Until I See You Again: War Of The White Lion

Weird

Sorry Again for the lateness, I have been working on chapters that surpass ten thousand words! Longer chapters are coming up soon!

Aoyama's POV

"And that concludes today's lesson," I announce, erasing the models of molecules on the whiteboard. The kids pack up their textbooks, pencils, notebooks, binders, and other belongings while chatting about what they're planning to do over the weekend. They laugh and talk as they head for the door as quickly as they can. Teaching chemistry to a bunch of kids is hard. Especially towards the end of the year when the older students have senioritis. 

After talking to a few stragglers about extra credit, the room is finally quiet, except for their voices down the halls. I hear heel's clicking on the floor. I look up to see Miho coming through the doorway.

"Hey," I say to her. 

"Hey," she says sighingly, she walks up to my desk and leans over it, "We need to talk."

"About what?" I ask, not looking up from the board. 

"It's about Taka-chan," She says urgently. 

Of course, it's about him. I sigh and I turn around from the whiteboard to see her concerned silver eyes burning into me. Of course. She adores her little brother. 

"What about him?" I ask casually.

Miho's pained expression worsens as she tries to find the words to explain herself. Eventually, she shakes her head and says what's on her mind.

"I'm worried about Taka," she says finally. She walks around the whiteboard and stands at my side, idly rubbing away colored streaks on the whiteboard as she talks.

"I was talking to him recently." 

I nod, letting her know I'm still listening. 

"He wants to go back to Matsushima."

"Okay, is that all?" I ask, putting away the erasers and markers. She doesn't say anything for a while so I look back at her to see her looking at me seriously. When she gets serious, that means it's no more fun and games with her. It's about getting to work. It's a strangely ongoing trait in our family.

"No. What do you think Dad's going to do?" 

"I don't know. I'm sure he'll be happy to see him."

"Dad's been getting kinda weird lately. You've heard him. Saying things that never happened. Slurring his words. Getting delusional."

"Old age. He's getting near his time." I say simply.

"Which is why Taka needs to see him. But here's the issue. Do you think Dad will want to see him? I mean, I'm happy to have Taka back, but have you seen him?" she says, bringing her voice down to a whisper. I lean in to whisper too.

"Yes. And I know what you mean."

"It's a weird sight to see, a guy in his mid-twenties with white hair and a floating arm. Dad's a traditionalist and Taka is anything but traditional. I don't think their encounter is going to go well." she worries. 

She's right. He's a strict traditionalist. He was really disappointed that Taka wanted to the Garrison. If he just stayed a few more years, he could've waited for a UE Base to be built in Sendai. Then he could take classes and be an officer. But Dad's mind is kinda going.

"Maybe," I say slowly as I think, "He's going to be so out of it he won't notice."

Miho does not look impressed.

"He has a floating arm, Aoyama. Who's arm just floats? And it's not even his. It's metal and high-end tech. You don't just go around thinking a delusional person won't notice something like that." She says sharply, and gesticulating as she goes.