This is not the date I wanted.

"...Please don't worry about that. Shidou and I have our own pace of getting along."

With a helpless sigh, Meng Yue turned her gaze to her father.

"Then my dear father, may I ask what are you planning to do by quietly picking up your beautiful imitation knife and cornering my boyfriend?"

Mengyue's father quickly hid the "May Rain" in his hand behind his back and laughed, pretending to be stupid.

"Hahaha! Imitation knife? Am I holding something in my hand? Is my precious daughter just an illusion of yours?"

"..."

Looking at the tip of the knife protruding from behind her father, Meng Yue didn't say anything, but her gaze towards her father became cold, as if she was looking at a stranger.

As if he was under pressure as heavy as a mountain, Mengyue's father broke out in a cold sweat. After a dry cough, he put on a serious expression.

"Well, that. Mengyue, Daddy is doing this for your own good. After all, you are still young and don't have enough judgment on many things. Boys and girls of this age only date because of the influence of hormones, and often have no sense of responsibility... So at this time, it is better to leave it to the elders..."

"Starting tomorrow for a month, I won't speak another word to you, Dad."

"I'm sorry, I'm just jealous and annoyed with this kid! I absolutely don't want this!"

With just one sentence, Meng Yue's father's unfinished talk was completely blocked, causing the pillar of the Liang Yi family to kneel on the ground crying.

Being able to kneel down and apologize in front of outsiders without hesitation and abandoning his dignity is, in a sense, quite a remarkable thing. Thinking of this, Shidao couldn't help but have some respect for Mengyue's father.

At this time, Mengyue's mother suddenly came to Shidao.

"NeNe~Shidao-kun, if you don't mind, would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"

"Will this... not trouble you?"

"No, no~ It's better to say that we welcome you. Mengyue, don't you think so?"

Shidou turned his gaze to Mengyue. The girl blushed a little, turned her head down and spoke hesitantly.

"Well...Kotori is going to Rinkai School anyway...it's okay for her to stay for dinner."

Not good, too cute to be fair...

"In that case, I'm sorry to bother you..."

"OK! Then it's decided~"

Mengyue's mother smiled brightly

"Stay for dinner? Wait! I..."

"My dear, what's wrong with you?"

Mengyue's mother looked at her husband with a smile.

"……No."

Meng Yue's father, who gave people a majestic and scary first impression, was actually a stupid man with the lowest status in the family, who loved his daughter and was afraid of his wife. This was something he had already understood from Meng Yue's words when he came here. After confirming this, Shidao felt a little bit of subtle sympathy.

"By the way, Shidou-kun~"

Mengyue's mother suddenly lowered her voice.

"What is it...sister?"

"Very good~" Meng Yue's mother nodded happily, "I'll give you a little reminder. Although personally I don't mind if you call me mother now, but if the child's father does not acknowledge your relationship in the end, I will not agree."

"Is that so...Thanks for the reminder."

Shidou glanced at Mengyue's father, and the other party glared at Shidou fiercely with an expression that said "What are you looking at, you little bastard?"

The task is arduous, Shidou said with a wry smile.

"Don't look at it this way. As the child's father, he hopes Mengyue can be happy more than anyone else. So, I believe that if you really love Mengyue, the child's father will not object."

After quietly saying "come on" to Shidao, Mengyue's mother rolled up her sleeves with full enthusiasm.

"Well, I'll go prepare dinner next. We need to work hard today! Mengyue, come and give me a hand."

"Okay, don't get too excited and make a full banquet."

Mengyue nodded, secretly gave Shidao an encouraging gesture, and left the room with Mengyue's mother.

Shidao understood that Mengyue's mother wanted to give him and Mengyue's father some time to communicate alone.

This was his only chance. Shidao couldn't help but take a deep breath, muster up his courage, sit up straight and look directly at Mengyue's father.

Originally, Shidao thought that without Mengyue's mother and daughter there to suppress him, Mengyue's father would raise his knife and chop him without hesitation, and he was even prepared to be beaten. However, to Shidao's surprise, although Mengyue's father turned into a sour face because his wife and daughter left, he did not intend to drive Shidao away.

