Clannad VN:SEEN6802

Text

// Resources for SEEN6802.TXT

#character 'Sanae'
#character '＊Ｂ'
#character 'Ushio'
#character 'Housewife' 
#character 'Mother' 
#character 'Woman'
#character 'Conductor'
#character 'Shino'
#character 'Nagisa'
#character 'Voice'
#character 'Akio'
#character 'Father'
#character 'Yoshino'
#character 'Sensei'
#character 'Ibuki'
#character 'Girl'
#character 'Fuuko'
#character 'Doctor'
#character 'Boss'

<0000>
// 
<0001>
// "How about taking a vacation?"
<0002>
// I hear that so often, it's stuck in my head.
<0003>
// But back then, I didn't listen.
<0004>
// I continued going to work, foregoing all vacations and holidays.
<0005>
// In spite of that, my schedule wasn't constant from day to day, so I inevitably ended up with free time.
<0006>
// Occasionally, I would occupy this time by spending money.
<0007>
// Any time I did, my free time would become even more enjoyable and carefree than I had imagined.
<0008>
// Ever since then, while saving up money from work, I continued to spend money to kill time.
<0009>
// I started to drink alcohol. And I took up smoking.
<0010>
// Because when one suddenly faces reality, everything seems to crumble under one's feet.
<0011>
// Am I simply not as strong as everyone else?
<0012>
// Or could it be that I've been through more tragedies than most people?
<0013>
// I don't really know.
<0014>
// All I can say is that it was too painful for me, nothing more.
<0015>
// That's why, as if lost in a trance, I kept forcing my body to stay moving and continued to waste away my free time.
<0016>
// So I wouldn't have time to think about it.
<0017>
// Ushio
<0018>
// \{Sanae} "Look, it's Papa!"
<0019>
// Sanae-san's voice was nearby.
<0020>
// \{Sanae} "Papa. Do you understand? Look."
<0021>
// Something small touches my thigh.
<0022>
// It pains me. 
<0023>
// Sanae-san looks like she's already lost too much.
<0024>
// And so does the owner of that small hand, touching my thigh. 
<0025>
// I look down.
<0026>
// Yes, I'm soft-hearted when it comes to things like this.
<0027>
// Please forgive me, I mutter softly.
<0028>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sorry..."
<0029>
// Sanae-san apologizes.
<0030>
// \{\m{B}} "No... I'm the one at fault..."
<0031>
// \{Sanae} "Well, I'll head home for today."
<0032>
// I feel like I have to run from Sanae-san and Pops in order to forget this pain.
<0033>
// However, I can't do that.
<0034>
// I wouldn't dream of betraying such wonderful people.
<0035>
// So I'll continue to keep the pain to myself.
<0036>
// Because I'm not the only one suffering. I'm sure it's the same for Sanae-san and Pops.
<0037>
// But even so, Sanae-san brings my child over to visit at least once a week.
<0038>
// One year passed... two years passed...
<0039>
// Ever since that day, the years have flown by...
<0040>
// I lived my life so recklessly so that I wouldn't have to think about how much time had passed.
<0041>
// Despite this, one thing kept me aware of the passage of time.
<0042>
// Ushio.
<0043>
// Only Ushio keeps changing.
<0044>
// Every time we meet, she has grown, and I see the development of her face.
<0045>
// That tragic event really happened...
<0046>
// And already...it is a story from long ago.
<0047>
// It was really all too cruel.
<0048>
// That's how I feel.
<0049>
// So even as Ushio began kindergarten, I continued to work. To push my body, to keep moving.
<0050>
// Once again, the hot summer days of the year have arrived.
<0051>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, good day."
<0052>
// One Sunday afternoon, Sanae-san visits my room.
<0053>
// I thought she had brought Ushio along as she usually does, but today she was alone.
<0054>
// \{Sanae} "Sorry, Ushio isn't with me today. She is with Akio-san."
<0055>
// Sanae-san probably noticed that my gaze had been lingering near her feet.
<0056>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh... I don't mind."
<0057>
// \{Sanae} "It's very hot today."
<0058>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so?"
<0059>
// \{Sanae} "Are you always inside your room whenever you're off from work?"
<0060>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, my job is pretty heavy work, so I just rest in here whenever I have a break."
<0061>
// \{Sanae} "That's not good, \m{B}-san. You should go outside and get some fresh air every so often."
<0062>
// \{\m{B}} "Going out in this heat is pointless, and nothing more."
<0063>
// \{Sanae} "Then, please go outside with me."
<0064>
// \{\m{B}} "With you?"
<0065>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. Let's go on a date."
<0066>
// I grinned at her slyly.
<0067>
// \{\m{B}} "I know you're definitely planning something, otherwise you wouldn't be doing this..."
<0068>
// \{Sanae} "It's nothing like that. I just like going on a date with a youngster once in a while."
<0069>
// \{\m{B}} "Then look for another youngster, not me. Knowing Sanae-san, I'm sure you'll find someone quickly."
<0070>
// \{Sanae} "No. It's not the same if it's not with \m{B}-san."
<0071>
// \{\m{B}} "Why is that?"
<0072>
// \{Sanae} "Because you're my type: good-looking and gentle."
<0073>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so..."
<0074>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, it is."
<0075>
// \{Sanae} "Won't you go on a date with me?"
<0076>
// \{\m{B}} "Well if you say it like that, there's no way I can refuse."
<0077>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you."
<0078>
// I have the feeling that I'll never be able to stand up to her when she wants her way. Never for all of eternity.
<0079>
// We walk into the town together.
<0080>
// It's been a while since I last saw the front of the train station. A great deal has changed in that time. 
<0081>
// Beyond the shopping district, many buildings have sprung up where there was once none.
<0082>
// \{\m{B}} "It sure has changed..."
<0083>
// \{Sanae} "It has. \m{B}-san, you don't come by here often?"
<0084>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah. I haven't been here for a while because of work, and just look at this place now."
<0085>
// \{Sanae} "Well then, let's take our time and look around."
<0086>
// Sanae-san and I explored a newly-built department store.
<0087>
// As well as boutiques and watch stands, among other things.
<0088>
// It actually feels like a date. I haven't had fun like this for a long time.
<0089>
// After we got tired of walking, Sanae-san invites me into a family restaurant.
<0090>
// \{Sanae} "I'd like a strawberry parfait, please."
<0091>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha... Sanae-san, you're just like a school girl."
<0092>
// \{Sanae} "And I'd also like a Japanese Tea, please."
<0093>
// \{\m{B}} "Now with that order, you reek of an old lady."
<0094>
// \{Sanae} "That's rude of you, \m{B}-san."
<0095>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, please place your order."
<0096>
// \{\m{B}} "Um, then for me... the Cake-Set."
<0097>
// \{\m{B}} "And to drink, an Iced Coffee."
<0098>
// The waitress confirms our order and leaves.
<0099>
// \{Sanae} "It was really hot out there, wasn't it?"
<0100>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah. I'm sweating, and it's uncomfortable."
<0101>
// Though, the strong air conditioning here should be enough to dry it.
<0102>
// \{Sanae} "Will \m{B}-san be able to take a real vacation this summer?"
<0103>
// \{\m{B}} "If I wanted to, I could take time off for the Festival of Lanterns."
<0104>
// \{\m{B}} "But I'd rather work. There's nothing to keep me occupied on my days off, anyway."
<0105>
// \{Sanae} "Then, is there any place you want to go?"
<0106>
// \{\m{B}} "The two of us? That'd make my heart throb."
<0107>
// \{Sanae} "Not just us. With myself and Akio. And \m{B}-san... \p and Ushio."
<0108>
// \{\m{B}} "With... Ushio?"
<0109>
// \{\m{B}} "Somehow I knew you were planning to bring that up."
<0110>
// \{Sanae} "I wasn't planning that at all. It occurred to me just now."
<0111>
// \{\m{B}} "But taking Ushio along... isn't that dangerous?"
<0112>
// \{Sanae} "As long as she's properly watched after, it will be fine."
<0113>
// \{Sanae} "And at the same time, her kindergarten will be on summer vacation... don't you want to do something memorable with her?"
<0114>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, wouldn't you like that?"
<0115>
// \{\m{B}} "I guess so... I would..."
<0116>
// \{Sanae} "What's wrong? Are you really not interested?"
<0117>
// \{\m{B}} "Well... I am, but..."
<0118>
// \{\m{B}} "I've abandoned the responsibility of raising my child... and I've pressed it all onto Sanae-san and Pops."
<0119>
// \{\m{B}} "I have no right to be included in her summer vacation memories..."
<0120>
// \{Sanae} "It's not about a right. It's your duty, as a parent."
<0121>
// When she said that, I couldn't do anything but hang my head in shame.
<0122>
// \{\m{B}} "... it would probably be better for her if I was completely out of the picture."
<0123>
// \{\m{B}} "... because she isn't attached to me at all."
<0124>
// I managed to murmur those words, somehow.
<0125>
// \{Sanae} "No, Ushio always seems very lonely."
<0126>
// \{Sanae} "Because her father is hardly ever with her."
<0127>
// \{\m{B}} "... that's not true."
<0128>
// \{\m{B}} "I've never been there for her, so she doesn't know me well enough for that..."
<0129>
// \{Sanae} "Then, wouldn't it be nice to make up for lost time with her? During this summer vacation?"
<0130>
// \{\m{B}} "It's already too late for that..."
<0131>
// \{Sanae} "It's not too late. I know this because \m{B}-san is a kind man."
<0132>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san, you're overestimating me."
<0133>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm neither good-looking nor kind. I'm spineless and I'm a coward. Surely, Sanae-san must hate the type of guy I am."
<0134>
// \{Sanae} "That's not true. I love everything about you, \m{B}-san."
<0135>
// Saying that, she placed her hand on top of mine.
<0136>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0137>
// I gazed only at her hand, which was covering mine.
<0138>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0139>
// \{\m{B}} "... please give me some more time to think about it."
<0140>
// \{Sanae} "Okay."
<0141>
// Following that, Sanae-san called me on the telephone every day.
<0142>
// The conversations were always about the trip.
<0143>
// \{Sanae} "Have you decided?"
<0144>
// \{\m{B}} "No... not yet..."
<0145>
// \{Sanae} "Okay, then I'll call back in 10 minutes."
<0146>
// \{\m{B}} "No, try again tomorrow..."
<0147>
// \{Sanae} "Understood. I'll call you tomorrow morning."
<0148>
// \{\m{B}} "No, I have work, so call in the evening."
<0149>
// \{Sanae} "Understood. I'll call you tomorrow evening."
<0150>
// \{\m{B}} "Right..."
<0151>
// In that manner, she continued to bug me for my answer.
<0152>
// \{\m{B}} (She's really persistent...)
<0153>
// \{\m{B}} (How am I supposed to refuse...)
<0154>
// Finally giving in to her pressure, I reluctantly say...
<0155>
// \{\m{B}} "Understood... looking forward to it."
<0156>
// I said that, knowing I wouldn't be able to take it back.
<0157>
// Although Ushio is going along with us, she and I won't grow closer right away because of her attachment to Sanae-san and Pops.
<0158>
// I convinced myself that simply enjoying the trip in itself was enough.
<0159>
// I scheduled 3 days of vacation, which when adding Sunday, make 4 consecutive days off.
<0160>
// Sanae-san and Pops also took those days off.
<0161>
// The destination and the travel plans are completely in the hands of Sanae-san.
<0162>
// For now, I only knew that it would be in Japan to the northeast; I hadn't heard anything more specific than that.
<0163>
// To prepare, I pack my bag with only two days worth of clothes.
<0164>
// It's a trip with Sanae-san. Except for a few personal belongings, it's not like I need to bring anything else.
<0165>
// Even if I don't play it smart by packing meticulously, I'm sure she already has all the necessities prepared.
<0166>
// ...I awaken to the sound of an alarm clock.
<0167>
// Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill morning.
<0168>
// The weight of my head and my reluctance to leave the futon, nothing has changed.
<0169>
// However, the destination is different today.
<0170>
// Instead of going to work, I'm headed to the Furukawa residence.
<0171>
// And, I will not be coming back to this room for a while.
<0172>
// I wash my face, brush my teeth, and finish changing clothes.
<0173>
// All that's left is the matter of leaving.
<0174>
// \{\m{B}} (Should I call them to let them know I'm on my way...?)
<0175>
// I stare at the phone.
<0176>
// \{\m{B}} (Over there they might be busy with last-minute preparations though...) 
<0177>
// So I decide just to head on over.
<0178>
// Feels like it's been a while since the last time I came to visit.
<0179>
// I haven't even seen Pops' face in a long time.
<0180>
// What will he say to me?
<0181>
// Wonder if I'll be lectured or chewed out...
<0182>
// I think about that and let out a laugh.
<0183>
// Then again, I've always been the subject of his endless stream of verbal jabs and abuse, haven't I?
<0184>
// \{\m{B}} "Hello."
<0185>
// Like the old days, I enter the shop like a customer.
<0186>
// .........
<0187>
// ... no one is here.
<0188>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-saaan!"
<0189>
// .........
<0190>
// \{\m{B}} "Popsssssss!"
<0191>
// .........
<0192>
// ... no answer.
<0193>
// Did I make a mistake in the meeting spot?
<0194>
// Maybe they went to my apartment, and we just happened to miss each other?
<0195>
// Even if that were so, it's odd that the door isn't locked.
<0196>
// Although there is not a lot of crime in this town, one should still lock up before going on a trip.
<0197>
// ... a sense of foreboding creeps up on me.
<0198>
// I enter the house without permission.
<0199>
// When I enter the living room, I notice a sheet of paper lying conspicuously on top of the table.
<0200>
// It is a left behind letter.
<0201>
// I pick it up and read through it.
<0202>
// ...Dear \m{B}-san,
<0203>
// ... urgent business came up, I have gone out with Akio-san for a while.
<0204>
// ... therefore, please go on the trip together with Ushio.
<0205>
// ...Furukawa Sanae.
<0206>
// ...P.S. Means of transportation and route are written on the reverse side.
<0207>
// .........
<0208>
// \{\m{B}} "Y..."
<0209>
// \{\m{B}} "You're kidding me..."
<0210>
// \{\m{B}} "I was the perfect ham for Sanae-san..."
<0211>
// Sensing someone behind me, I turn around.
<0212>
// There, on the other side of the door, hiding herself, there is a small child looking at me.
<0213>
// She holds a ruck-sack, and is ready to go.
<0214>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0215>
// We sized each other up silently.
<0216>
// Ushio did not move to approach me.
<0217>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Sanae-san and Pops will not coming..."
<0218>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you want to do?"
<0219>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0220>
// \{Ushio} "...Sanae-san."
<0221>
// Her mouth opens in tiny, minute movements.
<0222>
// \{\m{B}} "No, like I said... Sanae-san is not here."
<0223>
// \{Ushio} "...Akkii"
<0224>
// \{\m{B}} "Pops isn't here either."
<0225>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0226>
// She looks about ready to cry.
<0227>
// Well, it's no wonder...
<0228>
// She was looking forward to the trip, and then suddenly those two went missing.
<0229>
// Even if she bursts into tears, it's not my fault.
<0230>
// Those two played this joke on us, so the blame lies with them.
<0231>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, what do you want to do?"
<0232>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0233>
// \{\m{B}} "Say it. If you don't talk, I won't know."
<0234>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0235>
// \{Ushio} "... I want to go on the trip."
<0236>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sorry to say, that isn't possible."
<0237>
// \{\m{B}} "You understand, right? Pops and Sanae-san are not here."
<0238>
// \{Ushio} "... it's summer vacation, so I want to go."
<0239>
// \{\m{B}} "That's all well and good, but you wouldn't like it if Pops and Sanae-san didn't come along, right?"
<0240>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0241>
// \{\m{B}} "You see? That's why we can't go."
<0242>
// \{Ushio} "... I want to go."
<0243>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm saying it's impossible, silly."
<0244>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0245>
// \{Ushio} "...I want to go."
<0246>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't make me repeat myself."
<0247>
// For the time being, I lower the bag off my shoulder and take a seat on the floor.
<0248>
// I take a cigarette out, put it my mouth, and light it.
<0249>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuu..."
<0250>
// I pull the ashtray resting on the table towards me.
<0251>
// Standing in the doorway before me, Ushio continues to look my way.
<0252>
// \{\m{B}} "Haa..."
<0253>
// I become a bit depressed.
<0254>
// ...the worst summer vacation ever.
<0255>
// If I had known it was going to be like this, I would have gone to work.
<0256>
// However, had I done so, would Ushio have been left all alone in this house?
<0257>
// \{\m{B}} "Haa..."
<0258>
// I sigh once again.
<0259>
// Where did Pops and Sanae disappear off to anyway?
<0260>
// I read through the letter once more.
<0261>
// ‘We are going out for a while.'
<0262>
// For how long? Surely not for all four days right?
<0263>
// No, I'm sure it's just a wait-and-see thing; they'll probably be back by tonight.
<0264>
// I think we could wait until then.
<0265>
// Turning it over, I see a complete four day schedule written out.
<0266>
// Two train tickets are scotch-taped below the schedule.
<0267>
// They are limited express tickets.
<0268>
// I raise my head.
<0269>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0270>
// Ushio is still hiding behind the door, looking this way.
<0271>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey you, want to go alone? There are tickets here."
<0272>
// Even if she does, she doesn't answer.
<0273>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, say something."
<0274>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0275>
// \{\m{B}} "What, are you trying to hide? You're completely visible, you know."
<0276>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0277>
// \{\m{B}} "Chi..."
<0278>
// \{\m{B}} "Why does it have to be like this..."
<0279>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn..."
<0280>
// If trying to impose authority doesn't work, I guess I'll try luring her out.
<0281>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Ushio."
<0282>
// I try calling out softly.
<0283>
// \{\m{B}} "Come here, don't stand all alone in a place like that."
<0284>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0285>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, over here."
<0286>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0287>
// Little by little she walks to me from her hiding place.
<0288>
// \{\m{B}} "Sit down."
<0289>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0290>
// She doesn't sit.
<0291>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, that's okay..."
<0292>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's see..."
<0293>
// \{\m{B}} "Pops and Sanae-san will probably be back by tonight."
<0294>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0295>
// \{\m{B}} "So although we can't leave today, we can go on the trip starting from tomorrow."
<0296>
// \{\m{B}} "For today, let's just wait patiently. Got it?"
<0297>
// \{Ushio} "... trip."
<0298>
// \{\m{B}} "Yup, starting from tomorrow."
<0299>
// \{Ushio} "... really...?"
<0300>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah. Don't worry. Those two wouldn't take this joke that far."
<0301>
// \{\m{B}} "For today, go ahead and play by yourself, alright?"
<0302>
// \{Ushio} "Okay."
<0303>
// She nodded, looking reassured.
<0304>
// \{\m{B}} "Good, off you go."
<0305>
// She timidly walks away.
<0306>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuu..."
<0307>
// Taking another drag from my cigarette, I let time slip away for a while.
<0308>
// As one might expect, eventually boredom seeps in; I decide to try walking around the house.
<0309>
// There's a chance that those two are keeping themselves hidden somewhere, intently monitoring my actions.
<0310>
// While pondering over that possibility...
<0311>
// ... my gaze is drawn towards one door.
<0312>
// My chest hurts.
<0313>
// I didn't want to recall anything.
<0314>
// I look down and pass by that door.
<0315>
// I have some free time, so should I fire up the oven then go ahead and open up the store...
<0316>
// But I never learned how to bake bread, so scratch that idea.
<0317>
// Bam. The sound of something falling behind me.
<0318>
// When I turn around, I see Ushio lying on the floor.
<0319>
// \{\m{B}} "You idiot, be careful!"
<0320>
// I run over to her and help her up.
<0321>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you okay? You fell down from over there, right?"
<0322>
// \{Ushio} "... sniffle."
<0323>
// Ushio remains silent, making a visible effort to hold back her tears.
<0324>
// I look at her appearance and tremble.
<0325>
// \{\m{B}} (She really does resemble her...)
<0326>
// Looking down and fighting back the flow of tears, it was just like her.
<0327>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you hurt anywhere?"
<0328>
// I look over her quickly and didn't see any bleeding; she looks just fine.
<0329>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, go. And don't play in such a dangerous spot again."
<0330>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0331>
// Even though I said so, she doesn't move from that spot.
<0332>
// She looks at the floor.
<0333>
// A toy had been dropped there.
<0334>
// It was a plastic turtle.
<0335>
// Looking further, I see that some of the parts had broken into many pieces, now scattered across the floor.
<0336>
// I pick it up.
<0337>
// There is a pulley that looks like a mechanism to move the neck back and forth.
<0338>
// However now it is broken.
<0339>
// \{\m{B}} "I see now... you were playing with this and fell on it."
<0340>
// \{\m{B}} "And so your body weight broke it, right?"
<0341>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm... if I use some glue I might be able to fix it..."
<0342>
// I find some glue within the house and help myself to it.
<0343>
// While I was mending the toy, Ushio stayed by my side.
<0344>
// \{\m{B}} "Look, it's done."
<0345>
// \{\m{B}} "However, don't put the pulley back in just yet. The residual glue will cause it to get stuck to the toy."
<0346>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll put it here for now, go play with something else."
<0347>
// I place it on the table.
<0348>
// Still unsure whether Ushio had understood my instructions or not, I watched her dash away, her feet pitter-pattering across the floor.
<0349>
// \{\m{B}} "She sure is a tomboy..."
<0350>
// Maybe some of Pops' personality rubbed off on her.
<0351>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuu..."
<0352>
// I lie down on my side, having nothing better to do.
<0353>
// I'll just take a nap until this evening...
<0354>
// .........
<0355>
// ......
<0356>
// ...
<0357>
// I sense someone, and open my eyes groggily.
<0358>
// In front of me is a small shadow.
<0359>
// \{\m{B}} "Hn... what is it?..."
<0360>
// Reluctantly I sit up.
<0361>
// \{Ushio} "... it doesn't move..."
<0362>
// In her hand is the turtle. 
<0363>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, what did you-"
<0364>
// I take it from her and discover that the pulley was already firmly adhered to the turtle.
<0365>
// \{\m{B}} "I thought I told you not to put it back in until the glue dries..."
<0366>
// \{\m{B}} "Grr, now it's stuck and won't even budge..."
<0367>
// \{\m{B}} "Stupid thing-"
<0368>
// \{\m{B}} "This adhesive is really strong..."
<0369>
// Try as I may to detach it, the parts are too small for me to grip firmly, so I can't exert much force on it.
<0370>
// \{\m{B}} "It's useless..."
<0371>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, you'll just have to make do with it as it is now, okay?"
<0372>
// I return the turtle to her small hands.
<0373>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0374>
// Once again her shoulders quaver with sadness.
<0375>
// However, she does not cry.
<0376>
// Clueless as to whether she had come to terms with what I said, I hear the pitter-patter as she runs away.
<0377>
// \{\m{B}} "Not even a word of thanks, huh..."
<0378>
// Once again I lie down.
<0379>
// .........
<0380>
// ......
<0381>
// ...
<0382>
// shake shake...
<0383>
// This time I am shaken awake.
<0384>
// Ushio pulls on the hem of my shirt.
<0385>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it... what is it this time...?"
<0386>
// \{Ushio} "...Sanae-san."
<0387>
// \{\m{B}} "What about Sanae-san? Did she return?"
<0388>
// She shakes her head no.
<0389>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, don't get my hopes up."
<0390>
// \{Ushio} "...Sanae-san."
<0391>
// She repeats again.
<0392>
// In short, she's asking me where Sanae-san is now.
<0393>
// \{\m{B}} "She's not here, she hasn't come back yet. Please understand."
<0394>
// \{Ushio} "... not yet?"
<0395>
// \{\m{B}} "That's what I'd like to know."
<0396>
// \{\m{B}} "At the earliest, they'll probably be back by this evening. Pray and wait."
<0397>
// \{Ushio} "... I'm hungry."
<0398>
// When she said that I realized that neither of us had anything to eat for lunch. 
<0399>
// \{\m{B}} "Chii..."
<0400>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't there any leftover bread?"
<0401>
// Reluctantly I get up and search the kitchen.
<0402>
// I quickly discover that there isn't anything readily edible to be found.
<0403>
// In that case, I guess that leaves two options: cook something, or go out and buy something.
<0404>
// \{\m{B}}  (There's nothing worth making with what I have here...)
<0405>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, I'm going to head out and buy something, so tell me what you want to eat."
<0406>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0407>
// She looks up at me steadily and doesn't even try to answer.
<0408>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it? Tell me what you want to eat."
<0409>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0410>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, so I guess anything will do?"
<0411>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0412>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, I got it. I'll just choose something then."
<0413>
// \{\m{B}} "Jeez, how the hell am I supposed to know what kids like."
<0414>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if I buy pig's feet, you'll still have to eat it."
<0415>
// I step down to the floor near the entrance and put on my shoes.
<0416>
// I turn around to see Ushio looking at me.
