"Daddy!"
"Nina, have you been crying because you missed me?"
When I ran over, Dad hugged me with a smile. I felt a bit embarrassed with Itsuki there—I wished he wouldn't, but at the same time, his hug filled me with so much joy and relief that I couldn't help but smile.
For some reason, it felt like years since I'd last seen him, and suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes.
"Oh wow, you really did miss your old man, huh? Itsuki's watching, you know?"
"Geez!"
I playfully slapped his shoulder, and there was that solid, strong muscle I remembered so well.
For a moment, I just wanted to stay close, but I gently pulled away after a bit. I didn't want Itsuki to feel left out.
Still, even after I stepped back, Dad wiped away my tears.
"Hey, it's your one Sunday with me this week. Wouldn't want to waste it crying, would you?"
All I could do was nod, but only Dad would say something like that, and it made me smile.
"Alright! Let's get going! Let's ride everything before Ilena gets here!"
"Wait, everything?"
Itsuki looked shocked at Dad's childlike proposal. But Dad just placed a hand on his shoulder and said,
"Of course! A gentleman has to know how to escort a lady. The best way to do that is to ride everything first, don't you think?"
"Isn't it just that
you
want to ride everything?"
"Oh, come now, Itsuki, a true gentleman has his secrets, right?"
Dad tapped a finger to his lips in a "shh" motion, his expression as playful as a child's, which made Itsuki laugh.
"Let's start with that one!"
Holding both our hands, Dad led us toward the roller coaster.
The sight of it gave me a shiver—I'd never been on a roller coaster before, and just looking at it made my knees tremble.
I didn't really want to go on, but Dad glanced over at Itsuki.
"What's wrong, Itsuki? Don't feel like riding the roller coaster?"
"Uh, well... it's pretty high..."
Seeing Itsuki's hesitation made me feel a bit more at ease—at least I wasn't the only one who didn't want to go on.
Dad looked thoughtful, then said, "That's not good. An exorcist sometimes has to fight monsters in mid-air, you know?"
"Wait, really?"
Itsuki perked up right away at the mention of exorcist stories. Dad, knowing this, continued with a grin.
"One time, I had to jump off the roof of a twenty-story building with a monster."
"What happened then!?"
I perked up, too, hearing that Dad had been in such a dangerous situation.
Dad, however, kept smiling as if it were nothing.
"My Pixies saved me."
"...The Pixies?"
Itsuki, looking as skeptical as I felt, asked the question for me.
With Dad leading us to a nearby bench, we sat down and enjoyed watching people pass by as we ate.
It was delicious.
It was delicious, and I had Dad beside me, and Itsuki was here too. And soon, Mom would join us.
Thinking of that, I suddenly furrowed my brows.
"What's wrong, Nina? Did you get a brain freeze?"
"No, it's not that."
I shook my head.
"It's just... I was wondering if it's okay to be this happy."
For some reason, this much happiness felt like it might bring bad luck. That thought barely crossed my mind when—
"Are you truly happy?"
An unfamiliar voice answered me—a shrill voice I instantly didn't want to hear.
Turning quickly, I saw a stuffed pig standing there.
A stuffed pig, standing upright, and speaking.
"Is this truly the happiness you want, Nina?"
"W-why do you know my name...?"
"Oh, I know you well. This is your world. The world you wished for."
Dad stomped his heel sharply—a sound only Mom and I would recognize as the beginning of his magic.
In an instant, shadows Dad had summoned clamped onto the stuffed animal, sinking it into darkness—a move called "Shadow Send" that banishes creatures to another realm.
"W-wait! Too quick! Savor the encounter first; I'm losing my freshness!"
Ignoring the creature's complaints, Dad shrugged.
"A good exorcist never listens to a monster's words."
"Ha ha ha! That's for sure! Agreed, agreed. I'm just a fluffball with no feelings."
But as he said this, the stuffed pig emerged from the shadows, slowly rising.
"Fantastic! Even in a dream, you're still an exorcist! But, Nina, if you kill me, your happy dream will end."
Dad said nothing, stomping his heel again. The pig burst into flames.
"...!?"
But it wasn't just the monster who looked surprised. Dad seemed shocked as well.
The fire wasn't Dad's doing...?
Just then, the stuffed pig let out a yell.
"I'm done for! It's Itsuki from the
outside
! A purification talisman—who knew it could work like this! Such knowledge! I'm enlightened!"
Struggling to shake off the flames but unable to, the stuffed animal flailed.
"Aah! The dream is over! What a cruel thing, forcing a child back to reality! How heartless, Itsuki!"
The toy turned into blackened ashes.
"But unlike him, I am different. I'm a Theater Actor—thick-skinned and ever-giving."
As the stuffed animal faded, it looked directly at me.
"Remember this, Nina."