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Test Drive
 Author
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA
Age: 33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tempy
What the hell did I write? Man, late-night writing makes for weird stories...
Side Dish 1
Side Dish 2
Spoiler for Side Dish 3: Pride:
Hmm. It was almost time for autumn. The air was getting cooler, and the trees had the slightest
hints of changing colors. As with the seasonal change, so did the need for seasonal menus. That
meant picking out new dishes and desserts for the autumn menu. Well, there were plenty of fruits
to go for: apples, pears, raspberries, blackberries, and figs, so there was plenty to make there.
Shana in particular seemed to have an interest in making desserts, so this could be an educational
time for her. With vegetables: root vegetables and tubers, as well as squashes and beans.
Cabbage and wild mushrooms, too; there would be a gradual shift from lighter fares into heartier,
warmer foods. Perhaps this would be a good time to try out ratatouille…
Well, such things can be thought out later, with Shirou and Momoko. For now, Kevin had to
focus on the immediate issue.
School.
“Ah, good afternoon, sir. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice,” a young woman
greeted Kevin as he stepped into the classroom. Without even a moment to change, he had left
the Midoriya and came straight to the elementary school. His objective: parent-teacher
conferences. A requested meeting, to be exact, though about what he hadn’t the foggiest of clues.
“Did my girls do something wrong, ma’am?” Kevin asked without preamble, taking the seat
offered to him.
“Oh no, no, nothing like that. Rather, I just wanted to meet the guardian of three transfer students.
They were here for barely a semester, and already they have become so active!”
“Is that so…”
“Yes! Especially Diana! She’s a little aggressive, but her charisma has made her president of the
student council! A transfer student, now student council president? That is almost unheard of!
Even the other instructors can’t seem to disobey her. It’s cute, really, to see everyone just follow
her every word.”
It seemed she was getting a head start in her quest to conquer the world.
“Shana, in contrast, is very quiet but very studious. I was shocked to see upperclassmen rely on
her for help on exams, and truth be told, several teachers thought she was cheating, but your girl
is getting top marks in every exam! She may even get to skip a grade!”
Maybe it would be prudent to advise them to cut back on the math wizardry. He had heard from
Nanoha and Fate that the math taught in school is incredibly easy compared to the algorithms
they had to calculate while doing magic.
“How about Lilia?” he asked.
“Lilia may not have the charisma or intellectual power of her sisters, but she is the pride and envy
of the sports teams here. I would not be surprised if she were to be scouted later on in life to join
a sports team. She is full of energy and boundless potential. Though…”
“I suspect her academics are unremarkable,” the chef asked flatly, getting a sheepish look from
the instructor in return.
“No, I’m afraid they are around average. Keeping her attention is difficult.”
“As expected, but we are working on that. How are their other grades?”
“Surprisingly good, especially in languages! I did not expect Shana to know bits of French and
Italian! And both Diana and Lilia do rather well in English.”
Kevin could not help but feel a bit of pride for his adopted daughters, though the languages were
partially his fault. English, French, Italian, they were components of what he knew for cooking.
Shana, being curious, picked up on the smattering of words he knew, while he helped all three of
them in English.
“No bullying, I suppose?”
“Erm, well…” she seemed nervous now.
“If there is, then that is to be expected. Children are like that,” Kevin spoke with understanding.
“It’s not that,” the teacher shook her head. “To be honest, there was an issue with bullying, due
to the girls’ nature of being new students, as well as Lilia’s hair color…”
Blue wasn’t a common color, after all.
“Go on.”
“But before the other teachers could say anything, the whole issue was resolved! The bullies had
apologized, and there hasn’t been another incident since.”
Likely the work of Lilia or Diana. Neither girl seemed the type to just take such treatment without
rebuke. Kevin just hoped they hadn’t gone overboard…
He suppressed a shudder, thinking of the havoc that Lilia could spread just by swinging a stick
around. She and her sisters were already abnormally strong, so he had to have faith in them to
hold back. Oh man, the thought of some stupid kid pissing off Lilia or Diana and becoming a red
stain in the carpet… At least Shana wouldn’t do it, right? Right?
“Sir?”
That woke him up, “No, it’s nothing. So their doing well in school; that’s good. Do they have a
healthy social life?”
