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nSakura adjusted her beige long coat and then walked into a grocery store.

nBeta had taken Rin out earlier in the day for practicing and streaming at the studio, so that left Sakura without much to do.

nSome of her work contacts had congratulated her on her miraculous recovery, but most just wanted her to get back to writing articles as soon as she could.

nSakura scoffed, remembering that thought, and shoved her hands into her coat pockets. “Heartless bastards.”

nYou’d think that they would do more than just say ‘Oh, great! Now could you get back to writing about the new video games coming out for the holidays?’ After all, Sakura had just had a miraculous recovery! From cancer of all things too!

nBut nooo. Those corporate goons were always about profits, business, and production. Come to think of it, did they even send her a card when she said she was going to be hospitalized? They didn’t, did they? Bastards.

nA soft chime echoed as Sakura walked into the store, her long brown hair trailing behind her as she did.

nShe rubbed the snow off her boots on the carpet at the main entrance. After that, she reached over to the stack of baskets to pick one up. But as she did, another person grabbed one first.

nSakura huffed and turned to chew out the person who did that. But then she saw who it was and sighed. “We have got to stop meeting like this, Kai.”

nThe former yakuza and current business man let out a nervous chuckle. “I agree, Sakura.”

nLike Sakura, Kai was wearing a long coat. However, his was a light gray, matching his salt-and-pepper hair.

nHe also wasn’t alone.

n“Daddy?” A cute young girl with light brown hair and clear blue eyes tugged on Kai’s jacket, hiding behind him. She wore a fuzzy pink coat with a cat-eared hood that was a size too big. However, it only added to the girl’s charm.

nSakura blinked and looked at the girl. “Whose brat is that?”

n“She’s not a brat, Sakura.” Kai sighed, adjusting the basket around his arm. “She’s my daughter.”

nSakura blinked again, staring hard at the girl.

nThe girl stared back, her blue eyes trembling but firm.

nAfter a few moments, Sakura said, “Wow.” She looked back at Kai and said, “Your daughter must really take after her mother, huh?”

nKai nodded. “She does. And say hello, Princess. This is one of Daddy’s friends too.”

nA casual request. However, there was a faint tremor in Kai’s voice as he said that. A faint undercurrent of worry.

nSakura quickly picked up on it. But it seemed like the man’s daughter didn’t.

n“…Hello.” The girl slowly stepped out from behind Kai and said, “I’m Tsuki.”

nSakura smiled and bowed her head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tsuki-chan! I’m Sakura.” She poked Kai and said, “Your father and I go waaaay back. In fact, I knew him when he was even younger than you are right now.”

n“Really?” Tsuki frowned, seeming skeptical. “But I thought Daddy didn’t have any girl friends…” Saying that, she turned back to look at Kai.

nThe man started to sweat. “E-Ehem. Princess, that’s- Well, you see Daddy…”

nSakura chuckled and decided to throw the man a bone. “That’s right, Tsuki-chan. Your Daddy’s too straight-laced to have any girlfriends… Well, other than your Mommy. As for me…” She pointed to herself and said, “I’m just your Daddy’s mean and cranky childhood friend.”

nTsuki blinked and then said, “Sakura nee-san doesn’t seem mean…”

nSakura’s eyes widened and then she chuckled. “Nee-san?” She reached over and patted Tsuki’s head. “Well aren’t you a cutie?”

n“E-Eh? Eh? Eh?” Tsuki blinked, confused at Sakura’s actions.

nThe brown-haired woman leaned back and smiled. “Well, hearing that made my crappy day better. Glad to see that I haven’t lost my looks quite just yet.”

nKai nodded. “I know. It’s a miracle, all things considered.”

n“Daddy!” Tsuki poked her father and said, “That’s rude!”

nSakura crossed her arms and looked down at Kai with a mocking smile. “Right. Listen to your daughter, Kai. Maybe then you’ll be popular with the ladies.”

nTsuki huffed, rounding on Sakura. “Daddy doesn’t need to be popular with the ladies! He already has me and Mommy!”

