Once they all ate breakfast Hope for Tomorrow went to her room to pick it up before she left. However as she left a different conversation started in the kitchen between her adoptive father and Stay Gold.
…
"So…" Stay gold started, "How did you end up taking care of her?"
"Straight to the point," her ancient trainer drawled, his tone both tired and weary, "Aren't we?" He said with sarcasm all but bursting from the seems, "You know… That really isn't my story to tell, Stego."
She looked up at him and smiled, it was a light airy thing born from her remembering the past moments they spent together whether it would be while she went on her long winding journey, her sneaking into Mejiro Manor because of her father's behest on her getting a special somebody.
Her being saved by her trainer when she was captured by her wives…
The good ol' days in other words.
However it looks like her old trainer was getting tired of her not saying anything… and combine that with the dopy smile on her face as she remembered the past, he spoke.
"Well, if… if you want I can tell you how she lost her parents…" his face was downcast, his eyes filled with self doubt as if he should even be saying this, "Only of course if you can tell me why you're smiling like that, because I swear to the three goddesses Stego, that if you are thinking of any kind of weird play you did with Ori—"
"W-WAIT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FINISH THAT SENTENCE OUT LOUD!"
"Oh…? Pray tell Stego, why I shouldn't say such things in my house?"
She brought her face closer to her ancient trainer and spoke into his ear,"My reputation as a father in law is on the line here…" she whispered to him.
"…" he looked at her with an expression of pure shock, "What do you mean?" He questioned his voice becoming unnaturally serious, in such a way that a father, adopted or otherwise could make when they realized that their daughter's crush which they had assumed was one way turned out to be both ways.
"Oho," A smug grin spread across her face as she smiled like a Cheshire Cat, "I guess I'll tell Orfevre the good news then."
Her old trainer's face darkened, until he stilled and looked as if he had had a "eureka" moment, "I'll tell you how she ended up in my care, my side of the story, if you don't tell Orfevre," he whispered into her ear.
"Well… I guess I could not tell her…" she had to choose between two things assist her child on her quest to claim the heart of her beloved, no matter what needs necessary… or… satisfy her curiosity.
"Alright, tell me."
"Ok then, but by the way."
"What is it, are you going to tell me it's something tragic like her parents were killed and she was forced to run away after her parents told her to because the killers wanted her!"
"No."
"Eh? Then what is it?"
"Well, first and foremost, you should watch less K-Dramas," she raised her hand to say something mouth opening before she was almost instantly cut off, by her trainer who had a hand rubbing his forehead, "No I don't care that you watch them with Oriental, I don't care."
"…" she said nothing.
"What made you think she had a high impression of you anyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"Think about it Stego, what were you wearing when she first met you?"
"What I was wearing when I to… bed…"
"Yeah… now you realize?"
"Yep…"
…
She gave an exhale of relief as she finished cleaning up and tidying up her room, she could hear parts of a conversation outside her room, from the kitchen, but she mostly ignored it.
It wasn't her business after all.
So she packed up her bag and left her room.
"Old man! Stay Gold-san! I'm donne!" Was what she was saying while she left only to face a particularly… odd scene.
That of Stay Gold sitting on her dad's lap…
She opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.
Her mind first went into assuming they were doing something inappropriate.
But she quickly ruled that out, they seemed to just be talking after all.
So she quietly edged closer, feeling to shy to say anything but hopping her presence would be able to make them realize they weren't alone.
How they hadn't heard her before she didn't know.
As she edged closer, and closer she heard of something, a fire.
"Eh," she started almost right behind them, "A fire broke out nearby?" She asked a bit panicked.
Her adopted father quickly caught on to the situation and assuaged her worries telling her there was nothing to worry about and that it had already been contained.
She slowly calmed down after her old man fussed around her.
Their guest actually spoke next, "Well, I don't want to be the one who ruins this beautiful atmosphere, between overprotective father and traumatized daughter, but I really, really think we should start going to Tracen."
Her old man gave his trainee the stink eye before acquiescing and accepting that it would be best if they left and started to go.
And so the first steps to her new life, for the foreseeable future would begin.
A story highlighted by the despair of the present, of the fear of inadequacy, of the fear of failure at being able to uphold a promise. To that despair being overcome by the hope that belongs to tomorrow alone, for to hope is to believe in something or oneself when despair reigns supreme and to still hope anyway.
…
Meanwhile in TracenAcademy…
Dream Journey looked at her sister from the corner of her eye and was puzzled to see her all but quivering, no shacking in excitement.
"Oru, why are you shaking?" She asked atop her trainer, who could only hold in tears at his current predicament.
"Well, if you must ask sister it is merely that I feel like I shall see her again tomorrow," Orfevre said while still positively shaking a smile on her face as she remembered this "her"… she would have to investigate them, make sure they were suited for her little sister, and if they weren't… well that was too bad.
"… I see," she said her eyes all but crinkling shut, "If I may ask Oru…?"
Her sister gave her a stare the presence of the golden tyrant slowly revealing from her once hyper excited form, "You may."
"When was the last time you saw her?" It was a simple question one which would let her do some background search on this person her sister so obviously favored, it would also, hopefully let her find out more on how this person might tick, "Oh and what is her name?"
"Hmph, her name is something that speaks to me sister, on an almost personal level. But if you must know, her name is Hope for Tomorrow."
Her trainer twitched from under her at the name.
"A good name, truly but when did you last see her?"
"A good six years ago, why?"
"She had to hold in a laugh, maybe she wouldn't even have to do any research on this "Hope for Tomorrow" it would seem like her meeting with her sister would be able to shed any doubts from her mind on her character.
After all, her sister had changed a lot, especially from six years ago.
…
Meanwhile, Dream Journey's trainer, one Ikezoe Kenichi, felt hope for the first time in a while, after all his senpai would also be returning as well, he would finally be saved!
There's no way his senpai would just leave him to suffer!
Right?
———————————-
This is the end of the chapter, before this there was 1304 words.
It may be difficult for me to make a new chapter for the week of the nineteenth as I have midterms but I will try, even if I must walk into hell.
Fun Fact, the scenario Stay Gold came up with was originally the original way I was planning on removing Hopes parents and giving her trauma, decided against it as I thought it would be a bit too extreme. So I decided to go with the one I currently have, which while not as tragic while still get the job done on giving her justifiable trauma.
I'll end this with a little hint based in Nasuverse trivia.
What is oftentimes the mage association and the church go to move for explaining away the supernatural?
Have a good night, good day, good morning, good afternoon, well… good whatever.
This is GreekAntrielos signing off.