That was back when I was still a college student.

"I'm begging you, sir! Please let your daughter marry me!"

I had gone to meet Misae’s father to ask for his blessing on our marriage. But...

"Don't give me that shit. You think I'd ever hand my daughter over to a loser like you?" "W-Why? Why would you say that?"

Misae's father... Erazo Nagano (Misae's maiden name was Nagano).

Nagano looked at me with pure contempt and said,

"I heard you're the one who wrote this."

He threw it down in front of me. It was a single volume of a light novel. The author's name on the cover read... Okatani. My pen name.

"Rubbish. Absolute rubbish. Look at this crap." "…………" ...Look at this crap.

Hearing him speak that way, I bit my lip so hard that it bled.

Did he have any idea how much struggle went into writing a single book?

Did he know how much time and passion I poured into this before I even made my debut... did he know?

My insides seethed with fury, and I nearly lunged at him.

"Surely you're not actually serious? Thinking you can make a living off this alone after graduation?"

...Yet my stepfather's single remark cooled me down instantly. Making a living off writing novels.

Just how difficult that is. I know.

Because... I'm the one who isn't allowed to write the continuation of the book he's currently dropping. "I-i mean..."

"Hah! Stupid man. You have no clue about reality. A dreamy young whippersnapper like you is the type I despise most." I couldn't say a word back.

Can't see reality? Honestly, that might be true.

"Anyway, I'm not handing my precious daughter to a man who thinks something like this could be his life's work." "..."

"If you absolutely must have a daughter... how about it. Get yourself hired by [Takanawa], and then, well, maybe I'd consider it."

Takanawa. The number one giant in the publishing industry, not just limited to light novels.

"Though! For a man who can't see reality like you, it's out of the question...!"

Being mocked by Misae's father brought me back to my senses.

I’m about to get married and support a family.

To support someone, you need money. You need stable income.

The income of a writer is... incredibly unstable.

Coincidentally, it was Misae’s father’s harsh words that opened my eyes to the reality.

What Misae’s father said was correct from a parent's perspective.

He didn't want to hand his daughter over to some dreamy, half-baked kid.

It was likely born out of love; he just wanted his daughter to be happy.

Well, looking down on the other guy is a bit much, but I can understand it. "...".

At that moment, I had two paths before me.

Keep holding onto my dream and live alone.

Or abandon my dream and face reality with my wife. ...I was torn. "..."

After agonizing over which to choose—dream or reality—I picked reality.

At the time, I didn't yet understand.

What kind of woman Misae was.

That what I had chosen in my hands was a wrong choice. "...I understand." "Huh?"

Misae's father looked like he'd been shot by a pigeon with a bean-bag gun.

"If you get a job at Takana, it means I'll be allowed to marry Misae, correct?"

"A-ah... Pff! Well, if you think you can do it, then try your luck!" "Yes, understood."

"Pff! You say that easily. A fool who doesn't know how difficult such a thing is— I won't let him have my daughter!"

...I was forced to choose between two options and, in the end, abandoned my ideal.

...And so, the writer [Okatani] died, and the editor [Mitsuhiko Okaya] was born. ★ The story returns to the present day.

I went shopping with Akari.

On the way back... I ran into my father-in-law, that is, Misae's father.

"Mitsuhiko-kun! Please! Rekindle things with my daughter..."

In the fading light of dusk, on a public street, a middle-aged man was kneeling in a position of deep bow.
"...You... what are you doing?"
"Akari, stop."
"Karin-san..."

I knew Akari would get angry when I pushed her too far. She's a kind soul. Which is exactly why I stopped her. "Go home first." "But..." "Just go." This is an issue for adults. Children have no part in it.

I don't want this child, who will live in the future, to hear about the ugliness of adult relationships. I don't want her to lose hope in the future.

Just as her name suggests, I want her future to be bright. "..."

After looking at me several times, Akari eventually walked ahead.

"H-Hikohiro... who is she?"

I have no obligation to tell this man everything.

"She was a student of mine when I had a part-time job. We just happened to run into each other by chance. Is there something on your mind?"

