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FICTION
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Chapter 5: Teaching and Parenting
Part of the job one has as a teacher is to not only be there to teach students how to handle specific aspects of life through their subject, but also handle parents that might have some questions towards some issues they are aware their children have and provide with assistance if possible within the limitations of my role.
So, when it was time for the parents to finally be given a voice as Homurahara Academy finally hosted its first Parents-Teacher Consultation day for the year, I planned for all possibilities I could handle within my reduced chances of survival. Most of the students' parents reached out just alright, while a few had to relegate this duty to an old enough sibling which could act as temporary guardian for their younger brother or sister.
The real trouble manifested through the chances of this ending up backfiring on me. After all, the Emiya family had two children studying here, and there were a few possible combinations I had to keep myself aware of. The worst being a Kiritsugu and Sella combo, which may or may not result in some unprovoked tension and... knowing how protective Kerry was of little Illya, I had the distinct feeling he was going to be part of the two guardians checking with me about her current education.
But, before that, there were a few individuals I had to talk about important matters that... I felt genuine concern about it. The most prominent of it all being the jovial and strong-looking dark-haired man that could break me like a straw if he so wished. Gouto Gakumazawa, Tatsuko's father, came alone to the meeting, keeping a big smile through the waiting and it only cracked as it was time for him to speak with me. The room was mostly soundproof, and it was just me and the man sitting by the teacher's desk in this classroom as we dealt with the matter at hand. After shaking hands and exchanging some introduction we were soon sitting one in front of the other.
"Gakumazawa-san, I'm glad you could make it for this since I believe we have much to talk about."
He looked nervous at this comment. "Did my little girl cause any trouble? I can assure you that she's just a good-hearted girl trying to have fun in her childhood and-"
"She has not caused any issue as of recent times, Gakumazawa-san. No, that's not the point I was trying to make," I interrupted politely and the man eased down a little at that assurance. "Nonetheless, the matter I wished to bring up is... apologies, but I have to ask you this question first. It's a bit personal, but I can assure you that it has a degree of relevance to what I want to talk about."
"Sure, what is it all about?"
"I believe you have noticed that your daughter is keen to grow distracted about things around her even if she should be focusing on a situation she is interested in," I half-inquired to the man, drawing a confused look. "It's like... from what I understand you have a Dojo under your name."
"The Gakumazawa Traditional Dojo, yes."
"Has Tatsuko-san shown any signs of being distracted for odd reasons? To space out even when she should have no reason to be bored about something of that kind?"
"...Sorta? Bukharin-sensei, what are you trying to say?"
I sighed. "Gakumazawa-san-"
"Gouto-san is fine," The man curtly interrupted and I nodded.
"Gouto-san, I wish to not raise any unnecessary worries, but I believe your daughter might have an unnatural form of short attention span, one that normally manifests in some form of mind-related disorders."
The single father looked surprised at the explanation, eyeing me in surprise. "Y-You mean that she might have-"
"I will not draw any assumption just yet, not to the point of saying if she has a specific disorder or outright confirm the degree of which is currently stunting her capacity to listen without being continuously recalled to lesson," I interrupted again, this time retrieving a business card from one of the drawers in the desk. "Which is why I suggest a visit to this place."
The piece of paper was soon in the parent's hands and... he studied the content on it. "Doctor Sen Haruno- A children's therapist?"
"Someone that has a qualification to handle this kind of matters. She will be able to provide a clearer diagnosis on the matter and provide the corrective homework to help your daughter."
He looked skeptical about this, but something else took priority over the many other questions storming his mind. "Homework? Not medicines?"
"As far as I have noticed, your daughter is within a stage of SAS that sounds driven by compulsion by boredom rather than anything too complex. From what I know from second-hand experience, this can be dealt with through some mental exercises to train her brain to be less prone to distraction and open to reduce flaws through it," I further elaborated on the matter. "In a way, it's similar to training a muscle after being unable to use it for some time. Like after an accident or something like that."
That relation seemed to answer many big questions the man had from the nervous smile he sported towards me. "So, this disorder can be dealt with?"
I huffed. "Are you planning to let this problem remain?"
"N-No, of course not."
"Then yes, it can be solved with enough care and attention to the therapist's orders on the matter. I believe that a parent that is providing enough attention in this regard can and will be a major factor in her future recovery."
"I see... and I guess that's all about my daughter?"
"Well, there's her grades for you to check and sign."
And that was another can of worms considering that while Tatsuko was keen to put an effort in many subjects, she still lacked enough interest to handle scientific topics like the others would. Her grades took a toll because of it and I suggested letting her see some documentaries that were meant for her age. To create interest beyond school in something she could understand and see as good knowledge to have for school. He agreed to this idea, mentioning that he had been planning to broaden the DVD list they got with some education-related subjects.
Gouto Gakumazawa left the room a calm but determined man, leaving me to handle the rest of the parents' horde. Two hours of showing grades and speaking with numerous adults eventually saw me finally facing the very issue that had left me particularly uneasy for a while earlier that day. Illya was the one that entered the room first, looking happy and chirpy as she was well aware she had nothing to worry about her grades right now.
