(Yuuta POV)
I opened my mouth to argue, but after glancing at my reflection in the nearby shop window, I reluctantly decided to keep quiet.
Fair enough.
Still, beneath that pink cat mask, I could tell Erza was smiling. And somehow, despite everything she'd just said, I had a feeling she really was a little proud.
Anyway, back to Elena.
My daughter was still standing in front of the butcher's counter, holding her little shopping bag with both hands. The butcher, who had finally recovered from discovering that I was her father, leaned forward with a friendly smile.
"So, what can I do for you, little Yuuta?"
Elena blinked before breaking into a delighted smile.
"Hehehe! Elena is little Papa! Uncle funny!"
The butcher burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! See, darling? She even has his sense of humor!"
"Oh, she's just too adorable!" his wife exclaimed, pressing a hand against her cheek. "Look at that precious smile!"
Elena turned toward the woman and smiled even more brightly.
"Elena like human auntie too!"
The butcher's wife froze.
Then she slowly placed both hands against her chest, looking as though she'd just received the greatest compliment of her entire life.
"Oh... oh my goodness."
She turned toward her husband and grabbed his arm.
"That's it, honey. We're adopting her."
The butcher blinked.
"...What?"
"We're adopting this child!"
"Darling, what are you talking about? She already has parents!"
"But she's so cute!" the woman protested, looking at Elena again. "It's unfair! How can Yuuta have such an adorable daughter all to himself?"
"Darling, she's a child, not a stray cat we found outside!"
Meanwhile, behind the pole...
Excuse me?
I slowly turned toward the shop.
Adopt?
My daughter?
Oh, hell no.
"Erza," I whispered, already rolling up my sleeves. "Let go of me."
Unfortunately, my wife had anticipated my reaction and was already holding my arm.
"Stay where you are, mortal."
"Did you hear that?! That old hag just said she's going to adopt Elena!"
"She's joking."
"Joking?! About stealing my daughter?!"
"Lower your voice."
"No! This is where I draw the line!" I struggled against her grip, pointing toward the shop. "Today, we're settling this! Nobody steals my little princess!"
Erza tightened her hold on my arm and pulled me back behind the pole before I could expose our hiding place.
"Stop embarrassing yourself, mortal. Be mature for once."
"Let me go, Erza!"
"No."
"She's trying to steal our daughter!"
"And you're behaving like someone who actually believes she can."
Damn it!
Why was my wife so calm about this?!
Back inside the shop, the butcher's wife had crouched in front of Elena, apparently deciding to continue her little joke.
"Hey, sweetheart. How would you like to join our family?"
The butcher immediately turned toward her.
"Darling! What are you saying?!"
"Shh! Let me ask her!"
Elena looked at the woman for a moment, her little head tilted in confusion. Then she hugged her shopping bag against her chest and shook her head firmly.
"No!"
"Oh? Why not, sweetheart?"
"Because Elena love Papa and Mama!"
My heart skipped a beat.
Elena puffed out her little chest before continuing proudly.
"And Papa said Elena must not go with strangers!"
I froze.
Then my knees slowly gave way.
I dropped to the ground behind the pole, pressing a hand against my chest as an overwhelming wave of fatherly pride washed over me.
She remembered.
My little girl actually remembered!
"Erza..." I whispered emotionally. "Did you hear that?"
Erza looked down at me.
"...What are you doing?"
"She remembered the rule I taught her! She actually listened!"
"Of course she did."
"No, you don't understand!" I looked toward Elena, who was still standing proudly in front of the counter. "My daughter refused to go with strangers because Papa told her not to! I've succeeded as a father!"
Erza stared at me as though she was seriously considering leaving me behind.
Meanwhile, I was already planning the celebration.
That's it.
Tonight, I was making Elena the most delicious brownies she'd ever tasted. And tiramisu too! I didn't care how long it took or how much cream and chocolate I needed to buy.
My little princess deserved everything!
Erza released a long sigh.
"Oh, come on, mortal. How much more of this drama must I endure today?"
"Let me have this moment!"
"You're kneeling behind a pole."
"A proud father can kneel wherever he wants!"
She shook her head, apparently deciding that I was beyond saving.
