Love Hina belongs to Akumatsu Ken, while this fic belongs to me.

Almost three (coming to four after tomorrow) weeks have passed, and still everyone was whispering about it.

"I can't believe he's acting like nothing happened..."

Keitaro reshuffled his books and sorted his notes, barely looking up. It had been annoying for the first half (especially since most of it was about the things Naru had shouted at him), but slowly, he had gotten used to it. He assumes it's mostly due to how often getting arbitrarily made persona-no-grata whenever something really huge happened between him and the girls that he isn't responding more strongly – that and he knew better than to start a fight in the middle of class. It probably helped that he wasn't as close to his classmates as he could've been – between Naru, studying, his work with Seta, and maintaining the Hinata, he's honestly shocked he even managed to have time to sleep, let alone have his name be remembered by people he only spent an hour or so with. They weren't strangers, sure, but he'd be a bit hesitant to say they were friends. The only people he could even claim being in that category were Hanitani and Shirai, and sadly, they weren't in this class with him.

"Do you think what she said is true?"

"I never thought Urashima-san would do stuff like that to a girl."

"Well, you know what they say about the quiet ones."

He starts tapping his finger against his desk. Oh yeah, he needed to find something to do between now and his next class. Normally, he had one right before it, but since he changed majors and had to drop it, it left him with a huge gap of freetime. Maybe he could got to the library or –

"It's so gross how he can just sit there and be studying like normal! I feel bad for poor Narusegawa-"

His pencil case fell, and the clatter of the contents was enough to force the whole class silent. Everyone was quieter than the dead, staring at him like they were expecting Keitaro to explode into a million pieces right then and there.

Instead he sighed, and shifted in his chair so he could bend over to pick up his fallen pencils and erasers. However, their eyes never left him, even when he made the choice to actually meet them.

(Some looked away, others continued staring as though in challenge)

By the time he finished cleaning up, the teacher had finally arrived, but the whispering had not fled

("Scary~.")

Keitaro doesn't expect Seta to stop him outside of classes just before the start of lunch, and he certainly doesn't see the invite to eat off campus coming either. After quitting his job with the archaeology professor and his (admittedly) messy and public break up with Naru, Keitaro has mostly just been doing his best avoiding him, if only to assist in his avoidance of Naru and Mutsumi – that and the man was persistent in trying to get the younger Urashima to come back and work for him, running up to him in the halls every chance he got and calling the dorms frequently. Frankly, he would have just rejected the offer to eat if Seta hadn't swiftly cut him off with –

"I promise, this isn't about getting you to take your job back. I just...want to talk – we can do that, right?"

So despite having every misgiving possible, Keitaro followed his former mentor to a nearby outdoor cafe (they walked, as per Keitaro's persistence – couldn't afford to get caught up in another one of Seta's traffic trials today) and letting him order them each a sandwich set and some coffee.

"So, I hear you're going to be part of the fine arts department next year?" Seta says, blowing on his drink "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Keitaro responds stiffly, barely reaching for his own meal and causing Seta to laugh

"No need to be so tense, we're just talking." He points out jokingly, which just solidifies Keitaro resolve to remain so.

The next few minutes are filled with Seta just one-sidedly talking Keitaro's ear off as he speaks of how tough it's been trying to replace him (while Seta's reputation as a genius archaeologist proceeds him, his other reputation as a traffic cop magnet proceeds it further unfortunately), and how the rest of the archeology department's rather saddened he won't be sticking around for next year, and how he hopes Keitaro won't have too much trouble with changing majors, and how finals seems to be making everyone nervous, and how he likes Keitaro's new glasses, and how much paperwork he's been dealing with lately, and –

"Okay, what's this about?" Keitaro asks, cutting off the professor's next set of ramblings.

Seta blinks before he aims an easy going smile his way, taking a small sip of his drink "I told you, I just wanted to have lunch. Nothing sinister about that, right?"

Keitaro's eyes narrow. If things had been like before, he would have apologized for being so suspicious and happily just chat along or let Seta go on with his babbling until they both realized they'd talked way past the end of lunch as they scrambled to get back to the university.

But it's been nearly four weeks since Naru and the rest had been removed from the inn – and more specifically, since Keitaro had dismissed himself as both his assistant and Sarah's temporary caretaker, and he knows for a fact that Seta wouldn't just invite him out to lunch out of the blue just to shoot the breeze about school with all that going on in the background, no matter how airheaded the man came off at first glance.

"You haven't called to 'offer' me my job back in three days." He decided to point out, not ignoring the way the man flinched at the accusation "And you haven't mentioned Sarah once this entire time. We both know this isn't just lunch." He picks up his sandwich and points it damningly at his former mentor "So I'll ask again – what's this about?"