The teacher looked thoughtful for a moment, before nodding, “In my opinion, yes. They don’t
shun contact, and they get along well with most of their peers and teachers. They seem especially
close with a certain group…”
“Takamachi Nanoha and company?” He would have a honest guess, but the answer was rather
obvious.
“Yes! Did they tell you about them?”
“I work for Takamachi’s parents, and I’ve known the child and her family for a long time now.”
“Oh! The restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“Many of the students and faculty are intrigued by the girls’ lunches. I suppose you’re to thank
for that?”
Kevin shrugged, “I just want to give them the best I can, so they can live their lives how they
wish. If that means waking up early to get lunch and breakfast made, so be it.”
The instructor had a proud smile at that, “Those girls are lucky to have you.”
Kevin shook his head with a small, happy smile of his own, “No. I’m the lucky one.”
==
With the afternoon sun setting, three girls sat about in their room in varying forms of activity. Ever
the diligent type, Shana had her attention in the day’s lessons, her notes carefully and clearly
written. Diana was in a similar position, but with papers pertaining to student activities and events.
And last but not least, Lilia filled the room with a happy tune as she worked on her own paper:
doodling! Yes, the alligator that’s supposed to be a dog but also looks like a koala with dental
problems and look I don’t know what it really is either, okay? It’s just weird.
Through their closed door, they could hear the front door open.
“He’s home~!” Lilia sang, dropping her pen and dashing for the door. Food~! Food~! Kevin’s
home and that means food~!
Diana grabbed her hand and stopped her, however, “Wait, there’s someone else…”
They fell silent, listening carefully for some sort of sound. At first, they only heard footsteps, but
finally, a voice.
“Are they home?”
That… was not Kevin speaking, and definitely an unfamiliar voice.
“No. They’re out for a school project.”
Now that was Kevin, but it was odd: why would he lie about their presence?
“Well, even better! Because what I need to discuss with you needs to remain private!”
“What could be so important about them but does not need their attention?”
“Ahh, well, it concerns their potential futures, you see. I had hoping you could listen to an idea
my superiors and I had for Material-S, Material-L, and Material-D.”
Right there, Shana decided she did not like this person. He knew who they really were, and he
called them by their original identities.
“Ne, why did that guy call us that? Don’t we have real names?” Lilia whispered, though she was
hushed without getting an answer.
“They have names, Lieutenant. I would prefer that you use them,” it seemed Kevin shared the
disapproval.
“Oh, right. You gave them names. In any case, I am here representing certain individuals in the
Time-Space Administration Bureau. They are very interested in the Material’s future career paths,
and they are willing to help them reach high ranks within the Bureau, provided that they serve a
period of time under their supervision. There are already plans written up for how they will
progress, and all we need is for your assistance in guiding them into this path.”
“Oh, really? Well, that does sound like a nice future,” Kevin’s reply was in complete deadpan,
not even trying to mask his disinterest. “Why should I follow along?”
“Well, you get a portion of aid from us, do you not? Agreeing would increase that aid; though
there could be complications should you not give a satisfactory answer. You see, there are many
forces out there, forces that the Bureau struggle everyday with. It is because of our watchful
vigilance that people like you can live in peaceful harmony. That peace is easily shattered,
however, unless there are strong people to fight back. Lead by strong leaders, the strength we
are looking for may be found in your daughters, but only with proper command and leadership.
We can help with that, if they agree to serve us.”
“Uh huh…? And?”
“Do you not realize how much power they have?! They are as powerful, if not more so, than the
clone of Testarossa and the Book of Darkness girl! There is much that can be done with all that
strength! They just need someone to tell them what to do! Power is everything, you realize? You
cannot go anywhere without more power!”
“Lieutenant, I appreciate what the Bureau has done in setting up everything I now enjoy and I
think I understand how much ‘power’ my daughters have, but if you don’t get your hands off me,
I will break you in half,” the last part was growled out, like a wolf bearing its fangs.
“Hmph.”
“And those girls have names too. Use them,” no longer a request, but a demand.
“Yes yes, whatever. In any case, I do hope you consider the possibility. We had done much to
help establish the life you have now, and we hope you could repay us back somehow. We would
not want something terrible to happen to you or your precious home, yes? There is so much that
can happen without our overwatch protecting you, you know? And what if someone were to
decide your home is inadequate? We wouldn’t want your precious family broken up so early,
right?”
