Chapter 8 When My Daughter First Met Me, She Liked Me Right Away

When My Daughter First Met Me, She Liked Me Right Away

“Dad… I love you.”

Midnight. When I opened my eyes, Satsuki was beside me.

She was sleeping with my arm as her pillow, breathing a sweet sleep.

She looked happy in her sleep.

She looked so comfortable, like a kitten with a sloppy face.

“Really… I wonder when she snuck in.”

This girl is always sneaking into my bed.

In case you were wondering, I want her to be separated from her father, so I tell her every day to “sleep in your own room”. Satsuki happily replies, “Yes!” But after midnight, she always comes into my room and sleeps with me.

“What a naughty girl!”

I lightly pecked her cheek. And when I touch her gently so as not to wake her, Satsuki squirms as if she’s ticklish.

Her soft skin is squishy.

Touching her made me feel like desecrating something sacred, so I quickly pulled my hand away. But!

“…I can’t move.”

I tried to change my position, but Satsuki held me in her arms, so I couldn’t move. In the end, all I could do was watch her sleeping face.

“… She’s getting so big!”

My daughter will be 17 this year, and I feel like she is growing every time I see her.

When I first met her, she was very small. I still remember that this girl was so small that I could hold her in one arm.

I’m sure Satsuki was about 2 years old back then.

I was 22 at the time. And Satsuki’s mother, Sasha, was also 22.

“…I miss her so much.”

Memories of that day run through my mind.

I remember that day like it was yesterday….

It was the day after I graduated from college.

I had gotten a job at a local security company, and when I came home from work, I saw a woman holding a child in front of my house.

Naturally, I was alarmed at first.

She was carrying a large suitcase and a child, and she looked a little shabby.

But… it was a familiar face.

She had very beautiful silver hair, but I remember being surprised at how much more mature she was than I remembered.

“… Sasha?”

When I mentioned that name for the first time in 10 years, she shivered in surprise.

“It’s been a long time, Itsuki-kun.”

My heart warmed at the sound of her nostalgic voice.

I had not seen Sasha since before I entered the first grade of junior high school. Even though we hadn’t seen each other since then, we recognized each other at first sight.

“I’m sorry for this sudden… You’re the only person I can rely on.”

When we met, Sasha looked like she was about to cry.

She apologized but gritted her teeth and bowed her head to me.

“I know this is a selfish request… and I understand your resentment over my sudden disappearance, but you’re the only one I can rely on. So, um, ….”

I understood right away that something was going on.

It was so painful to see how desperate she was.

So I nodded my head.

“I get it.”

I don’t know all the details.

But Sasha was asking for help.

That was enough for me to accept anything.

Because she was my first love.

“Come. Dad and Mom will be happy to see Sasha again, even though the house is small. You can tell me the details inside.”

Maybe it was because I nodded so unconditionally.

At that time, Sasha had a confused look on her face.

“I-Is it okay? Don’t you hate me for disappearing all of a sudden? Because I was the one who was—!”

“Because I made a promise.”

I cut her off. Because Sasha’s words were way off.

I don’t mean anything. Resentment? Anger? Hate? It’s impossible for me to have those feelings towards Sasha.

It’s impossible for me to hate Sasha.

“I made a promise to you a long time ago… I promised to be strong and protect you, didn’t I? I guess I’m a little stronger now. If Sasha wants it, I’ll protect her.”

I haven’t forgotten the promise I once made.

It was a thought that stayed with me for a long time.

I will protect Sasha.

I lived my life with that goal in mind.

Even as an adult, it was a desire that had not changed.

Although no longer in its ideal form.

No longer in the position of a family member, but a stranger.

But still, I would’ve done anything to protect Sasha.

“…You haven’t changed. Itsuki-kun is always Itsuki-kun.”

And then Sasha finally smiled at me.

With the same beautiful smile as before.

“Yes, I haven’t changed. Even this belly hasn’t changed… It’s always chubby.”

“Isn’t that a round, cute body?”

“Sasha is the only one who says that… Well, it seems like a lot of things have changed, like… over there too…”

Take a breath and face it.

I couldn’t bring it up right after our first meeting.

But I wanted to make it clear.

“Child… I had a daughter.”

I took another good look at the child, whom she held so dear to her heart.

She was a beautiful little girl with beautiful silver hair, just like Sasha.

“…”

“I see. What’s her name?”

“… Satsuki. She turned 2 a while ago.”

“It’s a Japanese name.”

“…I used the name of someone important to me as a reference.” (Zeus: Sasha and Itsuki?)

Who is this important person?

I wasn’t strong enough to ask that question at that time.

So that was all I heard.

“… Hello, Satsuki-chan. I’m Itsuki; nice to meet you.”

And that was the first time I met Satsuki.

“Satsuki, this is Itsuki-kun. Say hello.”

“…”

When we first met, Satsuki was silent the whole time.

Even when I talked to Sasha, she just stared at me and didn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry, Itsuki-kun. Satsuki seems to be very shy… She doesn’t talk much to anyone but me.”

“Is that true? Are you shy, Satsuki-chan?”

I wasn’t really expecting an answer.

I just talked to her, thinking that if I kept talking to her, she would get used to me.

But,

“Ichuki.”

Satsuki called me by my name, even though it was the first time we met.

She even held out her hand, as if she wanted me to hug her. When I held her hand, Satsuki smiled happily.

“Ehehe~”

When she saw that, I remember Sasha’s eyes were wide open as if she had seen something incredible.

“No, no way…! Satsuki is talking to someone she has never met before!? And she’s holding his hand!!!?”

It was also a surprise for her mother, apparently.

“Ichuki, ag mi—” (Itsuki, hug me.)

I gently took Satsuki, who was shaking and struggling on Sasha’s chest, into my arms.

My big belly seemed to be a good cushion for carrying a child, and Satsuki seemed to enjoy it.

“Ichuki! Ichuki! Ichuki!”

Calling my name several times, Satsuki rubbed herself against me like a spoiled child.

Very cute, I thought. At the same time, the desire to protect her tickled me.

I still vividly remember the feelings I had at that moment.

I will protect her.

I made that decision soon after we met.

I miss that so much.

Satsuki has grown up a lot since then.

But she’s still as spoiled as ever.

“Dad, ah~…”

I stroke her gently when she calls me, even in her sleep.

Then Satsuki’s cheeks relax happily.

“Ehehe~”

Hopefully forever.

I hope she will smile like that forever——