「Donguri(acorn), guriguri, matsubokkuri(pinecone)!」
「Donguri, guriguri, matsubokkuri!」
「Kino, kino, kinoko(mushroom) no papa kinoko!」
「Kino, kino, kinoko no papa kinoko!」
Humming along to the song, we walked toward the mountain.
I led the way, followed by Dori and Yuri, with Haruki bringing up the rear in a single-file line.
It felt like we were a hero’s party straight out of a game.
「Hey, hey?」
「Donguri, guriguri, matsubokkuri!」
「Donguri, guriguri, matsubokkuri!」
「Kino, kino, kinoko no papa kinoko!」
「Kino, kino, kinoko no papa kinoko!」
「Oi, can nobody hear me?!」
「Geez! Haruki, you’re so noisy!」
Haruki had been trying to say something for a while now. Did something happen?
Yuri ended up scolding him.
「What’s wrong?」
「Well, it’s just… I’m the only one who doesn’t appear in that song…」
I grinned at Yuri.
Noticing this, Dori did the same, smirking at her.
「Ah, looks like Papa Haruki is feeling left out」
「Feeling wonewy?」
「What…? Then why don’t you come up with your own lyrics, Haruki?」
Actually, Yuri was the one who made up this song.
I just copied Dori and Yuri when they sang it.
As usual, Yuri was being prickly.
Since I knew her personality, I didn’t pay it much mind, but I did worry that she might be misunderstood once she made more friends.
The same went for Dori.
With the dungeon attracting more people, there would be an increase in settlers.
Some of them would be adventurers with kids.
I could only hope the two of them would grow up strong and healthy.
「Alright! Then it’s time to show off my artistic genius!」
Unlike me, who was lost in thought, Haruki had no such concerns—he was already busy coming up with lyrics.
After a short wait, he finally started singing.
「Shiitake-take-take, handsome Haruki-sama! Hoi!」
「Oi, oi, what the heck is that?」
That was utterly devoid of any sense of rhythm or taste.
Dori and Yuri stared at Haruki in silence.
「What? Are you both just mesmerized by my overwhelming handsomeness?」
Where did he even get that confidence from?
Well, I had to admit—if only slightly—that he was indeed good-looking.
Back in our school days, we were always together, and the girls I liked always ended up choosing him instead.
But saying it himself was another matter entirely. And making the kids say it? That was just wrong on so many levels.
「Maybe try coming up with something a little more… refined—」
「Shiitake-take-take… Handsome… Haruki…」
Hearing Yuri mumble those words under her breath, we froze.
Haruki and I blinked at each other in surprise before quickly shifting our gazes.
There stood Yuri, her face tinged with a faint shade of red.
「Heh heh heh, if it’s like this, then—」
「Yuri?」
At the sound of Dori’s voice, Yuri looked up.
「Dori, what is i—」
Noticing our eyes on her, she quickly averted her gaze.
「Yuri…」
Haruki was obviously overjoyed.
His face was stretched into an infuriatingly smug grin.
「Hmph… Haruki is ugly! Absolutely hideous! So, so ugly!」
Embarrassed, Yuri took off running toward the mountain.
Though, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Haruki—calling him ugly that many times was kind of harsh.
If Dori ever said something like that to me, I’d be devastated for the rest of the day.
「Yuri! Say it again!」
「So, so ugly!」
I wasn’t sure if Haruki had a heart of steel or if he was just a massive masochist.
Either way, no matter what Yuri said to him, he just looked delighted.
Before coming back to the countryside, Yuri had barely even called him by name—only ever responding when spoken to.
Compared to back then, this was definitely an improvement.
Though, was this really fine…?
Being a father sure wasn’t easy.
「Oi, not that way!」
Haruki took off running after Yuri.
Before I knew it, Dori and I were the only ones left behind.
「Papa!」
Hearing my name, I crouched down to meet Dori at eye level.
She watched the two of them with sparkling eyes.
「What is it?」
「Tug!」
「Huh…?」
Suddenly, Dori took off after them.
「Papa, you’re it!」
「Wait… You mean for tag…?」
If the last one left behind was “it”, then that meant I was the oni.
And considering Dori had just tagged me, there was no escaping it now.
「Papa!」
By the time I realized it, Dori was already far ahead, waving at me.
I wasn’t sure if she was waiting for me or wanted me to chase her, but one thing was clear—she was having fun.
「Guess it’s been a while since I played tag…」
With that, I broke into a run, following after Dori toward the mountain.
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