Jinno Sumire's mature and beautiful face was flushed red, and her breathing was slightly quick.
'Wait… I, myself, have barely ever called Hikari-kun "husband," yet Ai actually called him "Dad" first?'
'Didn't Ai say before that she wanted to marry Hikari in the future and make him my son-in-law?'
'With things like this now, why do it all feel a bit off?'
At this moment, Jinno Sumire felt as if she were in a dream. There was a strange sense of shame, and also a faint, subtle thrill of being cuckolded right in front of her.
Seeing Jinno Ai lower her head slightly with a red face after calling him Daddy, Hikari was also a bit surprised.
At the same time, there was a strange feeling in his heart.
After all, being called Daddy by your childhood friend… how should he put it, it really felt quite special.
And she had called him that in front of Jinno Sumire, her own mother. It gave him that faint ticklish feeling inside.
But Hikari did not indulge too much. He continued in a serious tone, saying to Jinno Ai, "Ai, the way you just called me was still a bit too deliberate. Call me a few more times, make it sound more natural."
"You…", Hearing his words, Jinno Sumire could hardly stand it. Calling her childhood friend Daddy was already embarrassing enough, and now he was saying it wasn't natural enough and had to be more natural. That was way too hard.
But the one being asked, Jinno Ai, showed no objection at all. Instead, she nodded and said, "Mm, it was indeed a bit… a bit not natural. I'll… I'll adjust and try again."
"Da… Daddy!", The JK girl slightly lifted her pure and pretty face, her cheeks red, looking extremely cute as she faced Hikari.
Seeing him nod slightly, Jinno Ai continued and called him a few more times.
Watching the two of them "rehearse" so seriously, almost as if it were real, Jinno Sumire felt a faint, indescribable feeling in her heart.
Just like that, with Jinno Ai calling, and the two of them nodding in approval while also somewhat enjoying it, no, it seemed like the emotions of all three were rising together.
What should have been a White Album style battlefield between mother and daughter somehow turned into a very harmonious atmosphere. A strange world where no one got hurt was achieved.
In short, the three of them acted like a couple with their daughter, practicing how to address each other and how to behave.
In a certain sense, Hikari and the mother and daughter pair, Jinno Sumire and Jinno Ai, were adjusting to a certain kind of relationship.
When the three of them felt they had adjusted enough, and both Jinno Sumire and Jinno Ai had red faces, Hikari spoke, "Ai should be used to cooperating with us in this kind of relationship now. We've been out for a while, let's go back."
"Mm," Both Jinno Sumire and Jinno Ai nodded in agreement.
The three of them immediately walked out of the room together.
According to the rough plan, Jinno Sumire, who had just used the excuse of going to the bathroom, would first bring Hikari back to the reception room. Then Jinno Ai would pretend to run into them coincidentally and cooperate with their act.
But just after the three of them walked out and had taken dozens of steps along the long corridor under the eaves, before they had separated, a figure walked toward them.
This slightly stooped yet steady figure, carrying a sense of authority in the house, was none other than Jinno Takashi.
"Oh? Sumire, Hikari-kun," Seeing the two of them here, Jinno Takashi greeted them.
He seemed slightly surprised to run into them here. His tone toward Hikari was rather calm, far less enthusiastic than earlier in the reception room.
"Father."
"Family Head."
Hikari followed Jinno Sumire in greeting him.
After exchanging a few polite words with a calm expression, Jinno Takashi was about to say something when he suddenly noticed a familiar petite figure behind them.
"Hm? Ai, why are you here too? When did you get home?"
Having just run into him and realizing there was no time to separate, Jinno Ai waited until Jinno Takashi noticed her before stepping out from behind Hikari and Jinno Sumire. She smiled and said, "Good afternoon, Grandpa. I just got home not long ago, and then I ran into Mom and Hikari… Hikari-kun."
Although her form of address did not change much, Jinno Ai subtly adjusted her tone. After all, calling a childhood friend and calling a stepfather naturally could not sound the same.
Hearing her words, Jinno Takashi raised his brows slightly and asked in confusion, "So Ai, you already know Hikari-kun? Grandpa was just planning to introduce you."
Jinno Takashi had assumed Jinno Ai did not know this "stepfather." But now he was somewhat surprised to find that they already knew each other. Looking more closely, he also noticed that Hikari and Jinno Ai did not seem that far apart in age.
Although Jinno Sumire had already said she was "an old cow eating young grass," it still made Jinno Takashi raise his brows slightly.
Hearing his words, Jinno Ai, who had already rehearsed this, did not panic at all. She smiled and said, "No need to introduce us, Grandpa. Hikari-kun and I know each other, and I also know about his relationship with Mom."
