Lesson Learned

We should take a break

A/N: Wow, I'm winning at this Quarantine thing XD

***

Rio smiled when she looked around the café. "Wow, you were right, this is a cute place."

Mitsuko smiled at that, the two of them sat by the window of the small café in the city. "I found out about it online." She sipped her soup. "Thanks for agreeing to come by the way..."

"No problem." Rio smiled, gulping down some of her tea. "The food and drinks are great." She let out a satisfied sigh after she took another sip. "Next week I'll show you this fast food place that just opened." She grinned. "Imagine American burgers, but with a twist!"

Mitsuko raised an eyebrow. "It's not going to be like that place that did the chocolate covered bacon is it?" She wrinkled her nose. "Because that was just gross..."

Rio laughed. "Hey, you need to embrace it to enjoy it!" She twisted some noodles around her fork. "As soon as I get the chance to visit the States again, I'm grabbing the biggest burger they have." She winked. "The fattier the better!"

"And you'll be back with diabetes," Mitsuko replied dryly.

Rio shrugged. "It'll be worth it." She drank some more tea. "So, how have you been." She was trying to sound casual about it. "Everything okay at home?"

"Well...." Mitsuko sighed, leaning back in her chair. "My mom is...being more stressed than usual."

Rio's brow furrowed. "Is it bad?"

She shrugged, sipping her own drink. "She just needs a break from my dad. I've already been looking at hotels but Gakushuu is still being stubborn about it." Her lips twisted into a scowl. "He keeps saying he's too busy, but mom really needs this break."

"Have you tried kicking him up the ass?" Rio asked casually. "It might persuade him."

Mitsuko chuckled. "Uh, I don't think so." She sighed. "I'm hoping he'll come around soon. I think he's just stressed because of the Principal." She looked down. "I still feel guilty for leaving him all alone...he's a lot more vulnerable than people realise."

Rio didn't seem to believe this. "Or he's also a lot more self-absorbed than you realise?"

"Don't say that." Mitsuko brow furrowed, feeling annoyed. "He's my brother, I know him better than anyone," she said firmly. "He might be a jerk and he is selfish at times, but he's a good person when it comes down to it."

Rio sighed, leaning on the table. "Look, I know Gakushuu isn't as bad as he likes to make people think, but you have to admit he has a lot of issues he's not willing to admit," she reasoned. "He can't just treat people like garbage and he needs to get off his high-horse and stop thinking he's better than everyone."

"I'm not sure he's getting off that horse anytime soon..." Mitsuko replied grimly, finishing her drink. "I'm trying to get him to realise our dad's wrong, but it's like trying to move a mountain—he's so stubborn."

"So were you but you came around," Rio told her, smiling in amusement.

The corner of her lips quirked up. "Yeah, well I had all of you guys knocking some sense into me." She shrugged. "Plus, I think you underestimate just how annoying Koro-sensei's stalking is. That as his fake degrees."

Rio laughed. "Oh, yeah, did he tell you about that online university thing as well?"

"He wouldn't shut up about it," Mitsuko replied, huffing. "I guess even with the fake qualifications, he's still a good teacher..."

Rio raised her cup at that. "The best we'll ever have." She winked. "Too bad we have to kill the poor sucker."

Mitsuko frowned, feeling a small bit of apprehension. "Yeah..."