Chapter 77c: The Bubbly Inquisition (13 June 2003, around the dining table of the Heel family apartment)

"Wow, really? Why didn't I know that, dad?"

Those are the words that seal ones fate. I had dreaded them the moment I had heard Quinn talking about his intentions for this newly gained 'family time', but hopeful thoughts.. they leave a person to fantasize about ways out of the predicament.

But when it comes to Setsuka and her nature to pounce on something that catches her interest, I can already tell this is not a battle that will be won. Even if I were to give her a pleading look right now, there's only two ways for it to go.

"Well, we always intended to discuss it a bit more when you grew up. And life got in the way; your mom got sick, and then the separation.. it threw things out of whack. But do you remember that rainy storm not long after your sixth birthday?"

And of course Setsuka nods at this. She can't help it, gushing about the time she learned about 'baka', 'nii-san' and 'nee-san'. And 'inu', 'usagi' and 'neko'… And she's getting to gush a bit about mom and family things throughout, and admittedly.. that's not something she's ever got out of me.

Am I pushing her towards Quinn?

"Unfortunately, your mother was amazing at many things, but an affinity for foreign languages was not among them. Nevermind kanji or hiragana, even the written out in english the words would escape her. She only learned a word here and there, but nothing one could converse with. No matter how hard she tried, her vocabulary never went beyond 'Dog. There.' or 'Flower. Beautiful. Sun.' you know?"

Quinn takes a deep breath, and I see Setsuka's caring side get drawn out by the way the old asshole plays up his emotional wounds to his benefit.

Should I pull her back?

"Deep inside, it really killed her. She wanted to share so much more with the two of you, to connect with all the things that could bring us closer together as a family."

Fucking hell. I need to pull her back. I know a bad actor when I see one, but I also know what it looks like when someone gets taken in by it. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

"Stop it."

I find myself growling out the word, and it jumbles away the spell of an ambiance that those two had managed to create in their discussion. I feel sorry for ruining the moment for Setsuka, but goddammit I am not letting him get his way.

"We will do it. Okay? We will do it."

Does he smile? Or am I imagining it? My finger points to Setsuka, to myself, to him, including each of us into what I am saying.

"She. Me. You. We all will. But stop the sympathy bullshit; she was our mother, and you are fucking disgracing our memory of her with your fucking crocodile tears. One more word, and I am leaving."

My eyes seek his with the intent to intimidate. My lips mouth the words: 'One. More. Time.' as I try to slam my willingness to follow up on this threat into his fucking brain.

"Will what?"

The mediating angel steps in wielding two innocent words, right when she is needed. A loaded breath escapes me together with the tension that she relieves me of. I form a smile on my lips, but that is the actor in me, and perhaps a bit of her older brother apologizing, but it is not filled with true heart.

I just give Quinn a glance. He started this, he might as well take responsibility for a change.

"Your brother has agreed to have all three of us spend time together."

As I feel the rage heat up in my chest, I narrow my eyes at the man. Don't you fucking twist my words or call my bluff. You will regret it.

Of course, nobody expects the bubbly inquisition.

"Really? Nii-san, that's not like you! You shouldn't do it for me. We can just go to your room together, you know. I've been wanting to see it!"

I had expected her to be on my side in this. It's what we do, after all. Quinn can't even be suitable a father to me, so how much better of a parent could he be with her added in? For us to leave him to stew in his own shitty life was always the intent…

… but something.. something sounds off.

I find myself drawn into her starry eyes of hope, and she gazes back for a second before looking back towards Quinn, perhaps trying to wrap him around her finger the way she's been able to do since birth.

She's been wanting to see my room for ages, that much is true. But… am I reading too much into her tone? It reminded me of one of those scheming cats from the theatre club, and that is not like her in the slightest.

She's my sister! What the fuck is wrong with me to even make that kind of association?!

"Ahem."

It is sad to say, but.. just this once, I am glad he speaks up, no matter how fake and intentionally obvious that cough he interrupts us with is. Because I'm not sure how to respond to the bubbly inquisition I'm faced with right now.

"During this summer, I'll be teaching you. Hiragana and kanji. Pronounciation and inflection. Even if you think it is stupid, I hope both of you will just do me this favor as a way to honour Matilda's… your mothers hopes for you. I can't be her.. and I can't be as patient. But I'll try. I hope both of you will try just as hard, too."

I see Setsuka glancing towards me. Reading my eyes. My posture. My mood. Trying to find affirmation for our earlier intentions.

Then, she looks back towards Quinn, believing she knows what we both agree on.

"I refu-"

I cut her off.

"She's really happy to do it. As am I."

If it is for her sake, I can do anything.