Disclaimer: I do not own DanMachi or any of Omori's original characters, nor do I make any profit off of my writing.

"Papa? What are you doing?"

That was a damn good question. What was he doing?

Tying a tie, for one, but that didn't seem to really be all that important considering the much larger thing going on in the background. Namely, his fast-approaching date with his daughter's teacher. What? Huh? How? He was still so very confused. Had that been a part of Miss Sanjouno's plan? To spring it upon him so suddenly had no time to come to terms with what was happening and only dumbly nod an agreement? He had no idea, but he found he didn't really mind either.

Being slapped stupid by the sudden ask was far better than his prior plan of fumbling like an idiot as he tried to ask her.

Blatantly, the father's gaze shifted from the mirror's reflection of his tie to the child peeking out from behind his legs.

"I'm getting dressed."

"Why?"

"I'm meeting somebody for dinner."

"Why?"

"For a date."

"Wassat?"

Bell sighed. Wiene was really into her questions these days.

"It's where two people who like each other go out with one another to spend time together."

"Oh."

".. "

"Like us?"

"Kind of, but that's different."

"Why?"

He would never forgive Miss Sanjouno for this.

"Well, those are kind of like father-daughter dates. This.. is just different."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

The white-haired man snorted as he tightened his tie up the length of his neck.

"Just because."

"Oh."

".. "

"Can I come?"

"Sorry, little dragon, but it'll be just me and my friend tonight."

"Oh."

".. "

"Who is it?"

That's a damn good question, one Bell isn't entirely sure he wants to answer. How would Wiene react to him going out with her teacher? Well, okay, she probably wouldn't understand the importance of it at all, nor the significance of the outing.

It wasn't lost on Bell, though. To think, he'd be going out with a woman as beautiful as her teacher. Just a month ago he was panicking over how to introduce himself, and then – just after that – how to make the woman forget how he wept in front of her. He was still panicked – gods, he was so scared! – but he liked to think he was hiding it well.

(What was it that girl in Wiene's favorite movie always said? 'Conceal, don't feel'?)

Yeah. If he just pushed all of his fear and anxiety way deep down, there was no way that could come back to bite him in the butt!

"It's actually your teacher, Miss Sanjouno."

Wiene blinked. "Miss 'Hime?"

"Yes," Bell shook his head ruefully as he flipped the collar of his shirt back down, "Miss 'Hime."

"Oh."

He walked over to wear his suit jacket was hanging from the back of his desk chair and slipped it over his shoulders.

When he turned back to his daughter her eyebrows were furrowed and there was a look of complete concentration on her face. "So.. it's a.. co..ferese?"

"A conference, sweetie, and no. It's not quite a conference."

"Why not?"

"Well, there's nothing we need to have a conference for."

"Why not?"

Dear God—gods—goddesses—whoever, what did he do to deserve this fate?

"Because."

"Because why?"

Seriously, if this was punishment for something, he really didn't mean any offense! He swears!

"Just because, darling."

"Okay!"

".. "

"Can I come?"

Bell sighed. Again. It felt like he was doing that a lot.

"Sorry, but like I said before it's just going to me and Miss.. 'Hime."

"So.. what about me?"

Of course, Bell wasn't just going to abandon his daughter. She's five! She has the survival instincts of a kiwi! No, sirree. Not happening.

Bell carefully kneeled in front of the child, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled and ruffled her hair in all of the ways she hated. "You're going to your aunts for a sleepover!"

Wiene, of course, completely forgot to even scowl at her father when she heard the news. "Auntie 'Fia and 'Veria?"

"Of course! Who else?"

The only answer to his question was a squeal of unadulterated joy as Wiene practically used him as a baseboard and launched herself from his bedroom and back down the hallway. Bell had half a mind to be offended, but it wasn't like she could blame the child for loving her aunts.

Shaking his head, Bell rose and shouted down the hallway. "I've already packed you a change of clothes for bedtime and tomorrow, you can choose two, two, toys to take with you."

"Papa! Can I take the book?"

