"So... does this mean we've made up?" Kanjuro tilted his head slightly, looking at Yui Yuigahama, his tone carrying a perfect touch of seemingly uncertain expectation.
Yui Yuigahama immediately nodded vigorously, as if afraid he would back out, and asked urgently, her eyes full of hope: "Then will you go back to see Mama?"
Kanjuro looked at her undisguised longing, and a smile so gentle it could almost drown someone bloomed on his face. He reached out and gently brushed away a strand of hair that the wind had blown across her forehead, the gesture intimate and natural.
"Of course," his voice was low and soft, carrying a certainty that brooked no doubt, "Since my precious daughter has said so, how could Papa not agree?"
This "precious daughter" and the natural use of "Papa" to refer to himself were like a warm current, instantly washing away the last bit of resentment and unease in Yui Yuigahama's heart. A massive joy and an indescribable happiness of finally finding a sense of belonging overwhelmed her.
"That's great!" She almost skipped with joy, a brilliant smile blooming on her face like the sun after a rain, pure and dazzling. "Now we've really buried the hatchet! I love Papa Ye Xiao the most!" She shouted this without any guile, her voice full of pure delight.
Kanjuro looked at her defenseless joy, a faint light flickering deep in his eyes, but the gentle smile on his face didn't change at all. He spread his hands in feigned helplessness, his tone carrying a bit of grievance and teasing:
"Then... my good daughter, aren't you going to give Papa a hug? To celebrate our recognition of each other as father and daughter, and our reconciliation?"
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama's cheeks flushed with two red clouds. She mumbled a bit shyly, "Wh-what are you thinking! The love I mentioned... is like family love! A hug... is also a hug like family!"
"317," "Alright, alright, a hug like family." Kanjuro went along with it with a smile, opening his arms and looking at her with encouraging eyes.
Yui Yuigahama looked at his open arms. Her hesitation lasted only a moment before her instinctual longing for familial warmth overcame her shyness. She took a step forward and threw herself into Kanjuro's arms, gently but with full dependence, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her cheek against his firm, warm chest.
"Uu..." Her voice carried a hint of a sob, but it was mostly relief and satisfaction. "Since I was little... I never had a dad... This time... I'm really happy... Kanjuro! From now on... we'll have the best father-daughter relationship!" she said muffledly in his arms, as if making a solemn vow.
Kanjuro felt the soft body of the girl in his arms and her wholehearted dependence. His arms slowly tightened, making this "familial" hug more substantial. His chin rested gently on the top of her head, smelling the fresh scent of her hair. The smile at the corner of his mouth, from an angle Yui Yuigahama couldn't see, became deep and inscrutable.
"Okay~" he drawled, his voice so gentle it could drip water, as if making an eternal promise.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden rim around the embracing pair, making the scene look warm and beautiful. Yui Yuigahama was immersed in the immense happiness of finally finding paternal love and her family being about to become whole, completely unaware of the complex and dark light flickering in the deep eyes of the "father" holding her.
The best... father-daughter relationship?
He silently savored the phrase.
Perhaps.
At least until he completely tired of this new "family game," he would be the "best" father.
As for how long the shelf life of this "familial love" would be, that would depend on his mood and... how much fun his "daughters" could bring him.
Night at the Yuigahama home was shrouded in a subtle and thick atmosphere. Dinner ended in a warmth that Yuigahama Yui had deliberately created, filled with sycophancy and unease. She used almost all her courage and the remaining deep affection, twisted by the spear of longinus, to cautiously ask Kanjuro to stay the night.
Kanjuro did not refuse. Like a male master truly returning home, he calmly accepted the arrangement.
Yui Yuigahama finished washing up and lay on the bed in her room, her heart beating fast. Through a wall that wasn't very soundproof, vague sounds came from the master bedroom next door that made her face flush—
She knew what that meant. Logically, as a daughter, hearing her parents... she should feel awkward, or be happy for her mother? But at this moment, what filled her heart was an indescribable discomfort and... confusion.
She shook her head hard, trying to focus on the happiness of "family completion." (As long as Papa and Mama can be together... as long as this home is whole...)
She told herself this, and it did indeed bring her a deep sense of satisfaction and peace, like a small boat that had been drifting for a long time finally finding a harbor.
