Chapter 220: [Goodbye Kiss]

“Iroha-chan, help me~!”

“Mai.”

“Iroha-chan...!”

“Don’t dogs using human language bother you?”

“Whaaat!?”

Playing along with kids is also our job as adults.

Well, in my case, I can understand whether it’s a dog or not.

“Kuun! Kuun!”

“....Ah. Good boy, good boy.”

“”!?!?!?”

I pat Mai’s head as he whines. I’m just treating him like a dog as planned, but for some reason, Maigets is excited.

“Kyuuun, purr purr~. Ehehe~. Mai maybe could become Iroha-chan’s dog.”

Mai says quietly, and I’m astonished, “Is that okay with you?”

Then, embarrassed Ah-nee pinches the hem of my clothes and shyly speaks.

“Da-Darling...”

“Uh, um... Yes, Honey.”

Unconsciously, we stare at each other.

<<Mama and Papa are in love~!>>

<<W-wrong perception!?>>

I also feel embarrassed and quickly avert my gaze.

Damn it. What is this? Even though she’s that rough Ah-nee!

<<Mama cooks meals~, here you go.>>

“Um, is this okay?”

With toy cooking utensils in hand, Ah-nee pretends to cook.

It’s good acting, really.

I once tasted Ah-nee’s handmade chocolate on Valentine’s Day, and it was hell.

If I become her husband, it will surely be tough every day.

“N-no, no.”

Since a while ago, my thoughts have clearly been drifting in a strange direction.

Thanks to Ah-nee’s weirdness, I’m losing my composure too.

“Dinner’s ready~. Here, Darling. Aah~”

“A-ah~”

“W-wan~!? Woof~!”

Desperately barking, Mai tries to disturb us.

<<Yeah! Papa, you looked cool~! Have a safe trip! And the dog is too noisy.>>

With my daughter’s approval, I leave the scene.

Exiting the playhouse, I return to the table where the parents are.

<<Ugh~, tired~>>

<<Sorry, had you deal with our daughter.>>

<<And what were you two doing? Mine suddenly screamed, and it startled me.>>

<<Hm? Ah~ Just some fan service for our daughter.>>

Saying that, I make a kissing sound with my lips.

Come to think of it, since it’s just playacting, there was no need to seriously kiss.

So, what I did earlier was just mimicking a kiss near Ah-nee’s face.

Well, from the perspective of those around us—especially Mine, who was crouching and pretending to be a dog—I don’t know how it looked.

<<Huh? I don’t really get it, but more importantly, about the barbecue...>>

<<Hey, don’t change the subject.>>

Angu Ogu starts talking about the barbecue.

This girl, completely unaware of our struggles, is immersed in the meat.

<<Angu Ogu... Next time our daughter calls you, it’s your turn.>>

I send her a resentful look and take a sip of the juice I was drinking.

By the way, come to think of it, Papa-san was drinking the same thing.

<<Papa-san, you don’t drink alcohol?>>

<<Iroha, in America, drinking alcohol in public places is illegal.>>

<<Oh, I see.>>

Drinking alcohol while enjoying cherry blossoms or on the beach is unique to Japan.

Or so I thought, but Papa-san denied it with a “no.”

<<Well, technically, we can drink in this barbecue area since it’s private. But my wife is strict about alcohol. I’m completely under her control, you see.>>

<<Wait, that makes it sound like I’m scary.>>

<<Oops, my wife has sharp ears, by the way.>>

<<Haa~. If you say that, I won’t give you this potato salad.>>

<<Of course, it’s a joke. I love you, my wife.>>

<<Me too.>>

The wife, who was preparing side dishes at another table, appears with a large plate.

Ignoring our gazes, they reconcile with a kiss.

<<Iroha, when we argue next time...>>

<<Be quiet.>>

Watching this, their daughter must have grown up.

No wonder. I nodded in understanding.