the mechanic book 3 the trial arc

chapter 21

In Greece

*We see Tamaki cooking lunch while Nejire and Penelope played together. Tamaki smiled as he looked out the window to the beach, where he got a clear view of Nejire and Penelope playing. With a sigh, he finished cutting the vegetables and putting them in the stew.

Tamaki: Our daughter is happy, Phoebe. I hope you can see her up there.

???: I'm sure she does.

Tamaki turned around and saw his father-in-law, Dedue Papageorgiou.

Tamaki: Ah, father-in-law hello, this is quite the surprise.

Dedue: No need for my in-law, my boy, your family, and who's the lovely woman playing with my granddaughter out there?

Tamaki: Nejire had she's an old man from Japan.

Dedue: Ah, I see. She's quite a lovely woman, wouldn't you agree?

Tamaki: Yes, she's as beautiful as you are straight to the point; your horrible at beating around the bush, father.

Dedue: Heh, so I've been told, are you interested in her? Romantically?

Tamaki took a sigh and looked out the window, seeing Penelope run to her grandmother, the loud, outspoken extrovert known as Catherine.

Tamaki; it wouldn't matter even if I was

Dedue: And why is that?

Tamaki: She's just here on vacation, father. I can't see myself being romantically with someone when she won't even be here in Greece most of the time. At most, she would come on the weekends, and even that would be stretching it, seeing as she's like me, a pro-hero, our schedule is always changing, and...

Dedue:how long?

Tamaki, how long, what?

Dedue: How long do you think you can keep living in denial? How long until you give love another chance? Phoebe would've wanted you to be happy, to move on, and to find someone new.

Tamaki: "I am happy. I'm happy with my daughter; I'm happy that I see Phoebe every time Penelope smiles; I'm happy that I have her in my life; and I'm happy that I have a family that doesn't see my quirk as weak or weird.

*Tamaki closed his eyes, taking a small breath. He felt Dedue put his hand on his shoulder, making Tamaki smile and giving the man who was his father in all but blood a nod of appreciation.*

Tamaki: I'm more than happy with the life I have now; why would I risk it?

Because love is always worth the risk, you risked yourself when you asked Phoebe out on a date; you risked when you asked her to move in together after 6 months; you risked asking my daughter to hand in marriage at the 2-year mark; you risked getting her pregnant and bringing me and Flayn our little sunshine of a granddaughter to the world. So I ask you, my son, what's life without the risk of love?

Dedue walked outside to spend time with his family and meet the young woman. Tamaki stood there, thinking over what his father said, and looked outside, seeing them all get along. Tamaki turned down the fire of the stew to a simmer and walked out to spend time with his family and maybe... maybe take one more risk.

Meanwhile, in Japan

*After having a fun time at the father-daughter dance, it was finally time to leave. We see our two mentally messed-up protagonists in Izuku's car driving home. It was a comfortable silence. Izuku was humming Snowman while Eri was just taking a nap with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face. Izuku looked down at his arms and a small frown appeared. The disk was off his. The once normal hands returned to dark purple, almost black in color. With a sigh, he looked back at the road.