Becoming A Father Figure

Chapter 02: Hina Takanashi

The three sisters collectively raised their heads, their gazes locked onto Yuuta. He had emerged as their unexpected savior in their time of dire need.

Tears brimmed in Sora's eyes as she exclaimed, "Uncle!"

The words from Yuuta seemed to agitate the sisters' uncle. "Don't make hasty decisions! Hina may share a blood tie with you, but aren't Miu and Sora essentially strangers to you?"

"So what!" Yuuta's tone remained resolute, not born of anger toward his relatives, who had their own reasons. Yet, he couldn't contain his frustration. "What significance does blood relation hold? Family should remain united!"

While Yuuta's actions failed to rally support from the relatives, all three sisters embraced his offer. Both Miu and Sora welcomed Yuuta's choice.

Acknowledging that, given his youth, garnering support from the relatives was improbable, Yuuta cemented his decision.

After extensive discussions with Sora and Miu, Yuuta left the house with the three sisters, setting a course for his own humble abode.

As long as he could secure a livelihood, the rest would inevitably fall into place. With the promise of a light novel reward from the system, it likely held some considerable monetary value.

Even if he couldn't monetize the novel, Yuuta remained steadfast in his commitment to working diligently and providing a joyous life for the three sisters.

In his previous life, Yuuta had been a skilled technician, proficient in crafting machines such as automobiles. Sustaining himself wouldn't pose a challenge.

This explained why Yuuta had limited experience with anime and similar forms of entertainment. The longest anime he had ever watched was "Ghost Fighter" from his childhood.

For Yuuta, the road ahead promised to be immensely demanding, given that looking after three young children was no small feat. Nonetheless, there were matters that, if left unattended, could haunt him with lifelong remorse.

In the early morning, Yuuta departed from the three sisters' former residence, the girls in his care.

The home they left behind boasted spacious comfort, and the parents of the three sisters had received compensation for the plane crash. However, these details held no relevance to Yuuta's choice.

Due to the tender age of the three sisters, a legal guardian was mandatory, and that responsibility automatically fell upon their closest blood relative—their uncle.

Presently, both the family home and financial assets were under the control of the girls' uncle, to be transferred to them for their use once they reached adulthood.

Since guardianship lay beyond his control, Yuuta could only take the three girls with him for the time being. A proper discussion would have to be postponed until he had the means to support and persuade them.

The uncle was not a malevolent figure; he was merely an ordinary civil servant engrossed in his daily work and familial obligations. Managing the care of three young children was beyond his capacity, considering he already had his own family to tend to.

As Yuuta and the three girls boarded the subway, a sense of relief washed over him.

Hina, the youngest of the three sisters, remained blissfully unaware of her parents' passing. She believed her parents had embarked on a distant journey and would soon return, filling her with joy at the thought of staying with her uncle.

Sora and Miu displayed remarkable maturity, diligently looking after their younger sister.

"Hey, Uncle, what's that?" Hina slipped off her tiny shoes, knelt on the soft train seat, and peered out the window with wide-eyed curiosity and excitement as she posed her question to Yuuta.

"That's the Seibu Line," Yuuta replied, drawing upon his memories to provide answers and impart some basic knowledge.

Children's inquiries were ceaseless. Hina wiggled her little feet and continued to inquire, "And what about that shiny silver one?"

"That's the Chuo Line."

Pointing to another spot outside the window, Hina inquired, "And this one?"

"That's also the Chuo Line."

Hina playfully gave Yuuta's shoulder a firm pat. "This one too!"

"Ouch, that hurt, you little rascal," Yuuta remarked with a smile, feigning annoyance as he gazed at the lively Hina.

Hina echoed Yuuta's words, saying, "Ouch, that hurt, you little rascal!"

"You're the one who hit me!" Yuuta teased Hina in return.

Observing Hina's joyful expression, Yuuta felt a sense of reassurance. This child had yet to fully grasp the complexities of the world and couldn't discern the evident sorrow. That understanding would come with time.

Sora, at the age of fourteen, appeared rather mature. She had been sitting quietly on the opposite side. After hearing Hina's exuberant outburst in her childlike voice, she offered some advice, "Hina, don't shout too loudly."

Hina looked at her sister with confusion. "Why not?"

Sora gently explained, "It might disturb everyone."

"Disturb?" Hina, still quite young, didn't fully grasp the concept of causing a disturbance.

Miu, seated beside Yuuta, embraced his arm and affectionately remarked, "Uncle, do you regret it? We left because we made Uncle and Auntie really angry, didn't we?"

"Absolutely no regrets. Regret stems from not doing certain things," Yuuta replied. Though he had undergone a transformation, his fundamental outlook on certain matters remained unaltered: he wouldn't allow these three sisters to endure hardship.

Upon hearing Yuuta's words and observing his genuine sincerity, Miu broke into a smile and remarked, "There will undoubtedly be numerous challenges ahead, but that's perfectly fine. You've got two wonderful girls by your side, plus one in training. It's bound to be an incredible journey, isn't it?"

Yuuta chuckled with a sense of acceptance, relieved to witness Miu's recovery from the turmoil of her parents' situation. It brought him comfort to see them gradually adjusting to their new life.