Chapter 436: The Idol’s Child – III |
After Emma changed into more comfortable clothes, and after Meggie had showered and changed into a new uniform, the three sat around the lounge table in Yue's office.
Meggie slid over a tray of chocolates that her mom stashed and said, "Here, Emma. Help yourself."
Emma hesitated and said, "Is it okay? Those look expensive... Won't your mom be mad?"
Meggie laughed. "Oh, she'll already be mad. Not at you, though, but at the idiots who hurt you."
Emma blinked and said, "...Really?"
Meggie gave a firm nod. "Really."
...Though probably not for the reasons Emma was thinking.
Meggie knew that her mom would be more concerned about the fact that this incident would definitely reduce her mom's time with Aurora because of all the fallout and drama that would happen.
But Emma looked happy to hear it regardless.
Emma smiled and then took a piece of chocolate, nibbling on the corner and letting out a content sigh.
Meggie nodded to Perry and said, "You can help yourself too, Perry."
Perry shook his head. "Thanks, Meggie. But I'm fine. I don't really like sweets."
"Should we raid the fridge then? I know Mom keeps some snacks Dad made here there. I think there should be some sandwiches and stuff."
Emma's stomach grumbled. She blushed and quickly hugged it. "I'm sorry..."
Meggie smiled. "Well, I guess that answers that. I'll be right back." She stood up and headed over to the fridge in the corner of the office, opening it.
Like she thought, there were plenty of sandwiches lined up and even neatly labeled.
Meggie just grabbed a few that looked good. Her mom might be mad later... but it was Meggie, so she'd get over it. She walked back and handed one to Emma and Perry. "Here guys."
Emma took the sandwich and nodded, smiling. "Thanks, Meggie..."
Perry nodded too. "Yeah. Seriously. I don't know how to thank you, Meggie..."
Meggie sat down with her own sandwich and said, "We're friends. There's no need to thank each other for stuff like this. It's a given. My dad always said there's no debts between friends."
...Well, unless they owed you money, or got married because of you.
...Dad had weird standards.
"Anyway," Meggie said. "Let's just sit and relax for a bit. My aunt should be here soon to pick us up."
Emma blinked and said, "Pick us up...?" She paused and then her eyes widened. "School! We're going to be late!"
Meggie waved her hand and said, "Relax." She puffed her chest out and said, "I'm the headmistress's daughter, remember? We'll be fine."
"But-"
Perry shook his head. "No buts, Emma." He held her hand and said, "You need to relax and take it easy. Besides..." His eyes narrowed. "I'm sure those people who hurt you would act up if they saw you."
Emma flinched and hugged herself.
Meggie reached over and patted Emma's hand. "It'll be okay, Emma. They won't ever hurt you again."
Emma was quiet and lowered her head, hiding behind her blonde bangs. "I'm sorry. It's..." She teared up and brushed her eyes. "I've always been a burden on everyone. Even now... Mom, Perry, and now you, Meggie...!"
Meggie got up and hugged her. "You aren't. You're my friend, my best friend. Now stop that before I get mad."
Emma laughed and nodded, leaning into Meggie.
Meggie smiled.
Perry let out a sigh of relief.
Meggie carried Emma over to sit with her.
Emma blushed. "M-Meggie!"
Meggie smiled. "What? I told you I'm strong. I could slap the whole school around and still be good to go."
Emma giggled and said, "No faceslapping!"
"Just a little?"
"No!"
Perry chuckled.
Emma huffed. "Don't encourage her, Perry!"
Meggie smiled.
At that time, there a chime echoed in the room and the elevator door opened.
Meggie looked over, expecting to see Jenny. But she was surprised when it wasn't her.
Instead of the refined blonde beauty with blue eyes that should have been there, a kindly young woman in her late twenties stood in the elevator. Her hair, a light pink, fluttered behind her as she walked in. She was dressed casually, wearing a navy-blue shirt and jeans, but it didn't hide her natural beauty. A beauty that was currently marred by fear and concern as her violet eyes swept around the room, her heart-shaped pupils shaking. "Perry? Emma?"
