Accidentally become a father-Chapter 77: An Additional Variable

---

I was late.

The sound of a key.

From the door.

A small click.

I looked over.

The door opened from the outside.

Slowly.

Yuna walked in first.

Shoes taken off neatly at the genkan.

Positioned perfectly straight.

A habit.

She stepped inside.

Her movements were normal.

No lingering signs of illness.

Fully recovered.

---

"...Papa."

"Hm."

"I’m home."

"Yeah."

I paused for a moment.

Then added.

"I forgot to check the time."

Yuna didn’t answer right away.

She looked at me.

Once.

"...It’s fine."

Her tone was flat.

Not forced.

Not like before.

I gave a small nod.

Matter resolved.

Other footsteps sounded.

From outside.

Two pairs.

More hesitant.

Stopping in front of the door.

Not entering right away.

Yuna looked back.

"...It’s fine, just come in."

Her tone was a little lighter.

Different.

Two girls walked in.

Slowly.

Their steps were cautious.

Shoes taken off.

Not as neatly as Yuna’s.

---

They stood in the genkan for a few seconds.

Moving no further.

Their eyes darted around.

Fast.

Into the room.

To the table.

To the kitchen.

Their eyes did the talking.

This house is small.

That was what I thought.

Then—

they stopped on me.

Silence.

For a few seconds.

---

I stood in the middle of the room.

Coffee mug in hand.

Messy hair.

Haggard face.

One of them gulped.

Very quietly.

But audible.

"...Um... e-etto..."

She tried to speak.

Failed at first.

Stopped.

Took a breath.

Tried again.

"...Excuse me, sorry for intruding..."

Her voice was quiet.

Tense.

The other one just bowed her head slightly.

Didn’t speak.

But her eyes stayed on me.

Wary.

Yuna stood in front of them.

Slightly forward.

Like it was her default position now.

"...This is my Papa."

A simple introduction.

No extra details.

Unnecessary.

---

I suppose she was starting to take after me.

I nodded.

Once.

"Come in."

They looked at each other for a moment.

Like silent communication.

Then stepped inside.

Slowly.

Their steps halted in the middle of the room.

Not sitting down.

Not knowing where to go.

I looked at them.

A brief evaluation.

School friends.

Objective: group work.

High probability.

"Are you here for group work?"

One of them immediately nodded.

Fast.

"Y-yes."

Still tense.

The other one followed up.

"Yes... we have an assignment..."

Her voice was even quieter.

I nodded.

Made sense.

"Take a seat."

I pointed to the small table.

They moved.

Slowly.

Sitting across from it.

Posture stiff.

Hands on their knees.

Not touching the table yet.

Yuna sat beside them.

More relaxed.

Not stiff.

A clear difference.

I watched them for a few seconds.

No one spoke.

---

One of them finally whispered quietly to Yuna.

"...Yuna..."

"...Your Papa..."

She didn’t continue.

Yuna turned her head slightly.

"...What about him?"

Her tone was normal.

"...Never mind..."

She immediately shook her head.

Quickly.

The other one stared in my direction again.

Longer this time.

There was something in her expression.

Not just fear.

Curiosity.

I looked away.

No need for additional interaction.

I sat on the chair near the kitchen.

Took a sip of coffee.

Quite hot.

Burned my tongue.

A lapse in focus.

At the table—

the sound of bags opening.

Books being taken out.

Pencils.

Erasers.

Movements were starting to normalize.

Yuna opened her book too.

Her movements were efficient.

Not making much noise.

One of them glanced in my direction again.

Slowly.

---

"...Yuna..."

"...Your Papa..."

Stopped again.

Searching for the right words.

"...is scary..."

The voice was barely audible.

Yuna didn’t answer immediately.

She wrote something in her book first.

Before speaking.

"...He’s not."

A short answer.

Without explanation.

I heard her.

Nothing that required a comment.

The wall clock read 10:49.

Situation stable.

Variables increased.

But still under control.

---