❝she didn't mean to snoop❞

"papaaa, I already said that I'm sorryyyy", marri whined, using her puppy eyes as satoru had found out her entire shenanigan from megumi.

"marri, you went behind my back and did something I told you not to do!"

"but goomi and mister tōji are like good now!! I helped...", marri pouted.

"still, that doesn't justify why you risked your life to worm into the zenin household! I mean I'm impressed, but what if they found out that you're a gojō?!"

"you would've came and saved me...because you're the strongest", marri answered, trying to flatter her father.

"you're right but I can't keep spoiling you anymore, or who knows what else you'll do without me knowing. as of today, you are officially grounded!", satoru huffed.

marri dramatically fell onto her knees as her mouth dropped open.

"g-grounded?! BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN GROUNDED!!"

"well there's always a first for something", satoru smiled as he chuckled, patting marri's head.

"hopefully this'll teach you a lesson. now, go up to your room and reflect on your wrongdoings", satoru commanded, to which marri huffed as she stomped upstairs, though making a turn into satoru's room instead.

marri really liked her papa's room, as sometimes — the majority of the times — she'd sneak in during the night and sleep on top of satoru, making it slightly hard for the male to breathe.

the little girl then quietly closed the door as she hummed, debating what to do for the rest of her day in here.

after all, she knew her father couldn't stay mad at her.

marri softly giggled to herself as she raided satoru's closet, using a stool as she pulled a few clothes off the rack, accidentally spilling some content onto the floor as a box fell and opened on its own.

"huh?"

marri hopped off the stool as she sat on the floor, about to gather the content back into the box until she realized that they were pictures.

"woahhhh!! auntie shōko almost looks like noba!", marri exclaimed to herself as she saw many pictures of the three together.

"who's he though?", marri mumbled.

"mm...maybe he's one of papa's friends? most definitely! they look very close", the little girl chuckled to herself.

seeing satoru happy made her automagically happy.

"MARRI!!"

marri flinched as she immediately shoved all the pictures back into the box and closed it, placing it in the very back of the closet as she wore satoru's white button up and black coat, pretending like she was gojō satoru as she also tied a blindfold around her eyes.

"marri?", satoru asked, peeking in his closet as he knew she'd be in here since she wasn't in her room.

"what are you doing? I thought I told you to reflect in your own room", satoru said, putting his hand against his hip as marri slowly turned around, as if she were caught red-handed.

"hehe...I'm you, papa!! do I look like you? what do you think?", marri asked, raising her arms that were completely covered as satoru's clothes were way too big on her.

satoru internally cried.

"you look..."

the man had to deeply breathe in and out as the amount of cuteness was immaculate.

'calm thyself, satoru. CALM THYSELF! she's supposed to be grounded. you have to be stern!!'

"oh, I give up!! come give your papa a hug!!", satoru cooed, bending down as he happily extended his arms, to which marri had giggled as she ran over, tripping over the long fabric as satoru had caught her.

"my little princess is just the cutest!! ugh, imagine not having an adorable little princess; couldn't be me", satoru proudly boasted, grinning from ear to ear as he lifted marri's blindfold, incidentally pushing her bangs back.

"papa, I already reflected on my...on my...sins! can you stop grounding me now?", marri asked, pouting her lips as she batted her eyelashes.

satoru let out a sigh.

he had originally only wanted to call marri down for lunch, but with her acting so adorable and being so sincere, he couldn't possibly say no to her.

"fine...you're ungrounded, but promise you will listen to me in the future and not go running off on your own, especially dangerous places".

"hai hai!!", marri sillily saluted.

satoru chuckled as he pinched marri's cheek, making her huff as he allowed her father to do so since she felt that she deserved it.

"I ordered your favorite sushi and poured you a cup of apple juice", satoru smiled, setting marri down on the bar stool to their island countertop as he pushed the cup and plate towards her.

"thank you for the food!!", marri chirped as satoru sat beside her, digging in too.

"hey papa?"

"hm?"

marri hesitated. if satoru wanted to tell her, she assumed that he would. despite her curiosity itching at her, she decided that she'd wait until another time.

"can you roll of my sleeves please?", marri asked, making satoru chuckle.

"why don't you just take it off and wear it later?"

"but I wanna wear it now!", marri pouted, to which satoru had to fold the sleeves multiple times to the point that it seemed like the girl had two donuts around her skinny arms.

"you sure look silly", satoru snorted.

"but cute!", marri pointed out.

"that's true...just like your handsome father", satoru self praised, making marri giggle.

"by the way papa, can I come with you to work tomorrow?", marri asked.

"anything you wish for, my little hime".