Accidentally become a father-Chapter 82: What Is Visible

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Something too big to be ignored.

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Up ahead—

a billboard.

Tall. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Wide.

Blocking a portion of the sky.

An image of a woman.

Perfect lighting.

Flawless skin.

A calculated smile.

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Sayaka.

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The product in her hands wasn’t important.

The only visible focus was her face.

Yuna’s steps slowed.

Slightly.

Almost imperceptibly.

Then, finally stopped.

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I stopped too.

Half a step ahead of her.

No sound for a few seconds.

Only the noise of passing vehicles.

Fading away.

Yuna didn’t speak.

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I looked back.

Her eyes were pointed upward.

Unblinking.

Unmoving.

Her expression...

Didn’t change much.

But it was enough to understand.

Longing.

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No smile.

No anger.

Just... silence.

That was enough.

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I looked at the billboard once.

Not for long.

No need to.

The problem couldn’t be erased.

Too big.

Too exposed.

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Solution:

divert attention.

I shifted my position slightly.

One step to the side.

Line of sight, cut off.

Partially.

Not completely.

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"...Papa."

Yuna’s voice was quiet.

"Yeah?"

She didn’t continue.

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I looked around.

Quickly.

A small shop across the street.

A freezer up front.

Ice cream.

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"Come on, follow me."

I started walking.

Without waiting.

Yuna’s steps were delayed for a moment.

Then, she followed.

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We crossed the street.

Quick steps.

The shop door opened.

The chime of a small bell.

Cold air.

Different from outside.

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I went straight to the freezer.

Opened it.

Cold air spilled out.

Many choices.

Different colors.

I turned to Yuna.

"...which one do you want?"

She looked at the freezer.

For a few seconds.

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"...that one..."

She pointed.

I grabbed it.

Closed the freezer.

To the cashier.

Paid.

Quick.

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We stepped outside again.

The billboard was still there.

Unchanged.

I opened the ice cream wrapper.

Handed it to Yuna.

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"Here."

She took it.

She didn’t eat it right away.

Just stared at it.

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Then took a small bite.

I stood in front of her.

Same position as before.

Blocking part of her view.

She didn’t look up again.

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"...it’s cold..."

"Obviously."

She took another bite.

A bigger one.

Silence.

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Our footsteps started again.

Heading home.

The plastic shopping bags swayed gently in our hands.

A steady rhythm.

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Behind us—

the billboard was left behind.

Still there.

But no longer looked at.

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