Chapter 429: This really is the life… |
Late Thursday evening in Japan, at the Smith family home.
Stifling a yawn, Meggie walked over to the kitchen to make herself some hot cocoa. There was a lot on her mind, so she couldn't fall asleep. But hopefully the warm and sweet cocoa would help.
At that time, John appeared from thin air. He noticed Meggie there and frowned. "Sorry, Meggie. Did I wake you?"
Meggie glanced at him and then shook her head. "No. It's fine, Dad." Another yawn came. But that time, Meggie couldn't stop it. She yawned and then shook her head. "Just couldn't sleep."
John slipped off his suit coat and tossed it in a spatial pocket before walking over to give Meggie a hug. "Want to talk about it?"
Meggie considered shoving him away. But then signed and leaned against John's chest. "It's nothing Dad. Just... girl issues."
John chuckled and patted Meggie's head. "Believe you me, you're talking to the bonafide expert in girl issues."
Meggie snorted and broke the hug. Dad was as ridiculous as ever... but it helped.
John smiled and then said, "Want some cocoa?"
John ruffled Meggie's hair and said, "Go wait at the table. I'll make it for you." After saying that, John headed to the kitchen, pulling out some milk, cocoa powder, white chocolate bars, and some milk chocolate.
Meggie followed him and leaned on the kitchen counter, watching.
John noticed and frowned. "What's up, Meggie? You seem really out of it." He placed a pot on the stove and turned the heat to medium to prep the cocoa.
Meggie sighed. "I dunno. It's just..." She thought about school life, her new friends, the current situation... and then she said, "Life is just weird recently."
John hummed. "I can see how." He started making the hot cocoa and said, "It must be a big difference from the life you were used to back in the Three Realms... and even the life up until now, since we've been on Earth."
Meggie nodded. "It is. I just..." She sighed. "I don't know what to do, Dad."
John finished making the cocoa and poured a cup of it for Meggie, adding in some marshmallows, whipped cream, and a candy cane to stir.
Meggie took the hot cocoa and started stirring it with the candy cane. "Tsuki is ignoring me. Most of the girls at school keep taking potshots at me. The boys act all weird around me. Rin and Yuri are nice enough to hang out with me and Emma, but it's just... making everything worse. And then there's the fact that Suzu-chan and Chi-chan have this weird power-tension dynamic making the rest of the high schoolers weird too..."
John made himself a cup of cocoa and frowned. "Seems like Hoshigawa Academy's a bit of a mess." He took a sip and then said, "Should I talk to your mom about it?"
Meggie shook her head. "It's fine." She sipped on her cocoa and muttered, "I can handle it."
"Hey." John set his cup down and said, "There are things you can handle, but there are things that shouldn't be happening in the first place."
Meggie was quiet and just sipped on her cocoa.
John sighed and shook his head. "I knew it was a bad idea to have an elite school of just talented kids. I told your mom, but those kids tend to be quirky and eccentric... lots of ego too."
Meggie snorted. "Tell me about it." She sipped her cocoa and frowned. "And everyone keeps stopping me from faceslapping the idiots too..."
John paused, a bit of sweat forming on his brow. "Meggie... just to be clear. You know that faceslapping is a metaphor, right? I mean, there were times I had to actually slap faces in the past. But it's not literal. It just means to do things that shatter their pride..."
Meggie rolled her eyes. She plucked a marshmallow from her cup and munched on it. "I know, Dad. I'm not stupid."
"Good." John sighed in relief. "Because if you actually slapped someone's face, you'd definitely send them flying. People on Earth aren't really durable, so we'd end up with a bloody mess instead of broken walls..."
Meggie shuddered. "Ew. Thanks for the imagery, Dad..." She shook her head.
"Just saying." John sipped his cocoa. "So what's going on? It seemed like you had things handled in your last texts. Did something else happen?"
"No. But it's just..." Meggie slumped. "Life was so much easier in the Three Realms. If anyone bothered me, I could just beat them up."
"Simpler, not easier." John shook his head. "Violence usually resolved issues in the Three Realms if you escalated it enough, but it also usually brought a lot of headaches along the way." He patted Meggie's head and said, "And remember how many times I had to handle things for you?"
Meggie looked down and sighed. "I know, I know. It's just... ugh. It's so frustrating." She stirred her cocoa with the candy cane, watching the peppermint stick slowly melt. "I just wanted to have a normal and fun school life like Tsuki said we would. But then she ditched me and everyone is just so WEIRD." She paused. "Well, except for Emma. She's nice..."
