Chapter 97: Communication Between Father and Daughter
Dinner time passed quickly. Even though the group chatted quite a bit about recent events at the table, the time slipped away inadvertently.
Soon, it was time to leave.
Shiina Kaede was very reluctant to see everyone go, especially Aragaki-nii Takiya, but she wasn't the only one feeling this way.
Her mother, Shiina Mahiru, felt the same.
It wasn't the same kind of lingering attachment to family that Shiina Kaede felt; her heart was filled with a faint sense of loss that remained after the lively atmosphere faded.
In truth, Shiina Mahiru loved lively gatherings—the feeling of interacting with everyone, the laughter that occasionally reached her ears, and the sense of relationships subtly drawing closer... Honestly, Shiina Mahiru loved this atmosphere, but she simply couldn't make the others stay.
"Well, we'll be heading out now."
Noticing that it was already dark outside, Aragaki Takiya stood up and spoke.
"Eh, so soon?"
Hearing Aragaki Takiya's words, Shiina Kaede couldn't help but blink. She then subconsciously checked the time on her phone; it was already past nine o'clock.
It was indeed getting late.
"Well, if Kaede ever feels bored, you can come play with Moeha anytime. Our door is always open for you."
Aragaki Takiya's tone couldn't help but soften as he rubbed Shiina Kaede's little head.
"Hehe, I'll go! Aragaki-nii, you better have snacks ready when the time comes~"
"Leave it to me!"
"Clap!"
After speaking, the two shared a high-five in perfect sync. Mm, they were looking more and more like father and daughter (in Shiina Kaede's eyes).
"Then we'll be going. Shiina, thank you for your hospitality today. Dinner was delicious."
Before leaving, Aragaki Takiya didn't forget to express his gratitude to Shiina Mahiru.
"If Aragaki-san wants to eat, you can tell me in advance, and I will prepare it."
Perhaps it was Shiina Kaede beside her who gave her courage, but Shiina Mahiru suddenly blurted out those words.
Aragaki Moeha:???
Yukinoshita Ayame:!!!
"Uh, if there's a chance, I will. Thank you, Shiina."
Listening to Shiina Mahiru's words, Aragaki Takiya found himself a bit unable to cope. How should he put it? When facing a girl speaking in such a gentle tone, he always had a bit of trouble resisting.
He still needed to train himself more.
Seeing the reactions of Aragaki Takiya and the two Little ones beside him, Shiina Mahiru realized that what she had just said was a bit too ambiguous. Her originally fair cheeks couldn't help but be dyed with a faint layer of pink.
Yes, realizing it after the fact, she felt a wave of shyness.
After Aragaki Takiya and the others left... "Mama is so amazing!"
With eyes sparkling with admiration, Shiina Kaede hugged Shiina Mahiru directly.
"Eh?? What's wrong, Kaede?"
Shiina Mahiru was caught off guard by this sudden attack.
"It's what Mama said just now; it dealt a critical hit to Papa! I saw it—Papa's fingers were trembling slightly just now. That's one of Papa's hidden little habits."
Hearing her daughter mention what happened again, Shiina Mahiru's cheeks, which had just recovered, were once again dyed with a faint pink.
"Does Kaede think Mama was very good just now?"
Looking at the excited Little Loli before her, a wave of tenderness couldn't help but surge in Shiina Mahiru's heart.
That's right, even if Aragaki Takiya and the others left, Shiina Kaede would always stay by her side.
This feeling of having someone to rely on was truly wonderful.
"Yes! What Mama said just now was absolutely perfect. If I were Papa, I probably wouldn't have been able to stop myself from confessing to Mama."
Looking at the girl right in front of her, Shiina Kaede couldn't help but lean in, eventually pressing her little face against the other's cheek.
Suddenly, Shiina Mahiru felt a cool, icy sensation.
Listening to her daughter's words and feeling the cool sensation on her cheek, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but relax. She once again felt the warmth of home.
So, she had to keep working hard on that matter, for her own and Kaede's happiness.
The young woman cheered herself on... Meanwhile, on the other side, Aragaki Takiya held the hands of the two Children on his left and right as they set off on the road home.
Well, Yukinoshita Ayame had taken the initiative to hold Aragaki Takiya's hand. Aragaki Takiya didn't stop her; he had a lot of patience for Children, so he naturally wouldn't refuse this small request.
"Since there's no word from Classmate Yukinoshita yet, Ayane, why don't you rest at my house for a while? I'll take you back later."
Once they were near his home, Aragaki Takiya spoke to Yukinoshita Ayame.
"Okay."
Faced with Aragaki Takiya's suggestion, Yukinoshita Ayame readily agreed... Before long, Aragaki Takiya led the two Little Lolis back home. After a whole afternoon of activity, Aragaki Moeha was already quite tired, but she still insisted on finishing her washing up before going to bed to rest. Suddenly, only Aragaki Takiya and Yukinoshita Ayame were left in the Living Room.
For Yukinoshita Ayame, this was the perfect opportunity.
"Um, Aragaki-nii, can I ask you a question?"
Sitting on the sofa, Yukinoshita Ayame looked at Aragaki Takiya and suddenly spoke.
"Of course. Ayane, you can ask whatever you want."
"Well, I heard my sister mention that a teacher recommended Aragaki-nii to join her club back then. I want to know why Aragaki-nii refused?"
After briefly organizing her thoughts, Yukinoshita Ayame asked.
"That..."
Yukinoshita Ayame's question immediately stirred up Aragaki Takiya's memories, but he didn't think too deeply about it and gave his answer directly.
"Because I have a lot of things to be busy with daily, and... I don't have a mother or father. I usually have to work part-time jobs to support myself and Moeha. Plus, I've already joined a Game Club, so I really didn't have the energy to participate in your sister's club."
Aragaki Takiya explained.
"A Game Club?"
Listening to Aragaki Takiya's words, Yukinoshita Ayame felt as if this world had deviated from its intended course compared to what she knew.
Could it be a Butterfly Effect caused by her traveling through time?
No, that didn't seem right. According to her father's tone, he should have joined that Game Club even before she arrived.
What exactly was going on?
Inexplicably, a sense of panic rose in Yukinoshita Ayame's heart. If her father really didn't join the Service Club, would her father and mother really end up together like in the previous world?
Yukinoshita Ayame had no answer. Perhaps she should just reveal her identity now.
"Actually..."
Before Yukinoshita Ayame could speak, Aragaki Takiya's phone rang.
It was a call from Yukinoshita Yukino.
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