"Dad, bring out all your best dishes. I'm the guest today!"
Following some back and forth, before night fully fell, the brothers arrived at Onshin's family restaurant. She had dragged them there under the excuse of saving Toji some money.
"Alright, alright. Would the three of you mind waiting a little while?"
A middle-aged man stepped out of the kitchen. Though he had a noticeable belly, his face carried none of the greasy air of a typical man of his age. Smiling, he walked up to them.
"Why? There don't seem to be many customers tonight." Onshin looked around. Only a few people were scattered inside, so she couldn't help but question him.
"Don't ask so much. Go outside and change the sign to 'Closed'."
He didn't answer directly. After giving the order, he turned back to the kitchen to keep working.
"That's weird." She pouted in confusion but still followed her father's instructions.
"What do you think he wants with you?"
Mukuro looked at his brother, his face full of amusement. Both of them, with senses far sharper than ordinary people, could tell the man's eyes had been fixed on Toji from the start.
"No idea." Toji scratched his head. In his memory, he had barely exchanged a few greetings with the man. They'd never actually talked.
* * *
Half an hour later.
With the owner's quick cooking and endless apologies, the restaurant was finally emptied of all customers. Only the four of them remained.
"Done at last!"
After closing up, the owner pulled out every trick he had. Along with Onshin, he laid out a full spread across the table. Mukuro's eyes widened at the sheer amount of food.
"Ahem. I never properly introduced myself, did I? My name is Ryu Takatsuki, Onshin's father. Since her mother passed away early, I've been filling both roles. Please take care of her."
Once the food was all set, he disappeared briefly into the back, then returned in a suit and tie. He sat down across from Toji, serious-faced, and extended his hand.
"I'm Toji. Pleased to meet you," Toji replied after a short pause, reaching out to shake it.
"I'm Mukuro," the boy added, offering his hand next.
"Nice to meet you." Ryu didn't dismiss him because he was a child. He shook his hand with the same sincerity.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Onshin frowned. Her guests had been starving for a long time, yet he was acting strangely.
"Eat," he said simply, waving off her complaint.
The meal itself was hearty. Toji and Mukuro ate with full satisfaction, but father and daughter both looked like something weighed heavily on their minds.
"Drink? I've got some good stuff stored away."
When the plates were nearly empty, Ryu pulled out two bottles of strong liquor, handing one toward Toji.
"I don't like alcohol." He rejected it outright. Because of his Heavenly Restriction, alcohol had no effect on him. For him, water was more worthwhile.
"That's fine. How about we talk about the real matter then?" Ryu popped the cap and drank straight from his own bottle. At last he steered the night to his true purpose.
"Go ahead." Toji had already guessed he wanted to talk. He'd been waiting.
"I usually don't interfere much in Onshin's life, especially when it comes to relationships. But she just got into Kyoto University's medical program. Can you take responsibility for her now?"
The table, which had felt warm and pleasant, suddenly became something else. It was now a place for a father-in-law and potential son-in-law to speak frankly.
"Huh? Dad, what are you talking about?!" Onshin's face turned scarlet, like a shrimp thrown into boiling water. She had never imagined the topic would shift like this.
"This isn't something to be careless about." Ryu's usual easy-going expression vanished. His face was firm and serious.
"So that's what you meant…" Toji blinked, then slowly understood. He didn't respond right away. His eyes fell on Onshin, who was also looking back at him, her gaze carrying expectation and nervousness.
"Yeah… I'll take responsibility."
He scratched his head, but his eyes didn't waver as he met Ryu's.
The two had known each other for a long time, feelings building quietly. The relationship should have naturally taken this step long ago, but Toji had held back because of the age gap and his disdain for the Zenin clan. Now, with her father putting it on the table, there was no reason to avoid it. As long as she wanted it, he would stand by her.
Hearing his reply, Onshin buried her face in her hands, even her fingers blushing red.
"It's good for a young man to have a sense of duty. I often hear Onshin mention you. I can tell she really likes you," Ryu continued. "This is her choice, and I'll support it. But she's still my only daughter. I have to talk with you about the future."
He sighed deeply at the sight of his daughter, then turned back to Toji, asking about his plans.
Time ticked by. The minute hand on the wall clock hadn't even made half a circle, but to Onshin it felt like a lifetime had passed. Her cheeks burned the whole time, her head dizzy with embarrassment at the topics they covered.
* * *
After nearly half an hour, the conversation finally ended.
"Well then, the matters of young people should be left to the young themselves. I just wanted to hear your thoughts, that's all. Don't take it too heavily."
With that, Ryu finished the liquor in one gulp, then slumped forward onto the table.
"Sorry, Toji-san. My dad…"
Onshin tapped his shoulder, only to find him passed out. She hurried to apologize.
"It's fine. It's getting late anyway. We should go," Toji interrupted her, lifting Mukuro onto his shoulder and getting ready to leave.
"True. It's not good for a kid his age to be out this late," Onshin agreed, walking them to the door.
"Onshin."
"Hm?"
Just as they were about to part, Toji spoke.
"Wait for me."
"Okay."
She smiled brightly and, ignoring Mukuro's stunned face, threw herself into his arms. After a moment she pulled away, her voice soft but firm.
"I'll always wait for you."
"Yeah."
He glanced down and saw Mukuro's wide-eyed, smirking look. For once, the normally composed man felt his own face heat. He quickly answered, grabbed the boy, and hurried off.
"He's a good boy."
From behind her, her father's voice suddenly rose.
"Dad? You weren't drunk?!" She spun around, bewildered. His face showed no hint of drunkenness.
"Drunk? Don't joke with me. Back in the day, I was famous for being able to hold my liquor."
He patted her shoulder with a grin, then shook his head and went back inside to clean up.
It was enough for him to know that the man his daughter cared for would treat her well.
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