Jinno Takashi looked at her smiling face and casually asked, "Oh? I know Hikari-kun and Sumire know each other, but how did he get to know you?"
Jinno Ai smiled, "Grandpa should remember. Some time ago, the Yoshizawa family wanted to target our family. He sent people to kidnap me, and Hikari-kun saved me. That's how we met."
She briefly described how Yoshizawa Eigen had sent people after her and how Hikari saved her.
Of course, she naturally hid the fact that they had already known each other and added more about how urgent and dangerous it was when he saved her.
Hearing this, Jinno Takashi nodded repeatedly with understanding.
"So that's how it was. Hikari-kun once saved Ai. As expected, Hikari-kun is a good person. Hikari-kun, although it may sound a bit distant to say this now, thank you for saving my granddaughter," Jinno Takashi even thanked him with gratitude.
"It's nothing, nothing. Saying that is too polite," Hikari waved his hand.
"No, no, you saved a direct member of the Jinno family and will also help our family continue its bloodline. I'm truly very grateful to you, Hikari-kun," Jinno Takashi said with a smile, "You're really very important to our family."
At that, Jinno Takashi suddenly turned to Jinno Ai, who did not look much younger than Hikari, and asked with a smile, "Ai, once Hikari-kun marries into the family, he'll be your mother's husband and your stepfather."
"What do you think about this? Are you satisfied with Hikari-kun?"
Although asking this in front of all three seemed a bit too direct, Jinno Sumire's remarriage could not avoid Jinno Ai, so it was not too strange for Jinno Takashi to ask.
Faced with the question, Jinno Ai's expression paused slightly, as if she found it sudden. But she quickly returned to her smiling look and said, "Although… it is a bit sudden, Mom already told me before. Hikari-kun is a very good person, so I don't really have any objection."
"As for Hikari-kun being… being a father, I feel quite satisfied."
Hearing this, Jinno Takashi smiled slightly and asked back as if testing her, "Oh? Really?"
Jinno Ai nodded seriously, "Mm, really. If Grandpa doesn't believe me, I can change how I address him right now."
As she spoke, she turned to Hikari, her pretty face slightly red, and softly called out, "Da… Daddy."
In front of her mother and grandfather, Jinno Ai called a young man with no blood relation to her "Daddy."
Seeing her slightly shy look, Jinno Takashi could not help laughing loudly.
"Good, good, good! Grandpa was worried that Ai might have objections to your mother remarrying. Since you don't, that's great!"
Hearing this, Jinno Ai relaxed slightly. Jinno Sumire also took the chance to say, "Father, please rest assured. I already said Ai would not object to my relationship with Hikari-kun."
"Mm, that's best. You and Hikari-kun are indeed a good match. Just hurry and give Ai a few more younger brothers and sisters," Jinno Takashi said cheerfully.
Then he pretended to be stern and said to Hikari, "Hikari-kun, since Ai is willing to acknowledge you as her father, you must take good care of her in the future, treat her like your own daughter."
"Mm, don't worry. I'll take good care of Ai," Hikari smiled and answered, reaching out to skillfully pat Jinno Ai's head.
In front of Jinno Takashi, Jinno Ai also showed a sweet, unreserved smile. Only deep in her eyes was there a hint of embarrassment, after all, they were actually childhood friends.
After that, they chatted about family matters.
Jinno Takashi appeared very satisfied with this son-in-law. Jinno Sumire and Jinno Ai naturally showed no objection either. The four of them truly looked like three generations living together in harmony, with a warm family atmosphere.
After chatting for dozens of minutes, Jinno Takashi finally said, "Sumire, come with me. I have something to discuss with you."
Jinno Sumire nodded.
Jinno Ai quickly asked, "Eh, Grandpa, what about me and Hik… and Father?"
Hearing her words, Jinno Takashi turned with a smile, "You and Hikari-kun can go have some snacks and rest."
"If Ai has time, take him around the Jinno residence. You two, father and daughter, should build some more bonding."
After saying that in a slightly teasing tone, Jinno Takashi walked ahead, signaling Jinno Sumire to follow him to the reception room.
After they left, Jinno Ai turned to Hikari and smiled, "Hikari-kun… no, Daddy, shall we go for a walk alone?"
"Sure," Hearing her slightly teasing tone, Hikari smiled and shook his head.
The two walked out of the house and slowly strolled along the bluestone path in the vast back garden of the Jinno residence.
After six or seven minutes, when they had walked quite far and the servants were no longer around, Jinno Ai, who had been pretending to keep some distance from him, moved a little closer, dropped the act, and said with a smile, "Who would have thought that Hikari-kun, my childhood friend, would become my 'father'?"
Hearing the teasing in her voice, Hikari smiled, "I'm just helping your mother, cooperating with her act."
