Ch#81
“Eek?!”
He lightly pushed open the door—whose handle was broken and dangled loosely—with one hand and stepped into Bunny’s room.
Bunny stood blankly in front of the door, clutching Magomi tight.
Her mouth hanging wide open.
“Daddy, you’re super strong.”
“Yeah, strong.”
Kiriel walked up to Bunny, plopped down into a squat in front of her to meet her gaze, and spoke.
“So, why’d you suddenly decide you shouldn’t let Daddy see you?”
“…‘Cause Bunny’s not a baby anymore.”
“Even if you’re not a baby, I said I’d be your daddy. Or did you find a new one?”
“Um…….”
Come to think of it, Roel’s daddy had been pretty handsome.
He was just thinking it wouldn’t be a bad idea to consider him as a candidate for a new daddy.
Pop!
“Ah!”
Bunny’s eyes went wide at the slight stinging sensation on her forehead as she looked up at Kiriel.
Kiriel gazed steadily at Bunny and spoke.
“You weren’t thinking about some other daddy, were you?”
Eep!
Bunny’s shoulders jumped, and she stuck out her lower lip before shaking her head vigorously back and forth.
Kiriel watched her steadily for a moment before speaking again.
“So… what really made you think that……?”
His voice was languid, calm in a way that settled over her, and Bunny gulped.
Her eyes darted around as her fingers fidgeted. But despite her obvious distress, Kiriel showed no sign of letting up.
“…If Daddy hates Bunny, I’ll cry. So… so…….”
So……
Bunny’s lips twitched.
‘Can I tell him about Ruri?’
Ruri had said not to tell anyone about her. Ruri was right.
Yeah, she was always right.
“No more hiding things from Daddy from now on.”
But, Ruri.
If Bunny lied, then all she’d have were friends who lied.
What do you do when you want a friend who doesn’t lie?
Her heart pounded wildly.
Seeing Bunny’s gaze darting uncertainly every which way, Kiriel gave her shoulder a light pat.
“Bunny, if you don’t want to talk…….”
“So, Ruri said Bunny shouldn’t let Daddy see her.”
Just as Kiriel started to say it was okay, Bunny squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out.
“…That person who raised you before?”
“Yeees…….”
Kiriel stared at the child in surprise, then slowly blinked.
He couldn’t for the life of him understand how she’d heard about someone who was no longer around.
“Why?”
“Ruri said Daddy hates demons a lot. So, so… she said it’d be better if Bunny stayed out of sight. So Daddy wouldn’t get annoyed. So…….”
So……
The child’s voice faded little by little.
Kiriel silently gazed down at her head for a moment, then scooped Bunny up into his arms.
“Ah!”
“So that’s why you were hiding? So you wouldn’t bother Daddy? For my sake……?”
“Yeees… I don’t want Daddy to hate me…….”
At Bunny’s cute, heartbreaking confession, Kiriel smiled quietly, patted her back, and carried her right out of the room just like that.
“I don’t hate you. I don’t dislike you.”
“…Really? What if Bunny turns into one of those demons later?”
“Then Daddy’ll grab you and spank your butt and tell you it’s wrong. Tell you not to do it.”
“…Eek. Butts hurt.”
“As long as you don’t become a bad demon.”
Bunny blinked at Kiriel’s words.
Heehee. She let out a small laugh and carefully wrapped both arms around Kiriel’s neck.
“You don’t dislike Bunny?”
“Yeah.”
“Even if a new baby comes, you won’t dislike Bunny?”
“A new baby?”
Was she talking about when he got married or something?
Kiriel couldn’t follow her train of thought at all, but he nodded with a puzzled look anyway.
“Don’t even say such obvious things. More importantly, your big brothers are waiting for you.”
“Bunny?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because…….”
Kiriel chuckled lightly and flung open the firmly shut door.
Pop! Pop! Boom!
“Happy birthday, Bunny!!”
The voices hit the moment the door swung wide, and Bunny’s eyes—in Kiriel’s arms—went perfectly round.
“…Today’s not Bunny’s birthday, though?”
Bunny barely managed to speak, her face utterly dazed.
In the back hung a banner reading [Happy Birthday, Bunny!!], and the room brimmed with food.
A seven-tier chocolate cake, a chocolate fountain, sweet chocolate desserts, all sorts of fruits, and an enormous slab of meat glistening with juices.
“Last birthday celebration was a total mess! Aside from the chocolate you shared, there was nothing!”
“Yeah. We said we’d throw you a proper one.”
“What, I… I only came ‘cause it was your birthday, that’s all.”
Allen beamed as he spoke, and Kiriel carefully set Bunny down in the room while adding his bit.
Calvad tossed in a sly comment, and then Levon and Roden from the back, along with Jesi and Melissa, all chimed in with quick congratulations.
Bunny’s round, adorable eyes grew as wide as they could get.
“Allen, I thought you hated me.”
“Huh? Why! No way. There’s no reason I would!”
“Allen’s been avoiding Bunny since morning like her stinky shoes.”
Allen flinched at Bunny’s grumpy tone, his face flushing as he frantically waved both hands in denial.
“No, that was just ‘cause we were prepping the surprise party! If you caught on, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore! It’s absolutely not ‘cause I hate you…….”
Allen hurried over to Bunny’s side, pouring out his explanation with earnest excuses.
Bunny pattered over tap-tap and gazed up at the massive seven-tier chocolate cake.
“Bunny’s first birthday party.”
“Huh. You’ve never had one?”
Calvad, who’d sidled up close, asked in bewilderment.
Bunny stared quietly at the lavish table and the people drawing near to greet her, then spoke softly.
“Yeah. When Bunny was a baby, we had no money, so on birthdays, Ruri and Bunny shared poor Choco.”
At Bunny’s words, Kiriel and everyone else there to celebrate had their eyes fly wide open.
Only now did they realize why Bunny had suddenly shared chocolate and asked them to celebrate back then.
“So it’s my first party! It’s so amazing!”
Bunny spun around with a pure, bright smile, arms flying wide as she bowed deeply at the waist.
“Thank youuu!!”
Allen gazed at the bowing Bunny, his eyes misty with tears.
Roden and Jesi quietly turned away or covered their mouths. Everyone was still lost in a wave of emotion, unable to pull themselves out.
Click. Click. Click.
Kiriel’s eyes narrowed at the shutter sounds echoing through the room.
He turned his head quietly to glance beside him.
His aide Levon—face just as impassive—had been snapping away at the camera, but upon meeting eyes, he calmly tucked it back into his inner pocket.
“Bunny, know what this is?”
“This?”
“The birthday kid makes a wish before blowing out the candles on the cake, and if you do, your wish comes true!”
Allen took Bunny’s hand and led her right up to the table.
Kiriel followed the two children, hoisted Bunny up, and set her atop the seven-tier cake. Bunny’s face lit up bright.
“Make a wish and blow out the candles.”
Bunny’s eyes sparkled at Kiriel’s words.
‘A wish……!’
Bunny had only ever had one wish.
To grow into a fine adult safe and sound and become the greatest Demon King!!!
Bunny closed her eyes to make her wish—then hesitated.
She peeked around at everyone surrounding her, eyes rolling thoughtfully.
At last, Bunny clasped her hands tight together, squeezed her eyes shut, and made her wish.
