Chapter IV.LV (4.55) - Parents

  “Kizu!” Kizu’s father stepped out from among the dozens of parents and slapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Excellent. I see you received our letter!”

  Kizu had indeed been given a letter by Taroe earlier that day. It was addressed to him and announced that his parents would, in fact, be coming to Parents’ Day. In a way, Kizu appreciated the fact he only knew a few hours ahead of time. It gave him less to worry about in the days leading up to this.

  He opened his mouth to greet them.

  “Where is Finn? He’s supposed to be here. Is he not prioritizing our arrival?” Kizu's mother glared at the other students gathered. “I just received all of the rankings yesterday. I don’t know how Finn has managed to fall behind you in so many different subjects. It’s an embarrassment. His rankings have barely improved this entire semester and that’s despite the fact that all of the Tainted students missed the first several weeks. Absolutely incompetent.”

  Kizu’s father nodded in agreement, his face now stoney. “It is disappointing. I had higher hopes for him.”

  “It’s only his second year,” Kizu said. “He is trying hard. He spends all his time studying at the villa.”

  “Yes. I noticed he wasn’t in any official club,” his father said sternly. “Disappointing that he’s tossing aside other avenues of success while failing at the one he single-mindedly pursues. You, on the other hand, have found remarkable success in diversifying. Finn should be following your example.”

  “Why did you choose Drama Club?” his mother asked. “There are a dozen other useful clubs. Liberal arts won’t serve useful beyond casual talking points in your future.”

  “Now, dear, I’m sure he had an excellent reason.” His father looked at him expectantly.

  Kizu could have mentioned the tutoring he was receiving from the top student at the academy. That truly had been his reason for joining the club in the first place. But at the moment, he didn’t feel like sharing that information.

  “My girlfriend is a member,” he said simply.

  “Oh? Another merchant’s daughter? What company does her family control?” His father’s face lit up in excitement. Kizu could see the cogs working behind those gleaming eyes. “Also, I must commend the impeccable decision leaving behind your previous suitor. You once again proved to have keen foresight. The amount of finances we would have lost if we kept that connection would have been devastating for our company. Cut losses, focus on successes.”

  “Her parents are prison wardens,” Kizu replied.

  “Prison…wardens?” His parents exchanged a look of confusion. Kizu did not elaborate on the subject.

  “What are you planning to do here?” Kizu asked. “Any specific teachers you want to talk with?”

  “We will discuss your and Finn’s progress with each of the professors,” his mother replied. “And then this evening we intend to spectate your club’s performance and show our support for you. As is our parental duty.”

  Kizu opened his mouth to snap about them slacking on their grandparental duties, but his comment never left his lips.

  “S-sorry I’m late!” Finn burst forward, shoving Kizu aside to face their parents.

  “You’re panting like a dog,” their mother commented. “It’s unseemly. Close your mouth.”

  Finn’s mouth snapped shut but his body continued to heave with every breath. Kizu surmised his brother must have run here.

  “I needed to—”

  “Excuses are worthless,” his father said coldly. “Results matter.”

  Finn hung his head in shame.

  “Now,” their mother said. “I want to know, son, what did you prioritize over meeting with your parents? What is more important to you than your family?”

  “I….” Finn glanced at Kizu, then quickly went back to their parents. “I was meeting with the headmaster and it went late.”

  “Oh?” A light returned to their father’s eyes and his face lost some of its hard exterior. “A meeting with Headmaster Ballarfulur? That sounds promising.”

  “So long as it was not disciplinary,” their mother added darkly.

  “It wasn’t,” Finn said quickly. “My team won a competition and the headmaster wanted to meet with each of us individually to discuss our future.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “What did he say?” Kizu asked. He'd never stopped to consider what his fellow teammates might chat with the headmaster about. Well, obviously they’d discuss academics and ask about how to excel further. Though…now that he considered it, Ione and Faible might have had altogether different conversations with the headmaster.

  “He asked me about my plans for after the academy,” Finn replied to the question, while not actually looking in Kizu’s direction. “I spoke to him about the family business and asked what direction he recommended I devote my studying in regards to being of use for our family.”

  “Interesting.” Their father’s disposition towards Finn had completely shifted. He surveyed the area with suspicion, clearly now aware of all the other parents and students in the room. “Let us return to the villa and we can discuss this in private.”

  Kizu noticed that while their parents didn’t mind berating Finn in public, they were significantly less keen to divulge any secrets that might allow them to get ahead of their competition. His family wasn’t the only one at the academy with a trading company.

