Chapter 25 The Real Reason She Didn't Want Her Daddy to Come

The Real Reason She Didn’t Want Her Daddy to Come

I left school and decided to go home.

But as I was leaving the school gate, I saw a girl with silver hair. She was leaning against the wall, looking up at the sky.

She was a very beautiful girl.

(…Ah, it’s Satsuki.)

For a moment, I was surprised that I didn’t recognize her as my daughter.

I hate to say it, but I’m quite a doting father. I’m confident that I can recognize my daughter, no matter how far away she is.

But Satsuki, looking up to the sky now, was very mature and didn’t have her usual spoiled, childish aura.

That’s probably why I couldn’t recognize her as my daughter for a moment.

“Oh, Dad! I was waiting for you!”

I was staring at Satsuki when she seemed to notice me. She immediately ran over to me with her usual adorable smile.

“…Eh? What’s wrong?”

Probably because I was so stunned. Satsuki tilted her head curiously.

“No, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head quickly, but Satsuki seemed very worried.

“Is it really nothing? Is there something you want to tell me, Dad?”

It’s hard to hide it.

Well, it’s not like I have anything to hide, so I decided to tell her exactly what I was thinking.

“I thought she was so beautiful. I couldn’t help but stare at her.”

“Beautiful? What?”

“Satsuki, I mean.”

Did I say something stupid? After saying that, I felt a little embarrassed.

When I scratched my cheek and looked at Satsuki, I saw that her face was red and her lips were moving.

“Wait, Dad, that’s not good… If you say something happy like that in a place like this, I’ll want to hug you, Dad.”

Unusually for Satsuki, she seems to be holding back her emotions.

“Ah, Dad always makes me happy… That’s why I didn’t want him to come today. I couldn’t control my emotions at school; I always wanted to spoil him, just like at home.”

“Eh? Isn’t that because you don’t want me to see you acting like Ojou-sama at school?”

“That’s true, but… mostly I didn’t want to get you in trouble. If I acted like I usually do, people around me would think it was weird, right? That’s what I was afraid of.”

The main reason she refused to let me come to class observation.

It was to avoid bothering me, it seems.

“Holding hands, hugging, being patted on the head… Normal parents and children don’t do these things, but I want to. But if other people saw me doing it, they would definitely think that my dad’s parenting was wrong. I didn’t want that to happen.”

…Yes, that’s certainly true.

For example, let’s say Satsuki held hands with me at school without worrying about other people’s eyes. What would the parents around us think if they saw that?

Besides, Satsuki and I don’t look alike at all. So what would other people think if they saw a parent and child being overly affectionate?

Well, it is easy to guess.

They’d probably have a negative reaction.

But still.

“I don’t mind, do I? Well, I can’t really say yes, because people will think negatively of Satsuki if I spoil her in public.”

I don’t care about my reputation.

But I do care about Satsuki.

Is that the same as Satsuki?

She and I care about each other.

That’s why we don’t want people to say bad things about each other.

“I don’t care what people think of me either. I don’t care as long as my dad loves me, but I don’t like it when they say bad things about you.”

“… I see. I guess it’s the same for me.”

“Yes, I love my dad. I love you so much, and I was afraid that you would spoil me at school. I might not be able to control myself and hug you or kiss you.”

I smile at her casual confession.

Once again, I felt how precious this girl is who loves me so much.

“Yes, I’m sorry. But it was fun to see Satsuki at school.”

“I also had fun because my dad got to see a good side of me.”

“…If that’s the case, that’s good. I’ll be more careful next time… I’m sorry, Satsuki.”

“No. Thanks, Dad; even though you’re busy, thanks for coming.”

I want Satsuki to be happy.

I don’t want this cute girl to be unhappy.

What can I do?

“The role of a parent is not only to support the child.”

I remember what Okugawa-sensei told me.

I will think about what to do.

For now… I think I’ll just reward Satsuki for her hard work.

“Is that why you waited for me? Didn’t I tell you that I had an interview with Okugawa-sensei after the class observation? You could’ve gone home first.”

“Because I wanted to go home with you, Dad.”

“Yare-yare… Satsuki is so cute.”

“What?! Ugh… I’m not really happy about this praise, you know. But I want to hug you, but I hold back!”

Why did she get so grumpy all of a sudden?

I don’t really understand, but it’s okay.

“Well then, why don’t we go buy some cake together? Satsuki worked hard today, so this is a reward.”

“Are you sure? Yay, I love you, Dad.”

Saying that Satsuki tries to hold my hand.

But she seems to have changed her mind at the last moment, clenched her fist, and lowered it.

“Ugh…I unconsciously tried to hold Dad’s hand again… It’s still near the school, so let’s go. I don’t know if I can hold it if I stay with my dad any longer.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Without holding hands, we walk side by side.

I don’t tell Satsuki that my hands feel a little lonely——