758 I can promise at least not to beat him up to death (2/2)

”There's no helping it. I'll compromise a little, then. I promise to only break at most one of his bones.”

”This isn't an issue about the number of bones!”

”Because of my Sensei's pleading, I'll compromise as much as I possibly can. I promise not to break any bones in his dominant hand.”

”Nor is this an issue of which bone to break!!”

After retorting, Chiaki broke out into laughter.

Seiji chuckled as well.

”Will you really be alright by yourself?” After laughing, he asked this question in all seriousness.

”…I'm not sure that there won't be any problems, but… I want to face him by myself,” Chiaki replied. ”I'll feel quite reassured if you're by my side. But, I think that's no good. He is my father, and I want to learn about my mother from him… I need to talk to him about it myself.”

Her boyfriend was reliable, incredibly reliable. It would definitely be fine to leave things up to him.

But since her father voluntarily asked to meet and talk, then Chiaki felt like she should work up her courage and face him properly.

Besides, if talking to her father didn't go well, she could always ask for Seiji's help afterwards.

”If the situation is bad, then I'll send a signal for help… is that alright?”

”Of course.” Seiji smiled. ”The moment that I receive your signal, I'll rush over immediately at top speed.”

After seeing his gentle smile, Chiaki felt once more that her boyfriend was really cool. She smiled brilliantly.

Dinner time.

Chiaki quietly waited by herself in a private room at a high-class Sakura Island restaurant.

How long ago had she last eaten dinner together with her father?

She thought about it for a moment, but was too lazy to think about it anymore.

This wasn't because she didn't mind, but by now, it didn't really matter that much anymore.

Rather than living in her original luxurious apartment provided to her by her father, Chiaki felt far more used to living in the Uehara apartments now… No, it wasn't even to the extent of being accustomed to it, as right now, Chiaki was completely unwilling to leave the Uehara apartments and return to her original luxurious apartment.

Seiji, Mika, Shika, Reo, Kaede, and the landlord Nozomi… the Uehara apartments had all these familiar people living there. The Uehara apartments seemed far more like home to Chiaki than her luxurious apartment.

Fun times from her daily life appeared in her mind. The tomboy's mouth slowly started arcing upwards without her realizing it. She even took out her cell phone and started browsing saved pictures of everyone's daily life together.

After seeing the pictures, she recalled the memories from that time… She soon immersed herself in the memories.

Right when she was looking at a picture of Seiji from the cherry blossom viewing festival, Chiaki heard some footsteps outside the room's door.

Her father had arrived.

Chiaki put away her cell phone and turned around to see her father entering.

Shingo Wakaba was wearing a dark-colored jacket and long pants. He had a handsome appearance but was rather on the skinny side. He wore black-rimmed eyeglasses, had a small and combed mustache and neat and orderly grayish-brown hair, which was tied in a ponytail. He definitely had the aura of an artist.

This was her father, Shingo Wakaba.

His physical appearance and aura both seemed to suit his status as a renowned artist. To be more specific, it was likely that seven out of ten people who didn't know him would instantly be able to guess his occupation as an artist.

Shingo had previously been on many television programs as a guest artist. He had even acted in a few movies before as an artist. This was all likely due to his physical appearance greatly helping him out. He even had the nickname ”Idol Artist” in the entertainment industry.

”Dad… Good evening.” Chiaki greeted him.

Shingo nodded slightly and sat down across from his daughter. He then ordered some food on the menu.

After the server left with the order, Shingo and Chiaki both fell silent.

”How have you been doing?” After a period of silence, Shingo spoke first.

”Very well,” Chiaki answered calmly.

Every single time that her father met with her, his first question would almost always be this exact question. And then, no matter what she replied with, his comment would always be...

”I see,” the famous artist answered expressionlessly in a light tone.