__

We finally arrived at the store.

It was a simple building.

Wooden walls. A corrugated tin roof.

Small toys hung out front—paper pinwheels and little bells.

I opened the door.

Click.

Inside, wooden shelves were lined up tight.

They held a little bit of everything.

Kitchen supplies. Soap. Batteries. Sandals. Stationery. Lightbulbs. Even charging cables.

They had it all. Even if the choices for each item were limited.

I walked up to the cashier’s counter.

A man and a woman were sitting there.

"Excuse me."

The man looked up.

"Oh... Itsuki." He gave a small smile. "When did you get back?"

"The day before yesterday."

"I see..." He stood up slowly. "What are you looking for?"

"I need to buy cigarettes. And..."

I turned my head.

Yuna was already standing in front of the ice cream freezer.

Her eyes were fixed intently on the contents inside.

"Yuna, if you want one, just grab it."

"Can I?"

"Yeah."

Yuna slid the freezer open.

Cold air immediately spilled out along with a thin mist.

She took out two ice creams.

"Just one."

"But what about you, Papa?..."

"I don’t really like ice cream."

Yuna finally put one back.

Then she walked over to me, holding the ice cream carefully.

"Your daughter?" the man at the register asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh..."

I pulled my phone from my pocket.

"Cigarettes, the ice cream, and..." I opened my photo gallery. "I’d like to print some pictures."

"Sure." The man pointed to a small printer in the corner. "Just send them over Bluetooth."

"Hm."

I quickly selected several photos.

Hit send.

A few seconds later, the printer whirred to life.

Whir. Clack.

"That’s quite a few..." The man glanced at the incoming data. "Is this all of them?"

"Yeah."

"Alright."

He started printing them one by one.

Meanwhile, Yuna was still struggling to open her ice cream.

Her hands twisted and turned the plastic wrapper.

But it wouldn’t open.

"Here."

She handed the ice cream to me.

I tried pulling the edge of the wrapper.

It wouldn’t budge.

"You can’t do it either..." Yuna said softly.

"I can."

I bit the edge of the plastic.

Riiip.

It tore open.

"Here."

Yuna took it back.

She immediately took a small bite.

Her eyes narrowed in delight.

"It’s good..."

"Do you want to try it, Papa?"

"No."

"Just a little bite..."

"Alright, alright..."

I took a small bite.

The cold instantly pierced my teeth.

"...Ouch."

Yuna just gave a little laugh.

"It’s good, right?"

"I prefer coffee."

The printer finally stopped.

The man came over carrying a stack of photos.

Quite a few. Probably close to thirty prints.

"Take a look and make sure they’re alright."

I took them.

"Hm..."

They turned out pretty good.

"Papa, whose photos are those?"

"Yours."

"Huh?"

Yuna immediately stepped closer.

"When did you take pictures of me? I don’t remember."

"Here, look for yourself."

I handed her the stack.

Yuna immediately looked through them, one by one.

A look of wonder crossed her face.

There were photos of her sleeping on the train. Eating ramen. Studying. Helping with the cooking. Staring at the rice fields while spinning around.

And many more.

"Woah..." she murmured softly.

I paid for everything.

Then we left the store.

All the way home, Yuna kept looking at the photos.

"Papa..."

"Hm?"

"The pictures are really nice." She flipped to another one. "But why aren’t you

in any of them?..."

"I don’t really like taking pictures of myself."

"Hm..."

Yuna stared at one of the photos a little longer.

"I’m going to take pictures of you later, too."

"Suit yourself."

A gentle breeze blew past.

I took out my phone.

Opened my contacts.

Older Sister.

I typed a brief message.

"Sis, come home for a bit."

Hit send.

Second Sibling.

"Oi, we’re doing something at home. Come back."

Hit send.

Third Sibling.

I paused for a moment.

Then typed.

"." "Summer break has started, come on home."

Hit send.

I put my phone back into my pocket.

Beside me, Yuna was still holding the photos tightly.

"Papa."

"Hm?"

"Could you take me to the post office later?"

"Yeah."

We continued our walk home beneath the warm morning sun.

__

Evening was drawing near.

The sky slowly changed color. Bright blue fading into a golden orange.

Thin clouds stretched across the western horizon. Catching the last rays of the sun.

House lights flickered on, one by one.

The crackle of frying oil echoed from the kitchen. And the rich aroma of dinner began to fill the house.

I sat on the porch. In the distance, flocks of birds flew by. Returning to their nests.

The air was growing chilly.

And the mosquitoes were starting to come out.

I picked up the coffee from the small table beside me.

Sip.

Bitter. Just a little sweet.

Perfect.

Small footsteps approached from behind.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Soft against the wooden floor.

"Papa... the food is ready."

"Yeah."

Yuna stopped beside me.

Her hair was slightly tousled by the evening breeze.

"What are you doing, Papa?"

"Nothing."

