Mitsumi nodded, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "What about my dad? Does he know?"
Hikari blinked, tilting his head slightly. The question came out of nowhere and he didn't know how to react. "I don't know. Probably not. Why do you ask?"
Mitsumi simply smiled, shaking her head. "No reason. Just curious."
Yet, the small sigh that followed betrayed her words. The way her shoulders loosened, the way the tension in her fingers eased—it was relief. But relief from what? The thought lingered in Hikari's mind, but before he could ask, the moment was interrupted.
Mitsumi's mother suddenly leaned in between them, her lively presence filling the space. "Having a conversation, are we?" she said cheerfully. "Here, enjoy eating."
She placed a tray of colorful appetizers—steamed vegetables with a fragrant dipping sauce—onto the table. The rich aroma of the food mixed with the warmth of the room, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
"So, tell me, how did you meet my daughter?" she asked, her sharp gaze landing on Hikari.
A direct question. Hikari straightened in his seat, trying to mask his nerves. "Um, I accidentally fell from the love bridge when I leaned in too far. Well, actually, the railings gave way, and I fell. Then I landed on top of the thief."
Mitsumi's expression turned slightly guilty. "Sorry about that time. I ran away, and your money got stolen instead of mine."
"No, it's fine. I was the one who fell anyway," Hikari said with a small chuckle, brushing it off. He left out the part about fainting. No need to relive that embarrassment. But Mitsumi had already spilled that detail earlier.
"That's it? But why didn't you use your shadow powers that time?" her mother asked, her tone still casual, yet there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath it.
Hikari froze, feeling his heartbeat quicken. His mind scrambled for an answer. He couldn't just tell her about the Shadow Manipulator. He had sworn to keep that a secret.
"Umm…" He struggled to form words, trying to maintain a natural expression. "I actually fainted when I fell. Then, when I woke up, I was already late for school."
"Oh? If you fainted, then how did you meet Mitsumi?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
The lighthearted atmosphere started to feel like an interrogation. Was this what being questioned by an investigator felt like? If Mitsumi's mom told him she worked for law enforcement, he wouldn't doubt it for a second.
Mitsumi stammered, her cheeks turning an increasingly deep shade of red. "W-Well, that's..."
Her mother's smile deepened as she watched her daughter's reaction. "Mitsumi, your expression clearly shows… that you... you know... like Hikari?" She leaned in, whispering at her daughter so Hikari wouldn't hear.
Ah, the disadvantages of enhanced hearing. Hikari cursed at himself since he shouldn't have heard that.
"Eep~!" Mitsumi let out a tiny squeal, looking down as her face burned with embarrassment.
Her mother chuckled. "Am I correct?"
The silence that followed was answer enough. Mitsumi shrank into her chair, unable to meet anyone's eyes. Hikari scratched his cheek, unsure of how to react.
"Oh, so that's how it is," Mitsumi's mother said with a knowing grin. "So, how did you two meet?"
"I accidentally bumped into her on my way to school," Hikari answered quickly, hoping to shift the conversation since he felt like Mitsumi was already cornered.
It was like a boxing match, wherein her mom was throwing in a barrage of punches while Mitsumi tried to defend as hard as she could... or so that's what it looked like to Hikari.
"And where exactly was that?" her mother asked, her gaze unwavering.
Her intuition was frightening. If she kept pushing like this, she'd probably figure out every detail he was trying to avoid.
Mitsumi hesitated before finally answering. "In front of their house."
Hikari felt the atmosphere shift yet again. What was with this tension?!
Her mother only smiled. "No need to be so stiff, both of you. I was just teasing."
Relief washed over Hikari, though Mitsumi still looked mortified. He chuckled internally. So this was what having an overly perceptive parent was like. Sure, his own parents teased him from time to time, but never to this extent.
The rest of dinner was far more relaxed. The food was excellent—each dish prepared with care, rich in flavor. Warmth radiated from the meal, from the company, from the small chatter that filled the air. Eventually, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and soon, the main course was brought out.
Meanwhile, on the love bridge, a lone man stood under the dim glow of the streetlights, pulling out a crumpled slip of paper from his pocket. He squinted at the markings scribbled across it, an assortment of arrows and notes that were barely legible.
"Ugh… Where exactly is our house? I completely forgot," he muttered, scratching his head in frustration. "Everything she wrote here is just arrows! How am I supposed to— Aaarghh! I already lost count of them!"
The man let out a groan, looking around helplessly. Just then, an old man walking by noticed his distress.
"You seem to be in trouble. Need some help?" the elder asked kindly.
"Ah, good evening, sir!" The man turned to him with relief. "By any chance, do you happen to know this street?" He pointed at the messy writing on the slip of paper.
The old man peered at it, then nodded. "Mmm… Oh yes! If that's the case, I can help you. Just go straight ahead and take a right at the third intersection. Then turn left at the next one, and you'll find that street."
"Really? Thank you very much!" The man beamed.
"No problem, son. Have a good evening."
"Likewise!" The man gave a quick bow before turning towards the direction given. But before he moved, his eyes wandered to the scenery around him.
The love bridge, despite its name, held a tranquil beauty under the night sky. The river beneath reflected the moon's glow, its gentle ripples distorting the light in mesmerizing patterns. The cool breeze carried the faint scent of the city mixed with the freshness of the water, making for a strangely nostalgic sensation.
He sighed, allowing himself a brief moment to enjoy it. "This bridge... I guess I should come back here from time to time now that I've returned from my business trip."
A small smile formed on his lips. It had only been three months, but already, he missed them.
After lingering for a few minutes, he finally pressed forward, his pace quickening. As he navigated through the streets, the surroundings felt both familiar and unfamiliar. Some houses remained the same, unchanged in their design, while others had been renovated, remodeled, or newly built. The neighborhood had subtly transformed in his absence.
But his destination was clear now.
Turning at the final corner, his heart beat faster. From a distance, his house came into view, standing just as he remembered it—warm, welcoming, and untouched by time.
However, as he approached, something made him stop in his tracks. His gaze locked onto two figures standing near the entrance.
A young girl. A boy beside her.
The streetlight cast a dim glow over them, barely enough to make out their expressions, but just enough to see that their hands were intertwined.
His chest tightened, a cold weight settling in his stomach.
He took a step closer.
The girl turned slightly, and for the first time in three months, he saw her face clearly.
Mitsumi.
And the boy beside her—
The night air suddenly felt heavier. His fingers clenched around the slip of paper still in his hand.
His daughter.
Holding hands with a boy.
His expression darkened.