Nemesis, Vol. 3

Coworkers

Headquarters was filled quite generously, with crowds surrounding the dome-shaped building within HQ. 

Nikolai and Asami were one of the many individuals on the outside of the stadium. 

The stadium was specifically built for not only graduation, but it also holds responsibility for other political meetings that shall ever take place within the IJA headquarters. 

Nikolai was dressed within a formal suit and tie, as it was required of him to do so for this event, as well as looking professional for his daughter's big day. The outfit was almost perfect for the occasion, however, it didn't suit Nikolai in terms of comfort. Nikolai found himself tugging at his collar like a professional fisherman wheeling in a cod.

"Dad, leave it!" Asami shouted as if she were Nikolai's mother.

"I'm sorry pumpkin, but this is really tight... god I hate suits..." Nikola said.

"But you like turtlenecks..." Asami replied, how could one find more comfort in a turtleneck compared to a dress shirt?

"Hey, those are really comfortable."

"We're supposed to meet with Class B before Graduation starts. You should go to your seat."

"I'm fine with walking my daughter to her class."

"Oh god..." Asami thought, she wasn't sure if her father could be any more embarrassing than what he currently was. 

Asami and Nikolai walked through the crowded exterior of the dome and entered from the beautiful glass display within the entrance. 

There were two signs by the interior entrance of the stadium, one pointing to the left labeled "Class B", and the right labeled "Class A".

"Ok, so I'm guessing we're that way." Asami said, pointing to her left, hoping this is where she and her father separate. 

Sadly, that wasn't the case as the two continued down the left path, and not even a few steps in, Nikolai began to tear up.

"Not again dad..."

"I'm sorry sweetie... it's just... you're all grown up now, I wish they would've told me it would be this fast..." Nikolai said as his sense of accomplishment continued to pour through his eyelids.

"We're here." Asami said as they approached an open room. 

Olivia is there and she spots Asami while she is with her dad.

"Hey Asami!" Olivia shouted while standing with her father.

"Oh hey Olivia, so this is where we wait?" Asami asked as Olivia and her father approached Asami by the entrance.

"Yeah."

"Who's that?" Asami asked, angling the question toward Olivia's paternal figure.

"My dad..." Olivia softly said.

"Nice to meet my daughters classmates... Nikolai?" Edward said, easily recognizing his coworker.

"Edward..." Nikolai said.

"You two know each other?" Olivia and Asami asked, both surprised that their father's were more familiar than just coworkers.

"Yes..." Edward replied.

"We're coworkers..." Nikolai added, his stare was a bitter one to say the least.

"You know my daughter finished her training a week before graduation." Edward said, somehow making this gleeful day into a competition.

"No I didn't..." Olivia thought as her Father and Nikolai clearly made this more than it had to be.

"Quit while you're ahead Edward, my daughter is better than yours, by a longshot." Nikolai said.

"Dammit, I was going to say that!" Edward thought, then said, "Well, you're sadly mistaken, my daughter is the champion of this whole graduation."

"Get real Edward, My daughter is a future division captain."

"Well my daughter will 1 up that, she'll be a future Director. " Edward said as their rivalry clearly sparked beyond just this moment.

"Hm..." Nikolai said, thinking of words that can raise the bar.

"Where'd they go?" Edward asked as he noticed both of their daughters were gone.

Olivia and Asami preferred to stay hidden rather than continue with an embarrassing conversation, even though neither said a word before it got personal.

"Good thing we ditched them..." Olivia said.

"That's the first time my dad was distracted from something that wasn't me."

"At least your dad didn't make you fence while you trained..."

"Wow, that does suck..."