<0417>
// \{\m{B}} "Wait here patiently like a good kid. I'll be back soon."
<0418>
// It's hot.
<0419>
// My skin feels like it's roasting under the scorching sun.
<0420>
// \{\m{B}} (Sea or river... anything would be good, I just want to jump into some water...)
<0421>
// I begin walking.
<0422>
// A bit further ahead from here, there should be a tiny supermarket on the next corner.
<0423>
// But that's only how remember it from a long time ago, so I'm not sure if it's still in business.
<0424>
// Or Who knows, maybe it's developed into a gigantic supermarket by now.
<0425>
// \{\m{B}} (Even so, I wish that things around here wouldn't change...)
<0426>
// \{Housewife} "Oh, long time no see."
<0427>
// The housewife, who was riding a bicycle, puts her foot down and looks at me.
<0428>
// I remember her being a frequent customer back when I worked at the Furukawa Bakery.
<0429>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey."
<0430>
// \{Housewife} "Are you on a stroll today?"
<0431>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... sort of."
<0432>
// \{Housewife} "You should have brought along a hat, you know."
<0433>
// \{\m{B}} "Shouldn't be too much longer, so..."
<0434>
// \{Housewife} "But it seems like the heat's really taking its toll."
<0435>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh? I'm completely fine though."
<0436>
// \{Housewife} "Not you, the child behind you."
<0437>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<0438>
// I turn around. At my feet is Ushio.
<0439>
// Because of the heat, she is swaying left and right unsteadily.
<0440>
// It looks like she could fall over at any moment now.
<0441>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn..."
<0442>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you following me?!"
<0443>
// The housewife probably sensed the shift in mood from my reaction...
<0444>
// \{Housewife} "Well with that, good-bye."
<0445>
// Having said so, she rides off on her bicycle.
<0446>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, you."
<0447>
// I loom over Ushio and ask.
<0448>
// \{\m{B}} "Didn't I tell you to wait patiently, like a good kid?"
<0449>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0450>
// \{\m{B}} "In this kind of heat, without a hat..."
<0451>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0452>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, what's wrong. Tell me."
<0453>
// \{Ushio} "... well..."
<0454>
// \{Ushio} "... I want to choose..."
<0455>
// \{\m{B}} "Choose what...?"
<0456>
// \{Ushio} "... what I eat."
<0457>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, you should've said so from the beginning."
<0458>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0459>
// Once again, she starts wavering unsteadily from left to right.
<0460>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn it... we're going back."
<0461>
// We turned around and made our way back home.
<0462>
// \{\m{B}} "For your punishment, lunch will be compulsory fried rice."
<0463>
// I cook the fried rice in my usual style.
<0464>
// \{\m{B}} "Here, eat."
<0465>
// With a loud clunk, I place a plate of fried rice before Ushio..
<0466>
// The asymmetry of the dish is amusing to Ushio.
<0467>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0468>
// She scoops it up with a spoon and puts it in her mouth.
<0469>
// \{Ushio} "n..."
<0470>
// \{Ushio} "... bitter..."
<0471>
// \{\m{B}} "Bitter?"
<0472>
// I eat a little, but to me it tastes the same as it always does.
<0473>
// \{Ushio} "The little spots here and there... I don't like the black things."
<0474>
// \{\m{B}} "Black spots here and there?"
<0475>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, the pepper?"
<0476>
// \{\m{B}} "But it wouldn't be fried rice without it. Deal with it and eat."
<0477>
// \{Ushio} "... I don't want to."
<0478>
// \{\m{B}} "Now now, hasn't Sanae-san told you not to be picky about your food?"
<0479>
// \{Ushio} "... I want to eat Sanae-san's food."
<0480>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so..."
<0481>
// \{\m{B}} "Then don't eat."
<0482>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0483>
// Time ticks on by. Ushio remains sitting with the now-cold plate of fried rice in front of her.
<0484>
// \{\m{B}} "What... do you want me to take out the pepper?"
<0485>
// Reluctantly I ask.
<0486>
// \{Ushio} "... yeah."
<0487>
// \{\m{B}} “But if I take out the pepper it'll taste awful.”
<0488>
// \{\m{B}} “How about something other than fried rice?”
<0489>
// \{Ushio} "... rice."
<0490>
// \{\m{B}} “Rice? That's all you're going to eat?” 
<0491>
// \{\m{B}} "That I can easily do..."
<0492>
// I find a bowl and pile it up with rice.
<0493>
// A moment later, I notice that Ushio's own set of miniature tableware was stacked up in a different place.
<0494>
// The one I just used must have been Pops'. It's huge.
<0495>
// It's too late to swap it now, so I present it to Ushio.
<0496>
// \{\m{B}} "Look, rice."
<0497>
// I clear away the plate of fried rice.
<0498>
// Which leaves a solitary bowl of white rice sitting in front of Ushio.
<0499>
// \{\m{B}} "It almost feels like you're making this difficult for me on purpose..."
<0500>
// \{\m{B}} “There's not much more I can do. With this, it'll be a Fried Rice Set with extra rice.”
<0501>
// I return the fried rice to her.
<0502>
// \{Ushio} “...no”
<0503>
// She pushes it back.
<0504>
// \{\m{B}} “Come on, what now?”
<0505>
// \{Ushio} "...only this."
<0506>
// \{\m{B}} “Seriously, it really looks like you're just messing with me...”
<0507>
// Ushio suddenly stands up and goes into the kitchen.
<0508>
// She returns with a small bag clutched tightly in her hands.
<0509>
// \{\m{B}} "What's that?"
<0510>
// She tears it open gleefully and sprinkles it over the rice.
<0511>
// \{\m{B}} "Dried food sprinkles, eh?..."
<0512>
// She starts eating, savoring every bite.
<0513>
// \{\m{B}} "So kids prefer food-sprinkled-rice to fried rice, is that it?"
<0514>
// \{\m{B}} "Must be nice, being so easily satisfied."
<0515>
// \{\m{B}} "That alone won't be enough for tonight's dinner though..."
<0516>
// \{\m{B}} "Would be nice if Sanae-san comes back before then..."
<0517>
// Ushio continues to attack her bowl of sprinkled rice voraciously, making high-pitched clinking noises all the while.
<0518>
// The clock ticks past 9 PM. The two of them still haven't returned.
<0519>
// How far is this joke going to go?
<0520>
// Although we had a late lunch, unsurprisingly, the two of us find ourselves hungry once more.
<0521>
// I could ignore the pangs of hunger gnawing at me, but Ushio is another story.
<0522>
// For dinner, we finally end up heading to the supermarket and picking out our own favorite ready-made bento..
<0523>
// ... 11 o'clock.
<0524>
// I doubt they'll be coming back tonight at this late hour.
<0525>
// If I were to leave Ushio here all alone and go back home, things would probably take a turn for the worse.
<0526>
// Can't even joke about things like that.
<0527>
// Before I knew it, Ushio, who was playing nearby, had succumbed to the spell of slumber.
<0528>
// Will you sleep like this until morning?
<0529>
// If so, then it looks like I'll also be able to sleep soundly tonight...
<0530>
// Before I do anything else, I take a bath towel from the bathroom and cover Ushio.
<0531>
// I turn off the lights and lie down.
<0532>
// What a strange day this has been...
<0533>
// Hoping that Pops and Sanae-san would be back by the time I wake up, I fall asleep.
<0534>
// Next morning.
<0535>
// I open the shutters of the bakery and gaze at the morning sun.
<0536>
// It's still rather cool outside at this time of the day.
<0537>
// I yawn while stretching as I look out over the distance.
<0538>
// At this point in time, Pops and Sanae-san are probably heading this way on foot.
<0539>
// I continue waiting with that expectation in mind.
<0540>
// Noticing some movement near me, I look downwards to see Ushio, who was already awake.
<0541>
// She probably wants them to come back soon, too.
<0542>
// Together, we keep waiting.
<0543>
// We are quite the miserable pair, looking the part of an older brother and a younger sister waiting for their parents.
<0544>
// \{Ushio} "... bathroom."
<0545>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, go."
<0546>
// \{Ushio} "... ok."
<0547>
// Pitter-patter of her feet as she runs away.
<0548>
// And after a few moments she returns.
<0549>
// \{Ushio} "...I did it all by myself."
<0550>
// \{\m{B}} "That's natural."
<0551>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0552>
// After eating breakfast, we simply stand in place motionlessly, just as before.
<0553>
// In front of us a family with parents and a child pass by.
<0554>
// They carry with them a large bag.
<0555>
// Are they going back to the country? Or could it be they are traveling?
<0556>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0557>
// I look at Ushio's face.
<0558>
// Her eyes follow the happy laughing child.
<0559>
// An almost pitiable, lonely face.
<0560>
// \{Ushio} "... hey."
<0561>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah?"
<0562>
// \{Ushio} "...number two."
<0563>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, go."
<0564>
// \{Ushio} "... yeah."
<0565>
// The pitter-patter as she runs off.
<0566>
// Then, afer a moment she returns.
<0567>
// \{Ushio} "...I did it all by myself."
<0568>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't boast about every little thing."
<0569>
// \{\m{B}} "Even I can do it, you know."
<0570>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0571>
// I reach into my pocket.
<0572>
// Sanae-san's letter was roughly crammed in there.
<0573>
// I draw it out and scan the reverse side.
<0574>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey..."
<0575>
// \{Ushio} "... yes?"
<0576>
// \{\m{B}} "Want to go..."
<0577>
// \{\m{B}} "on a trip... together?"
<0578>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0579>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0580>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you okay with that, going with someone like me?"
<0581>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0582>
// \{\m{B}} "Pops and Sanae-san will not be there."
<0583>
// \{Ushio} "... because..."
<0584>
// \{Ushio} "... they haven't come."
<0585>
// \{\m{B}} "Exactly. They haven't returned yet, right?"
<0586>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0587>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, shall we go then? The two of us."
<0588>
// \{Ushio} "...yeah!"
<0589>
// She smiled a little bit.
<0590>
// Since Pops and Sanae-san aren't here, she probably isn't completely satisfied with how this trip is starting out.
<0591>
// Still better than not going on the trip at all.
<0592>
// \{\m{B}} "Get ready."
<0593>
// Ushio returns carrying the already-packed rucksack.
<0594>
// Knowing Sanae-san, the contents are probably very thorough and complete.
<0595>
// I place my bag over my shoulder.
<0596>
// \{\m{B}} "Not sure if this place is locked up properly..."
<0597>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, take a look and make sure the rear window is shut.
<0598>
// \{Ushio} "... okay."
<0599>
// Together we confirm that the house is locked.
<0600>
// \{Ushio} "...it was closed."
<0601>
// \{\m{B}} "Great, everything's OK."
<0602>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, let's go!"
<0603>
// \{Ushio} "... yeah!"
<0604>
// Ushio raises her hands and lets out a cheer.
<0605>
// And with that signal, we start walking.
<0606>
// I walk While keeping my gaze fixed on the back of the letter.
<0607>
// \{\m{B}} (What are the points of interest of this place?...)
<0608>
// \{\m{B}} (Walleye Pollack Roe?) 
<0609>
// \{\m{B}} (That seems wrong...)
<0610>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Ushio."
<0611>
// When I call her she runs up beside me.
<0612>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you want to do?"
<0613>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0614>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you want to eat good food, or swim, or see pretty landscapes, or meet a lot of foreigners?"
<0615>
// \{Ushio} "... all of them."
<0616>
// \{\m{B}} "Seriously?... You must be one hell of an extravagant high-roller."
<0617>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, we probably won't be able to meet with a lot of foreigners. It's not like we're traveling to a foreign country, you know.
<0618>
// \{\m{B}} "Make up your mind and pick one thing that you'd like to do."
<0619>
// \{Ushio} "... um..."
<0620>
// \{Ushio} "... all of them."
<0621>
// \{\m{B}} "I told you, we can't do all of them..."
<0622>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then..."
<0623>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, Walleye Pollack Roe it is."
<0624>
// \{Ushio} "...Walleye Pollack Roe?"
<0625>
// \{\m{B}} "You got it. The purpose of this trip is to eat Walleye Pollack Roe. That's all. Sounds good, right?"
<0626>
// \{\m{B}} "It's the absolute best When it's served on top of rice."
<0627>
// \{\m{B}} "Once you try it, you'll never go back to those food sprinkles again."
<0628>
// Looks like the only impression she got from that was "it's tastier than food sprinkles".
<0629>
// \{Ushio} "...I can't wait."
<0630>
// She said that and breaks out into a smile.
<0631>
// The limited-express tickets from Sanae-san have expired, only valid for the same day they were purchased.
<0632>
// I decide to trade them in for regular express tickets.
<0633>
// Since the limited-express ones were all sold out.
<0634>
// Inside of the train, it's crowded with family groups like ours.
<0635>
// Except that there's a father and mother in every single one of them.
<0636>
// If only Nagisa were alive...
<0637>
// Nagisa would have been sitting right next to me...
<0638>
// And then... maybe then I would have been a proper father for this girl.
<0639>
// Maybe then I could've been a part of those summer vacation memories from the start.
<0640>
// .........
<0641>
// This trip is really too heart-breaking for me...
<0642>
// .........
<0643>
// ......
<0644>
// ...
<0645>
// Just how long have I been swaying to the movement of this train?
<0646>
// I wake up to the sensation of something hitting my thigh.
<0647>
// \{Ushio} "... play."
<0648>
// Ushio looks up at me.
<0649>
// \{\m{B}} "What? Ah..."
<0650>
// \{\m{B}} (Was I asleep?...)
<0651>
// Coated with perspiration, I grab the collar of my shirt and pull it outwards, front and back.
<0652>
// \{Ushio} "... play."
<0653>
// Ushio repeats.
<0654>
// Is she already bored of watching the scenery outside?
<0655>
// \{\m{B}} "And what do you want to play?"
<0656>
// \{Ushio} "... um."
<0657>
// \{\m{B}} "What do Sanae-san and you usually do?"
<0658>
// \{Ushio} "We read books together."
<0659>
// \{\m{B}} "Books, eh? We don't have any with us though."
<0660>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you do with Pops?"
<0661>
// \{Ushio} "Baseball."
<0662>
// \{\m{B}} "Baseball!?"
<0663>
// \{Ushio} "Look, look!"
<0664>
// Ushio jumps down from the seat and stands in the aisle.
<0665>
// She then joins her hands together and assumes a batting stance.
<0666>
// An unmistakeable pose.
<0667>
// \{Ushio} "Komada."
<0668>
// \{\m{B}} "An impersonation?!"
<0669>
// \{Ushio} "Was it good?"
<0670>
// \{\m{B}} "Not really..."
<0671>
// \{Ushio} "...oh well"
<0672>
// She returns and scrambles up to her seat.
<0673>
// \{\m{B}} "I can't believe that old man is teaching her two-bit side show acts..."
<0674>
// \{\m{B}} "On top of that, it's one of those slapstick gags..."
<0675>
// \{\m{B}} "I haven't a clue as to who would appreciate this stuff."
<0676>
// \{Ushio} "...show me something."
<0677>
// \{\m{B}}「俺か？」
<0678>
// \{\m{B}} "I can't do imitations or anything like that, if that's what you're asking."
<0679>
// \{Ushio} "Interesting things."
<0680>
// \{\m{B}} "Interesting things, huh..."
<0681>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't do much else besides play pachinko by myself..."
<0682>
// \{\m{B}} "Not sure if other people would call that interesting."
<0683>
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, it's not a child's game."
<0684>
// \{Ushio} "...nothing else?"
<0685>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, that's all."
<0686>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0687>
//  Ushio stares at me intently for a while as if expecting me to speak up again. Silence. She gives up and looks out the window.
<0688>
// Following that, the playful bantering of the other children seems to grow even louder.
<0689>
// I try to fall asleep again by closing my eyes, but the raucous merrymaking is hard to ignore.
<0690>
// A shrill, disconcerting scream rings out from the seat behind me.
<0691>
// \{\m{B}} "\size{27} Shut up!\size{}"
<0692>
// Unable to put up with it any longer, I stand up.
<0693>
// \{\m{B}} "Have some consideration for the people around you!"
<0694>
// \{Mother} "Y, yes... sorry..."
<0695>
// The mother holds her child close.
<0696>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn..."
<0697>
// I sit back down.
<0698>
// Beside me, an empty seat.
<0699>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio?"
<0700>
// I stand up and look around.
<0701>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio."
<0702>
// The mother from just a moment ago looks at me suspiciously.
<0703>
// \{\m{B}} "Damn it... where did that kid run off to... "
<0704>
// \{Woman} "If you're looking for a girl, she ran to the back just now."
<0705>
// Spoken by a woman other than the mother.
<0706>
// \{\m{B}} "I see... thank you."
<0707>
// Heading in that direction, I see the train conductor.
<0708>
// \{Conductor} "Oh, are you the father?"
<0709>
// I halt, prompting his inquiry from the back.
<0710>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes."
<0711>
// \{Conductor} "Your child is in the bathroom right now."
<0712>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh?"
<0713>
// \{Conductor} "She couldn't open the door by herself, so I helped her."
<0714>
// \{\m{B}} "You have my gratitude. Sorry for all the trouble."
<0715>
// \{Conductor} "Afterwards, please let me see your ticket."
<0716>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, sure."
<0717>
// The conductor leaves, and another 10 minutes pass. 
<0718>
// Finally, Ushio returns.
<0719>
// \{\m{B}} "Let me know when you're heading to the toilet next time."
<0720>
// \{Ushio} "... okay."
<0721>
// \{\m{B}} "Got it?"
<0722>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0723>
// \{\m{B}} "Aren't your eyes a little red?"
<0724>
// \{Ushio} "... no."
<0725>
// \{\m{B}} "That so?"
<0726>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright then. Let's go back."
<0727>
// \{Ushio} "...okay"
<0728>
// Together, We take our seats again.
<0729>
// My thunderous outburst earlier on may have worked; the train car is now peaceful.
<0730>
// But now I'm wide awake thanks to all of the previous hubbub.
<0731>
// I glance beside me.
<0732>
// Ushio is quietly looking out the window.
<0733>
// Looking at her diminutive back facing me... even I start to feel a bit bad.
<0734>
// \{\m{B}} "I..."
<0735>
// \{\m{B}} "I made you cry just now, didn't I..."
<0736>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0737>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, I'm asking you something."
<0738>
// \{Ushio} "...huh?"
<0739>
// She turns toward me.
<0740>
// \{\m{B}} "You were crying because I lost my temper and shouted, right?"
<0741>
// \{Ushio} "... no."
<0742>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you lying? Your eyes are all puffy."
<0743>
// \{Ushio} "...I was told it's not good to cry..."
<0744>
// \{\m{B}} "Who said that?"
<0745>
// \{Ushio} "Sanae-san."
<0746>
// \{\m{B}} "Really? That's uncharacteristically strict of her..."
<0747>
// \{Ushio} "... but..."
<0748>
// \{Ushio} "...she said that there's a place where it's okay to cry..."
<0749>
// \{\m{B}} "A place where it's okay to cry?"
<0750>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0751>
// \{\m{B}} "What's that, then?"
<0752>
// \{Ushio} "... the bathroom."
<0753>
// That explains why she ran off to the bathroom on this train, despite never having gone there before.
<0754>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, when you're in the bathroom you'll definitely be able to cry without anyone noticing, but..."
<0755>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you always go to the bathroom to cry?"
<0756>
// \{Ushio} "Yes..."
<0757>
// \{\m{B}} "So what do you do if you're outside..."
<0758>
// \{Ushio} "... endure."
<0759>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you serious?"
<0760>
// \{Ushio} "...yes."
<0761>
// \{\m{B}} "Don’t you get kind of lonely, doing that?"
<0762>
// I don’t really get Sanae-san’s upbringing methods.
<0763>
// \{\m{B}} "Whenever you want to cry, I think it's best to let it all out."
<0764>
// \{\m{B}} "Since from now on, once you get older, there will be plenty of times when you'll need to hold back your tears even if you want to cry."
<0765>
// \{\m{B}} "You should let those tears spill out while you still can."
<0766>
// \{Ushio} "... okay."
<0767>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you really understand?"
<0768>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0769>
// Is she scared of me now? She hasn't done anything but nod her head since some time ago.
<0770>
// \{\m{B}} (Sigh...)
<0771>
// I take out my wallet and check its contents.
<0772>
// Looks like I have a bit of extra cash.
<0773>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, we're getting off at the next stop."
<0774>
// \{Ushio} "Are we there?"
<0775>
// \{\m{B}} "Just stopping along the way."
<0776>
// We step off at a station I don't recognize, and enter the adjoining department store.
<0777>
// There, I buy Ushio a toy.
<0778>
// \{\m{B}} "With this you won't be bored anymore, right?"
<0779>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0780>
// Her face softens into a smile.
<0781>
// \{\m{B}} "But are you really satisfied with getting that?"
<0782>
// Ushio's toy is a palm-sized, cylindrical robot.
<0783>
// Its old-fashioned design had a certain quaint charm to it, so I instinctively recommended it.
<0784>
// Ushio agreed without any objections.
<0785>
// But looking at it objectively, not even a boy - much less a girl - would give it a second glance.
<0786>
// \{\m{B}} (Probably some reissued model for hardcore collectors...)
<0787>
// \{Ushio} "...it's kinda cute"
<0788>
// \{\m{B}} "'Kinda', huh...then you should've gotten one that was amazingly cute."
<0789>
// \{Ushio} "...no, I like this one the best."
<0790>
// \{\m{B}} "Really...?"
<0791>
// \{\m{B}} "You have some odd tastes, you know that?"
<0792>
// \{Ushio} "......?"
<0793>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm going to lie down. Go play with your toy."
<0794>
// \{Ushio} "Okay."
<0795>
// Finally some peace and quiet.
<0796>
// With that thought in mind, I close my eyes.
<0797>
// .........
<0798>
// ......
<0799>
// Myui-----n...*
<0800>
// ......
<0801>
// Giiiii!\shake{2}\p  Gaaaa!\shake{2}\p  Giiiii!\shake{2}\p Gaaaaa!\shake{2}
<0802>
// \size{32}Kishaaaaaaaaaa!\shake{4}\size{}
<0803>
// \{\m{B}} "I've had just about enough!"
<0804>
// \{Ushio} "...huh?"
<0805>
// \{\m{B}} "What the hell, that blasted thing actually makes noises?"
<0806>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0807>
// \{Ushio} "...sniff"
<0808>
// Her face looks like she is about to cry.
<0809>
// \{Ushio} "... endure..."
<0810>
// \{\m{B}} "I told you not hold it in. Just cry."
<0811>
// She shakes her head no.
<0812>
// \{\m{B}} "Go to the restroom."
<0813>
// \{Ushio} "...no, it'll pass."
<0814>
// \{\m{B}} "I...see"
<0815>
// \{\m{B}} "No more of those noises from now on, okay?"
<0816>
// \{\m{B}} "It would be a nuisance for the people around us too, not just me."
<0817>
// \{Ushio} "... okay"
<0818>
// \{\m{B}} "You catch on quickly, at the very least."
<0819>
// I drift into sleep once more.
<0820>
// .........
<0821>
// ......
<0822>
// ...
<0823>
// From that point on, I couldn't tell if I was asleep or awake.
<0824>
// The entire time, Ushio's form was visible.
<0825>
// Within my line of vision, Ushio was silently watching the flowing scenery.
<0826>
// She sticks the robot in her hand onto the window.
<0827>
// I wonder if she's enjoying this summer vacation...
<0828>
// So much so that she'll be able to brag about it to her friends...
<0829>
// Am I, the terrifying father, ruining the vacation by tagging along?...
<0830>
// It's the first time the two of us alone are traveling together, and yet...
<0831>
// The only thing I see before me is the lonely form of Ushio, all by herself.
<0832>
// .........
<0833>
// ......
<0834>
// ...
<0835>
// The sun is already setting by the time we arrive at our destination on the first day.
<0836>
// I check Sanae-san's letter and confirm the station name.
<0837>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, this is the place."
<0838>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, let's go."
<0839>
// After having our train tickets checked, we step off onto an unknown land.
<0840>
// I look down at Sanae-san's letter.
<0841>
// ...travel to the zoo by bus. Afterwards, head to the hotel reserved for today.
<0842>
// \{\m{B}} "The zoo, eh..."
<0843>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll wait for the bus here, Ushio."
<0844>
// We stand side by side at the bus stop.
<0845>
// .........
<0846>
// We wait for a while, but the bus never shows up.
<0847>
// I look at the route schedule. 
<0848>
// \{\m{B}} (Crap... only one bus every hour...)
<0849>
// \{\m{B}} (If we take a taxi, we won't have enough money for the train ride back home...)
<0850>
// \{\m{B}} (Hold on, do we even have time to visit the zoo...?)
<0851>
// According to Sanae-san's memo, we're supposed to check into the hotel at 6 o'clock.
<0852>
// But since our reservations were made in advance, we should be able to move the check-in time further back with a phone call.
