Enamored

29

(N) releases River's hand and digs in his pocket. He pulls out a key and unlocks the door. Taking in a deep breath the man enters the house with his daughter. Upon entering the living room (N) finds his father staring blankly at the TV. "I'm home...dad." (N) turns off the TV and his father turns around. "Oh. Hello (N)." "You look older." "...yeah." (N) sits on the couch across from his father. He turns to River as the girl sits beside him.

"This is River. Your granddaughter." "Hi, Grandpa." The older man looks around for a second before nodding. "Hello." (N) folds his hands in his lap. "I went on a trip recently and I met grandma. At that place, you took me and Mom. Grandma told me a lot of things about my childhood that I forgot about. She told me about you and mom. It must've been so hard." (N) grips his pants and looks down.

"You sacrificed your life to raise an ungrateful son like me and I didn't even think to thank you. You've worked hard enough. You must be so tired. It's okay to rest. Grandma's waiting for you." (N) lifts his head to see his father smiling. "It's over...I'm relieved."
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(N) cleans up the house and packs his father's bag. The three stand outside and (N) turns to his father. "I told Grandma that you were on your way over. I also put some money in your bag. Be careful not to lose it." "Okay. Thank you. It means a lot." (N) smiles and looks at River. "Say bye to grandpa." River waves at the older man. "Bye-Bye grandpa. See you later." "Bye-bye." The older man pats River's head and looks at (N).

"This is it." "Yea. Take care of yourself. Don't drink or smoke too much." "Alright." "I promise one day I'll pay you back for everything. I'll do whatever it takes. I swear." The older man smiles and pats (N)'s head. "Now now. Don't cry." River tugs (N)'s pants as he wipes his face and smiles. "I'm okay River. Dad. Take care of yourself." "I will. You too."
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River hums happily as she eats her breakfast. (N) smiles and wipes her mouth with a napkin. "Your teacher's coming back from her trip right?" "Mhm." "I'd like to meet her. So let's leave early okay?" "Okay!" After breakfast (N) chuckles softly as he ties the bow in River's hair. "Alright. Off we go. Say bye to Papa." River turns to the picture on the bookshelf. "Bye papa! We'll be back soon!" (N) smiles softly. "See you later Myles."
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River laughs while running over to the playground. "Slow down River! You'll hurt yourself!" (N) sighs and smiles but tenses as a familiar voice speaks to him. "You must be Mr (L/n). My name is Yuki Evans. I'm Rivers's teacher." (N) eyes widen as Yuki smiles. "Sorry. Clara told me to keep it a secret." "I'm surprised." River walks over to the two adults. "I didn't tell you River. Your daddy and I went to the same high school."

(N) turns to his daughter and smiles. "Yup, and she was very mean to me." Yuki gasps. "Hey! Don't tell her that!" "And she was friends with Papa." River's eyes sparkle and she smiles.
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(N) and Yuki sit on a bench watching River play. "Fate sure does work in mysterious ways. Never in a million years did I think I would be teaching your daughter." "Sorry. I know it's been a long time." Yuki shakes her head with a small smile. "I know it's been hard for you. All of our friends are worried. We thought about visiting for New Year's but we were afraid to bother you." "Sorry." "But! It looks like things worked out."

(N) smiles at Yuki. "How's River? Is she getting along with her classmates?" "She's a good kid. Not a delinquent like someone I know." Yuki laughs as (N) chuckles. "She got that from her father." "She's a lot more active than her father. If I'm not watching her she'll wander off somewhere." The two adults stand up. "I'm glad we could talk Ms Evans. Take care of River for me." Yuki smiles at (N). "Of course. If there's anything you need just let me know. Hey River! Your daddy's going to work now!"

River jumps off the swing and runs over to (N). She hugs his legs and grins. "Bye, Daddy! Have a good day at work!" "Yup. I'll see you later." (N) smiles while patting River's head.
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"Ellie? Hailey's sister?" "For some reason, she really wants to hang out with River. Are you busy Sunday?" (N) places his wrench down and turns to Takashi. "Not at all. She can come over. It seems River and her get along." "Thank you. I appreciate it." "It's no problem."
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A few hours after (N) picked River up from school and dropped her off he returned home and made dinner. "Oh! You have a surprise guest coming over tomorrow." River bounces into the kitchen with a dango plushie on her head. "A guest?" "Yea. Remember Ellie from the park?" "The weird girl!" (N) chuckles and stirs the pot. "Are you okay with that?" "Mhm! I'm happy!"

