Chapter 03 — Shizuko Samuels

JJ chuckled softly, the brown hue of his pupils glinting under the fluorescent lights.

「That’s why you intrigue me, Hana. You’re not strong-minded—you’re just hard-headed. Stubborn as a mule.」

His smirk deepened, tone low and smooth. 「And I’ve always admired women who actually stand their ground.」

Hana crossed her arms, unimpressed. 「Then you’d better point that admiration elsewhere. I’m not the one you’re looking for.」

JJ’s laugh rolled out—deep, amused, faintly dangerous.

He leaned closer, voice dropping just enough to draw every ear in the room.

「Want me to prove you wrong?」

Hana arched an eyebrow, defiant. 「Go ahead.」

He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

「Alright. One—you’re the only girl here who dares glare at me like that. Two—you don’t just talk when challenged, you act. Three—」

He grinned, eyes flickering with teasing precision. 「—your heart’s racing. I can practically see the butterflies in your stomach.」

Hana’s face flushed crimson. 「Y-you’re lying!」

JJ’s smirk softened into something faintly nostalgic. 「Trust me. I’ve danced this dance before.」

Then—

A soft vibration broke the tension.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He sighed, fishing it out.

「’Scuse me.」

He answered casually. 「Hello?」

Hana stepped back, breath unsteady. 【Phew… that was close.】

「Ah, that’s today… alright. I’ll be there. Later then.」

He ended the call, sliding the phone away before standing to his full height.

「There won’t be any ‘later’. Now—or tomorrow,」 Hana declared, her tone sharp.

JJ smirked faintly. 「Alright then. How about a deal?」

Her eyes narrowed. 「I’m listening.」

He raised a single finger. 「Three months. Make me lose interest in you within that time… and you win.」

「Win what?」

He grinned. 「Five million yen.」

The room erupted in gasps.

Hana blinked. 「You can’t be serious. No way you have that kind of money on you.」

JJ chuckled under his breath. 「Not on me. But… you should really talk to Hanada’s grandmother.」

He started for the door, adding without turning back—

「She’ll tell you why the Shinji family doesn’t pick fights with the market her shop sits in.」

The door closed behind him with a quiet click.

Renji stared, wide-eyed. 「Ooooh… so he’s that foreigner Grandma always talks about…」

Mikado frowned. 「You know him, Renji?」

Renji shook his head quickly. 「No, but Grandma said Jerry’s got… scary people working for him.」

Riyuka scoffed lightly. 「Working for him? Come on, Renji. That’s absurd.」

Renji’s gaze darkened. 「I wish it was. Uncle almost got disowned for disrespecting ‘the market’s savior’. I’m not crossing him.」

◽At Shizuko’s School◽

The sound of children’s laughter echoed faintly through the classroom.

JJ stepped through the door, brown hair and pupils still active—composed, polite.

The teacher blinked. 「Um… who might you be?」

He bowed lightly. 「JJ Samuels. Shizuko’s father.」

A ripple of whispers swept among the mothers.

The teacher glanced at the register. 「But it says ‘Shizuko Samuels–Adams’…」

JJ’s expression sharpened instantly.

He turned toward the small girl by the window. 「Shizuko. If someone breaks into our home—and there’s more than one—what do you do?」

Without looking up, Shizuko replied calmly, almost rehearsed.

「Wear the black gloves you made and hide where they can’t find me.」

「And if you’re caught?」

「Touch their skin. The gloves will put them to sleep.」

She finally turned, eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. 「You’re late, Papa.」

JJ scratched his cheek, forcing a nervous smile. 「Sorry, Marshmallow. Miscalculated my timing.」

Shizuko squinted. 「Hmm…」

Then—her tiny finger pointed accusingly. 「Ha! I knew it. You’re sweating. Ms. Haruka owes me!」

Haruka, standing by the corner, smiled knowingly. 「Yes, yes. A promise is a promise. Triple scoop ice cream when we get home.」

Shizuko’s face lit up. 「Yes!」

JJ sighed. 「Are you sure, Haruka? Last time—」

「Don’t worry,」 she cut in. 「Her sugar rush only starts at four scoops or more.」

JJ exhaled in relief. 「Good to know.」

Haruka’s tone dropped, playfully stern. 「Promise you won’t fall for the puppy eyes and give her more than necessary again?」

「I promise,」 JJ said solemnly.

「Remember what happens if you break that promise.」

He nodded hurriedly. 「Crystal clear.」

Shizuko giggled. 「Ms. Haruka, you can stop. Papa’s reflected.」

Haruka chuckled softly. 「I trust you, then. But did anyone hear his car? It has such a distinct sound.」

Shizuko froze. 「Umm… Papa ran again, didn’t he?」

JJ rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. 「Guilty. I was… in a bit of a rush.」

The mothers whispered among themselves—

「He’s fast.」

「Incredible stamina for a single dad…」

JJ’s expression tightened. 【Great. I hate attention like this.】

He turned toward one of the mothers politely. 「Um… ma’am, your name?」

「Mori Emiko. Sora’s mother.」

JJ’s tone softened. 「‘Beautiful forest’. Your parents named you well.」

Emiko’s cheeks tinted faintly pink.

Shizuko frowned. 「Papa, go back.」

JJ pouted. 「I just got here.」

「Ms. Haruka will send you the video.」

He sighed. 「Fine.」

Before leaving, he handed Emiko a sleek black card.

「It’d be nice to see you later, Ms. Mori. Bring Sora—she and Shizuko would get along well.」

Emiko blinked, startled. 「W-why me?」

JJ’s voice softened. His hair and pupils darkened subtly, the calm neutrality of Jerry resurfacing.

「Because you’re a single mother… and I’m a single father. We both know what it means to lose someone we love.」

He turned and left.

Haruka watched him go, whispering to Emiko. 「Well that's weird?」

Emiko tilted her head. 「How so?」

Haruka smiled faintly. 「It’s the first time he’s invited anyone to his house in three years. He even turned down celebrities before.」

Emiko’s eyes widened. 「He’s… really that famous?」

Haruka nodded. 「That—and much more.」

The whispers of admiration followed JJ out the door, fading into the hallway.

Somewhere behind his composed steps…

…the quiet echo of an unseen world stirred.