Matsushita Chiaki raised an eyebrow. "No need for that. My dad treats me very well."
"Then why call me that?"
"Those are two separate things."
Holding back a laugh, she lightly nudged his arm. "But if I keep calling you my adoptive dad, don't actually start treating me like your daughter, Kai-kun."
Kitagawa Kai nodded solemnly. "Don't worry. Deep down, that's how I've thought of you all along!"
Matsushita Chiaki's smile froze. She caught his sleeve, her tone turning dangerous. "Hmm?"
"Kai-kun... you'd better think carefully before answering again."
"I'm teasing. How could I bear to treat you like my daughter, Chiaki?"
"That's more like it."
She let go, looked down to straighten her cuff, then swept the hair hanging over her chest back behind her shoulders.
"Kai-kun, have you noticed anything different about me today compared to yesterday?"
Kitagawa Kai didn't rush to answer. He took a good look at her.
Under her light camel coat, she wore a creamy white cashmere sweater with a gray wool skirt.
With her long hair swept behind her shoulders, her fair neck showed above the small square neckline, a delicate necklace hanging below her collarbone.
"You look especially sweet and sophisticated today, Chiaki. That necklace in particular really suits you."
"Really? Then tell me, Kai-kun, what shape is the pendant?"
Kitagawa Kai was about to look closer when Matsushita Chiaki covered the pendant with her hand.
"Looking now doesn't count."
"Chiaki, that's an ambush."
"You're the one who said it."
Her smile grew even brighter.
Of course she knew her own strengths. She had deliberately brushed her hair aside earlier, and sure enough, it had worked.
He had been looking at her neck the whole time. How could he have spared any attention for the pendant?
"All right, I admit it. You