"Mm, I know," Jinno Ai nodded with a smile. But after walking a few meters ahead, she suddenly turned and looked straight into his eyes, "Hikari-kun is indeed cooperating with Mom to act, but your intimate relationship isn't just acting, right?"
"Hm?", Looking at her bright eyes, Hikari raised his brows slightly.
Jinno Ai clasped her hands behind her back and smiled, "I can't be certain that something must have happened between you and Mom, but I know both of you very well."
"So I can feel some changes in the way you two treat each other."
"I remember Mom used to dislike Hikari-kun quite a bit. Later she suddenly changed so much. At that time, I thought it was because Hikari-kun saved me and she saw how excellent you are."
"But it still felt a bit strange. Today, seeing how you two acted when you were close, I think I kind of understand now," Jinno Ai said with a smile.
"Is Ai jealous, or even angry, about me and Aunt Sumire pretending to be husband and wife?", Hikari asked with a smile, looking at the girl standing there with a somewhat complicated expression.
Before, Jinno Ai had confessed to him and even said in front of her mother that she wanted to marry him.
Now it seemed like her mother had stolen the lead. If she noticed that, being angry would be completely reasonable.
But to Hikari's surprise, she shook her head, "No. Jealous… maybe a little. But angry? Not at all."
"Oh? Ai isn't angry at all about suddenly having an extra dad like me?", Hikari asked in surprise, wondering if she was just pretending and wanting to tease her.
But Jinno Ai did not seem to be forcing herself at all. She smiled brightly and called out in an extremely sweet voice, "Not angry at all, Daddy~"
Hearing her soft and sweet voice calling him Daddy, Hikari felt goosebumps on his scalp, "Ai, we're not in front of your grandfather now. There's no need to use that title."
Jinno Ai smiled and shook her head, "In front of Grandpa, that title was indeed to cooperate with Mom and Hikari-kun's act. But in front of Hikari-kun, Ai sincerely wants to call you Daddy too~"
"Ai, what exactly do you mean… is this some kind of fun?", Hikari had some guesses, but still asked.
Jinno Ai smiled and explained, "No, no. Ai really doesn't mind calling Hikari-kun Daddy. And I really don't mind Hikari-kun being with Mom either~"
"After all, Mom has been alone for so many years. I've seen her loneliness and helplessness. She loves me so much. How could I not want her to have someone reliable to lean on?"
"And Hikari-kun is someone Ai knows very well. Not only someone dependable, but extremely dependable."
"Although Mom is older than Hikari-kun, judging from how you two get along, neither of you mind. And Hikari-kun can handle it, right?"
Hearing her words, Hikari rubbed his forehead slightly and understood.
Even before today, before she saw them together, she probably had already guessed something about their relationship.
Thinking about it, that was normal. Jinno Ai was not stupid. In fact, she was quite smart.
And since both of them were so close to her, it would not be strange for her to notice clues.
It was just that her reaction still surprised him, "Ai, what you said makes sense. But you're thinking too much for Aunt Sumire's sake."
Her words just now were almost entirely from Jinno Sumire's perspective. For a teenage girl to be that mature was not easy.
Hearing that, Jinno Ai smiled and playfully stuck out her tongue, "Actually, Ai also has a selfish reason. That is, I've always… always wanted a dad." [T/N: Daddy issues.]
"I never had a dad growing up. When I was little, Hikari-kun took care of me like a big brother and like a dad. Back then, I even thought how nice it would be if Hikari-kun were my dad."
"So if Hikari-kun becomes Ai's dad, I have absolutely no objection~"
"As long as Mom and Hikari-kun can be happy together, Ai will also be very happy!"
Although he knew that, like the student council president Louis from Seika Girls' Academy, Jinno Ai also came from a single-parent family and lacked fatherly love, hearing her say it so directly still surprised him.
After listening, Hikari looked at her in surprise and asked, "You can accept me being with Aunt Sumire. Then what about you, Ai? Will you marry someone else?"
"Of course not!", Jinno Ai first shook her head hard, then said matter-of-factly, "I also want to be with Hikari-kun. Ai doesn't want to be separated from you!"
"Hm? Do you mean you'll always be my daughter and stay with me and Aunt Sumire? Or?", Hikari raised his brows in confusion.
"Being Hikari-kun's daughter isn't completely impossible sometimes~", Jinno Ai shyly pinched her skirt, then looked up firmly, "But Ai also wants to marry Hikari-kun!"
"Hm? What do you mean?", He looked down at her.
Jinno Ai smiled, "It's simple. There's no need for Mom and me to be separated. We can serve Hikari-kun together~" [T/N: Great minds think alike.]
"Huh? Seriously?", Hikari looked at her suspiciously.
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