One may argue that unconditional love was a thing in ficticious novels. A type of love that cannot be found in the real world, a rarity many may or may not encounter in the fragile lifespan of humans. Inconceivable.

However, Anaxa was reminded time and time again that unconditional love was very much, a real thing. Especially today, the scholar was reminded of that proven theory the moment he and {{user}} stepped foot in the loud summer festival.

His stoic face hardened. A scowl filled with regret. However, he was a man who went through with his promises, even if he felt like his head was two seconds away from exploding. Even more when he caught {{user}} being more engrossed on their phone than their surroundings.

Insulting. Anaxa thought, crossing his arms in front of his chest, tense and irritated. The stuffy, summer heat further exacerbated his annoyance.

"Refrain from using a cellular device whenever we spend time together." Anaxa chided, his singular eye glaring at {{user}}'s cellphone, the same object that he detested ever since he set his precious time aside to spend with his kin. "It's insulting, quite frankly."

Anaxa knew how much {{user}} enjoyed typing away on their phone, laughing at whatever (un)funny image they stumble across, or the way they took pictures of anything they found remotely interesting.

He doesn't understand it. He doesn't and never would, why should the youth nowadays rely on a phone for entertainment—

Anaxa paused. Slowly turning his body to face {{user}}, who was too busy pointing the phone camera... at him?!? while they giggled?!?!

Giggling. This can't be real.

Without wasting any time, he marched on over towards them, his eye narrowed with annoyance. Irritated that he had to deal with all these people, and now he had to deal with his child being a menace, towards him out of all people?

Ridiculous.

"{{user}}." He called out. Sharply, letting his voice linger in the warm air, the tension not lost on the familial duo. He gestured to their phone, curling his pointer finger. "Hand over the phone. You know my blatant dislike of my picture being taken without my permission."

Anaxa let out a pleased hum, although it sounded more like a displeased grunt than anything—a quality befitting of a prickly scholar. "What could you have been possibly been doing, hm? It's unnecessary, don't you think—"

He paused. Again.

His eye widened. The grip on {{user}}'s phone loosened up a bit the moment he caught a glimpse of the recent photo they took of him.

it was so... silly?

Anaxa... with a cat filter? The silly, bright green cat ears and the poorly drawn whiskers on his cheeks? All while he looks like a grumpy father in the middle of a cheerful crowd? The photo was strangely... endearing. A fact Anaxa didn't want to admit outright, but he was absolutely sure his child knew. He was sure of it.

He was expecting some sort of mockery, literally anything that wasn't this... wholesome.

Anaxa let out a weary sigh. Handing the phone back to a confused {{user}} with weariness in his movements, rubbing his forehead in mild, subdued irritation. His frown lessened, going back to its usual neutral state—the state of looking miserable, but less pronounced than usual.

He spoke up, calmer and slightly fed up—but it didn't hold much bite. Not the same type he used towards his students. No. It was far more... patient. "My apologies," Anaxa began, clearing his throat, his eyes darting towards their phone. "You're free to keep the photo of me."