"He is a very gentle, fair-skinned person, and ......"

"And she looks a lot like you. ”

"But she's no longer in this world. ”

"Sometimes...... I wonder if you're the child she left me......"

(Ah, I accidentally said it directly...... ）

It was because of Alice by his side now that he could say these words.

He picked up another music box and handed it to Alice.

"As a return gift for the painting, I'll give this to you!"

Alice was a little hesitant.

"Such a valuable thing......"

Instead, Stella looked relaxed and refreshed.

"It's okay, it's not such a valuable thing, this one given to me by my wife, I will always keep it, and this one for you was chosen by myself at that time. ”

"Since my wife is no longer there, I think it's better for you to take it. ”

Alice took the music box and twisted the knob. It's hard work.

Then the beautiful melody of the dream wedding sounded as elegant and melodious.

That's a ............

Beethoven's.

To Alice.

As the music progressed, some tears welled up in the corners of Alice's eyes and Stella's eyes.

"Mr. Stella...... I can...... Call you Daddy......?"

Stella wiped away her tears.

He had an extremely happy expression.

The two rows of teeth were still tightly together.

Like a fool.

"Absolutely. ”

Alice stopped crying, and her tiny body flew into Stella's arms.

"I love you!! daddy!!!!!"

"I love you too!! Alice!!"

(What does it feel like......!?)

(My heart, which had nothing and lived as calmly as a plant...... What is this emotion that is emerging now......?)

(I want to protect this child...... ）

(Keep her out of any harm...... ）

(That's what it feels like...... Love...... Is it!?)

"What do you want for dinner?"

"Hamburger meat!"

"You really like this......"

The petite girl's face showed an innocent smile.

But every day before eating, before going to bed, when you get up in the morning.

She would be sure to put her hands on her forehead.

Pray to the gods in heaven.

Pray that your happiness will continue forever.

Stella felt that this was a pointless act.

But since Alice felt that this made sense to her, there was no need to stop it.

"Daddy, let's take a shower!"

"Oh!?no! Get out of here!"

They had a happy time together.

"Daddy, let's sleep together!"

Alice wipes her sleepy eyes and visits Stella's room with her bunny doll in her arms.

The bed wasn't big, but they both slept soundly.

(You've made my nightmares no longer scary.) ）

(If only two people were like that...... Keep going ...... ）

Ha...... Yes......

The girl rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned.

"Is it morning?"

Stella rubbed her head gently.

"That's right, get up, wash your face and brush your teeth~"

"Alice, how about we go for a walk in the park this morning?"

"Scattered...... Step ......?"

Alice hadn't woken up yet.

"Walk~Walk~Walk~"

The small, delicate hand held Stella's thick palm.

Wearing a blue and white dress and a hairpin with irises, Alice is very cute and moving.

The two look like real father and daughter.

There is no room for the slightest doubt from others.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

"When we get home, let's draw together!"

Stella looked relieved.

"Well, okay, let me draw it for you this time, right?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Oh, yes, I want to start learning piano!"

Stella was taken aback.

"Why?"

Alice had a healing smile.

"I think, play Mom's favorite for Dad, that dream wedding!"

Touched, Stella is very pleased now.

To be able to have such a wonderful daughter is like in a dream.

La-la————-la

It was raining, just like the drizzle that Alice and Stella had when they met.

"I knew it earlier...... It's time to bring an umbrella......"

......

Alice walked in front of Stella and turned around.

He smiled like an angel.

"Alice, you don't need an umbrella!"

"Oh?"

Hee-hee.

That angel-like smile could be even brighter.

"Because it's not cold anymore!"

"Even if it's raining, I feel so warm!"

"As long as I'm with my dad, I'll always be warm!"

......

"yes. ”

........................

"Alice !!!!!!!!!"

The two looked behind them for the voice.

Standing in the rain was a blonde adult woman who looked to be in her twenties.

"Alice!"

The woman repeated Alice's name again.

Alice's hands were on her chest, her eyes full of fear.

I was trembling all over.

"Mom...... Mom......"

After the woman confirmed that she was not mistaken, her voice became more rough.

"Alice, I've been looking for you!

