Hot-Headed (Now also a podfic on spotify!)

Chapter 16

"Ochako-chan!" "Ochakooooo!" her parents called to her as Ochako stepped off of the train.

As promised, she finally found the time to visit her parents the weekend after arriving back at school.

It was Saturday and she would only be spending one night again but she'd caught an early train and would be able to spend all of today and most of tomorrow going out and gossiping with her parents, both of which were here to pick her up this time.

She rushed over to them, jumping into their outstretched arms and breathing the scent of home in deep.

Her father grabbed her one duffel bag and carried it for her as her mother incessantly asked questions like, "How is school?" "How are your teachers?" "How was your internship?" "Is Mt. Lady as amazing as she seems?"

Ochako answered them all in turn, humoring her mother as they made their way to the car and packed inside.

"So what's planned for the weekend?" she asked, poking her head in between the two front seats.

"Well I figured we could do some brunch first, then play it by ear," her father answered.

"Oh and I got that adorable dog movie you wanted to watch, Ochako," her mom told her excitedly, "So we can have a movie night!"

"Ooooo! Yes!" Ochako cheered, bouncing in her seat.

They went to a sweet little cafe for brunch, then strolled around the aquarium that was nearby, stopping off at the grocery store for what would be cooked tonight, not to mention popcorn for the movie.

Later that evening, they ate dinner together, Ochako going further into detail about her internship.

"So, I got to be the guard to the prince of Croatia!" she gushed with a certain amount of pride.

Her mother gasped, "Oh my GOSH, Ochako! That's so amazing! I knew Mt. Lady was a good person! That was the first mission she gave you? She must have so much confidence in you!"

Her parents beamed at her with pride and she smiled back, pleased to be pleasing them.

"So tell me all about this prince," her mom asked interestedly.

Her father sighed, shaking his head, "I'm gonna go set up the movie." Obviously, he wanted no part of this conversation.

"Well I can show you," Ochako said, pulling out her phone, "He is a public figure afterall."

She searched out "Prince Nathaniel of Croatia" and slid her phone to her mother.

When she saw his face, her mother's jaw dropped.

"WOW," she said, a little flustered, "he is stunning!"

Ochako nodded in agreement, "He was very kind too. We got to be good friends."

Her mother's brows hitched up at that but, knowing she didn't have the prejudice that others did, she told her mom the reality of it.

"Don't get your hopes up, Mom, he doesn't like girls."

Her mom's face fell into a pout, "Well doesn't that just figure. Gorgeous man and going to waste on men who probably don't appreciate him half as much as he should be."

Ochako thought of Nate saying something similar about liking men who were never into him. She smiled sadly.

"But, like I said, we did become friends," she said in consolation, "He even gave me his number. I suppose I should text him now that summer break is over..."

"Of course you should! Text him tonight! Invite him over for dinner some time!" she squealed like a schoolgirl.

"Oh my god, Mom, calm yourself!" Ochako laughed.