"Wow, that sounded great! Why haven't I seen you in the Brass Band Club?"
"Wha—?!"
The voice from behind made Sakiko's hands freeze mid-phrase.
Realizing how deeply she'd been absorbed, she quickly closed the keyboard, bowed an apology, and hurried out of the room.
The moment she stepped into the corridor, she saw several Brass Band members heading her way.
Head lowered, she walked past them and gradually moved out of sight.
Only then did she pull out her phone to check the time.
"Three-thirty-eight. From what I just saw, the club starts around three-thirty."
"Good. I'll keep watching tomorrow. Even half an hour would be enough if I know the exact slot."
She clenched her small fist, excitement for the future swelling inside her.
Today she needed to scout the club's schedule—and face her father when she got home.
She'd taken no part-time shifts for the rest of the day.
So first, home: a real conversation with her dad.
Remembering how cold her expression usually was, she resolved to soften it this time.
Surely, if he saw how earnestly she treated everything, he'd find the strength to change.
Filled with that hope, Sakiko stepped back into her father's cramped apartment.
But the growing mountain of beer cans made her bright smile crumble.
Still, for the sake of a real talk, she forced her face back into something gentler.
Yet when she reached the living room and saw him lying there like a slab of lifeless meat, anger flared.
She swallowed it, sat down opposite the motionless figure on the tatami, and spoke with quiet firmness.
"Father, please—don't go on like this."
"If Mother saw you, it would break her heart."
"She wouldn't want to see you like this, not where she is now."
"So pull yourself together. No hardship lasts forever."
"If we keep moving forward, our lives will get better—happier—bit by bit!"
Her father only sighed and shook his head.
"Sakiko, you don't understand. Please leave me be; it only hurts more."
"Then let that pain wake you up! The father I remember was strong and gentle!"
"You don't understand, child... you simply don't."
"Explain it to me, then. I want to understand."
"You wouldn't. Just leave me—leave me alone."
"Father..."
"Don't talk anymore. I need quiet."
"But you've been alone for days. Isn't that enough?"
"Let me have my silence."
"Still—"
When he turned his face away, Sakiko gave a small, angry humph. "I'm going to study. Think about what I said. Tomorrow I want to see my father back on his feet."
With that she stalked to her room.
All those carefully prepared words, all the tactics she'd rehearsed on the way home—gone.
But seeing everything unfold into the scene she least wanted to see still deeply shocked Sakiko's heart.
What exactly was going on? Why couldn't he say it? Clearly, father and daughter should be able to share their feelings.
But... perhaps Father also needs time to process things.
After all, this was the first time she had truly sat before her father and had such a serious conversation with him.
She hoped that by tomorrow, the strong and honest father she once knew would truly stand before her again.
With a confident smile, telling her... that everything before didn't matter anymore, and everything would start anew now!!!
Keep going, Father, show your manly spirit.
Please, Father!!!!!
Time flew by... and it was already the next day. Sakiko was woken up by her phone alarm before four o'clock.
After a quick and simple wash, she prepared to go to her part-time job.
Since there was nothing to do yesterday afternoon and evening, she had a good night's sleep, and it really felt comfortable.
As she reached the entrance hallway... Sakiko glanced at her father's shoes on the floor.
Gritting her teeth and carrying infinite hope, she quietly approached her father's room.
No one was there. So... was he still in the living room drinking all night??
With a feeling of disappointment... Sakiko went to the living room and saw even more wine bottles on the floor, with her dejected father collapsed in the middle of the pile.
He was still clutching a bottle of beer in his hand, murmuring something in his sleep... "You don't understand."
Sigh!!!
With a deep sigh... Sakiko felt that yesterday's hope had completely vanished.
Her father, that once strong and honest father, had he really become like this?
Returning to the entrance, she put on her shoes and went out the door.
She couldn't help but bite her lip, debating whether to ask Shouko to come and talk to her father.
But even her own appeals to their family bond left her father completely indifferent.
Could an outsider like Shouko really be of any use??
...In Soyo's home... Shouko and Soyo were holding each other, sleeping quietly in Soyo's bedroom.
Soyo, who already lacked a sense of security, felt even more vulnerable because of her illness.
At this moment, however, a happy smile filled her face because she was holding Shouko.
Although Shouko had a forceful personality,
it was precisely because of this that Soyo felt even more secure.
Yesterday, Shouko had also requested leave from her Tutor at Minato School.
She probably wouldn't be going to school for three days.
And these three days would be spent at home with Soyo.
Having taken care of her younger sister before... she was long used to the feeling of a child being sick and sweating all over.
Therefore, she didn't feel any disgust toward Soyo, who was sweating after taking medicine.
Coupled with her straightforward personality, she had no problem sleeping at all.
Time passed in a flash, and it was already past six-thirty in the morning.
Although the alarm hadn't gone off, her accustomed biological clock still caused Shouko to gradually wake up.