Wise

Wise followed Hoshimi Miyabi down the metal stairs, his mind frantically rewriting policies of action for himself. The beautiful young thiren women descending the stairs in front of him had agreed to be his girlfriend- and then immediately claimed him for herself in the next sentence. It was what Wise had barely dared hope for, but his own success was a thrilling surprise.

In all Wise's myriad mental simulations of this date today, he had not planned on confessing his desires to Miyabi bluntly like a total square. Yet, in the moment, with her standing before him, the wind billowing her black hair, her lovely ears, and her cute knit sweater… which was constantly teasing his eye downward for glimpses of her revealed stomach… all while under Miyabi's stoic, unreadable, crimson-eyed gaze which bored into his soul as he desperately grasped for something to say, something to do… some way to attract her, impress her. Anything!

He'd been struck by the sudden inspiration to just ask Miyabi to date him, like when he'd confessed to MIyabi near the Chasm about his connection with Helios Academy- she responded to that sort of thing. And it had worked!

Miyabi was his girlfriend! Yes!

And then he'd shared french fries and conversation with her on a balcony, looking over a sparkling sea. They'd shared something of each other, their hips had been pressed warmly together the whole time and… it was just the perfect progression of a good date. Then the black limo showed up and Miyabi advised him it was her father.

And that was the moment another realization hit Wise:

Void Hunter Hoshimi Miyabi was his girlfriend!

A small ball of dread grew in his stomach. He was going to have to be on his game at all times, now. Wh- What did he remember about Miyabi's dad?! Fairy had provided Wise with a research dossier on Hoshimi Miyabi and her family back when they'd first ran into her while doing official proxy work at Scott Outpost.

Aaaaand Wise had… uh… skimmed it… but what he did remember was:

The Hoshimi Clan was a big deal: big membership, big money, and big influence. If there was a New Eridu City Administration function, you could bet a few Hoshimi were there; and if you were a politician running for election, you sure wanted a fat donation with a Hoshimi signature on it- else your opponent was the one who had it. Common rumor was that the Hoshimi clan head was more the mayor of the Teumessian Quarter than the actual mayor was.

Miyabi's parents were cousins of the third degree, and according to Belle's interpretation of news articles, both only weakly connected to the main clan line. Her mother died in Hollowfall (a fact that Wise had forgotten until Miyabi had said so just now) but her father lived. And despite being from a fringe part of the clan, Miyabi's father was now very involved in Hoshimi clan political activity.

Fairy's data scrounging had its limits, and one of those was Hoshimi Clan internal politics. That kind of stuff didn't make it into documents that an AI could then scrub for info. But after the incident with Miyabi, Bringer, and the sword… Belle had developed a theory: the command of the clan's heirloom sword granted Miyabi immense importance and influence within the Hoshimi Clan, and so too, her father.

And that was the man Wise was about to meet, and without any extra information. Miyabi could probably have provided him with a few pointers about what her father liked, disliked, and that sort of stuff But there was no time to do so now! He'd just have to wing it.

Lucky he dressed well today.

At the bottom of the stairs, a thin fox thiren man with slightly greying black hair waited. His face was grim, his eyes dark brown, and he wore a brilliant emerald kimono patterned with leaves. Next to him loomed his obvious bodyguard: the precise and poised form of Lycaon: an imposingly tall wolf thiren who somehow managed to stuff an absurd amount of muscles into a butler's vest and slacks.

Wise and Belle performed proxy work as a sorta subcontractor of Victoria Housekeeping, so Wise knew Lycaon personally. But Lycaon's crimson eyes locked on his and Lycaon gave a very subtle shake of his head. It was a message: don't acknowledge our relationship. Whoops. Hopefully Miyabi wouldn't spill those beans.

This was Wise's first time seeing Miyabi's father, but not their first meeting, technically. He'd spoken with the man on the night of the Bringer incident as they'd attempted to track Miyabi's captors. Souichirou was his name. Hoshimi Souchirou.

The man's eyes met Wise's briefly, but before Wise could get any sense of the man's disposition or demeanor, Miyabi took possession of her father's full attention.

"What are you doing here, Father?" said Miyabi. Her voice was usually cold, to Wise's experience, anyway- but she sounded absolutely frigid right now.

"Seeking you out, daughter," said Souchirou with a slight bit of heat. "To ask the same of you."

Miyabi squared her shoulders. "I am here on a date. With my boyfriend."