<0853>
// ... but wait.
<0854>
// \{\m{B}} (We are already a day late, so it is too late for us to act...)
<0855>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio..."
<0856>
// \{Ushio} "... yes?"
<0857>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll have to go to the zoo another time."
<0858>
// \{Ushio} "... what?"
<0859>
// \{\m{B}} "There's not enough time. On top of that, we have to confirm our hotel reservations."
<0860>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0861>
// She looks like she is about to cry.
<0862>
// \{\m{B}} "There are a lot of circumstances involved here, be a little more understanding."
<0863>
// \{\m{B}} "Plus, there are zoos everywhere you go. There's no need to come out all the way to the countryside just to visit one."
<0864>
// \{Ushio} "...at this one, you can pet them."
<0865>
// \{\m{B}} "The animals?"
<0866>
// \{Ushio} "...yeah. I wanted to pet the animals."
<0867>
// \{\m{B}} "Gotcha..."
<0868>
// \{\m{B}} "How about we change the schedule and go to the zoo tomorrow?"
<0869>
// \{\m{B}} "If we do that, we won't be able to visit the final place though. It's some random cape on the coast."
<0870>
// \{Ushio} "...I wanna go there too."
<0871>
// \{\m{B}} "You can only pick one..."
<0872>
// \{\m{B}} "How about this one... uh... an alpine meadow?"
<0873>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't the zoo better than that one?"
<0874>
// \{Ushio} "Flowers..."
<0875>
// \{\m{B}} "You prefer flowers? I guess girls would enjoy a place like that."
<0876>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, let's just go to the hotel for today."
<0877>
// \{\m{B}} "I hope our rooms haven't been taken..."
<0878>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go."
<0879>
// \{Ushio} "... okay."
<0880>
// We return to the station. I try calling the hotel on the schedule.
<0881>
// .........
<0882>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, We need to hurry."
<0883>
// \{Ushio} "... what?"
<0884>
// \{\m{B}} "There weren't any vacancies left. We need to search for another place by foot."
<0885>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0886>
// She probably doesn't understand what that means. She follows me, looking worried.
<0887>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll carry the luggage for you, so pick up the pace a bit."
<0888>
// Her walking gait remains hesistant and unsteady, no matter how much I urge her onward.
<0889>
// This is probably her best shot at running.
<0890>
// We'll make better time by just walking normally.
<0891>
// \{\m{B}} (What are we going to do if all the hotels have no vacancy?...)
<0892>
// There's no one to blame but myself.
<0893>
// I never thought bringing a child along would make traveling this complicated...
<0894>
// As the clock rolls around to 9 o'clock, we finally find ourselves a room at a bed and breakfast.
<0895>
// I don't have any money with me, so I'll have to get up early tomorrow and look for a bank.
<0896>
// \{\m{B}} (This has been one crazy day...)
<0897>
// I finish taking a bath. Feeling unmotivated to do anything else, I decide to call it a day.
<0898>
// The last thing I see before I close my eyes is a side profile of Ushio's face, her eyes fixed on the television.
<0899>
// The next morning.
<0900>
// Traveling along the same road as before, we make our way back to the train station.
<0901>
// We continue our trip from there, sitting through another boring train ride.
<0902>
// Not much else to do besides sleep, but I'm not feeling drowsy enough to do so. Probably because I overslept last night.
<0903>
// What's more, as always, many of the train passengers have children with them. It's disruptively noisy.
<0904>
// I definitely can't lose my temper and shout out again...
<0905>
// So I give up on trying to sleep and look to my side.
<0906>
// Ushio's eyes meet with mine.
<0907>
// She immediately turns away.
<0908>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it?"
<0909>
// \{Ushio} "...nothing"
<0910>
// \{\m{B}} "Is there something on my face?"
<0911>
// \{Ushio} "...no"
<0912>
// \{\m{B}} "Then stop looking at people as if you've got something to hide."
<0913>
// \{\m{B}} "You'd be misunderstood if the person you shied away from was a boy."
<0914>
// \{\m{B}} "But wait, you aren't even at that age yet right?"
<0915>
// \{Ushio} "...yes"
<0916>
// Whether or not she really understood me remains a mystery. With a nod, she turns and looks out the window.
<0917>
// \{\m{B}} (It would be really nice to have a beer right now...)
<0918>
// Too bad they don't sell food
<0919>
// \{\m{B}} (Can't smoke either, this blows...)
<0920>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<0921>
// Suddenly, as if launching surprise attack, I turn my head sharply to face Ushio.
<0922>
// Sure enough, Ushio, who had been facing this way, is caught by surprise and looks flustered.
<0923>
// \{\m{B}} "What, are you bored?"
<0924>
// \{Ushio} "... no."
<0925>
// \{Ushio} "...since I have this."
<0926>
// She rotates the arm of the robot in her hand around and around.
<0927>
// \{\m{B}} "You can make some noise if you want; the people around us are pretty loud anyway."
<0928>
// \{Ushio} "... it's okay."
<0929>
// \{\m{B}} "...you sure?"
<0930>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0931>
// \{\m{B}} "You're pretty reserved for a kid, you know that?"
<0932>
// \{\m{B}} "Or could it be...come on, are you still afraid of me?"
<0933>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0934>
// \{\m{B}} "I already told you I won't shout anymore."
<0935>
// \{\m{B}} "So go ahead, say what you want to say."
<0936>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0937>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on."
<0938>
// \{Ushio} "Okay..."
<0939>
// Ushio finally opens her mouth.
<0940>
// \{Ushio} "Tell me about Mama."
<0941>
// .........
<0942>
// For a moment, I feel as if everything around me had been blanketed with a shroud of silence.
<0943>
// I lower my head.
<0944>
// .........
<0945>
// The sound of the kids' rowdy, boisterous voices begin to return.
<0946>
// \{\m{B}} "Ask Sanae-san."
<0947>
// I answer without moving my eyes from the floor.
<0948>
// \{Ushio} "I have, but she won't tell me..."
<0949>
// ...is this what they call 'a father's obligation'?
<0950>
// This isn't fair at all.
<0951>
// Like Sanae-san, I want to leave the explaining to someone else...
<0952>
// \{\m{B}} "Tell Sanae-san..."
<0953>
// \{\m{B}} "that I didn't tell you either."
<0954>
// \{\m{B}} "And also..."
<0955>
// \{\m{B}} "Tell her that I want her to be the one to explain it..."
<0956>
// \{\m{B}} "and that those were my exact words..."
<0957>
// \{\m{B}} "Tell her that for me."
<0958>
// \{Ushio} "...and if I do that, you'll tell me?"
<0959>
// \{\m{B}} "Not me. Sanae-san will."
<0960>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<0961>
// She watches my face for a while.
<0962>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it? Spit it out."
<0963>
// \{Ushio} "...nothing"
<0964>
// \{Ushio} "... I understand."
<0965>
// Without a hint of conversation between us, together, Ushio and I continue to sway with the movement of the train.
<0966>
// When noon passes, we get off of the train to eat soba at a street vendor.
<0967>
// After having our fill, we return to the train car.
<0968>
// The train stops often en-route to our final destination.
<0969>
// .........
<0970>
// ......
<0971>
// ...
<0972>
// Eventually I fall asleep. 
<0973>
// When I awake, the first thing I do is make sure Ushio is there.
<0974>
// Her face is pressed against the window, looking outside.
<0975>
// After that, I look around the train car.
<0976>
// All of a sudden we've become the last passengers in the train car. 
<0977>
// The air conditioning cools down the sweat from my nap.
<0978>
// It's almost chilly.
<0979>
// An announcement is being made in the train car.
<0980>
// ...apparently this is the last stop.
<0981>
// We step off of the train onto an unknown land.
<0982>
// The wavering hot air envelopes us.
<0983>
// \{\m{B}} "Hot..."
<0984>
// Nature's scenery travels as far as the eye can see.
<0985>
// The unpaved road travels off into the distance.
<0986>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's see..."
<0987>
// I take a look at Sanae-san's memo.
<0988>
// \{\m{B}} "It says here that the flower field is a 15 minute walk by foot."
<0989>
// \{\m{B}} "You'll collapse if you walk that far in this heat..."
<0990>
// \{\m{B}} "You've got your hat on, right?"
<0991>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<0992>
// \{\m{B}} "A bit further."
<0993>
// We press on.
<0994>
// \{Ushio} "Ah, yes..."
<0995>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's hurry on."
<0996>
// We begin walking.
<0997>
// The destination can be seen from a distance.
<0998>
// From one angle, we can overlook the field; patterns of various colors are seemingly knitted throughout expanse below us.
<0999>
// \{\m{B}} "The alpine meadow... it's really open and vast..."
<1000>
// \{Ushio} "Yeah..."
<1001>
// Squinting her eyes against the rays of sunlight, Ushio struggles to see far into the distance.
<1002>
// \{\m{B}} "No need to be so impatient. We're heading over there right now."
<1003>
// \{Ushio} "I want to look at it from this place too."
<1004>
// She has a point there. The view certainly isn't the same when viewed from up close, compared to seeing it from a distance.
<1005>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you want a better look?"
<1006>
// \{Ushio} "Yes, I want to see it."
<1007>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, I'll show you."
<1008>
// I move right behind Ushio so that I am facing her back, and crouch down.
<1009>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on."
<1010>
// \{Ushio} "...huh?"
<1011>
// \{\m{B}} "Spread your legs."
<1012>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm going to let you ride on my shoulders."
<1013>
// \{Ushio} "...like this?"
<1014>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, you've got it."
<1015>
// I lift Ushio's up.
<1016>
// She's really light.
<1017>
// \{\m{B}} "How's the view?"
<1018>
// \{Ushio} "Wow... amazing!"
<1019>
// \{\m{B}} "We'll walk like this for a little while."
<1020>
// \{Ushio} "Okay."
<1021>
// The flower field is bathed in a nostalgic fragrance that seems somewhat familiar..
<1022>
// \{Ushio} "Yay!"
<1023>
// With her rucksack still slung over her shoulders, she runs about in the heart of the field.
<1024>
// \{\m{B}} "You really do act like a boy."
<1025>
// \{Ushio} "I've never seen anything like this."
<1026>
// She stops running to gaze at the flowers.
<1027>
// \{\m{B}} "That's good to hear. Make sure you get your fill."
<1028>
// I find a shady spot under a tree nearby and take refuge there.
<1029>
// \{\m{B}} "If you get hot, come over here and take a break." 
<1030>
// With those words, I slouch against the base of the tree.
<1031>
// I've never seen ushio look so carefree and happy before.
<1032>
// It's been a terrible and simply boring trip for her up until now. After coming here, she's finally enjoying herself and making good memories.
<1033>
// I lightly pat my chest.
<1034>
// \{\m{B}} "Sigh..."
<1035>
// A breeze tinged with the flowers' scent passes through.
<1036>
// I feel at ease.
<1037>
// I look down at Sanae-san's memo one more time.
<1038>
// We're pretty close to our goal.
<1039>
// A cape that I've never seen nor heard of.
<1040>
// We should be on our way over there before nightfall.
<1041>
// For now, we'll take our time here and relax.
<1042>
// I also want to watch Ushio romp around among the flowers for a while.
<1043>
// Ushio finally returns after about an hour of playing.
<1044>
// \{Ushio} "I'm hot..."
<1045>
// \{\m{B}} "You look pretty unsteady on your feet."
<1046>
// \{Ushio} "...yeah"
<1047>
// \{\m{B}} "I did tell you to come back before wearing yourself out, you know."
<1048>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, sit down and wait here."
<1049>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll go buy some juice."
<1050>
// I stand up and trade places with Ushio, who sits down.
<1051>
// At a vending machine, which stands all alone by the entrance to the flower field, I buy a can of tea and juice, then return back to Ushio.
<1052>
// I see Ushio stand up and attempt to return to the flower field.
<1053>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, that's enough!"
<1054>
// Her glimmering eyes, tightened slightly at the edges, face this way.
<1055>
// \{Ushio} "But..."
<1056>
// \{Ushio} "I lost something..."
<1057>
// \{\m{B}} "You lost something? What was it?"
<1058>
// \{Ushio} "...Robot"
<1059>
// \{\m{B}} "You dropped it?"
<1060>
// \{Ushio} "...yeah."
<1061>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay, look, drink this and take a rest."
<1062>
// She comes near and I hand her the juice.
<1063>
// \{\m{B}} "Meanwhile, I'll go look for it."
<1064>
// \{Ushio} "...really?"
<1065>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, really. I don't know if I'll be able to find it though."
<1066>
// I look back at the flower field.
<1067>
// It's almost frightening expansive.
<1068>
// And even worse, in this heat...
<1069>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1070>
// Ushio faces me silently with tearful, clouded eyes.
<1071>
// \{\m{B}} (What the hell, I'll give it a shot...)
<1072>
// I leave Ushio in the shade of the tree and wander into the flower field.
<1073>
// I look along all of the paths.
<1074>
// But I can't find it.
<1075>
// Ushio's body is small, so she could have crept into a small area somewhere and looked at the flowers there.
<1076>
// If she dropped it in a place like that, there's no way an adult like me will be able to find it.
<1077>
// I give up and return to the tree.
<1078>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry... I couldn't find it."
<1079>
// 汐は何も言わずにいた。
<1080>
// \{\m{B}} "Did you finish your juice? You can have my tea if you want."
<1081>
// She shakes her head no.
<1082>
// \{\m{B}} "You know, I'm pretty sure that they sell that exact same robot close to where you live.
<1083>
// \{\m{B}} "You can find it and get Sanae-san or Pops to buy it for you."
<1084>
// \{\m{B}} "OK?"
<1085>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1086>
// \{Ushio} "...I'm going to look for it."
<1087>
// \{\m{B}} "Unfortunately, we're running short on time."
<1088>
// \{\m{B}} "I want to start moving before the day grows dark."
<1089>
// \{Ushio} "... just a sec."
<1090>
// She says that and runs into the flower field without waiting for my response.
<1091>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio...did you find it?"
<1092>
// \{Ushio} "...no"
<1093>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, just let it go. We've looked this hard but still haven't found it."
<1094>
// \{Ushio} "... I'm definitely going to find it."
<1095>
// \{\m{B}} "You're really stubborn for a kid..."
<1096>
// Eventually, the sun sets.
<1097>
// \{\m{B}} "Just give it up..."
<1098>
// \{\m{B}} "It's not really that important..."
<1099>
// \{Ushio} "...no"
<1100>
// ..........
<1101>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm leaving without you!"
<1102>
// \{Ushio} "...okay"
<1103>
// \{\m{B}} "Seriously, I'm really going to leave you behind."
<1104>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1105>
// She stands up and looks at me.
<1106>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1107>
// I keep silent.
<1108>
// However, eventually she squats down again and resumes her search.
<1109>
// \{\m{B}} "Jeeze..."
<1110>
// I draw out a cigarette from my chest pocket, put it to my lips, and light it up.
<1111>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuuu..."
<1112>
// Sooner or later, We're going to need to start looking for tonight's lodging.
<1113>
// Once that's out of the way, all that's left is spending the night there and then returning home.
<1114>
// At that point, my four day holiday will come to an end. I have to go back to work the day after tomorrow. 
<1115>
// I'll leave Ushio in Sanae-san's care once more, and my routine of mindlessly working from day to day will begin anew.
<1116>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1117>
// ..........
<1118>
// When all is said and done...
<1119>
// What was this trip all about...
<1120>
// Coming to such a far away place...
<1121>
// Taking pleasure in appreciating the flowers for short while...
<1122>
// Losing the toy that I bought for her...
<1123>
// And not being able to find it, even though we searched for it desperately...
<1124>
// Then finally, making the return trip under the gloom of loneliness.
<1125>
// Without obtaining anything.
<1126>
// A waste of time.
<1127>
// Losing things left and right, and gaining nothing.
<1128>
// ..........
<1129>
// The wind's direction shifts.
<1130>
// It carries the scent of the ocean.
<1131>
// Could it be blowing in from the cape?
<1132>
// We only have a little time left.
<1133>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio"
<1134>
// I call out to her.
<1135>
// Ushio looks at me with a Worried look on her face.
<1136>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm only going to wait for another 30 minutes."
<1137>
// \{\m{B}} "Find it before then."
<1138>
// \{Ushio} "...okay"
<1139>
// I leave Ushio there and start walking.
<1140>
// Towards the goal of our travels.
<1141>
// Following the smell of the ocean, I make my way up an incline.
<1142>
// \{\m{B}} (What exactly will there be at this goal...)
<1143>
// \{\m{B}} (Maybe a commemorative stamp, or something...)
<1144>
// The view opens up.
<1145>
// Straight ahead of me lies the ocean.
<1146>
// And a woman standing against the backdrop of that ocean.
<1147>
// \{Woman} "I've been waiting."
<1148>
// \{Woman} "\m{A}\m{B}-san, right?"
<1149>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, that's correct but..."
<1150>
// \{Woman} "I was told by a woman who goes by the name of Furukawa-san."
<1151>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san?"
<1152>
// \{Woman} "That's right."
<1153>
// \{\m{B}} "But, uh..."
<1154>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san directed me here, but didn't say anything else..."
<1155>
// \{\m{B}} "Sorry, but I don't even know who you are."
<1156>
// \{Woman} "Me?"
<1157>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes..."
<1158>
// \{Woman} "I am \m{A} Shino."
<1159>
// \{\m{B}} "... what?"
<1160>
// \{Shino} "I am your father's mother."
<1161>
// The wind swept through, and the hair clinging to my forehead fluttered in the wind.
<1162>
// ...Sanae-san.
<1163>
// What on earth are you getting me into?
<1164>
// \{Shino} "You sure have grown."
<1165>
// \{\m{B}} "We've... met before?"
<1166>
// \{Shio} "Yes, we have. But it's not surprising that you don't remember."
<1167>
// \{Shio} "You were still very young back then."
<1168>
// \{\m{B}} "I see..."
<1169>
// \{Shino} "Is that fool still in the middle of atoning for what he's done?" 
<1170>
// \{\m{B}} "No... he's probably back at his home right now..."
<1171>
// \{Shino} "It must have been tough for you, living with him."
<1172>
// \{\m{B}} "Not really... since we kept our distance from each other..."
<1173>
// \{Shino} "I understand. This is Naoyuki we're talking about after all."
<1174>
// Naoyuki...\p my father's name.
<1175>
// I turn my gaze to the ocean.
<1176>
// \{Shino} "He wasn't such a foolish child in the past."
<1177>
// Grandmother kept talking.
<1178>
// \{Shino} "It was a young marriage. Everyone opposed it because the both of them were still students."
<1179>
// \{Shio} "But, Naoyuki went as far as dropping out of high school and working... doing all that he could for Atsuko-san."
<1180>
// \{Shino} "The two of them started living together in a small apartment..."
<1181>
// \{Shino} "Somehow they scraped by on a low income..."
<1182>
// \{Shio} "They wouldn't have had it any other way, but I knew they must have been struggling..."
<1183>
// \{Shino} "Other people would constantly give them weird looks."
<1184>
// \{Shino} "But you know, Naoyuki was probably happy with how things were."
<1185>
// \{Shino} "He smiled with a sense of contentment that even I had never seen before, despite having lived with him for so long."
<1186>
// \{Shino} "To continue living by protecting the ones you love with your own strength..."
<1187>
// \{Shino} "So long as he could do that, he was happy."
<1188>
// \{Shino} "Before long, Atsuko-san was pregnant with Naoyuki's child."
<1189>
// \{Shino} "And with a small blessing, \m{B}-san, you were born."
<1190>
// \{Shino} "Their life as a solitary couple transformed into a family lifestyle."
<1191>
// \{Shino} "Naoyuki worked harder than he had ever worked before."
<1192>
// \{Shino} "Smiling all the while."
<1193>
// \{Shino} "But..."
<1194>
// \{Shino} "That happiness didn't last for very long."
<1195>
// \{Shino} "Atsuko-san was involved in an accident..."
<1196>
// \{Shino} "...and passed away right at the scene."
<1197>
// \{Shino} "For Naoyuki, that was a tragedy from which he could never recover."
<1198>
// \{Shino} "Since he had lived his life protecting the happiness of his family."
<1199>
// \{Shino} "But at that time, he couldn't give into despair just yet."
<1200>
// \{Shino} "\m{B}-san."
<1201>
// \{Shino} "...because he still had you."
<1202>
// \{Shino} "He declared that he would bring you up with his own hands..."
<1203>
// \{Shino} "On that day, Naoyuki held your hand and walked from this very place."
<1204>
// \{Shino} "Do you remember?"
<1205>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1206>
// \{Shino} "Throughout the time following that event, he worked the hardest that he has ever worked in his entire life."
<1207>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1208>
// \{Shino} "It was hard balancing work and bringing up a child."
<1209>
// \{Shino} "He lost his job many times, and moved from place to place..." 
<1210>
// \{Shino} "Despite that, he never parted with you..."
<1211>
// \{Shino} "With the little money he had, he bought you toys and gave you sweets..."
<1212>
// \{Shino} "He sacrificed everything for your well-being and chances to succeed..."
<1213>
// \{Shino} "And raised you."
<1214>
// \{Shino} "He might have been strict at times. He might have been violent at times."
<1215>
// \{Shino} "But in the end, everything was for the sake of raising you properly."
<1216>
// \{Shino} "And while you were being brought up as a docile, peaceable boy... "
<1217>
// \{Shino} "He lost everything"
<1218>
// \{Shino} "His work..."
<1219>
// \{Shino} "Confidence..."
<1220>
// \{Shino} "Luck..."
<1221>
// \{Shino} "Friends..."
<1222>
// \{Shino} "From that point on..."
<1223>
// \{Shino} "Things could only get worse."
<1224>
// \{Shino} "\m{B}-san"
<1225>
// \{Shino} "Do you think... Naoyuki is a terrible father?"
<1226>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1227>
// \{\m{B}} "... no..."
<1228>
// I might cry. I feel like crying.
<1229>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm actually..."
<1230>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm actually...by far... much more of a human failure..."
<1231>
// \{Shino} "........."
<1232>
// I never knew that he had raised me with such love and affection.
<1233>
// And...
<1234>
// \{\m{B}} "On that day...Dad and I...were standing at this very place."
<1235>
// \{Shino} "........."
<1236>
// \{\m{B}} "It's an exact mirror of my situation now..."
<1237>
// \{\m{B}} "And in contrast... right now... I'm a weak and pitiful man."
<1238>
// \{Shino} "No... he was weak and pitiful as well."
<1239>
// \{Shino} "Completely selfish and violent..."
<1240>
// \{Shino} "As a man, he is a failure..."
<1241>
// \{Shino} "But..."
<1242>
// \{Shino} "There is one thing that I would like to remember him fondly by."
<1243>
// \{Shino} "As a man, he may be terrible, but..."
<1244>
// \{Shio} "As a father, I think he is wonderful."
<1245>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1246>
// \{Shino} "\m{B}-san... do you think you could see him in that way, as well?"
<1247>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1248>
// \{\m{B}} "... yes"
<1249>
// \{Shino} "Thank you."
<1250>
// \{\m{B}} "No... there's no need for you to..."
<1251>
// \{Shino} "\m{B}-san"
<1252>
// Grandmother looked straight at me.
<1253>
// \{Shino} "He tried too hard."
<1254>
// \{Shino} "It's about time he took a break..."
<1255>
// \{Shino} "Please tell this for me:"
<1256>
// \{Shino} "'Just come back already'."
<1257>
// \{Shino} "I will continue waiting for him at this place."
<1258>
// \{Shino} "Hoping that one day, he and I could live here together."
<1259>
// She has gentle eyes.
<1260>
// They are a mother's eyes.
<1261>
// The eyes of somone who has been watching over her child for a long time.
<1262>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1263>
// \{\m{B}} "... I understand."
<1264>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll tell him."
<1265>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushioooo"
<1266>
// Ushio looks up at me immediately when I call her.
<1267>
// \{\m{B}} "Did you find it?"
<1268>
// \{Ushio} "... no."
<1269>
// She stands up and hangs her head.
<1270>
// \{Ushio} "... I didn't find it."
<1271>
// \{\m{B}} "I see... that's too bad"
<1272>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll buy you a new one, so cheer up..."
<1273>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1274>
// Even though I say that, Ushio still hangs her head.
<1275>
// \{Ushio} "... but that was the only one."
<1276>
// \{\m{B}} "Hm? The only one? What do you mean? They had a lot of them in stock, didn't they?"
<1277>
// \{Ushio} "... it was the only one chosen... and given to me"
<1278>
// \{Ushio} "... for the first time, by Papa..."
<1279>
// .........
<1280>
// I recall Sanae-san's words.
<1281>
// ----Ushio always seems very lonely.
<1282>
// ----Because her father is hardly ever with her.
<1283>
// \{\m{B}} "...Ushio"
<1284>
// \{\m{B}} "So, that toy was really important to you, huh..."
<1285>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1286>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1287>
// "Ah...\p so I CAN make up for lost time after all.
