Chapter 1: Introduction
Aoi hummed softly to herself as she sliced through the root vegetables, her dainty fingers curling around the knife handle with practiced ease. The scent of garlic, parsley, and boeuf bourguignon wafted gently towards her as Papa’s quiet footsteps approached through the hallway.
The front door creaked open, and chilly winter air swept in as Papa unbuttoned his thick woolen coat. His eyes landed on Aoi, instantly warming her from the inside out.
“Ah, a sweet surprise to come home to. Smells amazing,” he said, shedding his coat and gloves, leaving them on the nearby hook. Aoi smiled at him, appreciating his words. She loved cooking for Papa, it made her heart swell even more than it already did.
Her gaze travelled over Papa’s solid form, admiring the muscles that rippled under his fitted sweater. She felt heat rising within her as awareness of him took over her senses.
She [Aoi] couldn't help but steal admiring glances of Papa, the way his muscles rippled under his fitted sweater every time he moved, the confident way he carried himself, his grey eyes filled with warmth. Unable to help herself, she bit her lower lip, tracing Papa's form with her gaze before snapping back to reality.
Aoi felt her cheeks growing warmer, embarrassed for having such thoughts in front of Papa. She quickly turned her attention back to the stove, stirring the stew with extra force.
The scent of the boeuf bourguignon filled the kitchen, mingling with the soft hum of jazz playing on the nearby record player. Papa’s footsteps approached the kitchen entrance, causing Aoi to hold her breath.
Nanatsu, Papa’s fiery redhead girlfriend, bustled by towards the sink, her apron covered in flour and dough. She chucked him playfully under the chin, a gleam of mischief in her emerald eyes.
“Hey You! What keeps you, honey?
Nanatsu asked, swirling the cleaning sponge in soapy water. She could hear the hint of playfulness in her voice, and winked at Papa as she worked. Papa only chuckled, shaking his head at her antics.
Arisu, the youngest of the three, was sitting on a nearby chair, engrossed in her latest book. She glanced up at the exchange, a soft smile playing on her lips. She loved watching the interactions between her boyfriend, Papa, and the other girls. It filled her heart with warmth to know that they all loved Papa so much.
Their dynamics were entirely different, but they complemented each other in their various ways. Aoi with her intelligence and sweetness, Nanatsu with her boldness, vulgarity, and impulsivity, and Arisu with her innocence, kindness, and love for academics.
Nanatsu stretched her arms above her head, her skintight shirt riding up slightly, revealing the smooth curve of her lower back and the swell of her hip. Aoi couldn’t help but steal a glance at that tantalizing sight as Nanatsu bent over the sink.
She felt a familiar fluttering sensation in her chest at the reminder of the sensuality in the room.
Papa’s voice, a rumbling baritone, caught everyone’s attention. "I have a surprise for all of you.”
Arisu looked up from her book with a hint of curiosity in her eyes, setting it down on the side table. Nanatsu straightened up, drying her hands on her apron before joining Arisu and Aoi in gazing at Papa.
“A surprise?
Oh, Papa, you didn’t have to,” Aoi said, a warm smile lighting up her delicate features.
Papa chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he moved to join them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out four tickets to a burlesque show happening downtown that weekend. “I wanted to do something special for all of you. It’s been a while since we had a night out, don’t you think?” he asked, holding out the tickets as an offering to the three women.
Aoi, Nanatsu, and Arisu gasped with delighted surprise, their eyes wide with excitement. The prospect of a night out together, with Papa, was an invitation they couldn't resist.
Nanatsu jumped up from her seat, wrapping her arms around Papa's neck, and planting a passionate kiss on his lips. "You're the best, Papa!" she whispered, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
Arisu quickly joined in, giving Papa a shy yet heartfelt hug.
“Thank you, Papa,” she whispered, looking up at him with adoration. Aoi, the eldest, was the last to hug Papa. Her embrace was gentle, her fingers tracing patterns over the fabric of his sweater, as she whispered, “Tonight is going to be incredible.”
A warm smile played on Papa’s lips as he enveloped each woman individually, offering his reassurance and excitement. “I’m glad you’re all excited. I could feel the atmosphere of our household growing stale, and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to breathe some fresh life into it.
The four of us deserved a break from our daily routines, and what better way to do it than to enjoy a night out together, at a burlesque show?
As the eldest of the three, I took it upon myself to plan the evening. I researched the location, studied the menu from top to bottom, and scheduled everything diligently. I wanted to ensure that the night would be perfect for all of us. Before I knew it, the day arrived.
The night of our outing approached, and as expected, we dressed in our finest attire.