"...I caused quite a scene."
After the commotion settled down, I regained my composure to some extent and offered my thanks to the girl who had waited patiently for me until then.
"Given that Ai didn't wake up even though I cried quite loudly, I assume you lent a hand?"
To be honest, when I burst into tears, I felt relieved that Ai was sleeping. However, I soon realized that if she had heard my cries, she absolutely would have woken up.
Seeing as Ai hadn't come up to the rooftop even now, I figured the girl must have taken some sort of measure.
"Hehe. Should I say it's because I wanted to be the only one to see such a weak side of someone as strong as you?"
"No, forget it. You've already done more than enough."
Yes. I didn't want to show this side of myself even to my family... and after all, it was nothing more than events from a different world.
"That aside, I didn't think you'd react that much to things that merely happened in another world."
"...I'd like to say 'I know, right?', but even if it were a different world, he's still my precious son. Even if he wasn't my biological child and carried Kamiki's blood instead of mine like in that world."
"Heeh~ Is this what they call paternal love?"
"I won't deny it. No matter where he is, even if there's another world, Aqua is still Aqua. Even if my blood doesn't flow through him, I consider us connected by our hearts."
In the first place, my very existence is nothing more than an irregularity, but the world I live in now is my reality.
"My goodness... you really are a fool, aren't you?"
"Haha... perhaps I am."
If being a fool means caring only for my family, I'll happily be one for as long as it takes.
"Phew~ Seriously, I ended up wasting my energy in such a useless place~ All because someone was bawling their eyes out~"
"Tsk!... My apologies."
"Oh? You even know how to apologize? Ahahahaha!"
This... damn... brat...!!!
"Are you trying to pick a fight, you brat?!"
Without thinking, my hand moved, landing a strike precisely on the girl's head.
"Ouch!! Are you insane, hitting the head of such a fragile girl?!"
"Then who told you to keep acting up?"
I did nothing wrong. It's your fault for acting up in front of me!
"Auuu... did I get a bump on my head? That felt like a really hard hit..."
As the girl spoke while glaring at me and rubbing her head, I felt a slight pang of guilt and carefully averted my gaze.
"...I-I didn't hit you that hard."
"Don't lie, you lolicon! You put so much emotion into that hit!!!"
"Who's a lolicon, you damn brat?!"
As my hand instinctively rose again, the girl recoiled.
"Hieee!? This is assault... no, it's God-assault!!"
"If you're a god, then try blocking it yourself!!"
"Kyahhhh!! Get away!!"
Eventually, after a brief chase, the matter was settled by me delivering a single flick to her forehead.
"...And you call yourself a father of a family?"
"You're probably the only one who would say that over a single forehead flick."
"Hmph. Well, I'm not human anyway, so it doesn't matter!"
"Well, aren't you just high and mighty."
Before I knew it, the girl and I were speaking quite casually to each other.
"Well then, I've delivered the message I needed to, so I'll be taking my leave for today."
"The phrase 'for today' is quite bothersome, but... thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to have some time to think about what to do next."
"If you're thankful, I'd appreciate it if you showed a bit more respect next time, you know?"
"That's probably impossible."
"I figured as much."
With those final words, a large murder of crows began to gather around the girl.
"See you later. Resister of Fate."
"...Ha! I don't really need a title like that."
As I spoke, the crows took flight, and the girl vanished. The only sign that she had ever been there was a single crow feather resting on the table.
"Resister of Fate... huh."
If that fate brings destruction to my precious family, I will gladly resist it. Even if this life eventually burns out and disappears.
"...The alcohol tastes bitter today."
Today felt... uniquely lonely.
"...Yume... Yume!!"
I hear someone's voice... Who is it...?
"Yume!!!"
"...Ah!?"
At the sound of Ai's voice, I jolted awake. I scrambled up and looked around me...
"...Did I sleep on the rooftop?"
It seemed that after meeting the girl, I had finished my drink alone and closed my eyes, only to fall asleep without realizing it.
...I shouldn't have used such a comfortable chair.
That explained why my body felt a bit stiff when I woke up.
"Yuuu-meee!!!"
"Sorry, sorry, Ai... I guess I fell asleep on the roof after having a drink."
"Honestly! Do you know how flustered I was when I woke up and you weren't there?! Your phone was there, but you weren't!"
"Yeah, yeah, my mistake. So, what time is it now?"
As Ai had mentioned, my smartphone was in the bedroom, so I couldn't be sure of the time. Judging by the light, it looked to be around 7 or 8 in the morning, but...
"Hmm? It's 7 o'clock!"
"...How are you awake?"
