When the back door swung open—
The first person Touka Kirishima saw was Ren.
For a brief moment, her bloodshot purple eyes froze on his figure.
He looked slightly exhausted.
But he was unharmed.
The tension that had gripped her heart all night loosened instantly.
She finally exhaled the breath she had been holding since evening.
Then—
Her gaze moved past him.
And landed on the man he was supporting.
Time seemed to stop.
The face was older.
Thinner.
Scarred by years of suffering.
But even through the ravages of time—
She recognized it instantly.
Her fingers tightened around the doorframe.
Her pupils shrank.
Her entire body began trembling uncontrollably.
No words were spoken.
None were needed.
The longing and worry that Touka had suppressed for more than a decade burst out like a broken dam.
She rushed forward.
Throwing herself into the arms of Arata Kirishima.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his frail body.
Her face buried deep against his neck.
Her shoulders shook violently.
Tears poured from her eyes.
Hot and unstoppable.
Soaking into her father's clothes.
A sob escaped her throat.
Raw.
Broken.
The sound echoed softly through the quiet alley behind Anteiku.
She held him desperately.
As if loosening her grip even slightly might cause him to disappear again.
Like a dream fading at dawn.
Arata staggered backward from the force of the embrace.
His weakened body nearly collapsing.
Only Ren's steady support kept him standing.
After the first shock passed—
Arata slowly raised his trembling arms.
Carefully.
Tenderly.
He held his daughter.
He could feel her trembling.
Her desperate strength.
The force of her grip that almost hurt his ribs.
His cloudy eyes filled with tears.
Blurring his vision.
His throat tightened.
His voice came out hoarse.
Soft.
"…Touka."
"Daddy's back."
His arms tightened around her.
As if trying to gather the lost years into this single embrace.
At that moment—
Touka shifted slightly.
Still clinging to her father.
But her tear-blurred eyes glanced toward the man standing beside them.
Ren.
She noticed the blood on his clothes.
The faint scent of battle still lingering around him.
Warm emotions stirred within her chest.
Mixed with embarrassment.
Color rushed into her cheeks.
Her ears turned red.
Ren noticed immediately.
His sharp senses caught every detail.
The blush.
The shy hesitation.
He smiled gently.
Then glanced down at the blood staining his clothes.
Understanding the awkwardness—
He slowly released his support from Arata.
Making sure the father and daughter were steady.
Then stepped back.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat quietly.
"Um…"
"You two should continue."
"I'll… go upstairs and take a shower first."
He winked briefly at Touka.
Offering a reassuring look.
Then he nodded respectfully to Arata.
Turned—
And began walking toward the back door of the café.
"Wait!"
Touka's voice suddenly stopped him.
He paused.
Turning back.
Touka lifted her head from her father's shoulder.
Her face was still wet with tears.
Her cheeks flushed crimson.
Her purple eyes stared directly at him.
Clear and determined.
Under her father's confused gaze—
Touka made a decision.
She slowly loosened her embrace around Arata.
Though she still held onto one of his arms instinctively.
Then she stepped forward.
And before anyone could react—
She reached out.
Wrapping her other arm around Ren's waist.
Her cheek pressed gently against his blood-stained shoulder.
He froze.
Completely caught off guard.
For a moment—
His hands hovered awkwardly in the air.
Then slowly—
He returned the embrace.
One hand resting gently on her back.
Arata stared.
Completely stunned.
His mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
His daughter.
Embracing the young man who had rescued him.
With unmistakable intimacy.
Confused—
He blurted out instinctively.
His voice still thick with emotion.
"…Aren't you two… friends?"
His perception of Touka had frozen in time.
Still the little girl he remembered.
He could not understand the closeness before him.
"Cough—!"
Ren nearly choked.
Embarrassment flashed across his face.
He glanced down at Touka.
Who stubbornly refused to lift her face from his shoulder.
Her ears were now bright red.
Clearing his throat awkwardly—
He tried to explain.
"Well…"
"Mr. Kirishima…"
"Strictly speaking…"
"…boyfriend and girlfriend…"
His voice grew quieter.
"…isn't that just…"
"…a rather special kind of friend?"
Silence filled the alley.
Touka buried her face deeper into his shoulder.
Her fingers gripping his clothes tightly.
Arata stood frozen.
Looking back and forth between them.
The smell of blood still lingered in the air.
But another atmosphere had begun to replace it.
Arata looked carefully.
At the young man holding his daughter.
At the protective way his hand rested gently on her back.
Then he looked at Touka.
At her relaxed posture.
Her trusting embrace.
The way she leaned against the man's shoulder without hesitation.
Understanding slowly dawned in Arata's eyes.
During the long years he had been imprisoned—
His daughter had grown up.
He had missed it all.
Her struggles.
Her fears.
Her victories.
But now—
He could see the result.
Touka had survived.
She had become strong.
And she had found someone she trusted.
Someone who would stand beside her.
After a long moment—
Arata gave a small nod.
He had not been a good father.
He had failed to protect his children.
But seeing Touka like this—
Alive.
Strong.
And no longer alone—
For the first time in many years—
Arata Kirishima felt relieved.
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