I_LOVE_RICE+
patreon
Chapter 219. Your Daughter Sticks to You
🕑 Added 2025-03-24 11:43:36 +0000 UTC[You gradually aged, transitioning from youth to middle age.]
[Time continued to pass.]
[Your daughters grew up as well.]
[Under the influence of you and your wives—]
[Haruto Shouji and Nayuki Shouji respectively followed paths as an athlete and a novelist.]
[Haruto Shouji, in particular, inherited Chisato's talents—showing exceptional skill in archery and shooting sports, enough to enter a top university in Japan on her talents alone.]
[Meanwhile, Nayuki Shouji inherited some of your writing ability. With your guidance, she progressed steadily along the path of a novelist.]
[Among the three sisters, the one you all worried about the most was the youngest—Mei Shouji.]
[Because entering the world of physics requires not only talent and effort—]
[But even with those, it's still not enough in such a difficult, complex field.]
[Beyond knowledge, one also needs a great deal of luck.]
[With Rio Shouji's recommendation, Mei entered one of the country's most prestigious physics research institutes right after high school.]
[She threw herself into her work, often staying at the institute for a week straight.]
[Because of this, she began to resemble her mother—wearing glasses, her hair always a mess, and her skin pale to an unhealthy degree.]
[Just trying to keep up with the legacy Rio Shouji had left behind, she was exhausting herself, secretly taking anti-anxiety medication.]
[Seeing their daughter in this state left Rio Shouji, Chisato, and Takina deeply worried.]
[They urged her to take better care of herself.]
[But every time, Mei Shouji would promise to rest, only to pull all-nighters again the next day, looking even more drained.]
[Having no other option, your wives turned to you, hoping you could talk some sense into her.]
[Just like before, they still relied on you.]
[Faced with this, you decided—]
[1. Call the research institute immediately and have Mei Shouji apologize to her mothers.]
[2. Summon her late at night to your room and lecture her.]
[3. Respect her choice but ask her the reason behind her anxiety.]
"This time, they didn't even bother giving me a 'simulate it yourself' option."
Minami Shouji glanced at the three choices that appeared, already having a good idea of their significance.
This choice, he figured, was more of a tweak to the final ending.
The main outcome of this life simulation likely wouldn't change just from this.
With that in mind, he looked over the three options again.
The first—straightforward and harsh, forcing Mei to apologize to her mothers. But it likely wouldn't change her behavior.
The second—a late-night lecture. That might have worked when she was younger, but Mei was an adult now. Like with Chisato and Takina's attempts, she might agree on the surface and go back to her habits afterward.
"So it's got to be option three."
Minami knew this daughter of his was a handful, even secretly taking anti-anxiety meds.
There had to be something deeper at play.
He selected option three.
[(Selected) 3. Respect her choice but ask her the reason behind her anxiety.]
[You knew that lectures and force wouldn't change a now-grown adult.]
[You chose to respect her, but to understand the true reason behind her anxiety.]
[That evening, you called Mei Shouji—just back from work—into the study.]
Inside the simulated memory—
The study was softly lit, giving off a calm and inviting atmosphere.
The moon tonight was bright.
The pale light poured through the windows like silver.
Mei Shouji stood in front of the study door.
Now an adult, she had inherited her mother's beauty.
Her wavy gray hair fell gently around her shoulders, her features sharp and defined, with slightly upturned brows that made her seem constantly irritated. Her golden eyes, hidden behind glasses, held a graceful intellect.
The only flaw—her skin was almost ghostly pale from staying indoors too much.
Taking a deep breath, she quietly pushed the door open.
Though she appeared indifferent, she was intensely focused on the man inside.
Sitting on a plush chair in the study, reading a thick novel, was an elegant, handsome man.
His calm black eyes reflected the bright pages in front of him. His fingers moved with gentle grace as he turned the pages.
She didn't dare interrupt.
Mei slowly approached, lowering her head.
"Father… did you need me?"
Of course, she knew why he'd called her.
But at times like this, playing dumb was safer.
Her daddy had never once used harsh discipline on her or her sisters.
Even when they were reckless as children, he always treated them with respect and equality.
That's why they loved and respected him so much.
Which is exactly why—
As soon as he called her to the study, she felt a heavy pressure in her chest.
The man lifted his calm black eyes to hers.
Time had barely left a mark on his face, instead adding a deeper elegance to his already handsome features.
He closed the book and spoke.
"Have you had dinner?"
The gentle question caught her off guard—it wasn't a scolding like she'd expected.
It was concern.
Thrown off, the words she'd prepared got stuck in her throat.
"…No."
"Sit here and wait a moment."
Without another word, he left the room.
Moments later, he returned—carrying a bowl of steaming noodles.
A simple bowl, topped with a single egg.
"Eat up."
"Huh…?"
"What do you mean 'huh'? I told you to eat dinner."