<1288>
// I thought to myself.
<1289>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio..."
<1290>
// \{\m{B}} "Have you been lonely?"
<1291>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1292>
// \{\m{B}} "Was traveling with me...fun?"
<1293>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1294>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sorry...for everything."
<1295>
// \{\m{B}} "For leaving you alone... all this time..."
<1296>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Ushio."
<1297>
// \{\m{B}} "Would it be alright if I stay with you from now on?"
<1298>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1299>
// \{\m{B}} "... for a long time... I've been a terrible father, but..."
<1300>
// \{\m{B}} "From now on, I'm going to work hard for you, Ushio..."
<1301>
// \{\m{B}} "So would it be alright to stay by your side?..."
<1302>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1303>
// \{\m{B}} "Really?"
<1304>
// \{Ushio} "... yes. I want you to be..."
<1305>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so..."
<1306>
// \{Ushio} "...but, today..."
<1307>
// \{Ushio} "...because I lost something important to me..."
<1308>
// \{Ushio} "...I'm sad."
<1309>
// \{Ushio} "...Papa"
<1310>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes?"
<1311>
// \{Ushio} "...can I stop holding back now?"
<1312>
// \{\m{B}} "Holding back what...?"
<1313>
// \{Ushio} "... my tears."
<1314>
// \{\m{B}} "Crying?"
<1315>
// \{Ushio} "... yeah."
<1316>
// \{Ushio} "...Sanae-san says it is only okay to cry..."
<1317>
// \{Ushio} "...in the bathroom, or... \p on Papa's chest."
<1318>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<1319>
// For 5 years...
<1320>
// This girl would always take refuge in the bathroom when she needed to cry.
<1321>
// Sanae-san never let her cry into her own chest.
<1322>
// I...
<1323>
// I... really was an awful father...
<1324>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... it's okay..."
<1325>
// \{\m{B}} "Go right ahead, Ushio..."
<1326>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't have to hold it back anymore."
<1327>
// \{\m{B}} "When you want to cry, you have Papa's chest to cry on."
<1328>
// \{\m{B}} "Come here."
<1329>
// I squat down and open my arms.
<1330>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1331>
// Ushio hesitates for a moment, and then...
<1332>
// She breaks into a run, her feet pitter-pattering against the ground, and leaps into my waiting embrace.
<1333>
// Then, she cries.
<1334>
// Howling mournfully.
<1335>
// In a loud voice.
<1336>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio..."
<1337>
// I embrace her gently, patting her head.
<1338>
// The thing that only I can protect is right here.
<1339>
// \{\m{B}} "Grandma..."
<1340>
// \{\m{B}} "When I find the time, I'll be back."
<1341>
// \{Shino} "Alright, I'll be waiting."
<1342>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then"
<1343>
// \{\m{B}} "Goodbye."
<1344>
// Awaiting us at the final destination was a solitary, aging mother.
<1345>
// And right here, I gained something that money can't buy.
<1346>
// I'll treasure it for as long as I live.
<1347>
// Together, with this girl.
<1348>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey... Ushio."
<1349>
// \{Ushio} "... hm?"
<1350>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you want to hear the story of Mama?"
<1351>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1352>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so. Alright then... I'll tell you."
<1353>
// \{\m{B}} "Come here."
<1354>
// She draws herself away from the window, and squeezes in right beside me.
<1355>
// \{\m{B}} "Mama was always a tearful woman."
<1356>
// \{\m{B}} "Even when I met her, she was delicate, lacked confidence... and would always be standing uncertainly by the hill leading up to our school."
<1357>
// \{\m{B}} "At the foot of that hill, can you guess what she would say?"
<1358>
// \{\m{B}} "With her eyes closed, she would say 'Anpan'."
<1359>
// \{\m{B}} "That was her habit."
<1360>
// \{\m{B}} "To give herself the motivation to step forward, she would say something she wanted to eat, which inspired courage within her..."
<1361>
// \{\m{B}} "Pretty cute habit, right... And it fit, since she was really modest..."
<1362>
// \{\m{B}} "Competition for the bread at school was fierce... and it was tough to get your hands on the popular ones..."
<1363>
// \{\m{B}} "So she would settle for the anpan that always remained unsold..."
<1364>
// \{\m{B}} "However, she lost that habit after she started hanging out with me."
<1365>
// \{\m{B}} "She supported me..."
<1366>
// \{\m{B}} "And I did the same for her."
<1367>
// \{\m{B}} "Supporting each other, we began our journey through school life together."
<1368>
// "Together, we tried to revive the abandoned drama club."
<1369>
// "Do you understand ‘drama'? A ‘play'."
<1370>
// "Although she had never performed or even seen a play, she wanted to give it a shot anyway."
<1371>
// "Isn't that weird?..."
<1372>
// "So for some reason or another, in order to fulfill that wish, we had a basketball match."
<1373>
// "Basketball is a point-based game played with ball."
<1374>
// "Our opponents were people who played it every day."
<1375>
// "But we won."
<1376>
// "Mama said something like this:"
<1377>
// "In such a short time, we all became even more closely-knit than the guys who practice basketball every day."
<1378>
// "She was so delighted..."
<1379>
// "Mama loved it when people joined forces and worked hard together, as one."
<1380>
// "And so, the day of the school festival arrived..."
<1381>
// "Representing the drama club, Mama was the only one onstage."
<1382>
// "She was to perform a play in front of a huge audience."
<1383>
// "The very same person, who was clumsy and had stage fright."
<1384>
// "A problem arose right before the play, and she ended up bawling all-out on the stage."
<1385>
// "However, she did a fine job of acting to the very end."
<1386>
// "She did a complete job of it."
<1387>
// "At the end of the play... she sang her favorite song, ‘Dango Daikazoku'..."
<1388>
// "Dango, dango... is how it goes."
<1389>
// "She really loved that song."
<1390>
// "Even though everyone thought it was a lame way to end the play..."
<1391>
// "With her performance, she brought my dream and everyone else's dreams to life all at once."
<1392>
// "Everyone remembers it fondly."
<1393>
// "However, following that, the condition of her health worsened again..."
<1394>
// "She was absent from school for a long time."
<1395>
// "I graduated alone..."
<1396>
// "She was all alone at school once again..."
<1397>
// "Despite that, she chose to fight on, refusing to drop out of school."
<1398>
// "Before long, we started living together..."
<1399>
// "'Fight on and give it your all for one more year', 'You'll get better soon', in this way we cheered each other on..."
<1400>
// "Despite taking more time than most people..."
<1401>
// "Despite having gone through more hardships than most people..."
<1402>
// "In the end, she also graduated from school."
<1403>
// "From then on, together we led a modest family lifestyle..."
<1404>
// "During that time, Mama became pregnant with you..."
<1405>
// "and..."
<1406>
// \{\m{B}} "with a mother's strength... she gave birth to you."
<1407>
// \{\m{B}} "When I met her, she was so weak..."
<1408>
// \{\m{B}} "In the end, she finally could live strongly..."
<1409>
// \{\m{B}} "Truly, strongly..."
<1410>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio..."
<1411>
// \{\m{B}} "Such a strong mother's...  child you are."
<1412>
// Ah... Now I recall the pain that is inside of me.
<1413>
// I loved her.
<1414>
// Truly loved her.
<1415>
// I loved no one else but Nagisa.
<1416>
// I loved that humble side of Nagisa.
<1417>
// I loved that occasionally spitired side of Nagisa.
<1418>
// I loved that cute smile of Nagisa.
<1419>
// And...
<1420>
// I loved that way she always was next to me part of Nagisa.
<1421>
// I think back to that time at the school house in the club room...
<1422>
// Nagisa writes her name next to mine.
<1423>
// \{Nagisa} "It's not good if it is just me."
<1424>
// \{Nagisa} "Everything is better together."
<1425>
// \{Nagisa} "Forever together... ehehe."
<1426>
// Trying to calm my high-spired emotions, she laughs.
<1427>
// \{Nagisa} "Please calm down, \m{B}-kun"
<1428>
// \{Nagisa} "I'm not going anywhere."
<1429>
// \{Nagisa} "I'll always be by \m{B}-kun's side."
<1430>
// When I was pushed down to the deepest darkness... she helped me out.
<1431>
// \{Nagisa} "Thus, please rely on me."
<1432>
// \{Nagisa} "I am here for you now, \m{B}-kun."
<1433>
// \{Nagisa} "I'm not here for anyone else."
<1434>
// \{Nagisa} "Only for you, \m{B}-kun."
<1435>
// \{Nagisa} "Forever by your side."
<1436>
// \{Nagisa} "At any time, always, by your side."
<1437>
// Nevertheless...
<1438>
// Why...
<1439>
// Why are you not next to me now?...
<1440>
// Why did I become alone...
<1441>
// Although everything better together...
<1442>
// Although we supposed to be together forever...
<1443>
// Altough you said you'd be by my side at anytime, forever...
<1444>
// Why did you leave before me?...
<1445>
// \{\m{B}} "Nagisa..."
<1446>
// \{\m{B}} "Nagisa-..."
<1447>
// Tears pour down from my eyes.
<1448>
// Nothing can be done to stop it.
<1449>
// Even wiping and wiping them, they flow and fall.
<1450>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha...hahaha..."
<1451>
// Although I laugh, I kept crying.
<1452>
// Although I haven't cried in a long time...
<1453>
// Although I've lived in a daze...
<1454>
// Ah... I've already accepted...
<1455>
// That 5 years have passed since that day...
<1456>
// And, now, Nagisa is not next to me.
<1457>
// The reality.
<1458>
// \{Ushio} "Papa..."
<1459>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... what?"
<1460>
// \{Ushio} "... toilet."
<1461>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... do you know where it is?"
<1462>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1463>
// \{\m{B}} "Can you go alone?"
<1464>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1465>
// She jumped down from the seat and ran. 
<1466>
// I wipe my tears away.
<1467>
// After awhile, Ushio returns.
<1468>
// \{Ushio} "I did it myself."
<1469>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so. Isn't that great, Ushio?"
<1470>
// \{Ushio} "... yes!"
<1471>
// Ushio, triumphantly stuck out her chest.
<1472>
// \{Sanae} "Welcome home."
<1473>
// Sanae-san greated me with a smile.
<1474>
// \{Sanae} "Was it fun?"
<1475>
// Was it her charm to be able to ask with those words so carefreely...?
<1476>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san."
<1477>
// \{Sanae} "Yes?"
<1478>
// \{\m{B}} "Now, please go on a date with me." 
<1479>
// \{Sanae} "What?"
<1480>
// \{\m{B}} "Because, you changed the arrangement right...? having gone on some pressing business."
<1481>
// \{\m{B}} "Because I was looking forward to traveling with Sanae-san.,"
<1482>
// \{Sanae} "Okay okay, as compensation as many as you'd like."
<1483>
// \{\m{B}} "Please!"
<1484>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, also."
<1485>
// \{Sanae} "Yes?"
<1486>
// \{\m{B}} "From today on I want Ushio to live with me in my apartment."
<1487>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<1488>
// I stood there full of courage.
<1489>
// ... Nagisa's room.
<1490>
// Although everything is put away, it is like those days.
<1491>
// That day, I am able to take, hold and raised-up the stuffed Dango. 
<1492>
// And, I buried my face in it.
<1493>
// Will it still smell like Nagisa's smell...?
<1494>
// Will it have the smell it did so long ago...?
<1495>
// If I close my eyes, I think it might be possible to go back to that day.
<1496>
// When Nagisa was always next to me.
<1497>
// However, I don't want to see that dream any more.
<1498>
// That would leave out Ushio.
<1499>
// If you do not look straight at reality...
<1500>
// Therefore, with my eyes wide open... time advances like that pain.
<1501>
// \{Voice} "\m{B}-san"
<1502>
// The voice pulled me back away from that pain.
<1503>
// \{Sanae} "What's wrong?"
<1504>
// It was Sanae-san.
<1505>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san..."
<1506>
// \{Sanae} "Do you want to take that?"
<1507>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, yes..."
<1508>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that okay?"
<1509>
// \{Sanae} "Of course. Because they are a family, please take all three."
<1510>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, I will do that."
<1511>
// Memories are memories.
<1512>
// \{\m{B}} "Sanae-san..."
<1513>
// \{Sanae} "Yes"
<1514>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sorry, for the long time..."
<1515>
// \{Sanae} "What?"
<1516>
// \{\m{B}} "I am only useless..."
<1517>
// \{\m{B}} "Leaving Ushio in your care for so long..."
<1518>
// \{\m{B}} "And that I was able to become a father... all thanks to you, Sanae-san."
<1519>
// \{\m{B}} "Really... compared Sanae-san's life, I am no match."
<1520>
// \{Sanae} "No... I didn't do anything."
<1521>
// \{\m{B}} "Really she... she is raised to be a good girl..."
<1522>
// \{\m{B}} "Everything, thanks to Sanae-san and Pops..."
<1523>
// \{\m{B}} "However, from here on, I will properly raise her with my own hand."
<1524>
// \{\m{B}} "She is considerate like Nagisa, and, a strong child."
<1525>
// \{Sanae} "Please do your best."
<1526>
// Everday before now, just how hard was it for them.
<1527>
// For a long time I have forced a smiling face by drinking ale.
<1528>
// From here on, if I find the purpose to go, surely I can repay the kindness.
<1529>
// \{\m{B}} "Something... because anything is okay, I'll do anything that I can..."
<1530>
// \{Sanae} "What?"
<1531>
// \{\m{B}} "I want to repay the kindness with the rest of my life."
<1532>
// \{Sanae} "Then, please become happy."
<1533>
// Ah...
<1534>
// Sanae-san has always been that way.
<1535>
// Always, she thinks of family's happiness, and  with her family's happiness brought her own happiness.
<1536>
// In this family, everyone is that way.
<1537>
// Pops would say he agrees wouldn't he?
<1538>
// Maybe if Nagisa were still alive... she'd agree too.
<1539>
// Can I join in this group?
<1540>
// This famiy group that makes someone happy, so that everyone can be happy.
<1541>
// Can I join it starting today?
<1542>
// This small happy family.
<1543>
// \{\m{B}} "I am happy today because... Ushio and I are together..."
<1544>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<1545>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha..."
<1546>
// \{\m{B}} "Though you've said it so many times, you still say it."
<1547>
// \{\m{B}} "I love you, Sanae-san!"
<1548>
// Whack!
<1549>
// \{Akio} "You, don't go seducing someone's bride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
<1550>
// A loud voice right in my ear. Pops opens the sliding door with force that could surely break it.
<1551>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, no... I don't love her as a woman as you do..."
<1552>
// \{Sanae} "What... you don't like me as a woman?"
<1553>
// \{\m{B}} "No, like."
<1554>
// \{Akio} "Why youuuuu!!!!!!!"
<1555>
// \{\m{B}} "N, no... that, what do I say, I was just saying I don't love her like how you love her..."
<1556>
// \{Sanae} "Just awhile ago you asked me on a date."
<1557>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, well that's true."
<1558>
// \{Akio} "Gaaaaaaaaa! I'm jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
<1559>
// Worried, he writhes about on the floor. 
<1560>
// \{Sanae} "It's a joke, Akio-san. Truly." 
<1561>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm completely not following this."
<1562>
// \{Sanae} "Come on, Akio-san. Because my life is lived for Akio-san."
<1563>
// \{Akio} "Really...?"
<1564>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<1565>
// \{Sanae} "Therefore, please be good friends with \m{B}-san."
<1566>
// \{Akio} "Chi... if you say so I guess it can't be helped... though it hurts my heart, I'll close my eyes."
<1567>
// At last he stands up.
<1568>
// \{Akio} "It's been awhile, little buddy."
<1569>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, yes... it has."
<1570>
// This person sure does recover quickly.
<1571>
// \{Akio} "What, did dead fish eyes guy come back to life?" 
<1572>
// \{\m{B}} "That's so..."
<1573>
// \{Akio} "Alright, how about a little baseball?"
<1574>
// \{\m{B}} "But, I just came back from a very long journy."
<1575>
// \{Akio} "Why you, you can invite Sanae on a date, but you refuse my invitation?"
<1576>
// \{\m{B}} "No, well, okay... whatever is fine..."
<1577>
// \{Akio} "Oh."
<1578>
// \{Akio} "Alright, Ushio! Burn into your memory me beating your unshapely old man!" 
<1579>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey now, burn in your memory me devastating this unpleasant person!"
<1580>
// \{Akio} "That all depends on you. It would be good if you even it the ball!"
<1581>
// \{\m{B}} *
<1582>
// \{Sanae} "Ushio, which do you think will win?"
<1583>
// \{Ushio} "...Akki."
<1584>
// \{\m{B}} "Seriously?!"
<1585>
// \{Akio} "That's because she's seen my strong arm growing up."
<1586>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, then, at the first appearance of your dad, you'll see that I can hit that ball unleashed by his srong arm."
<1587>
// \{Akio} "Fu, absurd!"
<1588>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go."
<1589>
// Pops sets into motion.
<1590>
// 1...
<1591>
// 2...
<1592>
// \{\m{B}} "3!"
<1593>
// Kaaa!
<1594>
// A clear sound remains as the white ball disappears into the sky.
<1595>
// \{Akio} "Hey... you're a fool..."
<1596>
// \{\m{B}} "You're the fool!"
<1597>
// ...pariiin.
<1598>
// We're both fools.
<1599>
// That day, I stay at the Furukawa house.
<1600>
// Everyond eats at the table that holds a dinner as grand as a party.
<1601>
// Pops and I drink sake... and make loud noises...
<1602>
// It is a happy evening.
<1603>
// .........
<1604>
// ......
<1605>
// ...
<1606>
// Evening...
<1607>
// As I awaken I hear voices.
<1608>
// Completely drunk... it's likely I just feel sleep just how I am.
<1609>
// The lights are turned off.
<1610>
// The voices... are Pops and Sanae-san's.
<1611>
// \{Akio} "Sanae..."
<1612>
// \{Akio} "You... speak with that person..."
<1613>
// \{Akio} "You..."
<1614>
// \{Akio} "You cried on that day..."
<1615>
// \{Sanae} "Often, I know."
<1616>
// \{Akio} "Naturally... you are the one that was thought of..."
<1617>
// \{Sanae} "I..."
<1618>
// \{Sanae} "Because I did occasionally..."
<1619>
// \{Sanae} "Therefore, it is okay..."
<1620>
// \{Sanae} "It was not necessary to lose sight of me..."
<1621>
// \{Akio} "But... in addition to that the end of depending..."
<1622>
// \{Sanae} "Yes..."
<1623>
// \{Akio} "It's been 5 years..."
<1624>
// \{Akio} "Long...  hard work..."
<1625>
// \{Sanae} "Yes..."
<1626>
// \{Akio} "I appreciate your efforts."
<1627>
// \{Sanae} "Nothing of the sort..."
<1628>
// \{Sanae} "We're... family after all."
<1629>
// \{Akio} "Ah... that's so, isn't it..."
<1630>
// \{Sanae} "Yes..."
<1631>
// \{Akio} "Therefore, cry already."
<1632>
// \{Sanae} "What for...?"
<1633>
// \{Akio} "You have done so much."
<1634>
// \{Akio} "This is a time that you can cry."
<1635>
// \{Akio} "Even if you become helpless..."
<1636>
// \{Akio} "I will help."
<1637>
// \{Akio} "Until you finish crying, I'll be by your side."
<1638>
// \{Akio} "Therefore, cry."
<1639>
// \{Sanae} "........."
<1640>
// That day is the first time I learned of Sanae-san's weakness.
<1641>
// Sanae-san could cry like a child...
<1642>
// And Pops doesn't say a word, just watches over her...
<1643>
// I vowed to those two to give my life to family.
<1644>
// The next morning.
<1645>
// I wake up to Pop's snarling voice as he prepares to open up the store.
<1646>
// Ushio is rolled up in a blanket still sleeping.
<1647>
// She is lit by the morning light, and really looks like an angel.
<1648>
// \{\m{B}} (Foolish parents...)
<1649>
// After I laugh through my nose, I begin to think about the future.
<1650>
// Life with Ushio.
<1651>
// Surely, it will be more difficult than I expect.
<1652>
// But, the most difficult times, Sanae-san has already taken care of.
<1653>
// Any hardship that I may face in the future will not even compare to those Sanae-san went through.
<1654>
// When I think about it, no matter what kind of difficulty, I am sure I can confront it. 
<1655>
// Although there may be hardships, there surely will be a lot of happiness.
<1656>
// Such is how it is to live in a family.
<1657>
// On the day that Nagisa and I began living together... I should have felt that then.*
<1658>
// But, before starting like with Ushio, there is a promise that I must fufill.
<1659>
// I must ask for another day of vacation from work.
<1660>
// And, I have to accomplish that today.
<1661>
// I leave behind the room where Ushio is laid down.
<1662>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, did I wake you?"
<1663>
// \{\m{B}} "No, it's okay. Is there anything you need me to do?"
<1664>
// \{Sanae} "No, although it is noisy, please rest."
<1665>
// \{\m{B}} "No, in the future I'll be called selfish, so please let me help." *
<1666>
// \{Sanae} "No, even if you do help, I'll be called selfish."
<1667>
// \{Sanae} "Isn't that right?"
<1668>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, then, I'll kindly accept for offer..."
<1669>
// \{\m{B}} "Until evening..."
<1670>
// No, I want a little more time.
<1671>
// \{\m{B}} "... until tomorrow morning, I would like you to keep Ushio."
<1672>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, that's not a problem."
<1673>
// \{\m{B}} "Thanks. There is one last thing I have to do."
<1674>
// \{Sanae} "It's not your work is it?"
<1675>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes."
<1676>
// \{Sanae} "It is your Father isn't it?"
<1677>
// Clever Sanae-san. Good guess.
<1678>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, that's it."
<1679>
// \{\m{B}} "Because I want to talk to him one by one."
<1680>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. Please take your time."
<1681>
// Afterwards I contact the office, and foraibly I manage another day off.
<1682>
// As relief, I help out with Furukawa Backery in the morning when there are a lot of customers visiting.
<1683>
// When it nears noon and there are fewer customers, I climb back up.
<1684>
// And I tell Ushio that the next morning she will leave the Furukawa house behind.
<1685>
// Then I face the destatation of my parent's house.
<1686>
// Naoyuki*
<1687>
// Nothing seems to have changed.
<1688>
// The surroundings of the house look the same as 5 years ago.
<1689>
// I open the door. It was not locked.
<1690>
// 7 years ago in the morning...
<1691>
// I said good-bye and left this house behind...
<1692>
// I ran away...
<1693>
// At least I am able to return home.
<1694>
// 7 years of time.
<1695>
// A long, \p long time away from home.
<1696>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm home."
<1697>
// I say in a quiet voice and enter the house.
<1698>
// Father is watching television.
<1699>
// \{Father} "........."
<1700>
// When Father notice signs of me, he turns around.
<1701>
// \{Father} "Ah..."
<1702>
// \{Father} "\m{B}-kun..."
<1703>
// Father's face that I hadn't seen in long time, looks 10 years older than in my memory. *
<1704>
// I take the remote control from the table, and turn off the power to the television.
<1705>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm home."
<1706>
// \{Father} "Yea... welcome home..."
<1707>
// \{\m{B}} "Have you been in the house a long time?"
<1708>
// \{Father} "Yeah..."
<1709>
// \{\m{B}} "It is summer vacation."
<1710>
// \{Father} "Is that so...?"
<1711>
// I sit down in front of my father.
<1712>
// The air-conditioner is not running, probably to save money.
<1713>
// However, because the kitchen window is open, it is not that sultry.
<1714>
// \{\m{B}} "I traveled this break."
<1715>
// \{Father} "Oh...?"
<1716>
// \{\m{B}} "All the way up North."
<1717>
// \{\m{B}} "And there, I met your mother."
<1718>
// \{Father} "Heh..."
<1719>
// \{\m{B}} "And I heard all sorts of stories."
<1720>
// \{Father} "I see..."
<1721>
// Does this person understand what I just said...?
<1722>
// However, after I talk he nods, so I think he may be in agreement.
<1723>
// Even still, I keep speaking.
<1724>
// Because this is a promise.
<1725>
// \{\m{B}} "...it was pretty important, so I thought."
<1726>
// \{Father} "I see..."
<1727>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Father..."
<1728>
// \{Father} "Yes..."
<1729>
// \{\m{B}} "You're worn out."
<1730>
// \{Father} "... yes?"
<1731>
// \{\m{B}} "Already, worn out."
<1732>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it okay to take a little bit of a rest..."
<1733>
// \{\m{B}} "I think so..."
<1734>
// \{Father} "........."
<1735>
// \{\m{B}} "Somehow, return to the country..."
<1736>
// \{\m{B}} "Your mother is waiting for you there."
<1737>
// \{Father} "........."
<1738>
// \{\m{B}} "In that place..."
<1739>
// \{\m{B}} "You held my hand when I was young..."
<1740>
// \{\m{B}} "In that place you vowed that you would bring me up by your own hand."
