To Father
To Kyousuke-san.
I have not written many letters before, so I do not really know what words to use or how I should convey things, but I wanted to express my gratitude somehow, so I decided to put it into a letter.
I still clearly remember the face of Kyousuke-san who took my hand when I was crying quietly in the park back when I was in elementary school. I remember the warmth of your hand, and how you pulled me forward.
Thank you. For saving me back then.
If Kyousuke-san had not reached out to me at that time, I think I might have eventually taken my own life.
After that, Kyousuke-san continued to help me.
In elementary school, in middle school, and even with what happened recently, and many other times as well.
Every single time, you helped me and stayed by my side to support me. I can say without a doubt that I would not be who I am now if you had not been there.
Thanks to you, I am able to think that I will try to keep living today too.
No matter how much I try to express my gratitude, it is never enough, and I do not intend to claim that I have repaid you with just a single letter.
But I wanted to give shape to my gratitude, and this letter is what I came up with.
The contents may be messy and hard to understand, but I hope that this letter can convey even a little of my feelings of gratitude toward you.
Lastly, do you remember when I once called you father?
From now on, instead of Master or Kyousuke-san, is it okay if I call you Father?
We are not related by marriage, and we do not share blood. I was just someone you happened to help, but is it alright if I call you Father?
After causing you so much trouble, you might think, what are you even saying, but to me, Kyousuke-san is my second father.
Warm, dependable, and watching over me.
That is the kind of person you are, so may I call you Father?
If you do not like it, you may cut out this part and throw it away, or even throw away the entire letter if you want.
Thank you for reading this letter.
The usual café.
After closing time, Yuuki, Kyousuke, and Yume were inside.
Both Kyousuke and Yume were holding bouquets.
Tears spilled from Kyousuke’s eyes as he held the bouquet he received from Yuuki.
The face that always tried to remain cool and dependable in front of Yuuki became scrunched up, and the tears would not stop.
Seeing that, Yuuki panicked and struggled desperately to get him to stop crying, until Kyousuke placed the bouquet on the table and pulled Yuuki into a hug.
“Of course it is fine. Call me Father from now on.”
When Yuuki was embraced by Kyousuke and heard those words, all the anxiety he had been carrying disappeared, and his chest slowly filled with warmth. He gently, though still a little timidly, hugged him back.
Yume had been watching them with a lonely expression, but noticing her, Yuuki stepped away from Kyousuke’s embrace and quietly approached her.
“Um, Yume-san.”
“What is it?”
“This.”
What he handed her was the same kind of stationery he had given to Kyousuke.
“F-for me?”
“Yes. It is short, so I thought it might be better to say it out loud, and I was unsure whether I should give it to you.”
“I-I see.”
Yume had not expected that she would receive one too, and though surprised, she could not hide the happiness showing through.
“What I am about to say is the same as what is written in the letter, but will you listen?”
“Y-yes.”
Facing Yume directly, Yuuki began to speak.
“The other day, you said that maybe you were unreliable. I could not respond then, but now I can.”
“Yume-san is someone I can rely on. I have been tricked by many women in the past, but I truly believe that. I want to believe that.”
“You thought about me and made suggestions, and you tried to protect me. With the lunchbox, with Hinata Arisa, and even with Ayaka.”
“You were always trying to support me. The one who refused to see that was me. I am sorry.”
“I am still a little bad at dealing with you, but from now on, even little by little, I want to try believing in you. You said I did not have to believe you, but because you tried to reach out to me, I want to take a small step toward you as well.”
“It may sound arrogant, but that is what I wanted to say.”
Yume listened to Yuuki’s words quietly, and then, just like Kyousuke, she began to cry.
Perhaps because Kyousuke had cried earlier and was already emotional, watching her cry made tears rise in his eyes again as well.
Yuuki was even more confused than when Kyousuke cried, and desperately tried to calm them both down.
A few minutes later, once the two had finally stopped crying, Yume and Kyousuke looked at each other and smiled.
Yuuki did not understand why they were smiling, but since they were, he thought that was enough.
It was a very peaceful café.