Me and Dad.
Licorice and Aisha.
Sofia and Mint.
While the six of us were chatting lively in the upstairs living room, we heard the sound of the front door opening.
Then, the light, rhythmic sound of someone coming up the stairs.
"I'm home... Oh?"
It was Mom who appeared.
Lutecia was on her back.
And she had shopping bags in both hands.
She had probably gone shopping...
"Mom, let me carry those."
"Oh my, it's fine. I'm still young, you know."
"Well, I mean, I can't really deny that..."
Mom looks so young, she could easily be mistaken for someone younger than me.
When she's with Dad, people sometimes mistake him for a suspicious person.
Even so, she's still my mother.
"I’ve got more stamina than you do. You don’t have to go shopping while carrying a kid. Just say the word and I can at least help carry the bags. Don’t push yourself too hard."
"Hehe, thank you for worrying about me. But this isn't too much. When little Fate-chan was born, I used to do housework and help your father with his work every day while carrying you on my back..."
"Let’s not get into that story—here, let me take these."
I somewhat forcefully took the bags and carried them to the kitchen.
I put the groceries in their places and then returned to the living room.
"Good, good, what a good girl~"
"Alright, stay still, okay~?"
Sofia and Mint were playing with Lutecia.
Lutecia apparently couldn’t walk yet and was crawling around on the floor.
Sofia and Mint were watching her with goofy, fond smiles.
I mean, yeah.
She is cute...
But you're both acting like doting grandmothers or something.
...Probably better not to say that out loud.
Thinking that, I just kept quiet.
"What about Fate-chan? I thought he was going to challenge a dungeon today?"
"Yeah, but Dad told me to take it easy at home today."
"Oh my, I agree with that. I wanted to have a nice talk with Fate-chan too."
"Yeah... me too."
It felt a little embarrassing, kind of awkward...
But I finally got to see my parents again after a long time.
There's so much I want to talk about.
"......"
Suddenly, I noticed something strange about Aisha.
She was pouting while watching Sofia and Mint play with Lutecia.
Could it be...
"Aisha."
"...?"
"Come here. Let’s chat with Mom together, okay?"
"Okay!"
Her face lit up, and she came running over.
Instead of sitting on a chair, she sat on my lap.
Then she started rubbing her face against me affectionately.
Judging by this behavior, she was probably feeling jealous of Lutecia.
Because Sofia had been giving all her attention to her.
But, well, that kind of thing is just how it goes...
I’ve heard that this kind of jealousy is pretty common.
So, it’s on me to handle things smoothly.
Mom must’ve picked up on it too, because she smiled and spoke gently to Aisha.
"Hey, Aisha-chan. Is there any food you really like?"
"Food I... like?"
"I’m really good at cooking, you know. For today’s dinner, I’ll make whatever you like best."
"Really!?"
"Yes, really."
"Yay~!"
Aisha’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Um… is there any chance I could get my favorite dish too…?"
Of course, Licorice slipped herself right into the conversation.
"Hehe, of course. I’ll make your favorite too, Licorice-chan."
"Yaaay~!"
"Woohoo~!"
Licorice, I get that you’re happy, but maybe tone down the weird celebration a bit.
Look, now Aisha’s copying you.
"What do you like, Aisha-chan?"
"Um, um… meat!"
"Meat, huh? Got it. Then, how about hamburg steak tonight?"
"Hamburg... steak?"
"Oh my, you’ve never had hamburg steak? It’s a kind of dish that..."
And so, the peaceful, happy time continued on.
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