Chapter Four

Akane stared at the dish placed before her, unable to make sense of what it was.

The ingredients were unfamiliar, but the moment she took her first bite, her confusion melted away. The flavor was so rich—so unexpectedly divine—that she ended up devouring it all in one go, savoring every bit while Mochida remained in the kitchen, quietly preparing his morning coffee.

By the time he returned, he was dressed casually in a light blue V-neck, long-sleeved shirt paired with black jeans. Akane, now seated at the table in a white frock adorned with soft orange floral patterns, looked up at him with quiet admiration. She thought the dress was beautiful, so much so that it felt like something meant for someone loved.

In that moment, it dawned on her: this dress must have once belonged to his daughter. And somehow, without even trying, Mochida looked at her, spoke to her, and cared for her in the exact way he must have once cared for the girl he had lost.

Though a part of Akane felt as though she were intruding on something sacred, something not meant for her, the warmth she found in Mochida’s presence made it impossible to pull away. His arms felt like home, just like her mother’s once did. And his smile, so effortlessly gentle and kind, carried a warmth that reminded her of the way her father used to smile… before everything fell apart.

“Oh? You already finished your pancakes?” Mochida asked with a playful note in his voice as he set his coffee cup down on the table.

“Do you want more?”

Akane’s eyes lit up, glimmering with childlike joy, and she gave a shy little nod.

Mochida grinned, crossing his arms in mock seriousness.

“All right—but only if you finish that cup of milk first, young lady.”

Her heart sank.

Oh no.

She hated milk.

Despite her distaste, Akane puffed her cheeks in protest, then downed the entire cup of milk in one determined gulp. Mochida couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at her exaggerated pout before heading back to the kitchen.

Moments later, he returned with another plate, stacked with golden pancakes, drizzled generously with maple syrup, and topped with a swirl of whipped cream. He placed it gently in front of her, then affectionately ruffled her hair as he spoke with a teasing warmth.

“Aww, don’t pout. I’ll pick up some chocolate syrup or something tasty to mix with your milk next time. But it’s important to drink it every morning if you want to grow taller, smarter, and stronger.”

Akane stared down at her plate, eyes thoughtful.

She did want to grow stronger.

Stronger… so that one day, she could protect him.

No matter what.

No matter where.

After they finished breakfast, Mochida gently guided Akane back to her room. He had her sit down on the cushioned chair in front of the small vanity, then moved behind her and began to carefully work through her long, dark hair with his fingers.

Akane sat still, her hands resting quietly in her lap, but her gaze soon dropped, her vision blurring as tears welled up in her eyes. This moment—it was so familiar. So painfully tender. It reminded her of how her mother used to do her hair, clumsily but full of love. She never thought she'd feel that kind of warmth again, never imagined anyone would ever treat her this way.

And in that quiet, fragile moment, she realized—if she had never met Mochida, she might never have felt it again.

As Mochida gently brushed Akane’s long hair up into a neat high ponytail, he carefully smoothed her fringe, styling it with a delicate touch. His voice was calm, but there was a subtle weight behind it as he began to speak.

“Akane,” he said softly, “I know this might not sit well with you… but I think we should consider leaving this city. Move somewhere far away, start fresh. I want to change your appearance a bit and have you registered under a new name, as my daughter. That way, you’ll be able to live a normal life by my side, free from the government’s shadow.”

He paused, still gently adjusting her hair, his reflection meeting hers in the mirror.

“I understand it’s a lot to take in. And I won’t rush you. But the sooner you can give me an answer… the safer you’ll be. Even if it means saying no, I need to know how you truly feel.”

As Mochida finished tying the last strand into place, he offered Akane a small, warm smile through the mirror. Her reflection looked back at him—sweet, composed, and impossibly adorable. For a brief moment, a flicker of lightness danced in his chest. He set the brush down carefully on the vanity, turned on his heel, and began to head toward the door.

But before he could take another step, he felt a sudden tug—small arms wrapping tightly around him from behind.

Akane had embraced him, her cheek pressed gently to his back.

And then came the words—soft, but bursting with quiet conviction. Words that hit him like a wave of warmth, catching him completely off guard.

“All right, Dad. I choose you.”

Mochida slowly turned around and dropped to his knees, placing himself at eye level with her. His gaze searched hers with gentle concern as he spoke.

“Are you absolutely sure about this?” he asked softly. “We can still try finding a new family to adopt you—parents who—”

But before he could finish, Akane suddenly shouted, her voice ringing with fierce emotion, “NO!”

She lunged forward, grabbing his face in her small hands, holding his cheeks tightly as her crimson eyes burned with something raw and real.

“If I’m going to choose another family… another dad,” she said, her voice trembling but full of certainty, “then it has to be you. If not, then Akane has no reason to live.”

Her grip tightened slightly as her words poured from her heart, unfiltered and honest.

“Your shine… it’s what saved my life. I was nothing but a broken mess—lost in grief, drowning in what I’d lost. But then I saw you. And you shared your light with me to hold on to.”

She gazed into his eyes, her own brimming with tears, her expression stubbornly grumpy despite the vulnerability behind it. Mochida looked back at her, unsure if he had done enough, if he was enough—but in that moment, he realized something quietly powerful.

She was his… shine, too.

The light he thought he had lost forever when his family was taken from him.

A tender smile spread across his face as he gently pulled her into his arms, holding her with the utmost care. His voice was soft, steady, and full of warmth.

“Of course, little one. Let’s become a family… and I’ll name you Kotori. My little bird.”

And just like that, her tears—no longer from pain, but from overflowing love—slipped down her cheeks. Kotori nodded through the emotion and wrapped her arms around him tightly, offering him every bit of warmth she had left while accepting all the love he had to give.

In that moment, they were no longer two lost souls.

They were home.

Ready for the change that awaited them.

Because in each other, they had found their once-lost inner shine.