__,

Once Yuna had calmed down a little, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts for a specific name.

Kuroda Seiji.

I pressed call.

It took a few rings before the line connected.

"Yes, Itsuki?"

"Sorry to bother you."

"What is it?"

I glanced at Yuna, who was still resting against my lap.

"Yuna lost the picture of her mother."

Seiji fell silent for a moment.

I continued.

"She's not doing so well right now. If it's possible, I'd like to ask for a favor. Could Yuna see her mother? Even if it's just for a little while."

A few seconds of silence passed.

"I understand."

Seiji's voice sounded softer than usual.

"I'll try to work out her schedule. Wait to hear from me."

"Thank you."

The call ended.

I set my phone down on the table.

Yuna lifted her head slightly.

"Papa..."

"Hm?"

"What did Dad say?"

"We just have to wait."

Yuna gave a slow nod.

Not long after, my phone screen lit up.

A new message.

I opened it.

A meeting had been arranged.

Today.

She only had a thirty-minute window available.

I turned to Yuna.

"Get ready."

Yuna blinked a few times.

"Why?"

"You're going to see your mother today."

Her eyes went wide.

Truly wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

The tears that had just dried up began to pool in the corners of her eyes again, but this time, it was different.

Not out of sadness.

But out of relief.

_

A few hours later, we arrived at a small cafe tucked away between a cluster of office buildings.

The place was quiet, far removed from the bustling crowds.

There was no flashy signboard.

There were no other customers, only a few staff members.

It was likely chosen on purpose to avoid public attention.

Yuna and I sat side by side near the window.

She hadn't stopped fidgeting with her clothes since we sat down.

Every so often, she would comb her fingers through her short hair.

Her legs swung restlessly beneath the table.

"Papa..."

"Hm?"

"My hair doesn't look weird, does it?"

"No."

"My clothes?"

"No."

"Then..."

Yuna looked down.

"Good."

I gently patted her head.

The cafe door opened.

Yuna's head immediately snapped toward it.

I followed her gaze.

A woman walked in wearing a hat and a mask, accompanied by a manager.

Even though her face was hidden, I knew who she was.

And so did Yuna.

The small frame beside me stiffened.

"Miss Sayaka."

The manager spoke in a low voice.

"You only have thirty minutes before your next practice schedule."

The woman turned to him.

"Could I just have a little time off?"

The manager looked hesitant, but eventually nodded.

"Alright."

"I'll wait outside, then."

With that, he left her alone.

Sayaka took off her hat and mask.

Her gaze landed immediately on Yuna.

Her smile looked tired, but warm.

"Yuna."

Yuna didn't run to her.

She didn't hug her.

She just gripped the hem of her own shirt tightly.

Her eyes began to redden.

"Mom..."

Slowly, she walked over.

Then, she sat in the chair next to her mother.

Too neat.

Too rigid.

Too careful.

As if she were terrified of making even the slightest mistake.

Watching her, I was reminded of the first day Yuna came to my apartment.

The way she spoke.

The way she sat.

The way she constantly apologized for the smallest things.

A demeanor far too unusual for a child her age.

Sayaka smiled gently.

"How have you been?"

Yuna nodded quickly.

"I'm good."

"Are you really?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad."

Yuna hurriedly wiped her eyes.

"Look, Mom, I got a haircut."

"Oh?"

Sayaka examined her short hair.

"It suits you perfectly."

"Papa cut it for me."

"Is that so?"

Yuna nodded again.

This time, a smile began to show on her face.

"Last week, I went to a summer festival."

"A festival?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes began to sparkle.

"I wore a yukata. And I got a teddy bear. I caught a goldfish, too, even though Hana was the one who actually caught it."

Sayaka let out a soft laugh.

"Hana?"

"My friend."

"Oh... I see."

"I also have another friend named Mika."

Yuna kept talking.

About the festival.

About school.

About our small apartment.

About her summer homework.

About the goldfish she was now keeping as a pet.

Everything she deemed important.

And Sayaka listened to all of it without ever interrupting.

I chose to sit a fair distance away.

At a table near the window.

A warm cup of coffee sat in front of me.

Outside, the summer sky was clear and cloudless.

I couldn't hear their entire conversation clearly.

Only small fragments.

A soft laugh.

Yuna's voice rising occasionally in her excitement.

And Sayaka's voice, sounding so gentle, as if she were terrified of missing a single word from her daughter.

Every now and then, I'd see Yuna flash a wide smile.

A smile I hadn't seen much of lately.

Maybe, for now, that was enough.

_

I glanced at the wall clock.

The hour hand had already passed three.

An hour and a half.

Much longer than the promised thirty minutes.

I stubbed out my cigarette in the ashtray, then leaned back in my chair on the cafe terrace. My coffee cup had long since been emptied. Even the ice cubes in my glass of water had almost completely melted.

In the reflection of the window, I could still see Yuna and Sayaka's silhouettes.

Sitting side by side.

Every so often, Yuna would tell a story, waving her hands with enthusiasm. Every now and then, Sayaka would let out a soft laugh, gently fixing her daughter's hair whenever it got a little messy.

It was a simple scene.

But for some reason, it was hard to look away.

At last, they were done.

Yuna stepped out first. Her steps were light, a stark contrast to how she had been just a few hours ago.

Behind her, Sayaka stood in the doorway alongside her manager. She offered me a faint smile and bowed her head slightly.

I returned it with a brief nod.

And with that, they left.

Yuna walked over to me.

"Papa, let's go home."

I gave a faint smile as I stood up.

"All finished?"

Yuna nodded quickly.

"Mm."

I reached into my pants pocket to grab my wallet.

But my fingertips brushed against something thin.

I paused for a second.

Then, I pulled it out.

A photograph.

Its edges were a little crumpled, and the colors had faded in a few places.

I stared at it for a few seconds before realizing what it was.

"Look, Yuna. Turns out the photo was in here all along."

I held the photo out to her.

Yuna took it with both hands.

Her eyes went wide.

"Oh... I gave it to you yesterday because you said you wanted to look at it. But I guess you never gave it back."

I scratched my temple.

"Haha... I forgot."

Yuna let out a soft giggle.

"Hehe... I forgot too. I really should've asked for it back."

She examined the photo more closely. Her finger brushed against the folded corner.

"Papa, why is the photo all messed up like this?"

"It probably went through the wash when I washed my pants."

"Mmm... that makes sense."

Yuna gave a slow nod, then hugged the photo to her chest.

"I'm never letting you borrow it again. It'll just get even more ruined."

"Yeah, yeah. Keep it safe."

I looked at the photo for a moment.

"Lock it in a safe while you're at it."

Yuna giggled.

"Hehe, do we even have a safe?"

"Not yet."

"Then we'll buy one later."

"With what money?"

Yuna thought about it for a moment, then looked up at me.

"When I grow up and get rich, I'll buy you a house with an AC, a fridge, and a safe."

I let out a soft huff of amusement.

"Is the house for me, or for you?"

"For us."

The answer came so quickly, without a hint of hesitation.

I fell silent for a moment.

"Papa."

"Hm?"

"I'm happy today."

I gently patted the top of her head.

"I'm glad."

Yuna smiled, then took my hand in hers.

"Let's go home now."

"Yeah."

We started walking, leaving the cafe behind.

In her left hand, Yuna clutched the photo tightly. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

As if terrified of losing it again.

~~ • ~~