Bjorn led the group through thick forest, humming loudly.
"I HID THE SHINIES SOMEWHERE HERE…
OR OVER THERE…
OR MAYBE IN A HOLE…
OR IN A TREE…"
Sataro pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So you don't remember at all."
Bjorn nodded proudly.
"Correct!"
Nova smirked.
"He's consistent, at least."
They traveled deeper until the forest changed — darker, thicker, dangerous.
Sataro stopped the group.
"All right. Kids, stay at the hideout.
This area is too risky."
Haruto frowned.
"But—"
"No," Sataro said firmly.
"Nova and I will handle it."
Nova shrugged.
"Fine by me. Come on, Dad."
Sataro glared.
"Stop."
She winked.
"Make me."
Haruto groaned.
"Just go before you start flirting again."
Nova turned red.
"WE DO NOT—
SHUT UP—"
Sataro grabbed her cloak and dragged her along.
Finding the Treasure
After dangerous cliffs, thick brush, and suspicious growls, they finally saw it:
Bjorn's stash.
A massive pile of gold coins, silver cups, rare stones, armor plates, and a golden crown…
…all shoved sloppily under a leaning tree like a squirrel hoarding nuts.
Nova stared.
"He really hid all this.
Under a TREE."
Sataro rubbed his temples.
"I'm surrounded by children."
Nova snorted.
"You love it."
"…Sometimes," Sataro admitted.
She froze, surprised.
He froze too.
They both quickly looked away, flustered.
"Let's… grab the treasure," Sataro muttered.
"Y-Yeah."
The Fake-Out
They returned to the hideout walking slowly and tired-looking.
Ren jumped up.
"Well?! Did you find it?!"
Haruto leaned forward.
"Where's the treasure?!"
Bjorn gasped.
"My shinies!!"
Sataro shook his head and sighed dramatically.
"No… we couldn't find anythi—"
Nova whispered loudly:
"Sataro… now."
They both pulled open a large sack—
GOLD EXPLODED OUT.
Coins showered the ground.
Jewelry bounced everywhere.
Bjorn screamed in joy.
The others screamed in shock.
"SHINIEEEEEES!" Bjorn yelled.
The kids jumped and cheered like they hit the lottery.
Ren:
"I WANT CANDY!"
Lira:
"I want sweets!"
Haruto:
"I want toys!"
Sataro:
"No. We are buying beds, blankets, food, water supplies—"
Nova picked up a gold coin and flicked it.
"Too late. We're getting candy."
All the kids:
"YAAAAAAY!"
Sataro:
"…I hate all of you."
Bjorn hugged Sataro so hard he nearly died.
"THANK YOU, DAD!"
Sataro hissed.
"I AM—
NOT—
YOUR—
DAD!"
Nova:
"Oh hush, hubby."
Sataro:
"…Nova."
Nova:
"Try and stop me."
The Shopping Chaos
Hours later, Sataro walked back to the hideout with a massive disappointed sigh.
Behind him followed:
Bjorn holding three toy swords
Ren with a bag of candy
Haruto with a giant spinning toy and snacks
Lira with sweets and fluffy scarves
Nova proudly hugging a massive stuffed wolf plushie half her size
Nova:
"Look! He's SO soft."
Sataro:
"…You bought a stuffed animal."
Nova:
"Yes. And?"
Sataro:
"You're a grown woman."
Nova:
"And you're a grown annoyance."
Sataro sighed but kept walking.
Behind him the kids giggled.
Haruto:
"He folded so hard."
Ren whispered,
"He didn't stand a chance."
Bjorn:
"Dad is soft inside."
Sataro:
"STOP CALLING—
never mind…"
But there was a tiny smile on his face.
He liked seeing them happy.
Even if it killed him a little inside.
Fixing the Hideout
Back at the cave, Sataro got to work:
New beds built
Clean blankets
Shelves carved into the walls
A cooking area improved
Storage organized
Nova watched him quietly, hugging her stuffed wolf.
"You work too hard," she said softly.
"You don't work enough," he replied without looking up.
Nova smirked.
"You like doing things for me, don't you?"
Sataro froze.
"…No."
She leaned in.
"You sure~?"
Sataro's ears turned red.
"Nova. Stop."
She giggled and walked away.
Night at the Fire
Dinner simmered in a pot.
The group sat around the fire laughing and sharing stories.
Bjorn retold how he beat up twenty bandits:
"And THEN—I threw one like a potato!"
Haruto laughed.
Ren screamed laughing.
Lira covered her mouth with tears.
Nova snuggled her plush wolf.
Sataro watched her.
She looked… peaceful.
Happy.
It was rare.
The Kids Sleep
Eventually, the kids' energy ran out.
They collapsed onto their new beds.
Quiet settled across the cave.
Only Sataro and Nova remained awake, sitting by the dim fire.
Nova hugged her plushie to her chest.
"You know…" she whispered,
"You're kinda sweet when you're not being a stick."
Sataro poked the fire.
"You're kinda tolerable when you're not threatening me."
Nova laughed.
It was soft.
Warm.
Real.
She scooted a little closer.
"You make this place feel like home, Sataro."
He didn't speak for a moment.
Then:
"…So do you."
Nova's eyes widened slightly.
For once…
she didn't tease.
She just smiled gently.
The fire crackled.
The moment lingered.
And for the first time in a long time—
Sataro and Nova
weren't arguing,
weren't teasing,
weren't fighting.
They were just…
There. Together.