Behind the door, Shana tensed up at the blatant threat. A strong grip on her shoulder kept her
from moving, however, while Lilia below her was struggling not to break down the walls. Wait,
and listen. The silent message between the three of them.
“Hmm… I believe my answer will be no. I will not consider it. I am not so stupid as to not see
that what you ‘offer’ is a bullshit situation. Also, the pension we get is from a different group than
the Bureau, so you’re just full of crap. I’d like you to leave now.”
A long period of silence, then an impatient tone, “Perhaps you did not hear me right: you don’t
have a choice in this matter.”
“…Is that what you really believe, Lieutenant?”
“Now, listen here you—”
They could not see it, but they heard the sound of flesh striking against marble, followed by
sickening crack. A second, meatier thwack against stone made the girls tense up, readying to
move. A quiet whimper gave them pause. Then, they heard their father speak.
“No. You listen to me. You come into my home, speaking rubbish and throwing around
empty threats, treating those girls as if they were nothing but objects, and think me an idiot not to
realize any of this. I do not appreciate such disrespect,” Kevin spoke in a quiet, controlled
tone; yet, the cold rage laced into every word he spoke was difficult to ignore. “I don’t know
how they do things in the Bureau, but where I come from, that kind of horseshit is unacceptable.
I am not part of the Bureau, and this world has nothing to do with your organization. You have
no power here, nor do you have any form of authority over any of us. Diana, Shana, Lilia, those
are their names, and they will not be forced into anything; they are free to choose whatever path
they wish. Should they decide to join the Bureau later on, I will support them. If they choose
something else, I will support them. And I will not let some worthless fuckwit sack of shit like you
or anyone else from your dickless organization to tell me or them what to do. You don’t scare me,
Lieutenant; you just piss me the hell off.”
Uneven, shaky footsteps. The Lieutenant’s voice cracked as he spoke,
“J-Just who the h-hell do you think you are?!”
“I am a father to three girls whom I promised to love and care for as my own,” Kevin replied
unhesitant, “I am a man who will do anything to ensure his daughters’ happiness. And I am
someone two steps from defending his home and family from an unwelcomed intruder.”
The metallic scrape of a sharp blade being drawn was the loudest, most terrifying sound the girls
had ever heard. In all their experience in combat and fighting, there was never a sound so sinister
and menacing. Shana fought to stop a shiver, though she felt her blue-haired sister shake. Diana’s
hand was almost crushing her shoulder.
“Leave, Lieutenant. Get the hell out of my home.”
A strange grunt, a mix of fear and frustration, followed by hurried footsteps and the slam of the
front door. Quietly, hesitantly, the three girls crept out of their room. They saw him, their father,
leaning against the kitchen counter, long chef’s knife still gripped in his right hand. Slowly, Kevin
turned his attention to them.
“Did you hear all of that?” he asked, sounding far more worn out than he had ever been in his
entire life.
Lilia was first to nod, soon followed by Shana and Diana.
He sighed. A long, slow, tired sigh.
“Well, that’s fine, I suppose,” he looked at the knife in his hand, grimacing at its presence. With
uncharacteristic sloppiness, he slapped the thing back onto its magnetic resting spot. Turning
back to his girls, he gave them a weary smile, “I’ve no will to cook tonight, so you girls want to
eat out? Let’s get some steaks! I hear the new family restaurant that opened up nearby,
Wagnaria, is really good, and we could call Nanoha, Yuuno, and the others to see if they want to
co—”
The chef was interrupted when Lilia suddenly ran up and hugged him tightly around the waist,
burying her head into his belly. Diana was soon to follow, taking up the space next to Lilia. Shana
stood there, watching, with an unreadable expression and tears in her eyes. Slowly, she smiled, as
if realizing something she had always known. She dashed into to join her sisters.
Home Made “Kazoku”
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Kevin is awesome. That is all.
Also, I know what he said, but somehow I don't think this issue with the Bureau is over and done with just yet. And if that's true, it's pretty safe to bet that what Kevin did won't win him any favors from the group that wants the girls back for their power.
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