Friends are Family

When Touma got out of the clothing store, he went to various department sheds to acquire what he needed to live with a child. After some time, he came to a gear shop and entered it.

“Oh, if it isn't Doctor Hidayashi, do you need another big knife to cut off some limbs?” said the Gear Shop owner.

“Not today, Mr. Smith, I am here for something that could lock up my weapons,” said Touma.

“You want to lock up your weapons? Guess that is a really good idea, you having a kid and all” said Mr. Smith, scratching his chin.

“Did Chief already tell you too?” Asked Touma.

“Oh no, he spread the message with a flyer.” Said Mr. Smith as he laughed he he pulled out a flyer from under his desk and handed it to Toma.

Touma grabbed the flyer and read it.

“No wonder the other store owners were so quick to help me gather children's items.” Said Touma.

“Honestly, I am surprised that you adopted A child.” Said Mr. Smith.

“I didn't really. Never mind.” Said Touma defeated

I remember when I had my children, those little rascals would mess around when they were small, and you would also hope that they would grow up. But now that they have grown up, you wish they were small again, ha ha ha.” Said Mr. Smith as he laughed.

“What? How does that make sense?” questioned Touma, confused.

“Oh, don't worry, you'll understand when you get there,” said Mr. Smith comfortingly.

Toma let out a sigh.

“Can we go back to why I came here?” Asked Touma.

“Oh sure, sure, I have a safe you could use. I'll bring it out right now.” Said Mr. Smith as he walked away into his inventory.

Mr. Smith comes back outside with the digital safe and places it on the table.

“There you go, here is the safe.” Said Mr. Smith as he had over a manual,

“Thanks for this, " said Touma as he looked at his watch and noticed he must be heading back to the clothing store. As he carried the things he had obtained, he made his way to the clothing store and entered.

“Hey, I'm back.” Said Toma.

As he said those words, he spotted Alice dashing towards him and grabbing onto his legs as she looked up to him, he could notice her eyes were streaming down tears, and her mouth wanted to cry but didn't let out a sound as she held Touma tightly.

“She didn't cry, but she sure did miss you.” Mrs. Barry said as she came from the back of the store.

“But I haven't even been gone for that long.” Said Toma.

“There are many things you have to learn as a parent, and one of them is that a minute for an adult is an eternity for a child.” Said Mrs. Barry.

Mrs. Barry got closer and knelt to Alice's level.

Alice, dear, now's your chance to say what I told you.” Mrs. Barry said as Alice nodded and stepped away from holding on to Touma.

“How do I look, Daddy?” Said Alice in a low voice as she twirled in her new outfit.

Because of the previous commotion, Toma did not realize the new outfit that Alice had on. It was a navy summer dress with no sleeves and two small pockets on both sides of her waist, and her washed black are flowed smoothly. As her twirl came to an end, she looked at Touma, waiting for a response.

“You look fin- Wait, what did you call me?” Ask Touma, as the last word of Alice's sentence just sank in.

“Daddy.” Repeated Alice.

“Isn't that cute?” Mrs. Barry said as she chuckled, placing her hand over her lips.

“Did you tell her to call me that?” Asked Touma, concerned.

“Well, of course, if you're going to be her father, she might as well call you the part that is one of the ways for a child to get closer to their parent.” Said Mrs. Barry.

“Daddy, how do I look?” Ask Alice again, still waiting for his answer.

Touma was about to respond until Mrs. Barry interrupted him.

“And don't you dare say she looks fine, give a better compliment.” Mrs. Barry said about to get angry.

“Um, you look very beautiful.” Said Touma, taking some time to say those words.

“Thank you, Daddy,” said Alice as she hugged him happily from Toumas' compliment.

“Oh, wait right here a moment I have something for you.” Mrs. Barry said as she went to the back of the store and later came out with a pot filled with food and handed it to Toma.

“You're giving me food. You know, I have, I have at home.” Said Toma was trying to turn down the offer.

“You and I know that noodle cups are not food.” Said Mrs. Barry sternly.

“Did you interrogate Alice?” Asked Toma.

“Oh no, how could I do that? I merely got to know her better, but, in all honesty, you should really get yourself someone who knows how to cook, I mean, you are 25 and Alice will need a mother figure at some point,” said Mrs. Barry.

“Can't I just bring her here with you?” said Touma.

“No, of course you can't just bring her here with me every time she has problems, she should have both parent figures in her life so she can talk to.” Said Mrs. Barry

“I guess you're not wrong, but it's not going to be easy to find the wife just like that.” Said Touma.

