Uneasy daily life

"Big brother, don't look at me."

Bai Ying leaned against the door, engrossed in eating melon. Upon catching the other person's gaze, she immediately replied, "If it were me, I would definitely put together a play about a loving father and a filial daughter, and I would have to invite 9528 to participate as well."

“I’m friends with my uncle’s two daughters, and I know some things about them,” Mai Sakurajima smiled. “Friends in every sense of the word.”

Yukino's father scoffed, "Yukino wouldn't make weird friends..."

Ding dong——!

The elevator made a crisp sound, and Yukino Yukinoshita stepped out of the elevator carrying a bag full of ingredients, cat food and paper rolls, looking at the strange trio in the corridor with a bit of confusion.

Judging from his position and gaze, why does the father look like he's confronting Sakurajima?

boom!

Seizing the opportunity, Bai Ying closed the door.

The three looked at each other, then subconsciously glanced at the door. They immediately noticed that the peephole had dimmed a bit, probably because someone was spying on them from behind the door.

"Good evening, Sakurajima. Father, what is it you need to say? Come inside."

"Yukino, have you considered moving somewhere else? There are two guys with ulterior motives living across the hall, and it's making me a little uneasy..."

"Father, can you say these strange things to Mother?"

"No."

"Let's go inside first and talk about it."

The father and daughter talked as they went into the room and closed the door.

Mai Sakurajima crossed her arms and looked at the door across the hall, her expression rather subtle.

The relationship between this father and daughter is clearly different from what the hater just said about fatherly love...

I've only ever heard of fathers beating their daughters' boyfriends, never of fathers standing up for their daughters against their rivals. Yukinoshita's father is rather unusual.

Mai Sakurajima thought for a moment, but unfortunately, her memories of her father were almost blank; she only had one impression—that her father had abandoned her.

...I'm a little envious.

Chapter Seven: Dreams and Sports Festival

"Yukino, I knew you could do it! The fireworks festival was a huge success, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive!"

The father, standing beneath the snow, gave a thumbs-up and smiled broadly.

"Ah."

In the kitchen, Yukino Yukinoshita put her things away, took an apron from the wall and tied it around her neck, then asked, "Did Father come here to talk about this?"

“This is not just ‘this matter,’ this is a tremendously good thing.”

Yukinoshita's father seemed even happier than his daughter: "Haven't you seen the news lately? A reporter interviewed me about the fireworks festival and praised it highly, saying it showcased innovation within tradition and was the best in recent years—His Majesty has been on the throne for a short time, yet his administration is already efficient and he has achieved great feats. He is truly a wise and sage emperor!"

Yukinoshita's father adopted a flattering demeanor.

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her hand to her forehead: "Father, you'd better stop talking like Haku-kun, it's really strange."

"What do you mean I'm imitating him?" Yukinoshita's father said displeasedly. "He's clearly just blindly copying others, like a parrot mimicking someone else's words..."

“Every time Haku-kun speaks, I have to get angry first,” Yukino Yukinoshita said quietly. “Is Father saying this on purpose to provoke me?”

"Cough cough."

Yukino's father straightened his tone and said, "It's a good thing, so why does Yukino look a little unhappy?"

"...The most popular ones should be the human-shaped fireworks that Bai Jun invented, right?"

Yukinoshita's father corrected, "It was under Yukino's leadership, amidst the flattery of treacherous villains, that fireworks were offered to people."

"If it were just me, I would probably follow the usual procedure and hold a plain and unremarkable fireworks display." Yukino Yukinoshita turned on the tap.

Before she could even prepare to wash the vegetables, Yukinoshita's father rushed over to take over the sink, rolled up his sleeves, and started washing.

"Leave it to me! I'm an expert at washing vegetables!"

Yukino Yukinoshita silently stepped aside, leaning against the kitchen counter, and continued, "All the interesting things at the fireworks festival were secretly prepared by Haku-kun without my knowledge..."

"You can't say that. Isn't it Yukino's doing that she arranged everything so well? Only laymen see the foxtail grass sprouting from the soil. What truly makes the foxtail grass stand firm is its deep root system." Yukino's father skillfully washed the vegetables. "That scoundrel only knows some strange and wicked tricks."

“Father, the credit should go to whoever does better.” Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly, “The fact is that Haku’s actions at the fireworks festival added a lot to the celebration. That is his credit. Father, it is despicable to belittle others to elevate oneself.”

Gurgle! You despicable traitor!

Yukino's father coughed and wiped his hands clean before asking, "So, now that you're officially involved in family matters, what are your thoughts, Yukino?"

"There is still so much for me to learn and think about."

After a moment of contemplation, Yukino Yukinoshita made a summary.

"Then keep it up—wait a minute, I have a gift for you to celebrate your successful organization of the fireworks festival."

Yukinoshita's father left the kitchen and returned shortly afterward, holding a rolled-up sheet of Xuan paper. He untied the rope binding it, making a clanging sound as he spoke: "Clang clang clang—!"

On the thick, heavy paper, the ink marks are piled up like steel bars, crisscrossing to form several Chinese characters.

Strive forward with determination.

Every stroke of the brush exudes a sharpness, resembling a character formed from the shape of a sword or knife.

Yukino Yukinoshita was a little surprised: "Calligraphy?"

"This is your mother's calligraphy." Yukinoshita's father blinked. "How does it feel?"

