Sorrowful Soiree [Social]

There was something fascinating about the neighborhood the Eisenberg residence was situated at. Tokyo was known to be a rather crowded and busy place, so one would often imagine it to be an area where people minded their own business, and yet as Arata's car drove into the neighborhood he would no doubt notice how quiet and peaceful it seemed. While it was on the outskirts of Tokyo, the more expensive cost of living here did allow a sense of luxury, as cars drove less frequently and sometimes one might find some children playing along the side of a street. But the most fascinating part was no doubt that when the blond-haired teacher entered the walkway toward the door, an elderly man who was tending to his garden, seemingly a neighbor turned his gaze toward him. It was not a judgemental stare, nor an inquiring one, merely a calm gaze that was accompanied with a brief smile as he returned to tending his own business.

Indeed, just from that look one could feel that this neighborhood looked out for each other. When the doorbell ringed Arata was first greet by a soft mewling sound, soon accompanied by approaching footsteps at the same time he walked up. "I don't think that's them Stumpie~ their train likely didn't arrive at the station yet."

A youthful and surprisingly playful voice declared as Arata's voice answered her comment. A momentary pause followed as the door unlocked, and a young woman appeared in the doorstep. At first sight one might had easily mistaken her for Elise's older sister, but that thought would quickly be cleared as the woman spoke.

"I'm afraid that Elly and Tetsu are still on their way back from Kashima. Although, 'her teacher' doesn't give me much to work with~" The lips of the woman curved up slightly, a smile that seemed quite similar to that of a certain burgundy-haired trickster. "Although, I have a fair assumption of who you are: Hayashi Arata-kun, am I correct?" She smiled softly, placing her arms behind her back as she hummed softly. "After all, few would match the description of her homeroom teacher."



"I am Diana von Eisenberg, Elise and Luka's mother. Please come inside, I'm certain it will be easier to talk while enjoying a pleasant drink, and I just finished gathering some snacks for the girls upon their return, so we are well supplied~"

A playful chuckle escaped her lips as she ushered the man inside, the Japanese bob-tailcat at her side peering with a clear hint of feline fascination at Arata. After crossing a small entrance hall the two would have made their way into the living room as Diana inquired with a smile. "Any preference for beverage? We have some teas, soda, water, even cola~ Although the apple juice is off limits, Elise would start a war if she finds you here drinking her favorite brand without permission~"

Grinning sheepishly the woman waited for Arata to answer her before she motioned for him to take a seat, something she did herself across from him while holding a cup of hot chocolate milk in her hands. "As you know, the students are currently on a break, so the girls spend their first half in Kashima, little Tetsu her hometown, but they are scheduled to return to Tokyo today to spend the remainder of their break here alongside Luka who will be arriving later in the evening."

She paused for a moment, as if she gave Arata the opportunity to talk if he desired so.

When Arata answered that he wanted some tea Diana seemingly went to prepare a cup, listening attentively to the teacher's words. At first he explained he had come here, desiring to apologize. It was after that statement the man continued, explaining that for some reason, judging from how he abstained from going further into detail, personal business had left the man incapable of being at the school lately. Diana nodded her head quietly as if she was considering his words carefully. Elise had mentioned it before to her, that Arata had quite frequently disappeared from the school for some reason, a reason that none of the other students really were aware of. However, it was after that, after that explanation that Arata bowed and came to the rather complicated matter of the reason he was here: Semper Fi.

He apologized about allowing her daughter to get hurt during the incident and how he longed to apologize to her and become a proper teacher for the class. It was finally, near the end of this explanation that curiously enough he commented about Elise's fondness for the piano. But first things first...

"Please raise your head Arata-kun." She began, her tone still soft as she placed the cup of tea, a simple but nicely brewed apple tea, no doubt a choice influenced by her daughter. "Did you notice something?" She inquired as she turned her back toward him and approached a small cabinet at the other side of the table, her hand gently reaching for what appeared to be a framed photograph.

"You first said you wanted to apologize, and then followed up explaining that your absence from your students' lives was caused by personal business."

She paused for a moment when suddenly Arata could likely feel the overal atmosphere in the room change, a somewhat more oppressive presence filling the air. A sudden masculine voice came out of nowhere, seemingly addressing the poor teacher.


"ARE YOU A FREAKING WHIMP?! A REAL MAN HAS NO NEED FOR EXCUSES WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING WRONG!"

Or at least, it might had seemed like that, if not for the fact it was Diana trying her best to put up a act, giggling softly as she continued. "Is what my husband would have said." A gentle smile lingered on her lips as she trailed a hand over the frame, showcasing a young man in it alongside what one could easily assume to be Diana and their children:



"What I'm trying to say Arata-kun, is that whether excuse or reason, do you believe it makes things right, that it makes it the pain and struggles of the students in your absence any less? What your students need is not a reason, they need YOU Arata-kun, show that you're sorry by being there for them no matter what happens."

