Author's Note: Happy Father's Day by the time this short story is published.
Since the day of congratulating our fathers was just around the corner, I have decided that it was the perfect time to create a Father's Day special.
Before you all go on ahead and read, I want all of you, my dear readers, to express your gratitude to the father (or a parental figure in general) that has sacrificed so much just so they could give you a life they know you deserve.
Also, the time-line here is 3 years before the events of the main game.
With that said, I hope you all enjoy.
...
Ren mindlessly paced around his room.
Father's Day was nearing and nearing more quickly than usual.
His anxiety was at the maximum since he hasn't gotten a gift for his father. And the reason wasn't because he was busy with school or anything of that sort.
Now that he was reaching his teen years, it was a requirement to put in a lot more thought and effort for whatever problem that arose.
Which meant that giving his father a silly little 'thank you' card was unacceptable for the incoming holiday. He had to gift him something that was far more deeper; something that told everyone his father deserved a gift for being a positive influence for his one and only son.
It was that exact thing that made the entire holiday so stressful and nerve-racking.
Ren has sat in his room all day trying to think of the 'perfect' gift, but couldn't stick with one that he believed would suit his father's preferences.
Gifting him a rose of any color was stupid since there is already an entite fleet of roses resting on the family's garden. Plus, the ones that are sold at the garden stores or stalls around town looked bland compared to those his father grew.
Buying him some expensive clothes was next to be excluded since there was already an entire set of fashionable clothes stored in his closet; half of them bought from the pocket from the matriarch of the family.
Taking him out to buy all of his favorite desserts was an agreement that he and his mother have swore to carry, in secret. That beautiful man has shown a very strong fixation for sugary treats.
Yet Ren still needed to get the gift for his side. His mother already had one ready.
One of the various qualities the only son adored from his father is that he wasn't an extremely demanding man. Yes, he has some very peculiar tastes, clearly evident by the feminine makeup he wears on a every day basis.
But that didn't mean he wasn't expecting his son to carry those same tastes. Nor did he ever try to do so.
So even if he gave him a gift that did not suit his preferences, he would never express it on the outside for the sake of fulfilling his son's hopes and prevent him from getting filled with shame.
That situation would have happened if Ren remained as the naive little boy that his parents pampered and disciplined, not the growing young man that was more aware of the hidden emotions some people hide underneath their exterior.
So knowing that his father was accepting a gift that he did not like was an unacceptable outcome for Ren.
A pent up grunt of frustration was released from the son's throat. "Standing here isn't gonna help me. I have to go into town and see what they have for me." He muttered to himself.
With that plan in mind, he left the comfort of his home to begin his search for the 'perfect' gift. He hoped that today his efforts wouldn't be fruitless compared to the previous days.
...
The shopping area of the town was a bit more busy than usual: more costumers of the younger ages went in and out, collecting the items that were necessary for the incoming holiday.
Ren was of no exception here.
His body has carried him all throughout the stores, desperately seeking for the gift that would fully express his eternal gratefulness to his father: a man that has been through hell and high-water so he could accomplish his lifelong goal of giving his one and only son every beautiful treasure the world had to offer.
But it seemed that today would be another fruitless search.
He has spent the entire afternoon searching for a damned gift, but either the universe did not want to make it easy for him or it wanted him to completely fail.
("If this keeps on happening until that day comes around... no! Don't bring yourself down and keep on going, Ren! That's what your uncles have been teaching you!")
The curly haired boy injectedhimself with another dose of motivation into his veins, returing some power to his body and mind to go and fulfill his goal.
He took another stroll around the area to see what every store had in stock.
His frustration grew every time he left those same stores empty handed. None of them had what he was looking for.
Ren kept on searching and searching for this gift until sunset came: an announcement that told everyone it was time to call it a day. His frustration was at it's peak as he has already went through the majority of the stores over a dozen times.
("Great. I'm returing back home with nothing in hand.")
All was hopeless for the curly haired boy. The 'perfect' gift seemed to be getting farther and farther away from his grasp.
The sigh that left his mouth was enough indication that he had to take the rest of the night off.
His frustration was replaced by that god awful feeling of anxiety, which only worsened as he got closer and closer to his home.
Ren made it around three-fourths to his dreaded destination when his grey eyes unconsciously made contact with a sign that was on the unfamiliar side.
The large and wide display window did not show anything that was on the opposite side, only the name of the unfamiliar establishment: LED Beauty.
The name itself told the boy what the store likely had in stock. Though he was curious about how the beauty portion was applied to the products.
So he decided to sate that curiosity by paying a short visit.
A generic ring came from the opening door. The cashier/only employee/possible owner, turned to politely greet the young customer.
"Oh, hey there! I wasn't expecting to see anyone else during these hours."
"I decided to check this place out." The customer's grey eyes adjusted to the dim atmosphere of the store before fully taking in the wide array of colorful lights that were on display. "It's my first time seeing it."
"Well I hope that you find something that you'll want to take home."
("I sure as hell wanted THAT to happen today...")