Later that night River crawls into bed with her dango plushie. "Daddy? Can you sing Papa's song again?" (N) pulls up the blanket and clears his throat. "Dango, dango, dango, dango. Big dango family..." As (N) sang an image of himself smiling with Myles holding a baby River. A single tear rolls down (N)'s sleeping face.
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"Thank you for having me over." Ellie bows her head as (N) and River watch. "Sure." Ellie ignores (N) and hugs River. "Let's become sisters and run away!" "Uh hello? I'm standing right here." "I'm not talking to you! I'm talking to River! You like me right River?" River nods and Ellie grins. "But I still wanna stay with my daddy." "Ha! You hear that?!" "Tch! Oh yeah!" Ellie jumped back and pulled out a star-shaped bread.

"Here River! Eat this! This is a token of our friendship! It was specially made in the Asumi bakery!" "Ok." River bites into the bread and smiles. "Yummy." "Ahh! You're so adorable!" Ellie screams and hugs River. "Alright alright. Enough hugging. River and I are about to have lunch. You want some?" The girls follow (N) into the kitchen. "You can't trick me with bribery!" "Then starve!"
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"Hey (N)." The man sets down three bowls of noodles on the table. "What is it now?" Ellie smiles as River begins eating. "I'm sorry." (N) sits down and raises an eyebrow. "For what?" "I must remind you of your late husband. Because I'm so cute." (N) scoffs. "Not even close. You're nothing like Myles. If anything you are from a different planet." Ellie gulps down her noodles and gasps. "I am not an alien!"

(N) chuckles and slurps his noodles. "Then maybe a cat. No. That's insulting to cats. They're way smarter than you." "I am smart! I'm super intelligent!" (N) crosses his arms. "Alright. Say there's a box sitting on a table with a 'do not open-label'. What do you do?" "Open it when no one's looking." (N) smirks. "That's too bad. The moment you opened the box you exploded." Ellie points her fork at (N). "That's not fair! You didn't say anything bad would happen!"

Ellie frowns and then smirks. "Let's there's a red button on the wall. What do you do?!" "Simply. Nothing." "Ahh no! You lie! You'd have to push it! Once you push it you release a horde of zombies and start the apocalypse!" (N) stares at Ellie causing her to blush. "Don't look at me like that!" "Like what?" "I'm sorry (N) but I can't return your feelings!" "What feelings?!" "You don't have to hide them." "I'm not hiding anything!" River laughs as the two bicker.
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Ellie hides behind her cards and stares at (N). She turns to River and lowers her hands. "Hey, River. Do you have a 2 of diamonds?" "Mmm. Uh-huh." River hands Ellie the card. "Yes! Just one more to go! This is proof of Rivers's undying love for me!" "Get over yourself." "Ha! You're just jealous!" (N) chuckles, looks at Myles's picture on the shelf, and zones out. 'If only you were still alive.' "(N). (N)!" The man's eyes widen and he looks at Ellie.

"Sorry. I guess it's my turn." "I'm sorry. I must really resemble your husband." "You're nothing like him." "Then what was he like?" River smiles. "I know! Because daddy told me. Papa was a crybaby! But he always did his best and worked hard to have me! Oh and daddy loved him a lot!" (N) bangs cover his face as he bites his lips. The girls stare at him as he wipes his eyes. "Sorry. I still think about him."

Ellie smiles softly. "You can call me whenever you like. I'm not very busy. If you need help I'll be here." (N) eyes widen. "Is that sympathy?" "No. I just wanna see River more often." "Of course." (N) chuckles.
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"I fear this is farewell." Ellie dramatically grips her shirt. "A simple goodbye is fine." "Right...quick River! Let's run for it!" Ellie starts to pull River but (N) grabs his daughter. "Woah not so fast!" Ellie pouts and glares. "You've won this time (N)." She looks at River and pats her head. "I had a lot of fun. I'll see you next time!" "Okay! Bye bye!" Ellie disappeared around the corner as River turns to (N). "Ellie is funny!" "Yeah, she is. Come on. Let's clean up and get ready for bed." "Okay!"