A bit of a short one this go-around, but this story's structure ends up necessitating such things on occasion. After all, some scenes end up being long, some short; it all depends on what needs to be said.
A lot of this story is set up as an extensive character study; I'll admit it. A standard "plot" isn't really my strong suit, and I think only the core "Good Intentions" story really uses one. A lot of this story's purpose is to actually explore the characters of the Kaibas' biological parents, rather than spin a yarn about magical interventions.
This isn't to say that there isn't an interweaving plot going on; just that it's kind of beneath the surface.
"Seto-sama, did you get Bocchan's science teacher fired?"
Was Akiko's tone accusatory, or amused? It was difficult to tell, especially considering the little smirk on her face. For his part, Kohaku recognized that tone of voice and that look. He stole a glance at Roland Ackerman, who didn't look the slightest bit abashed at this odd question.
"Of course not," said Seto dismissively, removing his trench coat and hanging it on a hook by the front door. "It's surprising how accommodating a teacher can be when the principal is in the room." Akiko raised an eyebrow; clearly she wanted more. Seto said, "Apparently it is Rand Nielson's 'policy' to give zeroes to any major assignment not turned in by the students themselves, regardless of the circumstances, after a certain number of absences."
"I see."
"I believe I was quite generous, in retrospect," Seto said. "I said that if he simply accepted Mokuba's report from me, and apologized for placing an unreasonable and irresponsible burden on my brother's shoulders, I wouldn't make it my mission in life to ruin his career."
Kohaku's face gave an involuntary spasm. He turned away from his benefactor and made his way deeper into the house. He tried not to flinch when he felt more than saw Roland Ackerman stride up beside him a moment later. Roland said, "You're going to have to stop finding fault with every little thing he says, Mister Yagami, or else you're never going to stop."
"I don't like the idea of wealthy people using their power to hurt people. Sue me."
"That had nothing to do with wealth, Mister Yagami. Young Master Mokuba is . . . violently ill at the moment, and still felt obligated to go to school in order to adhere to a, frankly, dangerous policy. I'm not trying to tell you that Master Kaiba is a saint. No one in this city would. But I want you to consider if—ahem—Sotaro had a high fever, couldn't hold down food, and was coughing up his lungs. If your wife found out that he still intended to go to school, not because he wanted to but because a teacher told him he had no choice, what do you think she would do?"
Kohaku frowned. "She'd . . . raise holy hell," he said, sounding like he didn't want to admit it.
"So what is it that makes Master Kaiba any different? Answer that, before you jump to hasty conclusions."
Kohaku sighed and shook his head. ". . . Fine. Okay. You're right. It's just . . . I'm starting to wonder if this is a good idea. I've heard you, and Miss Yoshimi, and a few others tell me that he isn't like Gozaburo Kaiba, but from what I've seen . . ."
Roland smiled a little. "Forgive my rudeness, but you've seen very little, Mister Yagami, of either Master Kaiba or his adoptive father. You will soon realize that, while the day-to-day actions of both men might seem to match up, Master Kaiba is simply a gifted youth who's weathered much more than his share of tragedy, and refuses to tolerate being stepped on anymore; Gozaburo Kaiba is a sociopath. And before you say that I am biased because I work for him, I worked for both of them. Of all the people you will meet in this city with an opinion on the Kaiba family, I am the closest you will ever get to objective."
Seto Kaiba, as if on cue, swept past them on his way to the stairs. He turned. "Your wife wants to see you, whenever you're finished insulting the integrity of the only person in this city willing and able to help you."
Cobalt eyes flared with a sudden rage, so deep and cutting that Kohaku's withered and died in a haze of shame.
This said, Seto turned and kept walking.
Roland looked both surprised and unsurprised by this. He murmured, "Well, the silver lining is, I think that proves some part of him does believe that his parents are in this house." Kohaku gave the man an odd look. "That's the first time I've seen him act legitimately childish in about four years."
Kohaku scowled, but said nothing. He carried a conflicted face with him all the way through the hall, eventually finding himself on the second floor. Roland stopped in front of Mokuba's bedroom, from which Kohaku could hear a fit of horrid coughing, and felt a pang. He slipped into the room that he and his wife currently shared, sloughed off his coat, and sat down on the bed, brooding.
Though he had no way of knowing it, the resemblance between this man and his supposed son had never been so apparent as at that moment.
This chapter, and the various musings responsible for its creation, leads me to understand that Seto has Daddy issues. It sounds flippant, but what I mean is that he's constructed himself over the years such that not only would he not be able to get along with his biological father (for a number of reasons), but that father would not be able to get along with him. This chapter started to illuminate why.
