Chapter 525: Maybe She’ll Become My Daughter Someday
Chapter 525: Maybe She’ll Become My Daughter Someday
Sato Hayako gathered the items and pushed them into Kujo Tairou’s hands, smiling. “Old man, be careful next time. Don’t drop them again.”
Their fingers accidentally touched, and Kujo Tairou felt a jolt like an electric shock.
Though normally talkative, he now stammered like a flustered teenager: “I-I’ll be careful. Thanks for helping.”
“No problem.”
Sato Hayako waved and turned to leave.
Kujo Tairou summoned his courage. “Wait! Could you tell me your name?”
Sato Hayako glanced back with a smile. “I’m Reiko.”
She didn’t want to expose her true identity.
“Reiko…”
Kujo Tairou stared at Sato Hayako’s retreating figure, overcome by emptiness.
He sniffed his fingers, still carrying traces of the girl’s scent.
Abandoning the trade fair, Kujo Tairou returned to the inn with heavy thoughts.
Near noon, Kujou Arata returned, clearly dejected from failing to find his beloved.
For the first time, Kujo Tairou didn’t mock his son – he actually understood the feeling.
He too knew nothing of Reiko’s whereabouts or contact details.
The pair silently ordered takeout meals and ate in their room.
Kujou Arata quickly regained determination, having prepared mentally for a long stay in Mechanical City. One failed day meant nothing.
Then he noticed his usually chatty father eating in rare silence.
The older man barely finished half his meal.
“What’s wrong, Father?”
Kujo Tairou hesitated before murmuring, “Arata… I’m considering finding you a stepmother.”
Kujou Arata’s eyes bulged. “What?”
His mother died during childbirth, leaving his father single for nearly two decades.
The man never remarried, not even pursuing casual relationships.
Kujou Arata had always respected this devotion.
Now that resolve crumbled.
“When did you hook up with some woman?”
Kujo Tairou scowled. “Don’t say ‘hook up’.”
He described meeting Reiko at the trade fair, hoping for approval.
Kujou Arata exploded. “You idiot! Why mope over some pretty face?”
Kujo Tairou shouted back: “Shut up! Reiko’s special!”
Kujou Arata immediately scolded, “What’s the difference? She still has two eyes and a mouth. I’ll never let some unknown woman marry into our Kujo family.”
Kujo Tairou felt deeply wronged, then realized why these words sounded so familiar.
Wait, I’m supposed to be the parent here.
He knocked his son down with a punch, “I’m your father. If I want to find you a mother, you don’t get to object.”
Kujou Arata retorted angrily, “No young girl would ever fancy an old man like you.”
“Nonsense.”
Kujo Tairou puffed out his chest confidently, “She’s a good-hearted girl who helped me collect my items. Clearly she likes me.”
He patted his son’s shoulder, “When we have children later, you’ll get a baby brother. Doesn’t that make you happy?”
Kujou Arata: “…”
Happy? More like horrified.
As he tried to protest, Kujo Tairou cut in, “If you accept Reiko as your mother, I’ll approve Sato Hayako as my daughter-in-law. Deal?”
Kujou Arata grabbed his hand, “Father, when’s the wedding? Let’s hurry – I can’t wait another day.”
Kujo Tairou chuckled, “We still need some preparation.”
Kujou Arata nodded solemnly, “Then let’s work together to expand our Kujo lineage.”
……
After separating from Kujo Tairou, Sato Hayako promptly forgot about the peculiar middle-aged man.
She meandered through the trade fair while secretly maintaining order.
Though the Iron Fortress had sent possession-type monsters with minimal human-eating desires this time, it was better safe than sorry.
Any incident at this inaugural trade fair would jeopardize future events.
Soon Sato Hayako encountered Kujo Yuri during patrol.
She immediately brightened and hooked arms with her girlfriend.
The radiant couple resembled twin blossoms, drawing countless gazes from passersby.
Sato Hayako swore people were staring at her thighs. The persistent visual attention made her skin prickle with goosebumps.
Though accustomed to cross-dressing, appearing publicly in feminine attire still delivered an illicit thrill.
Now she understood why so many cross-dressing enthusiasts existed.
When patrol ended, Sato Hayako tried to rest but received a summons from her sister.
“Let’s go. Shouldn’t keep little sister waiting.”
Kujo Yuri dragged Sato Hayako from the fair.
Sato Hayako protested, “At least let me change clothes first!”