It was then that Seta's cheery attitude faltered, and he carefully placed down his cup.

"You know, you and Haruka have the same exact glare?" he laughs dryly, bridging his hands to lean his chin against as Keitaro felt an uncomfortable shiver go down his back "It's the eyes I think? You two just...know how to make somebody feel unsettled with just a single look. It's honestly quite terrifying."

The feeling gets worse with that, so Keitaro quickly repeats himself more firmly "What do you want?"

Seta laughs again, and points at his right pupil "See? Right there. Bet you both could take out entire armies just by staring them down. Probably what helped off get out of that sticky situation back on the expedition too..."

Keitaro's glare deepened, and Seta held his hands up in surrender "Fine fine, I get it, not in the mood for jokes" he says, then straightens himself to meet Keitaro's stare "Well, since you asked, I'll just cut to the chase – please let Sarah and the rest come back to the inn."

The answer's already there before he can even make it "No."

Seta frowns slightly, muttering to himself "Figured it wouldn't be easy."

Keitaro's stomach pinches at him lightly, though he still hesitates to start eating "I'm certain Sarah and Aunt Haruka already told you what happened?"

He quirks a brow at 'Aunt Haruka', but answers "Yes," before adding "And I think you're being very unfair."

Keitaro's already out of his chair and getting ready to leave before Seta holds up a hand. "Just – hear me out for a few minutes, that's all. If you still don't want to change your mind after that, I'll leave it be."

Keitaro just stands there for a few minutes, observing Seta and his relaxed stance for just a moment. Even after everything they'd been through, he still had difficulties getting a read on the man, never really managing to break past the surface of that wall he built up around himself. It was just too hard to tell if Seta was smarter than he looked or was just that dullheaded that he managed to come off looking like a genius when the truth was there was more grit than brain matter rolling around in that head of his.

Still, it wasn't like he didn't know how to read the room sometimes. Say what you will about Noriyasu Seta, the man knew how to be smart when he wanted to be – and especially so when he wanted something. It was one of the reasons they managed to get so many artifacts to bring home on expeditions, even after the professor stepped on so many toes (and illegally over so many native borders or into sacred sites).

"Besides, I think your sandwich is getting cold, and I know for a fact you skipped breakfast this morning – this is the day you have early classes after all."

His stomach pinches at him again, accompanied by a verbal growl, and after letting another moment pass by, Keitaro finally sits down and takes a harsh bite of his sandwich.

"Like I told them," he states between chews "Naru and the rest can come back after they sign the new lease. If they can't do that, then they can't live at the inn. Simple as that."

Seta quirks a brow at that "It can't be that simple if they haven't signed yet?"

He turns his head to the street, eyeing the people drifting by on their own lunch breaks "Because they think I'm not serious," he says, scratching at the decorative embroidery of the tablecloth "They think I'll eventually feel bad and cave in, or that I'll chicken out if they wait long enough and get the chance to threaten me into backing down, like always."

"...Right," Seta says, expression flat but considerate. He's obviously not taking his words seriously, "But...don't you think you're taking it too far though? I get that you probably felt upset when you fought with them, but there has to be a better way of handling this than what your doing."

That gets him to don his glare again "There were better ways before too," Keitaro answers, and took another bite of his sandwich "Now there's this."

"Which is?"

Keitaro stops eating and leans against his arm "Making it clear that if they want to keep acting up, then they should find a dorm with a manager that's a bigger spineless wimp than I was." he says, then clicks his tongue before adding "And that if next week ends without a reply from them still, then they should search fast."

Seta tensed, "You don't mean that."

"I do."

The professor shakes his head slightly, trying to ignore the comment (and the way his former worker's eyes darkened) "You know the girls are nothing like that! Maybe if you just talked to them-"

Keitaro sets his free hand down on the table hard "I did all the talking I needed to when I kicked them out." he replies, teeth gritted "I already made myself and my position clear – It's up to them now how they want things to go from this point forward."

A few patrons look their direction and Seta frowns in a concerned way (like a parent does when their child says they won't forgive them for losing their favorite toy on the family trip) before letting out an inaudible sigh. He seemed to rightfully understand that trying to appeal to Keitaro's "sense of regret" is a no go, and now is trying to figure out what other routes he can explore to get them on the "same page".

"Haruka misses you." He says, a tinge of worry seeping into the clearly dug for sympathy of the sentence

"She misses smacking me with her fan you mean?" Keitaro points out bluntly, and the other man winces at the iciness of it.

