Epilogue 2 You Grow Up Slowly

You Grow Up Slowly

——Time passes slowly.

Even after I told Satsuki that we were stepfather and daughter, our lives didn’t change much.

Gentle time flows slowly.

Satsuki grew up slowly, too.

She is now a freshman at a university.

In high school, her homeroom teacher highly recommended that she could go to any university she wanted in terms of grades, but she chose to go to a nearby university. And guess what? Satsuki is studying nutrition.

I thought it was a waste because she was studying so hard, but when she said, “I will study to be a good wife,” I had no words.

I couldn’t stop my daughter from following the path she believed in.

Besides, in the end… Satsuki is trying to learn “cooking” for me. There was no way I could deny my beloved daughter’s affection.

Well, there are some minor changes… but otherwise, not much has changed. Satsuki still loves me very much, and I love her back. We still live in the same apartment; Satsuki doesn’t have a boyfriend, and we spend our time peacefully.

…Oh, that’s right.

Come to think of it, there was another change.

That is… Satsuki got her driver’s license.

Although the university is relatively close, it’s definitely not within walking distance. It takes about an hour by train, including changing trains and waiting. However, it takes about 40 minutes by car, so I let her get her license during spring break.

Of course, I also bought her a car. Thanks to that, my “Satsuki Savings” that I had been saving for a long time ran out, but I had no regrets because Satsuki was so happy.

“Dad… no, not Ichu… I-tsu-ki!”

And lately, she’s been saying my name more fluently… I think.

Well, when she lets her guard down, she’ll call me "Dad,” and about half the time it’s “Ichuki,” but the frequency is decreasing.

The day when she can clearly say my name might not be far off.

“What’s wrong?”

It was a weekday night.

After eating the dinner Satsuki had prepared, I took a break.

Suddenly, she suggested this.

“Hey hey… Let’s go for a ride.”

“…again?”

Actually, we’ve been going out almost every day lately.

Satsuki really seems to like driving. Of course, I also have a driver’s license and often drive to work, but I can’t say that I like driving as much as Satsuki does.

“Ichu… Itsuki, driving with you makes me so happy. So let’s go!”

She pulls my hand strongly.

Well, I didn’t want to refuse, but I wondered if she wouldn’t get tired of driving every day.

“Is driving really that much fun?”

“Yes! I like driving alone too, but… I feel so happy when Itsuki is with me.”

Her smiling face is still as friendly as ever.

Seeing that smile makes me feel happy too; it’s strange.

“Oh, but… If you’re tired from work, don’t force yourself. Please tell me if it bothers you.”

“No, no, no. I’ve never minded spending time with Satsuki.”

I don’t want you to misunderstand.

The most important thing to me is this girl’s happiness.

It was unthinkable that she would be a nuisance.

“…S-so cool… Dad, why are you so good at making your daughter fall in love with you? I like you even more….”

But why is she blushing?

Hey, I’m just saying normal dad stuff.

I wish she wouldn’t blush so much… I’m embarrassed too. And she calls me "Dad,” so maybe Satsuki still has some feelings as a daughter.

She declared her graduation from being a daughter before.

Satsuki was still a child.

Maybe the day when this girl completely stops calling me “Dad” will be the end of this chapter.

When that time comes, I wonder if I will start to love this girl in a different way, I thought vaguely.

“S-so where are we going?”

The atmosphere became a bit awkward.

Anyway, I went out and walked to the parking lot. The silver KEI car I bought for Satsuki. She loves it very much and takes good care of it.

“U-um… Well, let’s see. A friend from college told me about a place with a beautiful night view. So I thought we could go there.”

“Okay. Well, drive safely, okay? Go slow and don’t get hurt.”

“Yeah, yeah… Itsuki is really worried.”

After a short conversation, we both calmed down.

The awkwardness disappeared quickly. I got into the passenger seat of the car and fastened my seatbelt.

Just then I looked up and saw a beautiful silver-haired woman.

She started the car engine, her long silver hair swaying. I felt a little sexy as she adjusted the position of the rearview mirror.

(Hey? Is Satsuki always this beautiful?)

Of course, the person sitting next to me is Satsuki.

Although we are not related by blood, she is my beloved daughter. That’s why I had a strong impression of Satsuki as a child. I think the reason I can’t see this girl as a woman for so long is because I can’t forget her childhood impression.

But driving a car means that she has grown up so much.

Lately, I’ve seen her driving every day. Thanks to that, my impression of this girl is slowly changing, I suddenly thought.

(Satsuki is growing up too….)

Satsuki is also becoming an adult.

It’s still sad, but when I think about how little Satsuki was, I also feel a sense of happiness.

I’m so happy that she’s grown up.

Sasha… Your daughter might be a real adult already——