759 Shes only a dream (1/2)

Both Shingo and Chiaki fell silent for another moment.

”You shouldn't have given my phone number to another person,” Shingo spoke up. ”Although I suppose I never stated this explicitly, you should have known better.”

Chiaki remained silent.

”I'm not against you making a boyfriend, but I definitely won't easily recognize him as your boyfriend,” Shingo continued in the same light tone. ”More than eighty percent of high school relationships will end with a breakup. You may believe that your feelings for each other will persist for a lifetime, but those feelings are actually quite fragile, just like a cup made out of ice. It will break instantly if you drop it. And even if you don't drop it, it will melt over time. The more feelings you invest into your relationship, the more you'll regret it when you break up. You should understand this logic. Don't be overly immersed in these youthful games. Otherwise, you'll be the one hurt most in the end.”

”…You're absolutely right, Dad,” Chiaki responded in a similarly light tone. ”But, I'm already immersed in this youthful game. I want to play this game with him for my entire life. Even if I can't succeed, even if I regret and feel pain in the end… I'll still think that it was worth it.”

”That's only what you think right now.” Shingo looked directly at her. ”Your way of thinking will definitely change in the future.”

”Perhaps… But I won't forget.” Chiaki also looked directly at her father.

The famous artist took a good look at his daughter's face.

”You will forget.” After a period of silence, he averted his gaze and spoke in a cold and distant tone.

At this moment, a server arrived with their orders.

The food appeared exquisite and was served on the highest-quality porcelain plates. The food's beauty was just like artwork.

Not only was the food beautiful to behold, the taste was also wonderful. But right now, Chiaki missed the regular food that she ate at Seiji's place every day.

At this time, Seiji and the others would also be having dinner in their apartment.

Rather than the beautiful food before her, Chiaki would have preferred to be in that apartment and eat regular food together with them.

Seiji took a bite of a meat bun.

He had purchased this meat bun from a convenience store. It was hot and filling, with a nice taste.

Why was he eating a meat bun? That was because he was currently outside instead of in his apartment. He was waiting close to the restaurant where Chiaki was meeting her father.

Although he respected Chiaki's wish and didn't spy on her meeting with her father, he had never said anything about waiting at home for her.

At this moment, something approached him. Seiji turned around, only to see a gray-haired dog.

The dog's expression made it evident that it wanted the meat bun Seiji was eating.

After exchanging glances with it, Seiji tore off a piece of his meat bun and tossed it to the dog.

The gray dog lowered its head and swiftly ate the morsel. It then looked back at Seiji again.

Seiji finished off the remainder of his meat bun and opened up his hands to indicate that there was no more food left.

The gray dog blinked and left disappointedly.

Seiji stayed where he was and waited as the wind blew past him.

After dinner was dessert, and after dessert was teatime as the ending to this delicious meal.

Chiaki inhaled the fragrant scent of her tea and slowly sipped, tasting its bitterness as well as the sweet aftertaste.

”Dad… I want to know—”

”There's nothing to say about your mother,” Shingo spoke in a light tone before his daughter even finished speaking. ”There's no need to pay it any attention or think too much into it.”