Chapter 141…………………………………….
“What, expectations, ♬♩!”
Before Grandpa Aaron had even finished speaking, Kyle’s dad shouted in an angry voice.
If it were me, I would’ve been deeply moved hearing Grandpa Aaron’s words.
Kyle’s dad is colder than I thought…
“Wasn’t it you who clearly said you wouldn’t meet anyone unless it was Cici? What now?”
“Haha, and the guy who knows that tries to hide my own daughter from me?”
“No, ♬♪! Why does this conversation keep going in circles?!”
At last, Kyle’s dad started pounding his chest in frustration.
‘It really does feel like this conversation is on repeat.’
To sum it up, it’s basically this:
I didn’t want you meeting my daughter because there’s a risk she’d get caught.
But you wanted to meet me, so I personally showed myself—what’s the problem?
Weren’t you the one who wouldn’t even meet me if it weren’t for your granddaughter?
Then why are you trying to hide your granddaughter from me?
If you meet my daughter—
And thus, the endless loop!
“Should you really be throwing around curses in front of a child?”
Regardless, Grandpa Aaron lightly flicked Kyle’s dad’s chin and muttered playfully.
He acted as if Kyle’s dad’s anger was nothing.
Or rather, like someone for whom this kind of exchange had long been routine.
“As if I wouldn’t have handled it myself.”
This time, Kyle’s dad let out a breath, his tone slightly calmer than before.
Just a moment ago he was furious.
Change the topic a little, and he settles down already?
If I use this well later, I might be able to apply it when I’m the one getting scolded.
‘Thank you, Grandpa Aaron.’
I’ll gladly take this useful tip~♡
“She can’t properly hear it anyway.”
“Even if she can’t hear it properly, she’ll still know you’re swearing. Am I wrong?”
“No, ♬♩—and you’re one to talk, old man—”
“At least I don’t curse in front of children.”
“Yeah, ♬♪. With such refined upbringing, I suppose that’s how I turned out. Sure, sure.”
Kyle’s dad muttered dryly and then practically collapsed onto the sofa.
At the same time, all the other dads turned to look at him.
Their expressions clearly said: What on earth is he doing now?
“What? Why.”
Still sprawled across the sofa like he’d melted into it, Kyle’s dad twitched his eyebrow.
“I’m not planning to scold Cici anymore, and we’ve met the old man. So let’s get to the point.”
“……”
“Did we come here to play around?”
Well, Dad’s not wrong.
It’s just… the sudden shift in attitude feels strange to us.
You were just yelling a minute ago.
“Seems like they still don’t really know you.”
Grandpa Aaron, as if used to this, sat down on the sofa opposite Kyle’s dad.
“You all sit too. The greetings are over—he’s saying we should move on to the main topic.”
“……Greetings?”
Shion’s dad repeated the word as if he couldn’t believe it.
But I know, Dad.
I saw it.
You were exchanging “greetings” while getting smacked by Grandma Margo, too…
“If you don’t want to sit, then don’t.”
Kyle’s dad stretched his legs out fully on the sofa, claiming even more space.
I shoved his legs aside and took a spot on one end.
Naturally, since Kyle’s dad was occupying most of the sofa, the other dads had no choice but to stand quietly behind.
And looking at this scene…
‘It kind of looks like Kyle’s dad is the boss and the others are his subordinates.’
Well, this is basically Kyle’s dad’s territory.
“The main topic, huh.”
Deciding we were ready to talk, Grandpa Aaron stroked his chin and began.
“I’ve already heard from this little one roughly why you came looking for me.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
I stomped my feet excitedly in agreement.
“Grandpa Aaron said he’d help find those people!”
We already finished discussing it before the dads arrived.
I’m such a capable Cici!
“Already? Wait—more importantly, you really agreed to help?”
Kyle’s dad shot upright, eyes wide.
“You’re someone who never makes a deal without compensation. What could you possibly squeeze out of a kid to accept this request?”
“And you? Do you have anything to give me?”
“No, ♬♩. Since I didn’t, I’ve been trying to make something, ♬♪……”
Ah—so that’s why Kyle’s dad had been locked up in his lab all this time.
He was inventing something to use in a future deal with Grandpa Aaron…!
“All that damn suffering for nothing.”
“I’ll take it if you give it.”
“Forget it, ♩♬!”
Kyle’s dad shouted sharply once more before flopping back onto the sofa.
Hmm, I think I get it now.
For Kyle’s dad, this must be a sign of closeness.
A slightly raised voice, a few more curses…
“Anyway, regarding this matter, I suppose we’ll need your opinions as well.”
While I was lost in thought, Grandpa Aaron slowly looked over all of us and continued.
“This child said it would be enough if I simply found out where their base is located. Any objections?”
“……Cici asked for that?”
Shion’s dad immediately looked at me, startled.
“I figured that’s what you dads would be most curious about……”
I fiddled with my fingers as I spoke hesitantly.
I mean… it’s okay to ask, right?
Everyone already knows I’m not an ordinary child.
“It seems she already knew what you were planning.”
“Well, I did tell her.”
Only Kyle’s dad replied in his usual indifferent tone.
“Still, Cici won’t be involved from here on out. Today’s the last time she sees any of this.”
“What?!”
The moment I heard that, I sprang to my feet in outrage.
You’re not including me?!
Do you know how hard I’ve worked to save Mom?!
And now you’re just cutting me out?
‘What are you planning to do without me!’
What if you lose your temper and decide, ‘Fine, let’s just destroy the world’?
‘No matter what, that cannot happen.’
Someone needs to be there to stop you!
Someone like me!
“Grandpa, no!”
At this point, the person I need to persuade isn’t Kyle’s dad.
As soon as I finished thinking, I hurried over to Grandpa Aaron.
“If it weren’t for me, Dad and the others wouldn’t even have been able to come here, right? So wherever they go, I have to go too. Don’t you think so, Grandpa?”
Think about it.
Someone has to keep an eye on these monster-like dads.
What if they start coming up with some weird plan?
“You? Where exactly are you planning to be? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of following them to their base?”
Grandpa Aaron tilted his head, looking amused.
Follow them to their base?
I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but—
“If it’s necessary…?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Grandpa Aaron flicked my forehead.
“No matter what, you don’t just wander into dangerous places, you little rascal.”
“Ugh…”
Maybe I should’ve answered differently.
I was too honest.
“However…”
As I clutched my forehead, on the verge of tears, Grandpa Aaron spoke again.
“Even I wouldn’t like this to be our last meeting.”