"Hello, sensei!"
"Illya-san," I greeted with a small smile, the girl skipping up to one of the chairs as her pair of guardians came in with a calmer and more polite approach.
Sella and Irisviel.
It's possible that Kiritsugu had tried to be there, but his wife had reasoned that it was best to not kill their daughter's teacher out of protectiveness. I was hopeful that was the case and I wasn't going to get any visits from the Magus Killer anytime soon about this very matter.
After exchanging some greetings, with Sella being, as expected, quite cold about the way she handed out her formality, I began assessing Illya's current take at school. Grades were shown, the first few tests in class were given to Irisviel to verify as the woman eagerly praised her daughter for the good work. Irisviel was satisfied... while the 'younger' Einzbern didn't look as pleased, but for other reasons.
"It's quite odd for a foreigner to suddenly take a role in a school as this one," The maid pointed out with a blank tone. "Especially one that had just started to live quite recently in Japan."
...Was she onto me? Really?
"I guess that's what happens when one doesn't want to work at home due to how awkward the situation is there and how Japan offers good places for people from overseas that can work immediately."
Her eyes narrowed at my rebuttal. "A likely story."
"...Why?"
She frowned. "Why 'what'?"
"Why the questioning?"
"I'm just worried for Illya's wellbeing."
...
"And how do the two connect?"
"Beg your pardon?" Sella asked back and I sighed.
"Well, how does my quick hiring tie up with the fact I'm her teacher?"
"Nothing, that's the silly point," Irisviel piped in while providing a small smile to Sella. "It's just that my husband has been pondering if you were some sort of super-spy considering the circumstances. By the way, are you?"
"What? Is sensei a spy?" Illya asked giddily. "Like a cool one?"
"I'm afraid that's not the case," I replied sheepishly.
"Hmm? That was quite quick as a response," Iri rebuked.
"Well, I'm quite the average guy if I have to be honest," I remarked, the comment having her giggling.
"I wouldn't say that, after all, Illya-chan told me that you are beloved by your students."
"Sensei is super-nice!" The little girl confirmed with a big smile. "He is not stern and helps us with homework if we have issues with it."
"Oh my, what a good sensei then," Irisviel beamed brightly, turning to look at the maid beside her. "Now, wouldn't you think that too, Sella~?
"Y-Yes, Irisviel-sama," Sella blurted out nervously, clearly not meaning it for herself but rather being pushed into admitting that.
As I was done with this matter, I turned to the side to check the window and I saw a figure hanging in there. The dark eyes that just stared deep into my soul, the spiky blue hair, the harness he was wearing over his shirt with an entire arsenal strapped to it and... fuck. Kiritsugu Emiya was more terrifying than my expectations had painted him as.
"Is everything alright, Bukharin-sensei?" Irisviel asked, noticing that my face had suddenly paled at the purest representation of murder hanging by the window.
"Y-Yes. I just... wanted to say that your husband is quite the loving and protective father to his children," I replied nervously, another hint that wasn't ignored as the lovely woman aimed her gaze at the window and... smiled.
Not the normal kind smile she had been showing off for a while now. No, it was something a bit more... vicious. Kiritsugu spotted the dangerous gaze, one that I had seen my mother use on my father when she had plans to have him sleep on the couch. Yep, this attempt backfired heavily on him.
Still, if he was there and not dealing with Taiga when it comes to Shirou, does it mean that the only one facing that is Leysritt? ...Poor Shirou.
It was around the time the visit was over and I was finally done with the other parents that I saw another threat on the horizon, this one definitely going to be a curveball from destiny itself. As I was leaving the school and preparing for a very nice dinner and night, I spotted the Emiya family hanging by the entrance, with Irisviel having decided to stop there to lecture her husband about the behavior she took in that matter that left Shirou in Leysritt's inexperienced hands.
Speaking of which, the other maid merely nodded at the matter, offering no verbal addition to it from the looks of it and, as I crossed the gates, I saw her seemingly see me from the edges of her sight and... Leysritt was soon staring at me. Intensely so. Having had Caren deal with quite the awkward matter that I had yet to solve, I quickened my pace and bolted off from the school's premises, knowing this was just the beginning of renewed issues for little poor me.
Boy, this was going to be quite the intense matter alright, especially since Caren had been spying on me from a nearby tree and noticed the glance Leysritt gave me. Trouble was brewing alright...
AN
Next time, Caren strikes back! But Fate has a twist to reveal, one that will screw plans and create more awkward situations for the MC.
REVIEW Q&A!
The embodiment of Weirdness: What about a lazy maid?
King0fP0wers: Taiga isn't out of the count just yet.
Valkoor123113: Something is planned before the beginning of Canon Prillya.
Halo: John: I'm a magnet for them from the looks it.
Reishin Amara: And thus Kotomine felt his fatherly honor provoked and proceeds to skewer John in fine pieces.