Still, he presses forward, determined to get something out of his former apprentice that resembled worry or guilt or just…anything remotely emotional towards the people he once shared a home with.

"Su seems upset. She's not speaking much these days." He says, and Keitaro finished off his sandwich, eyes lidded

"Alright then."

"Mitsune-san's...been quite busy at the local pubs. Have you run into her?"

"No – and hopefully, it'll stay that way."

"Motoko mentioned getting praised in kendo practice for her form."

"Okay."

"Shinobu made a new recipe yesterday. She's really come a long way."

"Good for her."

"Mutsumi's been looking a little worse than usual these days. I think the weather's getting to her"

"She should see a doctor then."

He looks like he's about to say Naru's name, only to think better of it and shut his mouth immediately.

(As said, Seta can play smart when he wants to be)

Keitaro sighed, and took this moment to finally get started on his coffee "We both know you're going to say it already." he says "So just do it and get it out of the way."

To his credit, Seta hesitates a little at the start.

"...Sarah needs the inn," he admits softly, sounding almost pleading as he folds his hands in front of himself "She's been so much happier since meeting you all. Getting told suddenly that she can't go back has been so terrible for her, I'm worried what she'll do if she can't..."

The young man stares at his former teacher for a moment, and his glare lightened for a moment. While he had little patience for the man's antics anymore, it wasn't like he didn't completely understand Seta's situation – he's a single parent dealing with a young child, struggling to find balance between work and family. He's heard a lot of the professors on campus complain more than once about how demanding their work schedules were and how it left them with so little time to spend at home. Even before he made his choice, he could see how much Seta wished he had the option to spend more time with Sarah, especially when he started getting put on more longer expeditions. Dedicated as he was to his work, Sarah was still his first priority.

Which is probably what made it so much easier to point out what needed to be "She was going to have to leave sooner or later." Keitaro responds before adding "Besides, she's always been complaining about me "stealing" you from her with your work – now you guys can have all the father-daughter time you want without me getting in the way."

Seta...oddly stiffens at that, though Keitaro isn't fully sure why. He can't imagine Sarah hiding how happy she is to get away from the "stupid dork", especially from her father.

"I just mean..." His former mentor runs a nervous hand through his hair, and the nervous sweat that had started up earlier is soaking his shirt collar. The conversation is clearly not going in the direction he planned or wanted "We both know how sensitive she can be about these things. You can't tell me you seriously think kicking her out of a place she feels the most safe in and leaving her without her friends is going to help?"

"I certainly feel helped." is his immediate reply, making it more than clear by this point that Keitaro's he won't budge, and it's enough that Seta's lost both patience and incentive to try and come off as friendly, as the thin neutral line his mouth former dropped into a harsh frown

"Sarah's only twelve." he states, disappointment and frustration bleeding into his expression now "She probably doesn't even understand what she did wrong – or if she even did anything wrong in the first place! No matter the circumstances, this is an unnecessarily cruel thing to do to a child!"

Which was just as well, because Keitaro had lost his too, and hearing the words "unnecessarily cruel" itched at something irritable in him as he stood from his seat, glaring at the man who he had once been excited at the idea of going on a trip with, who's daughter he had been looking forward to watching over and help grow into a fantastic adult, just like her father.

"If she understands well enough to try and smash a goddamn pot over my head when I tell her you have to work late at the university, then I think she understands plenty what she did wrong."

That gets Seta quiet (and looking quite pale too), and it's enough for Keitaro take the chance to lean over him, eye narrowed viciously as he sharply added "And unless you have actual plans to teach her whatever you think this won't, my decision is final."

Seta stays quiet as Keitaro sits down again, coffee no longer steaming as he took a few breath. The conversations hadn't been for likely more than 15 minutes, but every second felt like a century was passing them by.

Eventually, Seta oh so near quietly asks – "Are you saying that whatever point you're trying to make is so important that you can't make an exception?"

The younger Urashima's gaze stays unwavering, though there's a slightly, unreadable layer added onto it down "Yes" he says "Because when I made exceptions, the girls decided that meant they were above consequences, that they could act however they'd like – treat me however they liked. When I made exceptions, that ended with me getting hurt and things getting worse or something broken, and I'm not making that mistake again."

Seta looked away at that, but Keitaro just kept staring "Besides," he continues, finger tracing a ring around his coffee cup "If I just let Sarah come back to stay without signing first, or any of them for that matter, it shows favoritism – At worse, Naru and the rest would think I'm manipulating whoever does with the threat of depriving them of shelter. I want the girls to know I'm being serious and that changes need to be made by everyone. This isn't an issue that can be swept away with one person apologizing or someone asking I make them an 'exception'. If they can't sign, then they can't stay, that's all there is to it."

