Toji squatted down and looked at Megumi.
"What are you doing, Megumi?"
"Doggy! Making a doggy!"
Megumi answered Toji and started scooping and piling up sand from the playground with a toy shovel enthusiastically.
Since he seemed so happy, Toji couldn't bring himself to say that with such dry sand, it would be impossible to make something as complex as a dog.
'Well, as long as he's having fun.'
If told he couldn't make a dog, he would probably either burst into tears or insist he could. It was best just to leave him be.
'If he really wants to make a dog, I could get him some clay or something.'
But since he might still swallow the clay, it might be better to wait until after his third birthday to give it to him. Or perhaps a new doggy stuffed animal.
Toji adjusted Megumi's hat, which was starting to come off, pressing it down properly.
The weather in Tokyo in August was quite hot. They had come out early in the morning to avoid the heat, but letting him play energetically without caution could lead to him getting heatstroke.
Megumi had grown quite a bit and gained a fair amount of weight. But to Toji, he was still light as a feather.
Naturally, as he became more active, Toji and Zoro often let him play in the outdoor playground in front of their house. It was the easiest way to tire him out.
'Yesterday, he didn't sleep until 11 p.m., wanting to play tag.'
Judging by how he was playing today, he seemed likely to fall asleep early. Neither Toji nor Zoro were the type to get physically tired from playing children's games, but mental exhaustion was a different story. And childcare could be mentally exhausting, love for Megumi notwithstanding.
'And speaking of which, isn't it time for another vaccination?'
Babies needed many vaccinations. Zoro's vaccinations were mostly handled by Chie, and Toji, who had never been sick a day in his life, was unaware of such things.
He decided to check the notebook when they got home. With that thought, Toji glanced away from Megumi and briefly looked at Zoro.
"273, 274, 275..."
Zoro was... doing pull-ups on the monkey bars.
Zoro, hanging from the monkey bars and doing pull-ups with a serious expression after having flung off his T-shirt, looked honestly a bit odd even to his father, Toji.
Zoro's amount of exercise had increased significantly. Apart from the time spent eating, sleeping, relieving himself, and playing with Megumi, he spent most of his time exercising. Consequently, he definitely built up some muscle. Whether a 5-year-old needed muscles was another question.
Lately, he had been sparring with Toji only about once every two weeks. He said he needed to practice controlling and utilizing his Haki on his own, without any guidance.
"...280, 281, 282..."
It seemed like the kind of training regimen reserved for young athletes preparing for national competitions. Even then, it would be rare for those kids to exercise to this extent.
"...299, 300...! 301, 302..."
When Zoro didn't stop even after reaching 300, Toji sighed softly and got up. Walking over, Toji lifted Zoro, who was still hanging from the bar.
"307… Ah! Why are you doing this?!"
"It's too much for a kid your age to be overdoing it like this. Didn't you end up with muscle soreness last time because of this?"
Indeed, Zoro had suffered from both muscle and growth pains last week, overlapping in the night.
'I was wondering what was up when he was less responsive than usual in the morning.'
It was then Toji realized Zoro's entire body was soaked in sweat, which left him feeling somewhat stunned.
'He got better after a day of rest, being well-fed and well-rested, without any issues.'
If left unchecked, it could happen again.
Zoro smacked his lips.
"I need to hit 500."
"300 is plenty enough."
Zoro was already experiencing a lot of growing pains due to his rapid growth, much faster than his peers. Toji didn't want to add muscle soreness to that.
'Because he doesn't show it.'
Even when in pain, Zoro wouldn't say he was hurting and would stubbornly continue his strength training, so Toji had no choice but to intervene at an appropriate limit.
Toji wished for nothing more than for Zoro not to be in pain or to suffer.
Zoro, having put on his T-shirt, saw the concern that Toji couldn't fully hide on his face. Zoro was aware that Toji was worried about the intensity of his strength training.
'...But I can't reduce the intensity of my training.'
To become stronger, maintaining at least that level of intensity was necessary. Though it hurt because of the growing pains and muscle soreness, what could he do? It was just the process of building muscle.
That's the kind of person Zoro was. Someone who, despite any pain, hardship, or defeat, would not yield and would continue to take steps towards becoming stronger.
Loving Toji wouldn't change, couldn't change those traits in Zoro. It was almost fundamental to who Zoro was as a person. Even if he died and was reborn several times, those core traits wouldn't bend or vanish.
However, even Zoro had to pause when those traits seemed to hurt those around him. Especially if the person getting hurt was Toji.
Because he had already suffered enough.
'...Because of me.'
Does being your son make it hard for you?
Zoro didn't voice this thought. Saying it out loud would only make Toji feel worse.
'Maybe I should reduce my exercise a bit for now.'
But then, my muscle growth will stall, Zoro pondered.
"...?"
Suddenly, Zoro and Toji both turned their heads in the same direction. A girl, who seemed a year or two older than Megumi, was cautiously approaching Megumi.
The girl seemed weak, just an ordinary non-sorcerer child. There was no hostility... just hesitation, yet she moved towards Megumi, who was playing in the sand, like a rabbit.
Zoro and Toji exchanged glances and slowly walked towards Megumi.
...
Megumi looked sullenly at the mound of sand he had built.
"...It's not a puppy."
Despite his efforts, nothing about the mound of sand Megumi created could be called a puppy.
Maybe Papa or his brother could turn this mound of sand into a puppy. Thinking this, Megumi sprang to his feet, looking for Toji and Zoro.
"...Oh."
And then, their eyes met.
A girl was standing in front of Megumi. The young girl with an innocent face looked at Megumi shyly, yet excitedly.
Megumi had never encountered a girl his own age before. Chie, and all the caregivers he had encountered until now, were adults, and he had never been to kindergarten. Though he often saw other kids playing at the playground, it was just passing encounters.
Green eyes wavered. He didn't know what to do.
"...Hello."
After he initiated the greeting, the girl's brown eyes widened. The girl with her dark brown hair tied back smiled warmly at Megumi. Seeing that, Megumi's face felt ticklish and warm.
No, it was different from the warmth felt when the sun was high in the sky. It was similar to the feeling of diving into freshly laundered bedding, being tightly hugged by his brother, or having his hair stroked by Papa.
Megumi didn't yet know the words to describe that sensation.
It was a feeling of warmth.
"Hello? What's your name?"
"...Megumi."
"Megumi, that's pretty!"
Megumi's cheeks turned red. The brown eyes sparkled. Pretty, Megumi thought unwittingly.
"I'm Fushiguro Tsumiki. Tsu-mi-ki."
The girl, Tsumiki, enunciated her name carefully. Then, with a slightly trembling voice, she asked Megumi,
"Do you want to play with me?"
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