Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 200 - Lara's Birthday — Tears Unshed
Lara's perspective:
Today is my birthday!
I'm really looking forward to it....... Well, okay, actually not that much.
I already know what Dad is going to give me.
Somewhere along the way, I started seeing fragments of the future. Honestly, I don't really like this ability. Because every time my family prepares a surprise for me, I end up finding out in advance.
My mothers love me. Dad loves me too.
My grandpas and grandmas all dote on me.
My great-grandmother....... doesn't dislike me either. She even likes me.
Windsor-nee protects me. Lucy....... envies and admires me.
Hehe!
Today, five-year-old me is loved by everyone I know.
-------
Morning.
The moment I opened my eyes, Windsor-nee was right there in front of me. Hands on her hips, looking straight at me.
"Happy birthday! Lara!"
"Morning....... thank you, Windsor-nee......."
"Mm, hurry up and get out of bed. Dad and the moms already have breakfast ready."
"Okay......."
Windsor-nee's voice must have woken Lucy too, who'd been sleeping beside me. She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.
She stared blankly for a long moment. Then she looked at me.
"Morning, Lara-nee......."
"Good morning."
I started changing after that. Lucy was still in a daze.
Then, partway through, she suddenly snapped out of it.
"Ah.......! Happy birthday! Lara-nee!"
"Thanks. Hurry up and get dressed so we can eat."
"Oh, oh......."
-------
Lucy and I walked out of the room. Dad was right there at the door.
"Morning, Lara. Lucy."
"Morning~ Dad."
"Good morning....... Dad."
Dad smiled and scooped us both up at once. Me in his left arm, Lucy in his right.
I reached up and pinched his cheek.
"What are you doing, Dad?"
Lucy buried her face shyly in his chest.
"Mmm......."
"Today, I'm going to give my lovely daughters my full and complete attention~"
Lucy spoke up, a little timid.
"But today....... isn't my birthday......."
Dad's steps slowed. He nuzzled his face softly against mine and Lucy's.
"That's true. Today is Lara's birthday......."
He sighed.
"You know, you girls don't come to Dad for attention nearly enough. Lucy, Windsor especially....... You don't need to wait for your birthday. You can come to me any time, okay, Lucy~"
Lucy's little face went red. Her already-lowered head pressed all the way into Dad's chest.
Dad laughed, warm and fond.
I raised my hand.
"What about me, what about me! I come to Dad every single day!"
"Lara....... Mm, yes. Keep it up."
"What's that supposed to mean! I love you, Dad~"
Lucy's voice followed right after mine, soft and earnest.
"I love you too, Dad......."
Dad smiled. He carried us into the washroom.
The moment we stepped inside, he lifted us up with gravity magic.
His gravity magic has gotten better. Before, he could only push things downward. Now he can control the direction freely.
Hmm.......?
I didn't see this in any dream last night. I didn't foresee any of this morning.
That's great!
But.......
"Dad."
"Hm?"
"Put me down first!"
"Why?"
"I need to use the toilet....... Go outside, Dad!"
Dad laughed awkwardly and set Lucy and me down.
-------
After Lucy and I took care of business, I called out through the door.
"You can come in now, Dad!"
"Oh!"
Dad pushed the door open and stepped in. He lifted us back up with magic again.
Then he picked up a toothbrush and squeezed toothpaste onto it.
"I'll brush your teeth for you."
I made a face.
"Eh...... Dad...... that's a little......."
Lucy shook her head too.
"Mm...... same......."
Dad went still. Then he put on the most pitiful expression he had.
....... Really, Dad.......
Every single time his daughters say no, he makes that face.
No helping it. If it would satisfy his little need to dote on someone, I could live with it. I opened my mouth.
"Ah~ go ahead, Dad~"
Dad smiled immediately.
"Alright, Lara first."
He reached the toothbrush in and brushed gently.
Mmm....... it tickles.......
Come to think of it....... why does this feel so familiar.......
When he finished, Dad activated water magic and trickled a little water into my mouth so I could rinse.
"Ahh ahh ahh ahh~"
I spat it out. Dad patted my head.
Then he rinsed the toothbrush, switched to a fresh one, and did the same for Lucy.
Watching him, I finally figured out where that familiar feeling was coming from.
This is exactly what I do when I brush Shiro's teeth........
"Alright! Time to eat!"
------
Breakfast.
The moms had prepared everything beautifully. Though our family tends to keep breakfast on the lighter side.
After eating, Lucy and I went out to the yard to practice controlling our magic output. Maybe because it was my birthday, Dad stayed out there with us the whole time, right up until lunch.
Lunch was made by all the moms together. Every single meal, I'm struck by the same thought....... The moms' cooking styles are so distinct.......
One bite and you know exactly who made it.
Summer Mom and Green Mom are probably the closest in skill. My mom's cooking is actually fine too....... it's just, the sweet dishes are usually hers. The flavor is a small step behind Summer Mom and Green Mom.
And then there's Red Mom.
Red Mom's cooking is....... edible, but there's always something a little off about it.