It was the most logical conclusion he could come to back then, at the times when the anger dissipated briefly at one point and panic over accomplishing what he had sent out to do reared it's ugly head – Picking and choosing who the new leases applied to would either just cause new problems or put him right back where he started. If he was going to go through with this, he had to do so with the resolve that everyone needed to clean house, not just a select few.

"And you think you're doing that by throwing them all to the wolves?" Seta asked, sounding both disbelieving and judgmental "Either way, you still forcing the girls into it with the fact that you evicted them."

Keitaro mouth formed a thin line

"With them, if you don't make it clear the threat is serious, they won't believe it." he points out, though Seta's expression doesn't falter "Maybe it's not the best poison, but it is a poison I can use."

Seta's eyes narrow before he adjusts his glasses, clearly disagreeing but making no attempt to vocalize it. Moments passed without either saying a word. It was clear that there was no point in continuing the argument, and that both were never going to each a compromise.

(It was also clear this was the last time they'd speak, even on polite terms)

Keitaro gets ready to leave, preparing his half of the payment (he might have to change his dinner plans, but he at the very least didn't want to owe his former professor) when Seta finally spoke up again –

"Haruka told me you seemed pretty angry when you were making your demands." he muses calmly, eyeing Keitaro a bit in quiet contemplation (and maybe condemnation too) "You don't seem that angry to me right now though."

Keitaro's shoulders go tense.

He was right, sadly, but also wrong – Anger had been a good fueling agent for him in the first two weeks and before, helped him get so much work done that he wouldn't have if things had been like usual. But fuel runs out eventually, and at some point, Keitaro was less angry and more...tired as the days dragged on, struggling to even get himself out of bed sometimes. The only thing managing to push him forward at the moment was the arrival of the new tenants and whatever work he could find around the dorms to keep himself busy.

(But that didn't mean he wasn't still angry)

"Anger has a very funny way of changing when you're not looking." he chooses to say, and whether Seta believed those words or not, he decidedly doesn't show as he finally let his student depart.

"Farewell, Partner."

"Have a good afternoon, Professor Seta."

Keitaro finally returned home, heading towards the dorm with renewed determination. The new resident was coming in half an hour, and he needed to hurry and set things up so they could get through with going over the lease. He had a few of the rooms ready for new occupants, but that didn't mean he couldn't do a once over and make things more presentable.

He was just about to grab the front door key from his pocket when a set of footsteps stopped just a few feet behind him.

"...Um."

Keitaro turned around, hand stock still, glaring at the person in front of him "Why are you here?"

They twiddle their thumbs nervously, obviously fighting through the sudden bought of cold feet they got standing there "I…" they paused and swallowed, like they were trying to down a terrible tasting drink "I would like to sign the new lease."

He stares at the person briefly, then turns back to finish fishing out his keys and opening the door.

"Hold on for a moment."

Noriyasu runs a nervous hand through his hair as the door opens and Sarah freezes at the threshold in gleeful surprise

"Dad, you came home early!"

He turns to face her, and takes a breath.

"Sarah, we need to have a talk."

Hey, new chapter!

Oh boy, Keitaro POV! Haven't had that in a while! To the people who will be likely mad Keitaro's getting the stink eye just as much as Naru, please remember that it was a super public fight in the middle of college campus that has had three weeks for rumors to swarm and incubate (that and Keitaro didn't deny some of the stuff Naru stated). Sadly, people are going to only get half the picture in situations like this, and pick a side because of it.

Seta is the third hardest character for me to handle not because he's hard to get a handle on like Motoko or personal icky feelings like Naru, but because Seta just..doesn't do much in series (or at least outside the whole Haruka-subplot). Guy is just surprisingly uninvolved in a lot of stuff - which, also surprisingly, made the cafe scene super easy to write because its basically writing someone trying to argue on behalf of someone else for a situation they have zero clue what's going on with.

Fics like these tend to split between "Seta's a terrible dad and it's all his fault Sarah's a brat" or "Seta's perfect and doing his best, Sarah's just terrible" but personally I feel like it's middle ground - like, he definitely loves Sarah and wants to be a good dad, that much is clear, but he's just...really, really bad at putting it into practice and not all that good at keeping tabs on what's actually happening with her when he's not around. I get it, being Pseudo-Indian Jones is busy work, and he does try, but it's very obvious that for all that, the "hands-off" stuff he does with Sarah was not beneficial or helpful.

And it looks like someone's finally caved (or have they?)! Who do you think it is?

Well, that's it for now - see you next chapter