John hummed. "Well. We could always transfer you out to another school."
Meggie shook her head. "That'd be worse, Dad. I'd be the weird transfer student then, and I'd have to deal with all of this bull- bull crap again."
"True..." John sighed. But then he paused, looking thoughtful. "But this is a bit weird."
Meggie blinked. "What's weird?"
"Well." John hummed and said, "This sort of bullying... well, for you I guess it's attempted bullying. But anyway, this happened a lot on Earth when I was growing up. But that was before social media and stuff was big. I thought these days they just take photos of you and mock you on social media..."
Meggie rolled her eyes and then tossed her glittering emerald hair with blonde highlights. "Did you forget, Dad? I'm beautiful. Any picture of me is only getting likes."
John chuckled and ruffled Meggie's hair. "Hey now, just because it's true doesn't mean you should let it get to your head."
"Hey!" Meggie tried ducking away and said, "Quit it!"
John smiled and pulled his hand back. "Alright, alright. But that's true. My baby girl is very pretty. That's probably why you're in this mess."
Meggie huffed, feeling her face heat up. "I'm not a baby anymore, Dad."
John hugged Meggie and said, "You'll always be my baby girl, Meggie."
Meggie rolled her eyes. But even then, she let out a faint smile. "...Thanks Dad."
John patted Meggie's back and said, "Alright, Meggie. Now, you should get ready to go to bed. It's close to midnight, and you still have class tomorrow."
"I know." Meggie stepped back. "But... one more thing, Dad."
"Yeah, Meggie?"
Meggie hesitated. Then she said, "Mom told me I could do whatever I wanted as long as it doesn't make you mad. So... can I? Do whatever I want?"
John blinked. "Yue said that?"
Meggie smiled and finished her cocoa. "Maybe it's because of Rory. But Mom's been a lot more protective recently. I had to talk her out of expelling the entire class." She giggled.
John chuckled. "Well, I suppose Yue always a bit extreme when it came to people she loved... Though I thought she would be more strict since she's the headmistress of a prestigious academy."
Meggie smiled and poked John's arm. "Mom DID drop everything to chase after you when you left, Dad. Remember?"
"True, true." John smiled and patted Meggie's shoulder. "But alright. You can do whatever you want. But remember that what you do reflects on me and your mom, as well as your sisters. Be smart about it, okay?"
Meggie's eyes sparkled and she said, "Great! Then I'll make sure they don't even have any room to breathe!"
John's brow glistened with sweat. He wiped it off and then sighed. "Alright. But off to bed with you."
Meggie chuckled. "Okay Dad." She started walking away and giggled. "I can't WAIT for tomorrow... hehehe."
Both Mom and Dad had given her the okay.
That meant that Meggie was free to raise as much hell as she wanted. The only restriction was no killing or hurting... but there was plenty she could do in the meantime... hehehe.
===
By the time John headed to bed, Yue was already fast asleep. Aurora's crib was pushed right by the side of the bed, and Yue was gently holding Aurora's hand through the bars of the crib.
John smiled as he walked in and carefully untangled Yue's hand, pulling it out from the cradle.
"Mama..." Aurora grumbled and furrowed her eyebrow, waving her hands around.
John reached over and gently patted Aurora's belly. "Shh... sleep, Rory."
Aurora blinked, giving John a sleepy gaze. Then she let out a soft smile and went back to sleep.
John tucked Aurora in again and then slipped into bed next to Yue.
Yue pursed her lips and reached around, just like Aurora did. But then she grabbed John's hand and smiled. She rolled over to look at him with sleepy emerald eyes.
John kissed her cheek and whispered, "Hey, Wifey."
Yue grumbled and grabbed John's shirt, pulling him closer. After that, she buried her face into his chest and muttered, "You were out late..."
John patted Yue's back and gave her a gentle kiss. "Just for today. Won't happen again."
Yue huffed and wrapped her arms around John's neck. Leaning her forehead against his, she whispered, "No more lies."
John smiled and caressed her cheek. "No more lies. I told you, remember?"
Yue leaned into John's hand and let out a content sigh. After that, she snuggled against him and then slowly drifted off into sleep.
John held Yue and closed his eyes. 'This really is the life...'
Holding the woman you loved, spending time with family, a beautiful baby girl and lovely daughters...
John couldn't ask for anything more. But still, the moment he had that thought... 'Wait. Why does this feel like an epilogue chapter...?'