The Assassin Girl Who Stayed by My Side in Another World… Somehow Followed Me Back to Modern Japan - Chapter 43: Don’t Make Excuses

Chapter 43: Don’t Make Excuses

“…Hiroto, I’m done.”

Nee-san never came back, and Aira’s voice came through the door safe and sound.

Whew. Thank goodness.

She did sound a tiny bit disappointed, but still—thank goodness.

“Alright.”

“Can you dry my hair?”

“…Dry it yourself today.”

“…okay.”

She sounded disappointed again, but still gave me a proper reply.

…Good.

I’m glad she agreed without a fuss.

“Hiroto, I’m all done. Now you go take a bath too.”

A few minutes later, she called out again—guess she finished drying off.

“…You’re dressed, right?”

“…About to get dressed.”

“Do it now, please. I brought over the clothes we secretly washed and dried the other day, remember?”

“…Okay.”

…I might just be imagining things.

But—no, no.

I shouldn’t be thinking stuff like that about my daughter.

Let’s just not go there.

“I’m dressed.”

The door opened, and Aira stepped out properly clothed.

Her hair was still a little damp.

“You’ll catch a cold like that. Come here—I’ll dry it for you.”

“Yes.”

Well, yeah.

Using the hairdryer is still a bit tricky for her.

This one’s on me.

…Feels like I’m spoiling her a bit, but hey—

A little pampering now and then isn’t a crime, right?

“Alright, your hair’s all dry. Okay, I’m gonna hop in the bath now, so can you head out? You can chill in my room if you want.”

“…Even if I’m your daughter?”

“Especially if you’re my daughter.”

“…okay.”

Aira nodded, though clearly not thrilled about it, and stepped out of the bathroom.

Once I made sure she was gone, I started taking off my clothes—

But then my hands froze.

…Wait.

That pile over there—that’s the stuff Aira just took off.

…Yeah, even the underwear.

Guess she forgot to bring it with her.

…No way I can toss that in the wash now.

If Nee-san comes home mid-cycle, that’d be a nightmare.

I’ll do it tomorrow instead.

…She was just wearing that, huh.

N-No, come on!

That’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s not a big deal!

Alright, time to get in the bath—focus, focus.

With that, I stripped down the rest of the way.

Just in case, even though I doubted anyone would come in,

I placed my own clothes over hers to cover everything up,

Just so Nee-san wouldn’t accidentally see anything if she came in.

…Man, it’s been a while since I had a bath all to myself.

As I stood under the shower, letting the water pour over my head,

I found myself going over everything that happened today.

…I told myself not to dwell on it, but still—

I kissed someone today.

My daughter…

No—

A girl.

…Yeah.

I’m totally trying not to think about it—

But the truth is, it’s on my mind like crazy.

I mean, come on.

It was my first kiss!

How am I not supposed to think about it?

Even if it was with my daughter…

We’re not actually blood-related or anything.

Not that that really matters.

I love her to death—whether we’re related or not.

But still…

Whether or not I’m thinking about the kiss is a whole different thing.

“Haaah…”

What am I even supposed to do?

…How do I really feel about Aira?

Yeah, of course I love her. That much is clear.

But what kind of love is it?

I want her to be happy.

I want to make her happy.

…But that’s supposed to be because she’s my daughter.

Back in the other world, I only ever felt that way.

That was the whole truth. Nothing more.

…Maybe it’s time I stop hiding behind the “she’s my daughter” excuse—

And actually face my feelings head-on.

I mean, it’s true—

Since coming back to this world, my body’s younger, my mental age feels younger too, and yeah…

Maybe that’s why the way I think has started to shift a little.