Bell snorted. He knew exactly what book she was talking about. It was a massive pop-up book similar to one he had owned as a child. Where his had contained amazingly intricate figures depicting Gods and Heroes of the past, Wiene's was a different breed entirely.

All things Dragons and Monsters, of course.

Bell had received his from his mother one Christmas, and he and his sister spent so much time exploring the pages. The art would never fail to pull them in, intricately configured to come to life with the turn of every page. It had probably been what had influenced him most to become an author. He..

.. he missed them.

His mother. His sister.

He missed them dearly.

Quickly, before any lasting reminders appeared, Bell wiped away the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks and turned away from his shoes to call back to the little hellion.

"Yes, but you have to remember the rule about the book, what was it?"

"Have an adult turn the pages!"

"Very good! Pack it up with your two toys then!"

"Yay! Thanks, papa! I love you!"

Once again, Bell ignored the pang in his chest, shouting back to the child as he did. "I love you too, little dragon!"

The rule was one Wiene inherited from his own childhood. When he had said the pop-ups were intricate, he meant they were intricate. Turning a page too quickly or without proper care could spell disaster for the art inside. Bell had more than a few close calls when he'd stolen away with the book for just one more peek ("Please, mom? Just one quick look! We'll be extra careful!") inside.

With both of his shoes tied, Bell chanced one last glance at his mirror and smiled shakily at the image that greeted him. He didn't look bad, per se, but he certainly felt awkward. When was the last time he wore a suit? They weren't really his style. It was grey, nothing too fancy really. No pinstripes or cufflinks or handkerchiefs. He did well enough as an author, but certainly not that well. This was actually the only suit he owned. Honestly, the only reason it wasn't black was because his aunt (the fashion diva she was) had strong-armed him into buying something different, insisting that grey would be 'classier.' Whatever that meant.

His leather dress boots matched his belt nicely, even if the latter was hidden by the suit jacket when buttoned. And even Bell had to admit that the navy of his tie was nice.

Besides, it wasn't like there was much else he could wear.

Resigning himself to disappointing his first-ever date (though secretly hoping she liked it), Bell slowly walked down the hall and peeked a head inside his daughter's room. "Wiene? Are you ready?"

"Almost!"

There was a few grunts from inside and Bell instinctively pushed the door open, pulling his head all the way into the room. His shoulder was soon to follow as the man watched his daughter work in mild amusement.

He supposed she was keeping to her word and only choosing two toys..

.. that didn't mean he shouldn't have added a size limit.

"Wiene, I'm not sure that'll fit.. "

"It'll fit!" There was another grunt as she used all sub-forty pounds of her might to press the lid of her travel bag down and wrestle with the zipper.

As expected, it didn't work. Mainly because the lid wasn't even remotely closed to closing, but also because the lid wasn't even remotely closed to closing.

"I think it might be a bit too big."

"It's not!"

Bell checked his watch and shrugged to himself. He was ahead of schedule, if Wiene wanted to try to spit in the face of physics, who was he to judge? Not like he could blame her. Physics was stupid. He still held a grudge at being forced to pass it for his English degree. Stupid college. Stupid gen-ed requirements. Sue him for being bitter and weaponizing his daughter against the law of conservation of mass. Stupid mass.

In the end, Wiene did not, in fact, succeed in proving Antione Laviosier's law wrong. A shame. He could have used the check that came with the noble prize in physics.

The child huffed and puffed as Bell removed the colossal stuffed dragon from the significantly smaller luggage. She wiped away the sweat that was beading and slipping down her face, ignoring her dying lungs to give one last protest. "I can.. fit.. it!"

Her father smiled in amusement. "Little dragon, we don't have to fit it in the case to take it with us. I can just carry it inside your aunt's house for you."

"Oh."

"Yeah," he snorted, "oh."

With that out of the way, Wiene's bag was finally packed away and the dragon thrown over Bell's shoulder.

His daughter, ever his biggest fan, smiled and pat his leg when she saw him all dressed up. "Papa's pretty." A pause. "Dragons are still prettier."

Let it never be thought that Wiene did not have her priorities straight.

It started with a giggle.

That giggle turned into a chuckle.

That chuckle turned into full-blown belly laughter.

