Accidentally become a father-Chapter 45: After School
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The school gates were mostly empty by the time I arrived.
Most of the kids had already gone home. All that remained were a few small groups still waiting for their parents.
Yuna was standing near the iron fence.
Clutching her blue bag against her stomach.
The moment she spotted me across the street, she stood up straighter.
Her steps were brisk but orderly as she approached.
"Papa."
"Hm."
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We began the walk home.
The afternoon sidewalks weren’t too crowded. A bicycle passed by occasionally, and the warm scent of butter drifted from the bakery at the end of the street. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Yuna walked half a step behind me.
As usual.
Still hugging her blue bag.
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After a few steps, I spoke without turning my head.
"How was your first day?"
Yuna took a sharp little breath.
Her shoulders tensed.
Like someone preparing to deliver a critical report.
"The self-introductions in class went... reasonably well."
"Your tone of voice."
"A bit more formal than the other kids."
I could picture it perfectly.
The teacher asking the students to stand up, one by one.
Then it was Yuna’s turn.
A nine-year-old girl standing far too straight, bowing with far too much precision, and speaking far too clearly.
"What was their reaction?"
Yuna was silent for two seconds.
"A few children stopped eating their biscuits."
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I glanced back slightly.
"Intimidated?"
"It seemed like it."
She lowered her head a fraction.
The tips of her shoes traced the white line on the pavement as she walked.
"I only gave my name."
"Did you bow?"
"Yes."
"How many degrees."
"About forty-five."
I let out a brief sigh.
Third graders usually introduced themselves while scratching their heads or stumbling over their own names.
A forty-five-degree bow probably made it look like a press conference.
"Lower the angle a bit tomorrow."
"By how much?"
"Eighty percent."
Yuna did the math in her head.
"So... ten degrees?"
"About that."
She gave a solemn nod.
Her steps slowed just a little.
---
I watched her from the corner of my eye.
Her hands had started gripping her bag straps again.
It was usually a sign she was dwelling on something she considered to be a major issue.
"Is there another problem?"
Yuna kept her eyes on the asphalt.
Then spoke quietly.
"...about lunch."
We turned the corner leading to our apartment.
"The block bento?"
"Yes."
She gave a small gulp.
---
"When I opened it in class... everyone stared."
"Classrooms are like that."
"A few kids had octopus sausages."
I said nothing.
She continued, her voice even quieter.
"I thought they were going to laugh at my bento."
We took a few steps in silence.
The afternoon breeze drifted sluggishly between the old apartment buildings.
Then I prompted simply.
"And?"
Yuna paused.
She stared straight ahead.
As if recalling something specific.
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"...it was kind of strange."
I waited.
She gripped her bag straps tighter.
"The boy who bumped into me this morning... Yamada."
"Hm."
"He came to my desk during lunch."
We reached the stairs of our apartment building.
Yuna was still gripping her bag tightly.
And for the first time that day—
a small smile appeared on her face.
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