Chapter 31: Call Me Daddy and I'll Tell You!
[Ding!]
[Side quest unlocked. You can choose to complete this quest or not; there's no penalty for failure.]
[Listen to Daddy: Make Aoi Kiriyama call you 'Daddy.']
[Quest reward: Charm +1]
"What the heck?!"
Is there really a system quest like this?
Yuta was stunned by the system's notification, thinking that this task was absurd.
"If it were making Hina call me 'Daddy,' that'd be one thing, but making Aoi Kiriyama call me 'Daddy'?"
Just imagining Aoi Kiriyama—who's in her mid-twenties, full of feminine charm, always acting like a rich, spoiled princess, and constantly talking down to him—calling him 'Daddy' made Yuta feel awkward even as he cycled down the road.
"Just thinking about it, it's clearly impossible. She looked down on me so much today; how could she ever call me that?"
Yuta was certain that such a thing was impossible, and besides, he didn't expect to see Aoi Kiriyama again. So, he decided to ignore the quest—there was nothing to lose anyway.
Still, the +1 charm reward… what would that actually do?
Though reluctant to miss out on the reward, Yuta knew the task seemed far too difficult to pull off.
As Yuta continued cycling home, a car suddenly sped up and cut him off in the distance.
Yuta looked ahead and saw that it was a sports car. From what he remembered from his past life, this kind of car was typically driven by women and had some differences from standard sedans. After all, in his past life, Yuta had been a technician in the mechanical field.
The sedan quickly turned off, and the door swung open as a woman in work attire stepped out, carrying a bag.
"Get in. Your work for today isn't over yet."
Yuta looked at Aoi Kiriyama, who had clearly freshened up and changed her clothes, unsure of what she wanted from him. However, he noticed something different this time—her tone didn't have that commanding edge it usually did.
"Alright." Yuta locked his bike to the side and walked over to her, curious to find out what she needed from him.
As Yuta approached, Aoi observed him. He wasn't ugly, but he certainly wasn't what she'd consider handsome either. Aoi was someone who valued appearances, yet she found herself more intrigued by something else about Yuta.
It wasn't the demeanor of a typical 17 or 18-year-old, but rather a calm and composed aura, like someone much older—someone who didn't care about her looks or status and could face her with a sense of detachment.
It was almost like… her father…
Aoi quickly shook her head, dismissing the absurd thought. This boy was just an ordinary person struggling to get by, nothing like her father. The difference between them was like night and day.
After Yuta settled into the passenger seat, he noticed Aoi staring at him, lost in thought.
"Miss Kiriyama, is something wrong?" Yuta asked, a bit concerned by her gaze.
Aoi's current look was that of a fashionable woman, and Yuta wasn't used to dealing with someone like her. He didn't quite know how to interact with such a person, especially since she always seemed difficult to approach.
"It's nothing. You should know why I called you, right?" Aoi responded, getting back into the driver's seat. After fastening her seatbelt, she hit the gas, speeding off immediately.
While Yuta wasn't familiar with many things, cars weren't one of them. Being able to fix cars meant he wouldn't get carsick or be bothered by sudden acceleration.
"I'm not really sure. Professor Fujiwara just briefly mentioned that I'd be working with you, but he didn't think I'd be able to handle the job," Yuta replied, avoiding mentioning anything about Aoi's father complex, as it might be a sensitive topic for her.
Yuta's attempt to be considerate went unnoticed, as Aoi wasn't nearly as considerate in return.
Aoi smiled slightly, "I've heard everything from Kaoruko. I'm aware of her research, so there's no need to hide anything from me."
Yuta realized that Aoi knew about Professor Fujiwara Kaoruko's plan to have him pursue her. It seemed Kaoruko wasn't one to deceive others; she made sure to inform all parties involved before taking any action.
Aoi noticed Yuta's silence and continued, "Kaoruko told me you have a mother complex?"
"No! That's nonsense!" Yuta furiously denied the claim, angrily retorting, "She's making stuff up! I'm perfectly normal! Completely normal!"
Aoi didn't seem convinced, assuming Yuta just didn't want to admit it.
"I understand, it's not something you'd casually talk about. I'm similar, though. But I'm a pretty girl, so I have that natural privilege," Aoi stated as if it were obvious.
Yuta was left speechless. No matter how much he tried to explain, it seemed like she wouldn't listen.
Before long, the car pulled into an underground parking garage, and Aoi led Yuta back to her apartment.
"Since you know about my situation, I want to know how you see me, from a father's perspective," Aoi said. She knew her situation wasn't normal, and now she wanted to understand how her behavior and attitude might be viewed from a fatherly standpoint.
These were things Aoi would never discuss with any other man, but Yuta was different. He already knew about her issues and, despite his young age, he seemed capable of offering a fatherly perspective.
Since Yuta was much younger, Aoi felt comfortable talking to him about these things. She couldn't do this with just anyone—it had to be someone who could speak to her without judgment and who could also embody the qualities of a good father.
Yuta looked around the room; there was no one else in the apartment. It was just him and Aoi, and their conversation wouldn't be overheard by anyone.
He decided to go for it. After all, what did he have to lose? He hadn't planned on completing the quest anyway, so it wouldn't be a big deal if it didn't work out.
And besides, she asked for his perspective on her, right?
"You… if you call me 'Daddy,' I'll tell you!"
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