Parent Invitation Day has finally arrived, as have said parents. While the kids are in class, the parents begin occupying the clubrooms while waiting for classes to end. Seated within the Paranormal Club’s are a red haired woman and a brown haired couple.

“I’m so happy our daughters were able to found a club of their own together,” the redhead says.

“It is nice to see them reunited again, Mrs. Kusaka.” The kindly man replies.

“Hey, call me Aiko already. Tsubasa’s told you it’s fine more times than I can remember, Takeshi.”

“Sure thing, Aiko. Could Mr. K...er, Ichiro not make it this time?”

“Unfortunately. His calendar was filled up and no one could get their appointments moved on short notice.”

“Really, I didn’t take the 26th of June to be that busy of a day.”

“Neither did he.”

Tsubasa Sayamura ignores the friendly banter. “Still, I never expected our little Yuuri to be into this kind of thing so much. She’s told us it’s been a lot of fun, though.”

“And pretty strange too, based on what Katsuki’s been telling me. They even got a new member recently. I wonder if her family is anything like she is.”

“The Hoshino kid? Yeah, Yuuri’s told us some...interesting things about her.” Takeshi says with a smile.

Thudding steps can be heard coming down the hallway towards the clubroom. They stop just outside the door. “Oh, looks like the rest of the parents are coming in. I’ll get it.” Aiko gets up from her seat and opens the door, to find a large lumbering man waiting outside.

“Ha ha, looks like Ah’m not tha first one here!”, the behemoth exclaims as he walks into the room He grabs Aiko’s hand and shakes it kindly. “Name’s Hideaki Hoshino, nice ta meetcha. One of Mari’s friends’ parents, Ah reckon.” He looks around the room, looking at the rest. “Y’all look like nice people, so yer kids must be nice too!” He laughs again.

Aiko giggles. “Alright, not what I expected but I guess that comes with the territory.”

“Ah brought a plus-1 with me, izzat alright? Found ‘er in the hallway lookin’ lost.” He looks over his shoulder. “I was surprised that she was lookin’ fer the same clubroom I was! How crazy’s that?”

From behind the large lad, a more normal-sized woman pokes her head out. That’s the only thing normal about her, as she’s sporting elf ears. “Is this the place my little Kirika has been spending all her time?”

Aiko’s face brightens up. “Aina, is that you? I haven’t seen you since Yakumo closed down.”

Aina flinches back, then forces herself to smile. “O-oh, hello Aiko. I-it has been a while, hasn’t it?”

Before Aina can blink Aiko wraps her arms around her. “It’s so good to see you!”, she says, before going in for a whisper. “I still think about that day too. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.” She pulls back, trying to block everyone’s view of Aina’s saddened face. “How crazy is it that we both end up having kids in the same club together?” She says with a smile.

“Y-yeah, it is!” Aina says with a bit happier of a tone. “It’s s-such a nice coincidence… My Kirika is always talking about her new friends! Always!” She smiles back to Aiko with a pause. “I… I do mean always. She won’t stop! Something about her cute senpais and the big brick man and her dorky president!”

Aiko stares blankly. “The.. dorky president? My daughter's the president… Wait! Is she saying my daughter is dorky!?” Aiko covers her mouth with her hand.

“Oh, she says it in a sweet way, with a smile!”

“Still, dorky… I guess she can be kind of enthusiastic about strange things.” The redhead’s mouth curls into a smile. “Guess that’s why she started a club about the paranormal!”

Tsubasa walks up to the side of the two and looks at Aiko. “I thought she started her’s because you started it originally, Aiko? Wouldn’t that make you dorky too?”

“Eh, you got me there!” is the only reply before the three women share a laugh.

The two men in the room are sitting side by side, spacing out while watching the ladies interact. Eventually Big Guy looks over and says, “Ey. Yer wife seems nice.”

The smaller man snaps back to reality and smiles at the compliment. “Yeah, she’s great! That’ s why I married her.” He looks at the women again, then back to the Big Guy. “Speaking of, where’s your wife?”

Hideki takes his hat off and rubs his baldness. “Ah, she couldn’t make it, important business an’ all that.” He puts his hat back on. “Lucky the sun’s not coming in too well here, else I might’a blinded y’all.” He lets out a bellow of a laugh, shared by his smaller compatriot.

The laughter all around is interrupted by an unnecessarily loud voice from the open doorway. “Why did you let me run around so long with the map upside down?” Standing in the doorway is a well dressed man and a more casually dressed woman.

“I thought you were cute being lost!” The woman at his side has a quick giggle.

“Aw, but it’s so embarrassing being late… And look! We’re the last ones here!” He looks around the room and realizes that everyone is looking at them and then gives a nervous wave. “Hi, we’re Yuud-”

He’s cut off by his wife jumping in front of him with a more enthusiastic greeting. “Haai everyone, we’re Yuudai’s parents! He is the big strong cutie pie that your kids may have told you about!”

“Sachiko, he’s in high school now. He’s gonna be embarrassed if you keep talking about him like that!” He steps back in front of the now sulking woman. “Ahem. As she said, we’re Yuudai’s parents. I’m Tsutomu, and her name is Sachiko. We’re grateful to meet you.”

