As soon as she was dismissed Lola left the room as fast as possible without running. Her faced burnt. Partially from anger at her mother for being so cruel for not meeting standards even she could and partially from holding back tears that had been threatening to fall that evening. She longed to just be a normal family, to not be cursed with these powers or responsibilities. She'd envied her cousins on her father's side, blissfully ignorant of the world she lived in. Even more so she longed for her father to be with her. She knew he'd know what to say to make her feel better. She'd always felt robbed of a closeness with him as she was smothered by her mother before his death.

At his words Lola shook her head. "Stormages need more than just strong hydro powers. There's more to it, in ways I lack. It's fine. I don't care much about my power, what good has it done for us anyway? Honestly I just want to be normal," she says with a sigh, continuing down the corridor but at a much slower pace. She took a moment to dwell on her brother's words before continuing on. "Dinner was always going to be a train wreck anyway, it always is. Mum either makes a remark against me or overexaggerates ignoring me, she make a fuss about how you're doing in the guild, she gets mad at one of the staff for whatever reason, you get frustrated and leave and eventually she angrily walks out. I essentially have a bingo card at this point,"

At Al's first statement Lola sighs. "You don't get it Al. This has nothing to do with power. I don't care about how strong I get or can get or whatever. I don't want to spite mum with my strength or whatever. I just don't want any of this. I just want a family, like a real family where the mother cares more about you than the power you hold and your brother actually cares more than some of the time." Lola sighs, readjusting her books.

As Aloysius offered a pizza outing a small smile spread across Lola's face. "I would very much like that," she replies gently. As much as she wouldn't admit it she loved this side of Al. The side that actually cared for her and protected. Not that she'd ever tell him, hiding it behind her own digs, but she knew he knew. It was unspoken information between the 2 of them.

At his question Lola shrugged, "Just somewhere... normal. The next time I have to eat some gourmet barely pizza pizza I will barf," she jokes although her voice was relatively monotonous. She allows the man to take away her books and shove them out of the way. Lola knew there were people to do that for her but it was a good excuse to get out of a bad situation.

At his last offer Lola couldn't help but chuckle. ”Because every young man wants to drag their little sister on vacay with them," she states sarcastically, unsure what to make of the offer. Getting away definitely sounded like something she really needed and Summer holidays were right around the corner but what were the chances this was just Al trying to be nice?

As Al slipped on his jacket his younger sister swapped out her school blazer for her baby blue cardigan hanging on the coat rack. A small smile crossed her face as Aloysius mentioned their trip to Japan 6 years ago. She'd remember her father's excitement in taking the family back to his homeland. He'd spoken in almost exclusively Japanese for the month leading up to it. Lola remembered as the man excitedly dragged them all through the trek up Mount Yoshino early one morning to see the cherry blossoms he loved so much he gave his daughter her Japanese name after them. ”Yeah, sounds about right," she replies, closing the front of her cardigan over her chest and holding it in place.

She exits the door in front of her brother. ”Yeah, a getaway sounds nice. Guess it'll be good to recharge before junior year starts. How is it that woman can still demand total perfection while acting like I'm a lost cause?" Lola asks, tucking some loose hair behind her ear and allowing her brother to lead her through the long ornate driveway.

Lola lets out a low laugh ”Care is the last thing that woman feels toward me, I can promise you that," the teen replies as she follows her brother to the car. She wordlessly slips into his passenger seat, waiting until he got himself set up before speaking again.

”What do you think dad would dad would say at a time like this?" she asks him gently, her eyes situated on the remainder of the drive ahead.

Lola gave an unsatisfied sigh at Aloysius. ”I guess I was looking for something more... encouraging?" Haruki Leighton seemed to always have hope, he seemed to always know exactly what to say and when in a way only a good father could. Unfortunately for his children, neither inherited that trait, both jaded by their mother's way of living, or maybe it was genetic. ”I don't think you capture him right," she half-jokes.

”Thanks for trying, Al," she replies simply, patting the man's hand a couple of times as it lingered on the gearstick. It very much wasn't the same, not that Al could help that. Lola knew he was trying his best, she supposed nothing beat the real thing.

She stayed silent, remaining in the passenger seat until Aloysius came around and opened her door. She slipped out of her seat and followed him into the shop. She could feel her stomach grumble as soon as she inhaled the scent of pizza. The place may have been far from fancy, and definitely far from their mother's high standards, but those were the best. Lola took her seat across from her brother. She only really had one person on her mind and missing him hurt. Lola felt she didn't really get the time to grieve her father, or at keast to process that grief. Part if her felt stupid for how much pain his death held for her considering he was closer to Al than her and he seemed to be fine about it. She looked up at her brother with big sad eyes, unable to contain her thoughts anymore. ”Is it dumb that I still miss him so much? Even after 3 years?"

Lola sighs, eying the menu herself. ”I just wish we had more time. You're lucky, Al. You got so many memories with him," she muses. With their mother being set on Lola becoming the heir to the Leighton prestige she was left with little time to spend on anything else. With Al being somewhat neglected by their mother at the time their father stepped up for him. Lola never blamed him for that but she did wish she got that time with him.

At Al's declaration of his dinner choice Lola gave him a meek smile in return. ”I could go for a pepperoni pizza too,"

”Well, tag, you're it" Lola replies to Al's first comment. ”I don't really want any part in her plans anymore," She purses her lips as Al speaks, his words actually striking a chord for the first time that evening.

”I guess he left a mark on both of us, hey," she replies, poking at the cutlery on the table. ”Well, if you every cave in and try, tell him I said hi,"

”And what does mummy dearest think of her prized son working on soul catching her dead husband, hmm?" Lola asks before tucking into her first slice of pizza. She couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh as she takes the first bite if the greasy, cheesy slice.