"N-No... not really. I see... Unbelievable, huh? She's clearly just a little girl." My stepfather was visibly relieved...

It must be because he wants his daughter to reconcile with him, so having a girlfriend in my life would be inconvenient.

"Would you please stand up before I forget myself? You're blocking the road." "Gr... talking down to me..."

I wanted to ask who he thought was acting superior, but that didn't matter anyway.

I just want to finish this discussion quickly and get home.

Misae's father rises to his feet, staggering slightly.

"It's been a while, Mr. [Nagano]. So... how do you know I'm here? I moved away." "I... that is... uh..."

Judging by his flustered reaction, he must have used some rather unpleasant methods to find me. Did he hire a private investigator? What an obnoxious guy...

"That's beside the point! Get to the real issue... Mitsuhiko-kun, please! Let Misae and you..."

"I'm sorry, but I have absolutely no intention of getting back together with Misae." "Wh-What!??" "Good day."

I bow my head and try to walk past him. "P-Please wait...!" He grabs my hand.

Sweat beads on his forehead, his face twisted in desperation as he speaks.

"Please! Just one more time, just once, give her another chance!"

"Why? Misae was cheating on me, wasn't she? How can I possibly get back together with a woman who betrayed my trust and had another man?"

"I-It's... it's just, any man should be able to forgive a one-time affair!"

"Would you be able to say the same thing if your wife were having an affair?" "Grrr..."

I can't say it. I don't want you to force onto me something you're unable to do yourself.

I brush Misae's father's hand away, pushing his grip firmly off my arm.

"Your daughter betrayed me. No matter what you say to me, I have zero interest in starting things back over with her like that. Goodbye."

Without looking back, I straighten out and head for home.

"Wait! At least hear me out! Just let me explain!"

This time, Misae's father clung to my legs.

"Do you know where she is now? Do you have any idea how she's doing?"

"I don't care. I have no interest."

"She's in debt! She's working in the entertainment industry to pay it off...!"

"That's exactly why I'm telling you I don't care."

...Debt, huh. So she's selling herself to pay it back. So what?

It has nothing to do with me anymore. Even though it has nothing to do with me...

I don't know why, but it felt like the book of Ookata Nani I had discarded was lying at my feet.

"I just can't stand seeing that girl suffer! I'm begging you! Akihiko, you're the only one who can save her from hell!" "That's none of my..."

"You were once husband and wife, weren't you!? You chose your daughter over abandoning even such a trivial dream! Tell me! Was Misae really that unimportant to you?!" ...Abandoning the dream.

Yes... when I chose Misae, I threw away another one of my precious things.

I abandoned my path as a writer and chose Misae.

...Just as it was a fact that Misae betrayed me. "I am..."

"Don't give me any of that garbage, you son of a bitch!" "Akari..."

When I turned around, there stood Akari, the blonde beauty.

Tears welling in her eyes... yet rage twisted her beautiful features.

She walked over and looked down at Misae's father.

"Want me to save your daughter? Don't make me laugh! That's the responsibility of your stupid daughter!" "St-My stupid daughter?..."

"She took out that loan on her own after you broke up with her! What does it have to do with you, bastard!"

"S-Shit... after breaking up with Mitsuhiko, I... went into debt..."

"The whole reason you split up was your stupid daughter's affair, wasn't it? You had it coming!" "Uggh..."

Misae's father was being completely steamrolled in the argument.

Akari's anger showed no signs of subsiding as she raised her voice even further.

"If you think your daughter is a poor thing, pay off the debt yourself! What makes you think it's okay to lean on someone else?" "I... we don't have..."

"You're probably just thinking that since Karin works for a major corporation, it'd be easier to reconcile and save your own wallet, right?!"

"Gh... s-shut up, you loudmouth!"

Struck by the truth of Akari's words, Misae's father stood up, his voice rising in anger.

Akari flinched, her body shrinking back, but she held her ground with a stern expression.

"A kid like you has no right to butt into a conversation between adults!"