"Itsuka Shidou, although it's unpleasant, I have to apologize to you first."

"No, it's okay. I wasn't hurt just now..."

"Not that, I was talking about something else."

Mengyue's father shook his head and said.

"Actually, after I learned that Meng Yue had a close male, Gokawa Shidao, I did some research on your personal information."

"Eh? Investigating me...?"

"Through various means... Although it was not intentional, I did find out some unnecessary private information, so I apologize first."

It is impossible to say that he would not feel unhappy about being secretly investigated, but Shidao also understood. With the loving character of this father, it is impossible for him to let his daughter get along with a guy of unknown origin. Moreover, the other party was able to apologize for his behavior so openly, so Shidao did not have the idea of ​​pursuing the matter.

If you put yourself in her shoes, if Kotori suddenly gets very close to someone of the opposite sex one day, you will probably do the same thing.

"Itsuka Shido is a student in Class 4, Grade 2 of Raizen High School. He has average looks and average grades, and his social circle at school seems to be relatively small. As for his family, his parents are on a business trip overseas, and he lives with his non-blood-related sister. He is admired by a cute loli with a bunny doll next door as his brother (above). As for school, he often has close relationships with the cold and arrogant academic masters and cute foodies in the same class. He also has a very friendly relationship with the school beauty twins in the same class as Mengyue. He even had close contact with a beautiful transfer student who has left school, and has an ambiguous relationship with a popular idol who is suspected to be popular. Therefore, he is also called this by his classmates at school-Gokawa Harem."

Shidou looked at Mengyue's father in amazement.

Father, isn't your intelligence network a little too powerful?

Finally, Mengyue’s father concluded unhappily.

"Where are you from, gal harem protagonist?"

"Haha..." At this time, Shidao could only smile bitterly in embarrassment.

Although there are many complicated reasons, Shidao cannot deny that the news is false. Under normal circumstances, as long as the parents hear this information, they will directly choose to reject Shidao.

Shidou couldn't help but feel ashamed of himself for previously evaluating Mengyue's father as being narrow-minded because he loved his daughter too much.

"Well... although it's a bit strange for me to say this. After hearing all this, why are you still willing to give me a chance? If you wanted me to do that, I would have just told Meng Yue to cut off contact with such a person."

"So I said I was going to wipe you out at the beginning?"

That being said...

However, Mengyue's father sighed with some complexity and continued.

"Well... Having said that, Mengyue chose to continue dating you even though she knew this. If you were to cut off contact between the two of you, Mengyue would definitely not accept it. So I used my own method to test it. If you were scared away by me at that time, it would just be a good opportunity to shatter Mengyue's illusion. However, now you can still stay in this room so leisurely. Looking at your thick skin, I will just listen to what you have to say..."

Shidao now finally understood the meaning of the reminder given to him by Mengyue's mother.

This father is not just overprotective, he truly loves and respects his family. He will put aside personal prejudices and gossip and consider his daughter's happiness.

At first glance, the initial meeting seemed like a father's rampage because he was obsessed with his daughter, but in fact, it was Mengyue's father's unique way of evaluating people. He was suddenly invited to his girlfriend's house, and was chased by her parents with samurai swords (fake) without any warning. If he just abandoned Mengyue and ran away, in the eyes of this father, he would not have the ability to give Mengyue happiness.

Although according to this way of thinking, most men can be ruled out. Shidao thought with a wry smile.

No wonder from the very beginning, Mengyue and Mengyue's mother both expressed the attitude that they must obtain the consent of Mengyue's father.

Although I know many beautiful girls, Meng Yue is the most beautiful in my eyes. I will not be attracted to other girls. ——I believe you will be kicked out if you say this.

For this father, all the flattery and exaggeration were meaningless. However, this made Shidao feel relieved.

What he wants is not a so-called verbal promise, but evidence that can make him believe that you can bring happiness to Mengyue.

"Uncle, I won't say anything unnecessary. I can't say that the things you investigated were all made up by others. But I promise that the person I like is Mengyue, and the person I want to accompany is only Mengyue. Now that I have made up my mind, I will not do anything to betray Mengyue."

