The elevator doors slid open, revealing the recording studio.
John walked out and took a look around.
The place was largely the same as it was the last time he arrived and saw Alphy singing in the booth.
'Largely' the same, because there was a key difference in the place compared to the last time. And that difference was that his eldest daughter seemed to have taken the place over as her own room.
A small pile of snack boxes, instant ramen cups, and chip bags were stacked near the lounge area. Next to them, there was a pyramid of soda cans.
It should have been messy, but they were neatly gathered up, so it seemed cute instead. Like a child carefully cleaning up after playing.
Off to the side, on one couch, there were two pieces of clothes laid on top of each other. The first was Alphy's usual outfit, the white blouse and black skirt that John made for her. The second was the outfit that John saw her in last time, the full black one-piece.
Opposite of that couch, there was a small bundle of games. The black Mintendo Switch that Alphy usually played, along with some extra controllers.
And on the last couch was the culprit herself.
Alpha was fast asleep, wearing that cozy panda pajama set that Rin got her. She had buried herself in a white blanket, probably scavenged from a pile somewhere in one of the cabinets. On the coffee table in front of her, there were a pile of notes spread out in tidy handwriting.
John didn't pay too much attention to them since he didn't want to intrude on his daughter's privacy. But from the brief bit he saw, it seemed to be future wishes and goals.
He quietly walked over. Pulling out the cup of hot chocolate from the tray, he gently set the cup on the table. That done, he moved over and lightly brushed Alphy's hair. Smiling, he whispered, "Good work, Alphy. Sleep well." With that, he adjusted her blanket, tucking Alpha in, and leaned back to leave.
But before he could, Alpha shifted and opened her eyes.
Her black eyelashes fluttered, and her crimson eyes were dazed as they scanned the surroundings. Still bleary, she looked at John and then muttered, "Papa...?"
"Kuh." John flinched and clutched his chest.
Alpha blinked and then her eyes snapped open. She threw her blanket off and then said, "Pa- I mean, Father?! What are you doing here?"
John massaged his chest, still reeling a bit from the sudden attack. As he did, he muttered, "Dangerous. They say that cuteness can kill, but when it's Alphy that's literal. To think that the Dao of Destruction can be this terrifying..."
Alpha flushed and snatched up the papers on the table, holding them close to her chest. After making sure she had them all, she hid them underneath her blanket before turning back to John. "What nonsense are you muttering now, Father?"
John shook his head. "Just reaffirming how cute you are, Alphy."
Alpha's flush turned into a full blush and she huffed. "Save those words for Mistress Yue, Father. You shouldn't waste them on me."
John smiled and said, "It's never a waste to praise my Magnum Opus, is it?"
Alpha scoffed and said, "It's acting like that and drawing all the ladies that made you so hated in the Three Realms, Father."
John chuckled. "True, true."
Alpha picked up the cup of hot chocolate and took a sip. When she did, she smiled, enjoying the warm and sweet drink. But then she paused and looked at John. "Where did you go yesterday, Father? I wanted to talk with you, but when I went to your office and your room downstairs, you were missing."
John froze.
*Oi! Titor! Didn't you say she didn't notice?!*
'Hey! I said that she *shouldn't* have noticed. Not that she didn't.'
Gah. No wonder people hated him so much...
Alpha swirled her hot chocolate a bit and said, "I don't mind you not telling me, Father. But... could you let me know next time? I waited for you to come back a long time."
Pain, like an arrow through John's heart. But he resisted the urge to clutch his chest again. Instead, he frowned. "Wait. But I told Betty to tell you where I was going. Didn't you ask her?"
"I did." Alpha nodded. "Well, I tried to. But Beta was busy with something in the streaming room. There were a lot of formations up too, so I didn't bother her in case it was something important that you asked her to do."
John blinked and then shook his head. "That girl... she really must have been holding a lot back."
"Huh?"
John smiled and said, "Nothing. And sorry to keep you waiting, Alphy. But you know, you could have called or texted me."
Alpha blushed. "I-I know. But I didn't want to bother you, Fath- H-Hey! L-Let go of me!"
John pulled Alpha into a tight hug and shook his head. "Why are you so *cute*? It doesn't make sense!"
"P-Pa- I mean, Father! Let go! It's embarrassing!"
John finally released her.
Alpha blushed and pulled her hood up, hiding beneath it. "Ugh, why are you like this? I'm not that cute... You should be hugging Betty or Rin instead. N-Not that I mind though..."
John barely resisted the urge to hug Alpha again, but he managed. Instead, he looked at his adorable daughter and said, "I'll never be upset at my daughter wanting to talk with me. Even if the world's about to end, I'll buy time just to talk with you, alright? So don't be afraid to call me... In fact." John pulled out his phone and started making an alarm. "I'll make sure of it. If you don't call me every day in the morning, I'm going to call you."
Alpha's eyes widened. "Y-You wouldn't!"
John smiled. "I will. And it'll be the most embarrassing, smothering conversation ever."
"F-Fine!" Alpha huffed and said, "I'll remember to call you. Happy?"
"Of course I am." John smiled and said, "My cute and adorable daughter just made a promise to cheer me up every morning by listening to her bubbly sleep talk."
Alpha froze and then said, "On second thought, I'll bear the embarrassment."
"Oh come on, Alphy. Don't be like that."
Alpha huffed, but she couldn't hide her smile.
John smiled back and then placed a few formations on the drink tray to stop the drinks in time so that they wouldn't cool down. After that, he looked back to Alphy and said, "As to where I was... I just had some business to do after dropping Rin off at home. Mostly just taking out trash and cleaning up my domain."
"That's great!" Alpha smiled and said, "Mistress Yue will be happy to hear that you're finally being a responsible adult."
