2 Their story starts now!

"Hmm, this is indeed a problem."

I rub my chin as I looked in my closet.

"I forgot to buy Haruhi some clothes. Guess that's today's itinerary."

It's a fair and peaceful morning today. I'm taking time off from my hits to take care of Haruhi. I've saved quite a lot of money so I don't need to worry about that. Plus, I have people who also financially support me from the side. I guess you can say I'm set for life even at just 21.

I left the room and head to the living room where Haruhi is watching TV.

"Haruhi, I'm going out for a bit."

"Where are you going, Papa?"

She started calling me that ever since I asked her to call me Kuro. Not sure where she got it but it definitely stuck to me in just a day.

"Just gonna buy some clothes for you."

"Oh, can I come?"

"I'll ask you to stay here for a bit, Haruhi. Is that okay?"

"Okayy..."

She pouted.

I don't want to risk going out with her. Until I know if she has a target on her back or not, it'd be much safer for her to just stay in the house.

"Just watch TV or play some video games while I'm away, okay?"

"Okayyy..."

I smiled and left for the shopping mall.

She's slowly adjusting and regaining the life in her eyes. A week ago, I found her in the mansion with eyes like a dead fish. I took her home and that's where we are right now. I'm slowly teaching her stuff she needs to know to keep up with society but everything else is still a mystery about her. I'm keeping myself from asking her any sensitive stuff that might trigger something else inside her.

For all I know she might also be a trained assassin brainwashed into a sweet little kid like that and when I mention blood or when she sees blood she might get triggered and her skills might come back and she might kill me, you know stuff like that. I might be paranoid, but it's much better than treading this without any worry.

A twenty minute ride after, I arrived at my destination. An action-packed mall filled with people enjoying their relatively peaceful weekends.

"Hmm, let's see."

This mall can be divided into three parts or floors. The first floors are filled with apparel and department stores, meanwhile the second floor is a bunch of ragtag stores from pharmacies to general needs. You name it, they probably have it.

The third floor on the other hand is where the fun starts. At least, where my fun starts. People often think of hitmen as boring and harsh people. Well, I definitely know hitmen who are your typical "thrown away my emotion, now I'm a rock"-type of people. But I'm not one of those. I enjoy my entertainment, especially my video games.

But that's not what I'm here for today, I need to pick up some clothes for Haruhi.

After walking around the first floor, I stumbled upon a pretty normal shop. Not too much flair and embroideries in their dresses, it's just simple and plain. Fits Haruhi to a tee.

I approached one of the clerks.

"Excuse me, a little bit of assistance please."

"Sure, sir. What are you looking for?"

She smiled warmly.

"I'm looking for a dress for a nine year old."

"Ohh, is that so? Your daughter?"

"Yeah."

"What's her size?"

Her size? Crap, I didn't really check. But I guess she's pretty thin for her age.

"Small."

"Right over here please."

She lead me to the far left side of the store where a plethora of plain but cute dresses are lined up.

"Can you tell me a little bit more about your daughter?"

"Well, she's about this tall."

I leveled my hand at the same height as around my elbow, but a little farther up.

"Has long, lustrous, black hair."

I continued as the clerk nods her head while searching for clothes that might fit Haruhi's personality.

"She's also pretty cute if you ask me."

"Then I guess this will fit her!"

She pulled a dress from the rack in an exaggerated manner and showed it to me in all of its glory.

A black dress with a big skull in the middle.

"Wait, what? I'm pretty sure I'm describing an angel."

"You know, sir. All daughters are angels in the eyes of their parents."

The clerk let out a smirk.

She put the dress on top of her like she's the one trying it out and continued.

"We get those customers all the time, sir."

She closed in on our distance and whispered.

"And it's getting a little bit tiring."

She hopped back in an elegant manner and started ranting

"You guys and your successful romantic endeavors! Ah, I hope you guys just burn!"

She twirled and fell to the ground in a slow manner like a ballerina performing on stage.