I looked back up at the sky.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then—

The sound of a car engine echoed from the end of the village road, drawing closer.

Growing steadily louder.

Headlights swept across the front yard.

A taxi rolled to a stop right in front of the house.

I stood up slowly.

"They’re here."

"Who is it, Papa?..."

"Your uncles."

The taxi door opened.

A college student stepped out first. A backpack hung from his shoulder.

Behind him, two grown men also got out.

One of them carried a large paper bag. The other carried a cardboard box.

They paid the fare. Then made their way into the yard.

"Itsuki." One of them raised a hand. "We’re here."

"What’s this all about, anyway?" another asked while taking off his shoes.

"Just come inside first."

They stepped into the house.

Yuna stood slightly behind me. Watching them one by one.

"Who’s the kid?" one of the men asked upon noticing Yuna.

"My daughter."

"Huh?!"

The three of them practically spoke at the same time.

The college student immediately glanced at his two older brothers.

"Maybe Itsuki married a divorcee."

"Hahaha—"

"What are you laughing at?" I gave them a deadpan stare. "Is something funny?"

Their laughter died instantly.

"...Not really."

We walked into the living room.

The lighting felt warm and inviting. The TV was still humming softly in the corner.

"Mom... we’re home."

Everyone’s head immediately turned.

Mom was the most startled of all.

She froze in place for a few seconds.

"You guys..."

Her voice trailed off.

"You came home..."

Tears immediately spilled from her eyes.

She hurriedly stood up, her steps quick as she rushed over to them.

"Mom..."

The eldest brother pulled her into a hug right away.

"I’m home..."

"Me too."

"I know, I know..." Mom’s voice began to tremble. "Welcome home..."

She held them tightly.

"What brought this on..." She wiped her eyes. "Why did you all suddenly come home at the same time?..."

"And you..." She looked at her eldest son. "Usually a phone call is enough..."

Then she turned to the next son.

"And weren’t you busy with work?..."

"How is your child doing?..."

"Mom..."

A few tears slipped from their eyes as well.

But no one broke down sobbing.

They hurriedly wiped their faces, letting out embarrassed little chuckles.

"Papa..." Yuna gave my shirt a little tug. "Are they your brothers too?"

"Yeah."

"Woah..."

Yuna started quietly counting on her fingers.

"One... two... three..."

She looked all around the room.

Four. Five. Six. Seven.

"There are seven..." she murmured softly to herself.

I walked inside. Then took a seat a short distance away from the low table.

Giving them space to gather around.

Mom finally pulled back from the embrace.

"Sit down, all of you..."

They took their seats around the table.

Then, every gaze shifted to Dad.

"Dad... we’re home."

Dad was sitting in his usual chair.

A cup of black coffee still resting in his hand.

"Yeah," Dad replied calmly. "Welcome home."

He didn’t shed a tear.

But his eyes looked slightly misty.

Author’s Note:

- 1st child = Not biological, already married.

- 2nd child = Itsuki.

- 3rd child = Currently working.

- 4th child = A college student.

- 5th child = In middle school.

- 6th child = A girl, in 6th grade.

- 7th child = In 4th grade, same as Yuna.

- Yuna = Itsuki’s adopted daughter (not biological).

__

The next day.

Somewhere else. Far from the old wooden house, the rice fields, and the chirping of night crickets.

In a quiet, luxurious apartment on the outskirts of the city, a woman sat alone in the living room.

Kanzaki Sayaka.

Her black hair cascaded past her shoulders. Straight. Neat. Yet still slightly tousled from sleep.

She wore a soft-colored nightgown. Sheer. Elegant.

The morning was silent.

There was only the low hum of the air conditioner. And the occasional, faint sound of traffic from outside the window.

On the table lay an ivory-white envelope. Fairly thick.

Beside it sat a cup of hot tea on a small saucer. The steam was still rising slowly.

Sayaka poured a little tea into the saucer to cool. Her movements were graceful.

Accustomed.

She blew on it gently.

Then took a small sip.

It was warm.

Her eyes fell back to the letter.

The sender’s name was written neatly.

Sender: Nishida Yuna

Her hand stopped moving.

"...From Yuna?"

She murmured softly.

Something in her eyes instantly shifted. A little surprised. A little nervous.

She quickly picked up the envelope. Opening it faster than she normally would.

The paper parted.

And several photographs immediately slipped out.

Sayaka blinked slowly.

"Photos...?"

She gathered them up.

Five in total.

The first photo.

Yuna was in her school uniform, a small apron covering her front. She was standing on a little stool in the kitchen.

A frying pan in front of her.

Her face was bright. Her eyes focused intently on the eggs she was cooking.

A small smile graced her lips.

Sayaka stared at the photo for a long time.

"Yuna..."

Her finger touched Yuna’s face on the glossy paper.

Gently.

The second photo.

Yuna was studying at a small table. Several books stacked beside her.