John winced, shifting the drink tray to his right hand and rubbing his chest with his left.
It was a happy statement. Alphy was clearly proud of him.
So then why did that hurt so much...?
"Ah!" Alpha glanced at John's hand and said, "You're wearing your wedding ring!"
"Hm?" John paused and then nodded. "Right. I just remembered to wear it earlier."
"That's a relief." Alpha sighed and said, "Beta and I were worried that you had lost it."
"H-Hey! I'm not that bad at losing-"
Alpha raised an eyebrow and said, "Didn't you leave a divine spark in the mortal realm by accident one day and cause a cataclysmic war on the planet?"
John coughed. "That was one-"
"You also paid for a meal in the mortal realm with celestial jade instead of gold."
John cleared his throat and said, "A-Anyway." He glanced at the pile of papers Alpha had hidden beside her and said, "Did you need any more help preparing for your debut?"
Alpha's eyes lit up and she let out a happy smile. But then froze, quickly bringing her cup to her mouth to cover it up, blushing. She took a long sip with her eyes closed, no doubt to regain composure, and then sighed. Afterwards, she smiled and said, "Thanks for asking, Father, but I'm fine. It's something I have to do for myself."
"Are you sure?" John shifted the drink tray in his hands and said, "It's not something you have to completely do by yourself. We all helped Rin put her debut together, remember?"
"I know. But..." Alpha fiddled with her cup and said, "It's a surprise."
"A surprise?"
Alpha shifted her gaze to the side and said, "I want it to be something you can be proud of, so I don't want to show it just yet. A-And it'll already be embarrassing having to show it once, so... just wait until then, okay?"
John reached out to ruffle Alpha's hair and said, "Alright, Alphy. I'll wait patiently until you're ready to show off your hard work."
Alpha smiled and said, "Look forward to it, Papa!"
John froze.
Alpha froze as well and then turned a deep red. "Guh. T-That... You didn't hear anything, Father!"
"No, no." John quickly shook his head. "That's fine. Completely fine. In fact, call me that whenever you want."
Alpha blinked. "You... want me to call you Papa?"
John nodded. "Yes."
"...I think I'll take you up on the offer you made the other day."
"Huh?"
"Papa..." Alpha lowered her hood and then tilted her head to look down on John. "You're a pervert."
John froze, feeling like his world had collapsed.
And then Alpha giggled. She set her drink down on the table and crossed her arms, smiling. "Ha! That's what you get for teasing me so much."
John blinked and then he let out a deep sigh. "Forget the eldritch beings from the void that lack a concept of death, or the armies of Eternal Emperors that want my head. I swear, you and your sisters are going to be the death of me."
Alpha's eyes widened. "No! Absolutely not allowed!" Panic filled her crimson eyes and she said, "Papa can't die before us! Not like last time. Not like...!" She started hyperventilating.
John quickly set the tray of drinks down and pulled Alpha into a hug. "Easy there, Alphy. It's just an expression. I won't leave you, Betty, Meg, or Yue any time soon. And you know that there's nothing that can kill me now, right? Even if this body is turned to dust, it's only a matter of time before I come back."
Alpha stiffened and then she relaxed, leaning into John. "...Sorry, Papa."
"It's fine." John patted her back and said, "You're still getting used to it, right?"
"Mm." She nodded and then said, "There are a lot of memories that I'm only 'feeling' now. And... it's scary."
John froze, suddenly realizing why Alpha had been sleeping so often recently.
Compared to her entire existence, the amount of time she had emotions could only be considered less than a percent of her life. And even then, since they were always pressured in the Three Realms, she never had the opportunity to process everything with her new emotions.
But now on Earth where there was nothing but time and relaxation...
The number of times that John had been severely wounded. The number of times that Alpha had dragged him to safety while he was on the verge of death...
It was fine when she was still just a heartless combat automaton. But now with a true living body of her own, as well as with the heart and mind to process those memories...
John hugged Alpha tighter and said, "If there's anything scary, call me, alright? And not with the phone, like we always did. I'll be there right away. Promise."
Alpha nodded. "I will. And thank you, Father- No. Papa. I love you."
"And I will always love you too, Alphy." He patted her back again and then leaned back.
Alpha glanced at the drinks and said, "Those are for Beta, right? You should go hand them to her before they get cold."
John nodded and picked them up. "I should. But before I go..." He looked at Alpha and said, "Are you sure you're alright?"
Alpha nodded. "I'm your daughter. Of course I'll be alright. And..." She let out a soft smile and placed her hand over her heart. "Papa promised. And Papa never breaks his promises."
"Damned right I don't." He paused. "...Except when Yue says to. Gotta make some sacrifices to keep my wife happy, right?"
Alpha laughed and said, "Mistress Yue will be mad when she hears that."
"Then it's our little secret, okay Alphy?" John winked.
Alpha shook her head and shooed him off. "Go and give Betty her drinks already, Father."
"Back to 'Father', huh? Well, it was cute while it lasted." John muttered and walked off, pretending to be disheartened.
It seemed like Alpha easily saw through it though since she just laughed.
John got back in the elevator, holding the drink tray against his chest, and pressed the top floor button.
Alpha waved and said, "Have a nice day, Papa!"
John smiled and waved back. "Work hard, Alphy! I'm looking forward to-"
The elevator doors shut and the elevator began going up.
"...It. Tch. So it'll close even on me, huh? Next thing you know it'll turn out that these elevator doors are sentient with how perfect their timing is..."
He paused and then narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the elevator doors. "...You aren't, are you?"
Silence.
Then again, that was exactly what a sentient pair of elevator doors would do when questioned by a person like John.
"...Nah. That would be a bit too ridiculous." He shook his head and said, "Now... Just what has my wayward second daughter been doing all by her lonesome up there...?"