Accidentally become a father-Chapter 42: Breaching the Gossip Barricade
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We left the apartment at exactly seven o’clock.
The narrow hallway was the same as always. Slightly faded wall paint, a row of parked bicycles, and the smell of laundry detergent from the next unit.
Yuna walked beside me.
The blue bag on her back looked a little too big.
Her steps were neat.
Too neat.
The moment we reached the external stairs of the apartment, I spotted them.
Three housewives.
Standing at the end of the narrow alley.
A classic formation.
One holding a shopping bag.
One holding a smartphone.
One just standing there with folded arms.
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The moment they saw us—
Their chatter stopped.
All heads turned in unison.
Their gazes shifted from me... to Yuna... then back again.
The local gossip radar system had been activated.
Beside me, Yuna’s pace changed.
Her back suddenly straightened.
Her shoulders pulled back.
Her chin lifted slightly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
I didn’t need to look at her face to know what she was doing.
Public mode.
A mode far too formal for an apartment alley.
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We drew closer.
One of the women broke into a wide smile.
"Oh, Nishida-kun—"
Yuna paused for a half-step.
Her hands began moving to the front of her body.
Elbows straight.
Shoulders steady.
A bowing angle of roughly forty-five degrees.
Perfect.
Too perfect.
Before she could bow—
I placed my hand on top of her head.
Pat.
Not hard.
Just enough to halt her movement.
I nudged her head slightly forward.
"Keep walking."
Yuna blinked.
Her legs automatically moved again.
We kept walking, passing by the women.
One of them still tried to initiate a conversation.
"Whose child is that, Nishida-kun?"
I just gave a tiny nod.
Maybe one millimeter.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t answer.
Steps remaining straight ahead.
The second housewife let out a small laugh.
"How cute, just like a doll."
I didn’t slow down.
Didn’t speed up.
Just kept walking.
Yuna didn’t look back either.
A few seconds later, we had passed them.
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The sound of gossiping began again behind us.
Lower volume.
But clear enough.
We exited the apartment alley and reached the main sidewalk.
The sound of cars was much louder here.
People were walking to work.
Yuna paused for a moment.
As if she were finally taking a breath again.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
I glanced at her.
She was still standing incredibly straight.
Too straight.
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"A posture like that consumes twenty percent of your daily stamina."
Yuna blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
She slowly relaxed her shoulders a bit more.
Still neat, but no longer like a statue.
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"We are not in a military parade," I said.
She nodded.
"Yes, Papa."
We resumed walking toward the elementary school visible two blocks ahead.
After a few steps, Yuna said quietly—
"I almost bowed back there."
"I know."
"It was a reflex."
"It’s an old habit."
She gripped the straps of her bag a little tighter.
"Those neighbors earlier... they were curious."
"Yes."
"We’re not going to explain anything?"
"No need."
She thought for a few seconds.
Then she said in a small voice—
"That is also... efficient."
I nodded.
"Correct."
At the end of the street, the school gates came into view.
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And even from that distance, something dangerous was already visible.
Dozens of parents.
Dozens of children.
And expensive, shiny school bags everywhere.
Yuna saw it too.
Her hands slowly gripped the straps of her blue bag tighter.
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