章 26: Chapter 26

"Father."

Roused from his thoughts by Zoro's call, Toji noticed Zoro pointing at a box containing a quaint little drum in the front seat of the cart.

"How about this? I think Megumi would like it."

"What is it?"

"It's a drum that plays songs when pressed. Different songs play depending on where you press."

The house would be filled with the sound of music. Toji was opposed to the idea. Yet, seeing Zoro's genuinely joyful face, he found himself unable to say no.

Zoro took a headband with pig ears attached from the shelf.

"And this too."

"...And why that?"

"Because it was funny when you wore it."

Is this marimo my child? Toji felt irritated, but the sight of the small, round, green head cooled his anger. A sigh escaped him.

"Do as you like."

"Then, we're getting this too."

Toji watched with disapproval as Zoro tossed the pig ears headband into the cart.

'I thought Chie was the only one who could get me to wear something like that.'

Toji suddenly realized. For the first time since that day, he thought of Chie without sadness or grief.

Unconsciously, he placed his hand over his heart. Pain slowly spread as his heartbeat began to quicken, a pain that was both agonizing and somewhat reassuring.

Nothing much had changed. He still hadn't visited Chie's grave, thinking of Chie still hurt, sometimes Megumi's spiky hair reminded him of her, and it inevitably dampened his mood, and looking into Zoro's eyes, identical to hers, made his heart sink.

Someday, Toji would think of Chie again. Many times it would hurt, but someday, like now, he would remember her without any pain. And as time passed, those moments would become more frequent.

"..."

Whether it was a bad thing or a good thing, Toji couldn't decide.

Chie was Zenin Toji's first salvation, his love.

"Father."

Toji barely turned his eyes to look at Zoro, who asked with his usual calm gray eyes.

"Do you want anything for yourself?"

"...Like what?"

"Your birthday is coming up too, Dad."

'Soon it's your birthday, Toji.'

...The words overlapped. The words from his son in front of him and those from the person he loved most. Feeling dizzy, Toji covered his eyes with one hand.

"Nothing."

Knowing Zoro was looking at him, Toji couldn't bring himself to lower his hand. Then he heard Zoro's calm voice.

"Then let's go back."

"...Alright."

Toji felt a small warmth touch the hand that was gripping the cart handle tightly.

The small hand that gently touched the back of his own made Toji smile unwittingly. Such a kind child. And strong too. In many ways, he was more than Toji deserved. The same went for Megumi.

He lowered the arm that had been covering his eyes and used it to ruffle Zoro's hair. It felt prickly, like touching a ball made of grass.

Zoro was not like any child, and what he truly was, was still unclear. Growing up too fast, already knowing too much, there was little Toji could teach him. Rather, it was Toji who often received lessons from Zoro, and there wasn't much he had given or could give.

But the fact that Zoro was Toji's son remained unchanged.

"Thank you."

Zoro nodded his head vigorously.

"Let's go, home."

Then he pointed towards the path leading to the "No Entry" area for unauthorized personnel. Toji found himself laughing.

At least bringing this directionally challenged marimo home was something he could do.

...

On his first birthday, Megumi excitedly banged on the drum he received as a gift at home.

"Kyaa!"

Megumi hit the drum so vigorously that the music never reached its end, constantly changing midway. Fortunately, since it was designed for babies, the sound wasn't loud, but it was still chaotic.

Zoro seemed bothered by the noise, his expression slightly furrowed. See, I knew this would happen. Toji, fiddling with the cumbersome pig ears headband, thought indifferently.

"Onii!"

Megumi extended the drum towards Zoro. Resigned, Zoro began to play the drum alongside Megumi. Focused solely on the drum, the carefully prepared birthday meal began to cool off.

"Woo! Woo!"

"Megumi, calm down a bit... Ah, that tickles!"

Trying to encourage him to hit harder, Megumi stuck his hand inside Zoro's shirt and tickled him. However, for Zoro, who could even deflect a baton from Toji, Megumi's fingers only tickled.

"Papa! Papa!"

When Megumi called, Toji approached him, feeling as if he were walking towards his inevitable doom. Then, following Megumi's lead, he tapped the drum with his palm. Despite his exceptional hearing as a sorcerer screaming in dissonance, he just endured it.

"Doo! Doo!"

"Let's calm down now, Megumi. Megumi?"

"Onii!"

"..."

Toji played the drum absent-mindedly. It was noisy, but it was a better birthday than a quiet one.