The Assassin Girl Who Stayed by My Side in Another World… Somehow Followed Me Back to Modern Japan - Chapter 19: The Comfort of a Heartbeat

Chapter 19: The Comfort of a Heartbeat

After finishing up Aira’s hair, I made sure to dry my own too.

Then, carefully avoiding even a glance at the bag holding her old clothes and the newly bought underwear, I quietly snuck it into my room and made my way to the living room.

Naturally, Aira had gone invisible again.

Even though I couldn’t sense her presence—same as always—I could still feel her clinging to my arm.

“Nee-san, I’m out of the bath.”

“It wasn’t cold, was it~?”

“Nope, it was warm.”

“Yay, good~”

With that little exchange out of the way, I plopped down onto the living room couch.

We didn’t really talk after that.

Not because of awkwardness or anything—just the kind of quiet that comes when you’re close enough with someone that you don’t need to talk.

Honestly, there were a lot of things I wanted to say. It had been so long.

But then again, this kind of silence had always been our thing—even eight years ago.

Keeping it like that made it all feel natural again.

Time with Aira felt warm in one way.

Time like this with Nee-san felt warm in a different way—and just as comforting.

…Okay, sure, I might have said a few things this morning that the me from eight years ago never would’ve dared to say.

But hey—cut me some slack.

Between seeing Aira again, trying to process everything, and being completely overwhelmed with the joy of finally being home…

Yeah, my emotional control wasn’t exactly running at full power.

Also, maybe the whole “regression” thing was messing with me a bit too.

“I think I’ll head to bed now. What about you, Hiroto~?”

While I sat there quietly, gently patting Aira’s head in a way Nee-san wouldn’t notice—since she’d been leaning against me the whole time—time flew by, and before I knew it, Nee-san was asking that.

“Yeah, I’m gonna sleep too.”

Maybe it was because Aira had been snuggling up to me all evening, but even in this season, my body felt warm and cozy—and I was starting to get sleepy.

So yeah, figured it was the perfect time to call it a night.

“In that case, I’ll turn the lights off, so go ahead and head to your room first~”

“Mm, will do. Thanks, Nee-san.”

Leaning into her offer, I thanked her and made my way back to my room—Aira quietly following behind.

“Hiroto, are you going to sleep?”

Right after we got to my room, Aira made herself visible again and tilted her head, looking up at me with those wide, innocent eyes.

“…Yeah, that’s the plan. What about you—”

“I’m sleeping with you.”

…Yeah, I figured.

Same vibe as the bath situation earlier—I just knew it was coming.

I mean, sure, maybe it’s about time she started becoming a little more independent…

But it’s not that simple.

Back in the other world, it wouldn’t have been a big deal.

But here? In a place that’s totally unfamiliar to her?

Right now, I’m the only person she can rely on.

So yeah… her being clingy isn’t going away anytime soon.

…Still, it’d be nice if I could find her a place to make some friends or something.

“Hiroto? Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“No, I am. You can get in first.”

“Okay.”

There was only one bed in the room anyway.

No way I was letting Aira sleep on the floor.

But if I slept on the floor and Nee-san saw that? I’d never come up with a good excuse.

…I could try the classic “I fell off the bed” line, but unfortunately, I’m cursed with good sleep posture.

Falling off just doesn’t happen for me.

Well, putting the whole bath situation aside—sleeping in the same bed as my daughter isn’t that weird, right?

It should be fine.

…Yeah, Aira’s technically sixteen, but we’re just sleeping. Totally harmless.

Telling myself that on repeat, I lay down beside Aira and got into bed.

The moment I did, she popped out from under the covers and wrapped her arms around me.

“I love Hiroto’s scent…”

…Okay. It was fine—up until she whispered that.

Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear it.

I’m sleepy anyway.

“Goodnight, Aira.”

“…Goodnight, Hiroto.”

I gently wrapped my arms around her too and let sleep take over.

I mean, come on—hugging your daughter as she falls asleep is completely normal.

And honestly, from the way Aira was acting, it felt like that’s exactly what she wanted.