Chapter 194: Faculty Hanami Meetup (1)
~Third POV~
[Weeks Later, UA Highschool, Heights Alliance – Faculty Dorm, Japan]
When the melancholy of an impending Monday inevitably bleeds into Sunday night, one can either accept that cruel fate and rest up to prepare for the coming week or party like there's no tomorrow in a vain attempt to blow those doldrums away. This time around, the teachers in the faculty dorm building opted for the latter.
Thirteen from the sofa in the common area asked Midnight, "Is Eri asleep?"
Midnight, who'd just emerged from Eri's room and was heading for the kitchen, said softly, "In dreamland, yeah. She's such a precious little angel when she's snoozing."
Present Mic, also on the sofa, grinned upon hearing that and replied cheerfully, "That little gal's been training so hard, huh!"
Aizawa, on the sofa, nodded his head, agreeing with a slight smile as he said stoically, "She used to be all nervous about rewinding lizards, but now she's finally getting the hang of it."
Thirteen smiled hearing this as she cheerily said with a light nod, "She must be feeling more confident these days."
Present Mic chuckled as he added jokingly in an amused tone, "Got a healthy appetite, too! Especially for dessert!"
While on the topic, Aizawa spoke to the group present about getting too many snacks in a neutral tone, "On that note, I've been meaning to say something. You people have been buying her too many snacks and sweets."
Thirteen's face blushed lightly as she apologized to Aizawa in a flustered tone, "Ah, I do apologize. When I see something at the commissary that I think she would like, I just can't help myself."
Present Mic, on the other hand, pouted as he pointed his finger at Aizawa and stated, "You're one to talk, Eraser! You're the one always bringing home apples for her."
Aizawa countered as he said bluntly, "Apples are fruit."
As the three teachers chatted, Midnight returned from the kitchen. She was clearly in a good mood, which might have had something to do with the large bottle she held as she declared determinedly, "Check this out. I got my hands on some rare sake."
Thirteen asked curiously, "Oh, is it any good?".
Midnight's grin widened as she said in an excited tone, holding the bottle of sake, "I'll let you be the judge, but this baby's so exclusive that you've got to reserve a bottle ahead of time with the brewer. I've been dying for a taste."
Present Mic raised an eyebrow, gazing at the sake as he said, "You had to go straight to the source? You must really have a hankering?"
Midnight, with a smile, placed the bottle on the coffee table and shook her head as she explained, "No, see, a fan of mine works at the brewery, so they sent it as a gift. What do you say we crack this thing open tonight?"
Aizawa sensed one of their usual interminable drinking parties on the horizon, so he immediately got up to leave as he said calmly, "Count me out. Have to prep for classes tomorrow."
Present Mic is blowing Aizawa's cover story as he said with a smug grin, "Didn'tcha say you finished your prep yesterday?"
This earned him a withering glare from Aizawa as Midnight slyly grinned and stated, "Tsk, tsk, Aizawa… Educators mustn't tell lies, you know."
Aizawa merely countered shamelessly about his teaching methods in a stoic tone. "It was a rational deception to keep me in shape for the start of the week."
He was known for taking a rational approach to all matters, which made him the type to choose resting over partying on a Sunday night. But Present Mic wasn't gonna let him go that easily, as he said, "Gotta take a shot, man! As a penalty for fibbing!"
Aizawa rolled his eyes, knowing this song and dance, as he said bluntly, "I know how this goes. That single shot will turn into hours sitting around with you."
However, Thirteen countered as she said, curiously tempted by the sake, "It's such an exclusive sake, though. I might be persuaded to partake. Just a few drops, if you don't mind."
Midnight grinned as she said, "Of course."
Just as Midnight finished speaking, All Might and Cementoss came into the common area, fresh out of the bath. All Might, who'd noticed the conspicuous bottle on the table, asked curiously, "Having a drinking party?"
Cementoss, moving toward the kitchen, said to All Might, "You'd better have some water first after that hot bath."
All Might, who downed the glass of water Cementoss brought back, said, "Thanks. Hey, it's almost cherry blossom season, isn't it? But I guess it's maybe a little soon for a hanami picnic?"
Midnight gasped at All Might's comment. She then stated in an excited tone, "Hanami! No better way to enjoy a fine bottle of booze than sipping it under the cherry blossoms!"
