Chapter 60: Masao Haruno’s Sudden Return Home (Fourth Update!)

"I'm home!" Aoki Tsukasa pushed open the door and entered the house, placing the groceries by his side and crouching to take off his shoes.

"Wel...welcome home." Sora's voice sounded unexpectedly from upstairs. Tsukasa looked up and saw her peeking out from the second floor, giving him a shy, gentle smile.

He grinned in delight, "Mm! Wait just a moment, I'll wash my hands and start making sukiyaki for you."

Sora shook her head, her silver hair framing her flawless cheeks. "There's no rush..."

With that, she stepped down from her room, cradling a black rabbit plush toy in her arms.

"Sukiyaki shouldn't take too long. I checked online, the key is really in the soy sauce mix." Tsukasa carried the ingredients into the kitchen. Sora followed him like a little shadow, clutching her chocolate stick, sitting at the dining table. She didn't bite into the chocolate, simply held it between her lips, eyes half-closed as she watched Tsukasa bustling with the groceries.

"Tsukasa..." Sora finally bit off the chocolate, her words a little muffled, "Thank you for your hard work."

Tsukasa raised an eyebrow, about to reply, when suddenly his phone rang. He pulled it out—an unread message from an unknown number. He pursed his lips and decided to check it later.

"It's no trouble," he smiled. "I love eating meat anyway... By the way, we haven't seen Uncle Kasugano for days. Did you call him?"

Sora shook her head, thinking seriously. She realized she hadn't really missed her father much, but after just a morning apart from Tsukasa, she already felt a longing for him.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. She hugged her rabbit plush tighter, watching Tsukasa put on an apron and skillfully chop onions into neat pieces, then mushrooms and leeks, slicing them quickly and efficiently.

"Mm..." She swallowed the chocolate, sticking out her pink tongue to lick the chocolate from her fingers. "But Dad did send me a message."

"What did he say?" Tsukasa chatted as he sorted the ingredients.

Sora lowered her head, silver strands hiding her face. "Nothing much... Just asked what we've been up to lately."

Tsukasa smiled, pulling out the small iron pot already at home. He poured in hot oil and melted the beef fat. As he added the leeks and other ingredients, a tantalizing aroma filled the air, making Sora subconsciously lick her lips.

Tsukasa had already checked the recipe for sukiyaki on his phone on the way home. This Japanese-style hotpot wasn't difficult, the challenge was making the flavor richer. Luckily, he had enough cooking experience to recreate the basic taste.

"Did you tell him we went out shopping?" Tsukasa mused that Kasugano Masao would be startled knowing he took Sora to the mall.

Sora smiled, as if recalling something. "Not yet... Dad didn't message me yesterday for some reason."

Tsukasa set up the small gas burner on the table, placed the boiling sukiyaki pot atop, turned on the flame, and arranged the soy sauce mixed with egg yolk and slices of beef. He looked at Sora expectantly. "Sora, try it and see if it's good... It's my first time making sukiyaki, so I don't know if it'll suit your taste."

Sora murmured softly, holding her rabbit plush in one hand and picking up chopsticks with the other. She dipped a slice of beef in the sauce, blew on it, and popped it into her mouth.

"Mm..."

She frowned slightly, perhaps disturbed by the egg yolk's scent.

But soon, her expression relaxed. The sweetness of the soy sauce and broth blended well, and the egg yolk added a pleasant stickiness. The taste was unexpectedly delightful.

"It's delicious!" Sora looked at Tsukasa, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

Tsukasa finally breathed a sigh of relief, picking up his own chopsticks to try a bite. The flavor was indeed novel—his first taste of Japanese hotpot.

"As long as you like it." Tsukasa smiled warmly. Seeing her still clutching the plush toy he had given her, he couldn't help but gently persuade, "Why not set the toy aside for now? It's not very convenient."

Sora quietly placed the plush on the empty chair beside her and continued eating.

The two sat at the table, eating bite after bite until they were sweating.

Suddenly, the front door clicked open. A tired voice called from the entrance, "I'm home."

Kasugano Masao, weary-faced, sat at the entryway, tossing his suitcase aside and removing his shoes.

He sniffed the air and caught the aroma of sukiyaki. His gaze grew complicated as he sighed and walked into the living room, only to find Tsukasa and Sora staring at him in surprise.

"Uncle, how come you're back so suddenly?" Tsukasa set down his chopsticks and stood with a smile. "I bet you haven't eaten yet at this hour. Please, sit down—I'll pour you some water and get you a bowl and chopsticks. Join us."

Sora's expression wasn't as relaxed as when facing Tsukasa. She nodded to Kasugano Masao without expression, "Welcome home."

Kasugano hung his suit jacket on the chair, his eyes full of relief. "Did Tsukasa make all this?"

"Yes, it's my first time making sukiyaki. It might not be as tasty as Auntie's." Tsukasa brought him tea and tableware, then sat back down.

Kasugano Masao stared at Tsukasa's smiling face, then at his daughter, who seemed to have fully accepted Tsukasa—sitting across from him, eating contentedly. And the steaming hotpot on the table. For a moment, he felt as if he were dreaming.

With complicated feelings, Kasugano picked up his chopsticks and dipped a slice of beef into the pot.

"It's delicious..." Kasugano looked at Tsukasa, dazed, murmuring, "Tsukasa's cooking is really good..."

"Huh?" Tsukasa blinked, then laughed. "Uncle, what's wrong?"

Kasugano shook his head, rubbed his face, and managed a difficult smile at Tsukasa. "Tsukasa, truth be told, you're a child anyone would be proud of. I used to worry something would go wrong here... Thank you, truly. Bringing you home might be the best decision I ever made..."

Tsukasa frowned slightly, observing Kasugano's exhausted, haggard appearance. He sensed something unspoken behind his words.

"Uncle, did you run into trouble?" Tsukasa put down his chopsticks.

Kasugano chewed beef as if it were wax, his face darkening. He lowered his head—once upright despite a slight stoop, now completely slumped, like an old man near the end of his days, all his vitality gone.

"Nothing..." His smile was forced. "Do you two still have enough money? I might have to leave for the countryside this afternoon, to visit Sora's grandfather with your aunt. I probably won't be back for a while. I'll leave a credit card..."

"Uncle," Tsukasa said seriously, "Since you've been away these past days, I've found a job—I signed on as a fighter at the gym. The hourly wage is five thousand yen."

"If it's financial pressure... please, tell me! If possible, I'd like you to treat me as true family, and allow me to help you with everything I've got."

Tsukasa gazed at Kasugano Masao with unwavering sincerity.

Kasugano was stunned for a long moment, then slowly broke into a heartfelt smile—gentle and warm.

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