Back at the counter, Elena finally seemed to remember why she'd come to the shop in the first place.
"Human uncle! Human auntie!"
The couple turned toward her.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Elena want buy chicken!" she announced, lifting her shopping bag. "Papa and Mama hungry!"
The butcher smiled.
"Oh, of course! How much chicken do you need, little one?"
But before Elena could answer, his wife suddenly frowned.
"Wait a minute..."
"Hm? What's wrong, darling?"
She looked at Elena, then toward the entrance of the shop.
"Now that I think about it, why is she here alone?"
The butcher paused.
"...Huh?"
"She's so little. Shouldn't Yuuta be the one coming here to buy chicken?"
"Oh, that's true."
The butcher slowly turned toward Elena.
"Hey, little one. Where's your papa?"
"Papa at home!"
"At home?"
"Mm!"
The butcher exchanged a glance with his wife.
Then he crouched slightly, his expression becoming more serious.
"Wait... Don't tell me Yuuta sent you here all by yourself to buy chicken?"
Elena nodded happily.
"Yes! Papa send Elena!"
Silence.
The butcher stared at her.
His wife stared at her.
Even the nearby customers stopped talking.
Meanwhile, behind the pole, I slowly rose from my knees.
"...Erza."
"What?"
"I think we have a problem."
She glanced toward the shop.
"What problem?"
I swallowed.
"I can smell a misunderstanding coming."
The butcher's expression had changed completely. The same man who had been laughing and joking with Elena a moment ago now looked genuinely horrified.
He slowly turned toward his wife.
"Darling..."
"Yes, honey?"
"Call the police."
I froze.
"...Eh?"
"Right now!"
The butcher was already reaching for his phone when Elena suddenly raised her little hand.
"No, uncle! No, auntie!"
The couple stopped and looked at her.
"Hm? What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Elena hugged her shopping bag against her chest, looking unusually serious for a four-year-old.
"Papa and Mama didn't allow Elena to go shopping alone!"
The butcher blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, little one?"
"Elena wanted to go alone!" she explained, puffing out her little chest. "Papa said no first, but Elena really wanted to! So don't blame Papa, okay?"
She looked up at the butcher with those big red eyes, her expression becoming slightly worried.
"Papa loves Elena lots and lots!"
The butcher's hand stopped halfway toward his phone, while his wife pressed a hand against her chest, visibly touched by the little girl's words. Even from our hiding place, I could hear everything, and I had to resist the overwhelming urge to run over and hug my daughter.
First, she remembered my safety instructions, and now she was defending me in front of strangers. At this rate, I was going to spend my entire savings buying her presents.
"Erza..." I whispered, pressing a hand over my heart. "Did you hear that? She said Papa loves her lots and lots."
"Yes, mortal. I have ears."
"I'm going to cry."
"Then do it quietly."
Meanwhile, the butcher was still looking at Elena with a troubled expression.
"Well, I understand, little one, but you're still awfully young to be shopping by yourself. Even if your papa loves you, he really shouldn't let you wander around alone."
His wife nodded in agreement, although her expression suddenly changed when she noticed something outside the shop.
"Honey..."
"What is it, darling?"
She pointed toward the street. "Look over there."
The butcher followed her finger, and unfortunately, it pointed directly toward us.
More specifically, toward a suspicious man wearing a large white smiling mask and a woman in a pink cat mask, both attempting to hide behind the same utility pole.
I immediately pulled my head back, nearly bumping into Erza in the process.
"Erza! They saw us!"
"Obviously."
"Quick! Act natural!"
"We're hiding behind a pole, mortal."
"Then hide more naturally!"
Erza slowly turned her masked face toward me, and even without seeing her expression, I could tell she was questioning my intelligence. I decided to stop talking and pressed myself against the pole, hoping the butcher would somehow forget what he'd just witnessed.
Inside the shop, the man stared at our hiding place for several seconds before looking back at his wife.
"...Ah."
His wife nodded. "So that's how it is."
The butcher slowly lowered his phone and rubbed his forehead. He'd known me for years, so perhaps recognizing me beneath that ridiculous mask wasn't particularly difficult. Or maybe there simply weren't many grown men in the neighborhood who would dress like suspicious criminals just to follow their daughters to the market.