“Awww, Tsutsu, it doesn’t matter how old he gets, he’ll always be my cutie pie!” She lightly beats on his shoulder in her pout.

Hideki stands up and walks to the two with a bellowing laugh. “Hahaha, welcome! C’mon in and take a seat ya two!”

Sachiko takes a seat with a smile while Tsutomu looks around the clubroom. “I don’t know why he wanted to get away from Chiba so bad, but it looks like he transferred into a nice school at least.” He then takes his seat, satisfied with his inspection.

“Eh? We’re both from Chiba too!” Tsubasa says and then looks at Aiko. “Maybe that’s why they get along so well, they’re all from the same place!”

“Hah, not all ‘f us ar’ from Chiba! We’re from Osaka!”, boasts Hideki. He grabs Aina and pulls her to his side. “And this cool lady and her family are from there too!”

Aina simply blushes and shakes her head. “W-we’re from Hokkaido originally, even if we do have a residence in Osaka…”

Takeshi looks at Tsutomu. “You said your kid’s name is Yuudai? The Chiba Golden Boy?”

“Do they really call him that now?” Tsutomu sighs. “Yeah, that’s him. Don’t call him that around his face or he’ll start dreaming about going pro again.” His wife frowns at him. “I want him to study hard and get into a good university so he can have a stable job. All he wants to do is play baseball though. Doesn’t he know how hard it is to make it as a pro? He needs a real plan for a real life.”

“You’re too much of a downer bear, Tsutsu! I think it’s good that he’s trying for his dream. Look, even someone you never heard of before knows his name!” She smiles and points at Takeshi.

The door opens again before anyone else can say anything and in walks a short and pale freckled redheaded man. “How do it today? I is Oliver Alcott!” He bows in greeting. “Pleasure to enjoy company of yours! Sorry for bad Japanese!” He gives a nervous smile and tries to find a seat.

Hideaki walks over to him and slaps Oliver on the back, causing the small man to nearly fall over, “Welcome partner! Your bad Japanese is fine with me.” Oliver turns around to see Hideaki holding out a hand looking for a shake.

Oliver takes his hand. “Pleased to meeEEEEOOOWWW!” The greeting is shortlived as his hand is crushed by the large, meaty palms of Hideki.

Aina looks at the foreign man with confusion. “Your child is named Cerys, correct? I’m guessing because she is the only foreigner Kirika talks about.”

“Yes! Cerys is English! Cerys is my daughter!” the small man says as he cradles his throbbing hand. “Happy to see friend making! After the accident very lonely. ”

The other parents in the room sit and ponder what he is saying. After a second Aina figures out just what he meant. “Oh, your daughter was in an accident?”

Oliver nods. “Yes. Wife and daughter. Cerys no arm, Wife no...” He simply frowns, saying more than his words could.

Tsubasa walks up to him and pats him on the shoulder. “Sorry to hear that.”

Instead of continuing to sulk, he looks up and smiles wide. “Still okay! Wife in heart, Cerys do better!” He makes a heart with his hands and places it over his chest. “Much love!”

“I don’t remember hearing about a girl with one arm in the club… You sure you’re in the right place?” Takeshi asks.

“Oh, I make new arm! Cybernetic arm! That’s the reason for Japan!” He clenches his right hand for emphasis. Everyone looks at him in surprise and confusion. He realizes what he said then quickly puts his finger to his mouth. “Shh, tell nobody. Cerys shy about arm! Big secret!”

The other parents all nod in agreement and eventually break off into their own conversations. Oliver sits in with Hideaki and Tsutomu just listening along and barely keeping up. The talking continues until the door opens up one more time and in walks a well dressed man with slicked back hair. He wordlessly finds a seat away from everyone else and sits silently. He pays no attention to the rest of the parents in the room until Aiko walks up to him.

“Hey there! I’m guessing you must be Akina’s dad. I’m-”

The man looks up sharply into Aiko’s eyes. “I’m here for Akina. Not for small talk.”

“O-Okay then!” Aiko recoils back, holding her hands up in defense. “D-duly noted, mister!”

“Haha, don’t back away from ‘em! He just wants to look tough!” Hideki says, walking up to the guy. “Maybe because he’s way too young lookin’ to be a high schooler’s dad!” He looks down at the slick man.

“I’m not her father. He sent me here because he couldn’t make it. Name’s Ryo, don’t bother me and we won’t need to make a mess.” He swats away Hideki’s extended hand.

“Ah, just a nanny huh? That’s fine, long as someone’s here for yer little one, haha!” He says, before the school bell rings out.

“Looks like it’s time to get to our seats so we can surprise our kids!” Sachiko exclaims.

The parents quickly return to their seats, and before long, the door to the room creaks open.

“It’s a shame we didn’t find any ghosts in th-” Katsuki is quickly cut off by a loud “SURRRRPPRRIIISSSEEE!” from the parents in the room. The other members file in behind her, all searching the room for their respective parents.

“What… what the hell is this?” Katsuki says.

“Watch your language, young lady!” Aiko says sternly, before relaxing her speech. “And today is Parent’s Day, silly. We already went on the tour of the school, now we get to see all your friends and your club!”