Ren nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
No more words were needed to be exchanged as the young customer went ahead to inspect the products.
It did not take long for the boy to be left in awe once he saw the well crafted the pieces of glass that made his eyes sparke. The lights dimming and changing to different colors that exposed the flawlessly carved glass to the world would have made any present soul get trapped in a trance.
"Holy crap... these things are beautiful." Was the natural response of the boy.
The world that was waiting outside the walls of the small store mattered little to him. All he wanted to do was admire the pieces of art he has come across.
But that wasn't going to happen since he had two very special people waiting for him. It would be cruel if they receive a scare to the absence of their little boy.
So going against his desire, he began taking a stroll around the store. Not knowing that he would find what he has been searching.
The gift, the object of gratitude, the trophy his father deserved, took form in the shape of a crystal clear sphere that guarded a small batch of roses that changed it's colors, held by a simple aluminum stand.
Ren's eyes were focused on the object for eternity. His mind trying to process the fact that he has finally, finally found the 'perfect' gift for his father.
His soul was bombarded by all sorts of positive emotions: happiness, relief, and everything in between. A smile was the only way his exterior could express his current emotions.
He bought the beautiful object soon after that. The worry that has plagued him for the past week gone for good.
...
The day Ren has been dreading for, June 18, has arrived.
It started off as one would expect: a warm hug from both the wife and son, saying "Happy Father's Day!" to the man that has done so much for them.
On the wife's side, Bayonetta got him a pair of heeled boots, no doubt expensive, from her previous trip to Europe.
When Aphrodite unveiled them from their box, he released a light gasp of surprise and joy. The base was covered in a glossy white leather that shone brightly in the sun rays, held together by the rubber black soles that prevented the white base from receiving the stains of each taken step.
It was exactly what he wanted.
On the son's side, he told his father that they would all go out and head to his favorite café to dine in on his favorite desserts.
All of them paid from the allowance of his wife and son.
It was all going well for Ren's incoming surprise.
Just the day before, he requested his mother if she could hide his present in her purse. Bayonetta, not being the type to reject the kind thought from her son, complied within a second.
So as the family ate the most favored desserts of the café, Ren began the first step to reveal the surprise: bringing his attention, "Hey dad."
"Yes, Ren?"
Attention brought, now it was time to follow step two: give him the present he won for all he has done for the family.
"I want to give you something special; something a great man like you deserves to have."
The smile of pure love he sent to his son was enough for said son to have the confidence to unveil the perfect gift wrapped in a little pink bow.
The gasp that shot out Aphrodite's mouth told his son everything he needed to know.
"This is... one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, Ren."
"That we can agree on, darling." His wife said with a smile that carried her seductive aura and her knowledge of the present that her husband was grasping on.
The curly haired boy rubbed his neck as he let out a small chuckle. "I just saw this and thought that you'll love it... given how you care about your roses and all."
"Ren, how could I not love this?" He rhetorically asked as he rose the glass sphere for the sun to shine it's rays on the roses housed inside.
"Well it gets even better than that darling. This little thing right here can give you an unforgettable light show whenever you want." Bayonetta pointed out with a finger pressed against the turn on button of the aluminum stand.
"The gift from my other gift just had to get better."
A younger pair of grey eyes widened to the usage of the word 'gift.'
"You... see me as a gift, dad?"
"You have always been my greatest gift, Ren. That will never change." The Golden Knight of Pisces stated with the highest form of fatherly pride.
The cheeks of his wife slightly puffed in size. "Well I feel quite offended, Dite."
"Is me not waking up next to you not count as a gift?"
A purr emitted from her throat. "Charming. Though you'll have to make an apology."
"Can that be arranged for tonight?" Aphrodite inched closer and closer to his wife, the towering vixen mimicking her husband's intention.
"Definitely." She agreed as a seductive smirk decorated her lips.
"Why must you two do this now?" The whine from their son broke the tension they were entranced in.
"Sweetie, soon enough you'll find yourself in this exact position. After all, you received your looks from us." Bayonetta chided to her growing little sunshine.
"I don't think that's a good excuse to start getting gross around me."
The Umbra Witch rolled her eyes in amusement. ("Someday you'll learn what's it's like to be in love.")
"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss and come give mommy a hug."
The utensils of the table clanked against the flat surface of the clothed table thanks to Bayonetta pulling her two special boys into a family hug.
"I love you two more than words could describe."
"Same here. For the both of you." Ren said as he fixed his soft and warm gaze at the close proximity of his father's.
"You two have no idea how lucky and grateful I am to have such amazing parents like you."
The family of three all smiled at eachother, their foreheads lightly pressed together. "We should be the ones thanking you, Ren." The hand of the father caressed the cheek of his son. "Since you will forever be our greatest gift."
The nearby customers felt touched by the scene of pure family love.
"I couldn't ask for anything more."
Ren sniffed as the emotions of his parents loving him were controlling the reactions of his body.
All of them were grateful that they have eachother to care, protect, and most importantly, love until the day they would all pass onto the afterlife.