"Y- your boyfriend?!"

Wise witnessed the eyebrows of both Souchirou and Lycaon rise up and their gazes followed, they stared at him during a silence that became awkwardly long. Miyabi turned and looked at him. Wise blinked.

She-! She wasn't going to introduce him, was she?!

"Ah, hello, Mr. Hoshimi Souchioru, sir," said Wise, hoping to come off as cool and innocent as he could. "My name is Wise. We've actually spoken before, if you remember?"

Souchiro's eyes became hard as Wise used his name, but his expression softened into mild bafflement. "We have? When have I spoken with you before?"

"During that night when Miyabi was arrested," said Wise, "That phone call with Captain Zhu Yuan? When we were trying to find Miyabi-?"

Souchiro blinked a few times then looked at his daughter, then back at Wise. "You're the one who helped my daughter?"

"He is," said Miyabi.

"I am," said Wise.

They shared a short look, and maybe Wise was imagining it, but Miyabi seemed to give him the faint ghost of a smile- and then she turned her hard look back upon her father.

"So, you have found me. You know who I am with. What now, father?"

Souchioru seemed to Wise a man who was chewing on something he didn't particularly like, but did not have the liberty to spit it out. The elder man's brown eyes drifted from his daughter, to Wise, and back again. Wise decided to stay quiet and let this play out.

"I hoped that," said Souchioru slowly, as if still thinking as she spoke, "You and your… Mr. Wise, would join me for dinner. At the house."

Miyabi's right ear flicked but she said nothing.

Her father continued: "It would allow me to properly thank this young man. And, it seems, it would double as an opportunity to meet my daughter's… boyfriend."

Miyabi looked at Wise. He found her expression stoic- except was that a slight blush on her cheeks? He wasn't sure, and he didn't have time to look closer at her as Souchioru's more dubious eyes settled on him next. Both the Hoshimis seemed to be expecting his input. But was there any other answer than…?

"I am honored by the invitation, sir," said Wise. "Honored and delighted."

Another ghost smile from Miyabi. A thoughtful purse of the lips followed by a tiny frown from Souchioru. Wise hoped that was two approving glances, but he was unsure about Souichirou. The invitation was grudging, yes; but it also felt… off. Like a false rout or an exaggerated injury. A small uneasiness formed in Wise's stomach, but was it caution or cowardice? He wasn't sure.

"Then: would you two kindly join me in the car, Miyabi?," said Souichirou. "You both might prepare for dinner in comfort at the estate. The finest the Hosimi Clan can muster!""

"Your invitation is generous," said Wise, beginning to seek an escape- far, far too late. "Though I lack proper clothing…"

"Nonsense, Mr. Wise" said Souichirou, seeming slightly gleeful. "Lycaon can rustle you up something appropriate, right Lycaon?"

"Of course, Lord Hoshimi," said Lycaon's soft, deeply bass voice. His cyclopean eye peering down upon Wise, his expression professionally stoic.

Wise realized he'd made a mistake. Perhaps the flimsy attempt at begging off over clothing had made him seem weak to Souichirou. He had a sparse second or two to correct that- but couldn't think of anything. He needed a rescue. He needed Miyabi! But perhaps she didn't see it.

"Well, I'm game," said Wise, rubbing the back of his head and smiling sheepishly. Then he looked at Miyabi, who he found to be watching him intently, her crimson eyes focused on his face.

Wise offered a hand towards Miyabi. "I would enjoy having dinner with you and your father, Miyabi."

Miyabi's hand clamped down on his as if she had been waiting for some sort of signal. She then looked at her father: "I would enjoy that also. Very well, father. We accept. Let us go."

Wise watched Souichirou's face transform from mild glee to grim resignation to annoyance, the latter very much directed back in his direction. Wise plastered his best sheepish, oblivious smile to his own face and held on. Whatever Souichirou's angle was, Wise realized he'd better stick close to Miyabi and ride it out. She knew how to handle her father better than anyone, right?

"Fine, then," said Souichirou, his face becoming benignly placid. "Please take us back to the estate, Lycaon."

"Yes, sir."

"Lycaon?" said Miyabi as they turned for the car. "I think Wise will look nice in blue. Light blue."

"Understood, Lady Hoshimi," said Lycaon, giving Wise a stealthily bemused expression

as Miyabi strongly pulled him by the hand past the towering wolf thiren. "I will be sure to keep that in mind."