<1741>
// \{Father} "Ah..."
<1742>
// Father stares off into the distance.
<1743>
// Is he reflecting on that scene there?
<1744>
// \{\m{B}} "You've already worked hard enough..."
<1745>
// \{\m{B}} "Therefore, rest already..."
<1746>
// \{\m{B}} "Return to the country..."
<1747>
// \{\m{B}} "And there... live with Mother..."
<1748>
// \{\m{B}} "... okay?"
<1749>
// \{Father} "........."
<1750>
// \{Father} "Mou... is it okay?..."
<1751>
// \{\m{B}} "What...?"
<1752>
// \{Father} "Mou... \wait{800}Have I already finished...?"
<1753>
// The vow of that day.
<1754>
// ... of raising me with his own hand.
<1755>
// This person is recalling such a thing...
<1756>
// Was his life really for that purpose...?
<1757>
// Was this person's life only for my benefit...?
<1758>
// For me, his pathetic child, alone he had worked so hard...
<1759>
// ...was it that kind of life?
<1760>
// \{\m{B}} "You... didn't you sacrifice everything, just to bring me up...?"
<1761>
// \{\m{B}} "Really, you've done so much..."
<1762>
// \{\m{B}} "So... much..."
<1763>
// \{Father} "...is that so?"
<1764>
// \{Father} "...before I realized it...\wait{800}I've finished it already..."
<1765>
// \{Father} "... that...
<1766>
// is good."
<1767>
// We spend that evening together.
<1768>
// We take a bath together.
<1769>
// The back of Father whom I imagined to be so large...
<1770>
// For that time, is quite small.
<1771>
// I wash it.
<1772>
// Innocently wash it.
<1773>
// The next morning.
<1774>
// Carrying a bag with just a change of clothes, Father comes out of the house.
<1775>
// Ushio and I wait together for him.
<1776>
// \{Father} "N... that child?"
<1777>
// \{\m{B}} "She is your granddaughter."
<1778>
// \{Father} "Ho... is that right?..."
<1779>
// \{Father} "The child from that time...?"
<1780>
// The two had met only once before.
<1781>
// That was... \p a painful day.
<1782>
// Ushio's birth... around then.
<1783>
// \{Father} "You've grown big..."
<1784>
// Father squats down near Ushio placing a hand on her head.
<1785>
// Then, laughs with a smile.
<1786>
// Such a warm smile, I've not seen in quite some time.
<1787>
// It was the smile from a long time ago when I was young.
<1788>
// When I was young, I also had a smile.
<1789>
// "\m{B}..."
<1790>
// "Look, candy."
<1791>
// "Although I'm about to go out ... don't over eat."
<1792>
// "I'm sorry I've always made you feel lonesome."
<1793>
// "When I return, I'll make a good dinner."
<1794>
// "And we'll eat together."
<1795>
// "Alright... \m{B}"
<1796>
// Certainly it was such a day.
<1797>
// I remember that far off memory.
<1798>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<1799>
// Ushio did not evade Father, but instead quietly looked at his face.
<1800>
// Father pats Ushio on the head...
<1801>
// Then, stands up.
<1802>
// \{Father} "Alright, I'm going."
<1803>
// \{\m{B}} "Father..."
<1804>
// \{\m{B}} "Take care of your health..."
<1805>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1806>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't drink too much sake..."
<1807>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1808>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't smoke too many cigarettes..."
<1809>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1810>
// \{\m{B}} "Live long..."
<1811>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1812>
// \{\m{B}} "Absolutely... \p go repay the kindness..."
<1813>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1814>
// \{\m{B}} "Absolutely, go..."
<1815>
// \{Father} "Yes."
<1816>
// Father's calm face...
<1817>
// A face of completion...
<1818>
// A face that is beginning to cry.
<1819>
// Did this person have a happy life...?
<1820>
// In the happiest moment ... to lose the one that you love...
<1821>
// Even still ... with exception he continued to do his best for me...
<1822>
// Me... for the sake of the son who didn't respect his parents...
<1823>
// He kept trying hard for the son who didn't do his duty for him...
<1824>
// And... was he happy...?
<1825>
// \{\m{B}} "Ha... ah..."
<1826>
// I cry out convulsively like a child.
<1827>
// \{Father} "Why, \m{B}..."
<1828>
// \{Father} "Why are you crying..."
<1829>
// Now, it is necessary that I send him off as a strong son.
<1830>
// So as not to to cause any more concern...
<1831>
// To be relieved, so that he can have a rest...
<1832>
// Everything that he has sacrified for me must come to completion...
<1833>
// To completion...
<1834>
// .........
<1835>
// ...my trousers are tugged.
<1836>
// Ushio is the one pulling them.
<1837>
// Yes...\p from here on I am to be in the standpoint of a father.
<1838>
// Right... I'm not a child anymore.
<1839>
// I wipe my tears and lift my head.
<1840>
// And then I speak.
<1841>
// \{\m{B}} "Thank you for everything up until now... Father."
<1842>
// \{Father} "Yes..."
<1843>
// \{Father} "Then... I'm going."
<1844>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes. Father, take care."
<1845>
// \{Father} "\m{B} as well, take care..."
<1846>
// Father turns his back to me.
<1847>
// The back of the father that brought me up...
<1848>
// For a long time I watch him leave...
<1849>
// Holding the hand of Ushio.
<1850>
// Ushio.
<1851>
// From now on, she will spend life with me in our apartment.
<1852>
// That house was originally a rented home, but the rent amount kept rising, and it was possible that he would have gone into default. 
<1853>
// So he sold everything but the most essiential furniture to make an arrangement to stay out of default. 
<1854>
// Yet still, he still had some debt left.
<1855>
// That, if I work steadily, I think I can repay.
<1856>
// The house that I lived together with father, already has become a house for another two. 
<1857>
// Day after day there were only quarrels.
<1858>
// There is not even one good memory.
<1859>
// With the hated house and hated father. 
<1860>
// Yet... \p Now it is already possible to put this away from the chest.
<1861>
// Memories that money can't buy.
<1862>
// I salue the house, and leave the front.*
<1863>
// And so, living life together with Ushio began.
<1864>
// In the morning I get up early to cook breakfast.
<1865>
// \{Ushio} "... what's this?"
<1866>
// \{\m{B}} "Is this the first time you've seen it? It's called French toast."
<1867>
// \{Ushio} "...fu-re-n-too-su-to."
<1868>
// \{\m{B}} "Try it. It's not bitter."
<1869>
// She lifts up the corner of the French toat, and nibbles at it.
<1870>
// ...chew chew.
<1871>
// She eats it frantically. Maybe she likes it.
<1872>
// I specially made this French Toast to be sweet with plenty of milk.
<1873>
// Ushio's mouth gets completely sticky as she eats it.
<1874>
// Afterwards, Ushio changes, and we go out of the house together.
<1875>
// Ushio is entrusted to the teacher in front of the kindergarden, and the morning role of a father is concluded.
<1876>
// \{\m{B}} "Then..."
<1877>
// Afterwards I see her waving as I return home...
<1878>
// For some reason, I hear whisphered voices about me.
<1879>
// \{Voice} (That person is \m{A}-san...)
<1880>
// \{Voice} (This is the first time I've seen him... why hasn't he shown up until now?)
<1881>
// \{Voice} (There seems to be various reasons...)
<1882>
// I venture over to near where the mothers have gathered.
<1883>
// \{\m{B}} "Um... how do you do. I'm Ushio's dad, \m{A}."
<1884>
// The mothers pull away just a bit.
<1885>
// \{\m{B}} "Up until now Ushio has... been able to happily play with your children right?"
<1886>
// \{\m{B}} "It is a pleasure to make your aquanitance."
<1887>
// I bow to them.
<1888>
// \{Voice} "A, ah, likewise it is a pleasure to make your aquantiance..."
<1889>
// Some of the voices return.
<1890>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, I must be off to work."
<1891>
// I say as I turn my back to them.
<1892>
// As I left them, the side whisphers started up again.
<1893>
// What they were saying, I really didn't care.
<1894>
// Because it was the truth that I had abandoned the father's role up until now.
<1895>
// Thus, I don't look back... I only look forward.
<1896>
// Here-on, all that matters is I am going to try my best to be a good father.
<1897>
// \{Yoshino} "Although doing your best is good, compose yourself."
<1898>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<1899>
// \{Yoshino} "From what I know, I understand your motivation."
<1900>
// \{Yoshino} "Talking that way this moment makes you prone to injury or mistakes."
<1901>
// I feel embarresed and feel my face heating up.
<1902>
// By no means did I mean to have such an attitude. 
<1903>
// \{Yoshino} "I know well what kind of man \m{A} is."
<1904>
// \{Yoshino} "Therefore, I don't want to see you have a trivial injury."
<1905>
// \{\m{B}} "... thank you very much."
<1906>
// When it comes to 3 PM, I ask for a big favor and slip out to the kindergarden. 
<1907>
// Of all the parents waiting for children at the school, only I have slightly dirtied work clothes.
<1908>
// Parents who collect their children look at me with a strange eye.
<1909>
// Still, I never forget to smile or bow.
<1910>
// Before long, Ushio comes out of the school
<1911>
// She stares around, looking for me.
<1912>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, I'm over here!"
<1913>
// I raise up my voice.
<1914>
// She sees me and runs at me, full speed.
<1915>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, alright."
<1916>
// \{Ushio} "... it was easy to find you.."
<1917>
// \{\m{B}} "Well... I guess I do stand out."
<1918>
// If she was looking for Sanae-san, she'd have a hard time with all the oter mothers.
<1919>
// \{\m{B}} "Alrighty, ready to go home?"
<1920>
// \{Ushio} "... yes."
<1921>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, what would you like for dinner?"
<1922>
// \{Ushio} "... hamburger."
<1923>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so? Hamburger...?"
<1924>
// \{\m{B}} "Can I make that...?"
<1925>
// I escort her home, and leave her to watch the house as I go back to the work place.
<1926>
// At 6 PM work finally ends, and I head back home.
<1927>
// I don't forget to pick up the ingredients to make dinner.
<1928>
// And I start making dinner as soon as I get home.
<1929>
// Ushio is watching anime on the television.
<1930>
// I cooked while it became frantic.*
<1931>
// \{Ushio} "... hamburger."
<1932>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes. I am doing my best to cook it."
<1933>
// \{Ushio} "... I love it"
<1934>
// Finally she sees the hamburger.
<1935>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright, let's eat."
<1936>
// \{Ushio} "... let's eat."
<1937>
// I smile as it looks like she is eating as though her life depended on it.
<1938>
// After having a bath together, at 10 o'clock I turn off the lights.
<1939>
// Ushio snuggles under a quilt holding a stuffed Dango.
<1940>
// \{Ushio} "Sing Mother's song."
<1941>
// She pesters me.
<1942>
// For Ushio, that former popular song was mother's song. 
<1943>
// The first time she heard it, Ushio felt nostalgia, and had tears in the edges of her eyes.
<1944>
// Do you remember?
<1945>
// Mother sang that song for your benefit.
<1946>
// Then that's good.
<1947>
// Because that is a memory of spending time with mother.
<1948>
// Because it is a memory of a day after day for the three of us as a family.
<1949>
// Before I knew it, Ushio's breath is regular, and she is asleep.
<1950>
// I stop singing, and pull the quilt over her shoulders.
<1951>
// \{\m{B}} "Good night."
<1952>
// Then I crawl into my futon and stare at the ceiling. 
<1953>
// \{\m{B}} "...Nagisa."
<1954>
// I mutter that name.
<1955>
// \{\m{B}} "Although it took a lot of time..."
<1956>
// \{\m{B}} "Finally I am able be part of a family."
<1957>
// \{\m{B}} "To make someone happy, so that I can also be happy..."
<1958>
// \{\m{B}} "Good Morning."
<1959>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, I leave her in your care."
<1960>
// I entrusted Ushio to the teacher.
<1961>
// \{Voice} "Ah, \m{A}-san."
<1962>
// While on my way back, that teacher calls me to stop.
<1963>
// Ushio had already entered the garden when I turned around, talking to another teaher.
<1964>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes?"
<1965>
// \{Sensei} "I want to formally greet you... do you have a little time?"
<1966>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, sorry for that. I haven't properly introduced myself..."
<1967>
// \{\m{B}} "I am indebted to what you do for Ushio. I'm \m{A}."
<1968>
// \{Sensei} "I'm Ishii. I'm in charge of Ushio-chan's class."
<1969>
// \{Sensei} "I look forward to working with you in the future."
<1970>
// \{\m{B}} "Like-wise."
<1971>
// \{\m{B}} "Is Ushio a good child?"
<1972>
// \{Sensei} "Yes she's a very good child, everyone is happy with her."
<1973>
// Naturally. Because she was raised by Sanae-san.
<1974>
// \{Sensei} "Especially after summer vacation, she is even more happy."
<1975>
// \{Sensei} "It seems like she had a really good summer vacation, right?"
<1976>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes... that was a very special summer vacation for me."
<1977>
// \{Sensei} "That's good."
<1978>
// \{Sensei} "Although it may be hard, please do your best."
<1979>
// \{Sensei} "If there is anything, please talk with me. I will help." 
<1980>
// Although she did not seem to know the circumstances, she did seem to know that there was no mother.
<1981>
// \{\m{B}} "Thank you very much."
<1982>
// \{Sensei} "I am sorry to have kept you. You have to go to work?"
<1983>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes."
<1984>
// \{Sensei} "Please do your best."
<1985>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, well then."
<1986>
// When I turned around, I saw the mothers who were saying rumors yesterday.
<1987>
// \{\m{B}} "Good morning."
<1988>
// I greet them as passing by.
<1989>
// Some of the voices returned a ‘good morning'.
<1990>
// If you make an effort, although slowly, all things will advance in a good way.
<1991>
// If you realize there is a limit, through thick and thin find the end.
<1992>
// ... I thought it was one of these things.
<1993>
// And so, this summer ends.
<1994>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<1995>
// On a holiday, we visit the Furukawa family like the old days.
<1996>
// \{Akio} "Oh, Ushio isn't it, you came!"
<1997>
// \{\m{B}} "So I am ignored?"
<1998>
// \{Ushio} "Akki!!"
<1999>
// Ushio ran and clung to Pops' foot.
<2000>
// \{\m{B}} "You too, you're a child that is hurting my feelings..."
<2001>
// \{Akio} "Alright, do you want to eat Sanae's Neo-Rainbow Bread?"
<2002>
// \{Akio} "For you, Neo-Rainbow."
<2003>
// \{Ushio} "I don't need."
<2004>
// \{Akio} "Is that so? Kid's habit excel at self-protection."
<2005>
// When living how many years in this house, of course she is going to have self-protection.
<2006>
// \{\m{B}} "But, where is Sanae-san?"
<2007>
// \{Akio} "Hm? Was she not in the park?"
<2008>
// \{\m{B}} "No, I didn't see her."
<2009>
// \{Akio} "She must be in the park. She said so."
<2010>
// To go to the park alone...
<2011>
// \{\m{B}} "What, is she crying...?"
<2012>
// \{Akio} "You misunderstand. She's there with a friend."
<2013>
// \{\m{B}} "Friend?"
<2014>
// \{Akio} "If your interested, go look with your own eyes."
<2015>
// I don't want to intrude if she is speaking with a friend...
<2016>
// However, I do have a certain interest.
<2017>
// Do I go to look, or,
<2018>
// Do I wait here.
<2019>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll wait until she returns."
<2020>
// \{Akio} "Humph, do as you please. Because I'll play with Ushio."
<2021>
// \{Akio} "Alright, what do you want to learn to imitate today?"
<2022>
// \{\m{B}} "What art are you preparing for..." *
<2023>
// \{Akio} "Thought it isn't hit, the dead ball of Tatsukawa." *
<2024>
// Another sports maniac point...
<2025>
// And after than hour, Sanae-san returns.
<2026>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, you came. Good day."
<2027>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<2028>
// \{Sanae} "Ushio as well, good day."
<2029>
// \{Ushio} "Good Day."
<2030>
// After she bows politely, she clings to her foot.
<2031>
// That appearance is natural, I think.
<2032>
// Ushio lived with Pops and Sanae-san for 5 years.
<2033>
// So that I can cetch up on that time, I wish I could go back 5 years.
<2034>
// \{\m{B}} (No, that's wrong...)
<2035>
// The depth of bonds is unrelated to time.
<2036>
// I learned that in my school days.
<2037>
// Together with Nagisa.
<2038>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, we're going."
<2039>
// \{Akio} "Ha, Ushio's father may be resourceful, I have tolerance." *
<2040>
// \{Ushio} "Still, here."
<2041>
// She comes to my feet.
<2042>
// \{\m{B}} "What is the meaning of this ‘still'?"
<2043>
// \{\m{B}} "At such an age, she can understand words like ‘resourcefulness' right?"
<2044>
// \{Akio} "The first thing that she said was ‘Don't mind.'"
<2045>
// \{\m{B}} "Liar."
<2046>
// Although he admits he isn't the resourceful one...
<2047>
// I take Ushio to the park.
<2048>
// Because it is a calm, cheerful afternoon, there are a lot of families with children.
<2049>
// I go near Sanae-san and another woman who has about the same stature in the the park.
<2050>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<2051>
// \{Sanae} "Oh, \m{B}-san, good day."
<2052>
// Kouko, Fuuko. 
<2053>
// \{Woman} "Good day."
<2054>
// The woman next to her greets me with a smile.
<2055>
// \{\m{B}} "Ibuki-sensei..."
<2056>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes."
<2057>
// \{Ibuki} "Although I'm not a sensei anymore right?"
<2058>
// It is the same line as that day.
<2059>
// Suddenly, I recall those calm days.
<2060>
// \{Sanae} "Do you know him? This is \m{A} \m{B}-san."
<2061>
// That is an old story.
<2062>
// Suddenly, I recall those calm days.
<2063>
// \{Sanae} "You know him right. Just in-case, this is \m{A} \m{B}-san."
<2064>
// \{Sanae} "He is my son-in-law."
<2065>
// That is the first time I have been introduced as such.
<2066>
// For some reason I am really happy to be glad to be part of Sanae-san's family.
<2067>
// \{\m{B}} "This is my child, Ushio."
<2068>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, say hello."
<2069>
// \{Ushio} "Good day."
<2070>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes, good day to you."
<2071>
// \{Ibuki} "She is very cute."
<2072>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't she? She's at that really cute age."
<2073>
// \{\m{B}} "Um, is this the first time she's met Ushio?"
<2074>
// I ask Sanae-san. Since Ushio lived at the Furukawa houst, it was possible they could have.
<2075>
// \{Sanae} "It's the first time."
<2076>
// \{Sanae} "Kouko-san has been away from this town for awhile."
<2077>
// \{Ibuki} "I just recently returned."
<2078>
// \{\m{B}} "So that's how it is?..."
<2079>
// \{\m{B}} "Then..."
<2080>
// I turn to face Ibuki-sensei.
<2081>
// \{\m{B}} "Would you please embrace this one?"
<2082>
// \{\m{B}} "... She's Nagisa's child."
<2083>
// \{\m{B}} "She is our child."
<2084>
// \{Ibuki} "Sure."
<2085>
// As she responds, she bends her knees and squats down.
<2086>
// \{Ibuki} "Ushio-chan, may I hug you?"
<2087>
// Ushio nods, and moves into her arms.
<2088>
// Ibuki-sensei picks her up.
<2089>
// \{\m{B}} "She's already big, right... and heavy?"
<2090>
// \{Ibuki} "No, she's quite alright."
<2091>
// \{Ibuki} "........."
<2092>
// Quietly she looks Ushio in the face.
<2093>
// Ibuki-sensei's face seemed to cry for a moment.
<2094>
// However, is that just her nature? She quickly laughs.
<2095>
// \{Ibuki} "She's becoming a girl as cute as Nagisa-chan. There is no mistake about it."
<2096>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes... and she is a strong child."
<2097>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes, she's a strong child. There is no mistake about that either."
<2098>
// I hear a loud roar of laughter. 
<2099>
// Think it is unusal because it is a male's voice, I turn around.
<2100>
// \{Yoshino} "A—hahaha!"
<2101>
// I think it's strange for him to slide in that place.
<2102>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo, Yoshino-san..."
<2103>
// Yoshino-san is playing with a small girl.
<2104>
// It is not something I'd imagine from his usual appearance, to be so energetic...
<2105>
// \{Ibuki} "Incidentially, you two work together right?"
<2106>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes. We've been together for some time now."
<2107>
// \{Ibuki} "That is inexcusable."
<2108>
// \{\m{B}} "What? What is?"
<2109>
// \{Ibuki} "I'm marrying that person."
<2110>
// \{Sanae} "Congratulations."
<2111>
// In a flash, Sanae-san congratulates them.
<2112>
// \{\m{B}} "Congratulations."
<2113>
// I follow along.
<2114>
// \{Ibuki} "Thank you."
<2115>
// \{Yoshino} "Hey, uwahahahaha-!"
<2116>
// \{Girl} "I really did it."
<2117>
// Yoshino-san and the girl were crazily playing.
<2118>
// \{Ibuki} "I'll call them."
<2119>
// \{Ibuki} "Yu-ku-n"
<2120>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuu-cha-n"
<2121>
// The two of them notice Ibuki-sensei calling.
<2122>
// They energentically come running.
<2123>
// \{Yoshino} "Ou, what, you're already aquainted?"
<2124>
// \{\m{B}} "Me?"
<2125>
// \{Yoshino} "O... \m{A}"
<2126>
// \{Yoshino} "Yo"
<2127>
// Obviously, smooth over.
<2128>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't be hurt, stay happy."
<2129>
// \{Yoshino} "........."
<2130>
// \{Yoshino} "I don't want to see you alone..."
<2131>
// \{Ibuki} "Um, \m{A}-san?"
<2132>
// \{\m{B}} "Y, yes?"
<2133>
// \{Ibuki} "I've always heard stories of \m{A}-san from Yu-kun."
<2134>
// \{Ibuki} "I've been cheering for a long time."
<2135>
// \{Ibuki} "Really, we have been watching over..."
<2136>
// \{Ibuki} "\m{A}-san..."
<2137>
// \{Ibuki} "Do you're best!"
<2138>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah... yes..."
<2139>
// \{\m{B}} "Thank you very much."
<2140>
// \{Ibuki} "Really, do your best."
<2141>
// She repeats.
<2142>
// Very gentle.
<2143>
// I feel awkward with the girl who stopped at Ibuki-sensei's feet staring at me.
<2144>
// \{\m{B}} "This child?"
<2145>
// I put my hand on her head as I ask.
<2146>
// Ba.
<2147>
// With all strength, she moves away from my hand.
<2148>
// Once again I suddenly put my hand on her head again.
<2149>
// Ba.
<2150>
// Again she moves away.
<2151>
// Suddenly
<2152>
// Ba
<2153>
// Suddnely
<2154>
// Ba
<2155>
// Suddenly
<2156>
// Ba
<2157>
// \{Girl} "Waa"
<2158>
// Totally. \shake{2}
<2159>
// She body slams me, then the girl runs to the corner of the park.
<2160>
// \{\m{B}} "What was that..."
<2161>
// \{Girl} "Fu--...!"
<2162>
// She threatens from a distance...
<2163>
// Why is this mysterious sceen nostalgic...
<2164>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuu-chan, are you okay?"
<2165>
// \{Ibuki} "This person is an aquaintance of Onee-chan."
<2166>
// \{Girl} "........."
<2167>
// After a few moments, she approaches timidly. 
<2168>
// \{Ibuki} "Look, introduce yourself."
<2169>
// \{Ibuki} "This is my younger sister, Fuuko."
<2170>
// \{Ibuki} "This is the husband of one of my students, \m{A}-san"
<2171>
// \{Fuuko} "Nice to meet you."
<2172>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, nice to meet you."
<2173>
// \{\m{B}} "And this is Ushio."
<2174>
// I introduce Ushio who is still being held by Ibuki-sensei.
<2175>
// \{Fuuko} "A..."
<2176>
// \{Fuuko} "N-, cute."
<2177>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko also wants to hold her."
<2178>
// \{Ibuki} "Will it be okay?"
<2179>
// \{Fuuko} "It will be fine."
<2180>
// \{Ibuki} "\m{A}-san, is that okay?"
<2181>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<2182>
// Ibuki-sensei lower's Ushio down into Fuuko's arms, and she picks her up.
<2183>
// Because their statures are similar, it looks like they were embracing.
<2184>
// \{Ibuki} "Fufu..."
<2185>
// \{Yoshino} "Hahaha!"
<2186>
// \{Sanae} "Ohaha!"
<2187>
// Everyone laughs because of the appareance of these two.
<2188>
// \{Fuuko} "Everyone is impolite!"
<2189>
// \{Fuuko} "Because I am angry, I will return this child."
<2190>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuu-chan, I can't understand your reasoning.".
<2191>
// \{Fuuko} "To dirvert with confusion is also not good."