As Touma was saying this, Lucy was coming out of the back of the store with some other clothing for Alice.

“Oh, how about my daughter Lucy? She's always had a huge-.” Mrs. Barry was saying when Lucy overheard the conversation and sprinted towards her mother and covered her mouth in time before the next words.

“A huge heart, that's what I have, and with that in mind, I have finished some more clothing for Alice.” Said Lucy, red with embarrassment and in a hurry. She let go of her mother and handed the other clothing to Touma.

“Oh, well, thanks a lot to both of you.” Said Touma as he turned to leave.

“Thank you.” Said Alice, also waving her hand.

As Toma walks, filled with things in his hands on one side, the pot he was given by Mrs. Barry, on the other, some appliances he got from the department, and trying to hold on to some bags of clothing for Alice. Alice also held on to Touma so as not to get separated from him. Sometime after, they both finally arrive home. Alice, seeing how Touma opened the door last time, grabbed Touma's keys and repeated what he did, opening the door, allowing Touma to go in.

“It's impressive how fast you learn.” Said Touma, placing the things he carried on the table.

Alice yawns and stretches as if she worked all day.

“Well, let's have dinner.” Said Touma was going to the kitchen with the pot that Mrs. Barry gave him and placing it on the stove.

With this, Alice sat at the table waiting for the food to be served. As Touma was finished heating the food, he got his plate and the new plate he had obtained for Alice and placed it in front of Alice as he sat down.

“Well, enjoy the food.” Said Touma as he and Alice started eating.

“So, did you like the clothing you got?” Touma asked, trying to make conversation.

“Yes, they're really pretty, Lucy said I am really pretty, I think Lucy is really pretty too. Daddy, do you think Lucy's pretty?” Said Alice. Looking up to Touma

“Uh, that took a turn, I guess Lucy is pretty never mind, you should finish your food.” Said Touma as he also started eating quickly.

Soon after, when both were finished eating, Touma headed to his room and put Alice to bed, and tucked her in as she fell asleep. He placed the safe on the bottom shelf of the closet in his room. As he was finished putting his working knives inside the safe, he heard a knock on the door. He stood up and looked back to see if the knock had woken up Alice. Seeing that it didn't, he went to the door and opened it.

“Hey, yo, how have you been?” said Seki as he invited himself in.

“Oh, hey Seki, I'm good, thanks.” Said Touma.

“That's great,” Seki said as he pulled up a chair to sit down, making a bit of noise.

“Yo, don't make so much noise,” said Touma as he hushed him.

“Oh, sorry, my bad, I forgot you had a child living with you.” Said Seki

“That's fine, so how did your Raiding go?” asked Touma

“Everything went well, to say the least, though we did lose 3 men, but we did find more doctors. I'm sure the chief already told you that and-.” Seki stopped talking, thinking whether he should reveal the next bit of information.

“And what?” Ask Touma curiously as he can closer and sat next to Seki

“The raiding party and I think we might have gotten close to another settlement.” Said Seki

“Of monsters, what's so secret about that?” Ask Touma.

“No. Of more humans.” Whispered Seki.

“Seriously, there's more of us.” Said Touma was surprised at this new information

“The thing is, we can't go trusting every single human we just come across, and mostly a huge settlement of them. Who knows, the leader can be a senile guy who wants the end of the world.” Said Seki.

“Does the Chief already know this?” asked Touma.

“Yes, he does he got informed and he might send some people over there to make some negotiations and scout out the area.” Said Seki

“Do you guys need any assistance?” Ask Touma.

“Oh, from you? Nah, you already have something on your plate, my guy.” Said Seki

“But I could just leave her off with Mrs. Barry and assist you, I am sure she will understand.” Said Touma

“I said no! Look, Touma, I've told you this before about how I lost my parents. I wish they spent more time with me, but instead, they would rather use their time to go on trips and vacations, and they would always leave me with someone. When they did come back, it was to say hi and leave, but the next time someone knocked at the door, it was not to say hi but an officer to announce their death. I wouldn't want that for Alice. You have Someone to come back to. So, I beg of you, try to cherish it.” Said Seki in a low but sad tone.

Touma was left speechless by what Seki said

“I'm sorry, I will try.” Set Touma in acceptance of his new role.

“It's getting very late, so I'll get going, you should get your rest,” Saki said as he stood from the chair and started heading towards the door.

Touma followed and said his goodbyes as he closed the door. He headed to the couch and lay down, placing the blanket on top of himself.

“I have someone to come back to.” Thought Toma as he started drifting off to sleep with this last thought in mind.