It was the last day of sumr vacation.
Amane found the person he wanted to et at a cafe not too far from ho, and straightened his back.
Standing before Amane was a man with a familiar looking flax-colored hair, caral-colored eyes, white skin, and a poised deanor.
Amane once brushed him by, and chatted. They never gave their nas, but Amane had already heard of the mans na from Mahiru.
Asahi Shiina-san.
He called out, and the man, Asahi Shiina, turned his eyes towards Amane, showing a faint smile.
This is our first encounteror not, though I shall say this is the first ti we are eting while knowing each other.
Oh, yes. I heard from Mahiru.
The man did not seem to falter when Amane ntioned her na directly, and he probably had this investigated thoroughly.
Asahi then showed a faint, wry smile once he heard that.
He did not have a feeble impression, but a gentle one, and on first glance, he did not seem like one who would rcilessly abandon MAhiru.
I suppose this saves us so explanation. May I have so of your ti?
Thats the reason why you called out, I suppose?
Yes, I am very grateful that you would accept my hasty request. I suggested it, but I never expected you to agree.
Well, Im very curious as to why you would call outbut I think you shouldnt be looking for , but Mahiru instead.
You say sobut that child might not wish to et
Asahi showed a wry smile, filled with regret, it seed.
Amane was furious about Mahirus situation, and found Asahi unforgivable, but he did not think Asahi was not an compassionate man, for the latter would not have silently tried to approach his own daughter otherwise.
And thus, Amane was increasingly skeptical.
Asahi tickled his cheek, looking perturbed, perhaps because he had noticed Amanes probing eyes.
You have lots to ask , I presu? Let us enter that cafe first then, and not ask so much here.
Amane nodded in agreent, since they should not stand too long near a cafe, and entered it along with Asahi.
Order as you wish. It is the last day of sumr vacation after all, and I troubled you by inviting you out.
Amane did occasionally visit this cafe, which had suite rooms for booking. It seed Asahi had prearranged a booking, for they were ushered in.
They sat down, face to face, and the genial looking Asahi smiled as he recomnded dishes to Amane.
I shall accept your graciousness then. Amane replied, and ordered the coffee and daily cake special on the nu. Asahi too requested for the sa from the attendant.
His face remained serene, and he was silent until the dishes were served.
Asahi was silent, probably because he did not want the attendant to overhear them, but Amane found it awkward to be facing a man of similar age to his own father.
Amane sorted out the things he wanted to ask, wanting to alleviate this awkwardness. After doing so three tis, their orders were finally served.
So, what do you want?
Once he made sure the attendant left, Amane spoke up.
It was rude of him, but Asahi did not seem to mind, and smiled away.
Hm, I heard you are dating my daughter, so I want to ask you how that child is doingprobably.
Nothing special.
You are really wary of .
Of course.
Yes, it is strange if you are not wary of .
Asahi nodded understandingly, and Amane bit his lips, not knowing what to do.
He could have acted defiantly if Asahi was as aloof to his own daughter as the mother, and various others ans.
However, the impression he gave was one who was worried about his daughter, and really unlike soone who abandoned her. By this conversation alone, Amane would have assud him to be a kind father.
Amane was curious as to why Asahi abandoned Mahiru.
I really want to ask, why are you making the effort to approach Mahiru right now?
Right now? Amane spoke with a beaning tone, for he saw how hurt Mahiru was.
The thorns on her had never fallen off for years, and caused her much suffering.
They finally fell off recently, and the wounds were healed, but if new wounds were inflicted, how would he find it bearable?
You really do treasure that child.
Asahi did not retaliate with harshness, and rely looked impressed, and yet delighted, at Amane.
I have no intentions of taking that child away, and do not intend to do anything you worry about, anything to affect that childs life.
Really?
Naturallyat the very least, I have no right to interfere with that childs life, and I do not intend to.
Then why did you try to look for Mahiru?
You ask that, but I do find it difficult to explain. I just want to et her.
Even though you abandoned Mahiru?
Amane knew he should not say this as an outsider.
