"So? What did you think? From a doctor's perspective?"
As I returned to my room and resumed drinking, I directed the conversation toward Toki.
"For the most part, he's healed. The swelling in the lymph nodes around his throat has gone down, too."
It wasn't the exact response I expected, but it was close enough.
It's true that my daughter Toki has a habit of hugging people, but with her extensive medical experience, she can usually diagnose illnesses and physical conditions just by touch. It's not a combination of business and pleasure—rather, it's a purely work-driven special ability.
"Well, that's good to hear. And as a male?"
"Extremely capable. The fact that he doesn't shy away from women says it all, doesn't it?"
"That's true, isn't it?"
Our opinions aligned well.
"Want another drink?"
"I'm at my limit. I'll just have some water."
Saying that, she sipped from her glass of water.
"He didn't even hesitate to deal with Hachikuma, even right after recovering."
"Normally, anyone would be scared, wouldn't they? That girl is 190 cm tall, after all…"
It's true that Hachikuma is quite large. But even without my personal bias, she is undeniably beautiful.
"He actually sees her as attractive, you know?"
"It's like the saying, 'Every pot has its lid,' or 'There's no accounting for taste,' or maybe even 'Like finding the perfect clam shell for a match…'"
She kept rattling off idioms about people being a perfect match—was all that really necessary?
"She's adorable, isn't she? Despite her size, she's actually quite a timid girl who tries her best not to scare people."
"Her face and figure are top-tier. If she carried herself with more confidence, she'd be even more appealing."
"Honestly, it's a relief that most men don't realize her charm. They have no eye for beauty at all, those fools."
In pictures, she was often called a beauty, but in person, her height seemed to intimidate people too much.
"If he lets go of her now, she might break completely."
"That's why we need to act quickly. If we wait until he fully adapts to our values and gets too comfortable, he won't find happiness."
The men of our world… well, their awfulness is beyond words.
It's no wonder Tsugumi kicked them aside without hesitation.
"That part is up to his innate goodness, right?"
I'd love for him to stay the kind and decent person he is, but in the end, that depends on his character, mindset, and the environment around him. If he ends up somewhere else, there's a real risk he'll be spoiled into a worthless excuse of a human being.
"The key is to let him vent his frustrations appropriately while gradually fostering attachment. If we guide him well, we win."
If external influences interfere, his free will as a man will ultimately take priority. That's why building a foundation of attachment and shared experiences is essential.
"You think those girls can pull off that kind of strategic maneuvering?"
"Probably not. But luckily, that brat—Hisui—has a pretty mature mindset. The younger ones, like Misago, just seem cute to him. If they keep leaning on him like that, they might actually win him over."
"Good grief, what a reckless approach…"
Toki let out a deep sigh.
"Well, I'll handle the guidance for now."
Saying that, I took another sip from my cup.
It's a lot of work, but I can't help but grin.
After all, Misago already seems happier than she's ever been. Things are going well.
Perhaps influenced by me, Toki was smiling as well.
Her usually serious expression had softened considerably.
"He even went as far as proposing to me, you know? What an odd one."
Just remembering it made me smile again.
"You seem to be having fun."
"Oh, it's been so long since I've enjoyed myself like this—I can hardly sleep!"
The two of us exchanged glances and burst into laughter.