I was genuinely curious how Ai had managed to wake up at 7 AM by herself.
"...Yume, how do you even see me?!"
"Like a child who's just grown in age...?"
"Hmph!!"
After hearing that, Ai puffed out her cheeks and headed downstairs first.
"Ahaha! Ai, I'm sorry. I'll make your favorite food for breakfast today, so forgive me, okay? You can even have some Häagen-Dazs!!"
I laughed and followed after her, watching her back.
Hoping that this daily life would continue forever.
While I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast and soothing the sulking Ai, I heard footsteps coming from the second floor. Based on the gait and the sound, it wasn't hard to realize it was Ruby.
"Ai, it looks like Ruby is coming down, so could you get things ready?"
"Eh? How do you know?"
"I can hear her."
"Yume, you're amazing!!"
"Sure, sure."
Passing off Ai's compliment as I continued to cook.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, Ruby!!!"
"Kyaa, Mama~!"
"Kyaaaa, Ruby!!!"
As usual, Ai and Ruby hugged each other as if they couldn't live without one another while exchanging morning greetings.
"Good morning to Papa too!!"
"Oh boy... Ruby, I've told you it's dangerous to pounce on me while I'm making breakfast, haven't I?"
To be honest, it wasn't dangerous at all, but for the sake of Ruby's future husband, I had to gradually correct this behavior.
"Ehehe~ I only do this to Papa, so it's fine!!"
"Geez... should I be thankful for that?"
"Yup!"
"Haha! If our princess says so, then I guess it must be true."
I turned around to hug Ruby, stroked her head, and sat her down.
"Aqua stayed out last night, so I guess it's just the three of us for breakfast."
"Ehh? Aqua didn't come home?"
"I guess you didn't know because you fell asleep right away, Ai. Yes, he contacted me saying he'd be staying out."
"What! My brother didn't come home?!"
"That's right, Ruby."
"Tsk!!"
Ruby clicked her tongue with a look of dissatisfaction, but her mood seemed to clear up quickly once she started eating the breakfast I had made.
At that moment, the sound of the door opening reached us. Ruby, still in her pajamas, dashed toward the entrance.
"Onii-chan!! Coming home in the morning, you've really gone off the rails! I can't believe it!! And you didn't even tell me or Mama, only Papa!!"
".........."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"It's nothing."
I could hear Ruby and Aqua's voices. They were getting louder, so they were likely heading our way.
"I just stopped by Himekawa-san's house. Nothing happened in particular."
"Ah! The person who played Blade! Well... if you were bonding with the guys, I guess..."
"I'll introduce you to him someday."
"What? What about Papa or Mama?"
"They already know him, so there's no need for an introduction."
"Ah! That makes sense!!"
Ruby and Aqua's voices moved toward the living room. As Ai and I finished eating and joined them, we found Aqua just staring blankly out the window.
It seemed something had happened between those two when he went to see Himekawa-kun.
Then, Aqua's phone rang in his pocket. When he answered, a voice loud enough to echo through the living room could be heard.
"What?"
[Where did you disappear to in the middle of the wrap-party?!!! I asked Ruby and she said you hadn't come home...!!!]
[Akane Kurokawa also disappeared! Could it be you...?!]
"No, I just went to another place with the director and Himekawa."
[Oh... I see.]
[Seriously! Don't do confusing things, you idiot!! You dummy! Get some rest!!]
"Hmm..."
Ai and Ruby probably couldn't hear, but unfortunately, the entire conversation reached my ears.
I couldn't help but think that there really was no bigger tsundere than Arima Kana.
After finishing the call with her, Aqua looked at his smartphone again and smiled slightly.
"These guys are really..."
Watching him, I walked over slowly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know if what you set out to do went well or not, but you look better now, Aqua. Have you had breakfast yet?"
I will always support whatever path you take.
I suspect he heard about Himekawa's parents from Himekawa himself.
Since both of them have connections to me and Ai.
However, the real culprit isn't those two. It might still be too much for Aqua to realize the truth.
But perhaps it's not a bad thing for him to stay unaware and believe that the person who threatened me and Ai is already dead.
As a parent, I only want Aqua to live his life in the light from now on.
"...Ah. I haven't eaten yet. Father."
Aqua looked up at me, and I noticed it.
That the brightly shining star in Aqua's eyes had vanished. And that his eyes...
Had become more like mine than anyone else's.
"...Is that so? Is there anything you want to eat?"
"I'd like to eat something light."
"Haha. I see. Then how about a light set meal?"
"...That's not light at all."
"Hahaha!!"
That change... I didn't hate it.