However, Kanjuro's peerlessly handsome face, the gentle smile he showed her during the day, the warmth of his palm when he rubbed her hair, the cold yet dangerous aura on him when he hugged her... these images and sensations flashed through her mind again and again, unbidden.
That wasn't just a daughter's admiration for her father.
Beneath that pure familial love, some other, hazy emotions that made her feel panicked yet made her heart race seemed to have quietly mixed in.
His charm, which surpassed common logic, was like a sweet poison.
(No! I can't think about it anymore!)
(He's Papa! My biological father!)
(How can I have these... these disgusting thoughts!)
Yui Yuigahama cursed herself fiercely in her heart, her cheeks burning hot, even the tips of her ears turning red.
She suddenly pulled up the quilt and tucked her whole head inside, as if this could shut out the sounds from outside and the crazy, forbidden thoughts growing in her heart.
The darkness and enclosed space amplified her senses.
She closed her eyes, her fingertips finding no place to rest; tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
The morning sun shone through the window onto the Yuigahama family's dining table, the air seemingly filled with a warmth unlike before. Yuigahama Yui had a soft and satisfied smile from the bottom of her heart as she busied herself preparing breakfast for Kanjuro and Yui. Her gaze drifted toward Kanjuro sitting at the table from time to time, her eyes full of the solace of finally getting her wish after a long wait, as well as that indelible obsession branded by the dark contract.
Seeing the genuine smile on her mother's face, Yui Yuigahama's mood felt like it was soaring above the clouds. Those confused, shameful thoughts from last night seemed to be temporarily suppressed under the bright daylight, replaced by pure joy filling her chest and an unprecedented sense of security.
On the way to school, Yui Yuigahama almost skipped along beside Kanjuro, her steps as light as a fawn's. She felt the air around her was sweet, and even the ordinary scenery by the road became exceptionally lovely in her eyes, as if the whole world had been painted with the bright colors of spring.
She turned her head, looking up at Kanjuro's profile, which looked even more handsome in the morning light, her heart beating faster because of excitement and an indescribable sense of intimacy. She hesitated for a moment, but finally plucked up the courage and said, with a hint of playfulness, her voice clear and full of expectation:
"Papa Ye Xiao!" She first tested the waters with this address. Seeing that Kanjuro didn't object but only looked down at her with a gentle gaze, she continued more boldly, her cheeks slightly flushed: "In the future... when we're in private and no one else is around, I'll call you Papa, okay?"
Her eyes twinkled with starlight; it was a total acceptance and longing for the identity of "father," a yearning for a complete family relationship, and perhaps... also mixed with a craving for this unique intimacy that she herself hadn't yet clarified.
Kanjuro stopped, turned around, and faced her directly. The sunlight outlined a dazzling halo behind him. He leaned down slightly to meet Yui Yuigahama's eyes, a smile that was familiar to her—gentle enough to be intoxicating—on his face. He reached out and very naturally pinched her soft cheek, the action intimate and doting.
"Sure," his voice was low and soft, with a reassuring magic, "My Little Yui can call me whatever she wants."
These words were like the sweetest permission, instantly filling Yui Yuigahama's heart with immense happiness. She smiled happily, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents, and nodded vigorously: "Mhm!"
She was immersed in the joy of finally being able to call him "Papa" openly, completely unaware of the cold and playful glint, like someone observing an interesting experimental subject, that flashed deep within Kanjuro's eyes as he looked at her tenderly.
To him, this cry of "Papa" was merely a more convenient and ironic footnote in this game of ethics. He was intensely curious to see the desperate yet beautiful expression that would appear on the face of the "daughter" whose affirmation he had just accepted, when this fortress of happiness built on false paternal love eventually crumbled.
However, until that day arrived, he didn't mind enjoying the pleasure of playing the "doting father." The atmosphere on the way to school wasn't as lighthearted as it had been earlier.
Miura Yumiko and Ebina Hina quickly came forward, naturally gathering around Kanjuro. Their intimate manner when talking to Kanjuro, that tacit understanding in their eyes as if they shared some secret, felt like tiny thorns pricking Yui Yuigahama's heart.
She followed behind, pouting and sullen, feeling a sharp bitterness in her heart as she watched Kanjuro and Yumiko chatting happily. She wasn't an idiot; the relationship between Yumiko and Kanjuro was far from a simple boyfriend-girlfriend dynamic. That deep-seated reliance and possessiveness went beyond that of ordinary couples.