Haruhime found she wasn't quite fond of being laughed at.

"Aisha!" So, she snapped. Sue her. Her sister had been laughing at her for over five minutes now, it was just plain rude. There was no way her story was that funny. "Are you going to help me or not?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's just—" She snorted. "You—you actually asked somebody out! And—and- !"

"Yes, yes. I asked Bell out and didn't even recognize he'd said yes until I was already home. We're all laughing here. Ha ha. Are you going to help me not royally screw this up or not?"

"Okay, okay!" Aisha closed her eyes and nodded seriously from where she sat, cross-legged, on the floor (though the tugging at her lips betrayed her efforts.) "I'm being serious now." She snorted and quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, her thumb pinching her nose against the side of her index finger. "Completely serious."

"Comforting," Haruhime snarked. Honestly. What did she have to do to get some honest assistance here? Wasn't it Aisha who'd egged her on to just ask Bell out in the first place? The woman was just leaving her out to dry at this point!

"Not my fault you're hopeless with romance, you should've paid more attention during our studies."

"Our 'studies' was trashy smut."

"And by the grace of the gods was it glorious."

"Yeah, yeah. Help?"

Finally, Aisha relented and jumped to her feet, stalking off and disappearing into Haruhime's closet. Not four seconds later there was a loud, derisive scoff echoing out from inside. "Good gods, woman, who died and made you heiress to the yakuza? Are you trying to be a Japanese princess?"

"I am Japanese, you know?"

"Half. You are half Japanese. And the half that isn't is the only half that matters."

Her sister never did forgive her father for abandoning her at the orphanage. (Much less for the things that came before that too.) Even if Aisha was glad to have Haruhime in her life, that didn't mean liked to think of her little sister suffering at the hands of some manipulative asshole.

Haruhime sighed and fell backward onto her bed, allowing her comforter to swallow her entirely. "Can we save that for later? I just need something to wear tonight."

"You said you're dressing up, right?"

"Yes, I panicked and told him I'd take him to a fancy restaurant."

There was an 'oho?' from her closet and the teacher could practically taste her sister's smirk. "You gonna be his sugar mama?"

Another sigh. "No, Aisha, I am not going to be his," she swallowed, "his s- sugar mama.. "

The older woman merely hummed and tossed a dress out the closet door. "You don't sound so – burn that, by the way – so opposed to the idea."

"I like that dress."

"That's nice. Burn it."

"But—"

"Haruhime, I love you and you're gorgeous, but that," she poked her head out and distastefully pointed toward the offending item, "is not. The nineties are over, please allow them to pass on with a big of dignity left. They deserve that much."

The golden-haired woman growled but it only caused her sister to smirk.

"Oho? So, you do have a bit of fox in you? That's good, you'll need it for tonight."

"You're insatiable."

Aisha winked at her and disappeared once again. "You love me!"

The bronze-skinned woman reemerged not even a minute later, boasting three dresses over her left shoulder and their accompanying shoes in her right hand. "Shall we?"

Tiredly, Haruhime nodded. She knew she shouldn't have called her sister for this. It was bad enough the woman had taken it upon herself to tease her mercilessly for her crush on the man, but this was all too much. She practically expected her to bed him tonight! She couldn't do that! It was improper! Much too fast!

.. she wasn't opposed to it if the opportunity should arise.

Once the options were laid out on her mattress, Haruhime examined them.

Red dress.

Blue dress.

Green dress.

Examination complete.

Now which to choose?

She vaguely remembered that she wore the red dress on the first day of classes. It had a certain brightness to it that forced all attention onto her. It was great for classes, little ones were quite fond of loud colors, and it was rather pretty, but..

.. it was also very drab. The color was just about all it had going for it.

Seeing her younger sister's face, Aisha quickly plucked the dress up and tossed it back toward the closet. "Good eye! That was a test, and you passed! You're taking this date seriously, I like it! In the past, you wouldn't have thought twice about wearing something as boring as that!"

Okay, she was allowed to insult the dress, not Aisha! What the hell? She still liked it!

It wasn't boring!

Again, reading her like a book, Aisha merely tutted and used a finger to push Haruhime's face back toward the remaining options.

