章 9: Chapter 6: Flexing
(Minoru's POV)
In a flash, the couple whom Ai is personally close to visited us, and I know they're not thrilled about the idea of me, my kids, and their mother all living under the same roof. Particularly, the president of Ai's idol agency, Strawberry Productions, is dead set against it.
"Ahem! So, you..."
The man named Saito Ichigo cleared his throat, looking visibly worn out by this family situation.
"You want to take responsibility for them?" he asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Damn right."
Just by looking at his face, it's clear this guy is on the brink of a breakdown.
Wondering why? Because his number one employee almost died, and the fact that I'm here to add fuel to the fire, he's also worried that I'm just some wild card who'll push him over the edge again.
But, I'm not here to be a pain in the ass.
I have respect for him and his wife. Ichigo was there for Ai when she gave birth to our twins, and his wife took care of them while Ai was working her ass off.
"Thank god... if that's how you put it," he sighed. "Well... I guess it'll make things easier. Still, it's risky as hell for you to be living with Ai." He gave me a skeptical look. "Honestly, it seems impossible. In my opinion, just sending money should cover your 'responsibility.' My wife can handle—"
"I can't do that."
"Huh? Alright, alright... so let me get this straight. You're not planning to get back together with Ai, are you?"
He glanced at me and then at Ai, who was sitting beside me.
If you're wondering, I don't see Hoshino Ai as a love interest—yet.
What I need from her is to help raise the kids. I don't care if she can't do housework; if she's with the kids, that's good enough for me.
Got a problem with my ego? Yeah, it's as massive as my 'weapon'.
For me, if love isn't about obsession, then it's not even called love.
But don't get me wrong. My goal isn't to be a jerk. I respect Ai, I'm not here to lovey-dovey it up with her. Do you want me to believe we're head over heels after a brief reunion? No way.
(A/N: Even if he did it with Ai just once, they should at least date first because Ai is Japanese and Asian culture is different from Western. No offense, I'm just pointing out the cultural differences.)
The reality is that we're in this situation for our kids.
On the flip side, Ai knows that she needs me to bring in extra income so the kids can have opportunities and a better place to live. She's yet to discover just how deep my pockets are, but I'm about to flex it!
I've already proved I'm a good cook—scratch that, a godly chef.
Plus, I saved Martha and kept the kids from turning into nighttime vigilantes.
Slowly but surely, I'm building trust with my kids. But, I've got to step up my game even more.
And here's the thing, I don't need to hear from people who've never had kids, wagging their fingers about how unrealistic it is that I care about my kids, even though I just met them. Shut the hell up, you virgin! You're out here with no one to bang, thinking you can lecture the great me, who became a dad at 16?
Whatever it takes, I'm obligated—damn, that sounds cringy—but it's a father's duty, and I can't help it as my kids have a right to my care.
Now, if they somehow turn out not to be mine according to a damn DNA test, well, it's as simple as me walking away, right?
But come on, I know Aqua and Ruby are mine.
Why? By the beard of Thor Odin-son, how can I be damn sure they're my kids and not Laufey's twin kids!?
The answer lies in the logic of this world. You can tell they're mine just by looking at them, judging by their eye color and, most clearly, their hair color.
Yeah, the world I was reborn into works like that. Just so you know, my hair color is rare, so I'm always sporting a wig when I'm on a mission.
So, don't you dare suggest I hide my hair when I'm around my kids? If you think that, go ahead and fuck yourself. Or better yet, I'll personally jam a damn pencil into your ears.
"I'm here for my kids, and you don't need to worry that anything will change," I paused as I handed him the iPad I had been using, "I intend to spoil my kids and their mommy," I said as I patted Ai's head, feeling her warmth somehow increasing.
He examined the contents I'd shared. "I see, but... why are you giving me a tour of this place? I'll admit, it looks pretty upscale." He swiped through the information and fixed me with a questioning gaze.
In his eyes, I was probably just a pretty dude with no job or money. He likely thought I was coming to Ai's place with some made-up story to take care of my kids. No need to get upset; I remained composed.