The man chuckled softly and patted her head.
"Ah... oh... okay."
There was no scolding, no blame.
Mei, caught off guard, clumsily accepted the bowl and chopsticks, then leaned against the desk and began eating.
The hot noodles settled into her empty, cold stomach, sending waves of warmth through her body.
The perfectly balanced flavor made it hard to stop after just one bite.
Her daddy didn't cook often.
But every time he did, it felt like a celebration at home.
Because his cooking far surpassed any of her three mothers'.
Even the simplest dishes became extraordinary in his hands.
Finishing the noodles, she couldn't help but let out a small, childish burp.
Her pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her own behavior.
But...
Now he was probably going to get to the point, wasn't he?
That's what she was thinking when her daddy finally spoke.
"Since you're full, go rest now."
He stretched lazily as he said it.
"Huh?"
Once again, his words completely threw Mei off.
She blinked in confusion.
He called her to the study late at night...
Only to send her back without a word?
Mei couldn't understand it, and frankly, she couldn't accept it.
She took a step forward and quietly asked, "Father... didn't you want to ask me something?"
"I did."
The man nodded with a smile.
"Then why…"
"If I asked, would you answer me honestly?"
He returned the question to her.
That single counter-question left Mei completely speechless.
Answer honestly...?
No.
If her daddy had questioned her about her work at the institute, she'd probably just give a few vague, polite answers.
There was no way she'd be fully honest.
"I know you're under a lot of stress lately."
The man set his novel down and gently patted her head.
"So instead of asking pointless questions, I'd rather make sure you've eaten and rested. When you feel like it, tell me what's in your heart. That's enough."
His tone was calm and caring.
There was no pressure at all.
A wave of guilt welled up in Mei's chest.
Feeling her daddy's hand on her head, her face flushed slightly. Then she leaned closer and sat beside him, finally opening up about everything…
[It turned out that at the institute, as the daughter of the genius Rio Shouji, Mei was constantly compared to her mother by other staff.]
[Perhaps they meant no harm, but to Mei, the pressure was immense.]
[She worked relentlessly, wanting to achieve results as great as her mother's—and not bring shame to her.]
[She exhausted herself physically and mentally, and under this immense pressure, began secretly taking anti-anxiety medication.]
[She told you everything in a small, quiet voice.]
[You told her not to worry about others' opinions, reminding her that she chose physics because she loved it—not to compete with anyone.]
[Trying to live in her mother's shadow, constantly competing—was far too tiring and unnecessary.]
[Because of your long-standing position in her heart, and your gentle but wise words—]
[Mei didn't insist on her point of view like before.]
[After speaking with you, she felt significantly lighter.]
[Thanks to your support, she slowly emerged from her mother's shadow and began approaching life with a more positive outlook.]
[Though she still stayed up late occasionally, it was no longer excessive, and her health began to improve.]
[She eventually tossed the bottle of anti-anxiety meds into some forgotten corner.]
[Life returned to normal.]
[All three daughters began showing incredible talents in their respective fields, stepping onto their own life paths.]
[Everything was peaceful and happy.]
[The only concern your wives had was that your daughters showed no interest in men their age.]
[Even at the age to marry, they clung to you just as they did in childhood.]
[Especially the eldest, Haruto Shouji.]
[Though she acted annoyed with you in public, she was actually the closest to you—constantly scheming to keep Nayuki and Mei away from your side.]
[You noticed but didn't take it too seriously.]
[A daughter's thoughts and plans should be her own business.]
[You continued to treat your daughters with the utmost respect and patience.]
[Time continued to pass.]
[You and your wives aged, transitioning from middle to old age.]
[One day, Chisato Shouji said she wanted to visit the beach. You agreed.]
[It was summer.]
[Growing older, you and your three daughters watched the ocean at Kamakura together.]
[The sunset across the shore was dazzlingly bright.]
[It was beautiful—yet fleeting.]
[A person's life is like the sea under the Kamakura sunset.]
[That summer, the ever-smiling, lively girl—left you forever.]
[You embraced Chisato, filled with sorrow and helplessness.]
[That winter, it was as if Takina Shouji followed after Chisato—departing amidst the falling snow.]
[Before she passed, you kissed her forehead and whispered that she would never be alone.]
[Three years later, Rio Shouji quietly closed her eyes in your arms. You held her hand tightly, looked at your three daughters, and steadied your heart.]
[You still had them to rely on.]
[Every year, with their care, you visited your wives' resting place to pay respects.]
[But human life is finite.]
[When you passed, you softly instructed your daughters to bury all of you together.]
[That year, you were 98.]
[As your eyes closed, memories of your wives' smiles, the life you lived with them—floated through your mind.]
[You never felt alone.]
[When they were with you, and even now—that never changed.]
[In your memories, they never aged, and their colors never faded.]
[Simulation End.]
