The Yokan Family 'Short-Short' Diary 9 - Viva! Yokan Brothers -

📝 Subtle 'Quirks'

(In the bedroom on a holiday afternoon, the Yokan family's customary 'father-son play fight' is underway)

Eldest son: 'Whack!'

Second son: 'Thud!'

Me: 'Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch. You guys, you jerks! 💢'

Eldest son & Second son: 'Hehehe'

Eldest son: 'Whack!'

Second son: 'Thud!'

Me: 'Wait, wait, wait, wait. Listen to me, my sons. This is just 'pretend' play, after all. For 'pretend' to be fun, it's important that all participants are on the same page. You guys are growing more than you realize, so it really hurts Daddy every time I get hit. That's not fun, so please, I beg you to go easy on me.'

Eldest son & Second son: 'Ehhh~'

Me: 'Please~ 🙏'

Eldest son: 'Then how about this? Let's decide on 'Quirks' or 'Cursed Techniques' like in My Hero Academia or Jujutsu Kaisen and fight that way?'

Second son: 'Yeah'

Me: 'That sounds good. It's starting to feel more like 'pretend' now~'

Eldest son: 'Okay, I'll use 'Detroit Smash' then'

Second son: 'I'll use 'Hollow Purple'!'

Me: 'Okay. Then for Daddy...'

Eldest son: 'No, no. Daddy is the bad guy, so we get to decide.'

Me: 'Ehh~. That's super unreasonable~'

Second son: 'Then, Daddy's 'Quirk' is 'Bald'!'

Me: 'No, no. That's just Dad's "physical characteristic," isn't it? Well, it's certainly true that it's Dad's "individuality," but... 😆'

Second Son: 'Then, "Extreme Weight Loss"!'

Me: 'No, no. 😅 I'm happy you'd say that, but Dad is still generally in the pretty fat category, so it's embarrassing, and now it's become a "result of hard work." Give me something like a "special move" like you guys have!'

Eldest Son: 'Don't worry! We've thought of a proper original one for you, Dad.'

Me: 'Oh! That's great!'

Eldest Son: 'Dad's "individuality" is "Super Shield"!'

Me: '"Super Shield"? For something with "Super" in the name, it's an "individuality" that gives off a pretty lame vibe. It doesn't seem like it can attack at all, either. 😆'

Eldest Son: 'What are you talking about? 💢 This "Super Shield" is a powerful shield that deflects any attack!'

Me: 'Alright, alright. So, shall we resume the battle?'

Eldest Son & Second Son: 'Okay!'

Me: 'Then, right away, Super Shield!'

Eldest Son: 'Detroit Smash!'

Second Son: 'Hollow Technique: Purple!'

Me: 'Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch. No, no, no, no, it actually hurts! Dad is using "Super Shield" right now, but...'

Eldest Son: 'Oh, that's right, that's right! ✨'

Me: 'Don't forget that!'

Eldest Son & Second Son: 'Okay. Hehehe. 😏'

(The development of the "pretend battle" after this can be "easily guessed." Is it just my imagination, or has the situation (battle) not changed one bit compared to before? No, because I was given such a strangely subtle "individuality," one could even say it has worsened. 😅 Life is rarely well-constructed. Let's take this incident as a message to me, who has lived an "attack-specialized life" until now, saying "from now on, value defense." But even so, will the day ever come when my "Super Shield" actually takes effect? That depends entirely on my sons' whims, but expectations are low. Don't lose to the unreasonable "trampling" of the Little Gang that will surely continue, Yokan! 💪)

📝The "Carrot" after the "Stick"

(The night of the aforementioned "pretend battle." The sons are making a huge racket in bed.)

Me: 'Hey. It's time to go to sleep now.'

Eldest son & Second son: 'Ehh~?'

Me: 'You two have been talking quite a lot for a while now. It's late, so let's go to sleep.'

Eldest son & Second son: 'Okay~ (both looking dissatisfied)'

Me: '(Ah, that was noisy~😵)'

Eldest son: 'Well then, a question before we sleep.'

Second son: 'Yes!'

Me: '(Hey, hey. You're still not going to sleep?😵)'

Eldest son: 'Everyone who loves Dad, raise your hand~'

Me: '(Huh?)'

(My sons laugh and silently raise their hands)

Me: 'What, what, what's with the sudden change? Are you after some pocket money or something?'

Eldest son: 'No~. We're happy because you've been playing with us more than before and taking us to lots of different places, Dad.'

Me: 'Is that so? (teary-eyed)'

Second son: 'The pool and Kamagaya Stadium were fun, weren't they?'

Me: 'Yeah (teary-eyed)'

Eldest son: 'We can't beat Mom, but lately we've really come to love you too, Dad.'

Me: 'That makes me so happy. Wait a second. Dad's going to the bathroom, so you two can keep chatting for a bit longer (this is getting dangerous)'

Eldest son & Second son: 'Okay~'

(Rushing into the bathroom)

Me: 'Whoa~😭😭😭😭😭'

(How delicious the 'carrot' after the 'stick' is✨ After nine years of hardship, I am happy that the hearts of father and son are connecting little by little. Some might worry, 'Isn't the 'stick' a bit too harsh compared to the 'carrot' in the Yokan family?' But in our unique household, where the dad—the one mainly 'being whipped'—is abnormally happy, this is fine. No, this is exactly how it should be. I look forward to the exquisite balance of 'stick' and 'carrot' that Dad loves from you, Mom and sons💕)