That was a close one.
I almost came close to crying.
Phew, I guess it’s true that our tear glands weaken as we age.
As I was driving my beloved car, I looked at my eldest son, who was sleeping with his mouth wide open and a stupid expression on his face.
Ever since Mom left! Dad has been working hard! I know that well! I think he’s cool!
That’s not fair. What kind of thing are you saying?
It’s a good thing that Kunpei was too embarrassed to look at me.
If he had looked me in the eye, I wouldn’t have been able to take it.
That’s why! We’re watching dad’s back, Shouhei and I!
My back, huh.
Surprisingly, I’ve been watched.
After Kaori left, until now, I have been swamped by many things and have not been able to pamper my sons enough.
Shouhei was still very young and was at the peak age of wanting to be pampered, and Kunpei, being the eldest, took on more responsibility than he needed to.
I lost count of the number of times I came home late at night after a long day at work and found my sons already under the covers, breathing heavily in their sleep.
I feel inadequate.
I told myself to pull myself together.
These were the days when I encouraged myself, but I became disillusioned with myself.
There were too many things that Kaori could do that I couldn’t do.
But I couldn’t think of many things that I could do that Kaori couldn’t do.
If I did the cleaning, I would slack off towards the end. If I cooked, I would burn it.
My laundry was wrinkled, and I’m not good at getting along with the neighbors.
All I can do is work hard, feed my sons a good meal, and keep a warm house to come home to.
That’s all I could do, I thought.
After the duel between Kunpei and Prince Atol, I felt an irresistible urge to exercise, so I asked Seijitsu-kun to accompany me for a little sparring.
Ah, I really don’t want to get old.
In the past, I would have been able to spar for about thirty minutes, but after the first ten minutes, I couldn’t keep up with Seijitsu-kun.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the ring.
It’s good thing that I was at least able to get one hit on you, Seijitsu-kun. I received a couple of good ones, though.
But it was a nostalgic feeling.
At that time, right? I was about the same age as Kunpei and the others.
When I was a fighter in unauthorized betting matches, I was desperate because if I didn’t win, I wouldn’t be alive tomorrow.
I didn’t know what a family was until I met Kaori.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in an orphanage in the dodgy part of Shinjuku, doing things that were against the law in order to earn my daily bread with others in the same situation.
Back then, there were plenty of orphans like us because of the world clash, and even here in Japan, which was relatively unaffected, things were still pretty bad.
It’s better that we didn’t know our parents from the start.
The beastman children were abandoned by their parents because they were in need of money.
When the orphanage was in trouble, I and a few others who were confident in their physical strength sold themselves to an unauthorized gambling ring in the hope of helping out. They were yakuza or mafia.
Now the government has moved in and cleaned up the place, but it’s still a crucible of desire for all kinds of scumbags.
A betting match between a beastman of many times the size and physical ability of a powerless human. It was popular at the time and we fighters, whose lifespan tended to be short, could make a fortune if we survived.
Well, our contract was almost like a slave contract, and I was the only one who survived.
Not a penny of the money I had accumulated was left after freeing myself and the matter on Kaori, but I never regretted it.
Because it made it possible for me to live with Kaori.
I glanced at the back seat in the rear-view mirror.
Aoi-chan and Yuuno-chan were chatting happily.
Haha, kids these days are so cute.
What a waste for this idiot who’s slobbering while asleep.
Well, I’m actually proud of him.
They are two precious people who appreciate his honest and sincere side.
They recognize my clumsy and stubborn eldest son, who is just like the old me, not his outside but his inside, and they are in love with him.
It must be tough to be courted by two people at once, and both of them are honest and good-natured, so Kunpei is going to have a hell of a time in the future.
I’m troubled, but if it’s the path you’ve decided, I’ll do my best to follow it.
It’s my role and it’s what I promised Kaori.
We’ll be arriving home soon.
The twins, my first grandchildren, Shouhei and Rouge are staying there. Ichika-chan and Koji-kun are also there.
Our house, which used to be lonely with just the boys, has somehow become more lively.
Every day is enjoyable.
Both Jaja and Nana are ridiculously adorable, they could be said to be the apple of my eye.