"This is our new home," I met his gaze with unwavering confidence, "I understand your concerns about Ai's safety. I know you've invested a lot in this rented apartment, but given the current situation, things have become more precarious." I grinned at them, "I believe my presence here could be a positive thing, don't you?"
My revelation that I indirectly owned that place left both him and his wife astonished, their gasps portraying disbelief.
Breaking it down, Ai's agency is in a tight spot financially, so they can't offer up a bunch of choices for her new home. That's why I'm planning on taking this chance seriously.
"I-I get it, so you're loaded, huh?" Ichigo smiled with a little twitch.
"I guess you could say so," I chuckled. "But anyway, how about we take a look around first?"
---
They agreed to take a look around Minoru's place while still pondering what this guy's profession might be. A glance confirmed that he was indeed handsome, but it wasn't clear if he was capable.
Everyone was ready, but since the Genkan was a tight space, they waited to put on their footwear.
They observed Minoru putting on his boots, and as they looked at him, they couldn't help but gasp. He was dressed entirely in black: round sunglasses, a turtleneck sweater, jeans, and boots, and he looked impressive.
"Hey, I've been wondering, are you a model?"
Ai asked skeptically.
It was a reasonable assumption given how he looked even better than a professional model. Ai, Ichigo, Miyako, and the twins all seemed to think he might be involved in the fashion industry, at the very least.
"I'm not," Minoru replied, shaking his head slightly, which caused Ai to tilt her head. "Kiddo, let's head to Dad's car."
"Huh? You have a car?" Aqua was surprised, as he had assumed they would all ride in the President's minivan.
Minoru chuckled.
"Heh... excited, aren't you!? Well, you're a man after all." Minoru walked over to Aqua, who was standing beside Miyako.
"..." Miyako blushed and flinched, feeling overwhelmed by him.
"Uwaa!" Aqua was startled as Minoru picked up and placed him around his neck.
"Ai, you can take Ruby with you. It's probably not a good idea for us to be in the same car. Ichigo-san, is that good?"
"Um~ sure," Ai said, her eyes sparkling as she saw them like that.
Ichigo nodded, appreciating that Minoru seemed to understand the situation and wasn't trying to be difficult. He was fine with having the twins in his car, as long as Ai wasn't there.
"Yeah, I'll drive my car and follow you."
Minoru nodded, leading the way to the parking lot. He reached the lot, and Aqua's mouth dropped open as he looked at the car.
"Aqua, do you like it? It's the new generation of the 911."
"Uh.... y-yeah, I like it," Aqua responded. He had a different mindset than the other kids; he was definitely into this hot ride.
"Don't try to steal the keys, you're too short for that, lol," Minoru laughed.
"Ugh, I know, don't rub it in," Aqua retorted, feeling a bit insulted by his short legs.
'Maybe I should start using an SUV from now on?' Minoru considered.
He didn't particularly enjoy driving a five-seater car because it wasn't as fun, but with two kids, it made sense to think about getting one to accommodate them all. He chuckled at the thought of embracing the role of a dad and settling down; the idea wasn't unappealing.
"All right, there you go," Minoru secured Aqua in a child seat he had prepared. "Buckle up," he added before getting into the car himself.
The scene resembled a heartwarming father-son moment, causing Ichigo, Ai, Miyako, and Ruby to pause and watch from a distance.
"Hey, President, isn't your bus a bit... well, boring?" Ai remarked, glancing between Minoru's car and the minivan.
"Shut it, you darn idol. It's a car, okay," Ichigo replied dismissively as he headed for his minivan.
"Wow~ you're a stingy old man," Ai chuckled as she reviewed the photo she had just taken.
"Hmm, I think I'll use this as my new wallpaper." She smiled, selecting a picture of Minoru's back with Aqua on his shoulder.
"Miyaemon... you should've gotten a better car for Ai," a sigh from her, "Imagine a top idol in that... thing," Ruby whispered to Miyako, giving a disgusted look towards the tofu minivan.
Holding Ruby's hand, Miyako winced. "Geez, don't ask for the impossible," she thought, feeling close to tears.
'Tch, she's so lucky,' Miyako envied Ai.
