Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: No Such Thing as a Beastly Girl
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"Uncle~ How about some flowers?"
What the heck is this?
"Flower language? Hmm. I don't really need any..."
"Aw~ Why not~ If you give your wife flowers at home, she'll treat you great for a while! Fresh flowers are so cliché... Ta-da~ Flower soap!"
"Oh. Soap? Wow. They make stuff like this nowadays? That's neat."
"Hehe. Right? It smells amazing and doesn't wilt! Plus, it's super pretty~"
In less than thirty minutes, she'd moved all the stock from the warehouse, dragged customers off the street, and now she was running over to folks coming out for lunch from the factory, showing off rose-shaped flower soaps and hawking her wares.
A grown woman acting like that would get finger-pointed and cursed out, but was this the privilege of kids?
The older uncles' lips curved into smiles, and soon enough, they were all filing into the shop, saying it wasn't a bad idea and buying one each.
"Oh, right! Uncle. Uncle. When you give her the flowers, sneak some money in there too!"
"Huh? Oh man~ Kiddo. Uncle's short on lunch money as it is."
"Aw~ But you give your wife pocket money, right~ Don't just deposit it in the bank! Roll up this month's allowance and tuck it inside the bouquet! She'll love it!"
"Whoa. Manager, that's not bad. The kid's smart."
"Pfft. Yeah. Buying flowers for the wife now and then ain't a bad idea."
"Should I get a huge bouquet for my confession?"
Watching Yuna grinning ear to ear, fitting right in with adults several times her size without a hint of fear... I got why Grandpa doted on her.
This wasn't just kid favoritism.
'Who could hate such a sweet, adorable little thing.'
"If you're confessing... Hmm~ Better than a bouquet—hold on! Sis! Flower box! Something with peonies or tulips!"
"Uh, yeah. Okay. One sec."
And for a kid, her sense was spot-on.
Confessing with a bouquet these days was way too cliché.
No flowers at all felt cleaner, less burdensome, less cringey.
A flower box, though? You don't know what's inside till you open it—builds anticipation. And it doesn't look overly flashy on the outside, so it's a safe pick.
"Oppa! What do you think? These pretty pink ones are peonies—they mean bashful love or 'I like you so much I can't leave your side'!"
"Oh..."
"Better than gaudy red roses, right~ Oh! And whatever you do, don't confess in public!"
"What? Why? Wouldn't bragging to everyone that we're dating make it even happier?"
"Whoa, our maknae almost made that poor girl cry."
"Thank this kid for saving you. We never confessed like that back in the day. Idiot. She must watch too many dramas."
"Argh! You'll regret it!! She'll slap your face and run off! Confess when you're alone! Don't overdo the mood-setting! You know~ Like watching a movie at home together, then slipping it to her casually at the end!"
'How does a seven-year-old know that?'
Poking the side of a relatively young guy in the uncle crowd, her face scrunched in horror.
Her actions screamed kid, but her thoughts... didn't?
Shouldn't kids just hand over candy or snacks for a confession?
Watching a movie alone at home with a guy and girl.
Yeah, she'd have to like him at least a bit to agree to that.
Right? Even if she wasn't expecting a confession, she'd feel comfortable or fond enough to hang out alone.
'Second time around at life? That level?'
"Hehe. If your confession works, you gotta come back and buy a ton from the shop! Promise!"
"Yeah, yeah. Promise."
After bowing deeply and sending them off with "Enjoy your meal!", she moved on to young women, guys... even high schoolers in uniforms.
Hmm.
'Wish I could beg her to actually work here for real.'
I'd house and feed her myself if she'd just help out.
Sales were higher than peak summer tourist season.
And it wasn't even dinner time yet... Wow. Holy crap. Insane.
"Yuna. Time for us to eat. What do you want?"
"Huh? Food? Hmm... Anything's fine! Baekban sounds good!"
"Whoa. No picky eating for our Yuna?"