Blue dress.

Green dress.

Both were admittedly nice. Aisha had taken the time to select a few pieces of jewelry to pair with them as well, an assortment of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces matching both colors were laid on the table.

The blue dress was cute. It had a high neck, bordering on a turtle neck, but it was also tight enough that showing skin wouldn't really matter. It wasn't like Haruhime was ignorant to her body, she knew how she looked, and that dress would certainly be doing her some favors.

The green dress, on the contrary, was had a deep sweetheart neckline. Aisha had only selected one necklace to go with it, and it was long. Just long enough, in fact, that it would settle rather nicely.. between her breasts. A nice addition, if she were being honest, though she wasn't exactly sure if Bell would be able to handle it. It had sleeves too, a blessing as October approached. But her perhaps the best part was the—

"Holy shit, are those pockets?"

She'd totally forgotten it had pockets!

Aisha blinked. "Eh? What the hell? Why does your dress have pockets?"

"I don't know but isn't that terrific!"

"What? No, of course not! How are you supposed to pretend your hands are cold if you have pockets to keep them in!"

"Why would I need to do that?"

"So, you can hold his hand, of course! Damn woman, I really have failed you, haven't I? How can a sister of mine be this hopeless?"

Wha—!? How dare she! "I am not hopeless!"

"You practically blacked out asking a boy out." Aisha deadpanned.

She..

.. had nothing to say against that. It was completely true. She honestly didn't even remember it happening, it felt more like a weird fever dream if anything. The only proof she had was the number in her phone and a calendar event she was confident she didn't put in.

"Also, the highlight of the dress was meant to be the fact that it goes well with your eyes. They're your best feature! Well, that and your magnificent ti—"

Haruhime slapped a hand over her sister's lips, previous irritation washed away by the colossal wave of mortification that painted her face red. "That's enough out of you. Green, I choose green."

Aisha licked the palm of Haruhime's hand, smiling once her mouth was free. "Great choice! We'll have your Prince Charming eating out of the palm of your hand by tonight!"

"A palm you just soiled."

"Get over yourself, it's make-up time!"

The golden-haired woman could only sigh in defeat.

Upon being seated on a stool Aisha dragged from the kitchen to in front of her bathroom mirror, her sister appeared in the reflection with a bag. The older woman leafed through her assortment of products, pausing briefly to glance up to her sister and frowning when she saw the tension in Haruhime's shoulders.

With a sigh, Aisha straightened back up and slid over the vanity so she was leaning against it just in front of the nervous girl. Placing her hands on Haruhime's shoulders, Aisha leaned in and spoke softly with an even softer smile. "Hey, he's going to love you, and if he doesn't, he's a fool and doesn't deserve you."

Haruhime wrung her hands in her lap, averting her eyes. "But—"

"Bup, bup, bup!" Aisha bopped her on the nose. "No, buts! You like this boy, yes?" She honestly didn't even need to ask, Haruhime had never been this nervous for a date before, not for any man nor any woman.

"I— I do.. "

"Good, I'm happy for you. You don't need to be so nervous about this, everything is going to go perfectly, just trust me, okay?"

Haruhime let out a light scoff and crossed her arms. "That's easy for you to say, you're better at this than me."

"And how well is that working out for me? Hm? I go on dates, sure, but none of them would ever be able to handle me."

".. "

".. say.."

Haruhime didn't even give her the chance. "No," she deadpanned.

"But—"

"No."

"You're being greedy!"

"He's mine, get your own hunk."

"Just a taste!"

"Not a chance. He's mine."

Aisha rolled her eyes, turning her back to her sister and returning her attention to her make-up. Once her face was hidden inside the bag, she smirked, happy to have stoked the fire in her sister's eye. She was going to need it if how much she raved about the man was anything to go by.

Still.. she didn't need to be so mean! All she was asking for was a taste! Just a quickie! Not even anything romantic! What was so wrong with that!?

The pop-up book is actually something I owned, though I was particularly fond of dinosaurs as a kid. They're all created by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda and they really are amazing! I still keep mine and bring it with me wherever I move to even now.