Thirteen nodded her head, agreeing as she said in an excited tone, "A fine idea! I wonder if those particular trees are blooming yet."
Present Mic grinned, agreeing as he added, "Yeah! Those ones!"
Confused, All Might asked, "Which ones would those be?"
Present Mic explained in an excited tone, shaking in anticipation, "Some trees in the middle of the woods tend to bloom early."
Cementoss, with a nod, who was already on board with this plan, said happily, "A hanami event does sound nice…"
Meanwhile, Aizawa made a face and tried to sneak away again, but Mic and Midnight were too quick for him. But their words caught him.
"We can bring the picnic blanket, right, buddy ol' pal?"
"We've got lanterns too."
"Ugh…"
Aizawa, who'd been caught in their pincer attack was forced to give up on his great escape for the moment. Thirteen and All Might be much more enthusiastic about the idea as Thirteen asked, "Should we bring some light food?"
All Might, too enthusiastic about the idea, pondered out loud and happily suggested, "We might as well pack the food into proper jubako stacking boxes, perfect for a picnic. Ah, how about we make some onigiri too?"
Cementoss, who walked off toward the other teachers' rooms, added, "That would make it legitimate. I'll go fetch the others,"
All Might and Thirteen made for the kitchen, while Midnight, Mic, and Aizawa left the building ahead of the pack with the picnic blanket and lanterns in tow.
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[Early Spring, UA Highschool, Heights Alliance – Faculty Dorm, Japan]
The early spring air was still and silent as Midnight said, "It's still kind of chilly."
The students had returned to their dorms for the night, so only the occasional birdcall broke the silence that blanketed the campus atop U.A.'s low, broad mountain. The only light came from the lampposts marking the path and a few stars in the sky struggling to be seen, and the sky itself was a deep navy, obscured by thick, gray clouds, as still as the chilled air.
Present Mic commented, feeling the chilly air, "Chilly? That's nothing some sake won't solve!"
Aizawa, with his two friends, his expression bored, said bluntly, "Are you forgetting that tomorrow's Monday? You planning to show up to first period reeking of liquor?"
His two companions glanced at each other and grinned, prompting him to scowl and say, "What's so funny?"
Midnight slyly grinned as she laughed lightly, stating in an obvious tone, "You were always so reluctant about this whole teaching gig, but now you're the biggest schoolmarm of us all."
Present Mic smirked as he gave Aizawa a thumbs up and said, "We knew you were cut out for the job!"
Aizawa, unsure whether to take the comments as praise or jabs, merely said, "It's just common sense."
Midnight observed his reaction and changed the topic as she asked, "How are class A's work studies going?"
Aizawa raised an eyebrow as he said, "Well enough, I think."
Midnight grinned as she pointed out bluntly, "You're singing their praises? That's unusual."
Aizawa merely raised his eyebrow as he explained himself to his friends and stoically said, "As well as can be expected, I mean. Some of them still aren't used to the work-study grind, especially since they've got to attend classes at the same time now. We're still in the middle of all that, so it remains to be seen how things turn out."
Midnight, leaving something unsaid, says, "Right. Sure."
Aizawa shot her a questioning look. Present Mic, sensing the tension, asked, trying to break the tension, "What gives, pals? Is that any way to get hyped for a hanami picnic?"
Midnight frowned lightly as she trailed off sadly looking down, "Because after these work studies comes, well…"
Aizawa darkly said, finishing Midnight's sentence, "Full mobilization."
Mic muttered, his voice much quieter than usual, "Oh. Yeah…"
The request from the government had been less "request" and more "arm-twisting," so it was hard for these teachers to purge the unsettling thoughts from their minds. Especially since it involved their beloved students, who still hadn't been informed of the upcoming operation.
After all, that knowledge could fester into needless apprehension and, ultimately, doom and gloom. Aizawa, as he stared up at the sky, murmured darkly, "There's so much I wish they could learn, slowly and carefully. Things that might keep them alive."
Mic and Midnight followed his gaze up to the ashen clouds. It was a color that was hard to place, which somehow reminded all three of their dearly departed friend and the all-too-brief time they'd enjoyed with him.