Meggie waved. "Over here, Miss."
Emma looked over and her eyes lit up. "Mom!"
The woman let out a sigh of relief and ran over, scooping Emma into a hug. "Thank god. I was so worried... Where were you? And Perry too? You've been out all night..."
Meggie blinked and looked at Perry. She suddenly remembered how disheveled he had been when she saw him. Then she realized. "...You were out all night too?"
Perry coughed and averted his gaze.
Meggie sighed. Then she looked at the woman and said, "You're Emma and Perry's Mom, right? I'm Meggie."
The woman smiled and said, "Nice to meet you, Meggie-" Her eyes widened. "Oh my!"
Meggie blinked. "What?"
The woman shook her head and said, "I'm sorry. It's just... I knew it, but you look a lot like Headmistress Yue." She smiled. "You really are her child... Oh! I should introduce myself." She gently set Emma aside and then said, "My name is Koi Nozomi. I'm also a teacher here, but I think you all won't have me for a few years... But that's not important." She gave a deep bow and said, "Thank you for keeping my children safe, Meggie. And thank you to your mother as well. Thank you, truly..."
Meggie panicked and quickly ran over to help her up. "H-Hey! Stop that! I'm just a kid! There's no need to kowtow to me...!"
...Well, maybe that wasn't completely true.
Meggie was technically older than this planet if they went by objective time measures. B-But she was still physically a kid, and she was living the life of a kid now for the first time, so that counted!
...Right?
Right!
'Focus, dummy!'
Meggie broke off her train of thoughts and helped Koi to her feet.
Koi straightened and let out a warm smile. But then she paused and looked at Emma and Perry. "I didn't hear the details, but the staff and Headmistress Yue said something happened and that I should be here... Um. What happened? And are you two okay?"
Meggie glanced at Perry.
Perry looked at Emma.
Emma lowered her gaze.
Meggie sighed and then said, "I'll explain, I guess. You see..."
===
The Smith household.
John held Yue in a tight hug and said, "No."
"Husband~ Please let me go." Yue squirmed and said, "I have business to attend to."
"No, Yue. Not until you calm down."
"Ba!" Aurora waved her fist around, glaring.
"And no, Aurora Smith. Don't encourage your mother. Also, see, Yue? You're being a terrible influence on our baby girl."
Yue paused and then let out a sigh, slumping. "...But those idiotic children made our Meggie cry. And she felt so much heartache..."
"I know. But adults only step in when adult problems happen. Right now if we step in, it'll make things worse. Especially if you swing your authority around. Come on." John leaned his head against Yue's shoulder and said, "You know how well that turned out for your dad as the Jade Emperor."
Yue relaxed even more as John leaned against her. "That's not fair. You know that I can't be made when you hold me like this..."
"That's why I'm doing it."
Yue huffed, looking in the direction of the school. Then she said, "...Fine. I'll let Meggie deal with it. I... suppose she's grown up enough. But." Her eyes turn murderous. "If any foolish mortals dare to think they can harm her or what she holds dear-"
"Then *I'll* handle it, Yue." John held Yue tight and said, "That's my job." He paused and poked her cheek, smiling. "Remember? I'm used to these things."
Yue sighed. "...Fine. Fine. I suppose the Idiotic Savant is the best to deal with these idiots..."
"Hey!"
Yue giggled. Then she sighed and leaned against John. "...But it isn't fair. Why is our Meggie suffering so much heartache these days, Husband?"
"Well." John sighed. "It's just a part of growing up. You kept her protected well enough back at that place. But it's about time Meggie spread her own wings a bit too." He smiled and said, "You don't want to cage her up like you were, right?"
"Of course not."
"Then let her deal with this." John smiled. "Trust our Meggie. It'll be fine. And if it isn't, THEN we'll handle it. But not until then. Okay?"
"...Okay." Yue grumbled. "But I want another baby."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"...We'll talk about that after Aurora can walk."
"Tch."