“Change what? You look perfect. Move those legs!”
……
After cruising the Pacific Ocean for over a month with dwindling supplies, Fang Cheng guided the spaceship back to Hokkaido.
During this period, North America remained calm. There were no messages about the Ark spaceship either within the government or on the network.
Though Fang Cheng didn’t understand why, he knew he could handle anything except full-scale intervention from the North American government.
He’d returned without informing anyone in Mechanical City, planning to surprise them.
The cloaked spaceship docked in Ura Bay, Hokkaido, a short distance from Mechanical City.
Fang Cheng disembarked with Asaka Akihime and Ye Yuqing, flying directly to his apartment’s backyard.
They made no effort to hide their footsteps while entering through the back exit.
“Who’s there?”
Uka Kaori sprang up from the living room sofa, book falling from her hands. Her wary expression melted when she saw Fang Cheng, unconsciously stepping toward him.
“You’re ba…”
Her words died as she noticed the two women behind him.
Fang Cheng grinned and spread his arms. “I’m home.”
Uka Kaori retreated two paces, evading the embrace. “You should’ve warned us,” she said, voice carefully neutral. “I’ll fetch Mirai.”
She turned toward the stairs with forced composure.
Fang Cheng addressed the others: “I’ll check with Mai. Sort the gifts properly.”
He followed Uka Kaori. Neither woman detected anything unusual.
As she reached the stairwell, strong arms encircled her waist from behind.
“Release me!” she hissed, though her body remained pliant.
Fang Cheng nuzzled her fragrant hair. “Did you miss me?”
“Let go.” Her protest sounded hollow even to herself.
Warm breath brushed her ear. “Answer first.”
Uka Kaori’s icy mask nearly cracked. The whisper sent electric currents through her body.
“M-maybe… No!” Flames crawled up her neck as she stammered.
Since their accidental kiss, maintaining dignity around him grew increasingly impossible. She’d never admit waiting for his return, yet midnight memories of that kiss haunted her.
This forbidden attraction terrified her. The more she resisted, the stronger it grew.
Unbeknownst to Fang Cheng, the Succubus Bloodline acquired from Teacher Tony amplified his natural charm exponentially – a fact he’d dismissed but now worked against her crumbling resolve.
The greater one’s charm, the more intense its effects.
Those girls who initially held affection for Fang Cheng would find their feelings amplified.
Fondness could deepen into love, and love into profound devotion.
Uka Kaori had been subtly transformed by this power, thawing from an aloof woman to one softened by emotion.
Fang Cheng smiled at the contradictory fox spirit, murmuring by her ear, “I’ve missed you too.”
Uka Kaori’s knees weakened instantly. “Y-you should release me…”
Fang Cheng pressed further: “Give me a kiss, and I’ll let go.”
In their early acquaintance, she would’ve slapped him for such demands.
Now she merely hesitated before reluctantly brushing her lips against his cheek.
He seized the chance to capture her rosy lips in a deep kiss.
Uka Kaori’s body stiffened briefly before yielding with resigned acceptance.
After all… this wasn’t their first encounter.
Rational thought dissolved as she surrendered to the intoxicating embrace.
The sound of Asaka Akihime and Ye Yuqing’s conversation below suddenly startled her back to reality. She pushed open Fang Cheng’s chest in fluster.
Reading the situation, Fang Cheng took her hand and led her upstairs. “Has Mirai shown any signs during my absence?”
Mention of her daughter pierced Uka Kaori’s heart with guilt.
How could she face Mirai’s pure affection when she herself…
Composing herself, she answered calmly, the blush disappearing from her cheeks. “No relapses. Her timeline remains stable.”
She paused mid-sentence.
Suspicions swirled in her heart – could Fang Cheng’s presence have triggered Uka Mirai’s dark transformation?
The bastard kept flirting with others while maintaining careful distance from her lovesick daughter.
As she struggled with this thought, Fang Cheng suddenly turned. “You think I caused Mirai’s change?”
Nervousness gripped Uka Kaori. “I’m not accusing you.”
“I know.”
His thumb brushed her delicate hand. “Regardless of causes, we’ll fix this problem together.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest. This man’s constant care left her indebted beyond repayment.
Reading her emotions, Fang Cheng grinned. “No need for thanks. Mirai might become my daughter someday.”
Uka Kaori’s heart lurched. Her gaze darted away nervously. “Don’t speak nonsense.”
Even her own voice sounded unconvincing.