ch21-ch40 · 033-ch33

Chapter 33: The High School Girl and the Husky Dog

"And like, I wanna exchange messages... with you too~"

No, not just a glance.

I've never seen Sumi looking up at someone like that before. Even when she was begging her mom for something when she was little, she just boldly said "I want this!"

"Huh, with me? Why again?"

Papa looked at me, a bit surprised. That's right, if she needs something from Papa, going through me is fine too.

"Umm, well, that's..."

"It's for when something happens to Ai! This time we all got kidnapped together, but next time, only Ai might get kidnapped! If we see that happen, we can immediately contact Ai's dad with messages, right!"

I see, what Kiriko says makes sense.

But it feels like she's hastily backing Sumi up, why?

"I see, that's true. Well then, sorry to trouble you, but would you exchange with this old man?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

Saying something like an energetic restaurant worker, Sumi takes out her smartphone, all excited. I wonder what's driving her so much.

Kiriko, standing in line next to her, exchanges contacts too, so we've secured the contact information for emergencies... But Papa, aren't you looking a little too happy?

Well, I guess he doesn't usually get to exchange messages with high school girls, so maybe he's just happy. Hmm.

"The hearts of children are beyond their parents' understanding, I suppose."

Standing with his front legs crossed—not his arms—Melkid nodded with a knowing look on his face. Kinda annoying.

Well, Sumi looks happy, and Kiriko seems to be having fun too, so I guess it's fine.

It's a happy thing that my dad isn't disliked by my best friend, after all.

　　―　◆　―

"Gyah, help me!"

"Bow wow!"

Melkid desperately running away on two legs in the garden, and a husky dog chasing him.

That's Tamamura Shogun-chan, the dog owned by our landlord Grandpa Gou. He's full of energy today, too.

"Shogun looks happy too. I'm glad he found a good playmate, yes indeed."

Grandpa watched his beloved dog wagging its tail like crazy.

Yeah, I wouldn't exactly call him a playmate—he looks more like a husky whose wild instincts have been triggered and is chasing prey.

After Kiriko and Sumi went home, we introduced Melkid to Grandpa too.

He already knew that Papa was from another world, after all.

Melkid will be watched by Grandpa sometimes while Papa and I are away, to make sure he doesn't do anything bad while we're gone.

But it looks like Shogun-chan is keeping a close watch on him in front of Grandpa, so that's reassuring.

"Gyahhh, I'm gonna get eateeeen!"

Finally caught, Melkid was dangling limply from the husky's strong mouth, breathing heavily with his shoulders but still resisting with his mouth alone.

"Hey now, 'get eaten' doesn't sound right. Shogun's just happy he found a new friend, you know."

Placing Melkid in front of Grandpa, Shogun-chan looked proud. Rather than a friend, this seems more like a new toy, I'd say.

" Bow bow!"

"Come on, give me a break..."

Melkid was covered in dirt, having turned from white to muddy brown. Maybe I should feel a little sorry for him.

"Shogun-chan, forgive him for today. You can play with him again tomorrow, okay?"

"Bown!"

"H-hey, wai..."

Did Shogun-chan understand my words? He sat down and looked up at me. Yeah, he's so smart, I love him.

Melkid, on the other hand, was trembling as he imagined his playtime? with Shogun from tomorrow onward.

"I actually have a terrible fear of dogs..."

"Then why did you choose that body!?"

In front of my incredulous eyes, Melkid collapsed as if from fatigue.

"Melkid?"

"...Spri, pring..."

Too predictable!

And to think the reason he's exhausted is just because he was chased by a little dog... How pathetic.

"Gou-san, I may cause you more trouble, but please take care of him."

"Ha ha ha, no need for reservation. Ai-chan is like my own granddaughter, after all."

Leaving the collapsed Melkid where he was, behind me as I petted Shogun-chan, Papa was making his request, and Grandpa was laughing it off heartily.

Grandpa is so big-hearted, so cool, isn't he?

"Listen, Rokuro. You tend to try to handle everything yourself. It's important to rely on others properly too. Not for your sake, but for Ai-chan's sake, you see."

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind deeply."

They're not facing each other, but I feel like I've become the center of attention, and it's embarrassing.

"Kyawan!"

I unconsciously put too much strength into my petting hand. Sorry for startling you, Shogun-chan. But you seem to be enjoying it a little.