Lesson Learned

You Could do Better

"No, not yet," Rio replied, keeping that smile in place. "My brother's getting married, so that's what everyone's focussing on right now."

"Married?" Mom repeated, nodding. "I see. That's lovely."

Mitsuko nodded, shooting Rio a smile. "Yeah, it's going to be great."

Gakuhou raised an eyebrow. "Do you plan on attending?"

Her smile stiffened. "I was invited."

"Oh." Mom's brow furrowed. "When were you planning on telling us that, Mitsuko?"

"Closer to the time," Mitsuko replied evenly, before eating some salmon.

"Yeah, that's my bad, sorry," Rio tried to joke. "She's my plus-one so..."

Mom's frown deepened, tilting her head slightly. "Aren't plus-ones normally boys?"

Mitsuko nearly choked.

If Rio was annoyed she didn't let it show. "Well, if I could get a guy, then yeah it would be a boy," she joked, smiling sweetly. "But, since I'm hopeless at that, Mitsuko's taken pity on me." She flashed Mitsuko a smile, making her blush faintly. "She's better company anyway."

Mitsuko quickly composed herself a second later. "Plus-ones can also be best friends as well." She glanced at Gakushuu who was barely holding back a glare. "Either way, you guys don't need to give me a lift, the Nakamuras have already offered."

"Well, that's fine then." Mom's smiled wavered briefly before she picked up her glass again and drank. "Nakamura, please let your parents know we appreciate their hospitality."

"I will," Rio replied curtly. "I'm sure they appreciate yours."

The Principal's lip twitched upwards, as a small smile crept onto his face. "Weddings aside, how are you all preparing for finals?"

Mitsuko felt her smile drop, narrowing her gaze.

Rio grinned. "Oh, it's going great!" She looked over at Gakushuu as her smile grew crooked; his gaze grew cold. "We're looking forward to the challenge. Right, Mitsuko?"

She nodded quickly, ignoring her uneasiness. "Yes, it's definitely going to be interesting."

"Hopefully not as interesting as last time?" The Principal asked lightly, eyeing her from behind his glass.

Mitsuko tensed, while Rio's gaze narrowed. Gakushuu gripped his fork too tight and fixed their father with a cold look.

"Why what happened last time?" Mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mitsuko's mouth was dry.

Don't react. Don't let him win.

Rio held her hand under the table, nearly making her flinch.

"Nothing." Mitsuko found it hard to swallow. "Just some class rivalry."

"Oh..." Mom's brow furrowed, staring at her warily. "I see." She glanced at her husband and then son but both their expressions were closed off. "Alright then..."

Mitsuko eased her hand out of Rio's grip, feeling uncomfortable.

The Principal then smiled. "So, Nakamura-san," he continued without missing a beat. "What are your plans for the future?"

Rio shifted her gaze from her to him. "Oh, well, right now I've been thinking of becoming a diplomat." She shrugged, poking at her food. "I'm really interested in travelling and negotiations and all that stuff."

Mom looked pleasantly surprised. "That is very ambitious."

"Yeah." Rio looked like she wasn't sure the woman was giving her a compliment or not. "I guess it is."