THIRTY-EIGHT
She spots Miku waiting at an outdoor table, frowning at a paper in her hands.
"Bit chilly to eat outside, isn't it?" she remarks as she takes the seat across from Miku, who laughs and puts down the paper.
"It is, but I've spent the morning holed up in my office, completing some paperwork, so I'm glad for the breath of fresh air, cold as it is."
Shaking her head, she says, "The countryside is much better for that, you know."
"Close enough," Miku shrugs, sliding a menu towards her.
Hm, what should she order today? Probably something she knows she likes, since Tsubasa's not here to eat the leftovers… and she feels like indulging a little, to make up for not being able to go with Tsubasa and Elfnein to their first school visit. Also, as she pointed out earlier, it's cold.
In that case, best to go with the cheddar cheese and broccoli soup, she decides, putting down her menu.
A waiter takes their orders, brings them their drinks—coffee for Miku and cranberry juice for Maria—and then they wait for their meals.
"We haven't seen you all in some time," Miku notes, gesturing slightly with her cup, "not since your birthday party a month ago. Hibiki's still complaining that you didn't let her throw you a farewell party—she's even more disappointed, though, that you won't be at the Second Division's winter party, you know."
She grins at the fond exasperation in Miku's voice.
"It would've been too embarrassing, too personal for Tsubasa, and we didn't want to make a big fuss, not so early on," she explains, biting the inside of her cheek so that she doesn't start smiling like crazy.
"Which is what I said, but Hibiki's stubborn," Miku sighs, shaking her head. "Tell me that you've been well, at least."
"All things considered? I'd say we're doing pretty well with the adjustment," she replies, giving in to a proud smile. "I'm glad Tsubasa is finally facing her past, her fears, after pushing it away for so long. Elfnein is starting to relax, too; she's getting comfortable with the idea of relying on us."
"But how about you? I know you have a tendency to forget about yourself, Maria."
She laughs and says wryly, "I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm the most well-adjusted person in that house—Tsubasa tries, and I'd never place such a burden on Elfnein, but I don't mind being the one taken for granted. It's my forte, you know, and it makes me happy to help them find themselves."
"That's not the question I asked," Miku reprimands, shaking her head minutely.
Parenthood, it seems, has changed Miku.
"I'm fine," she waves away the question. "Seriously. I miss Mom a lot, and having Kirika, Shirabe, and Chris over made things harder, but—I'm the happiest I've ever been. But, ah, there's one thing I'm worried about."
Miku smirks, "I know. So, what is it?"
"How did you and Hibiki choose a school for Carol?"
"Well," Miku takes a sip of her coffee, "with Carol it was a question more of which school was closest to us so that we would be readily available, and which school was willing and best able to help us with her specific needs. Everything else had to come secondary to that—health before all else."
As expected from a renowned surgeon.
"Elfnein doesn't seem to be concerned about distance so long as it's in the city, so we've been using her primary interest in the sciences to narrow our search. I'm just not sure if there's something in particular I should be looking for," she says, frowning.
"Don't overthink it," Miku advises. "When she's thirty-eight it won't matter what elementary school she went to, now will it? This isn't going to make or break her life—that is on you."
Groaning, she buries her face in her hands. "Way to make me feel anxious," she mumbles through her fingers.
a/n:
If I can find the time, I'll update tomorrow, but no promises.
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