  “I don’t have time right now,” Kizu said. “I’m expected to go through a final rehearsal with the Drama Club.”

  “That’s fine.” His father waved a hand, still focused on Finn. “We will meet with your professors and then go to your performance. After Finn regales us with your headmaster’s tactical insider advice. All accounts state that the man is privy to a great many secrets involving current affairs. Invaluable with the unprecedented times we face. I lost a great deal in Ilosin-Don’s invasion. Not as devastating as many of my peers, but it still put my back years in plans and burned many of my assets. Edgeland’s fall hurt less because of the safety nets I placed on foreign market shares.” A smile with teeth split across their father’s place. Unlike the pridefully pleased smile Kizu had witnessed from the man on several occasions in the past, this smile was tainted with a glint of greed. “Knowing what comes next can not only allow our family to avoid devastation and mitigate damage, it can also be manipulated to put us ahead and in profit.”

  While Kizu strolled alongside his parents and brother until they reached the academy gates, they clearly had lost interest in Kizu for the moment while his father continued to speak on opportunities and praise Finn’s cunning in broaching the subject with such a powerful man. Meanwhile Finn preened under the praise, smugly shooting several triumphant looks in Kizu’s direction while they walked.

  Only for a moment did their conversation deviate.

  “Kizu,” his father said, returning his attention to him. “I heard the nobility will be among some of those attending today’s events. Have you heard anything from your connections that might be prudent to be aware of when negotiating trade agreements?”

  “No,” Kizu replied. “Aoi mentioned earlier today that Emperor Sasaki had to pull out of attending at the last minute. Something about his fiance. So it’s just her father here for her. And one of the Inari family to handle Prince Akira.”

  “Interesting. An event involving his fiancé.” His father nodded slowly, as if trying to parse whether that information held any value. “Inform me if you overhear any further useful insights.”

  Kizu said his goodbyes, grateful for an excuse to split from his family.

  He arrived at the stage and watched as several students, alongside a large, two-headed bear, used enhanced strength to heave up several of the large set pieces.

  “Escape the Kaga clan?” Ione asked as he sat down in a seat next to her. She kept her eyes forward, focused on the exact instructions of her summon. Last week one of her summons had smashed several of the important grave marker props and she was likely concentrating on avoiding a similar event right before their performance.

  “Thankfully. They’re busy with Finn for the moment. What about yours?”

  “Same,” Ione said bitterly. “My mother is reviewing Sene’s speech with her. Only too happy to let me head off for rehearsal.”

  Not wanting to step too hard on the toes of the issues between the sisters, Kizu changed the subject. “What did you end up talking to the headmaster about at your meeting?”

  “Never happened.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Haven’t met with him. Honestly, I forgot about it entirely. Why? What brings it up?”

  “Finn met with him earlier and asked him for advice on the family business,” Kizu replied.

  Ione shrugged. “I guess that’s smart.”

  “I don’t know. It felt kind of gross. Like Finn was trying to use the headmaster as a tool to advance his own objectives. Like a stepping stool for our family to reach greater heights.”

  Ione laughed.

  “What?” he asked, annoyed.

  “Sorry.” She wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. “But, Kizu, remind me, what did you ask him about in your meeting?”

  “I asked about Anna. And he gave me advice on how to get better at magic.”

  “So you are using him to advance your own goals at finding your sister and helping your family?”

  “Well—” Kizu spluttered. “It’s not like that. I’m not asking how to gain more monetary value.”

  “Monetary value is what Finn believes is how to protect his family. You and he aren’t asking that different of questions, just approaching it from different angles. And with different family members as your priority.”

  “I guess.” Kizu thought it over. “But…I think Finn is doing it for different reasons. He wants our parents' approval. I just want Anna back.”

  A large prop pony slipped from the bear’s paws and crashed into the stage ground. Two of the legs cracked off. One of the first year club members chased after the legs as they fell off the stage.

  “Ah! Damn!” Ione cursed. “Kizu! You’re distracting me with your silliness and stupid handsome face. Go backstage and practice vocal exercises or something before I accidentally break something else!”

  Kizu rolled his eyes and stood. “One more thing. Am I going to get to meet your mother while she’s in town?”

  “Yeah,” Ione grumbled. “Sene told her about our relationship. She wants to meet you and your parents. I might be the worst diviner in the academy, but even I can foresee an awkward dinner in our near future. Let’s try not to think about that right now.”

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