“Hmm…” Yukino Yukinoshita pondered, “Does Mother think I didn’t do well enough? Well, the most memorable things about the fireworks festival were basically all Haku-kun’s doing…”

"Huh? No, no, no!" Yukinoshita's father quickly said, "The Great Goddess is praising you! You know her personality; even when praising someone, she always adds a word of encouragement at the end. It's become a habit over the years. It doesn't mean you didn't do well enough; it means you did very well and she expects you to do even better! I guarantee that the Great Goddess was especially happy when she was practicing calligraphy..."

"I know."

Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but laugh: "Just kidding, Father, you don't need to be so nervous."

"?"

Yukino's father was taken aback. Seeing the curve of his daughter's lips, he was delighted and smiled. "Haha, Yukino is quite the joker."

"But what does 'Great Goddess' mean? Mother?"

Yukino asked in a strange tone.

"...Ahem, a respectful address, a respectful address!"

"Why is my father like Bai Jun, giving people weird nicknames?"

Yukino Yukinoshita makes a comment.

"Huh? That guy giving someone a nickname is reckless and presumptuous!" Yukinoshita's father immediately became fierce. "The way I call your mother that in my heart is out of respect and affection; it's not even on the same level..."

Yukino Yukinoshita asked suspiciously, "Father, you didn't give me a nickname too, did you?"

"..."

The father remained silent under the snow, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his head.

"Meow~"

A meow broke the momentary silence as the little white kitten squeezed through the gap between the father and the door from under the snow, its nose twitching.

Where is my imperial meal?!

Yukino Yukinoshita put down her work and quickly prepared some cat food for the little white cat.

Yukinoshita's father watched his daughter teasing the white cat's chin and said with a hint of displeasure, "This cat is quite fat, it's got some meat on it."

"I've definitely gained weight..."

Yukino Yukinoshita observed her cat and couldn't help but recall what had happened before—after being instigated by Haku-kun, Knight fought against Mai Sakurajima's cat until the very end, but collapsed from exhaustion due to his weight and ultimately lost.

"The size of creatures in nature determines their combat power, but that's a comparison between different creatures... Looks like we need to work out Knight a bit."

Yukino Yukinoshita rubs the cat's head.

The little white cat, oblivious to the future, shook its head vigorously, clearly annoyed that its human was disturbing its meal.

"Yukino, what do you think about keeping some cats at home?"

Yukinoshita's father suddenly made a suggestion.

Firstly, it can guard against treacherous thieves. If that guy comes to visit someday in the future, I only need to raise my arm and call out, and all the cats will chase him away, giving him a good scare!

Secondly, we could try to lure the young goddess into living at home. Although children will eventually have to be independent, we can wait at least another ten years for that kind of thing, right?

Do you have a cat at home?

"Yes, raise dozens!"

"Father, please get Mother's consent first."

After playing with the cat, Yukino Yukinoshita hung the calligraphy on the living room wall and returned to the kitchen in a cheerful mood: "If you're staying for dinner, I'll make an extra portion."

"want!"

The father answered instantly.

What a wonderful day! I got to taste the little goddess's cooking, saw her happy expression, and even laid the groundwork for maybe she'll move back home sometime in the future...

The father, picking his teeth, left happily under the snow.

As soon as I stepped out and closed the door, I looked up and saw two doors across the street... The villain and villain number two lived right across from the little goddess's house.

It is deeply worrying that a large number of rebels have emerged right under the emperor's nose.

pat.

Mai Sakurajima opened the door, carrying a trash bag, somewhat surprised to run into Yukinoshita's father again.

Yukinoshita's father kept his stance firmly in mind, casting a cold glance at her without uttering a word.

The elevator and the trash can at the end of the corridor are in the same direction, forming a long, awkward stretch of road.

The two suddenly heard the door open. Bai Ying was just coming out with a takeout box. He looked at the two of them for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. He suddenly strode past them, approached them swiftly, and decisively threw the takeout box into the trash can.

"You win! You can compete for second place now!"

The white figure left behind a victor's mockery, taking the laurel wreath and departing.

"?"

As Mai Sakurajima was wondering what was going on, another gust of wind rose beside her, and a middle-aged man in casual clothes took a few quick steps ahead, reached out to remove the toothpick from the corner of his mouth, and accurately shot the ball into the basket.

"Humph!"

The father let out a cold snort and calmly pressed the elevator down button, looking as if he had won a great victory and was returning home triumphantly.

Sakurajima Mai: "..."

The father beneath the snow is so young.

That makes sense, it's quite difficult that Yukinoshita's father and the anti-fan get along so well.

……

……

"This is your sister..."

"She idolizes you... Ah, you two chat, I'll go buy you some snacks..."

The man whose face was obscured was speaking, and the person opposite him seemed to be a blonde little girl, casting a curious yet timid glance at him.

This is strange, where am I?

My consciousness is a bit strange, I can't speak... and there's a strange sense of sluggishness, like my brain has fallen into paste, and after a lot of random stirring, I can't see its original shape at all.

"Um... are you Sakurajima Mai? Is it really Sakurajima Mai?!"

The little girl across from me suddenly made a loud noise.

I felt a bit startled.

"Yes, hello."

Amidst the polite, low-voiced response, feelings of doubt and confusion welled up within.

"You're my older sister too, right?" The little girl gradually lost her restraint and awkwardness, and became warm and friendly.