<2192>
// \{Ibuki} "Not good."
<2193>
// \{Ibuki} "Look, aren't your arms tried? Go ahead and let her down."
<2194>
// \{Fuuko} "n-, it can't be helped..."
<2195>
// Having been let down, Ushio just stands with no place to go.
<2196>
// I call her, and she runs and clings to my foot.
<2197>
// \{Ibuki} "This child was hospitalized for a long time."
<2198>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, is that so?"
<2199>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes... because she was asleep for so long, she has to spend a lot of time in rehabilitation."
<2200>
// \{Ibuki} "Only last month was she able to walk again."
<2201>
// \{Ibuki} "Now, because she has been able to control her body, the three of us are out on holiday."
<2202>
// \{Fuuko} "Thus, Fuuko came to this park to act like a child."
<2203>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko, if pushed I'd say I want to play billards like an adult." 
<2204>
// \{Ibuki} "Fu-chan, do you want to go on the swing?"
<2205>
// \{Fuuko} "Nn, I'll get on."
<2206>
// ... she seemed to be unreasonably happy. 
<2207>
// \{\m{B}} "Um..."
<2208>
// \{Sanae} "Is it your first time meeting her?"
<2209>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah"
<2210>
// \{Sanae} "Then, let me introduce you. This is my friend, Ibuki Kouko."
<2211>
// \{Ibuki} "Nice to meet you."
<2212>
// \{Sanae} "And this is \m{A} \m{B}-san."
<2213>
// \{Sanae} "My son-in-law."
<2214>
// That is the first time I have been introduced as such.
<2215>
// For some reason I am really happy to be glad to be part of Sanae-san's family.
<2216>
// \{\m{B}} "This is my child, Ushio."
<2217>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, say hello."
<2218>
// \{Ushio} "Good day."
<2219>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes, good day to you."
<2220>
// \{Ibuki} "She is very cute."
<2221>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't she? She's at that really cute age."
<2222>
// \{Sanae} "Um, Kouko was..."
<2223>
// \{Sanae} "Nagisa's most adored teacher."
<2224>
// \{\m{B}} "A..."
<2225>
// \{\m{B}} "Then... you were at school?"
<2226>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes."
<2227>
// \{Ibuki} "However, I didn't meet \m{A}-san because I left teaching when Nagisa-chan was a 2nd year student."
<2228>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so?..."
<2229>
// \{\m{B}} "Um, is the first time she's met Ushio?"
<2230>
// I ask Sanae-san. Since Ushio lived at the Furukawa houst, it was possible they could have.
<2231>
// \{Sanae} "It's the first time."
<2232>
// \{Sanae} "Kouko-san has been away from this town for awhile."
<2233>
// \{Ibuki} "I just recently returned."
<2234>
// \{\m{B}} "So that's how it is..."
<2235>
// \{\m{B}} "Then..."
<2236>
// I turn to face Ibuki-sensei.
<2237>
// \{\m{B}} "Would you please embrace this one?"
<2238>
// \{\m{B}} "... she's Nagisa's child."
<2239>
// \{\m{B}} "Our child."
<2240>
// \{Ibuki} "Sure."
<2241>
// As she responds, she bends her knees and squats down.
<2242>
// \{Ibuki} "Ushio-chan, may I hug you?"
<2243>
// Ushio nods, and moves into her arms.
<2244>
// Ibuki-sensei picks her up.
<2245>
// \{\m{B}} "She's already big, right... and heavy?"
<2246>
// \{Ibuki} "No, she's quite alright."
<2247>
// \{Ibuki} "........."
<2248>
// Quietly she looks Ushio in the face.
<2249>
// Ibuki-sensei's face seemed to cry for a moment.
<2250>
// However, is that just her nature? She quickly laughs.
<2251>
// \{Ibuki} "She's becoming a girl as cute as Nagisa-chan. There is no mistake about it."
<2252>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes... and she is a strong child."
<2253>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes, she's a strong child. There is no mistake about that either."
<2254>
// I hear a loud roar of laughter. 
<2255>
// Think it is unusal because it is a male's voice, I turn around.
<2256>
// \{Yoshino} "A—hahaha!"
<2257>
// I think it's strange for him to slide in that place.
<2258>
// \{\m{B}} "Yo, Yoshino-san..."
<2259>
// \{Ibuki} "Eh, are you aquanited?"
<2260>
// \l{D} asks.
<2261>
// \{\m{B}} "Of course we are aquainted. We've been together at work for a long time."
<2262>
// \{Ibuki} "Really? What a coincidence."
<2263>
// \{\m{B}} "\l{D}, how are your aquainted?"
<2264>
// \{Ibuki} "I'm his fiance."
<2265>
// \{\m{B}} "... what?"
<2266>
// \{Ibuki} "I'm going to marry that person."
<2267>
// \{Sanae} "Congratulations!"
<2268>
// In a flash, Sanae-san congratulates them.
<2269>
// \{Ibuki} "Thank you."
<2270>
// I can't believe what I just heard.
<2271>
// That Yoshino-san ...?
<2272>
// Could this one... be the lover that Yoshion-san talked about that time...
<2273>
// That lover is \l{D}.
<2274>
// \{Yoshino} "Hey, uwahahaha-!"
<2275>
// \{Girl} "I really did it."
<2276>
// This Yoshino-san plays with a small girl.
<2277>
// It is not something I'd imagine from his usual appearance, to be so entergentic...
<2278>
// \{Ibuki} "I'll call them."
<2279>
// \{Ibuki} "Yu-ku-n!"
<2280>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuu-cha-n!"
<2281>
// The two of them notice \l{D} calling them.
<2282>
// They energetically comes running.
<2283>
// \{Yoshino} "Ou, what, you're already aquainted?"
<2284>
// \{\m{B}} "Me?"
<2285>
// zuzazazazazazazazaza!  \shake{4}
<2286>
// I fall to the ground like the energy is darined from me, things disappear from my view.
<2287>
// \{Yoshino} "...\m{A}, what's with you?"
<2288>
// \{\m{B}} "What with the mutual acquaintance you're this way."
<2289>
// \{\m{B}} "But, Yoshino-san, your change in character surprised me."
<2290>
// \{Yoshino} "I didn't want to see you alone..."
<2291>
// \{Ibuki} "The \m{A}-kun you always spoke of... is this \m{A}-san."
<2292>
// \{Yoshino} "n... ah... well yeah."
<2293>
// Always heard stories... just what kind of stories would these be?
<2294>
// \{Ibuki} "Um, \m{A}-san?
<2295>
// \{\m{B}} "Y, yes?"
<2296>
// \{Ibuki} "I've always heard stories of \m{A}-san from Yu-kun."
<2297>
// \{Ibuki} "I've been cheering for a long time."
<2298>
// \{Ibuki} "Really, we have been watching over..."
<2299>
// \{Ibuki} "\m{A}-san..."
<2300>
// \{Ibuki} "Do you're best!"
<2301>
// \{\m{B}} "No..."
<2302>
// Having been assited by such a person that I didn't know...
<2303>
// \{Ibuki} "Really, do your best."
<2304>
// She repeats.
<2305>
// Very gently.
<2306>
// I feel akward with the girl who stopped at \l{D}'s feet staring at me.
<2307>
// \{\m{B}} "This child?"
<2308>
// I put my hand on her head as I ask.
<2309>
// Ba.
<2310>
// With all strength, she moves away from my hand.
<2311>
// Once again I suddenly put my hand on her head again.
<2312>
// Ba.
<2313>
// Again she moves away.
<2314>
// Suddenly
<2315>
// Ba
<2316>
// Suddnely
<2317>
// Ba
<2318>
// Suddenly
<2319>
// Ba
<2320>
// \{Girl} "Waa...!"
<2321>
// Totally. \shake{2}
<2322>
// She body slams me, then the girl runs to the cocner of the park.
<2323>
// \{\m{B}} "What was that?..."
<2324>
// \{Girl} "Fu--...!"
<2325>
// She threatens from a distance...
<2326>
// Why is this mysterious sceen nostalgic...
<2327>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuu-chan, are you okay?"
<2328>
// \{Ibuki} "This person is an aquaintance of Onee-chan."
<2329>
// \{Girl} "........."
<2330>
// After a few moments, she approaches timidly. 
<2331>
// \{Ibuki} "Look, introduce yourself."
<2332>
// \{Ibuki} "This is my younger sister, Fuuko."
<2333>
// \{Ibuki} "This is the husband of one of my students, \m{A}-san."
<2334>
// \{Fuuko} "Nice to meet you."
<2335>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, nice to meet you."
<2336>
// \{\m{B}} "And this is Ushio."
<2337>
// I introduce Ushio who is still being held by \l{D}.
<2338>
// \{Fuuko} "A..."
<2339>
// \{Fuuko} "N-, cute."
<2340>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko also wants to hold her."
<2341>
// \{Ibuki} "Will it be okay?"
<2342>
// \{Fuuko} "It will be fine."
<2343>
// \{Ibuki} "\m{A}-san, is that okay?"
<2344>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<2345>
// \l{D} lower's Ushio down into Fuuko's arms, and she picks her up.
<2346>
// Because their statures are similar, it looks like they were embarcing.
<2347>
// \{Ibuki} "Fufu"
<2348>
// \{Yoshino} "hahaha!"
<2349>
// \{Sanae} "Ohaha"
<2350>
// Everyone laughs because of the appareance of these two.
<2351>
// \{Fuuko} "Everyone is impolite!"
<2352>
// \{Fuuko} "Because I am angry, I will return this child."
<2353>
// \{Ibuki} ‘Fuu-cahn, I can't understand your reasoning."
<2354>
// \{Fuuko} "To divert with confusion is also not good."
<2355>
// \{Ibuki} "Not good."
<2356>
// \{Ibuki} "Look, aren't your arms tried? Go ahead and let her down."
<2357>
// \{Fuuko} "n-, it can't be helped..."
<2358>
// Having been let down, Ushio just stands with no place to go.
<2359>
// I call her, and she runs and clings to my foot.
<2360>
// \{Ibuki} "This child was hospitalized for a long time."
<2361>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, is that so?"
<2362>
// \{Ibuki} "Yes... because she was asleep for so long, she has to spend a lot of time in rehabilitation."
<2363>
// \{Ibuki} "Only last month was she able to walk again."
<2364>
// \{Ibuki} "Now, because she has been able to control her body, the three of us are out on holiday."
<2365>
// \{Fuuko} "Thus, Fuuko came to this park to act like a child."
<2366>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko, if pushed I'd say I want to play billards like an adult." 
<2367>
// \{Ibuki} "Fuchan, do you want to go on the swing?"
<2368>
// \{Fuuko} "Nn, I'll get on."
<2369>
// ...she seemed to be unreasonably happy. 
<2370>
// \{Sanae} "Fuuko-chan...has been asleep for a very long time."
<2371>
// She says this while watching the three of them play together happily.
<2372>
// \{\m{B}} "About how long would that be?"
<2373>
// \{\m{B}} "Three, four days...?"
<2374>
// \{Sanae} "A very long time...many years."
<2375>
// Never thought it would be that long.
<2376>
// I recall what I had heard from Nagisa once before.
<2377>
// \{Sanae} "A very long time...many years."
<2378>
// So ever since that day...she's been sleeping all this time.
<2379>
// \{Sanae} "Kouko-san, she wasn't alone waiting to be happy."
<2380>
// \{Sanae} "Yoshino also waited together with her."
<2381>
// \{Sanae} "The two of them waited for a long time."
<2382>
// \{Sanae} "For many years..."
<2383>
// \{Sanae} "Surely, they have waited."
<2384>
// \{Sanae} "I thought she had been depressed."
<2385>
// \{Sanae} "But... she finally was able to reach this point."
<2386>
// \{\m{B}} "Very strong, huh?..."
<2387>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. Very strong."
<2388>
// She is a bit embarrassed.
<2389>
// \{Sanae} "Therefore..."
<2390>
// \{Sanae} "Let's say ‘congratulations.'  Here with a loud voice."
<2391>
// \{\m{B}} "A, here?"
<2392>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<2393>
// \{\m{B}} "But there are a lot of other people here..."
<2394>
// After I say that, I realize.
<2395>
// That particular part of her, she cast away a long time ago.
<2396>
// Back on the day I began to live with this family.
<2397>
// \{\m{B}} "It's alright, let's say it."
<2398>
// \{\m{B}} "A congratulations for leaving the hospital and for their marriage is good right?"
<2399>
// \{Sanae} "Yes."
<2400>
// \{Sanae} "With a loud voice."
<2401>
// \{Sanae} "1, 2, 3..."
<2402>
// We shout out.
<2403>
// Strangers in the park turn around and look...
<2404>
// Clap Clap...
<2405>
// Everyone applauds. 
<2406>
// \{Ibuki} "Thank you very much."
<2407>
// \{Yoshino} "Thanks."
<2408>
// \{Fuuko} "While I don't understand, thank you very much."
<2409>
// Things like that make this a very gentle town.
<2410>
// Ushio.
<2411>
// From that Holiday on, after greeting at the Furukawa house, we play in the park.
<2412>
// Holidays, after getting at the Furukawa house, we play in the park.
<2413>
// It is already Ushio's favorite place.
<2414>
// It's understandable. It's close to the house she lived for a long time.
<2415>
// Before today, it might have been a place that she has memories of playing with Sanae-san and Pops.
<2416>
// When looking around, there are a lot of people who bring their children.
<2417>
// However, most of the parents there were mothers.
<2418>
// Just like during the trips to and from Kindergarten, I repeat my greetings.
<2419>
// Indeed, I am not suited to talking with housewives, as I can't participate in the idle gossip.
<2420>
// After the general greeting, I put Ushio in the swing, and push her back.
<2421>
// Ushio isn't interested in the parents, but instead the circle of friendly children.
<2422>
// \{\m{B}} "...m? Do you want to join the group?"
<2423>
// \{Ushio} "...uun, no."
<2424>
// \{Ushio} "Right now I want to be with Papa."
<2425>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2426>
// \{Ushio} "Because I play a lot with those children."
<2427>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so?..."
<2428>
// "Ushio as well... is trying to regain lost time.
<2429>
// \{Ushio} "Dango, Dango..."
<2430>
// Ushio begins to sing while I push her on the swing.
<2431>
// I join together in her singing.
<2432>
// Here will become a place of our memories.
<2433>
// Kouko.
<2434>
// The first Sunday in October.
<2435>
// It is the wedding of \l{D} and Yoshino-san.
<2436>
// And the place... is the school.
<2437>
// In one of the classrooms without decoration, it is small with only familiar people gathered.
<2438>
// And Ushio and I are also there.
<2439>
// \l{D}, in the place she once taught, exchanges her eternal oath. 
<2440>
// \l{D} is beautiful.
<2441>
// Yoshino-san as well is an envious state.
<2442>
// Really, there are a good match.
<2443>
// \{Ibuki} "Everyone, thank you very much for today."
<2444>
// She bows towards us.
<2445>
// And she walks with a bouquet in hand next to Yoshino-san. 
<2446>
// We saw them off with applause and shouts of joy.
<2447>
// Once again, the happy scenery has increased.
<2448>
// Ushio.
<2449>
// Tomorrow is Health and Sports Day. It is a holiday from both kindergarten and work. 
<2450>
// \{\m{B}} "What do you want to do tomorrow, Ushio?"
<2451>
// \{Ushio} "I want to play."
<2452>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, playing is natural. The question is do you want to play?"
<2453>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you want to go back to the park?"
<2454>
// \{\m{B}} "But it is a special holiday, so I want it to be special."
<2455>
// And then the phone rings.
<2456>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, it's the phone. Ushio, wait for a moment."
<2457>
// \{Ushio} "Ok"
<2458>
// \{\m{B}} "Hello, it's \m{A}."
<2459>
// \{Sanae} "Hello, is it \m{B}-san?"
<2460>
// It was Sanae-san's voice.
<2461>
// \{Sanae} "It's Sanae. Good day."
<2462>
// \{\m{B}} "Good day."
<2463>
// \{Sanae} "I'm sorry it is so sudden, but do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"
<2464>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, no. I was just talking to Ushio about what we are going to do."
<2465>
// Yet, what kind of plans has Sanae-san come up with?
<2466>
// It's like a godsend.
<2467>
// \{Sanae} "Then, can I ask a favor?"
<2468>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, what is it?"
<2469>
// It's Sanae-san. Surely it has to be a wonderful proposal. 
<2470>
// \{Sanae} "Do you remember Ibuki-san's younger sister?"
<2471>
// \{\m{B}} "...younger sister?"
<2472>
// \{Sanae} "Fuuko-chan."
<2473>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, that's right, the little one that was there..."
<2474>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. That Fuuko-chan seems to want to come play in \m{B}-san's house."
<2475>
// \{\m{B}} "...hah?"
<2476>
// \{Sanae} "That is what her elder sister, Kouko-san, has said..."
<2477>
// \{Sanae} "Tomorrow could you possibly play together?"
<2478>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2479>
// \{\m{B}} "...um."
<2480>
// \{Sanae} "Yes?"
<2481>
// \{\m{B}} "Why me?"
<2482>
// \{Sanae} "That...I think that Fuuko-chan really liked Ushio-chan."
<2483>
// ... I don't know what to think of what she said.
<2484>
// \{Sanae} "Just as a chance for her to go out alone, it should be good."
<2485>
// \{Sanae} "Look, Fuuko-chan had been hospitalized for a long time, and has only been cared for by Kouko-san."
<2486>
// \{Sanae} "Since she's said she wants to be independent, shouldn't we let her?"
<2487>
// \{Sanae} "Further more, Fuuko-chan is terribly shy around strangers."
<2488>
// \{Sanae} "However, wanting to play in the house of someone she's just met is very unusual. 
<2489>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san but also be really liked."
<2490>
// ...I don't think I'm quite that good.
<2491>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, could you cooperate?"
<2492>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2493>
// For a moment I can't talk... if it is a request from Sanae-san, I can't refuse it.
<2494>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes... it's okay."
<2495>
// \{Sanae} "Is that so, that's good to hear."
<2496>
// \{Sanae} "After-all, \m{B}-san is nice."
<2497>
// \{Sanae} "Well then, I will tell Fuuko-chan the address, and she come over in the afternoon."
<2498>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, I understand."
<2499>
// \{Sanae} "Also can I give Kouko-san \m{B}-san's house telephone number?"
<2500>
// \{Sanae} "She wanted to be able to give her appreciation if you accepted it."
<2501>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, I don't mind."
<2502>
// \{Sanae} "Well I'll give her it then."
<2503>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, please do."
<2504>
// \{Sanae} "Well then, have a nice holiday."
<2505>
// I hang up the handset.
<2506>
// Just how will it be a good holiday?
<2507>
// To begin with, that girl named Fuuko, I don't have a good impression. 
<2508>
// She is going to monopolize my time with Ushio...
<2509>
// \{\m{B}} "Guess what, Ushio."
<2510>
// \{Ushio} "Yes?"
<2511>
// \{\m{B}} "Tomorrow we will have a guest."
<2512>
// \{Ushio} "What?"
<2513>
// \{\m{B}} "You've also met her before. The girl that held you. Do you remember?"
<2514>
// \{Ushio} "I remember."
<2515>
// \{\m{B}} "That girl is coming to meet you."
<2516>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2517>
// \{\m{B}} "...happy?"
<2518>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2519>
// \{\m{B}} "Really?"
<2520>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2521>
// \{\m{B}} "Maa, if you say you will, I guess it's okay..." *
<2522>
// \{\m{B}} "However, because I want you to be happy, don't get carried off." *
<2523>
// \{Ushio} "Ok."
<2524>
// Afterwards, I speak with \l{D} on the phone.
<2525>
// She gives her gratitude many times for troubling me.
<2526>
// And the next day.
<2527>
// Earlier than scheduled, while I am preparing lunch, Fuuko comes.
<2528>
// \{Fuuko} "Good day."
<2529>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, good day."
<2530>
// \{Fuuko} "I've come to play."
<2531>
// \{Fuuko} "Please treat me well."
<2532>
// Surprisingly, she greets us politely. 
<2533>
// \{Fuuko} "May I come in?"
<2534>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, although I'm in the middle of making lunch. Come in and sit down."
<2535>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes, I'm coming in."
<2536>
// \{Fuuko} "Very narrow."
<2537>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2538>
// Wasn't she only taught up until now by \l{D}?...
<2539>
// I thought so, until she entered the room and her speech and behavior changed completely.
<2540>
// \{Fuuko} "O, Ushio-chan, I've discovered."
<2541>
// She runs and slides, and holds on to Ushio.
<2542>
// \{\m{B}} "You are dangerous."
<2543>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan, why don't you become the younger sister of Fuuko."
<2544>
// \{\m{B}} "Or not."
<2545>
// \{Fuuko} "I did not ask you. I was asking Ushio-chan."
<2546>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan, become the little sister of Fuuko."
<2547>
// Face to face with Ushio, she asks again.
<2548>
// \{Ushio} "Umm..."
<2549>
// \{Ushio} "I'm always with Papa."
<2550>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, did you hear that?"
<2551>
// \{Fuuko} "Is that so?..."
<2552>
// \{Fuuko} "Then, I will try again in a day."
<2553>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2554>
// \{\m{B}} "...you, didn't you come here to play?"
<2555>
// \{Fuuko} "That is my official stance."
<2556>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko only came to bring Ushio-chan back."
<2557>
// \{\m{B}} "Since when has she been your?..."
<2558>
// \{Fuuko} "This is why I have brought Ushio-chan lunch. Let's eat together."
<2559>
// \{\m{B}} "But, I'm currently making it."
<2560>
// \{Fuuko} "Please eat alone."
<2561>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan eats with Fuuko."
<2562>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2563>
// Should I drive her out?
<2564>
// But... I have already been thanked by \l{D}...
<2565>
// I must be able to endure this.
<2566>
// \{Fuuko} "Here, bread."
<2567>
// \{\m{B}} "What, from Furukawa Bakery?"
<2568>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes. Furukawa Bakery's bread."
<2569>
// \{Fuuko} "However, this is customer made."
<2570>
// \{Fuuko} "It is the only bread like it in the whole world."
<2571>
// As she says it, she pulls the star-shaped bread out of the bag.
<2572>
// \{\m{B}} "Hmph, your tastes are splendidly cute huh."
<2573>
// \{Fuuko} "Want to eat it? Want to eat it?"
<2574>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2575>
// Ushio deeply nods. 
<2576>
// \{Fuuko} "Go ahead."
<2577>
// Ushio receives the star-shaped bread and behinds to eat it.
<2578>
// Chew chew...
<2579>
// \{Fuuko} "Is it good?"
<2580>
// \{Ushio} "Yes, good."
<2581>
// So it wasn't Sanae-san, but Pops who baked this bread?
<2582>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, cute Ushio-chan eating cute bread. Double the cuteness."
<2583>
// \{Fuuko} "That makes Fuuko want to eat it."
<2584>
// ...please stop.
<2585>
// \{Ushio} "It was good."
<2586>
// She finishes eating the bread.
<2587>
// \{Fuuko} "Then, let's go home."
<2588>
// She pulls on Ushio's hand and gets her to stand up.
<2589>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey now, don't kidnap her in front of her father."
<2590>
// \{Fuuko} "I'm not kidnapping. It is this person's wish."
<2591>
// \{\m{B}} "Liar."
<2592>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan, I want you to be Fuuko's younger sister."
<2593>
// \{Ushio} "Umm..."
<2594>
// \{Ushio} "I want to be with Papa."
<2595>
// \{Fuuko} "I will win her over."
<2596>
// \{\m{B}} "You have just met and you expect to have won her over?..."
<2597>
// I return to the interrupted dish.
<2598>
// Once again I light the stove, and warm up the frying-pan. 
<2599>
// It's our standard lunch, my special fried rice.
<2600>
// I put an abundance of pepper in it.
<2601>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuuko."
<2602>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you also eat fried rice?"
<2603>
// She turns her back to the question.
<2604>
// \{Fuuko} "Is this your method of winning over Fuuko?"
<2605>
// \{\m{B}} *
<2606>
// \{Fuuko} "I heard from Onee-chan."
<2607>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<2608>
// \{Fuuko} "\m{A}-san's wife seems to have been lost."
<2609>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, that's right."
<2610>
// \{Fuuko} "It isn't impossible that you can find an appearance of her in Fuuko." *
<2611>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2612>
// I pile up three plates of fried rice.
<2613>
// One is of a high height. The other two are smaller.
<2614>
// \{\m{B}} "Though you say that..."
<2615>
// \{\m{B}} "Nagisa doesn't look like you at all."
<2616>
// I place the plates on the table and sit down.
<2617>
// \{\m{B}} "She was different like was a living thing from some other star."
<2618>
// \{Fuuko} "Was your wife a space alien?"
<2619>
// \{\m{B}} "Why you!"
<2620>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko is not a space alien."
<2621>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't understand your thinking."
<2622>
// \{Fuuko} "\m{A}-san is a space alien."