"..."

"I know very well what an excellent and beautiful woman Mengyue is. I know even better that I am not worthy of her at the moment." Shidao took a deep breath and said seriously and firmly, "But this is not a reason for me to give up... So, please give me some time. I will prove to you with my actions whether I can become a man worthy of Mengyue and a family member who can bring happiness to Mengyue!"

Mengyue's father looked up and closed his eyes. After a long silence, he sighed tiredly.

"…More than I thought. My daughter's vision is right…"

After whispering something to himself, Mengyue's father opened his eyes.

"I'll take note of what you said. I'll observe you for a while. If I find that what you said is false, don't blame me for throwing you into Tokyo Bay."

"Father, Father!"

"Shut up, I haven't said I agree with you yet!"

Mengyue's father sighed and looked a little absent-minded, as if recalling the past.

"You bastard, even though you want to deny it, you are somewhat similar to me when I was young."

"resemblance?"

"Personality, temper, and luck with women... although not as exaggerated as you, who looks like the protagonist from a harem anime."

Shidou scratched his head in embarrassment.

Speaking of which, from the strangely named sword "May Rain" at the beginning to the later "Lolita" and "Gal" Meng Yue's father would occasionally say these words that are not commonly used in daily life. This father who looks serious is unexpectedly a senior otaku.

"As an experienced person...boy, I'll give you a piece of advice. How were your relationships with other women before? But since you've decided to choose Meng Yue, please draw a clear line between yourself and other women. Women are strong, but also fragile...meaningless expectations and excessive tenderness are nothing but poison that hurts people."

Hearing this, Shidou smiled.

"Don't worry, uncle. For me, as long as Mengyue is happy, that's enough."

"I hope you...don't forget what you said."

After taking a look at the unclosed door of the living room, Mengyue's father replied indifferently.

……

"Come~ Shidou, ah~"

At dinner, Mengyue picked up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and handed it to Shidao.

"Ham~"

"Is it tasty?"

The girl showed a positive attitude different from usual, her cheeks blushing, and her amber eyes looked at Shidou with anticipation. To be honest, just with this scene in front of him, even if Shidou was drinking plain water, he would feel like it was heavenly wine.

"tasty."

"Really? Great. Then let's have some vegetables too, ah~"

Rather than picking up food, it was more like simply feeding him. Mengyue kept picking out various dishes and handing them to Shidao, staring at Shidao's cheek, seeming to enjoy it.

"Um... Mengyue, aren't you going to eat?"

"Sigh... How should I put it? I feel like if I feed Shidou, my stomach will also be full."

"Cough-cough-"

Shidao couldn't help but cough. It wasn't that Mengyue fed him too fast or something. It was just that Mengyue's words were really unexpected, just like a pitcher who has always been famous for his changeups actually threw a beautiful straight ball, and was caught off guard.

"Ah! Sorry Shidou, drink some water."

"fine……"

After drinking a sip of water, Shidou calmed his breathing and waved his hand to show that he was fine.

"Meng Yue...what happened? You seem very happy."

"Sa... I just feel like I like Shidou even more."

"Cough-cough-"

"Choked again? Really, Shidou, you don't have to eat so fast, chew slowly."

Looking at the scene in front of him, Mengyue's father was finally so excited that he couldn't control his emotions. With a "crack!" sound, he broke the chopsticks in half.

"No, I really can't trust Meng Yue to this brat. Execute! Execute immediately! Someone, come! Where's my Italian cannon?!"

"Alala~ Really, you kid, can't you be more mature? The chopsticks and bowls are for you to destroy? Come to my room~"

"Ahhhh let me go, my child! Today, it's either me or this brat who's at the mercy of the devil!"

"Shidao-kun, the child's father and I will leave first, you two can chat slowly~"

Immediately afterwards, amid a meaningless shouting, Mengyue's father was dragged out by her mother like a mop.

At first I was a little horrified, but now it seems that this might be a way for the two of them to express intimacy. Although I respectfully decline.