The Assassin Girl Who Stayed by My Side in Another World… Somehow Followed Me Back to Modern Japan - Chapter 44: Not… Just My Daughter

Chapter 44: Not… Just My Daughter

After I got out of the bath, I picked up Aira’s clothes and headed back to my room—

Only to find her already fast asleep, hugging my pillow tight with both her arms and legs wrapped around it.

…Yeah, makes sense.

It was a big day for her—probably wore her out.

…As long as she had fun, that’s all that matters.

Thinking that, I gently pulled the blanket over her.

Then, making sure Nee-san wouldn’t stumble across anything weird, I tucked Aira’s clothes out of sight and climbed into bed beside her.

…Wrapping my arms around her from behind.

And just like that—

Aira let go of the pillow and snuggled straight into me instead.

…She is asleep, right?

“…Aira?”

“…suuu… suuu…”

Yeah.

She’s definitely asleep.

Once I was sure, I reached out and softly stroked her head, then pulled out my phone.

I figured I’d play a game or something… but yeah, not happening with one hand.

So I opened up a social media app instead.

When Aira’s awake, she won’t let me look at my phone.

Or more accurately—

She starts getting jealous of my phone.

Honestly?

I think that’s kinda cute.

…Although, knowing it’s because she sees me as a guy and not just her dad…

Yeah, that part’s still complicated.

But I already told myself I’d stop dodging this stuff—no more excuses.

So I’ll just leave that thought alone for now.

I was scrolling through the “Recommended” feed, wondering what kind of stuff was trending these days…

And then—bam. My screen got flooded with what looked like a bunch of NSFW accounts.

…Right.

Totally forgot.

Not like I remembered on purpose or anything, but still—

I am a high school guy right in the middle of puberty.

This kind of thing? Yeah… kinda expected.

“…Don’t look at that stuff. Look at me instead. If it’s me… you can touch too, not just look.”

Just as I was thinking I should probably close the app before Aira woke up and saw something she shouldn’t—

Of course.

Right on cue, Aira woke up.

Still half-asleep, eyes droopy and a little hazy,

She looked right at me… and whispered that with a hopeful tone.

“That’s not what it looks like. Aira, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding of what?”

“I wasn’t trying to look at that stuff on purpose, okay? It’s just… the algorithm. It pops up on its own.”

“But you were still looking.”

…Okay, yeah. I mean, I am a guy.

Of course I looked.

But seriously—that’s not what this is!!

“If it’s me, Hiroto can do whatever you want.”

“—N-No, I won’t.”

“Because I’m your daughter?”

“I… love you like a daughter.”

I promised myself I wouldn’t hide behind excuses anymore.

So instead of saying, “Because you’re my daughter,” like I usually would—

I gave her that answer.

“? ‘Like’ a daughter? So… I’m not your daughter?”

“…If you’re okay being my daughter, then I’ll keep thinking of you that way—just like always—”

“You don’t have to. …I’m not your daughter.”

“…I see.”

Yeah.

She’s right.

Back in the other world, maybe…

But here, she’s not technically my daughter.

We’re still close—nothing’s changed there.

But she’s not… my daughter.

“Hiroto, I love you. …So can we just say it’s mutual now?”

“That’s…”

While I hesitated for an answer, Aira moved in—

Just like in the movie theater—

And kissed me again.

I instinctively tried to pull away,

But she wrapped herself around me, using even her legs like she did with the pillow earlier.

I couldn’t move.

…Well, I could force her off if I really wanted to,

But that would probably hurt her.

So I didn’t.

And she took full advantage of that—

Slipping her tongue into my mouth.

I could feel my brain going completely blank.