"Getting worked up and yelling at a child... don't you feel ashamed as an adult?" "Gg..."

"Exploiting someone's kindness to offload the consequences of your daughter's screw-up on another person... is that really what being an adult means?"

Just then, Misae’s father clenched his fist.

"Don't you dare...! For a brat to be so bold, for a woman to be so audacious... You're nothing but arrogant!" Wham...! Thwack...! "Wha— what the hell, you—" "Akarin..."

I caught the fist of Misae’s father as he swung at me. "Enough already."

I twisted my arm and, without breaking form, executed a seoi-nage (shoulder throw). "Gh—ghaaah...!"

"Wh-wow... Akarin, did you practice Judo?" "Well... it’s what I learned in the old days."

I hadn’t mentioned that I had trained in Contact Karate and Judo, thinking I might never use such lore-specific knowledge. I held him firmly in the joint lock. "Ow! It hurts, it really does!"

"Going after an uninvolved child is absolutely despicable."

"S-shut up! Don’t tell me what to do! You... you kid... Ow ow ow ow!" I applied more pressure to the joint lock. "Don't ever lay a hand on that girl."

"I— I get it! I understand! Let me go!" I released Misae’s father from my hold. "Akarin..."

Akari clung to my arm, her body trembling. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that."

She had been shouted at by an adult and almost hit.

Of course she was terrified... I dragged a child into this. I need to reflect on this deeply. "W-wait... you..." Misae’s father got up.

"What the hell is that woman...?" "She's my precious child." "Geez, Akarin..."

Akari clings to me tightly once again.

I gently stroke her hair.

"I'm sorry, but if anything like this happens again, I'll make you face the consequences." "But—"

"The situation with Misae is your responsibility, just as she said. Handle it yourself. I have no connection to Misae anymore, and from now on, I have no intention of having anything to do with her—or with you." "But..."

"Get lost. Never bring your ugly adult problems in front of this child again."

Akari presses herself against my body, trembling.

I don't want to cast a dark shadow on this bright child.

I never wanted adult issues that cause such darkness to be discussed in front of her. "……"

Misae's father falls into a stunned silence. It's time for this to end.

"Stay out of our lives."

"You—you little shit! How dare you, you insolent brat! Don't talk to me like that!"

Again, he lunged to beat him up…… and then.

With a whoosh, someone stepped in front of me. Clenching his fist, he...

"Guaaahhhhhh!"

The man had smacked him square in the face.

Misae’s father flew back like a ball and blacked out. "W-who…… are you?"

Akari asked the man timidly.

Standing before us was a large man in a black suit.

"Hi there, I'm just a Terminaator passing by."

"T-Terminator……? Well, he kind of looks like one..."

"Oi, Akari, that's rude. Sorry about that." "No need to apologize at all."

The self-proclaimed Terminator lifted the unconscious father from the ground.

"It was just a coincidence; I happened to pass by. Since I overheard your conversation with Okatani-sama, I acted on impulse to help you out."

"Terminator-san, how do you know Akari's name?"

"H-Heh? Because I'm a... Terminator?" "Haa...?"

The man in the black suit cleared his throat.

"This person's behavior was intolerable. Do you not think [sanction] is necessary?"

"...No, even so, I think it would be wrong to raise a hand."

When I spoke, the man stammered, "T-That's true..."

For someone with such a tough appearance, he seemed like a coward.

"I-I'm sorry, since I am a Terminator..."

"Do you think saying that is enough?"

Akari's words left the man speechless.

"N-Now that a hand has been raised, I will take responsibility and take you to [the hospital]. Please leave [what follows] to me."

"Akarin, is it okay to leave him to us? I just... want to go home."

I decided to follow them to the hospital.

But Akari grabbed my arm, stopping me.

I mean, punching him was an issue, but he’d tried to protect us from those thugs.

Plus, while his answers had a few suspicious edges, it came across that he wasn’t a bad person. I’d leave it up to him.

"I'll take you up on that offer." "Leave it to me! Then—"

With a polite bow, the man who called himself a Terminator got into his limo and drove off.