Either way, he finally understood what was happening.
"Good grief. That fellow..."
He put his phone away and turned back toward Elena with a smile.
"All right, little Yuuta. What can this old uncle get for you?"
Elena's face immediately brightened.
"Elena want chicken!"
The way she said it, with both hands gripping her shopping bag and her eyes sparkling with excitement, made the butcher chuckle.
"Hahaha! Of course you do! Wait right here, little one."
He selected some fresh chicken, carefully packed it, and placed it inside her bag after taking the money she'd brought. Then, as though he couldn't resist rewarding her, he reached for the candy jar beside the counter.
"And here. A little something extra."
Elena's eyes widened. "Candy!"
"Just a few pieces. Don't eat them all at once, okay?"
"Okay! Thank you, human uncle!"
The butcher smiled and gently patted her head.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now, be careful on your way home. Don't follow strangers, and if a dog comes barking at you, make some noise to scare it away. Understand?"
Elena nodded seriously.
"Okay! Elena scream at dog!"
"...Well, not every dog, little one."
"Okay!"
The butcher laughed, apparently deciding that explaining the difference would take longer than necessary. After waving goodbye to the couple, Elena proudly picked up her shopping bag and headed toward the exit.
"Bye-bye, human uncle! Bye-bye, human auntie!"
"Goodbye, sweetheart!"
The butcher's wife waved until Elena disappeared down the street. Then she glanced toward the utility pole, where two suspicious figures had already begun moving after the little girl.
Her husband followed her gaze and sighed.
"Good grief. Young couples these days..."
His wife chuckled. "At least they're watching over her."
"Watching? That fellow looks like he's planning to rob his own daughter!"
Our mission was finally approaching its conclusion.
Elena was happily making her way back toward our apartment, her shopping bag now considerably heavier than when she'd left. Between the chicken, the cross buns, and the candy she'd received from practically everyone she met, she'd somehow managed to turn a simple grocery trip into a remarkably successful business venture.
Meanwhile, Erza and I continued following her at a safe distance.
"All right, Erza," I whispered, adjusting my goggles. "We're almost there. Just a little farther."
"I can see that, mortal."
"Once Elena reaches the apartment, the mission will officially be complete. No injuries, no missing money, and we even got free bread!"
"We?"
"Our family."
Erza sighed, but I ignored her and continued watching Elena, who was now approaching our apartment building. The sight filled me with such relief that I almost wanted to celebrate right there on the sidewalk.
"Finally..." I murmured. "She's home. We did it, Erza. Our daughter completed her first shopping mission!"
"Not yet."
I glanced at her. "Hm? What do you mean?"
Erza folded her arms.
"Mortal, did you forget something?"
"Forget what?"
"We locked the apartment door before leaving."
I blinked, wondering why she was bringing that up now.
"...Yes?"
"And what do you think will happen when Elena reaches the door and finds it locked?"
I stared at her as the terrible realization slowly dawned on me. If Elena reached our apartment first, she'd find the door locked and wait outside. Then her supposedly responsible parents would arrive behind her, dressed in ridiculous masks, and our entire secret operation would be exposed.
Oh, shit.
I hadn't thought about that. Not even once.
"Erza..." I swallowed. "What do we do?"
She stared at me. "You're asking me?"
"Yes! You're the smart one! Think of something!"
"How reassuring. My husband finally admits he doesn't think before acting."
"Erza, please! This isn't the time!"
Ahead of us, Elena had already entered the apartment building. We were running out of time, and I could practically imagine her standing outside our door, wondering why Papa and Mama had mysteriously disappeared.
I grabbed Erza's arm in panic.
"She's going upstairs! Erza, what do we do?! If she finds out, she'll never trust me again!"
Erza sighed and calmly removed my hand from her arm.
"Honestly, mortal. What would you do without me?"
"Probably get caught!"
"At least you're aware."
She glanced toward the upper floors before taking hold of my wrist.
"Come. I'll handle it."
"Huh? Handle what—"
Before I could finish, my feet suddenly left the ground as Erza effortlessly lifted me into the air. In the next instant, we shot upward along the side of the building, moving so quickly that I barely managed to grab my mask before it flew off.
