Chapter 11

Click.

Zoro slid the sword back into the wooden ornament. Pondering alone was pointless.

'I need to ask him directly.'

But there was no way to meet. He didn't know where he was now, nor did he have a phone number. Zoro didn't own a cellphone, and Toji had always been by his side. Whenever Zoro needed Toji, he just had to call out to him, but not anymore.

The only link was the nanny…

Walking with his thoughts, he suddenly found himself in front of his house. When had he arrived here?

With a puzzled tilt of his head, Zoro entered the house.

Right as he walked in, he bumped into the nanny, who was just about to leave. Upon making eye contact with Zoro, the nanny reflexively frowned slightly.

Not particularly bothered, Zoro glanced past the nanny at the clock behind her. 6 PM. Right on time for her to leave.

Normally, he wouldn't bother speaking to her, but today, he had a question.

"About your employer."

No reply came, but knowing she was listening, Zoro continued.

"Can you give me his phone number? Or maybe the location of where he's staying now?"

The nanny passed by Zoro without a word and left the house. A clear snub.

He hadn't expected much, so he wasn't particularly disappointed. Pressuring her might have worked, but with only Zoro and her to look after Megumi, alienating the nanny was not an option.

"Brother."

"Hey."

Were you okay, Megumi?

Uoo.

Megumi made a sound that could either be considered a response or babbling as he tried to crawl towards Zoro. Zoro stepped back and said firmly.

"Not now."

Having roamed outside all day, and especially after having blood splattered on him from that dog, he couldn't hug Megumi. There was a chance of transmitting germs that could make Megumi sick. It was one of the few useful pieces of advice he had gotten from the third nanny.

Megumi grimaced and pouted his lips. Where had he learned that? From the wrinkles between his brows to his facial features, he was a spitting image of Toji.

Strangely, there was a warm feeling deep in his throat.

"...I'll take a quick shower."

Zoro headed straight to the bathroom.

After showering, Zoro immediately picked up Megumi. The sweet smell of milk wafted from the little body snug in his arms.

He quickly scanned Megumi. His belly was plump, and his clothes were clean. The skin under his clothes was free from any bruises or wounds.

It seemed he had been well taken care of today. Zoro felt a slight relief. He knew this nanny was good for Megumi, but it was still important to check.

Next to the baby's sitting area, a thin picture book caught his eye. The nanny had bought a few picture books to read to Megumi. Zoro read the title written on the book's glittering cover.

'Mommy, Daddy, Yum Yum'

...A fitting book title to read to an 11-month-old child.

Megumi pointed at the daddy figure on the book's cover, then pointed his finger at Zoro.

"Daddy?"

"No."

I'm your brother, not your daddy. Try saying it, Brother. Brother.

Brother.

Right.

Kyaaak.

What was that sound?

Uuuung, aeiing.

Really...

Zoro let out a short sigh. When would he grow up? Nearly a year old now, but Megumi was still very much a baby.

"Brother."

"Why."

"Daddy."

"I told you, I'm not—"

"Daddy, where?"

Zoro stopped mid-sentence.

People raising babies could somewhat understand what the babies were trying to say. Not everything, but to some extent.

So, Zoro understood what Megumi was asking.

"Daddy, where?"

—Where is daddy?

"...I don't know."

I'm not sure. Ever since Chie died, I haven't been able to understand what Toji is thinking.

"But soon, I'll bring him back."

"Hmm?"

"Really."

If that person is still our father, that is.

Swallowing the rest of his words, Zoro stroked Megumi's head. His already spiky hair seemed to stand on end even more, resembling a sea urchin.

"I love you."

As always when he returned home, Zoro calmly made his promised statement.

Megumi's green eyes widened before he smiled broadly. His round, white face was adorable.

"Lo, ve, you."

"...Yes."

After a long conversation (if it could be called that), Megumi finally fell asleep.

Zoro quietly drew the curtains and turned off the lights, watching Megumi sleep peacefully.

He went to the small room used as a storeroom and fetched a rock. It was a rock he had picked up when he started strength training after Chie's death.

'I'd like to buy weights if I could.'

But no one would sell weights to a three-year-old. So, he had no choice but to use rocks.

'I need to become stronger.'

Even if catching up to his previous life's level in one go was too ambitious, he at least needed to surpass the physical capabilities he had at this age in his past life. To walk faster, walk longer, so he could continue moving forward without getting tired, even if it was the same path over and over.

So he could find Toji.

And once he found him...

'I'll have to decide.'

Whether that person is still our father, or not.