The grandchildren folder on my laptop in my room is almost full. I wonder if I can find an external storage device, something cheap. I’ll ask my younger subordinates at work tomorrow.
I’m already being treated like a doting grandfather in the company now. I think it’s a great change for me that I don’t worry about it at all.
“Hey, Kunpei, wake up. We’re almost there.”
“Huh? Ah…”
Wake up.
You’ve done a pretty cool job today, so make sure you finish everything up properly.
“Kunpei-san, please wake up. Jaja and Nana are waiting for you.”
“Shouhei-kun’s sermon is also waiting for you.”
“Shouhei! That’s not true, I’m doing my best!”
Aoi-chan shook Kunpei, and Yuuno-chan confronted him with the terrible reality.
Awakened at once by the wave of attacks, Kunpei stiffened and blurted out excuses.
What a guy, how long are you going to be dominated by your little brother?
But I can’t speak for others because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to beat Shouhei’s sound arguments.
The youngest son is becoming more and more like Kaori every year, and once he gets angry, it’s too late to do anything about it.
“All right. Here we are.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“I’ll take care of your bags, father-in-law.”
Aoi opened the back door and took most of the bags with her.
“Then I’ll take Kunpei-kun’s bag.”
“Ah, that’s okay, Mikuma. I can carry that much.”
“Nope, you’re so exhausted that you can’t keep even your footing.”
Kunpei and Yuuno-chan headed for the front door, noisily messing around with each other.
I pushed up my glasses with my left index finger and looked at our house.
Our parking lot is across the street and I can see the whole house from here.
The design is a bit old-fashioned, but the durability and comfort are perfect.
There was a house like this in a housing magazine that Kaori used to read with pleasure.
I knew that she had stickied it to secretly look at it, so I spent some money to renovate it and got it.
The loan was for two generations, the mortgage lasted until Kunpei’s generation.
There was a girl in that town. The sky dragon’s daughter. She was living alone in the forest.
Ah, I found her.
The girl you worried about until the end.
She’s now Kunpei’s wife.
You never know what’s going to happen in this world.
She was very surprised when I told her there was a baby in my belly. When I let her touch it, she was very happy.
That boy is having a grandchild with that girl, you know? Even you couldn’t have imagined that.
I told her to become friends when this child is born, she made a troubled smile. If Kouhei-kun was awake, I would have taken you with me. She was a really cute girl, you know?
Yeah, I recognized her right away from the first time I saw her.
The girl you were talking about. She looked as lonely as ever, though.
It’s a nice town, don’t you think? How about saving up some money and moving there when we can afford it? Ah, I see. Kouhei’s work is also a factor, it’s not going to be that easy.
What are you talking about, Kaori-san?
I swore under the night sky of Shinjuku that I would do anything you wanted me to.
“Dad! Dad, come here for a minute! Hurry up, hurry up!”
Kunpei’s loud voice brought me back and I ran to the door to see what was going on.
“What’s going on?”
I hurriedly took off my shoes at the entrance and rushed to the living room.
“Take a picture! Hurry!”
A picture? What are you talking about?
Everyone was in the living room, looking up at the ceiling around the baby mat that we had set up for the twins to play on.
I did the same, and looked up at the ceiling.
“Hahahahahaha!”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Welcome back, dad. Isn’t Jaja amazing?”
“Come on, Jaja-chan, try a little harder!
“Nii!”
Shouhei pointed to the ceiling, while Ichika-chan and Koji-kun cheered for Jaja.
“Ah, I’m back. It’s amazing. How did she end up like that?”
“Welcome back. When I was letting Jaja and Nana fly around at noon today, Jaja started spoiling Nana, and I think Nana liked it. She fell asleep a while ago.”
Rouge-chan, sitting on the baby mat and holding a towel, explained.
I see.
So that’s why Jaja couldn’t get down and ended up in that state.
“Hmm… ah…”
The two princesses of the Kazamachi family were floating on the ceiling of the bustling living room.
Jaja’s face was stiff, and Nana was on Jaja’s back.
The two of them were stuck close together and my adorable granddaughters were at the center of everyone’s smiles.
The little sister who does things as her own pace, was sleeping with her cheek resting on her sister’s back, and the big sister was doing her best to support her without complaining.
Oh, my God. It’s so cute.
