Accidentally become a father-Chapter 41: An Aesthetic Assault from the Courier
---
The bento box was still warm when I slipped it into Yuna’s bag.
The bag was blue.
Cheap.
That didn’t mean it was bad.
It was just... very honest about its price.
I placed the bento box at the bottom of the bag.
Click.
---
The clasp locked tight.
I pressed down on the top slightly to make sure.
"If it falls, it won’t shift," I said.
Yuna stood beside the small dining table.
Her hands were clasped in front of her.
Her fingers pressing against each other.
Her eyes were still fixed on the bag.
"Papa..."
"Hm."
"Other bentos... are usually more colorful."
"Color does not add nutritional value."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
"That’s true."
The wall clock read 06:15.
Still plenty of time.
Yuna began packing her books into the bag.
Her movements were careful.
Too careful for a fourth-grader.
Notebooks.
Pencil case.
The cat eraser from yesterday.
She paused for a moment when she looked at the eraser.
Then she slowly placed it inside.
---
Knock.
A sudden knock at the door.
Three times.
Not a casual knock.
A neat, precise knock.
I walked to the door and opened it.
A courier stood outside.
A crisp suit.
Polished shoes.
His posture was far too formal for the hallway of an old apartment building like this.
"A package for Nishida Itsuki."
He handed over a large box.
Covered in dark velvet.
Bearing a gold seal on the top.
I recognized the symbol.
The law firm.
---
I took the box.
"Thank you."
The courier gave a small bow and left without another word.
I closed the door.
Yuna was already standing near the table.
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the box.
Her shoulders tensed.
I placed it on the table.
Opened the lid.
Inside was a school bag.
A randoseru.
Genuine cowhide.
Pale pink.
Its surface gleamed as if freshly polished.
On the front was a small gold engraving.
The letter Y.
I stared at the bag for three seconds.
Beside me, Yuna didn’t move.
Her eyes shifted from the expensive bag...
to her own blue bag.
Then back to the expensive bag.
Her hands gripped the hem of her uniform skirt.
Just a little.
She didn’t say anything.
Didn’t touch the bag.
Just stood there.
Waiting.
---
I closed the velvet box.
Then I opened the closet near the door.
Put the expensive bag inside.
Closed it.
Locked it.
Click.
Yuna blinked.
"...Papa?"
"It reflects too much light."
She stared at me.
"It could attract pickpockets."
Yuna remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she slowly turned to look at her own blue bag.
The bag was simple.
Not shiny.
No gold engraving.
She pulled the straps over her shoulders.
Tightened them slightly.
---
"This one... doesn’t reflect light."
"Yes."
She gave a small nod.
Then stood a little straighter.
"It’s safer."
I picked up the apartment keys from the table.
"We leave in fifteen minutes."
"Yes, Papa."
She patted the front of her bag once.
Making sure everything was there.
Then she quietly touched the outside of the bag, feeling the bottom.
Where the bento box was.
As if checking whether the Tetris block structure was still intact.
I checked the clock.
06:20.
Still enough time before the school gates turned into... something much noisier.
---
