The Assassin Girl Who Stayed by My Side in Another World… Somehow Followed Me Back to Modern Japan - Chapter 28: Don’t Even Think About Leaving Me Behind Again—

Chapter 28: Don’t Even Think About Leaving Me Behind Again—

“…I want to help too.”

Aira had just finished eating dinner.

Since Nee-san wouldn’t be home for a while, I told her to just relax and take it easy.

Then I went to wash the dishes.

But just as I got started, Aira came up behind me and gently hugged me from behind—whispering those words.

“I appreciate the thought, but it’s okay. You don’t have to push yourself, y’know?”

“I’m fine. I want to help Hiroto. …Is that… a bother?”

I turned my head slightly to glance back at her.

Aira tilted her head a little and looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes—like she knew exactly how cute she was being on purpose.

…Yeah, no way I can say no when she looks at me like that.

Honestly, even without the puppy eyes, I wasn’t planning to turn her down.

Of course it wasn’t a bother. Far from it.

If Aira wants to help me out on her own… I’m nothing but happy about that.

“It’s not a bother at all. Just, y’know—given your height, washing the dishes might be a little tough. So how about you dry them after I wash?”

“Okay. Leave it to me.”

Doing chores together with my adorable daughter…

Sure, we used to do that in the other world too—but still, this kind of thing? It’s really nice.

Thinking that, I gently handed the freshly washed dishes to Aira, who had let go of her hug and stepped beside me.

“Here?”

“Yep, just place it there.”

As we chatted like that, I kept washing without pausing.

And finally, we reached the last dish.

“Nee-san’s probably gonna be home soon.”

I stood up from the couch where Aira and I had been sitting side by side, enjoying a quiet, peaceful moment.

“If I just hide… that’s okay, right?”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s fine. What I don’t want… is to be away from you. So don’t ever leave me behind again.”

Aira hugged me tightly, burying her face in my chest as she said it.

…She was talking about when I came back to this world.

Of course, it’s not like I left her behind because I didn’t care.

Back then, I genuinely thought it’d be better for her to stay in the other world.

Dragging her into some unknown place just didn’t seem right.

So I said my goodbyes properly… and came back here alone, thinking that was the best choice.

…But yeah.

Looking back on it now—even if I had the best intentions—being left behind like that, especially by a parent, had to hurt.

No amount of explanation would’ve made that easy.

…Well, okay. Aira’s feelings toward me clearly go beyond just family love at this point, but… that’s not the issue right now.

“I’m sorry, Aira. I won’t ever leave you behind again. At least… not until the day you decide to go be someone’s bride—”

“Forever.”

“…Yeah. Forever, then. Let’s stay together.”

“Mm. I love you, Hiroto. I love you so much!”

It’s not like getting married is the only path to happiness, right?

If Aira truly wants to stay by my side forever… then I’ll accept that.

Holding her gently in my arms, I made that promise.