Chapter 89: Reunions

"..."

"..."

"..."

"When… when do you think Silvie and Tomoe gonna come?"

"Shut it, Gary."

"I… I was just asking bruh."

Gary could only slouch deeper into his seat as the tone of Hannah's voice almost buried him alive. He was used to Hannah being violent and fussy, but it was never to this level of heaviness.

They were in their usual hideout-- or perhaps it could be said to be their superhero cave now, the Korean Shaved Ice store. And it was supposed to be cold in the shop, but Gary could feel himself sweating from the heavy atmosphere hissing in the air.

Gary's eyes then turned towards Charlotte, as if begging her to do something about this situation like she did last time. But alas, Charlotte just quickly avoided his eyes; fidgeting with her cashier's terminal even though there weren't even any customers.

Seeing as Charlotte was completely ignoring them, the only thing that he could do was look back and forth across the people at his table.

Hannah, Katherine, Riley, and his mother, Diana.

Of course, if he already found the situation incredibly uncomfortable and nerve-wracking… what more Katherine?

Katherine was now feeling something that she couldn't explain. Riley's mother said she wanted to talk to her, but so far, Diana has only been quietly sitting at her seat without even saying a word for almost half an hour now.

There was a smile plastered on her face-- her heart, however, almost deafened Katherine from how fast it was beating; she wouldn't be surprised if Diana just fainted right here and now.

Just say what you want to say already-- Katherine thought as she returned Diana's smile.

"Where will you be staying in the Academy, mother?"

But finally, after a few more seconds of this awkward and chilling silence, Riley was the first to speak.

And soon, finally, Diana also broke her silence-- but not to answer her son's question.

"How old are you, Scarlet Mage?" But instead looked at Katherine straight in the eyes, her tone completely cold; her smile, however, still stood strong.

"I'm… 28, Mrs. Ross," Katherine quickly answered, but not without taking in a gulp mid-sentence.

"How old do you think Riley is?"

"...17."

"He is 16, Scarlet Mage. Barely--"

"I am actually 17 years old now, mother," Riley interrupted the conversation.

"...What?"

"My birthday already passed inside the Academy, mother," Riley mentioned, "You even told father to greet me on your behalf."

"When… when did that happen?"

"A couple months ago, mother," Riley said.

"..." Diana squinted her eyes at Riley, before once again focusing her attention on Katherine, "E… Either way, he just passed the age of consent."

"You tell her, mom!" Hannah added, her head always facing the ceiling as she tried her best to look down on Katherine."

"My son is still very young and ignorant about the world," Diana then let out a sigh, "I am afraid that you are preying on his innocence…

...What exactly is it that you want from him?"

"That's…"

What was she even supposed to say? That Riley has her mother hostage and that she was actually just a slave to him? Or that…

"I am in love with your son, Mrs. Ross."

"Oh, shit!"

Gary, whose eyes were still carefully watching the scenery unfold in front of him, could not help but rise from his seat; however, his head was quickly slammed to the table by Hannah as she stood up.

"Love!? Do you even know what you--"

"I see," and before Hannah could even finish her raging words, Diana raised her hand and gestured for her to calm down-- and seeing the serious look on her mother's face, the only thing Hannah could do was obey.

"And what about you, Riley?" Diana then said as she looked at her son, "What do you feel about her?"

"I am incapable of feeling love, mother."

"Yes, yes," Diana quickly waved her hand, "But what do you feel about her? What is her role to you?"

"..."

Riley glanced at Katherine for a few seconds, before turning his head back to where he was previously looking, "She is very important to my daily operations, mother. I can't do the things I have been doing now as efficiently without her help."

"I… see."

And soon, Diana's shoulders began to tremble; and if one focused their ears, one could hear her whispering something.

"M… mom? Please… calm down," Hannah then said as she slightly moved away from Diana, "See what you did, Riley!? You made her--"

"My son finally has a girlfriend!"

Hannah then almost stumbled to the ground as Diana suddenly stood up from her seat, raising her hand as she moved closer towards Katherine and Riley. She then grabbed her phone from her bag and started taking pictures of them.

"W… w… what are you doing, mom!?" Hannah said as she tried to grab the phone from her mother's hand, but alas, she was weirdly fast.

"Interesting," Riley muttered as she saw the phone, "You were allowed to bring in your phones, mother?"

"No," Diana shook her hand as she continued taking photos of Riley and Katherine, "They gave it to us when we were in the van."

"..." Riley squinted his eyes as soon as he heard his mother's words. The students were allowed to have phones... and now even the families.

The government was so secretive of the Academy at first, but now it felt like they wanted them to be shown to the outside world. Just what exactly is their plan?

