his training sessions, that's all!"
The Three Council Members (Thinking simultaneously):
(Isn't that the definition of causing him trouble?)
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