A mug of black coffee sitting near her left elbow.

Yuna was reading with a serious expression.

But her eyes were slightly droopy. As if she was fighting off sleep.

Sayaka smiled faintly.

"Drinking coffee now, are you..."

The third photo.

Yuna sitting in front of an old television.

Her legs tucked under a kotatsu.

Both hands holding a mug of hot chocolate. Thin steam wafting from it.

Her face was so full of life.

Her eyes sparkling as she watched the anime on the screen.

Happy. Pure.

Sayaka let out a soft laugh, wiping the corner of her eye.

"I didn’t know you liked anime..."

Her eyes began to well with tears.

"Forgive me..."

"I was too busy... so much that I never truly paid attention to you..."

The fourth photo.

Yuna at the park.

She was sitting on a swing alongside two other girls.

Her hair blowing in the wind.

She was laughing freely.

Truly laughing.

Not the polite, quiet little smile she used to wear.

The fifth photo.

Yuna standing in the middle of a road running through rice paddies.

The bright blue sky stretching endlessly above.

The expanse of green fields rippling like waves in the wind.

Yuna’s hair was swept up by the breeze.

She was twisting her body slightly.

Her face filled with absolute awe.

As if seeing a world that vast for the very first time.

Sayaka gazed at that final photo for a long time.

A very long time.

Then, she slowly placed all the photos back onto the table.

Her hand reached for the main letter.

The paper was slightly crumpled from being opened too quickly.

She unfolded it gently.

The handwriting immediately caught her eye.

It was small.

Neat.

To Mother. Happy Mother’s Day.

From Yuna.

Sayaka’s eyes instantly softened.

She began to read.

Mother...

How are you doing over there? I hope you are always healthy.

I am healthy here, and Papa is healthy too.

By "Papa," I mean what I call Itsuki-san.

Sayaka’s breath hitched for a second.

Her eyes moved slowly to the next line.

I have two friends here. Their names are Mika and Hana.

Mika has an older sister named Misaki. She is really nice. Her cooking is delicious.

But I like Papa’s cooking more, even though it’s burnt sometimes.

Sayaka chuckled softly, covering her mouth.

A few tears began to fall.

I can cook eggs and noodles now, and sometimes I make coffee for Papa.

I played in the rain once on the way home from school.

It was so much fun.

The rain was cold.

I got sick after that, but Papa took care of me until I got better.

I don’t think Papa slept at all that time.

Sayaka’s tears dropped onto the letter.

Leaving tiny, dark blemishes on the paper.

The bento boxes Papa makes look like bricks.

Dense. Hard. Packed tight.

But they taste good.

Sayaka laughed through her tears.

A small, broken sound.

I also went to karaoke.

After that, we went to a cat cafe.

But the cats kept running away from me.

"Haha..."

She covered her eyes with her hand.

Papa said I have a good singing voice.

But I think Papa’s voice is better.

Even though he sings a little weird.

But I like it.

Sayaka’s tears fell harder.

She bowed her head.

Her petite shoulders trembled slightly.

"Yuna..."

"I never imagined... that you could be this happy..."

"Forgive me..."

"Forgive your father, too..."

"We were too busy..."

"So busy we didn’t realize... that we never truly looked at you..."

Sayaka took a deep breath.

Trying to calm herself.

But her voice continued to quiver.

"Being an idol was my dream..."

"And Seiji-san... he was bound by his work... his family... his

responsibilities..."

"He and I..."

"We just kept moving... kept chasing after things..."

"But we didn’t realize..."

"We were leaving you all alone."

She went back to reading.

Papa rarely works.

Papa is usually at home with me.

Even though sometimes he doesn’t do anything at all.

Sayaka let out another small laugh.

But sometimes when Papa works, he doesn’t come home all day.

But he always comes home the next day.

Her eyes moved further down the page.

The day before yesterday, Papa and I went to Grandpa’s house.

There are lots of rice fields there.

The air is cold.

The mangoes are super delicious.

It turns out Papa has a lot of siblings.

Grandma’s cooking is really good too.

Grandpa doesn’t talk much.

I like going on trips with Papa.

The final sentences were at the very bottom.

Written in slightly larger handwriting.

Thank you, Mother.

I love Papa.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Sayaka slowly folded the letter closed.

Her hands trembling faintly.

Then, she pressed the letter and the photos tightly against her chest.

She bowed her head.

The tears fell, entirely beyond her control now.

"Yuna..."

"I’m sorry... I’m so, so sorry..."

"Back then, I didn’t understand why you suddenly wanted to become Itsuki-san’s

child..."

"It made no sense to me..."

"I knew I wasn’t a good mother..."

"But now..."

"I understand..."

"Itsuki-san gave you something I never could..."

Sayaka closed her eyes.

Clutching the letter even tighter.

"Yuna..."

"You really do love Itsuki-san..."

"Your Papa..."

~~~ • ~~~