-------
In the afternoon, the moms, the maids, Windsor-nee, and Lucy all started setting up for my birthday party.
Dad lingered around me. He caught Summer Mom's eye and gave her a little wink. Then he took my hand.
"Lara, want to go into town for a bit?"
I smiled, resigned.
"Sure~"
He led me by the hand, and we headed into town.
The town.......
Lots of people. Lots of noise.
Quite a few people called out to Dad as we passed, waving and greeting him. Dad is well-known. At least in every story I've heard since I can remember, Dad seems to show up in most of them.
"Lara, anything you want to buy?"
"Mmm....... can we just walk around a bit first?"
"Sure."
The hand Dad was holding had to reach up high to meet his. My arm was already starting to ache........
We came to a quiet little stall tucked off to one side. I stopped and pulled on Dad's hand.
"This!"
I pointed at a string of small, slightly uneven beads.
Dad picked them up. He frowned a little and lowered his voice.
"These look...... pretty ordinary."
"Mm!"
"So why this one?"
"They caught my eye!"
Dad blinked. Then he nodded.
"Then we'll buy them."
He paid, and we kept walking. I slipped the string of beads onto my wrist.
Mmm...... my arm really is sore now......
Then a large hand came under me and lifted me up from behind.
"If your arm is sore, say something."
"I know......."
Dad didn't walk fast. Partly because I kept tugging on him to stop. No real reason. I just wanted to look at this, look at that.
We passed a stall selling sweets. The smell was strong.......
"Want some?"
"Mmm, sweet stuff....... Mom said I'm not allowed anymore."
"It's Lara's birthday today. A little should be fine, right?"
"As long as Dad doesn't tell Mom."
"Then just a little. There's still the birthday party tonight. Eat too much now and the moms will be upset."
"Mm!"
Dad bought the smallest bag they had.
He opened the packaging. The pieces inside were all different sizes, and from the look of them, different flavors too.
"Want Dad to feed you?"
"Of course not~ I'm just deciding which one to eat first."
"Aren't they all the same?"
"They're completely not the same. Dad, you have no eye for detail!"
In the end, I started with the smallest piece.
Even though I'd said I didn't want to be fed, Dad ended up feeding me anyway.
It was a small bag. When only one piece was left, I closed my mouth.
"What's wrong?"
"Dad should have one too."
Dad smiled and ate the last piece himself.
"How is it?"
"Mm...... not bad. Pretty sweet."
"Right?"
We wandered through town like that, just passing the time, until evening.
When the sun started going down, Dad picked me up and walked us home.
A light breeze moved through the air and ruffled his golden-brown hair.
I reached out and smoothed it back down.
"Lara."
"Hm?"
"You told me before that you can see parts of the future."
"Mm."
"Did you see what I'm giving you today?"
"It's the autobiography you wrote. And the pendant you made with Nanahoshi-nee."
"I see. You saw it." He paused. "Then does Lara know who's coming to celebrate today?"
"I do....... Grandpas and grandmas, grandpa and grandma on Mom's side, the moms, and Uncle Cliff and his wife......."
"You saw all of that."
"I'm sorry......."
Dad patted my head.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"Everyone worked so hard to prepare....... and I already knew all of it........"
Mm. Like right now.
Sitting in Dad's arms, I already know that everyone at home is ready and waiting. I know what all the moms' gifts are. I know what Windsor-nee and Lucy got me. I know that my grandparents are going to try to surprise me at the door.
The only person I've ever told about seeing the future is Dad.......
"Lara."
"Hm?"
"Does knowing in advance mean you're not happy?"
"A little....... It could have been that feeling where you go 'wow~ wah~ ah!' but now it's just....... normal happy."
Dad smiled. Then he leaned in and kissed my cheek.
"What about that? Does that count as a surprise?"
I was a little speechless at how childish he was being.......
But.......
I nodded.
"Mm....... I guess so?"
"Then from now on, I'll put more thought into how to surprise Lara."
"You don't have to....... It's not like I can see everything......."
Dad pinched my cheek.
"That's true. Lara can see the future, but not the past."
"So?"
"The autobiography is all about my past. Beautified here and there, of course."
"Dad is so vain......."
"Is Lara interested?"
"Actually, yes. Very."
"Good. We're almost home anyway."
"Mm."
We reached the front door.
Neither of us had knocked yet.
Right on cue, the door swung open.
Grandma, Grandpa, the grandpas and grandmas, the moms, Windsor-nee, Lucy, Uncle Cliff and his wife, Nanahoshi-nee, Uncle Orsted, the maids.......
All of them together.
"Happy birthday! Lara!"
But....... why....... why were Nanahoshi-nee and Orsted there.......
That wasn't in any future I'd seen.......
I looked up. Dad was smiling down at me.
"Even if you see the future, that doesn't mean it can't be changed. On the way home just now, I used magic to bring Nanahoshi and Orsted here."
Even if you see it....... it can still change........
Dad patted my head.
"I haven't said it yet. Happy birthday, Lara."
➤ Next: Lucy, Birthday — Heartbreak