"Nope!"
When I was her age, I'd throw massive tantrums over side dishes like seasoned bellflower roots.
Still wouldn't touch stuff like seasoned cucumbers today.
'Parents' wedding anniversary gift prep, right?'
I'd planned something simple, but changed my mind.
Time to make something fancy—not for sale.
Win her over like this, so maybe... yeah. In a few years, when I head to the mainland to start up, she'll come along.
"?? C-Can I really take this?"
"Of course. You worked so hard today, so your big sis made this special."
A simple white box tied with a gold ribbon—elegant at first glance.
Not your standard flower box... I couldn't hide my fluster.
Can I really accept this? I wasn't expecting anything like it.
It was a whole cake!
A fresh cream cake topped with strawberries, decorated with carnations, roses, and pretty blooms. Even the cake board had pink petals—pure artwork.
What really shocked me? Midway through work, she dragged me inside for a photo—me throwing up a V-sign—and there it was, printed right in the center.
"Like it?"
"Y-Yeah... I love it, but... is this really okay? Isn't it expensive?"
"Expensive? Nah. The cake's from the bakery by the pier—asked the auntie to make it. Camera from the hardware uncle."
Decorating was fun experience for her; she wants you to take it. Just tell her later how thrilled your parents were with their daughter's gift.
The slim, flat-chested shop owner patted my shoulder.
No, custom order is expensive. I didn't work that hard.
Just chatted people up like it was a game, giggled a bunch.
Deep down, I'd have been thrilled with a 20-30k won display item.
"One warning: Made it for you, so if you give it back, I'll get mad."
"...Th-Thank you!!"
"Hehe. Good. Now hurry home and share it. Great job today."
Bowed to the Flower Shop Owner, clutched the box with both hands—terrified it'd tip—and headed to Mom and Dad's secret villa.
Up the road, over the hill.
Normally a 10-minute run, but with my short legs, a slow 30-minute walk to the white villa Dad prepped for Mom.
Knock knock knock!
"Mom~ Dad~ Yuna's here~!"
"Our pretty girl. Finally. Should've come sooner—we wanted to eat with you~"
"Yeah. Grilled pork belly over charcoal tonight."
Pork belly!!
"N-No way... our village pig..."
"Haha. Dad doesn't wanna get beaten to death by his daughter~ Burari's fine, don't worry. What's that you're holding?"
"Oh! Good! Hehe. Gift for you two! Let's eat inside!"
Pork belly sounded tasty for a sec, but cake with Mom and Dad would be way better.
Mom took my gift gingerly, eyes wide in surprise.
Up close, her eyes glistened—she was touched.
"Y-Yuna..."
"Mom! Dad!"
I threw my arms wide, hugging into their embrace.
Normally for birthdays, but wedding anniversaries count too, right?
"Thank you for having me!"
They loved, married, had me.
"Thanks for always cherishing me so much!"
And for seven years, raising me with true love.
Guiding me to grow happy and healthy... This thanks is a child's duty.
But also tough to say.
Kids know it in their heads, not hearts.
Grown-ups? Awkward rifts with parents make it embarrassing.
Or maybe too late for some.
Still young, body seven. No shame.
"I love you! Mom! Dad!"
"...Yeah. Mommy loves our Yuna too."
A sniffle, her slender arms wrapping my back.
"Daddy loves his girl as much as Mommy."
Dad, minus his usual playfulness—steady, warm—stroked my hair.
"I'll be good, healthy, pretty daughter just like now!"
At my heartfelt finale, their hands froze...?
...?
Huh? Why'd they stop?
Pat me more. Pet me. Mom. Dad. Waaah. Poor little Yuna's seven.
Still crave those touches.
"Healthy and pretty... sure, but..."
"Yuna. If you have a conscience, 'good listener' shouldn't come from your mouth."
"..."
Ugh. Damn it. Ruined the moment.