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“You're not my real dad!” Kirika yelled as she stormed off. She ran to her room and slammed the door.
Maria stared after her in confusion and then turned to the person Kirika had been talking to.
Tsubasa had a hurt look on her face, which only made Maria more confused. Since when was Tsubasa Kirika's father?
“I was too hard on her, wasn't I?” Tsubasa turned her sad expression to Maria.
Tsubasa had been scolding Kirika for her reckless behavior out in the field, but things had quickly heated up. Maria had tried to calm the girls, but unfortunately she hadn't made much of a difference.
“You only said it because you care.” Maria patted her blue-haired friend's shoulder. She decided not to focus on Kirika's “dad” comment.
“Yes, but I may have been able to phrase it in a more gentle way.” Tsubasa looked again in the direction Kirika had run off to. “My own father was very strict, perhaps I take to strongly after him”
Why was she bringing up fathers again?
“Kirika is the kind of girl you have to be a bit strict with, or she won't learn.” Maria had a lot of experience with trying to reprimand the scythe wielder.
“You've done such a good job raising Kirika and Shirabe,” Tsubasa smiled at her, “I still have much to learn.”
“I wouldn't say I raised them exactly...” The way Tsubasa was talking made it sound like they were Kirika and Shirabe's parents.
“You are too humble. I know for a fact that Kirika and Shirabe credit you with their upbringing.”
This was Maria's first time hearing this, she was quite surprised. “They do?”
“Yes, which is why, as your partner, I need to participate more in raising them.” As her partner? The two idols weren't dating, at least not yet. Maria had hoped that Tsubasa would ask her, but her less than subtle flirting seemed to go over the sentinel's head. Did Tsubasa mean as her singing partner?
“It's okay Tsubasa, it really isn't your responsibility, besides they are almost completely grown anyway. You don't need to stress yourself out over it.” Maria's reassurances only seemed to make Tsubasa more disappointed.
“I understand. Thank you, Maria.” Tsubasa walked away, resembling a kicked puppy.
Maria sighed. That girl could be serious about the strangest things.
Things had not gotten any less tense later that evening. Kirika appeared to be less angry, but she still refused to talk to Tsubasa. Tsubasa, for her part, tried to appear stern, but still had that “kicked puppy” air to her.
“What's up with them?” Chris asked Maria privately.
“They got into a fight, I guess.” Maria rubbed the bridge of her nose in annoyance. “But they're being so ridiculous about it.”
“How's that?”
“Kirika told Tsubasa, she wasn't her real dad.”
Chris let out a sudden stifled laugh. “I bet that really upset Senpai.”
“It did, how did you know that?” Maria was starting to wonder if everyone knew something she didn't.
“The other day, while you were out at rehearsal, we all had lunch together and Hibiki had joked that you were the team mom.” Maria wasn't surprised, this wasn't the first time they had said as much. ”Well, then we started asking who the dad would be. I suggested the old man, but everyone shot that down immediately.” Maria also felt a bit strange about the implication.
“So then you all decided on Tsubasa?” Maria could guess how the rest went.
“That's right.“ Chris let out another laugh.
It was just like Tsubasa to take a joke way too seriously. But why would Kirika say it? It didn't sound like she was joking at the time.
After her conversation with Chris, Maria pulled Kirika to the side.
“Kirika, can we talk for a moment?”
“Are you gonna tell me I need to be nicer to Tsubasa?” Kirika pouted slightly.
“Well, that too, but that's not what I want to talk to you about.” Maria was starting to feel awkward, but she really wanted to know what Kirika was thinking. “Why did you tell Tsubasa, she wasn't your father?”
“She isn't.” Kirika's pout deepened.
“I know that, but why was that something you had to say?”
“Because...” Kirika chewed on her lip, before bursting out. “Because I wish she was. I wish we had a family, and I wish you were my mom and I wish Hibiki and Chris were my big sisters, and I wish we had a dog and-”
“Woah Kirika calm down!” Kirika had begun crying while she rambled. Maria was shocked at Kirika's confession. She had never known that the girl had felt that way. Though, she'd be lying if she said she hadn't had similar thoughts.
“I know it's selfish.” Kirika added between sobs. “None of us had normal families, not even Hibiki.”
“It's okay.” Maria pulled her into a hug. “I'm sorry I can't give you a normal family, but if you want me to be your mom, I will.” Maria felt her own tears begin to well up, and she held the girl even tighter.
The sound of someone clearing their throat broke Maria and Kirika's moment. “I apologize for interrupting.” Tsubasa stood off to the side of the room. ”I was wondering if I could say something as well.” The blue-haired swordsman's ears were ever so slightly pink.
Maria looked at Kirika who nodded.
“I will likely make many mistakes,” Tsubasa stood stiffly with her hands clasped behind her back. “But I... I would also like to be your father, even if it is just pretend.” She bowed her head, swiftly.
Maria let Kirika go, and she ran up to Tsubasa, hugging her around the neck. Tsubasa was still bent awkwardly, her hands hoovered around Kirika, and she looked awkwardly at Maria for help.
Maria chuckled and walked up to the pair of girls. She pulled Tsubasa's hands around Kirika so she was hugging the girl back, and then hugged Tsubasa as well, squishing Kirika between them.
“Are we hugging Tsubasa-san!?” Hibiki entered the room suddenly and jumped into the hug, knocking the girls over.
Shirabe followed Hibiki in and said softly, “I also want to hug Kiri-chan.” She jogged over to the girls on the floor and laid on top of them with her arms outstretched.
“Chris-chan!” Hibiki yelled loudly. “Come join us!”
Chris inched into the room, red-faced. “Whatever, I guess it's fine.” And she shyly joined in.
Maria laughed under the pile of girls. Kirika was wrong, they did have a family.