I sat on my armchair and sighed.
"So like… where am I again?"
"Dad!!! Dad! Look at this drawing I made for you!"
Right…
I picked this kid up from a dumpster three days ago…
Was it three? Probably. My brain has been dying since day one.
I sighed again but still took the paper she handed to me.
"Oh, this looks cute." I patted her head.
She beemed immediately, and I could see her eyes sparkling. "Hehehe, thank you, Dad! Ivy made this just for you." Then she hugged me tightly.
Sigh… So I have a daughter now?
Well… this is durable.
I patted her head again and forced a smile.
And of course, let out another sigh, heavier this time.
"I wonder how this happened. And what this thing is saying again."
────────────────────────
[Accept/decline] :D. pick!!!
────────────────────────
The glowing text floats lazily in the corner of my vision.
I glare at it.
Still there.
Still glowing.
Still annoying.
I swat at it again.
My hand passes through it again.
"…Whatever."
This stupid thing has been following me since that night.
***
>Three Days Ago>
The city was quiet that night.
Too quiet.
Neon lights flickered like tired fireflies.
The sky was cloudy, hiding the stars, if there were any left. Stray trash everywhere.
I took a late-night walk that I… magically decided to take. No plan. No destination. Just me, the road, and the weird static buzzy in the air that felt… wrong.
Then I heard something rustling inside a dumpster.
"What was that…?" I muttered.
Curiosity got me, so of course, I went to check.
Step. Step. Step.
I stood in front of the dumpster. Because obviously, I had to peek. And then I saw something under the trash.
"A kid!?"
There was a kid curled up inside, wearing dirty rags that looks like it used to be a hoodie and pants. She then hugged herself, while shivering in the cold air. "Mphhh…"
I dramatically covered my mouth and gasped. W-what a poor kid… tch, I really should stop this kind of joke.
Sigh. "What the hell... who would do such a thing?"
"Hmmm..." Another sigh. "Well, I'm pretty bored and I really don't know what to do."
The streetlight above flickered. And for a moment, I swear I saw small shimmering particles falling around the dumpster, like dust, but glowing faintly.
I blinked.
Gone.
"Hmmm... sure, I guess."
I sighed, picking her up gently, and carrying her in my arms. Her eyes then slowly open. She then let out a small gasp.
She stared at me with wide, terrified eyes.
"W-what are you doing, MISTER!?"
Yeah... bad choice. I guess?
I let out a small laugh. Well... You just saved me from a very boring night.
I meant it in a good way. I think. But not in a bad way tho.
"Well, you looked so cold and miserable over there, and I couldn't stop myself from picking you up."
She tugged weakly, trying to pull away, but she was far too cold, and too weak.
"P-please... don't hurt me…" Her voice was barely a whisper, full of fear and trauma.
"Hurt you? No, no, no... of course not. I'm not that kind of person," I said immediately.
"Don't worry. I won't." Guilt hit me a bit, so I patted her head. I felt her flinch, like she expected pain instead of comfort. Probably not used to gentle touches.
"Kid… do you have anyone you can go home to?"
She shook her head. Tears trembled in her eyes.
"N-no… The orphanage… treated me badly… so I left…"
The air felt colder. Or maybe that was just me.
Good... At least no one's gonna come looking for her.
"T-that's... so sad." I kept Patting her head.
"It's okay... I'm used to being alone..."
I stopped and brushed her messy hair aside.
"Well, you better not get used to it now. Because today, I'm going to take care of you."
My hand slowly went from patting to comforting, strokes.
Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She stared like she was searching for a lie.
"Didn't know I'm good at this," I muttered.
"G-good with what? R-really?" she whispered. And a single tear rolled down in her dirty cheek.
I guess... I'm good at this?
She clung to my neck, trembling.
"You're not going to leave me too... right? P-please... don't leave me alone again…"
"Sure." But what's with the Again? And that too bothered me.
I patted her back. "But first, we need to go home so we can take a bath."
Her eyes sparkled. "Bath... hehe... yes! Let's go home and take a bath!"
But then something cold hit my shoulder.
I looked up. Rain.
Her smile fell instantly.
She curled closer, shivering harder.
"C-can we go somewhere first? Somewhere we can hide from the rain...? Please?"
I smiled and stroke her head. "Yes, sure. Let's go home now."
Let me hit you with a combo.
"Our home." I whispered it softly.
The kid froze for a second, then her heart practically exploded in happiness.
"O-our home..." She whispered as if the words were too precious to say.
As rain poured, she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and buried her face into my shoulder.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
Her voice trembled with overwhelming relief.
"I promise I'll be good…
I'll be the best daughter ever…"
———
WE'RE GONNA AIM FOR TOP 1 IN WSA!!!! LETS GOOOO... well uh....ngl I don't know if my book is interesting but... Like yk I might waste your time... But ty if you're gonna read it *HEART*