"ERZA! WARN ME FIRST!"
"Be quiet, mortal."
"WE'RE FLYING!"
"I'm aware."
A moment later, we landed on the narrow balcony connected to our apartment's corridor. My legs trembled slightly as I regained my balance, and I had to steady myself against the railing.
Good grief. Even after all these years, I still wasn't used to being carried around like luggage.
"Quickly," Erza said.
"Right!"
I hurried toward the apartment door, unlocked it, and rushed inside with Erza following close behind. Once we were safely inside, I immediately removed my jacket, goggles, and ridiculous smiling mask, tossing them aside before hurrying toward the sofa.
Erza calmly took off her pink cat mask and placed it out of sight.
Then we sat down.
Naturally.
Very naturally.
I picked up the television remote and turned on the TV, pretending that I'd been watching it the entire morning. Erza sat beside me with her usual composed expression, looking so relaxed that nobody would ever suspect she'd been flying around the building with her husband a few seconds earlier.
I leaned toward her and whispered, "Erza, do I look natural?"
She glanced at me. "You're holding the remote upside down."
I quickly turned it around.
"...How about now?"
"Stop talking, mortal."
Fair enough.
A few moments later, we heard footsteps approaching from the corridor.
Click!
The door opened.
"PAPAAAA! MAMAAAA!"
Elena burst into the apartment with her shopping bag held proudly in front of her.
"ELENA COMPLETE MISSION!"
I immediately turned toward her, putting on my most surprised expression.
"Oh! Elena! You're back!"
Erza glanced up from the sofa.
"Welcome home."
Elena hurried toward us, practically bouncing with excitement as she lifted her shopping bag with both hands.
"Papa! Mama! Look! Chicken kidnapping is done!"
I froze for a moment.
Chicken kidnapping?
Well, technically, she had brought the chicken home against its will. I supposed that counted.
I immediately began clapping.
"Wonderful! Amazing work, Elena!"
Erza joined me, giving a few dignified claps.
"Well done, Elena."
I leaned forward with the proudest smile I could manage.
"You saved us from starving! What would Papa and Mama have done without you?"
"Hehehe!"
Elena puffed out her little chest, clearly delighted by our praise.
"See, Papa? Elena good at shopping!"
"Of course you are!" I said, giving her a thumbs-up. "Papa is very proud of you!"
Erza nodded approvingly.
"Indeed. You've exceeded my expectations, Elena."
Elena's eyes widened. "Really, Mama?"
"Yes."
The little girl looked between us, her smile growing brighter and brighter. Then she raised her shopping bag triumphantly.
"Then Elena go shopping every day!"
"NO!"
Erza and I shouted at exactly the same time.
Elena blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting such a reaction after all the praise she'd just received.
"Huh?"
I immediately shook my head.
"No, no, sweetheart! One mission is enough!"
Erza nodded firmly.
"Absolutely. No more shopping alone."
"But Elena good!"
"Yes, very good!" I said hurriedly. "The best! But Papa and Mama can't handle another mission!"
Elena tilted her head, looking genuinely confused.
"Why?"
I glanced at Erza, who returned my look with the same exhausted expression. Neither of us seemed particularly eager to explain that our daughter's innocent shopping trip had nearly given me a heart attack, caused Erza to threaten planetary destruction, and turned both of us into suspicious masked stalkers.
In the end, I simply smiled and gently patted Elena's head.
"Because, sweetheart..."
I took a deep breath.
"Papa and Mama need a vacation."
Dear Diary,
Today, my little Elena went shopping all by herself for the very first time. Although she never knew that her mama and papa were secretly following her the entire way, she completed her mission with a big smile and a bag full of chicken, bread, and candy.
She remembered everything I taught her, met so many kind people, and even defended her papa when others misunderstood him.
Watching her today made me realize that my little princess is growing up faster than I expected. Perhaps one day, I won't need to follow her around like a suspicious criminal anymore.
But until then, I'll always be somewhere nearby, watching over her.
I'm so proud of you, my dear, brave Elena.
— Papa Yuuta
To be continued...