After the Parent-Teacher Conferences
I had the interview.
After somehow safely wrapping up Sophia's parent-teacher conference, I left the classroom with her and rejoined our waiting group.
Of course, not before enduring a barrage of questions from Sophia.
"Haa... Why on earth did you do this?"
"Just say there was a client."
Mentioning Ravi's name here would only invite unnecessary suspicion. She didn't seem particularly resentful toward me anyway, so a vague brush-off would do.
"More surprising is that you got permission from her father. He doesn't seem all that interested in me..."
"Who knows."
Even accounting for Ravi's introduction as childhood friends from a young age, he'd bitten on my proposal more readily than expected.
Rather, after neglecting his daughter for so long, he'd even asked me to join the conference if he had the time. He must be a decent parent. As Amber had mentioned before, their family wasn't particularly strict either.
'Anyway, that's not the important part right now.'
During the conference, I'd gathered all sorts of info on Sophia.
School life, friendships, grades, career plans, and more.
As expected, she was a top student with excellent grades and a decent circle of friends, but the issue lay with her future plans.
"More importantly, how is it that you're already in your second year and still undecided on a career?"
"Um, I figured I'd think about it slowly later..."
Sophia started spouting excuses that wouldn't fly.
For someone as diligent as her, she apparently hadn't given a single thought to her own future.
'Well, with her magical girl duties, I can't blame her too much...'
But she couldn't just lounge around as a NEET after retiring.
"Don't you have anything you want to do? You could even be a full-time housewife at this point."
"Saying that won't help when I don't have anyone to marry."
A normal student needs a job after graduation to make money.
If it suits their aptitude, great; if not, they compromise and find fulfillment somehow.
But Sophia was different. Her future was being held hostage by an absurd situation.
Her biggest worry was none other than her family.
Normally, she'd consult friends or other adults, but for some reason, Sophia hadn't.
Ravi had asked her multiple times, only for Sophia to play dumb and change the subject.
'She really doesn't want to tell anyone.'
Honestly, it was impressive she'd endured it alone after going through something like that.
But refusing to confide even in her closest friend meant she needed to overcome it on her own.
Keep it bottled up, and it'd metastasize into an incurable cancer.
"If you have even a little something you want to say, do it right away. It's too late after something happens."
"......"
I'd been hit by a truck out of nowhere and dropped into another world.
No use regretting it now, but leaving my biggest dream unfulfilled left lingering regrets.
All I could do was offer advice to someone in a similar spot.
Sophia had words she needed to say to her mother. Turning away wouldn't make the wounds vanish.
"...I don't really know."
"That's fine for now. I'm not telling you to decide right this second."
In the end, uncomfortable being around me, she fled to the other girls—only to get bombarded with questions from Diana and Amber.
"Sophia, why did Jade become your guardian?!"
"Yeah, that's what I'm wondering too!"
"No idea... I don't really know either..."
But we had our own hurdles to clear—
"When you showed up, I wondered what scheme you were up to, but to think you'd take on the role of proxy for Magical Girl Sapphire."
"Lapis."
The moment Sophia left, Silver Unit's boss addressed me in a scolding tone.
Figured she'd caught on. No surprise since I'd arranged it myself.
"You're basically free to do whatever, but at least give a heads-up in situations like this. My heart can't take it every time."
"Huh..."
A surprisingly lenient reaction for helping the enemy.
It wasn't something that directly led to Silver Unit's defeat, but my actions were undeniably for Sophia's sake.
I'd half-expected a slap across the face at least...
'Has this woman ever even gotten mad?'
Even when a subordinate botched something badly last time, she hadn't raised her voice.
Maybe she just has a low temper. Or low blood pressure.
"Well, I'll thank you for at least tipping me off about the parent-teacher conference. She didn't breathe a word to me."
"She was probably showing consideration in her own way."
"Totally unnecessary consideration. What does she take her only sister for?"
With both parents abroad on business, the only family who could attend was her sister, Lapis.
But Amber was busy with Silver Unit duties and hadn't relied on her boss.
'Worrying pointlessly despite her dim wits.'
Couldn't blame her, though. It showed her kind heart.
As we gossiped behind her back, the subject herself approached.
"Um, Boss?"
"Haa... Outside, just call me sis. What if someone overhears?"
"Oh, right. The vibe was just so intense..."
Amber scratched her head with an awkward grin.
Word that the two were sisters would spark rumors of nepotism among the Silver Unit staff, so they kept it under wraps.
Only other executives like Crystal and Citrin, plus me, knew.
"Anyway, everyone's heading out for drinks. Daiya-chan wants us all to hit karaoke."
"Drinks?"
Glancing sideways, Diana waved energetically at us with a big smile.
"...Do I have to go too?"
"Of course! You came all this way!"
Wonder if I could really hang with a bunch of active high school girls.
Fortunately, Diana's father, Brilliant Group Chairman, had left due to remaining business.
'Should be fine for today. Nothing to do at home anyway.'
But not yet. The conferences weren't over.
"Wait a bit. Ravi's still—"
"Alright, last one... Ravi! Come in."
Before I finished, a weary voice from the homeroom teacher echoed from the classroom.
She'd dealt with dozens of students and parents, so fatigue was piling up.
"Thanks for today, Jade! See you next time!"
As everyone prepared to head out for drinks, Ravi stood alone at the classroom door, saying that.
"What nonsense. You need counseling too."
"...Huh?"
Wearing an incredulous look, I grabbed Ravi's hand and yanked open the classroom door again.
Drag—
She stared at me with an expression I'd never seen before, genuinely shocked.
No guardian in sight for Ravi either. Like Sophia, she'd planned to handle it solo.
"Your friend asked for help, but you're opting out?"
She was already on board. Might as well see it through.
"No, I can do it alone— Ack, wait...!"
Ignoring her protests, I dragged her in and faced the homeroom teacher again.
"Oh, Ravi was still here. Want me to wait a bit longer?"
"Looks like it~ Hey, sis, wanna hit karaoke too?"
"...Why drag me into this."
In the end, once Ravi's conference wrapped up, we all went out for drinks together.
Lapis's singing was atrocious enough to take to the grave.
After drinks, Sophia returned home and approached her mother's bedroom door, which she'd avoided for a long time.
She'd left responses to the butler or maids until now, but for some reason, today she wanted to greet her personally.
"......"
Even with resolve steeled, Sophia's hand hesitated.
A simple "I'm home" to the person beyond that door should end it, but it demanded immense strength—
"Hoo."
Humans dodge unbearable inner conflict via defense mechanisms.
Redirecting stress elsewhere to suppress anger, or cracking jokes to stifle aggressive impulses.
In her case, avoiding face-to-face with her mother despite living together. That was Sophia's utmost defense.
"...Should I go?"
Today had been a rare fun day for Sophia. No boredom, just nonstop lively chaos.
A bit forceful, but Jade's words and actions had planted a new mindset.
Advice to speak up before something happens. Refusing dialogue and delaying would make it irreversible. Her mother's condition was worsening by the day.
Then she had to reach out here. For family, and for herself.
Click—
Gathering courage, Sophia opened the door and faced the person inside.