“Dad, hurry up and take a picture! Jaja’s probably at her limit!”
“Ah, she’s so cute! She’s so cute, but I feel so sorry for Jaja, I don’t know what to do!”
The young couple were panicking underneath the twins, alternating between being happy and worried.
“You guys are too flustered, anyone can take a picture, it doesn’t have to be me.”
Having said that, I quickly pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and quickly activate the camera.
This behavior has become second nature to me lately, hasn’t it?
“No, it’s your role to be the photographer, isn’t it?”
“Ah, Jaja! Just a little more, okay? Just until grandpa takes your picture!”
Ah, is that so?
When did that become my role? Oh, well. I’m not complaining.
While they were saying that, my smartphone was showing off its continuous shooting function, capturing the twins in the viewfinder while focusing on the angle and composition for the best shot.
Hmm, maybe I should push myself a little more and buy a better camera.
I don’t know much about photography, so it might be a waste, but I might be able to take better pictures of Jaja and Nana than with my current smartphone.
I guess she finally reached her limit, and Jaja fell down as if the string that was suspending her snapped.
“Yes, well done.”
“Oh, I’ll hold Nana.”
Aoi, who had been standing by with her large wings revealed, quickly caught the twins and landed on the floor and Kunpei took Nana.
“How long has she been flying?”
“Hm, Nana fell asleep about ten minutes ago.”
Yuuno-chan and Ichika-chan rushed over to take a peek at the twins that Kunpei and Aoi-chan were holding.
Wow, she can fly for 10 minutes already?
They’re growing day by day, aren’t they?
It’s different from the way a human child grows, and it never ceases to amaze me.
I miss this feeling.
Kaori and I were new to childcare when Kunpei was born, so it was hectic every day, and in the case of Shouhei, he was born weak, so we couldn’t take our eyes off him.
Several years have passed since then, but I never get tired of raising children.
They’re fine now because the twins are in their most adorable stage, but when they start walking and running, it’s going to be a lot of work.
Heh, I’m sure they’ll come crying to me for help when the time comes.
“Dad?”
My two sons looked at my face.
Hmm? What is it?
“What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
“If you’re tired, why don’t you just go to bed? You’re not young anymore.”
Excuse me, it’s true that I’m no match for Seijitsu-kun, but I’m an old man who can move around a lot more than most people my age.
“Why do you look like you’re in such pain? Do you have a stomachache?”
In pain?
Ah, that’s not it.
I’ve been thinking about Kaori a lot today.
That’s why I’m just a little lonely.
I’m just feeling that hopeless resentment, wondering why she’s not here.
“Dah!”
“Oh?”
Jaja, who was laughing in Aoi-chan’s chest, extended her hand towards me.
“Do you want to go to where grandpa is?”
“Ah.”
Oh, that’s unusual. She’s usually all over Kunpei.
But it’s greatly welcomed!
“Come on! Come here!”
“Kya!”
I opened my hands in a grandiose manner, and replied with a big smile.
“Yes, father-in-law. I’m counting on you, she’s probably going to fall asleep soon.”
“Un, leave it to me.”
I took Jaja from Aoi-chan and brought her face to face.
“Dah.”
“Ah, I see. It was tough, wasn’t it, as expected of the older sister.”
I tried to guess what Jaja meant.
I honestly don’t know what Jaja is trying to tell us, but I’ve found that babies listen to adults quite well.
It was the same with Kunpei and Shouhei.
If the adults around them looked happy, they were happy.
If the adults around them look sad, it was painful.
Children are the mirror of their parents.
In fact, they are the mirror of everyone.
That’s why their family always want to be close.
I don’t even want to imagine these children crying alone.
Please get alone well, okay? Even after I’m gone, always.
Yes, I know.
I haven’t been able to keep all the promises I’ve made, but I’ve always kept that one.
Family is always best together.
Yes.
I love these lively, restless people, too.
But I still miss you.
Kaori.
I love you. Kouhei-kun.
Ah, I miss you, Kaori.
Even if my form changes, I’m still Kouhei-kun’s wife and Kunpei and Shouhei’s mother.
That’s right.
There’s no time for whining.
Even now, you’re still working hard to endure the loneliness, aren’t you?