[u][b]Regis Dimitrios[/b][/u]

"But why? I mean, uh, what about your parents?"

The colours were not distinct, but Regis understood them to be some form of bashfulness. Awkwardness. His partner was being shy! 
Well, he was [i]likely[/i] being shy. Probably. Maybe.

... He wasn't that sure, actually, the colours were a new confusing addition that he hadn't fully figured out yet, but Regis decided to stick to 'his new partner was being shy'. Poor skills talking to new people? Nervousness around his new partner? Or perhaps more likely, and Regis theorised through his sharp detective level reasoning and superb people skills, that Monty was falling in love with him! Shyness meant affection, right? He might have read some romance novels, he understood how this worked. New school year, a perfectly handled speech, what was more than likely his ability (or else some bizarrely specific eye disease), and his attractive new partner was interested in him! Romantically! Maybe in other ways! Today was going fantastic.

... Wait, was that colour more a hue of concern? 

No, had to be shyness. Growing adolescent love!

Unfortunately, before he could answer Monty's strange question about his parents, one of the volunteers burst into the room and informed them that Monster Hunting class was now mandatory. The anger of the volunteer ruining what was plainly romantic tension was quickly replaced with a cold sweat down his back. Monster Hunting? Mandatory? As in, the hunting of monsters class. The class based around hunting monsters. Surely that was a mistake. Did they not know how short he was? He was still growing, dammit! Monster hunting should be for when he shoots up to six feet tall, not [i]before[/i].

"I'm going to be taking cooking as my elective then," Monty said, marking it on his sheet. "So, what are you planning on taking? All of these seem interesting."

"What an amazing coincidence! For I too have now decided to-- Uh, I mean I had [i]already[/i] decided, to grace my presence in the cooking class. I'm quite the chef!" He might have read a book on cooking some type of food. Or was that the gardening book on growing papyrus fruit? Either way, how hard could it be?

"Anyway! I think you asked something before we were so rudely interrupted. Yes, I taught myself all that! And uh, 'why'?" He frowned. He wasn't quite sure he understood the question. "Why did I teach myself all that and why were my parents not around to do so themselves? Well, uh, they're busy people. Doing... busy people things. It's very busy being a... busy person. They'd come home at dinner time, usually. Uh, sometimes. Most of the time." He frowned to himself. "Wait a minute, that makes it sound like my parents are horribly neglectful. They're not! They're lovely people! I had maids! Lots of maids! Don't call child services on my parents."

[@The Errorist]