But despite thathe could not forgive Mahirus parents for what they did to her.
Amane showed clear hostility, which he hardly did, but Asahi was not angry, and rely took on that glare with calmness.
That truly is direct from youyes, I do feel that at this point, I have no right to be that childs father. I doubt that child really thinks of as her father, probably just an outsider who is rely blood related.
You know thats what shes thinking, so I guess you understand what you did.
I cannot shun away from what I have doneSayo I have not done anything that a parent should do, and we basically abandoned her. It is to be expected that we would be reproached.
Amane bit his lips hard once he saw how Asahi calmly and gently analyzed what they did in an objective manner.
Why, didnt you do so earlier
Why did they not reflect on their actions earlier?
If that was the case, Mahiru might not be so hurt. She might not be able to get the love from her mother, but there was a chance she could have received it from her father, and could have been smiling happily.
Why did he only regret it at this point? Amane did not know to whom he should be outraged at.
Amane might not have the right to be outraged, and his fury might seem unreasonable.
But despite that, he had this notion.
Why did he not help her out a little earlier.
If they found it inconvenient, they should not have given birth to .who do you think said that? Thats Mahiru herself. You drove her to that extent.
Yes.
Amane tried his best to stop his voice from shaking, and finished with a poised voice. The response he had was an expression that accepted everything, which infuriated him further.
Why didnt you have such an attitude in the first place, rather than abandon Mahiru and regret it now? Mahiru wouldnt be that hurt if that happened.
You are correctI do know that I did the worst thing possible as a father.
But seriously, why do you want to et Mahiru right now? I dont want to let you two et if shes going to be hurt from seeing you. I know that Im talking too much as an outsider, but if Mahirus going to be hurt, Im not letting you et her.
Logically speaking, he should not be preventing a father from eting his daugther, but Mahiru refused to et her father, and Amanes tone was increasingly forceful.
Asahi sheepishly took on Amanes harsh glare, and showed a bitter smile.
Why I want to et that child, you askwhy exactly?
Are you avoiding the topic?
I am not intending to, but, it is difficult to convey in wordswell, I want to et her while I have the chance.
You an you wont get to et her again, or that you wont intend to et her again?
Yes.
Asahi affird, and bitterness spread in Amanes mouth.
That is selfish.
Yes, it really is. I do not intend to change this, and I can no longer do so. I do not intend to inflict more unhappiness on that child however, so I think it might be better for to hate instead.
I dont understand what youre saying.
You will understand one day.
Amane understood from Asahis distant looking eyes that the latter was not prepared to ntion anything more, and stopped asking.
Is there anything you wish to ask?
Nothing, thats it.
Hmshall I ask a question then?
Please do.
Is that child happy now?
Amane, not knowing what Asahi would have asked, postured himself, and Asahi asked with a gentle look.
His voice and expression seed to imply that he was wishing happiness for his daughter, so Amane let out a little sigh of relief.
You need to ask her, but I do wish I can ensure her happiness, I have confidence that I will, and that I will make her happiness.
It was his wish, his confidence, and his determination.
Amane had no intention of abandoning the kind, delicate girl who yearned for love more than anyone else.
He hoped for her to maintain a smile the entire ti, and wanted to personally grant her happiness. He made up his mind to give her happiness, and had no intention to change this will of his, no matter what others say.
Amanes voice was not too loud, but it was indomitable. Once he affird so readily, the caral-colored eyes opposite him widened, and at the next mont, relaxed in relief.
I see. I am glad to hear you say that.
The gentle smile was really reminiscent of Mahirus.
I have no right to ask of you, but I shall entrust that child to you.
Obviously, Ill make her happy.
I seethank you.
Amanes voice and attitude were truly vulgar, and he would have expected to be reproached, but Asahi was smiling happily. Feeling inexplicably conflicted, Theres nothing to thank for. Amane retorted with a tone that was not as blunt.
TN: Mahiru ans middle of noon, Sayo (mother) ans little night, Asahi (father) ans morning sun. Theyre never ant to et.
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