"Okay, okay. I get it, miss. But please don't make a scene out of this."

"I'll make a scene if you don't buy it."

She winked

"Wha- that's underhanded!"

I complained

"Oh no! This romantically successful person is trying to-"

"Alright! I'll buy it!"

I said in exasperation.

"Thank you for the purchase!"

After paying for the dress, I left the shop immediately. What the hell was that woman's problem?

"Hey, sir!"

A female clerk from another store called to me.

"Yeah?"

"From the looks of that shopping bag, you must be shopping for your daughter!"

"Uhh, yeah?"

"Our store has a bit of accessories here that kids might like. Would you like to check it out?"

"Oh, sure!"

"Thank you!"

The clerk lead me inside the shop which is filled with accessories from hair ties, headbands to cute pens and all the stationery you need.

"Do you mind describing your daughter?"

"Well, she's about this height."

I leveled my hand at my elbow but a little farther up.

"Has long, lustrous, black hair."

She nodded as she switched her attention to hair ties and headbands.

"And she's pretty cute, too."

"Well, I just got the right item for you!"

She pulled out a pair of hair tie with cute little skulls in them.

"Hey, this gag is getting a little bit old."

I interjected but she looked at me in horror.

"Did you just say I'm getting old?"

Her eyes turned teary and she started sobbing, albeit fakely. They're crocodile tears.

"You guys and your successful-"

"Alright, alright, you just want me to buy that, right?!"

"Thank you for your purchase!"

She smiled and waved me goodbye.

I feel robbed. I fell into another trap. What the hell is wrong with this place? Did I stumble upon a tourist trap? But still, I really need to buy something nice for her. What the hell am I doing with these skull themed set? Who am I giving this to? A necromancer? A menhera?

"Hey, sir!"

Oh god, here comes another one.

"Yes?"

I turned around and found another clerk trying to get me to buy something from their shop.

"It seems that you're shopping for your daughter! Want to check our stuff out?"

At this point, I'm traumatized by these shops but might as well.

"Alright, just don't force me to get something I don't like, okay?"

I sighed. She just tilted her head and shot me a confused look.

"Alright... Anyway, this way for the dresses."

I entered the shop which looked entirely different from the last two that I visited. Compared to those, this one seemed a lot more modern and professional. Clothes are separately packaged and are presented nicely. Makes me wonder what the heck were the ones earlier.

"Can you describe your daughter?"

She asked me.

My body stiffened and my hands started sweating.

"Is there something bothering you, sir?"

"O-oh, no. Umm.. Well, she's around this height."

I leveled my hand once more around the height of my elbow but a little farther up.

"Mhmm."

She nodded her head as she started searching for dresses.

"She has long, lustrous, black hair."

"Alright, and?"

"Her size is small."

"Okay..."

"And she's pretty cute if you ask me."

"Well, I just got the right one for you!"

Oh god please don't be something skull themed.

She pulled out a cute yellow dress that has small flower embroideries on it and frills at the end.

"Oh my god, finally a sane person!"

I held the clerk's hand tightly.

"W-well, what do you think about it?"

She said, visibly flushed.

"I like it! I'm buying it! Actually give me about 5 of those but in different colors! Thank you!"

"R-right..."

She proceeded to gather the items I asked for while I searched around the shop for her underwear. This time, I happily pulled cash out of my wallet and went straight home.

"Haruhi! Look what I got!"

I showed her the dresses that I bought her.

"Oooooh, wow! What about those, papa?"

She pointed at a bag I tried to hide.

"Well, uhh... hey!"

She rushed to the bag when she noticed that I'm hiding it. She opened it quickly and her eyes widened.

"See? I don't think you'll like-"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOW, how did you know I like these, papa?!"

She with obvious excitement.

"How did you know I like skulls, papa?!"

She grabbed the dress and the hair ties and started jumping around.

"Tell me, tell me! How???"

She hugged me tightly.

... Apparently, she likes skulls.