In life, their friend had shone as bright and warm as the sun, so they'd never forget the cold rain that had fallen the day he died. The death of a loved one has a way of leaving a mark, deep down.
A scar that, when picked at, tends to release a flood of dormant emotions. Simple grief. Anger at the absurdity of the world. Indignation at one's own powerlessness. A sense of loss over a promise about the future made long ago.
And yet, in order to move forward and face tomorrow, they had to accept it all, and along with the feelings came scattered thoughts that built up in their hearts over time. Things left unsaid, much to their regret.
Chats about silly things, everything, and nothing. The everyday greetings and pleasantries filled the silence. But they were mostly fine not voicing these thoughts. Surely, Shirakumo would've already known how each of them felt.
Mic shouted, breaking the awkward silence and threatening to rend the heavens with his voice, "Dang! Would've loved to drink with that guy! I bet he'd be the type who could pound back a bottle!"
Midnight, with a wry look away she muttered sadly, "I dunno. Maybe he would've been a lightweight, against all odds."
Aizawa, looking down, merely muttered, "Yeah, maybe."
As the group reached the woods, Present Mic said, "Why don't I scout ahead?"
He ran off, and the other two watched the light of his lantern fade between the trees as Aizawa said softly, "Now I'm almost in the mood for a drink."
Midnight, with a gentle smile, holding onto her sake as she said kindly, "That's what we're out here for. What's great about booze is that it's there for you no matter how you're feeling. You've got good-times booze, sad booze, or even friend-booze."
Aizawa rolls his eyes as he sarcastically says, "How convenient."
Midnight chuckled at his stoic response as she replied cheerfully, "Which usually explains why I end up drinking too much."
Aizawa said calmly, "Everything is in moderation."
Soon, Mic from up ahead shouted, gaining their attention, "No dice! The trees haven't bloomed yet!"
Midnight, as Mic came traipsing back through the brush, said, annoyed, "Seriously? Like, not at all?"
Mic nodded as he said disappointedly, "Seriously! Just a buncha little buds!"
Midnight groaned as her day was ruined as she said disappointedly, "Welp, that'll make for a pathetic hanami event."
The trio decided to head back the way they'd come. After having been so excited about the plan, Midnight was unable to hide her disappointment as she argued, "Ugh. Here I was, ready to pair a quality drink with some cherry blossom viewing."
Present Mic, joining her in the massive disappointment of today, added, "And the moon ain't even out enough to warrant a moon-viewing drink."
Aizawa, the rational man that he was, asked, confused, "What's wrong with a drink for drinking's sake?"
Midnight rolled her eyes as she replied absentmindedly at Aizawa's rationality, "You just don't get it, Aizawa. A fine brew demands a worthy occasion."
Raising an eyebrow, Aizawa said, "Oh, I didn't realize."
Present Mic, agreeing with Midnight, added, "You got no sense of romance, Eraser!"
Aizawa felt annoyed as he said, scowling as they emerged from the woods, "Whatever I'm lacking, it seems like I'm living just fine without it."
Before he could further express his exasperation with his colleagues, the group spotted two diminutive figures approaching from afar. The two began to speak to the trio.
"What's got you three kids out here at this hour?"
"And what, may I ask, is in that bottle?"
A closer look revealed the duo to be Recovery Girl and Principal Nezu, out for a bit of exercise. Midnight, being caught, childishly said, "Oh, erm, I happened to have some good sake on hand, so we were hoping to have a hanami picnic."
Midnight sounded a bit bashful about it and looked like a child who'd been caught in the act of making mischief. She and her two colleagues were U.A. graduates, and even back in their day, Recovery Girl and the principal had already been working at the school.
The old and new guards mostly interacted professionally as fellow faculty members, but outside of school hours, the younger teachers sometimes felt like school-children again. Recovery Girl, glancing at the bottle said, "My, my, what a wonderful idea."
Recovery Girl was no stranger to drinking herself. But Midnight sighed as she explained sadly, "Would you like some? Sadly, we couldn't find any cherry blossoms in bloom, which was sort of the point…"
The Principal looked surprised before sounding disappointed as he said, shaking his head, "Ah, did you try the early-blooming grove? I would've thought they'd be in their full splendor by this point."
Recovery Girl, on the other hand, smiled as she said, drawing attention to her, "As it happens… I might know just the spot."