The next day, I wake up feeling refreshed for the first time in a while, and take milk out of the fridge to pour into a cup.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
This is my father’s voice, Jinkurou’s. His voice sounds more vibrant than usual, probably because of yesterday’s honey.
I smell coffee, which he is most likely drinking.
“Yes, I did bufuh!?”
I spit out milk as I look at the black-haired suave looking man I don’t know.
“…Who are you?”
My sweatshirt is dirty with milk.
How many times have I changed it?
The man looks at me confused, and speaks as he closes the newspaper he’s reading.
“What are you on about Haruto? Are you still not feeling well?”
This is definitely my father’s voice.
ーーー
I spent two nights at home, but didn’t get to rest.
My father is young again, and my mother kept dancing wildly and taking pictures. My siblings were baffled, and Masafumi and Yoshina asked how he did it, but he said he was like that when he woke up.
Masafumi was suspicious, but didn’t press any further because he knew my father wasn’t going to talk.
I’m shaking in the train.
I passed by that convenience store Yoshina told me about, and while there really was a girl with big boobs, she was getting up there in age.
Did she think I’d be interested in anyone as long as she had big boobs? I should start doubting what Yoshina says.
I get off the bullet train, and grab another train to the station near my apartment. When I’m two stations away from the dungeon, a beautiful lady gets on the train.
She’s holding a bag with reference books and pamphlets, which looks heavy. And the fact that she’s holding it like it’s nothing makes her strength clear.
She’s wearing a scarf and thick gloves. She must be cold.
It’s before five, so this place is about to be packed with people.
That said, it’s not that time yet, but the only free seat is next to me.
She starts looking around, and then walks towards me, and plumps down on the seat.
I get a little fidgety and peek here and there.
“Hum, what is it?”
She notices, and asks me while sounding wary.
“H-hum, ah, yes. Studies. Are your studies going well…? You’re a student, right?”
I get awkward, but manage to speak somehow. It’s a guy’s prerogative to get awkward in front of a beautiful woman.
She looks at me with suspicion, but responds.
“Yes…”
Is all she says, as she starts messing with her phone. Her fingers are moving fast, so she must be texting someone.
“Hum, what else?”
She asks with a stern tone when she sees I’m still looking.
“No, hum… Are you trying to become a childcare worker?”
“How do you know that?”
She’s confused, but I point to a pamphlet coming out of her bag.
She understands, and says yes, before turning back to her smartphone.
We pass by a station. The dungeon’s station is next.
“…I knew a girl who wanted to be one too.”
She’s surprised when I start speaking.
From her point of view, I must look like a creep, but I keep going.
“She was strong-willed, liked pranks, and was a nice person that liked kids. She always admired childcare workers, so I thought she’d be a great one someday.”
“Hum, what are you…”
“I’m just speaking to myself.”
I sigh and get up.
I feel like drinking all of a sudden, so I get off at the next station to get a drink.
“I’m sure you’ll be a good childcare worker.”
The woman looks at me with suspicion, ready to move away at any moment. Well, this is a natural reaction, considering she doesn’t know me.
The door opens at the next station.
I think about getting off the train, but decide to tell her one last thing.
“…So do your best.”
Sorry, my vocabulary isn’t that strong.
The girl looks puzzled behind the closed door.
It feels like she wants to say something, but the train moves away.
I watch until the train is out of my sight, and head to the shopping district.
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