'If it were me, I'd retire as an idol and lead a happy family life with him.' She stole glances at Minoru with longing before sighing in disappointment.
-Bam!
A loud noise interrupted their thoughts as Ichigo slammed open the sliding door of the minivan.
He glanced at them, wearing a mocking smirk. "Alright, it's time to wake up to reality... and get in!!!"
"..." Silence from Ai, Miyako, and Ruby.
It seemed they were all tempted to smack him.
As time passed and Minoru drove, he decided to have a brief chat with Aqua.
"I'm sorry," Minoru began, his poker face fixed on the road. "I know it's strange to have strangers suddenly become part of your family."
Aqua's embarrassment was evident; he realized he had been found out.
Was his face that easy to read? Aqua thought.
"It was o-okay, I guess... because, um, you want what's best for us," Aqua replied, causing Minoru to raise an eyebrow.
'If he is useful, it's good for Ai and Ruby. But I'm also suspicious of him...' Aqua remembered the stalker and recalled the look of fear on the stalker's face as Minoru closed the apartment door.
'Could he have done something to that guy?' Aqua pondered, trying to match that with what he had heard.
'A solid answer,' Minoru began to suspect that his twin kids weren't ordinary.
'Could they be like me?'
The fact that he was a reincarnated soul couldn't be explained scientifically, so it was a possibility he was considering.
'Nah, that's a dumb idea.'
If reincarnation were a common thing, he would expect the world's history would be a dog shit; Imagine Einstein or Michael Jackson dealing with memories from another parallel universe. But nope, everything was pretty much the same as in his old world, just with a fresh timeline.
"We're here," Minoru opened the car door as he parked in the basement parking lot.
"Yanagi-san, why are there no other cars beside us?" Miyako asked, clearly curious about the empty basement.
"This section is just for me, so it's only us here."
"Wait, what? This is private for you?" Miyako's mouth hung open.
"Yeah, doesn't that provide good privacy and safety?"
They nodded, a bit puzzled by what seemed like rich people's logic.
"I don't get it, Is that supposed to be special?" Ai looked clueless.
"It's not just special, it's over-the-top for him alone. It means— sigh... he has a lot of money to spare," Ichigo chimed in, acknowledging that Minoru was helping, but perhaps going a bit overboard.
"Hello, can we focus? It's just a parking lot. Let's get inside first."
[Rumbling! Rumbling!—]
Once they were all in the elevator, a quietness settled in, accompanied by unfamiliar music playing in the background.
"Why are there so few buttons here?" Ai observed the floor selection panel.
"This is a private elevator as we're going straight to the penthouse, and yes, no waiting for other people."
Minoru's words left them all wondering just how wealthy he was.
"Sigh, alright, alright..." Ichigo raised a white flag. "Ai, you can stay with this guy. Make sure he takes care of you and the kids."
"Is that so? You're not planning to sue me, right?" Ai narrowed her eyes cutely at him.
"I'd lose in the blink of an eye thanks to your super boyfriend," Ichigo responded, clearly not interested in messing with Minoru.
"Anyway, just don't try to make any more kids..." Those words made Ai blush like hell, "Ai, are you hearing me!?"
Ichigo's words made the twins flinch, with Miyako giving him a harsh bonk on the head.
"Language, Ichigo!!!"
Miyako shouted, her cheeks turning pink as she allowed herself to imagine Minoru and Ai in that scenario.
It was evident that there was no need for further testing; this was beyond their expectations.
They didn't need to worry about another stalker bothering Ai, considering that Minoru's place was top-notch in every possible way.
As the elevator came to a stop, the doors opened to reveal a level of luxury that spoke different languages to announce just how financially broke they were.
"Holy sh— Oi, young man, how on earth did you manage to get this place and all the money?" Ichigo's mouth was agape, his hesitation to move showing his fear of tarnishing the floor.
Ichigo's question seemed to momentarily stump Minoru, but he needed a response.
"Because I'm Batman?"
Minoru smirked, picking up his frozen-in-shock son and daughter. He walked ahead, thinking to himself, 'I'll take that as... mission completed.'
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