CH 75.5

4-5 minutes 23.04.2023

Accompanied by our daughter, we walked through a strange city.

The straight back of Opika, her confident chest, and the cool high heeled shoes she wore were things my wife and I had never seen before as she walked with a steady gait.

She was a good, honest girl but she had been somewhat shy and indecisive and before I knew it, she had become a dignified, mature woman.

Children grow up much faster than their parents think.

「Here we are」

It was located in an alley much closer to the outer edge of the city than the Schenker’s headquarters or the hospital.

No sign, no store name, just a house on a residential street.

「Here we are? Isn’t this someone’s house?」

「The inside was renovated and turned into a store. It’s my friends store so it’s alright.」

Our daughter took us by hand and let us inside and I could smell the aroma of food.

There was a long, narrow counter with chairs that went all the way from side to side of the restaurant and a long, narrow griddle attached to the front of the counter.

「Ah, Opika, you brought some people with you?」

「Yeah, my father and my mother.」

「What!? Did they come all the way to Torquiva?」

「Yeah, they came to see me.」

「Heh, then, sit in the back. I’ll give you a nice drink.」

「Thanks」

I wonder if that catkin that Opika spoke with is also from the Schenkers.

She was muscular and looked like a roughneck. I wondered how my daughter was able to get along with such a person.

「Hey! Opika’s mother and father! Don’t sit in the back! Don’t eat separately!」

「Ah, yeah….」

「Excuse us」

A loud voice invited us to sit.

What kind of restaurant is this?

The woman at the far end of the table is a fishkin woman with standing red hair. She seems to be drinking sake while eating a fish munier…..

As I was staring at her in a daze, our daughter started to greet the person next to us.

She said it was her friend’s restaurant so I guess they should know each other.

「Good evening Roast-san. Allow us to share the counter.」

「Yeah, Opika. I heard what happened, good for you.」

「Thank you very much.」

Ah, so her name is Roast-san. She looks like someone lively.

「Oi, Wotra!」

「Yeah, what’s up, Roast-oneesan?」

「Put Opika’s bill on my tab.」

「Heh!」

What!?

「Eh? Ah! Roast-san, excuse us!」

「Don’t mind it.」

Roast-san waved her hand to stop my wife and I from getting up to thank her. She gave us a mischievous wink as she downed the amber colored sake.

She put the glass down on the counter, put her hand on Opika’s head and spoke to us.

「Opika’s mom and dad, this girl’s pretty good.」

「Wait wait Roast-san, don’t do that.」

She patted the head of our embarrassed daughter and continued to talk with a smile.

「She’s very motivated even though she doesn’t look like it. Right now, she’s even studying to become a doctor.」

「Y-yeah….」

「Thank you very much」

「She helped everyone at her previous assignment. She’s a good girl desu yo.」

She spoke so kindly.

I couldn’t help but burst into tears.

Many things happened today.

I met my daughter again, whom I thought I might never see again.

I learned that she has found her own path and is living her life surrounded by kind people.

And when she praised my daughter in front of me like this, there’s no way I could still hold back!

I downed the sake that had been placed in front of me in one gulp.

「Here’s your torquivayaki!」

Flat, delicious!

「Here’s your Takoyaki!」

Round, delicious!

「You’re out of booze, here you go.」

Sake served by my daughter, delicious!

「Here’s master’s idea, horumon yakisoba.」

Long, thin, delicious!

After eating delicious food being cooked on the griddle in front of me and pouring down some of the best sake I’ve ever had, I find myself full, weak, and light headed.

I said goodbye to Roast-san and Wotra-san, who had completely overindulged and returned to the inn with my daughter who lent me her shoulder to lean on.

In my dream, I saw my daughter when she was still a little girl asking me to carry her on my shoulders.