Chapter 32: Persuasion
Typically, someone would be angry upon hearing such a thing, and Aoi Kiriyama was no exception.
"Do you have some misunderstanding, thinking I'm the kind of woman who would casually call someone 'Daddy'?" Aoi looked at Yuta with irritation. She wasn't the type to casually address someone like that.
Yuta realized he must have been out of his mind to say that and quickly tried to come up with an excuse.
"Actually, I learned some things about you from Professor Fujiwara. If you're willing, I'd be happy to help with something. My previous comment was a bit extreme, but I believe you've already figured out the answer since I said it," Yuta said with sincerity. Despite being a technician, he had a quick mind and was good at finding solutions.
Seeing Yuta's serious expression, Aoi began to reconsider her initial impression. She had thought he was mocking her, but his demeanor now suggested otherwise, even if she still didn't fully understand what he was trying to convey.
Aoi straightened up and leaned slightly forward, asking, "What answer?"
Yuta quickly formulated an excuse that aligned with his earlier comment and prepared his response.
"It's about the judgment in your heart. When I asked you to call me 'Daddy,' I think you were quite angry. That moment likely revealed something about your feelings, though you might not have realized it yourself. For example, the difference between me and your father could be the reason behind your strange mindset."
"To put it more simply, if you want to address your feelings, you need to find the root cause of your mindset. Whether you choose to change it is entirely up to you."
Yuta felt that his words sounded quite educational, but he couldn't help feeling pleased with his own cleverness.
I'm really smart!
Aoi's suspicion of Yuta diminished significantly. After seriously considering his words, she realized that not only did he possess a maturity far beyond his years, but also a wisdom that surpassed her own.
After reflecting on Yuta's words, Aoi Kiriyama began to feel confused about why she had such unusual feelings.
"I also think my current situation is quite problematic. I have no interest in other men at all; I constantly compare them to my father and end up ignoring them. But my father rarely sees me…"
In front of Yuta, Aoi lowered her guard and shared thoughts she had never expressed to anyone else.
Yuta responded calmly, "I don't think this is a serious problem. It's not as severe as you think. You simply haven't met a man who surpasses your father in any way. It's not an especially strange condition."
His words were meant to offer comfort, as Yuta didn't truly understand Aoi's situation and was merely speaking from an outsider's perspective.
"Is that how you see it?" Aoi, who had always believed she had a severe psychological issue, was surprised to hear Yuta suggest that she might not have a problem at all.
Yuta nodded, "Yes, I think it's not a problem. To put it bluntly, if I had a daughter like you, though it might be a bit troubling, I'd still be quite happy."
"Really?" Aoi looked at Yuta anxiously, finding that his wisdom and mindset resembled that of a father's.
"Absolutely! You just haven't encountered a good man yet. That's why you think there's something wrong with you for not being able to like others. It's not your fault; it's just that the opportunity hasn't come along."
Yuta was just making polite conversation, speaking from a place of superficial understanding.
However, Aoi believed him!
Reflecting on her past suitors, Aoi seriously said, "I've thought about it, and the people I rejected all had their own issues. It wasn't because of my father that I turned them down, but because they had problems of their own."
"If there are psychological issues, everything seems problematic…"
Yuta agreed, "Exactly. Because your father is a top executive, he had less time to spend with you compared to parents from ordinary families. You've only seen his excellent side. Over time, you naturally came to view that as the standard."
"You don't have a psychological issue; your standards are just higher than average. If you think you have a problem, it makes you more aloof. And without outstanding suitors to patiently break through your icy exterior, it's understandable that you haven't found anyone."
As Yuta spoke, he began to believe his own words.
Even Yuta thought his reasoning made sense, and Aoi, naturally, came to believe him as well, realizing that perhaps she didn't have a problem after all.
Realizing that the problem wasn't with herself but with others made Aoi feel much better.
"Talking to you has really helped, but I still don't know how to improve my current situation," Aoi said, now seeing Yuta as a wise advisor.
Yuta looked at Aoi seriously, "To resolve this issue, you need to break the preconceived notions in your mind and address your feelings head-on. So…"
"Please call me 'Daddy!'"
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