A terrifying thought she had always refused to dwell on surfaced again—could Yumiko also be...? She dared not continue the thought, nor did she want to believe it. But the scenes unfolding before her reminded her that Kanjuro's world was far more complex than she imagined, and the "father-daughter relationship" she treasured might just be an insignificant part of his vast network of connections.
(No! I can't accept this!)
(This is too unfair to Mom!)
A mix of courage and grievance surged in her heart. Taking advantage of a quiet corner near the teaching building, Yui Yuigahama suddenly grabbed Kanjuro's sleeve, her voice trembling with suppression: "Papa Kanjuro! You... come over here with me for a moment, I need to ask you something privately!"
Kanjuro raised an eyebrow, gave Yumiko and Ebina a reassuring look, and allowed Yui Yuigahama to pull him aside.
"What's wrong, my little Yui?" His tone remained gentle, as if completely oblivious to her anger.
"Yumiko... What exactly is her relationship with you?!" Yui Yuigahama looked up, her eyes already red, her voice full of accusation. "Don't lie to me! I feel... I feel like the way she looks at you isn't like a normal girlfriend at all! Is she... is she also..."
She couldn't utter the rest of the sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.
Kanjuro looked at her agitation, sighed softly, and reached out to ruffle her hair, but she stubbornly dodged him. He withdrew his hand, a seemingly helpless smile appearing on his face:
"Yui, matters of the heart... are very complicated. You are still a child right now; there are some things you don't need to understand so clearly."
"A child?! I am not a child anymore!" This dismissive remark completely ignited Yui Yuigahama's sense of grievance, and her tears instantly broke free. "Waaah... All you do is brush me off! You already have Mom, and you have me, so why are you still involved with so many women! This... this is too cruel to Mom! And it's cruel to me too!"
Her shoulders hitched with sobs, as if she were venting all her disappointment and insecurity.
Kanjuro watched her tear-streaked face, remained silent for a moment, then took out a tissue from his pocket and gently, yet irresistibly, wiped away the traces of tears on her face. His movements were careful, his gaze focused, as if he were handling a fragile treasure.
"There, stop crying." His voice was low and carried a strange, soothing power. "If you cry too much, your face won't be pretty anymore."
Yui Yuigahama sniffled, wanting to pull away, but simultaneously clinging to this rare moment of tenderness.
Kanjuro watched her gradually calm down, then spoke slowly, his tone carrying a seemingly compromising sincerity:
"I promise you, Yui."
"Although I do have many women outside, many... relationships like the one I have with Yumiko."
He admitted it without reservation, his gaze fixed on Yui Yuigahama's suddenly widened eyes.
"However, I guarantee you that I will frequently return to visit you and your mother. I will do my utmost to give you the feeling of a 'home.' Is that... acceptable?"
His promise was like a carefully designed trap. He did not promise exclusivity, nor did he sever ties with others. Instead, he offered a solution that seemed like a concession but was actually more cruel—he was willing to bestow upon them a portion of his time and affection, but he would absolutely not abandon the entire forest for them.
Yet, for Yui Yuigahama, who desperately longed for paternal love and a complete family, this incomplete, shared "love" was far better than complete loss. She looked into Kanjuro's deep and "sincere" eyes, and the defenses in her heart crumbled bit by bit.
(At least... at least he's willing to come back often...)
(At least... he and Mom can still be together...)
(At least... I can still call him Papa...)
She sniffed, her voice thick with congestion, and confirmed softly and reluctantly: "...Really? Will you really come back to see us often?"
"Of course." Kanjuro smiled and reached out again. This time, Yui Yuigahama didn't dodge, allowing him to stroke her hair. "I promise."
Yui Yuigahama lowered her head. After a painful internal struggle, she ultimately chose to accept this unequal treaty. She knew she couldn't change Kanjuro, and all she could grasp was this limited warmth.
"...Mm." She replied softly, her voice barely a whisper.
The storm seemed to have subsided with Yui Yuigahama's compromise.
Kanjuro used his superb acting skills and precise psychological control to stabilize this fragile "family" relationship once more. And Yui Yuigahama, through her tears, personally tied herself and her mother deeper onto Kanjuro's ship of tempting and dangerous polyamorous relationships, sailing toward an unknown future that was destined to be turbulent.
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