<2623>
// \{Fuuko} "Earthling Fuuko is an owner of extremely average thoughts."
<2624>
// \{\m{B}} "If you are how an average earthling thinks, the world would be destroyed in three days."
<2625>
// \{Fuuko} "It is impossible for me to understand what \m{A}-san's point."
<2626>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, if there was a button that unmistakably says don't press it, what would you do?"
<2627>
// \{Fuuko} "Secretly, stealthily press it."
<2628>
// \{\m{B}} "Incidentally that is the launching button for a nuclear bomb."
<2629>
// \{\m{B}} "Jeeze, you do not possess an average earthling's thinking at all."
<2630>
// \{\m{B}} "Quite literally the world would be ruined in three days."
<2631>
// \{Fuuko} "Unfair. That was a misleading question."
<2632>
// \{\m{B}} "Where?"
<2633>
// \{Fuuko} "Then a question from Fuuko."
<2634>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<2635>
// \{Fuuko} "Is someone told \m{A}-san that his tights have dropped, what would he do?"
<2636>
// \{\m{B}} "I wouldn't do anything."
<2637>
// \{Fuuko} "Lie, \m{A}-san would not bear it, he would pull them back up."
<2638>
// \{Fuuko} "And, in all the places in the world, all the atoms would explode..."
<2639>
// \{\m{B}} "Those are some earth-shattering tights."
<2640>
// \{Fuuko} "See, \m{A}-san doesn't have an average earthling's thinking."
<2641>
// \{Fuuko} "And the world has be ruined in one day."
<2642>
// \{\m{B}} "You're a really amusing person."
<2643>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan."
<2644>
// \{Fuuko} "It is not possible for Fuuko to fall in love with your father."
<2645>
// \{\m{B}} "Enough already, eat."
<2646>
// I present Fuuko with the plate of fried rice.
<2647>
// \{Fuuko} "There is not a sleeping pill in here?"
<2648>
// \{\m{B}} "I'd particularly like your quacking to go to sleep, but you can have piece of mind that there is no way that could have happened." *
<2649>
// \{Fuuko} "Shouldn't Fuuko take something so confidently with caution?"
<2650>
// \{\m{B}} "Wrong."
<2651>
// \{\m{B}} "Look, Ushio will eat it.   Don't be screwed and leave so much, just eat."
<2652>
// I pass Ushio a plate with a smaller pile of fried rice.
<2653>
// \{Ushio} "Un."
<2654>
// \{Ushio} "Itadakimasu."
<2655>
// After she brings her hands together, she begins to eat.
<2656>
// \{Ushio} "It's good."
<2657>
// \{Fuuko} "It's good. That's good to hear."
<2658>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't say it like you cooked it."
<2659>
// \{Fuuko} "However in Ushio-chan's mind, Fuuko is sure the bread was better."
<2660>
// \{\m{B}} "By the way, you didn't make the bread either right?"
<2661>
// \{Fuuko} "It is Fuuko Produce." *
<2662>
// \{\m{B}} "Only the shape right?"
<2663>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko is leaving to cook."
<2664>
// \{Fuuko} "Please do not say Fuuko cannot do it."
<2665>
// \{\m{B}} "Alright. You are good at cooking. Therefore, eat before it cools. Please eat. It will become bad if you don't."
<2666>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<2667>
// \{Fuuko} "Understood. If you will go that far, Fuuko will eat."
<2668>
// Finally, with spoon in hand, she begins to eat. 
<2669>
// \{Fuuko} "I've been defeated!"
<2670>
// \{Fuuko} "Just what is this?! It is incredibly good."
<2671>
// Fuuko's behavior is completely amusing. 
<2672>
// My only interest is in Ushio, and she's been smiling from beginning to end. *
<2673>
// Although spending time alone is good, spending time together with someone else is also fun.
<2674>
// \{Fuuko} "Then, Ushio-chan, let's play."
<2675>
// While I cleaning up, the two begin to play.
<2676>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko has brought a card game."
<2677>
// \{Fuuko} "Here, a starter kit."
<2678>
// \{Ushio} "?"
<2679>
// \{Fuuko} "Wow! Fuuko got a really rare card!"
<2680>
// \{Fuuko} "Please look, Ushio-chan. It has amazing attack power."
<2681>
// \{Fuuko} "With such an attack power, I'll win without difficulty."
<2682>
// \{\m{B}} "Now you, do you think that will really make a 5-year old happy?"
<2683>
// \{Fuuko} "What?"
<2684>
// \{\m{B}} "Do you think that a 5-year old is going to be able to understand that?"
<2685>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, this game is for people ages 10 and up."
<2686>
// \{Fuuko} "Sorry, it is a little bit too early for Ushio-chan..."
<2687>
// However I don't even think a 10-year old girl would have any interest...
<2688>
// \{Fuuko} "Well then, let's play with a deck of 52 cards."
<2689>
// You should have started with that in the beginning...
<2690>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan, what card games to do you know?"
<2691>
// \{Fuuko} "Do you know how to play 21?"
<2692>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on... she can't do that."
<2693>
// \{Fuuko} "Is it too difficult?"
<2694>
// \{Fuuko} "Sorry, Fuuko is already an adult, so only suggests adult games."
<2695>
// \{\m{B}} "How about solitaire?" *
<2696>
// \{Fuuko} "That is interesting! Devilish game."
<2697>
// \{\m{B}} "You're a mixed up child..."
<2698>
// \{Ushio} "Yes, solitaire is good."
<2699>
// \{Fuuko} "Is that so, well, let's do it."
<2700>
// \{\m{B}} "When I am finished putting things away, I'll play as well, so wait for me."
<2701>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2702>
// \{Fuuko} "Jeez, I guess it can't be helped."
<2703>
// \{Fuuko} "Please work briskly."
<2704>
// \{\m{B}} "By the way, I'm washing the plate you ate on."
<2705>
// \{Fuuko} "Now, because of \m{A}-san, we can't play cards."
<2706>
// \{Fuuko} "Ushio-chan's father is completely rude to girls."
<2707>
// \{Fuuko} "You should change him."
<2708>
// \{Ushio} "No, Papa is kind."
<2709>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko completely can't think that is so."
<2710>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, Fuuko's been deceived."
<2711>
// \{Ushio} "Haha."
<2712>
// Flap flap...
<2713>
// Display a card and laugh.
<2714>
// .........
<2715>
// I imagine.
<2716>
// What if Nagisa were here...
<2717>
// Would we three play cards?...
<2718>
// It is possible that it would be the usual thing to do on a holiday...
<2719>
// \{Fuuko} "Um, \m{A}-san."
<2720>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh?"
<2721>
// I was spacing out wasn't I?
<2722>
// \{Fuuko} "As I thought..."
<2723>
// \{Fuuko} *
<2724>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2725>
// \{\m{B}} "I understand..."
<2726>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm unwilling but I'll give in, you have the same gender, that's it."
<2727>
// \{Fuuko} "Is her character different? Was she childish unlike Fuuko?"
<2728>
// \{\m{B}} "I don't know anyone who is more childish than you..."
<2729>
// \{\m{B}} "However, well... she was childish."
<2730>
// While I said that, she arranges her hair.
<2731>
// \{Fuuko} "........."
<2732>
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you being shy?"
<2733>
// \{Fuuko} "Did Ushio-chan not know her mother?"
<2734>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, she never met."
<2735>
// \{Ushio} "However, because Papa talks about her, I know a lot about her."
<2736>
// \{Fuuko} "Is that so?"
<2737>
// \{Fuuko} "What kind of person was Ushio-chan's mother?"
<2738>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<2739>
// \{Ushio} "A real cry-baby."
<2740>
// \{Ushio} "But..."
<2741>
// \{Ushio} "But she really worked hard for Ushio."
<2742>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2743>
// \{Ushio} "And..."
<2744>
// \{Ushio} "She really loved Papa."
<2745>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2746>
// ......
<2747>
// I can't really make out the number on the card.
<2748>
// Why?
<2749>
// We can't continue the game.
<2750>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<2751>
// \{Fuuko} "Um, Fuuko..."
<2752>
// \{Fuuko} "If you have a little bit of free time, please call whenever." *
<2753>
// \{\m{B}} "...what?"
<2754>
// \{Fuuko} "Whenever you were to call, I said I would come."
<2755>
// \{\m{B}} "Is something worrying you?"
<2756>
// \{Fuuko} "I am not worried. I only said to call because I want to come back."
<2757>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes. Fuuko only wants to play with Ushio-chan."
<2758>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, I see..."
<2759>
// Probably...
<2760>
// Did you hear about my former rough life?
<2761>
// After Nagisa died, I had a horrible life.
<2762>
// It's possible she heard from her elder sister who is friends with Sanae-san...
<2763>
// Are you thinking too much?
<2764>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuuko."
<2765>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes."
<2766>
// \{\m{B}} "We're already okay."
<2767>
// \{Fuuko} "What you said is completely cryptic."
<2768>
// \{\m{B}} "No..."
<2769>
// \{Fuuko} "After-all, \m{A}-san really is a space alien."
<2770>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, yeah."
<2771>
// \{Fuuko} "With that, Fuuko is going home."  
<2772>
// \{Fuuko} "Usually, returning home is said." 
<2773>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes, Fuuko, is returning home."
<2774>
// \{\m{B}} "Then. Until you come again."
<2775>
// \{Fuuko} "Yes. Let's go, Ushio-chan."
<2776>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey now, don't spontaneously pretend to pull her along."
<2777>
// \{Fuuko} "I want to take her home by all means!"
<2778>
// \{\m{B}} "It is a meaningless appeal toward this parent."
<2779>
// \{Fuuko} "Ah, fine."
<2780>
// \{Fuuko} "There will be a chance in the future."
<2781>
// \{Fuuko} "Please take care of the sleepy head."
<2782>
// \{\m{B}} "Is it possible for your to say something nice?..."
<2783>
// \{Fuuko} "Sorry. Please forget what you just heard."
<2784>
// \{Fuuko} "Fuuko is already an adult."
<2785>
// \{Fuuko} "I'm like a bear that is in the middle of hibernation."
<2786>
// \{\m{B}} "Someday you wake up..."
<2787>
// \{Fuuko} "And with that, Ushio-chan, good bye."
<2788>
// \{Ushio} "Yes, good bye."
<2789>
// \{Fuuko} *
<2790>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2791>
// \{Fuuko} "Because I've already memorized Ushio-chan's smell, I'll know when your near."
<2792>
// She really is like a bear.
<2793>
// \{Fuuko}"At that time, let's play alone."
<2794>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2795>
// After patting Ushio's head...
<2796>
// \{Fuuko} "Well then."
<2797>
// At last she leaves.
<2798>
// \{\m{B}} "Fuu... tiring"
<2799>
// \{Ushio} "She's an interesting person."
<2800>
// \{\m{B}} "Ma, but I think she's a happy girl..."
<2801>
// \{\m{B}} "That thought doesn't quite fit the character of what is coming out of her mouth though does it?" *
<2802>
// \{\m{B}} "Thanks for meeting me today."
<2803>
// \{Sensei} "I appreciate your efforts every day."
<2804>
// Sensei calls Ushio's name.
<2805>
// Ushio runs over and clings to my leg.
<2806>
// \{Sensei} "Today there was a one page flyer passed out, please read it."
<2807>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, I understand."
<2808>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, we must be going."
<2809>
// I take Ushio, and we head away from the garden.
<2810>
// \{\m{B}} "Flyer. Show it to me."
<2811>
// While we're walking, Ushio begins to hunt in her bag.
<2812>
// \{Ushio} "Here."
<2813>
// She finds it and hands it to me.
<2814>
// I look over it, and it is a guide to the autumn athletic meet.
<2815>
// It is written that families should please participate.
<2816>
// \{\m{B}} "This, parents are also to participate in."
<2817>
// \{\m{B}} "Look, it is a parents only meeting."
<2818>
// \{Ushio} "...I want to see."
<2819>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<2820>
// \{Ushio} "Papa's great thing."
<2821>
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, okay. I'll show you."
<2822>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you see my feet, it will be fast."
<2823>
// \{\m{B}} "Well, it was a story of high school. Back then I was physical every day, but now I'm sure I'm out of shape."
<2824>
// \{\m{B}} "Although I might be a young parent, I won't be defeated if they are all middle-aged parents."
<2825>
// \{Ushio} "Sounds fun."
<2826>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, look forward to it."
<2827>
// \{\m{B}} "After... I also want Sanae-san to come."
<2828>
// \{\m{B}} "I want her to see how hard you try."
<2829>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2830>
// \{\m{B}} "That's right. Let's take this opportunity to get a new camera."
<2831>
// \{\m{B}} "So we can take a lot of pictures of you.
<2832>
// \{Ushio} "Yes."
<2833>
// \{\m{B}} "Athletic meet? It will be a great chance to take a lot of pictures."
<2834>
// I imagine it.
<2835>
// Ushio doing her very best is so cute, it just can't be helped.
<2836>
// \{\m{B}} "Send that photo to the television station and instant success."
<2837>
// \{\m{B}} "And, you'll be popular with the talent department ..."
<2838>
// \{\m{B}} "But, your parent has a complex mental state huh?"
<2839>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, you better start practicing signing your name before it's too late."
<2840>
// \{\m{B}} "The first part of it is mine."
<2841>
// \{Ushio} "...?"
<2842>
// Because the next day is Sunday and a rest day, we go over to the Furukawa house to play, and I talk about the athletic meet.
<2843>
// \{\m{B}} "Hello."
<2844>
// Ushio is with me as we step into Furukawa Bakery.
<2845>
// \{Sanae} "\m{B}-san, good day."
<2846>
// \{Sanae} "Ushio too, good day."
<2847>
// \{Ushio} "Good day."
<2848>
// Because it is afternoon, Pops isn't there.
<2849>
// \{Sanae} "Have you already had lunch?"
<2850>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes. My special fried rice."
<2851>
// \{Ushio} "...it was good."
<2852>
// \{\m{B}} "She's come to like eating pepper."
<2853>
// \{Sanae} "Really? That is really good."
<2854>
// \{\m{B}} "Next challenge is the red pepper."
<2855>
// \{Ushio} "...I don't like." *
<2856>
// \{Sanae} "No motivation eh?"
<2857>
// \{Sanae} "However, it might to a little early."
<2858>
// \{\m{B}} "Haha, really, that might be true."
<2859>
// \{\m{B}} "However, thanks to this fellow, I've become really good at preparing the dish."
<2860>
// \{\m{B}} "At first she honestly said it was unpleasant."
<2861>
// \{Ushio} "And that it is delicious when Sanae-san makes it."
<2862>
// \{\m{B}} "Right."
<2863>
// \{Sanae} "After this."
<2864>
// Sanae-san prepares fruit juice that the three of us drink.
<2865>
// \{\m{B}} "Today I bought something with me..."
<2866>
// I unfold the flyer and hand it to Sanae-san.
<2867>
// \{Sanae} "An athletic meet."
<2868>
// \{\m{B}} "Will you come to cheer?"
<2869>
// \{Sanae} ‘Yes, of course I will come."
<2870>
// \{\m{B}} "Huh, somehow it seems you already knew."
<2871>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I knew. To tell the truth about it, we also talked about it."
<2872>
// \{\m{B}} "What?"
<2873>
// \{Sanae} "In the town association, when I was accompanying the director, I heard about it."
<2874>
// \{\m{B}} "Ha."
<2875>
// \{Sanae} "By all means we'd like you to join us, was the invitation."
<2876>
// \{\m{B}} "Participating...  not assisting?"
<2877>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, in the parent's team."
<2878>
// \{\m{B}} "Isn't it wonderful? I also am, so therefore, we both will be together."
<2879>
// \{Sanae} "I won't be a hindrance will I?"
<2880>
// \{\m{B}} "Not at all.  To participate together with Sanae-san is awesome!"
<2881>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you very much."
<2882>
// \{Sanae} "Then, go with Akio-san."
<2883>
// \{\m{B}} "......what?"
<2884>
// \{\m{B}} (Damn...)
<2885>
// \{\m{B}} (Pops as well?...)
<2886>
// I was blind to that thought...
<2887>
// \{Sanae} "Ah, it seems like he is back."
<2888>
// \{Akio} "Ou, I'm back from road work."
<2889>
// Behind me is Pops.
<2890>
// \{Akio} "Shu, shu"
<2891>
// He shadow boxes behind me.
<2892>
// \{Akio} "He, and the bell esounds"*
<2893>
// \{\m{B}} "Just where are you coming from?!"
<2894>
// \{Akio} "There's a big autumn athletic meet."
<2895>
// \{Akio} "One round knock out!"
<2896>
// \{\m{B}} "There is no such event!"
<2897>
// \{Akio} "Boo, I was losing weight."
<2898>
// \{\m{B}} "There is not such a necessity for that either."
<2899>
// \{Akio} "Sure there is. Can you really run straight with a belly sticking out?"
<2900>
// \{Akio} "That's why. It is a challenge to change. Can't be carefree." *
<2901>
// ...there is no other father as enthusiastic than here.
<2902>
// \{Akio} "Ha, you'll be knocked down in front of Ushio completely worn out."
<2903>
// ...like I said, there is no such event.
<2904>
// \{Sanae} "Akio-san has said he wants to be the anchor leg of the relay because he is light-footed."
<2905>
// \{Sanae} "He is filling in on the teacher's team, because the director has thrown out his back."
<2906>
// \{\m{B}} "This person isn't a teacher!"
<2907>
// \{Akio} "Well, it is a my natural virtue... don't complain."
<2908>
// \{Akio} *
<2909>
// How can this person say such a thing is a natural virture?
<2910>
// \{Akio} *
<2911>
// \{Akio} "It's a confrontation of fate..."
<2912>
// \{Sanae} "That is a burning development."
<2913>
// \{\m{B}} "Please don't get fired up!"
<2914>
// \{Akio} *
<2915>
// \{Akio} *
<2916>
// \{Sanae} "If that isn't so, please do your best."
<2917>
// Sanae-san is serious...
<2918>
// *
<2919>
// \{Sanae} "Ushio, who do you think will win?"
<2920>
// Sanae-san asks Ushio, who is the only one drinking the juice.
<2921>
// \{Ushio} "Umm."
<2922>
// She takes her mouth off the straw.
<2923>
// \{Ushio} "...Akki."
<2924>
// \{\m{B}} "Still you think that way?!!"
<2925>
// \{Akio} "Hasn't this one grown up watching me steal bases?"
<2926>
// Well of course it will look impress compared to a child partner.
<2927>
// \{Ushio} "But, I want Papa to win."
<2928>
// \{Akio} "I see...the ideal and reality are different?"
<2929>
// \{Akio} "Childhood ways, I can understand."
<2930>
// At your age, you don't want to see reality...
<2931>
// Chasing the dream...
<2932>
// Hm, now this is a development...
<2933>
// \{\m{B}} "hoho..."
<2934>
// \{\m{B}} "...hoho..."
<2935>
// \{Yoshino} "During the intermission, are you run?" * 
<2936>
// \{\m{B}} "No, rather..."
<2937>
// I've begun to strengthen my body, but I'm sad... *
<2938>
// The day of the athletic meet is only a week away. 
<2939>
// At any time, so.
<2940>
// *
<2941>
// \{Ushio} "...bathroom."
<2942>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes, go."
<2943>
// Quietly, she kept standing near me.
<2944>
// \{\m{B}} "What's wrong?"
<2945>
// \{Ushio} "...I can't go alone."
<2946>
// \{\m{B}} "What...?"
<2947>
// \{\m{B}} "Did you have an accident?"
<2948>
// \{Ushio} "...yes"
<2949>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you dirty anywhere?"
<2950>
// \{Ushio} "...yes"
<2951>
// \{\m{B}} "Understood. Wait just a moment."
<2952>
// I stand up and face the bathroom."
<2953>
// Certainly, another place has been made dirty.
<2954>
// After performing remedial affairs, I return.
<2955>
// \{\m{B}} "What went wrong?"
<2956>
// \{\m{B}} "Up until now you've always been okay."
<2957>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<2958>
// Somehow it could assume the cause.
<2959>
// I couch down near her and touch her forehead.
<2960>
// ... it was hot.
<2961>
// \{\m{B}} "You're hot..."
<2962>
// And, it is a really high fever.
<2963>
// It is probably a lot of work just to stand.
<2964>
// I lifted her body up in my arms and put her down on the futon.
<2965>
// \{\m{B}} "Rest for today."
<2966>
// \{Ushio} "...what about kindergarten?"
<2967>
// \{\m{B}} "It's not possible to go, because of your fever."
<2968>
// \{\m{B}} "Today be a big girl and rest."
<2969>
// \{Ushio} "...okay."
<2970>
// It's painful. She closes her eyes.
<2971>
// I decided to take a day off work to nurse Ushio.
<2972>
// Ushio's fever still did not come down by the next morning.
<2973>
// It is likely I'll have to call a doctor today.
<2974>
// But, I can't take a second day off of work.
<2975>
// What to do...
<2976>
// Should I ask Sanae-san for help?...
<2977>
// Because it is an emergency, it can't be helped.
<2978>
// I pick up the phone and dial the number.
<2979>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, Furukawa residence."
<2980>
// \{\m{B}} "It's \m{A}."
<2981>
// \{Sanae} "\m{A}-san? What brings you to call so early?"
<2982>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio has had a fever since yesterday... and hasn't come down."
<2983>
// \{Sanae} "It's serious huh? Understood. I'm coming over."
<2984>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm sorry ."
<2985>
// \{Sanae} "Don't be. Well then."
<2986>
// Prompt help.
<2987>
// I delay going to work, to tend to her for awhile.
<2988>
// However, I'm a bit uneasy about it.
<2989>
// Sanae-san and I nurse Ushio's fever...
<2990>
// That scene, that is the ordinary day.
<2991>
// I'll be happy in the future when it falls...
<2992>
// Does Sanae-san notice, or not?...
<2993>
// \{Sanae} "It's okay. Please go, so you won't be late to work."
<2994>
// She saw me and says so.
<2995>
// \{\m{B}} "Yes... I'll go then."
<2996>
// I let go of Ushio's hand and stand up.
<2997>
// \{\m{B}} "If the fever doesn't fall, please call the doctor."
<2998>
// \{Sanae} "Yes, I understand."
<2999>
// \{\m{B}} "Well then, I leave it to you."
<3000>
// \{Sanae} "Yes. Be safe."
<3001>
// When I return from work, both a doctor and Pops are there.
<3002>
// I panic.
<3003>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio?..."
<3004>
// \{Akio} "She's okay. Quiet down, silly."
<3005>
// The doctor finishes examining her.
<3006>
// \{Doctor} "It's the same, as it was with Nagisa."
<3007>
// He told us.
<3008>
// That is, it is not a cold, she just have a fever from unknown cause...
<3009>
// And, the sickness will linger long into the future. 
<3010>
// \{\m{B}} "She was so energetic until yesterday..."
<3011>
// \{\m{B}} "Always so engergetic..."
<3012>
// I fall to my knees.
<3013>
// \{Doctor} "Well then, I must be going."
<3014>
// The doctor leaves the room.
<3015>
// \{Sanae} "Thank you very much."
<3016>
// Sanae-san's foot crosses the edge of field of view as she sees the doctor out.
<3017>
// Everything is the same as that time, it's exactly the same.
<3018>
// Is this... \p fate?
<3019>
// No matter how hard we fight against the flow of time, will fate keep laughing at us?...
<3020>
// Are all of our efforts just so insignificant?
<3021>
// After all not one this... is rewarded at all? *
<3022>
// \{Akio} "Hey, \m{B}."
<3023>
// It's Pops' voice. *
<3024>
// It's the immediate aftermath. I don't lift my head up. 
<3025>
// \{Akio} "Just who is the father?"
<3026>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3027>
// \{\m{B}} "...I am."
<3028>
// \{Akio} "Then, you must gather yourself up."
<3029>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3030>
// I raised my face.
<3031>
// And, I gazed at reality.
<3032>
// I was… had I lived until now to meet as fathers?*
<3033>
// Pops was a tough guy.
<3034>
// It wasn't just losing Nagisa.
<3035>
// My father as well, was a fine father.
<3036>
// Sacrificing everything, he brought me up through childhood.
<3037>
// Can I become such a strong parent?
<3038>
// .........
<3039>
// Ushio looked me in the eye.
<3040>
// Not Sanae-san's, not Pops', mine. *
<3041>
// I see.
<3042>
// I couldn't become one.
<3043>
// To do that, I'd have to start anew from that day.
<3044>
// As feared, Ushio's temperature, hadn't fallen in a week.
<3045>
// From far away, there was the sound of fireworks.
<3046>
// It was the sign of the Athletics meet's resolve.*
<3047>
// \{Ushio} "… athletics meet."
<3048>
// \{\m{B}} "That's right…"
<3049>
// \{Ushio} "…Papa, aren't you gonna run?"
<3050>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'm not running. Today's Sunday. I've been with you the whole day."*
<3051>
// \{Ushio} "…and Akki?"
