Accidentally become a father-Chapter 51: Saturday’s Atonement

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Saturday afternoon in Apartment 203 was quiet.

Too quiet.

Sunlight spilled through the small living room window, casting slanted beams across the slightly faded tatami mats.

Against the wall, an old television was turned on.

The volume was low.

+--

A slice-of-life anime was playing.

On the screen, a little girl in a red apron stood in a kitchen, rolling an omelet.

"Papa is going to love this," the character on TV said cheerfully.

In front of the television, Yuna sat cross-legged with her back straight.

Her hands rested neatly on her knees.

She didn’t blink.

Behind her, I sat leaning against the wall.

Plain black t-shirt.

Gray sweatpants.

---

On the floor in front of me was a coil of a five-meter extension cord.

Some parts of its insulation were torn.

I slowly twisted the end of the wire, soldering the broken parts together.

A thin trail of smoke rose from the tip of the soldering iron.

The faint smell of hot plastic filled the room.

---

Yuna glanced slightly over her shoulder.

"Papa."

"Hm."

"Are you working again?"

"Not working."

I blew on the freshly soldered end of the wire.

"Maintenance."

"Oh."

She turned back to the television.

On the screen, the anime character served the tamagoyaki on the dining table.

Her father looked deeply moved.

Yuna watched the scene for a long time.

A very long time.

Then, her gaze slowly shifted.

From the television screen...

toward me.

I let out a small yawn.

I set the soldering iron down on the floor.

I coiled the repaired cable back up.

Minor task complete.

---

I lay down on the thin carpet.

I picked up the old electronic manual I’d been using as a work mat and placed it over my face.

The room was dimly lit.

The afternoon air felt warm.

"Are you sleeping, Papa?" Yuna asked.

"Just for a bit."

"For how long?"

"Thirty minutes."

"Why thirty?"

"It’s the ideal amount of time to rest the brain without entering a deep sleep phase."

"Oh."

A few seconds of silence.

Then, I added.

"If someone knocks on the door, don’t open it."

"Okay."

"Especially if they’re selling pots."

Yuna turned her head slightly.

"Why?"

"Because they always show up when people want to sleep."

"Oh..."

I shifted the manual slightly off my face.

"And they never leave quickly."

Yuna nodded slowly.

"Understood."

I covered my face with the manual again.

---

The room fell quiet once more.

The low sound of the television continued playing.

On the screen, the anime character was washing dishes while humming.

Her father could be seen sleeping in the living room.

Yuna stared at the scene.

Her eyes shifted again.

Toward me.

I was already still.

My breathing was steady.

A few minutes passed.

The sound of soft breathing began to emerge from beneath the manual.

Yuna looked down.

Her hands formed small fists on her knees.

She muttered very softly.

Almost as if speaking to herself.

"...if I’m useful..."

She looked at the television again.

"...Papa won’t throw me away."

On the screen, the anime character said:

"I want to help Papa."

Yuna stared at the small kitchen in the corner of the room.

Barely two meters wide.

A tiny sink.

A single-burner stove.

A metal dish rack.

She stood up slowly.

Carefully.

Very carefully.

---

She took off her socks.

Folded them small.

And placed them near the floor cushion.

First step.

Slow.

No sound.

She looked over at me.

I remained motionless.

Second step.

Still silent.

Yuna walked toward the kitchen.

Her gaze changed.

No longer hesitant.

No longer afraid.

But filled with resolve.

Like someone about to carry out an important mission.

---

She stopped in front of the kitchen counter.

Looked up.

The counter was too high.

Yuna thought for a moment.

Then she dragged a small wooden chair over from the dining table.

Scrrkk.

A small scraping sound rang out.

She instantly froze.

Her head snapped quickly toward the living room.

I was still asleep.

Yuna breathed a sigh of relief.

She pushed the chair right up to the counter.

Then climbed onto it slowly.

Now her head was level with the countertop.

---

She opened the mini-fridge.

A white light clicked on.

Inside were eggs.

Some vegetables.

And leftover rice from last night.

Yuna carefully took out two eggs.

Placed them on the counter.

She grabbed a glass bowl from the rack.

Then a bottle of soy sauce.

Everything was arranged neatly.

Yuna gave a small nod to herself.

As if signaling the start.

In the living room...

my breathing remained steady.

And the manual still covered my face.

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