NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: 2. I Have Few Friends
"Akira-kun, from now on, we're officially friends."
Kashiwazaki Tenma frowned. The solemn atmosphere between the two young people made it look like a confession scene. His face darkened instantly.
"Akira-kun, how did you know my daughter has few friends?"
"Could it be that you already knew who we were?"
"Did you figure out our identities long ago?"
"Was our conversation on the plane just a ruse?"
Anxious and full of doubt, Tenma fired off a string of soul-searching questions.
If you replaced the word "friend" with "lover," wouldn't this basically be a confession?
My precious daughter, where is your dignity?
You can't just give yourself away like this!
Tenma roared internally, but on the surface, he could do nothing but fume in frustration.
"Hold on, hold on! Uncle Tenma, can you stop jumping to conclusions with that extreme daughter-con logic of yours?"
"Seriously, with that imagination, it's a shame you're not a manga artist."
Akira sighed, exasperated.
"Hehe!"
Hearing Akira tease her father, Sena let out a bell-like giggle.
"I only turned back because you provoked me."
"You even brought Sena into it. If I had chickened out, wouldn't that be the same as running away?"
"Hahaha! So you finally admit my precious daughter is cute and charming enough to enchant you!"
Tenma smirked, determined to push Akira into a corner.
"Uncle Tenma, actually, I only said half the sentence—'I have few friends.' I forgot to mention the second half."
"I actually have a lot of childhood friends."
Tenma's expression froze.
He had completely misjudged this kid.
After a lifetime of chasing prey, he never expected to be outmaneuvered himself.
This brat was not only a swordsman but also a certified playboy!
He could already sense it—this kid would become an ultimate playboy in the future.
This was a hunter's instinct. A former playboy like himself could recognize another one at a glance.
"Sena, let's go. There's no need to waste time with a coward who won't even reveal his full name."
"Dad, Akira-kun is my new friend."
"Why are you suddenly trying to take me away? Didn't you two get along well on the plane?"
Sena looked at her father in confusion.
Akira having lots of childhood friends had nothing to do with her.
She was making friends with Akira—not his childhood friends.
For the first time in her life, she had made a friend.
And a rare male friend at that.
Tenma mentally screamed in frustration.
Had he known this kid was a playboy, he never would have introduced his daughter!
"My full name is Sawamura Akira."
"Sena, you can just call me Akira."
"Honestly, my daily habits align more with Chinese customs."
"I'm not used to Japanese naming conventions."
Tenma watched helplessly as Akira deliberately shortened the distance between himself and Sena.
"Hehe! Then I won't hold back."
"Akira!"
"Akira-kun, shouldn't you be letting go of my daughter's hand by now?"
Tenma clenched his teeth, speaking in a low voice.
"Oh, sorry, Sena, I forgot."
Despite his words, Akira still didn't let go of Sena's delicate, boneless hand—as if just to irritate Tenma a little more.
"This was a gift from a mentor when I lived in Britain as a child."
"Today, I want to give it to you."
"As a symbol of our friendship."
Akira removed the silver cross necklace from around his neck, his tone unusually sincere.
He truly wished to be lifelong friends with Sena, this pure and adorable tsundere girl.
He only hoped their friendship wouldn't change in the future.
Sena, touched by his sincerity, hesitated.
"I… I can't accept this."
"It's a gift from your mentor, and you've had it for years."
"How could I possibly take it?"
"It's fine. I swiped a bunch of these from that old man."
"He's a bishop. He has plenty of them."
"Besides, I can tell you're a Christian, unlike most Japanese people."
"Sena, please don't refuse."
Akira reached behind him as if performing magic, pulling out another identical silver cross necklace.
Before Sena could react, he stepped forward and gently placed the still-warm cross around her neck.
She froze, stunned by the unexpected intimacy.
The silver cross gleamed against her fair skin.
"It looks great!"
"I knew it would suit you."
Akira admired the bashful beauty before him, then put on his own identical necklace.
Now, they looked like a matching set.
Tenma's vision darkened.
His daughter was being swept away right in front of him, and there was nothing he could do.
"Akira, thank you. This is the best gift I've ever received."
Sena gently held the cross necklace, feeling its warmth.
Her head lowered slightly as she whispered in deep emotion.
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