The director continued with the meeting, with only one main thing left to say. He used a formal and serious tone, like the one he had been using most of the time.
"I'm sorry to have to say this after inciting this atmosphere, but as I said before, I can't ignore what you've done. Normally, considering everything that's happened, I'd have to expel you for a week, but with what you've shown here, you'll only be expelled for three days. Starting next Thursday, you'll be able to return to classes as normal."
I doubt it will be 'normal', but oh well...
"Yes." Otsuki nodded inertia-wise, a hint of guilt concealing a mild frustration within her. Her apology was genuine, but you can't help but be annoyed at being expelled. More than the punishment, I'm worried about something like this being on my record; I've never received a sanction of this kind before.
The main topic was resolved, and generally speaking, there was nothing more to discuss. No one offered anything worthwhile to discuss, so the director decided to address Haruka, along with Otsuki.
"You can go home now, unless you have to tell me." In a calm and respectful manner, the director offered to close the meeting, at least with them.
"Kenzo-san and Riku-san are staying with you, right?" With a certain formality in her voice, something uncharacteristic of her, Haruka asked the director.
"I still have some things to discuss with :2!";_¨`*-san. What are you going to do, Riku-san?" Somehow, the attention was back on me, something I didn't want. To avoid any more stress, I should go. At this point, I don't care what anyone thinks; it's too late to think about that.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go."
"No problem on my part. :2!";_¨`*-san, don't you mind either?"
"No, you can go if you want, Riku."
Everyone's on my side again. It's strange that it's so easy, that everyone's so permissive. Still, I don't belong here anymore, so I think it's reasonable to let me go.
"Before that, could you say one last thing?"
Haruka briefly interrupted the exchange, referring to what the director had said earlier; that thing they had to say.
" Let's go."
Haruka signaled for Otsuki to get up from her seat, as she did the same. The two of them stood side by side, facing my father and me.
Then they both bowed ninety degrees, as straight as possible, showing nothing but guilt.
"I'm so sorry for the trouble my daughter has caused your son. I swear it won't happen again."
Otsuki added her part, still with a touch of embarrassment behind that seriousness, "I'm very sorry for what I've done. I know it's a bad thing, and because of that, I won't do anything like that again."
I was surprised, which was to be expected on my part, but not on my father's, who shared the same emotion.
"Otsuki-san, there's no need to apologize like that. We've already settled everything…" For the first time, I saw my father genuinely nervous. Not to my level, but he wasn't too keen on seeing Haruka and Otsuki like that.
"I think this is the least I can do as a mother. Anyway, I appreciate you caring, :2!";_¨`*-san."
As she said that last sentence, she slowly stood up. Otsuki, seeing her mother return to her normal posture, did the same, so as not to embarrass herself.
"He's done the same thing before, calling my house, so now we've both apologized for everything."
With her usual kind tone, Haruka resolved this whole mess, which she barely showed any anger over. She's TOO kind.
After smiling at Haruka's comment, my father looked back at me, still holding onto a bit of that relief. For some reason, I thought he was going to say something mean to me.
"Be careful on the way back, Riku."
I stood up from my seat when he said that, and was going to reply with some generic answer, but having heard his comment, Haruka interrupted again.
"I can take Riku home, we came by car."
"That would be very helpful. Do you want to go with them, Riku?"
The last thing I wanted to hear wasn't said, which was forcing me to stay here, but the second thing I was most worried about was if they did say it...
"… The thing is…"
"It's okay, Atsumi isn't going to do anything to you," Haruka said in a cheerful tone.
"W-Why are you saying that?!" Otsuki forgot where she was and exploded at her mother's provocation. Right after saying that, she covered her mouth, and along with a reddish hue on her face, she apologized.
"…I appreciate the thought, but I wanted to stop by the florist to buy some flowers, and…"
I couldn't finish the sentence, but I didn't need to.
"We wouldn't mind going with you," Haruka insisted, though not in an exaggerated or disrespectful way.
"No, I don't want you to go out of your way just for this, and besides, I'd like to go alone."
Haruka closed her eyes for a moment, "Mhhh." Then she sighed, "Well, if that's what you want, I'll accept it."
Having escaped possibly the most uncomfortable car ride of my life, I turned to see my father.
"…I just remembered I don't have any money on me. If you don't mind…"
"Not at all. You don't have to pay me back later. And you can buy something else for yourself with what's left."
My father reached into his jacket pocket to take out his wallet. Before he could take out any money, though, the principal called my name.
"Riku-san, take it." The manager said this after setting the table with a pair of very large eggs, offering me a 10,000 yen bill on the table.
This act of charity took us both by surprise, my father much less than me, but he was the first to politely decline.
"Director, you don't need to give him that much money. I can give it to him myself. It would be too much trouble for you to lose so much money for this."
"It's no trouble at all. I haven't been able to go pay my respects to ^[Ç+?-san yet, and I don't think I'll be able to do it today either, so I want Riku-san to go offer flowers at his grave for me. It would be too much to ask you to do this with your own money, so I ask that you accept it."
"…If so, I greatly appreciate your offering." My father instantly understood that what the director was doing was more than just giving money, and, despite the informal gesture, he wanted to respect this kindness. Refusing it would be selfish.
Following my father's words, I decided to take the money and bow slightly to acknowledge the gesture. "Thank you very much, Director."
My father, however, took out his wallet and gave me some money as well. "Then I'd also like you to buy me some flowers."
He took out a 5,000-yen note and offered it to me so I could give more flowers to someone who deserved them. I accepted without much hesitation, especially considering the gloomy tone my father tried to hide behind that comment.
I turned around to face Haruka and Otsuki, since we were going out together, but when I did, she was looking at her purse. Right after that, she also took out her wallet, and from it, she took out another 5,000 yen.
"We'll go visit her another time, but I still want you to give her this from us. You can spend what's left on whatever you want."
Along with her comment, she clasped her hands together, giving a small clap as she spoke to me, in a cheerful and calm manner.
"…I'll pay you back whatever's left when I can." Trying to maintain a serious composure (to no avail), I wanted to at least commit to not being so greedy.
"I insist, you don't have to return it. Take it as a gift."
"…"
I didn't want to say anything else; I'd feel bad if I did. So, I took the 5,000 yen Haruka offered me.
In no time, I had 20,000 in my pocket. I don't know what kind of robbery I just pulled, but it was very effective. Now I'd feel terrible if I went home with all this...
In the end, more than an excuse, it's going to be true and everything...
After that exchange, the director said a few last words before we left.
"Thank you so much for taking the time to do this."
"Thank you too. As always, I know the institute is in good hands with you."
Haruka bowed slightly after the thanks, which also functioned as a farewell.
"Thank you for your work, Director." Otsuki also said goodbye. He was the only one who hadn't done so yet.
Even now, after setting such an environment, I hesitated over what I should do. Not because I didn't know what to do, but because I didn't know if I should do it.
Maybe I say it in a bad tone, and my father will get angry. Oh no, but if I don't say anything, he'll get angry too...
"Thank you very much for your work." I gave the most normal response I could. The director looked at me with a slight smile, just like he did at Otsuki.
"I'll see you both next Thursday."
Thus, the meeting with the director ended, perhaps, in the best possible way.