...
There are more people who will accept me for who I am than I realized.
Now, I have a feeling that there'll be more people that'll say, “Thanks for telling me,” and, “No matter what, I'm on your side,” after breaking some big news to them...
That's how I feel now...
(Would he..?)
(Would he say that...?)
But...
...
<Mafuyu...>
Huh...?
Rin...
<You still don't look so good, Mafuyu...>
...
<Were you thinking about that dream you saw last night...?>
Yes...
<I see...>
<If you're that scared, then you don't have to tell him...>
But...
<...>
My dad's been coming over to see me every week... And I've done nothing in return...
Also...
I made him make that face...
So...
I want to tell him about what happened that night...
I want to... But...
<...>
<Actually, Mafuyu...>
<What is your dad like?>
Huh...?
Ordinary...
Work keeps him very busy, so he's hardly ever at home.
<That's not what I'm asking...>
Huh...?
<What does he mean to you, Mafuyu?>
To me...?
I don't know...
Even when I was little, he was rarely at home because he was so busy.
But...
My mom always said, “Your father is working very hard for both of us,” and, “You need to do your best to be a good girl for your father's sake.”
Also...
Okay, the sides are ready.
All that's left is for us to put in the rice balls, and it'll be complete.
Wow...!
This lunch looks really yummy...!
Hehe. Thank you, Mommy!
But I still wish Daddy could come to sports day...
There isn't much we can do since work is keeping him very busy. But I promise to take as many pictures I can of you.
And then, I'll show them to your father.
Okay...!
I'm gonna run as fast as I can!
Happy birthday, Mafuyu!
Let me see you blow out all the candles.
Okay!
*Blow*
Hehe. You did it!
Alright, this is from me...
And here's the present your father got you.
Oh, thank you!
Is Daddy busy with work again today?
Yes, he was hoping to be back in time for your birthday party, but things are apparently taking longer than he was expecting...
Okay...
I still wish he were here, but I guess there isn't anything we can do.
Because he's working really hard for us, right?
Hehe. Yes, that's right.
He said he should be able to come home early tomorrow, so you should thank him then.
Okay!
(The entrance ceremony for high schoolers is tomorrow...)
(But not much is really changing since I'll still be attending the same academy.)
Oh...
Welcome back, Dad.
You're home early today...
Yes, things worked out today, but I'll be leaving tomorrow for another business trip.
So, Mafuyu, why don't we take this opportunity to go out for some sushi and...
It's from work. But why at this time...?
Hello? Is something the matter?
Oh, that's not good...
Okay, I'll be right over.
Sorry, Mafuyu.
Looks like sushi will have to wait until after my trip.
Sure, that's fine.
Good luck with work, Dad.
That's how things always were...
<...>
<Is that really it?>
Huh...?
<I mean, all you basically told me was that your dad was never home.>
<Don't you have any other memories of him?>
Other memories...?
What else is there...?
<...!!!>
<Wh-What was that sound just now...?>
Just now?
Oh, that was thunder.
<Thunder...?>
<...!!!>
Are you okay?
<I-I'm fine... But...>
<M-Mafuyu, aren't you scared...?>
I'm...
...?
A message...?
From who?
<Are you okay? This thunderstorm's massive.>
Oh...
<Mafuyu?>
There was this one time...