"So....how long have you two been seeing each other?"
(Mother!!!!!)
"I've seen her for about four days now, and a few days during the incident and afterwards"
"Oh, so you two are early into it then?"
"Yes"
(No, please, no, why are you phrasing it like that?!)
"I'm glad to finally meet the whole family during my visit Ms.Bernard"
"Yes, likewise"
"My, thank you"
The mother and daughter replied at the same time causing the two to gasp in surprise.
"Oh, dear, we shared the same last name so we don't know who you were addressing to", her mother act worried and look at her daughter with a troublesome face.
(Wait a moment) she noticed that smile.
The smile that seems to be mischievous is hidden behind a troubled smile.
"Maybe, it's better if you address by the first name instead? And don't worry we don't mind that much in this family"
Laura questioned that statement as she remembered her mother glaring at a visitor who addressed her mother casually and ended up in a lot of trouble with their boss.
"Thank you...Mother"
"Pfftt"
Unexpectedly, the one who is surprised is Mother Bernard, spitting out her tea in panic and shock.
(Wait, wait, wait, why the sudden 'Mother'?!!? Are they seriously seeing each other before or after the incident?!?!?!)
"...", the hooded visitor almost jumped out of the seat the moment Mother Bernard spit out her drink in shock at the attempt to play along with teasing Laura which has somehow backfired to the collaborator (Mother Bernard).
"Ahem, sorry about that, I'm quite bad at taking surprising news"
"....I'm sorry Mother"
"Urgh!"
She felt a mixture of stress and joy upon hearing that word from a visitor who might be having a romantic relationship with her daughter behind her back.
The stress came from the thought that their relationship might be during her daughter's vulnerable state and as a mother she's worried that her daughter might not realize it yet or that she might feel conflicted about it later on in their relationship.
The source of joy, however, came from the visitor, someone outside the family addressing her as such because she hadn't heard Arthur addressed her as mother yet as he's still young.
"...Ms.Bernard?"
"Yes....?"
"I can switch to just calling you like this if you want"
"N--Actually, yes please"
"Okay"
"Hoo...Well, then, let's continue" she turned to look at her daughter to ask for her thoughts on the delivery that her hooded classmate had been doing, but found her under the table, hands holding her face.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing", Laura uncovered their face to show a beet red face, her eyes averting her mother's.
"..I-I see"
"....."
"....."
"...."
"So, are you free from work early today Ms.Bernard?"
"Oh, no, sadly I have to return to work soon, since I finished my work earlier than the predetermined time I thought I could spend some time with my daughter a bit"
"Ah, then I guess I should leave you two to it then"
"Oh, no, no, it's fine, the more the merrier"
"I actually don't talk too much with your daughter anyway so it's fine"
Laura who heard this felt a bit sad upon hearing the fact, something she hadn't thought about since they started talking on the first day.
Mother Bernard noticed the change in her daughter and nodded in understanding.
"While it's true from what you said that you two don't talk with each other a lot, I think that other than words exchange with each other, there is also something called 'weight' of the words"
Seeing the two listening, she continued.
"From what I can see here from someone with experience, I think you two are closer than you think"
"..Really?" asked Hood.
"Yes, surprising, isn't it?"
"Yes...."
"Sometime, you talk to someone for a while you get the idea that you two could become close, only to be sad or disappointed once they left and stop talking to you...That's just something that happens even to me and your father"
Laura narrow her eyes in understanding remembering how quick the classmates that used to surround her cut themselves from her immediately after hearing of her trial, even denying of being friend with her, something she thought they were already.
Maybe I was too forward she thought
Did I make my intention not clear?
Or were they just talking out of custom?
"...It took me a while as well to find someone who I could connect with, I made many friends through that sort of connection between us like the ones that come visit me from time to time. But the one who takes the cake would be your father"
"Father?"
"Yes, he is such a nice gentleman who woo a lot of women back in his younger days, even I was charmed by him even when we never met face to face so I thought he must just be using his looks and charisma to get the attention. BUT WRONG!"
"He is such a charming young man that I ended up opening myself immediately after a few encounters, my heart was pounding like crazy whenever I see him afterwards, so fast that I need to sit down just to stop myself from leaping up in joy"
"...."
Laura and Hood could only stare at Mother Bernard in shock at her sudden reveal and the shy expression she is making.
"It's about the connection you formed with the other person," said Laura, realizing what her mother meant.
"Yes," she gestured for her to continue.
"...You can talk to someone and they would respond, but that doesn't mean you understand them entirely, maybe a bit but not to the point of knowing their character. Something along that thought perhaps?"
"Yes, you're correct. If I have to give an example of what I said, it would be something that your father and I shared before we got married together"
"Is it a partner who can understand you?"
"Close; anyone can understand you if they pay enough attention"
"Someone with a compatible personality?"
"That would be perfect, but even the opposite attracts another"
"..." as Laura was about to say another thing, her mother's phone rang out.
"Oh, dear. Well, I have to go now, enjoy your stay. Stay safe Laura, see you later this evening", Mother Bernard quickly moved out of the dining room waving her wand to her cup and plates to fly into the sink.
Knowing her mother's work and hurry, Laura quickly waves before sinking back into her chair.
"....So, that was educational," said the hooded figure.
"Yes, it was"
"Well, I think that a good way to start off with another person is friendship"
"...I like that idea"
"I also like calling her Mother as well"
"...Please don't", her blush returned to her face as Laura turned away from the hooded visitor.