I let out a long sigh.

The smoke slowly drifting from my lips felt so much lighter than the tightness in my chest.

I walked back to the living room.

Yuna, who had been watching me from a distance, quickly hurried over.

"Papa... what's wrong?"

I set the envelope of money down on the small table, a little harder than necessary.

"Look at this."

I sat down on the floor, leaning my back against the wall.

Yuna glanced at the envelope.

"Money? Who is it from?"

"Who else? It's from your biological father."

Yuna looked at me, then back at the envelope.

"My real dad? But, Papa... this money..."

I looked her straight in the eye.

"If you want to keep it, go ahead. That's your right."

I looked away.

"But I won't touch it. And I'm certainly not using it to buy your meals or everyday necessities."

Yuna fell silent.

I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

The room descended into silence once more.

A few seconds later, Yuna spoke up quietly.

"Papa... you're my dad now. But he's still my real dad, too."

I exhaled a slow plume of smoke.

"I know."

I stared up at the ceiling for a moment.

"But as long as you're living under my roof, I'm the one who provides for you."

My hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

"Even if I have to work myself to the bone."

My gaze shifted to the stack of clothing boxes behind Yuna.

"And as for those clothes..."

Yuna followed my line of sight.

"You don't like them, Papa?"

"Do you mean the colors?"

"No."

The answer slipped out faster than I intended.

I took a deep breath.

"I just don't like having my pride trampled on."

I gestured to the stack of boxes and the envelope of money on the table.

"Clothes from your mother. Money from your biological father."

"To me, it feels like they're looking down on me. Like they think providing for you is a burden I can't handle."

Yuna looked down for a moment, digesting my words.

"So..."

She slowly lifted her head.

"Mom and my real dad think you're poor, Papa?"

I fell silent for a few seconds.

"Yeah."

Yuna tilted her head.

"But aren't you poor, Papa?"

My head snapped toward her.

Yuna hurriedly raised both hands in defense.

"I mean... even if you are poor, I'd still choose you, Papa!"

I let out a soft snort.

"I'm not poor."

Yuna looked at me skeptically.

I rubbed my face briefly before continuing.

"Listen to me, Yuna."

"True wealth isn't about money."

I looked her in the eye.

"It's about having time and freedom. Someone who has both is the wealthiest person of all."

"Remember that."

Yuna fell silent for a long moment.

She was deep in thought, as if trying to solve a difficult math problem.

"If I have time, I can play as much as I want."

She started counting off on her fingers.

"I can watch anime every day, take afternoon naps, and you can stay with me all the time, Papa."

She paused.

"But, Papa... if we don't have money, we can't buy food either."

I offered a faint smile.

"That's why we live simply."

I reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"Accepting what we have, and enjoying what we can."

Yuna gave a small nod.

"Then, what are we going to do with all this?"

Her gaze shifted back to the pile of clothes and the envelope of money.

"Are we sending it back?"

"Yeah."

I crushed my cigarette out in the ashtray.

"Do you know your real dad's address?"

Yuna shook her head.

"No."

"In that case, we'll just mail it to his office."

"You know his office address, Papa?"

"Yeah."

I could easily look up where his office was.

After all, Kuroda Seiji was a lawyer.

Yuna stared at the boxes of clothes for a long time.

Her eyes drifted from one box to the next.

I called out to her softly.

"Yuna."

"Yeah, Papa?"

"You can keep a few things if you really like them."

I pointed at the rest of the boxes.

"But the rest, we're sending back."

Yuna turned her attention back to the pile of clothes.

Then, she gave a small nod.

"Okay."

She reached out and carefully touched one of the boxes.

_

"Which one do you think I should pick, Papa?"

"It's up to you."

Yuna squatted in front of the stack of boxes, opening them one by one.

Inside were summer dresses, casual shirts, skirts, and a few trendy outfits.

"How about this one?"

Yuna held up a brightly colored dress.

"Your call."

She set it aside and picked up another piece.

As soon as I saw the design, my eyes narrowed.

"What kind of outfit is that...?"

I clicked my tongue softly.

"It's too revealing."

I let out a sigh.

Seriously. What kind of mother wants her daughter being ogled by strangers?

Yuna tilted her head.

"You don't like it, Papa?"

"No."

My answer was short and firm.

Yuna gave a small nod, folded the dress, and placed it back into the box.

A moment later, she pulled out something else.

"What about this?"

I cast a brief glance at it.

"Hm? Pajamas?"

Yuna nodded.

"Yeah."

"Those are fine."

"Okay."

She set the pajamas aside, then packed the rest of the clothes back into the cardboard box.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Is that it?"

Yuna nodded.

"Yeah."

"I don't think you'd like the rest, Papa."

I looked at her for a moment.

"Even if I don't like them, what about you?"

Yuna thought for a second before answering.

"I don't know."

She offered a small smile.

"But I prefer your choices, Papa."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"Because they're comfortable to wear."

Yuna pumped her arms as if she were running.

"They're easy to move around in."

I let out a soft snort.

"Is that so."

"Mm-hm."

Yuna hugged the pajamas to her chest, smiling in satisfaction.

_

Once everything was sorted, we carried the boxes to the post office.

The clothes Yuna hadn't chosen, along with the envelope of money, were shipped straight to Kuroda Seiji's office.

_

Inside a quiet office.

A bespectacled man sat behind his desk.

He was dressed in a dark kimono, his hair slicked neatly back.

Sitting on the desk in front of him was a large cardboard box.

Kuroda Seiji stared at it for a long moment before finally pulling it open.

"?"

"What is this box?"

Inside, the smaller clothing boxes sent by Kanzaki Sayaka were neatly arranged.

Resting right on top was the very same envelope he had sent earlier.

He picked it up.

Inside, he found the money along with a letter.

He unfolded the letter.

His eyes tracked slowly over the page, reading every sentence.

When he finished, he sat in silence for a long moment.

Then, the corners of his lips curled up into a faint smile.

"Oh..."

He folded the letter and set it back on the desk.

"So that's how it is."

He leaned back in his chair.

"If Yuna ever has to suffer, I will absolutely bring her home."

He gazed out the window.

"But for now..."

His fingers tapped lightly against the surface of the desk.

"I will give you time."

~~ • ~~