It was definitely something they couldn't do when Mega Woman was still present. He should probably have Katherine check in on--

"Mom! I thought you were on my side about this!"

His thoughts were then completely disrupted as Hannah's body began to emit fumes, causing Charlotte to panic as their store's display started melting one by one.

"I am, dear," Diana then stopped taking photos as she let out a sigh, "But I am also on your brother's side. You know, throughout his growing up, I always thought that he was never going to have a girlfriend?"

"T… that's not--"

"And to think his first girlfriend will be this hot! Is your silver hair natural? Or did you have it bleached somewhere!?"

"S… something like that?" Katherine could not help but move to the side as Diana suddenly scooched over beside her.

"Mom… what are you--"

"Rather than that," Diana's tone then suddenly became serious as she looked at Hannah, "You're already turning 20 in a few months… when are you going to get a boyfriend?"

"What!? This isn't about me--"

"Why, hello there… future mother-in-law."

And before Hannah could even say another word, Gary stood up and quickly kneeled in front of Diana, gently holding her hand and smiling at her.

"Oh my," Diana chuckled, "Such a muscular young fella. Could it be--"

"No! He's not my boyfriend! Please don't continue your words!"

"What Hannah said is right, future mother-in-law," Gary then let out a long and deep sigh as he let go of Diana's hand, "But soon, I will conquer her heart and I can finally truly call you… my mother."

"My… how thoughtful of you, Hannah," Diana once again chuckled as she looked at her daughter, "For you to befriend another boy like your brother… who would think you were this compassionate."

"...What?" Hannah raised an eyebrow.

"This boy is in the spectrum as well, no?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

And so, for the first time ever, Gary had his mouth completely shut.

There were many more reunions happening all around the Academy; most are happy, some with tears of joy… and some also filled with pain and pretending.

"Tomoe Reynolds, we brought your mother here."

Tomoe was currently inside her apartment; the only light that could be seen was from her phone that reflected through her eyes. And even with the almost endless knocking resounding in the room, her eyes did not leave the phone one bit as they continued to stare at videos and photos of Riley.

"Tomoe Reynolds, your mother is here to see you!"

"Tomo--"

"It's fine."

"..." And as soon as a different voice seeped from the door, Tomoe's eyes suddenly began to flicker. But after a few seconds, they returned to normal as she once again stared at her phone.

"I'll… just see her later when she is not tired."

"That's… Very well, Mrs. Reynolds. Let me at least escort you to the Family Villa."

"..."

"..."

And as soon as she was sure that there weren't any more people outside her apartment, she quickly stood up from the bed; quickly leaving the room as soon as she got dressed.

Tomoe was one of the few who refused to see their parents; there were also those who met with their family… but in the end, did not really have the reunion they imagined.

"Father…"

Silvie was in her apartment, her body completely straight as her eyes followed the man walking around her room, which was free of any unnecessary items; almost immaculate, even.

The man continued to walk, his fingers trailing on the wall as he did so. And after a few more seconds of doing this, he stopped to check on his fingers; nodding as soon as he checked that there were no signs of dust sticking on them.

"Good," the man nodded, his glasses slightly sliding down the bridge of his nose as he did so. The man had the same hair color as Silvie-- a gold with a brown shade, tied into a ponytail.

"About the incident that happened, are you okay now?" The man then said as he stood in front of Silvie.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, father."

"I heard it was during the Festival?"

"Yes."

"Were you winning your event?"

"...I would like to think so, father."

"Hm, that is good to know."

"D… Dad?" Silvie's body then began to relax as she heard her father's sigh.

"Hm?"

"My… friends and I actually agreed to meet after this. They are waiting for me right now," Silvie muttered as she slightly looked to the side, glancing at her father from time to time, "Can… can you come with me to meet them?"

"Friends?" Silvie's father breathed out, "You have made friends here?"

"Y… yes," Silvie smiled, "You should come with--"

"I'm tired," Silvie's father shook his head before she could finish her words, "Tell them I will meet them next time."

"That's--"

"Go ahead," Silvie's father let out a small smile as he gestured to Silvie to leave, "I'll find my way through the Academy on my own."

"..."

"...Okay, father," Silvie once again stood straight, trying her best not to bite her lip, "Please… take your rest."

"Hm," Silvie's father watched as Silvie left the apartment, before shaking his head with a sigh,

"...I knew this was a bad idea."

One would be surprised that Silvie is not alone with this kind of reunion, as there were also many who wanted to please their parents. There are also reunions, however, that involved a subtle… malice.

"Is what you said on the phone true?"

"Yes, father…

...The One Cursed by God is here."