A few days later...
Famille' begins to act, united, to protect the children.
But...
"For now...we need to find a place the children can transfer together to..." worried Tegemi
"But, the orphanage...has about 50 children." Said Raika
"The place we need will have to take many people." She continued
"....basically we need to ask the government for help." Exclaimed Kasumi
Yet another day.
"I investigated in detail about the redevelopment construction..."
"The orphanage demolition can no longer be changed."
"They can't even shift the time of demolition." Said Tegemi who's visibly worried.
"Uggh! Those jerks at the construction site!" blurted Miyoko.
"Miyoko, don't get so mad at them, I bet they're just doing their jobs since they'd been in contract to whoever ordered them." Said Rei,
(Rei is right, it's the Hinoma group, and they'd probably pulled some strings to get the Mayor to sign the order for the demolition of the orphanage.)
"After all, it looks we can't affect the redevelopment construction, either."
(Oh Yomiko, her fund raising concert was a success though I didn't do any good since the private company won't accept it on legal terms.)
(This is not going very well, Kenta's favor and the money I have left was my final option but it didn't solve the problem since the local government is now involve,frustrating it maybe but I'm against a multi billion dollar company, they exploited some loophole on the system and made my payment null.)
Everyone is doing everything they can for the children.
But, this is our first time with such a situation, and honestly, we don't know what to do.
One day...
"T-Tegemi! Th-there's a guest at the entrance!" said Rei as she run towards the living room while me and Tegemi and the other members of the Famille' are having a meeting.
"A guest?"
"Are you expecting someone today?"
"N-no..i wonder who it is?"
As we come to the entrance wondering who it is,
Tegemi and I unconsciously gasp.
"Oh!"
"You're...."
"It's been a while, Tegemi..."
"D-Dad?!"
The sudden visitor is Tegemi's foster father.
Surprised,we spread into the living room, and sit facing each other.
"Uh..here's some tea sir."
"Thank's Reimako."
"Dad, why are you here?"
Drinking the tea Rei offered, her father answers.
"Tegemi, the area near the orphanage you were in has been under redevelopment lately."
"Y-yeah..."
"I got curious about the facility, and asked met with the head mistress...she told me everything that is happening."
"I see..."
(So that's why he came to visit...)
Taking another sip of tea, Mr.Mikahara looks at her troubled daughter.
"You and Mina are trying to protect the orphanage and the children, why didn't you tell me about this."
"Dad, this is our problem I know you have a lot in your plate, we don't want to trouble you with it, we've been looking for a facility that the kids can transfer together to, we considered adopting them here in the Famille' but this place seems to be small for 50 kids, so..."
"We still looking for a place for them to stay..."
And, after a sullen silence.
"This is why you need to consult me about your problems Tegemi, look you might be at age a CEO and a successful doctor independent and dependable you may be but I'm still your father and I still want to help my daughter with her problems in any way I can."
"Dad..." Tegemi said smiling softly to her father.
"You could just asked me and we could built a new orphanage elsewhere?"
Hearing this, the members of the Famille' leans forward unintentionally.
(Well, this will certainly fix the problem.)
"W-wait a second! Dad..."
"I can't have you do that much for me, you've done so much already."
"It's easy to talk about rebuilding it...but won't it take a considerable amount of money and labor, and you're a retired General Dad even if you have the money I can't possibly take that."
Mr.Mikahara sighed and gave me small smile.
"Well if you're worried we can use the money Minamino donated for building it and Yomiko's fund and that concert she did for the orphanage, the land is on me." He suggested.
Yomiko , Tegemi and I looked at each other and smile.
"That will work." Smiled Yomiko.
"And I'll do anything for my daughter's happiness."
As Tegemi widens her eyes, Mr. Mikahara gently speaks.
"Tegemi...I always wish for your happiness."
"For that, I will do anything."
"If protecting the orphanage children...means rebuilding the facility, I'll do it gladly."
"If there's anything else I can do, just tell me."
"D-Dad..."
She swallows her words at the force of these kind words.
At her side, Rei and I look at each other.
(This way we'll be able to protect the children.)
My heart flutters.
But, we say nothing, and await for her reply.
"Tegemi..."
(I understand that this might be hard for her...)
After a long silence,
"Dad..."
"Thanks..i'm happy you feel that way Father, But...I really can't ask you to do that for me."
"This is my problem and my responsibility, I want to protect everyone by my own means...without relying on you."
At this, Mr.Mikahara's eyes sharpen faintly.
"Protecting something is more difficult than you think...Minamino and I know this..."
"When you protect something, there's always a sacrifice."
"Are you prepared for that?"
"Yeah, I'm prepared."
"And when I say sacrifice it doesn't mean your own but the people around you the people involved."
Before I know, I'm lost in their words.
At first, I was so happy that Mr. Mikahara solved our problems for us, but...
(She's been trying so hard from the start for us to be able to do something!)
I glance at her.
(She's an adult, after all.)
(I feel like I've been gradually approaching it, but...I've still got a way to go.)
Drawing a breath, she murmurs.
"It might be difficult, but I'll try to do something."
"So, Dad..."
"If you want to help me, I'd like you to observe this..."
After a short silence, her foster father nods slightly.
"Got it...I won't speak further on this subject."
At this, Mr.Mikahara murmurs as though recalling something.
"Tegemi, you purchased this house you used to live in..and made it into a share-house."
"Since then...this had been your place."
"And you decided to settle any problems that occurs with the people here..."
"Yeah..."
"If you're saying you'll do the same with this, I'll observe it."
"Thanks, Dad."
"But, don't push yourself to hard."
"Alright, as you say Dad I have everyone in Famille."
"And Mina, with me..."
She looks at me with slightly colored cheeks.
As she does this, Mr.Mikahara also turns an earnest gaze to me...
"I know you've sacrificed a lot and do everything that you could to help Tegemi, but still, presumptuous of me to ask you this I'd expect you to help and support her."
"I'll do everything I can."
While I soak in that expectant gaze, my thoughts wheel about.
(I'm glad she's relying on me, but...)
Compared to her, I've run out of options to help her out to protect the children and the orphanage.
(I need to do something to help her...)