She smiled sympathetically while slowly folding her hands on her lap. "Ah Yes, the Semper Fi incident..." Diana mused softly as she looked Arata straight in the eye as she continued. "The event where the murderer of my husband escaped, you, little Tetsu and my Elly were forced to deal with him during an attack by hostile trained military personnel."

She raised her hands up slightly, resting her elbows against the table while the back of her hands gently rested under her chin, a pose she had indirectly started to like using after her interactions with a certain principal.

"The same event where your carelessness in gauging your opponent's state led to both yourself and my daughter to get shot, correct?"

She waited for him to answer before she resumed. "If you're wondering whether I blame you for getting Elise shot? Yes, your carelessness led to that, and your experience as their teacher, a pro-hero who should be used to conflict should have prepared you to be aware that soldier would have been a threat as long as he was conscious or not properly restrained."

She paused, a deep sigh following. "But do I forgive you?" Another tense moment followed before her gaze softened and she regained a hint of her former smile. "I do, in the hope that you learn from your mistake for even as a pro-hero you are still human. However, do not forget: Those children are your responsibility Arata-kun while they are in your care."

She stretched her arms briefly into the air, as if to wipe away the tension and stress from her body. "Nonetheless, you didn't came here just to seek my forgiveness. The girls should be arriving soon enough. However, since you mentioned Elise's piano I should give you a fair warning."

Her gaze shifted toward the piano at the back of the room and continued. "The piano has always been a somewhat... complicated part of Elise's life. Yes, it is true, she is a talented pianist and from what I been told has recently even drawn the attention of certain influential people in the music industry. However, for Elise the piano is as much a way to express herself, as it a means to escape."

She paused for a moment, a soft hum following as she finished her cup of tea. "But why she would want to escape from 'hero society' is something you'll have to find out for yourself."

It was clear that Diana was a bit of a peculiar woman, and quite frankly a bit of a trickster, just like her daughter. Indeed, even the hearty chuckle that escaped her lips as Arata went into one of his over the top grandiose reactions, and despite the calm smile that lingered on her lips, there was a certain glint in her eyes that suggested she was taking this far more serious than one might had initially assumed, a thought only amplified further when she started to respond to his explanation.

"Whether she desires to leave the academy or not will be her own choice, after all she has already reached the age of adulthood, all we can do it lend her advice. Nonetheless, I do believe there are certain things at the school that might increase your chances, or at the very least give you more time."

She answered him in the same kind manner as before, reminding Arata that indeed, while in their eyes she might had still been a child in certain ways, when it came to society and the law, the fact Elise became eighteen during the winter of last year made it that she was, on paper an adult.

However, it seemed she was at least willing to entertain Arata's decision to explain his circumstances. "Understandable, after all it is only recently that the concept of legalized activities by those society call pro-heroes has been established. In the eyes of the government, you would have been labeled as someone who broke the law." She paused for a moment, taking her cup to her lips as she took a soft sip from it. "And as a teacher you surely understand the difference between a vigilante and those young students in your care. While I won't deny there are well-meaning vigilantes, it is often a case where they lack proper training and education, not that the same issue doesn't show in some of the students... After all the Sports Festival has been quite... intense to describe it simply." She smiled briefly at the last part, as if she was making a playful jest, yet it was at that time the front-door seemingly became unlocked and a familiar voice resounded from the hallway.

"Tetsu we're here~ Mama! I'm going to get Tetsu upstairs, seems she is still sleepy from all that training she did in Kashima~"

Indeed, there was no mistaking that energetic and cheerful voice as footsteps seemingly ascended along the stair Arata had seen earlier. "T-Tetsu don't grab me there, I-I- Geez you're such a sleepy-head when you get tired..." Mumbling in amusement the voices seemed to grow more distant, and judging from the sounds upstairs it was clear where the girls were.

"I'll let you two have some privacy~" Diana mused softly as she rose from her seat and picked up her cup, seemingly making her way toward the back of the room, disappearing into an adjacent room, and quite nicely timed for only a few moments later did a familiar red-head appeared to be approaching the living room.

"Mama, I'll prepare the guest room for Tetsu if she wants it-"

However, her sentence was disrupted midway when she spotted Arata, and the change seemed evident. Although she was smiling, her body tensed slightly and her eyes narrowed their gaze, a clear sharper look in them.

"Arata-sensei."

There was a clear difference in the way she spoke earlier, it was not exactly hostility, but a certain absence of that playfulness and cheerfulness which seemed almost trademarked as being associated to the girl's mannerisms.

"I wasn't aware the school had been planning to visit the families of their students over the break." She paused for a moment, stepping over to the fridge and grasping what appeared to be a small bottle of apple juice. "Although, I assume this wasn't a meeting planned with the faculty."

With a small twist of her hand she removed the cap of the bottle and turned her attention back to him. "... So why are you here sensei?"