<3052>
// \{\m{B}} "Pops is escaped somewhere."
<3053>
// \{Ushio} "…listen to your will."*
<3054>
// \{\m{B}} "No, I'm staying with you."
<3055>
// \{Ushio} "… that's a bit sad."
<3056>
// \{\m{B}} "Is that so? You're my buddy right?"
<3057>
// \{Ushio} "…Yup."
<3058>
// \{\m{B}} "Then, I'm your buddy too."
<3059>
// \{\m{B}} "When these things come up, we've gotta protect them."*
<3060>
// \{Ushio} "…Yeah."
<3061>
// Guess I really didn't want to go anywhere. Satisfied, she closed her eyes.
<3062>
// \{\m{B}} "Going to sleep?"
<3063>
// \{Ushio} "…Yeah."
<3064>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere from now on."
<3065>
// \{Ushio} "…Okay…"
<3066>
// She falls asleep immediately.
<3067>
// Seeing her peaceful expression is truly reassuring.
<3068>
// \{\m{B}} "…I'm very sorry."
<3069>
// I incline my head deeply in apology.
<3070>
// I knew, of course, that a gesture like this couldn't possibly make up for the trouble I caused, but I couldn't help it.
<3071>
// \{Boss} "Personally, \m{A}-kun, I don't want to see you leave the company."
<3072>
// \{Boss} "It looks there were some various circumstances involved."
<3073>
// I had decided to quit.
<3074>
// From that point onward, I didn't know what would happen. I was filled with anxiety.
<3075>
// Sanae-san also struggled to stop me.
<3076>
// But if I hadn't decided to quit, I knew...
<3077>
// ...that I wouldn't be able to protect Ushio.
<3078>
// Being able to continue doing both through one way or another isn't quite that easy.
<3079>
// Even my father probably realized that.
<3080>
// He continuously made all kinds of sacrifices.
<3081>
// That's why I, too, firmly decided to quit.
<3082>
// \{Boss} "Well, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, pay us a visit." 
<3083>
// \{Boss} "Everyone will be waiting for you."
<3084>
// My boss said that in a tone bordering on sadness and regret.
<3085>
// I was grateful, but also pained by those words.
<3086>
// That evening, I organized a few of my personal belongings.
<3087>
// A pair of angled nippers, its handles are marked showing signs of use.
<3088>
// A knife blemished by a centimeter-wide nick. Taking it out for sharpening countless times, it's now twice as small as it used to be.
<3089>
// The towel I got from Johnny-san. After washing it again and again, it became threadbare.
<3090>
// Also, the tool bag I received from Yoshino-san, and a completely worn-out looking driver set.
<3091>
// Once I put those well-used tools into the bag, only the hanger remained.
<3092>
// The empty rocker stood in front of my eyes.
<3093>
// \{\m{B}} "...it used to be quite spacious."
<3094>
// Starting from some time ago, things started piling up and the rocker seemed cramped and small.
<3095>
// Up until now, I hadn't even realized just how time I had spent here.
<3096>
// \{Yoshino} "Oh, \m{A}. Today's the last day, huh.
<3097>
// Possibly just returning from work, Yoshino-san stood behind me.*
<3098>
// \{Yoshino} Thanks for putting up with me till the very end.
<3099>
// \{\m{B}} "...Nah, I should be saying that."
<3100>
// Yoshino-san didn't speak, and gave me a hearty clap to the shoulder.
<3101>
// \{\m{B}} "...Thank you for everything."
<3102>
// I turned my heel with the intention of leaving.
<3103>
// \{Yoshino} "Wait."
<3104>
// \{\m{B}} "…What is it?"
<3105>
// \{Yoshino} "Take this with you. Don't lose it."
<3106>
// He handed over a driver tool which had "Yoshino" clumsily engraved into it.
<3107>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you sure?"
<3108>
// \{Yoshino} "What's this, an excuse? Like 'But you'll need that for work tomorrow!'"
<3109>
// \{Yoshino} "In that case, lend me your driver."
<3110>
// \{Yoshino} "I'm only borrowing it."
<3111>
// \{Yoshino} "When you return I'll give it back."
<3112>
// Saying that, he broke out into a smile.
<3113>
// That smile, which I rarely saw despite being with him for so long, was reassuring.
<3114>
// \{Yoshino} "Like I said, when your daughter gets well again, come back anytime."
<3115>
// \{Yoshino} "Until then I'll be holding onto this for you."
<3116>
// I pulled out my driver from the bag, holding my silence.
<3117>
// I knew that if I said anything, something other than words might come spilling out.
<3118>
// \{Yoshino} "Well then, I'll be taking this."
<3119>
// \{Yoshino} "I'll be sure to use it and treat it with care."
<3120>
// With all the force I could muster, I bowed my head.
<3121>
// Into it, I put all of my thanks and gratitude from the past few years.
<3122>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Ushio..."
<3123>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's change your pajamas to a new pair."
<3124>
// \{Ushio} "...Okay"
<3125>
// Extracting herself from the futon, she tries to get up.
<3126>
// \{\m{B}} "It's okay, you don't have to stand up. Just stay sitting."
<3127>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll put them on for you."
<3128>
// \{Ushio} "...I can do it by myself."
<3129>
// Ignoring my offer, she tries to stand up.
<3130>
// But because of the fever she'll probably be unsteady on her feet. Her legs tangle, and she looks about ready to fall.
<3131>
// I reach out with my arms and envelope her small form in a supporting embrace.
<3132>
// It must be frustrating for her. She seems to be on the verge of tears.
<3133>
// \{\m{B}} "It's alright, Ushio."
<3134>
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you can't do it by yourself now..."
<3135>
// \{\m{B}} "I'll help you change, so...here, raise up your arms..."
<3136>
// \{\m{B}} "There we go..."
<3137>
// Our quiet lifestyle...
<3138>
// Had come to an end.
<3139>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio, is there anything you want?"
<3140>
// \{\m{B}} "If there is, just tell me. I'll get it for you right away."
<3141>
// "...you know, things like toys, candy."
<3142>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3143>
// \{Ushio} "...I wanna travel."
<3144>
// \{\m{B}} "Travel?"
<3145>
// \{Ushio} "...Yeah."
<3146>
// \{Ushio} "...I want to go on a trip with you again, daddy."
<3147>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3148>
// I look down at the floor, silently.
<3149>
// \{Ushio} "...because...the trip with you during summer vacation..."
<3150>
// \{Ushio} "...was fun."
<3151>
// \{\m{B}} "You idiot..."
<3152>
// \{\m{B}} "How was that fun...?"
<3153>
// \{\m{B}} "We just kept on fighting..."
<3154>
// Now, more than ever, I should be able to bring Ushio happiness, and yet...
<3155>
// and yet...
<3156>
// and yet, Ushio...
<3157>
// \{Ushio} "...I wanna go on a trip again..."
<3158>
// \{Ushio} "...on a train..."
<3159>
// \{Ushio} "...with daddy..."
<3160>
// \{\m{B}} "When you get...better, we'll do just that..."
<3161>
// \{Ushio} "...I wanna go now."
<3162>
// \{Ushio} "...right now..."
<3163>
// \{\m{B}} "Come now...Ushio..."
<3164>
// \{\m{B}} "Don't trouble daddy with... impossible things..."
<3165>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3166>
// Ushio isn't the selfish sort at all.
<3167>
// Despite that, not even being able to consider her one wish...
<3168>
// "There's no way that could be..."
<3169>
// "There's no way..."
<3170>
// Perhaps I was...
<3171>
// Our family was...
<3172>
// Just being played around by this town...
<3173>
// Receiving happiness on a whim or prank...
<3174>
// and then having it taken away so easily...
<3175>
// And because of that...they are probably laughing at us.
<3176>
// Looking on at our despairing, huddled forms...
<3177>
// I won't forgive this...
<3178>
// I'll definitely save her.
<3179>
// Only her...
<3180>
// For the first time in a while, I ventured outside.
<3181>
// It was a trip for buying groceries.
<3182>
// Sanae-san looked after Ushio for me.
<3183>
// I planned to return the favor to Sanae-san, but right now my debts continue to multiply.
<3184>
// I had no excuse.
<3185>
// \{Akio} "Yo."
<3186>
// Akio stood right in front of me.
<3187>
// \{Akio} "Glad I met you here."
<3188>
// \{Akio} "When I called your phone a while ago, it said you were out."
<3189>
// \{Akio} "Here, take this."
<3190>
// Taking a white letter out of his back pocket, he held it out to me.
<3191>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3192>
// \{\m{B}} "I can't accept this..."
<3193>
// \{Akio} "You're being stubborn."
<3194>
// \{\m{B}} "No, that's not what I mean..."
<3195>
// \{\m{B}} "I still have my bank savings..."
<3196>
// \{Akio} "Oh? Don't be spewing lies to me boy, or I'll give you a pounding to remember, got it?"
<3197>
// \{\m{B}} "I'm telling the truth..."
<3198>
// Although there's only a little bit left...
<3199>
// \{Akio} "You may feel like less of a man for receiving help, but you still have certain things which you must protect. Am I wrong?"
<3200>
// \{\m{B}} "I know what you mean."
<3201>
// \{\m{B}} "If I ever really do need help, I'll be sure to say so."
<3202>
// \{Akio} "Tch...useless bastard."
<3203>
// He put the envelope right back into his pocket.
<3204>
// \{Akio} "Going food shopping?"
<3205>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<3206>
// \{Akio} "Well then, I'll help you carry the grocery bags; no big deal."
<3207>
// \{\m{B}} "You don't have to."
<3208>
// \{Akio} "Is that so...Well, I guess that's that."
<3209>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah...but thanks for asking."
<3210>
// \{Akio} "Hmm..."
<3211>
// \{Akio} "If you have some spare time, want to go now?"
<3212>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3213>
// Pops narrowed his eyes.
<3214>
// \{Akio} "To our secret place."
<3215>
// We hadn't visited that place for a rather long time.
<3216>
// Because of that, it's almost as if the memories within me are being suppressed.
<3217>
// And, this place…
<3218>
// Before we knew it, it had become a frequently visited place by many people.
<3219>
// We sat down on the bench, side-by-side.
<3220>
// Pops immediately took out a new cigarette, and lit it up.
<3221>
// \{Akio} "Smoke?"
<3222>
// He held out the contents of the box.
<3223>
// \{\m{B}} "Nah, I've given it up already."
<3224>
// \{Akio} "Yeah, smart move."
<3225>
// \{Akio} "Hmph…"
<3226>
// He blew out a long, narrow funnel of smoke.
<3227>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey…"
<3228>
// \{Akio} "Yeah?"
<3229>
// \{\m{B}} "People chose to sacrifice the thriving nature here for the construction of this hospital..."
<3230>
// \{\m{B}} "I really wonder what exactly we'll be trying to sacrifice next..."
<3231>
// \{Akio} "Things like that are pretty common."
<3232>
// \{Akio} "Every day, even you are constantly changing the town's appearance."
<3233>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<3234>
// All I could do was nod vaguely.
<3235>
// \{Akio} "The mountain's still being cut through."
<3236>
// \{Akio} "I hear they're making it into a parking lot."
<3237>
// \{Akio} "To them, the increased convenience makes it worth it."
<3238>
// \{Akio} "Such a wonderful idea."
<3239>
// \{Akio} "Seriously, what the hell..."
<3240>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3241>
// I'm feeling...uneasy...
<3242>
// Like I'm about to be swept away in some great wave.
<3243>
// That uneasy feeling, like I'm going to lose a loved one. 
<3244>
// It existed alongside my concern that the town would continue to change.
<3245>
// --I didn't want it to end this way...
<3246>
// --I said I'd save her...
<3247>
// --I ran recklessly, blindly...
<3248>
// --I've...struggled all this way to come here...
<3249>
// --And felt that the greenery was enveloping her...
<3250>
// Perhaps...
<3251>
// Perhaps... ever since he brought her here...
<3252>
// Nagisa had become one with the town.
<3253>
// ... and now... Ushio is, too...
<3254>
// \{\m{B}} "...The town..."
<3255>
// \{Akio} "Eh?"
<3256>
// \{\m{B}} "The town... from its point of view... it must be painful..."
<3257>
// \{Akio} "Well, towns are creations built and maintained by people."
<3258>
// \{Akio} "I don't think feelings like pain and suffering have anything to do with it."
<3259>
// \{Akio} "Ah, 'continuing to change and develop', that kind of impression, right?"
<3260>
// \{Akio} "If I were the town, then I guess I'd agree."
<3261>
// Then, even the death of humans...
<3262>
// It it something that we truly have to accept?
<3263>
// "Yeah, everything will continue to change"...
<3264>
// But, we are people.
<3265>
// We are living beings with emotions.
<3266>
// We are living beings who show neither signs of sorrow nor traces of losing anything important...
<3267>
// And desperately, continuously fight amongst ourselves.
<3268>
// \{Akio} "Guess we should start heading back soon."
<3269>
// Pops was already standing up.
<3270>
// \{\m{B}} "Oh...yeah, you're right."
<3271>
// In the hospital's entry hall, a group of female nurses stand in a line.
<3272>
// They are all staring intently at something.
<3273>
// Then from the entry hall, accompanied by her parents, a little girl showed up.
<3274>
// The female nurses delivered a bouquet of flowers to the little girl.
<3275>
// \{Akio} "Hm..."
<3276>
// Pops diverts his gaze from the scene.
<3277>
// And then, when he snuffed out his cigarette on the provided ashtray...
<3278>
// \{Akio} "...\wait{600}Here's wishing the best to this town, and it's people!"
<3279>
// Leaving the trail of those words hanging in the air, he started walking.
<3280>
// Winter is here.
<3281>
// The chilly air seems as if it's going to freeze over.
<3282>
// I draw back the curtains and look outside.
<3283>
// I catch my breath suddenly at what I see.
<3284>
// In a moment...\pEverything seemed to be completely blanketed by the white snow.
<3285>
// Not even a building in sight...
<3286>
// A snowfield which looked like it stretched forever in all directions could be seen.
<3287>
// But, that was just a trick of my imagination.
<3288>
// For many years now, snow has never really piled up in this town.
<3289>
// Even if it snows, all it does is soak the ground after quickly melting.
<3290>
// When I return my gaze to the room, all I see is Ushio sleeping.
<3291>
// There was nothing else.
<3292>
// What I had left was simply the lifestyle that Ushio and I led.
<3293>
// It was a lifestyle of lengthy combat against the illness.
<3294>
// I was always by her side.
<3295>
// Our bank savings were already used up.
<3296>
// Not knowing what to do next, there was no hope left.
<3297>
// I wonder what the future has in store for the both of us.
<3298>
// I place my hand on Ushio's forehead.
<3299>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3300>
// The fever's been going on for three days.
<3301>
// And it was still rising this since this morning.
<3302>
// It must be painful.
<3303>
// \{\m{B}} (Ushio...)
<3304>
// I take her hand.
<3305>
// .........
<3306>
// Ushio opened her eyes, just a sliver, and looked at me.
<3307>
// \{\m{B}} "Hey...Ushio..."
<3308>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3309>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go on a trip again..."
<3310>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3311>
// \{\m{B}} "This time, let's have lots of fun..."
<3312>
// \{\m{B}} "And go somewhere, far away..."
<3313>
// \{\m{B}} "...alright?"
<3314>
// \{Ushio} "... okay."
<3315>
// She nodded.
<3316>
// I'm glad.
<3317>
// I picked her tiny frame up and helped her get changed.
<3318>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio... I'll carry you. Come on."
<3319>
// With a ruddy countenance, I offer my back to her.
<3320>
// \{Ushio} "...I can walk."
<3321>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, Ushio..."
<3322>
// \{\m{B}} "Daddy will carry you, alright...?"
<3323>
// \{Ushio} "...no."
<3324>
// \{Ushio} "...I wanna walk."
<3325>
// \{Ushio} "... I wanna walk with daddy."
<3326>
// \{\m{B}} "Okay..."
<3327>
// Just how far can Ushio get on her own two feet?
<3328>
// My chest hurts.
<3329>
// But...I couldn't say anything more.
<3330>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go, Ushio."
<3331>
// "...All right!"
<3332>
// As if on a summer day, she raises her voice in cheer and begins walking.
<3333>
// I look on with a sense of unease.
<3334>
// I support her by holding her hand.
<3335>
// "Huh?" voices Ushio as she looks up.
<3336>
// Immediately, her face took on a look of relief.
<3337>
// Our pace was slow, but...
<3338>
// We continued to walk.
<3339>
// If we reach the station, even while she sleeps, I can take her anywhere she wants.
<3340>
// Up until that point, we will continue on our own feet.
<3341>
// \{Ushio} "...ah."
<3342>
// Ushio stopped.
<3343>
// \{\m{B}} "What's wrong?"
<3344>
// She was looking up at the sky.
<3345>
// On her brow, a snowflake.
<3346>
// I look up at the sky.
<3347>
// Snow was falling gently.
<3348>
// A snow I haven't seen for some time.
<3349>
// But... for some reason...
<3350>
// It seemed sad.
<3351>
// \{\m{B}} "Come on, Ushio..."
<3352>
// \{\m{B}} "Let's go before it really starts coming down."
<3353>
// \{Ushio} "...okay."
<3354>
// We started walking again.
<3355>
// Huff...Huff...
<3356>
// Her breath continued to come out in pure-white puffs.
<3357>
// \{\m{B}} "Are you alright...?"
<3358>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3359>
// \{\m{B}} "...let's take a short break."
<3360>
// \{Ushio} "...no."
<3361>
// \{Ushio} "...let's go."
<3362>
// We kept walking...
<3363>
// And walking...
<3364>
// But the station is still far away...
<3365>
// And then, Ushio's grip on my hand suddenly weakens.
<3366>
// In a panic, I catch and support her in my embrace.
<3367>
// Ushio's body slumps in my arms and lies still.
<3368>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio...!"
<3369>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3370>
// Ushio closed her eyes...with great difficulty she continued to wheeze out white clouds of breath.
<3371>
// \{\m{B}} "Ushio..."
<3372>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3373>
// I couldn't walk anymore.
<3374>
// All I could do was curl over and embrace Ushio's burning, fever-stricken body.
<3375>
// We can't go anywhere anymore.
<3376>
// All I can do is embrace this fragile life, the life of my daughter, 
<3377>
// as if to protect her from the falling snow.
<3378>
// And, right in the middle, I waited, aching.*
<3379>
// Just... \pwhat should I do?
<3380>
// A place like this… what was I doing?
<3381>
// ...That field is too far away to reach...
<3382>
// That jubilant form of Ushio, playing merrily in that field, is unreachable...
<3383>
// This time around, although we were trying to play together...
<3384>
// Even more than that summer day…
<3385>
// We should have been able to get along and play with each other, and yet…
<3386>
// What's more, we were already parent and child…
<3387>
// The two of us were living together.
<3388>
// Even so…
<3389>
// Despite all this…
<3390>
// \{Ushio} "...daddy,"
<3391>
// Before I knew it, Ushio had opened her eyes again.
<3392>
// Painfully, she looks up at me.
<3393>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah...?"
<3394>
// \{Ushio} "...where...are we?"
<3395>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3396>
// \{Ushio} "...are we...in the train yet...?"
<3397>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3398>
// \{\m{B}} "Y... \pyeah, we are."
<3399>
// \{\m{B}} "We're already in the train..."
<3400>
// \{Ushio} "...ah."
<3401>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3402>
// \{Ushio} "........."
<3403>
// \{Ushio} "...daddy..."
<3404>
// \{\m{B}} "What is it...?"
<3405>
// \{Ushio} "...\wait{600}I love you..."
<3406>
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3407>
// Tears streamed down my cheeks... \wait{300}I couldn't hold them back.
<3408>
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<3409>
// \{\m{B}} "Daddy loves you too..."
<3410>
// .........
<3411>
// The snow continued to fall heavily.
<3412>
// For an eternity, I continued going through my memories.
<3413>
// The feeling disappears from my fingertips...
<3414>
// My vision was closing up…
<3415>
// The town was disappearing...
<3416>
// The entire scene was so surreal that...
<3417>
// I had lost all sense of where I was...
<3418>
// .........

Sơ đồ

 Đã hoàn thành và cập nhật lên patch.  Đã hoàn thành nhưng chưa cập nhật lên patch.

×	Chính	Fuuko	Tomoyo	Kyou	Kotomi	Yukine	Nagisa	After Story	Khác
14 tháng 4	SEEN0414							SEEN6800	Sanae's Scenario	SEEN7000
15 tháng 4	SEEN0415		SEEN2415	SEEN3415	SEEN4415			SEEN6801
16 tháng 4	SEEN0416		SEEN2416	SEEN3416			SEEN6416	SEEN6802	Yuusuke's Scenario	SEEN7100
17 tháng 4	SEEN0417	SEEN1417	SEEN2417	SEEN3417	SEEN4417		SEEN6417	SEEN6803
18 tháng 4	SEEN0418	SEEN1418	SEEN2418	SEEN3418	SEEN4418	SEEN5418	SEEN6418	SEEN6900	Akio's Scenario	SEEN7200
19 tháng 4	SEEN0419		SEEN2419	SEEN3419	SEEN4419	SEEN5419	SEEN6419
20 tháng 4	SEEN0420				SEEN4420		SEEN6420		Koumura's Scenario	SEEN7300
21 tháng 4	SEEN0421	SEEN1421	SEEN2421	SEEN3421	SEEN4421	SEEN5421	SEEN6421	Interlude
22 tháng 4	SEEN0422	SEEN1422	SEEN2422	SEEN3422	SEEN4422	SEEN5422	SEEN6422	SEEN6444	Sunohara's Scenario	SEEN7400
23 tháng 4	SEEN0423	SEEN1423	SEEN2423	SEEN3423	SEEN4423	SEEN5423	SEEN6423	SEEN6445
24 tháng 4	SEEN0424		SEEN2424	SEEN3424	SEEN4424	SEEN5424	SEEN6424		Misae's Scenario	SEEN7500
25 tháng 4	SEEN0425		SEEN2425	SEEN3425	SEEN4425	SEEN5425	SEEN6425	Mei & Nagisa
26 tháng 4	SEEN0426	SEEN1426	SEEN2426	SEEN3426	SEEN4426	SEEN5426	SEEN6426	SEEN6726	Kappei's Scenario	SEEN7600
27 tháng 4		SEEN1427			SEEN4427		SEEN6427	SEEN6727
28 tháng 4	SEEN0428	SEEN1428	SEEN2428	SEEN3428	SEEN4428	SEEN5428	SEEN6428	SEEN6728
29 tháng 4	SEEN0429	SEEN1429		SEEN3429	SEEN4429		SEEN6429	SEEN6729
30 tháng 4		SEEN1430	SEEN2430	SEEN3430	SEEN4430	SEEN5430	SEEN6430		BAD End 1	SEEN0444
1 tháng 5		SEEN1501	SEEN2501	SEEN3501	SEEN4501		SEEN6501		Gamebook	SEEN0555
2 tháng 5		SEEN1502	SEEN2502	SEEN3502	SEEN4502		SEEN6502		BAD End 2	SEEN0666
3 tháng 5		SEEN1503	SEEN2503	SEEN3503	SEEN4503		SEEN6503
4 tháng 5		SEEN1504	SEEN2504	SEEN3504	SEEN4504		SEEN6504
5 tháng 5		SEEN1505	SEEN2505	SEEN3505	SEEN4505		SEEN6505
6 tháng 5		SEEN1506	SEEN2506	SEEN3506	SEEN4506		SEEN6506		Other Scenes	SEEN0001
7 tháng 5		SEEN1507	SEEN2507	SEEN3507	SEEN4507		SEEN6507
8 tháng 5		SEEN1508	SEEN2508	SEEN3508	SEEN4508		SEEN6508		Kyou's After Scene	SEEN3001
9 tháng 5			SEEN2509	SEEN3509	SEEN4509
10 tháng 5			SEEN2510	SEEN3510	SEEN4510		SEEN6510
11 tháng 5		SEEN1511	SEEN2511	SEEN3511	SEEN4511		SEEN6511		Fuuko Master	SEEN1001
12 tháng 5		SEEN1512		SEEN3512	SEEN4512		SEEN6512			SEEN1002
13 tháng 5		SEEN1513	SEEN2513	SEEN3513	SEEN4513		SEEN6513			SEEN1003
14 tháng 5		SEEN1514	SEEN2514	SEEN3514	EPILOGUE		SEEN6514			SEEN1004
15 tháng 5		SEEN1515			SEEN4800					SEEN1005
16 tháng 5		SEEN1516			BAD END					SEEN1006
17 tháng 5		SEEN1517			SEEN4904					SEEN1008
18 tháng 5		SEEN1518			SEEN4999					SEEN1009
--	Image Text								Misc. Fragments	SEEN0001
										SEEN9032
										SEEN9033
										SEEN9034
										SEEN9042
										SEEN9071
										SEEN9074