Alice clung to Stella's cuff. There were tears rolling in his eyes.

"No! I don't!"

The woman looked at Strana's bewildered face. A look of anger and reproach.

"What have you done to my kids?!?

(Indeed...... She's not my child...... She also has her family...... and parents...... ）

"Don't ...... Said ......"

Alice closed her eyes, squeezed out two tears that she had endured for a long time, and cried out:

"Don't speak ill of Daddy!!! Mommy's big bastard!!!!!"

was shouted by her own child, and the woman was also stunned and stood quietly in the rain. Somewhat shrunken.

For a while, there was no sound around except for the sound of dripping rain.

(Sure enough...... Let the child grow up next to his biological mother...... ）

(Separation of mother and child...... Such a cruel thing...... ）

(Can't be because of my selfishness...... ）

Stella gritted her teeth, and what he said next was all the truth.

"She was standing in the rain, near my house, and I happened to meet her. I let her stay and quickly fell in love with her......"

There was a bit of pain on Stella's face, a painful expression that is characteristic of people when they go against their will.

"So I told her that she could stay with me until she wanted to go back......"

In the rain, the thirty-two-year-old man lowered his head.

"Makes you so worried...... I'm really sorry......"

Alice had already wept into tears.

She looked up at Stella with her swollen red eyes.

"Dad...... Daddy......"

Stella pretended to be strong, crouched down, and said to her with the same high level of tenderness as Alice, "Alice." ”

"You're a good boy, so go back with your mom, okay?"

Alice, who was still sobbing, felt the familiar temperature above her head.

She wanted to wipe away her tears, but it seemed that because of the rain, no matter how she wiped it, tears kept flowing out of her eyes.

"Good ......"

The mother took Alice's hand tenderly.

"Alice, let's go!"

Alice still couldn't bear the grief and was still crying loudly.

What about Stella?

The happiness that I finally got again is gradually moving away from myself step by step.

What will I do in the future, how will I live, just thinking about it is scary.

In the pouring rain, Stella, who turned her back, also shed tears of parting.

(That's fine...... ）

(That's for the best...... ）

(Alice...... ）

(Hope you can be happy...... ）

And just like that, in the rain, the two people who should have been happy were separated.

(See, Alice, the God you ask for every day doesn't make any sense at all.) ）

(I also believe in God, but there is no God in this world.) ）

Alice's mother and daughter walked some distance to a deserted corner of the park.

Originally, there were no people in this peaceful town at this time of morning, not to mention that it was still raining.

The mother just stopped, and then said nothing.

Alice was still in tears, snorting from time to time.

Suddenly, Alice's mother's hand tugged at her and threw Alice out.

Smack!

The delicate body collapsed on the hard concrete, and the beautiful dress was stained by the standing water on the ground.

"It hurts!"

The mother's expression was angry and furious, mixed with hatred.

"You damn it! little slut!"

"Do you know how worried I am!?"

Alice, kneeling on the ground, propped her hands on the ground, as if a drizzle from the sky was about to crush her body.

"Really...... I'm sorry...... Mommy ......"

Touch!

The mother didn't heed Alice's apology, and instead flew up and kicked Alice in the stomach.

The young body could not withstand the attacks of adults, and the yellow rain boots made of rubber kicked the eight-year-old body in the air.

"Ahem!"

"Why !!??"

It's the same kick again.

"Whew!"

"Why do you always have to !!??? like this"

Another kick.

"Hmm......"

"Why do you !??? me like this?"

Touch!

(O gods...... Please...... Help me...... ）

No, there is no god in the world who can save her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!?"

"Ah!!h

Alice couldn't withstand so many attacks, and was about to lose consciousness by now.

She no longer pleaded with the gods, and there was only one person in her mind at this moment.

(Dad...... Father...... ）

I don't know if it's a phantom I saw before I die, or an illusion I imagined.

Before Alice closed her eyes, it seemed that she really saw her father who was gentle to him.

Touch!

A solid brick burst open in the back of the mother's head.

"There is no god in this world, but there is still me in this !!!!"

"As long as I'm !!, no one can hurt Alice!!!!!!!!!"