I leaned back into the armchair and let out a long sigh, pressing my fingers against my temple like that might somehow organize my thoughts.
"So like… where am I again?"
"Dad!!! Dad! Look at this drawing I made for you!"
Right.
I lowered my hand and looked down at the small girl rushing toward me, holding up a slightly crumpled piece of paper like it was something priceless.
…I picked this child up from a dumpster three days ago.
Was it three?
Probably.
Honestly, my brain has been melting since day one.
Another sigh slipped out of me, quieter this time, as I reached out and took the paper from her.
"Oh… this looks cute."
I gave her a light pat on the head as I said it, casual, automatic.
That was all it took.
Her entire face lit up instantly, like someone flipped a switch inside her. Her eyes sparkled, bright and alive, and she beamed up at me with pure, unfiltered happiness. (Yapping)
"Hehehe, thank you, Dad! I## made this just for you!"
Then she threw her arms around me without hesitation, hugging me tightly like it was the most natural thing in the world.
(…Right.)
So I have a daughter now.
I stared at the wall for a second, letting that thought sink in like it was trying to find somewhere to sit.
"Well. This is… durable." I muttered it under my breath, not even sure what I meant by that anymore.
Still, my hand moved again, gently patting her head as I forced a small smile onto my face. It wasn't perfect— but it was enough.
Another sigh followed.
Heavier this time.
"I wonder how this happened…" I murmured, my gaze drifting slightly. "and what this thing keeps saying."
「[Accept / Decline] :D pick!!!」
The glowing text hovered lazily at the edge of my vision, bright, cheerful— and incredibly annoying.
I glared at it.
Still there.
Still glowing.
Still stupid.
I swatted at it again.
My hand passed through it again.
"Whatever."
I leaned back deeper into the chair, exhaling slowly.
That thing's been following me since that night.
Before everything started— this happened.
***
(Three days ago.)
The city was quiet that night.
Too quiet.
Neon lights flickered overhead like a dying fireflies, casting uneven colors across the empty street. The sky was heavy with clouds, swallowing whatever stars might've still been there.
Trash scattered along the pavement, pushed around by a faint, restless wind.
I had gone out for a walk.
No reason.
No destination.
Just me, the road, and this weird static buzzing in the air that felt… off. Like something unseen was pressing against the edges of reality.
And then—
Something rustled.
From inside a dumpster.
"What was that…?" I muttered, already turning toward it.
Curiosity won so... I checked.
It always does.
Step.
Step.
Step.
I stopped in front of it, staring down for a second before leaning in slightly, pushing aside a bit of trash— and froze.
"A kid…?"
There was a small figure curled up inside, buried under scraps and broken things. Dirty rags clung to her body— something that used to be a hoodie, maybe pants.
Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself as she trembled from the cold. "Mphhh…"
I covered my mouth dramatically for half a second, blinking.
"Wow. That's… yeah, I should really stop making jokes like this." While a quiet sigh slipped out.
"What the hell… who would even do something like that…"
I stood there for a moment, staring.
Thinking.
Or maybe not thinking at all.
"Ehe, Hm…"
Another sigh.
"Well… I'm bored anyway. And I don't really have anything better to do."
The streetlight above flickered.
For just a second, I thought I saw something— tiny glowing particles drifting through the air around the dumpster, like some faint stardust.
I blinked.
Gone.
"Sure. Why not."
I reached in and carefully lifted her into my arms.
She was light.
Too light.
Her eyes slowly opened as I moved her, and the moment she realized what was happening, her body tensed.
"W-what are you doing, MISTER!?"
(Yeah.)
That sounded worse than I expected.
I let out a small, awkward laugh.
"Well… you looked cold and miserable over there, so I couldn't really ignore it."
She weakly tried to pull away, but there wasn't any strength behind it. Her hands barely pushed against me before falling still again.
"P-please… don't hurt me…"
Her voice was so quiet it almost disappeared into the air.
"Hurt you? No, no— of course not," I said quickly, shaking my head. "I'm not that kind of person."
A bit of guilt crept in.
Without thinking, I reached up and gently patted her head.
She flinched.
Not lightly.
Not instinctively.
It was the kind of flinch that came from expecting pain.
(…Yeah.)
That told me enough.
"Kid… do you have somewhere to go?"
She shook her head slowly, her lips trembling.
"N-no… the orphanage… they were mean… so I left…"
The air felt colder after that.
Or maybe that was just me.
"…I see."
Good. At least no one's coming after her... Right?
"That's… rough... ಠ_ಠ"
My hand didn't stop moving, shifting from awkward pats into slower, softer strokes through her hair.
"It's okay… I'm used to being alone…" she whispered.
I paused.
Then gently brushed her messy hair away from her face.
"Well… don't get used to it anymore," I said quietly. "Starting today, I'll take care of you."
Her breathing hitched.
Her eyes widened as she stared at me, searching— like she was trying to find the lie in my words.
"Didn't know I was good at this," I muttered.
"G-good at what…?" she asked softly. "R-really…?"
A tear slid down her cheek.
(I guess I am.)
She suddenly clung to me, arms wrapping tightly around my neck as her small body trembled.
"You're not going to leave me too… right? P-please… don't leave me again…"
(Again… Yeah, I'm not touching that yet.)
"Sure," I said simply, patting her back. "But first, we should head home. You need a bath."
Her eyes lit up again almost instantly.
"Bath… hehe… okay! Let's go home!"
Then—
Something cold hit my shoulder.
I looked up.
Rain.
Her smile faded just as fast as it appeared, her body curling closer to mine as the cold seeped in.
"C-can we go somewhere first…? Somewhere dry… please…?"
I smiled faintly, adjusting my hold on her.
"Yeah. Let's go home."
I paused for a second.
Then added, more quietly— "Our home."
She froze.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"O-our home…"
She repeated it like it was something fragile, something precious she didn't want to break just by saying it.
As the rain started pouring down harder, she buried her face into my shoulder, arms tightening around me.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
Her voice shook.
"I promise I'll be good… I'll be the best daughter ever…"
———
WE'RE GONNA AIM FOR TOP 1 IN WSA!!!! LETS GOOOO... well uh....ngl I don't know if my book is interesting but... Like yk I might waste your time... But ty if you're gonna read it *HEART*
The original is in the other book, check it out. It's... Idk... Check my profile. Lol