A simple apology wouldn't be enough to change everything, but it was still important.
It was incredibly important to Chiaki.
Being slapped in the face and scolded harshly were very important.
Tears poured out of her eyes as she snuggled up in her father's arms and continued crying.
…
In the living room, Seiji explained the situation to Hiroshi Makoto.
The famous artist remained silent. Everyone fell silent.
Chiaki sat quietly by the side with her head lowered. Mika sat down next to her and was worried about her.
Seeing this, Seiji wanted to say something more, but felt that he shouldn't … not before his father spoke.
He didn't know exactly what Chiaki said to Hiroshi Makoto over the phone, but he could roughly guess.
If he were the one who heard Chiaki say something like that, it was likely that his reaction would be similar to his father's.
This incompetent father was still a father in the end.
"Let me take her place."
"Eh?"
"Let me take Chiaki's place to lure out that demon," Hiroshi Makoto stated in a serious tone.
Chiaki raised her head. Mika widened her eyes in surprise. Seiji was stunned.
"No …" Before Seiji could react, Chiaki spoke up. "Dad can't take my place."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm the one who's being targeted."
"I'm your father, and I have the same blood as you …" Hiroshi Makoto said as he looked at Seiji Mukai. "Didn't you say that I might be the source?"
"The source is Mom. It has nothing to do with you, Dad!" Chiaki stated.
"I remember her … I'm the only person in the world who remembers her." Hiroshi Makoto stated calmly. "This should be something that can be used, right?"
Chiaki was rendered speechless.
Seiji blinked.
"Perhaps …"
"Sei … Seigo!"
Seiji signaled to Chiaki with his eyes to let him finish first.
"But perhaps, I also feel that you, Mr. Wakaba, can't replace Chiaki, because just as she said, she's the one being targeted, not you."
"The source should be Chiaki's mother. The key is Chiaki's mother's blood, not yours."
"If you really want to find a replacement, you should find a relative of Chiaki's mother. If you can think of someone like that, you can consider it."
"But, Mr. Wakaba, you can't remember."
"Even if I can remember it, whether that person will be willing or not, and whether I can really replace him are all problems."
"… No matter what, you can try." Hiroshi Makoto looked at the boy in front of him. "If I can really replace Chiaki, you'll be very happy, right?"
"I'm not that happy, but to be honest, it will reduce a lot of pressure."
"Seigo …" Chiaki let out a dissatisfied voice.
"Of course I'm joking." Seiji shrugged. "Whether it's you, Mr. Wakaba, or Chiaki, or anyone else acting as bait, my pressure won't decrease."
"I don't want anything to happen to Chiaki, nor do I want to see anyone else sacrifice themselves."
"But you said that there's no guarantee …"
"That's an objective fact, and my will is not to let anyone die!"
Seiji said this resolutely.
'My will is above the facts!' The aura that Seiji was currently emitting gave off such a feeling.
In fact, this was the aura of "if the situation gets bad, I'll load." But to those who didn't know the truth, this was the manifestation of his incomparably strong will.
Chiaki and Mika were both fascinated by this, and their eyes sparkled.
Even Hiroshi Makoto was shocked.
"I'll never let anything happen to Chiaki," Seiji stated resolutely.
"That's why you don't need to be her replacement, Mr. Wakaba."
"Just hand your daughter over to me!"
Chiaki's heart throbbed and her face flushed red when she suddenly heard such a line.
She knew that Seiji didn't have that meaning when he said this. But, he probably had that as well …
"I refuse." The famous artist responded coldly. "You're at least ten years too early for me to hand my daughter over to you!"
Seiji was rendered speechless.
"Dad …" Chiaki didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"I don't acknowledge you, nor do I intend to acknowledge you." Hiroshi Makoto ignored his daughter as he spoke coldly to the boy across from him.
"To be honest, I'm only temporarily trusting you right now.
Spiritual Ability users … being targeted by demons … using yourself as bait … do you really think that I'll completely trust you just based on what you've shown me?
Even if all of this is true, you're still only a high school student. It's still unknown whether or not you'll be able to spend the rest of your life together with Chiaki.
More than eighty percent of high school boyfriends and girlfriends will break up. Even if you two have a good relationship right now, it's highly likely that something unexpected will happen in the future.
Don't say something so foolish as having me hand my daughter over to you in at least another ten years! "
These words were spoken in a resolute and forceful tone.
Seiji didn't know what expression he currently had on his face.
It was as if he had confidently thrown a punch, only to have his opponent slap him in the face … Seiji didn't know what he was feeling right now.
If he had to describe it, he felt more helplessness, awkwardness, and disappointment than anger.
"Dad … everything is true," Chiaki said helplessly. "Everything Seigo said is true. He's not lying at all. He's risking his life to protect me."
"I believe you, Chiaki. That's why I'm sitting here." Hiroshi Makoto looked towards his daughter.
"But, I can't completely believe you. After all, that's all I've seen with my own eyes.
Unless I take your place and personally experience the danger you're in. "
'Alright, I've come back to this.' The corner of Seiji's mouth twitched.
He understood the famous artist's doubts. Even though he had personally experienced supernatural powers and had to admit the existence of spiritual powers, he still wouldn't necessarily believe everything Seiji said.
Rather, it should be said that he already trusted Seiji to such a degree based on that one experience alone.
But that was a completely different matter. If he took advantage of this fact and insisted on having Seiji take his daughter's place, it would seem like he was being shameless.
"Dad …" Chiaki, who had just been moved by her father's concern for her, now felt that this was troublesome.
An ordinary daughter would probably feel troublesome about her father's concern for her many times.
This father-daughter relationship that had been stagnant for so long was beginning to become ordinary again.
This feeling was new to Chiaki, and was something to be happy about … but trouble was trouble.
"I'll be fine by myself. Dad, you don't need to get involved.
Let me do it. Otherwise, I won't acknowledge him for the rest of my life. "
"I don't need your approval. He's my boyfriend. It has nothing to do with Dad."
"… You shouldn't try to be brave. Leave the dangerous matters to me."
"This is my business. I'll take responsibility for it."
"You're just a high school student …"
The father-daughter pair started arguing.
Actually, it didn't really seem like an argument. It was more like a rather heated discussion.
But to Seiji and Mika, they seemed to be arguing … a father-daughter argument that they weren't familiar with.
Seiji and Seiji exchanged awkward glances at this scene before they both smiled.
"That's wonderful," Mika said softly.
"Yeah." Seiji nodded before he picked up his teacup and took a sip of his tea.
Although he had been rejected, it was fine.
After all, she was someone else's precious daughter. It was only normal that he couldn't get her.
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