AM N. NOT.
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Silence fell over the room.
Then the women laughed and chuckled at the same time.
They weren't expecting him to say those words.
Nemuri knew what kind of man he was. She had felt the worry in Isane's and Unohana's voices while they were talking about this topic with him. But she knew Maki wasn't that kind of man.
She simply waited to hear what he would say.
Mei was the same. She was curious about his answer. She barely knew him, and this question was a big eye-opener about what kind of person he was. His response would be a crucial point.
Rangiku was also waiting to see how he would react.
They didn't pry or tell Maki that Isane was Unohana's adopted daughter. They wanted to hear his opinion and see his reaction first.
Isane was the same, but she wanted to clear the misunderstanding early. She saw how much her mother truly cared for this man. The smiles Unohana gave him weren't fake like the ones she used with others. They were real and genuine.
So Isane tried to explain herself. She didn't want to interfere or become the sole reason for anything bad that might happen.
But then she heard his deep voice and saw that shocked expression as he pointed at himself.
All of them watched his reaction, and they couldn't help but laugh.
His face said it all. He was shocked and bewildered, clearly surprised that he had suddenly become a father.
Unohana stayed silent.
She wasn't expecting much. At most, she had prepared herself for a bad answer. Deep inside, she didn't want to hear the words her mind had been imagining. It was the same feeling she had when she fought ā that fear of losing something she held dear.
But when she heard himā
It was subtle, but her heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head.
It wasn't just acceptance.
For a woman who didn't know what love or true feelings were, she didn't understand what she was feeling right now. She thought he was here because of the bet. She thought he was only acting the way she wanted him to act.
But no.
She was wrong. Completely wrong about him.
At this very moment, she might have cried ā but she was Unohana, after all.
So she smiled and looked at him, still waiting for his opinion, for clarification, for confirmation.
She smiled gently and said, "Yes. You're the father."
When he heard her, he nodded.
Then he pointed his index finger at Unohana. "Mother."
He pointed at Isane. "Daughter."
Then he pointed at himself. "Father."
He stood up from his seat.
They watched as he walked toward Isane. She was sitting on the sofa, watching him approach.
He bent down toward her.
Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She felt his warm, broad arms around her back. When he pressed himself closer, she could smell him ā like the forest.
After a moment, he let go and patted her head.
"Don't worry. Father will take care of you," he said.
They were all left dumbfounded.
Weren't they the same age? No ā clearly, Isane was older.
Rangiku was holding back her laughter at the side, covering her mouth with her hand at the strange interaction.
Then he walked back to the sofa where Unohana was seated and sat beside her.
He hugged her as well, his arms wrapping around her body. She felt his hand pat her back.
Unohana allowed herself to be hugged and returned it. Her arms wrapped around his waist.
Then she felt his lips press gently against her forehead.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of you and our daughter," he said.
He thought perhaps the father of this family had left, or maybe he was gone.
He didn't ask.
He didn't want to know.
He only needed to take care of them and give them what he could.
Mother's Lecture Number One: Take responsibility like how a true man should be.
He repeated those words in his head.
He hugged Unohana tightly, feeling her warm body in his arms. He pressed his lips to her forehead again, sealing his promise.
The others watched the two of them.
They didn't know what he was thinking, but they could feel the seriousness in his voice.
They only watched, not daring to interrupt.
Even Nemuri was hugging herself, whispering, "This is youthā¦"
Mei's mind was already imagining them having sons and daughters.
Rangiku was completely shocked.
Isane was silent. Her mouth and throat were dry. She was still stunned from being hugged so suddenly.
Unohana was simply feeling the moment.
Then she said softly, "Then I'm counting on you."
"Sureā¦ please do," he replied.
Something changed in their relationship.
Before, it had felt forced ā like they were both stuck and needed to build trust slowly, hoping that along the way they might truly fall in love. It had been like sailing with different sails, simply drifting along the flow of fate.
But nowā
They had created the same sail.
And they were sailing together with the current.
Both of them could feel it.
Yet neither of them knew what this feeling was called.
Was it love?
Was it desire?
Was it intoxication?
Who knew?
But one thing was clear ā their bond had deepened to the point that even fate itself would struggle to separate them.
!!ć½(ļ¾Š“ļ¾ć½)(ļ¾ļ¾Š“ļ¾)ļ¾!!
AM N. NOT.