---
We left the apartnt at exactly seven o’clock.
The narrow hallway was the sa as always. Slightly faded wall paint, a row of parked bicycles, and the sll of laundry detergent from the next unit.
Yuna walked beside .
The blue bag on her back looked a little too big.
Her steps were neat.
Too neat.
The mont we reached the external stairs of the apartnt, I spotted them.
Three housewives.
Standing at the end of the narrow alley.
A classic formation.
One holding a shopping bag.
One holding a smartphone.
One just standing there with folded arms.
---
The mont they saw us—
Their chatter stopped.
All heads turned in unison.
Their gazes shifted from ... to Yuna... then back again.
The local gossip radar system had been activated.
Beside , Yuna’s pace changed.
Her back suddenly straightened.
Her shoulders pulled back.
Her chin lifted slightly.
I didn’t need to look at her face to know what she was doing.
Public mode.
A mode far too formal for an apartnt alley.
---
We drew closer.
One of the won broke into a wide smile.
"Oh, Nishida-kun—"
Yuna paused for a half-step.
Her hands began moving to the front of her body.
Elbows straight.
Shoulders steady.
A bowing angle of roughly forty-five degrees.
Perfect.
Too perfect.
Before she could bow—
I placed my hand on top of her head.
Pat.
Not hard.
Just enough to halt her movent.
I nudged her head slightly forward.
"Keep walking."
Yuna blinked.
Her legs automatically moved again.
We kept walking, passing by the won.
One of them still tried to initiate a conversation.
"Whose child is that, Nishida-kun?"
I just gave a tiny nod.
Maybe one milliter.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t answer.
Steps remaining straight ahead.
The second housewife let out a small laugh.
"How cute, just like a doll."
I didn’t slow down.
Didn’t speed up.
Just kept walking.
Yuna didn’t look back either.
A few seconds later, we had passed them.
---
The sound of gossiping began again behind us.
Lower volu.
But clear enough.
We exited the apartnt alley and reached the main sidewalk.
The sound of cars was much louder here.
People were walking to work.
Yuna paused for a mont.
As if she were finally taking a breath again.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
I glanced at her.
She was still standing incredibly straight.
Too straight.
---
"A posture like that consus twenty percent of your daily stamina."
Yuna blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
She slowly relaxed her shoulders a bit more.
Still neat, but no longer like a statue.
---
"We are not in a military parade," I said.
She nodded.
"Yes, Papa."
We resud walking toward the elentary school visible two blocks ahead.
After a few steps, Yuna said quietly—
"I almost bowed back there."
"I know."
"It was a reflex."
"It’s an old habit."
She gripped the straps of her bag a little tighter.
"Those neighbors earlier... they were curious."
"Yes."
"We’re not going to explain anything?"
"No need."
She thought for a few seconds.
Then she said in a small voice—
"That is also... efficient."
I nodded.
"Correct."
At the end of the street, the school gates ca into view.
---
And even from that distance, sothing dangerous was already visible.
Dozens of parents.
Dozens of children.
And expensive, shiny school bags everywhere.
Yuna saw it too.
Her hands slowly gripped the straps of her blue bag tighter.
---
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