"I'm ho..." I muttered as I finally stepped through the door, exhaustion dripping from my voice.
"Ryusei!"
Keiko’s voice startled . She was waiting in the living room, concern etched across her face. I blinked, surprised.
"I thought you haven’t co ho yet," I said, scratching the back of my head.
"It’s almost nine. Are you okay? Have you eaten dinner?" she asked, her tone equal parts worry and scolding.
I glanced at the clock and winced. Almost nine? No wonder she looked so concerned. I’d gotten lost in my thoughts, wandering who-knows-where, taking pointless detours because my head wouldn’t stop spinning.
"Not yet..." I admitted sheepishly.
Keiko exhaled, then softened. "Get a shower first... I’ll make you sothing."
I nodded. "Thanks."
---
The hot shower helped clear my head, but only a little. When I walked back to the kitchen, the sll of broth greeted warmly.
At the dining table, Rin was slouched in her chair, playing on her phone. Keiko was busy at the counter, sleeves rolled up, hair tied back.
"Sorry, five more minutes," Keiko said the mont she saw . "I didn’t realize how hungry you’d be."
I waved it off and sat down. "It’s fine. I’m not starving yet. Take your ti."
"Dad!"
Rin suddenly piped up, shoving her phone at . Her tone was sharp, but her eyes had a mischievous spark.
I blinked, confused, then looked at the screen. My stomach dropped.
It was 'The Prince'. That cursed host club photo of —or rather, the other .
"Is this the host place? It says ‘The Prince’... I saw your face." Rin said matter-of-factly.
I froze. My brain scrambled for an explanation, but my expression must’ve betrayed . Before I could even open my mouth, Rin added casually, "Oh, Mom told about it."
"Wait, what?"
Keiko, without even turning around, replied, "I thought Rin deserved to know. Better she hears it from than stumbles onto it herself."
I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples. "Right... I didn’t want my daughter finding out her dad is sohow a host, then thinking that’s who I really am."
Rin tilted her head, serious now. "But are you the real one though?"
Her words stung. I forced a smirk. "Of course I am. You want proof?"
"Yes please." Rin leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. "On my fourteenth birthday, what did you buy as a gift?"
My heart sank. Silence stretched as I searched for an answer I didn’t have.
Rin grinned like a cat with cream. "Exactly. Nothing. Congrats, you pass. That’s the real Dad."
"...Glad you believe now," I muttered, trying not to sound wounded.
From the corner of my eye, Keiko let out a long sigh at our back-and-forth.
Then Rin did the unexpected. She looked back at the photo, tilted her head, and said with a faint smile, "But... actually, you look kind of cool here. Handso, even."
I smirked, seizing the complint. "I always am."
"Tch. Not when you’re my dad, though." Rin stuck out her tongue.
"This kid..." I grumbled.
"You two, enough." Keiko cut in, placing a steaming bowl of miso ran in front of . "Here. Eat before you start another round."
"Thanks," I said, grabbing the chopsticks.
Keiko finally sat beside , her shoulders relaxing slightly now that food was on the table. "So... how’s it going?" she asked carefully.
I slurped the broth before answering. "At least I know his na now. And his job. Makes it easier to track him down."
Keiko raised a brow. "And?"
"Riku," I said flatly. "That’s his na."
Her lips tightened, thoughtful. "Did Junpei reply yet?"
I shook my head. "Not yet. I sent him the details though. Hopefully he can dig sothing up soon."
Keiko nodded, but I could see the worry flicker in her eyes.
Rin leaned forward suddenly, curiosity burning. "So what’s your plan once you find him?"
I hesitated. My chopsticks hovered over the noodles. The truth was heavy in my chest.
"I... just want to know how this happened," I said slowly. "If soone can switch bodies so easily, it’s dangerous. Don’t you think?"
Keiko nodded solemnly. "You’ve got a point."
Rin wasn’t satisfied. Her gaze cut into , sharp and direct. "But... do you want to go back? To your real body?"
The question hit like a hamr.
Of course I wanted to. Desperately. I wanted to fix everything as myself. To look Keiko in the eyes as the man she once trusted. To be Rin’s father with my own hands, not borrowed ones. But... the silence stretched. Their eyes on felt too heavy.
"You do, don’t you?" Rin whispered, reading like an open book.
I swallowed hard. "I... I want to do it as myself. To fix things. To earn back your trust, and your mother’s trust. To redeem all of my mistakes and sins as —not as this."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even the faint hum of the fridge felt loud.
"...Sorry, Rin," I added quietly. "I know you told you’d rather have as Ryuko, but... I can’t help being selfish. Thinking about myself."
Rin leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her eyes softer now. "Not selfish. It makes sense. Part of still wants you to take responsibility as yourself too."
Keiko exhaled, her expression conflicted. "Honestly, sa. Sotis I look at you and all I can rember is what you did... and I want to punch you. But then I see this innocent girl’s face, and... it sses with ."
"Agree!" Rin shouted, pointing at with a dramatic flourish.
I flinched, staring at both of them as they glared in unison. "What?!"
Their arms folded, their pouts eerily identical.
I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! No rebuttals."
They both chuckled at my expense, their laughter filling the room. For a mont, the tension cracked, replaced by that warm, chaotic family atmosphere I didn’t deserve but desperately wanted to protect.
Still, deep down, I couldn’t shake the unease crawling at the back of my mind. Riku’s face. Riku’s smirk. The unknown danger he carried.
I forced a smile and dug into my ran, but in my chest, a storm was brewing.
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