"i called dibs on papa first."
"seniority," you remark, resting your head on satoru's shoulder. "i called dibs on him before you were even born." you reminded her, a teasing tilt graces your lips as you tug your husband closer to you.
"that's not fair, i wasn't there yet."
"exactly. so i win."
"papaaa, tell mama that's not faaair!"
a long theatrical sigh exits the man, who's currently being fought over by his six year daughter and his wife. "okay, okaaay—" he holds up both hands dramatically, closing his eyes in an effort to look humble.
"—everyone just calm down. there's plenttty of me to go around—i'm very generous like that."
"how generous," you quirk, deadpan while rolling your eyes.
"exactly. i'm basically a public resource."
your daughter gasps like he's said something profound, azure eyes much like her father's widened. "papa's a public resource."
"see, she gets it." he grins while kissing her head.
"well," you start again, clearly not having ended the debate, "i feed him everyday." you blink at your daughter, the smile bubbling at the edge of your lips seems so hard to fight against.
"well i kiss him everyday, and—and i'll kiss him right now too—" she pauses before pressing a brief, wet kiss to satoru's face—like she's trying to prove something instead of actually meaning it.
"awwh, darlin'—" satoru coos, "c'mere—"
"not now, papa." she eyes him solemnly before turning back to you, business resuming.
you snort whilst covering your mouth.
"okay buuut," your daughter continues undeterred, "if you fed him every day and he stillll picked me, that just means food doesn't even matter to him. so really you just proved my point."
"—that is not what i proved." you trailed off, eyes crinkling with amusement.
"it kinda is though," satoru mumbles, like he'd been waiting for an excuse to jump back in. "i mean—she's got a point. i'd survive without the food" he pauses, unsure, "probably."
"wow—," you huff, "so you're taking sides now." you poke his chest with mock betrayal, eyeing the white-streaked duo — the smaller shenanigan sitting smugly atop the larger one.
you throw your hands up. "you know what? fine. fine. i'm done, i concede. you two—" you gesture between them, "—win. enjoy each other. i'm going to go be alone—unbothered and right, in the kitchen, where nobody will gang up on me." you pinch satoru's side while rising from the sofa.
"bye, mama," your daughter says cheerfully, accommodating herself further in satoru's arms.
"bye," satoru echoes, equally cheerful and unbothered, already adjusting his arm so your daughter can get comfortable now that there's more room.
you make it exactly two steps before turning around because—honestly, who were you kidding?










