I sighed and aimlessly wandered around, feeling bored.
Yoko arrived at the police station carrying fruits and tonics. My father hadn't been home for several days, so she immediately leaned softly against his shoulder.
"Dad, is the work stress getting to you lately? Why don't you take a vacation? I can accompany you."
"I still need to follow up on the case. Once it's solved, I'll take some time off. I haven't had a chance to spend time with you due to the ongoing investigations. I hope you're not mad at me."
If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I wouldn't have known that my father had such a gentle and caring tone.
"Why would I be mad? You're the best dad in the world. How could I ever be angry with you?"
I floated numbly by their side, watching their deep father-daughter bond.
All that remained in my heart was a bitter smile.
In a trance, it felt as if I had returned to the first time I met Yoko.
She was the girl my father encountered while investigating a case involving human trafficking. She was seven years old at that time and had been sold by criminals to a poor countryside in the mountains.