nSakura froze, suddenly remembering what Kai had mentioned about Tsuki’s mother. When she did, her expression softened and she gently patted Tsuki’s head. “That’s right. Your Daddy has you and your mommy now, so you keep him safe, alright? If you’re not careful, some evil witch might snatch him up.”

nTsuki nodded. “I will!”

n“Good girl.” Sakura pulled her hand back and then said, “Now, I’m off to buy groceries, so you two have a good day, alright?” She waved and said, “It was nice meeting you, Tsuki-chan.”

nWith that, she turned to leave. But before she could, someone grabbed her coat.

nSakura blinked and turned around to see Tsuki reaching out with her hand.

n“W-Wait, Sakura nee-san!”

nSakura tilted her head. “Yes, Tsuki-chan?”

n“U-Um…” Tsuki turned to look at her father and then motioned for Sakura to bend down.

nAmused, Sakura did.

nTsuki leaned up and whispered, “Could you help Daddy pick out groceries? I don’t want to keep eating bentos from the convenience store.”

nSakura froze and then glared at Kai.

nThe middle-aged man flinched and said, “What?”

nSakura walked forward and snatched the basket out of Kai’s hands before saying, “I knew you were still an unreliable bastard. Feeding your kid with bentos from the konbini… What kind of father are you?”

nKai winced. “T-That…”

nSakura started walking and said, “Come on, Tsuki-chan. Let me teach you what to get since your father obviously can’t be trusted to buy proper groceries.”

n“Okay~!” Saying that, Tsuki skipped after Sakura. When she did, Sakura handed her Kai’s basket.

nTsuki took it with a smile and then walked beside Sakura. As she did, Kai took up the rear, walking a short distance away but remaining quiet.

nSince that was the case, Sakura took the time to get a better look at the young girl.

nCute and adorable… but also not the girl that Sakura was expecting when Kai said he had a daughter.

nTsuki was clearly a ‘half’, just like Alpha and Beta were.

nWell, Beta seemed more complicated than just a ‘half’ considering her hair color and eyes… which reminded Sakura that she still needed to get more details about John’s past. But the main point was that Tsuki’s mother obviously wasn’t Japanese. And from the girl’s delicate and elegant features, almost like a real princess’s, her mother couldn’t have been ordinary.

nWhich made Sakura wonder if Tsuki really was Kai’s child considering his past.

nBut now that she was closer, Sakura could see traces of Kai in Tsuki. The way she smiled was a more adorable version of Kai’s awkward grin. Her ears were like Kai’s, and her eyes, while still soft from youth, were sure to be sharp like her father’s when she was older. Paired with the regal and elegant facial features, the girl was bound to attract all sorts of trouble in the next few years once her beauty blossomed. A refined beauty with sharp eyes and yet a kind personality…

nTsuki looked up and frowned. “Is something wrong, Sakura nee-san?”

nShe shook her head. “No. I was just thinking how cute you are compared to your father.”

nTsuki huffed. “Sakura nee-san really is mean. Daddy isn’t that bad.” She paused. “Well, compared to Mister John, I guess he isn’t as cool, but-“

nSakura paused. “Mister John?”

nTsuki smiled. “Mmhm! That’s Daddy’s other old friend! He took me to meet him the other day.” Her eyes lit up and she said, “Do you know him too?”

nSakura frowned. “I do know a Mister John, actually. But I didn’t think that your Daddy knew him too.” She glanced back. “Kai? Do you know John Smith?”

n“Hm?” Kai nodded. “I know a John Smith. But you’ll have to be more specific than-“

n“A punchable riajuu face. Blonde, spiky hair that’s almost gold. Clear blue eyes that seem almost green under the right lighting. Two daughters, almost impossibly beautiful?”

n“Ah.” Kai slowly nodded. “Then I do. But…” He frowned. “How do you-?”

nSuddenly, he froze.

nSensing something off, Sakura stopped walking and turned around to look at him. “Kai?”

n“Er… Sakura. What was your daughter’s name again?”

n“…Rin.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

nKai started to sweat. “And you know John? John Smith? As in the foreigner- Well, naturalized foreigner who runs Myth Incorporated?”

nSakura raised an eyebrow. “Is there more than one?”

nKai groaned, covering his face.

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