“WOOHOO! ALL MY INJURIES HAVE FINALLY HEALED!”

Yes, I am happy. It’s been almost a week since I was admitted to the hospital. My injuries from the fight of Umba as well as the tournament have been totally healed. I feel refreshed. Big brother Sam, Brake, Carly, and Luke were the only people who came to see me sad.

I remember Big Brother Sam saying that Taani had to go back to Middle-East sadly. So that’s the reason why she didn’t come to meet me. On the other end, Pears was investigating the church matter. At least that’s what Carly told me.

Luke told me, all the students were busy with the preparations for the exams that are coming in about two months. That’s why no one came to meet me from my class but now that I have finally been discharged, I am going to the academy first thing tomorrow morning!

“Oh yeah, tomorrow is Sunday, right? Why don’t you help out in the workshop?”

Big brother Sam asks me.

That’s right, it’s Sunday tomorrow...That means no classes.

I sigh in disappointment.

“I guess that will be a good way to get back in shape. I will help you, big brother.”

I say.

“Oh, I am not in the workshop tomorrow. It’s just Brake and a few workers. That’s the reason why I am asking for help.”

Big brother says to me.

“Oh, I guess I will do it. You want me to make sure no one touches your future wife, right?”

I ask with a smug look.

“Not at all, if someone touches her, she will destroy them in seconds with her pure words.”

Big brother says as he walks out of the hospital after paying the discharge fee.

I can see why big brother said that since he has been destroyed about a million times from Big Sis Brake’s words only.

XXXXXX

We finally reach home. Big brother hasn’t said many words since my return.

“PAPA DAN!”

Shirogane runs towards me with a smile.

“Hey Lil girl, how have you been?”

I smile as I look at the little Shirogane who has the cutest smile in the world. She is hugging me tightly.

“I missed you so much.”

Shirogane seems to be quite happy to see me. Almost as if she is a little child.

Is Big Brother Sam upset with me or what? He just went to the room to sleep all alone...I guess I was rude to him the other day.

“He’s a jerk!”

Shirogane looks at Big brother Sam and says.

“Umm...That’s not really it. My brother is quite a good person.”

I say with a nervous smile.

“HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT ABOUT HIM WHEN HE ISN’T EVEN HAPPY TO SEE YOU?!”

Shirogane is frustrated. I can see it in her face.

I pick her up and make my way to the hall. She has a plump face of anger all the way until we reach a drawer in the hall.

I open that drawer from the hall and remove a picture book.

“What is this?”

Shirogane asks me.

“This is...My memories with my brother.”

I say.

“Hmm?”

Shirogane looks confused.

“You see, I don’t remember things very clearly. When I was 5, I was adopted in this orphanage with a very nice sister. I met a teenage kid, his name was Sam...”

I continued on with my story. The story that shouldn’t have been told, a story that only I knew, this is the story that can ruin everything that everyone knows into ashes in an instant, just like how it ruined Shirogane’s expression when she heard about it.

“You are...”

Shirogane looks to be surprised.

“There are only two other people who knew about the thing I told you about. You, Big Sis Brake and Mama Serena. There is no one else in this whole goddamn world who knows about it.”

I say.

“Why did you say it to me? You didn’t even say that to your own girlfriend, so why me?”

Shirogane asks me.

“That’s because I trust you Shirogane. I know we have known each other for only a month but we are familiar in a lot of ways and because we are familiar in a lot of ways I know that I can trust you. In all honesty, I am just happy that you call me your father even though I am not. I feel like you should just be yourself and not be so happy go lucky in front of me because I saved you. You shouldn’t feel grateful because I am not such a great person.”

“You want me to keep it a secret, right?”

Shirogane asks me.

“Done! It’s a secret between me and Papa Dan.”

Shirogane gives a cute smile.

“You still want to call me your father even after that?”

I ask Shirogane.

“Yes, that’s because I don’t act in front of you. You took me in when I was lost. You and even the King treated me like I was your own daughter. Even now, who in god knows what the world will tell such a huge secret to a person who they have only known for a month or so. You might as well call yourself crazy for doing that! What if I was a crazy assassin?! Huh?! I would use that information against you! You are such an idiot, Papa Dan!”

“Eh?!”

“But that’s another reason why I feel like family when I am near you because you just revealed a huge secret to me without even thinking twice. I guess I am a child so I don’t understand but this fatherly feeling you give me...Even if the whole world is against you, I will always be by your side.”

Shirogane smiles.

“Thanks...Shirogane...”

I didn’t know that in such a short time, I had developed this special relationship between a father and daughter between us. I will protect her and keep that smile of hers till the very end. That’s my goal as a father to Shirogane.

XXXXXX