I Will Return Again Chapter 11 Part2

It’s evening and I’m sitting at the dining table while in the kitchen. Mom and Miyuki are making dinner, which seems to be curry today. I hear Miyuki ask mom, ‘Do we have apples and honey?’ Thankfully, it seems as if the tense atmosphere has dispersed.

Dad came home from work a short while ago. He’s now sitting at the dining table as well, watching TV while having a drink. According to the label it's a Happoshu Beer, ‘There's only so much to enjoy, so don't be stingy and drink a pint of barley.’

(TN: Happoshu as the name implies, means ‘sparkling spirits.’ It’s actually a low-malt beer that is popular because it costs less, due to not really being considered beer under the tax laws.)

Since I’ve been sitting across from Dad with nothing to do, I’m reading my schedule for school. Eh? I have a cooking cla.s.s? I didn’t have to take that cla.s.s the first time around. It seems as if there are different cla.s.ses now that I am a girl.

“Uh, Tsukasa. Umm…” (Dad)

“Hmm…” (Tsukasa)

I absentmindedly reply to my dad while still looking at my schedule. What will we be cooking? Is it making cookies or something like that?

“How was school?” (Dad)

“There isn’t much to tell. Today was only homeroom and the entrance ceremony.” (Tsukasa)

“Did you make any friends?” (Dad)

“Yes.” (Tsukasa)

“Really?” (Dad)

If I have to take the cla.s.s anyway, I would like to learn how to cook dishes that are more elaborate. Maybe ones not normally made at home. Although, I do have to admit, I have zero cooking experience.

“Oh, by the way, you look really good in your uniform.” (Dad)

[Nnn~] “This is my first time showing it to you.” (Tsukasa)

“Oh, right.” (Dad)

[Fun~] (Tsukasa)

By the way, with everything that happened today, I’ve been too lazy to get changed out of my uniform. All I had taken off were my knee socks. I know what I said about my thighs being seen, but it’s not embarra.s.sing if it’s only my family. h.e.l.l, even on my first day of being a girl they had seen more.

“It might be a little hard on you, but I hope you will try to enjoy your high school life again. Try to do your best and remain optimistic.” (Dad)

“Eh? Okay.” (Tsukasa)

I’m quite surprised you know. My dad actually spoke to me. He normally just watches the news quietly with beer in hand.

“Eh? Tsukasa, do you want a drink?” (Dad)

My dad asks me and I look up from my schedule. My father is holding out a can of beer to me. Is dad's face is a little flushed? Could he be drunk?

“Umm, no thank you.” (Tsukasa)

“Eh? Why not? You used to go out drinking with me.” (Dad)

Oh, by the way, I have gone out drinking with my dad several times when he would invite me. Well, I’m sorry dad, I can't drink anymore.

“I can't drink because of the carbonation.” (Tsukasa)

“Oh, I had no idea.” (Dad)

I tell my father. After I do so, his dejected expression makes him look like he had just lost his only friend. Seeing him this way, it’s hard to believe he is the cornerstone of the family. Hmm, I have an idea. I set down my schedule, stand up, go to the kitchen, take a gla.s.s, go sit down by my father, and hold the gla.s.s out to him.

“Here, hold that.” (Tsukasa)

After my dad takes the gla.s.s, I grab his can of beer.

“I might not be able to drink, but I can hang out with you.” (Tsukasa)

Holding the beer with both of my hands, I pour it into the gla.s.s. I don’t know how to do it right, so more than half of the gla.s.s ended up being foam.

“Umm, it’s harder than I thought. Oh well, that’s alright. Go on drink, drink.” (Tsukasa)

“Ah, Yeah.” (Dad)

He picks up the gla.s.s and downs it in a single go. It almost seems like a lie that he was sipping it a short time ago.

“Oh, it’s great. The beer my cute daughter made for me is exceptional.” (Dad)

“I only did this for my own satisfaction. Nothing I did changed the taste.” (Tsukasa)

“It's totally different. It… You know, Miyuki takes care of your mom, doesn't she? Not that it really bothers me. It’s always been your dad's dream to have his daughter pour him a beer. That dream has finally come true, so of course the taste is better.” (Dad)

He says then laughs. Did you get drunk from the one gla.s.s I poured for you? Well, he looks happy, so it might really have been a dream he held.

“This was an easy dream to fulfill. If that’s all it takes, I’ll hang out with you anytime.” (Tsukasa)

“Really?! Then I will definitely ask you again!” (Dad)

“You bet! If Mii-chan takes care of Mom, I’ll do my best to take care of Dad.” (Tsukasa)

I say, a.s.suming a ‘guts pose’ for Dad. After all is said and done, my parents are quite a handful.