"This is the finals of the Japanese Youth Tennis Tournament! As you can see, the women's singles champion has already been decided… Eh? What's going on? Why is there a police car?"
At Tokyo's largest stadium, the women's tennis championship award ceremony was in full swing. Reporters were broadcasting from the scene when, without warning, a police car drove directly into the camera's frame.
The door opened, and a man stepped out. His face was stern, framed by silver-white hair. His sharp gaze swept across the ceremony before finally settling on the girl standing at the center of the podium. With firm steps, he walked toward her.
The girl on the podium was small and delicate. Though her figure was still childlike, her beauty was undeniable. Her jet-black hair was tied up high, and her large, bright violet eyes darted around the stadium as if searching for someone.
A figure stopped in front of her, blocking her line of sight.
Looking up, she saw a uniformed police officer gazing at her with deep pity. His voice was gentle as he said, "You must be Shirakawa Yui, right? Your parents have… run into a little accident. They couldn't make it to your award ceremony. How about Uncle takes you to see them?"
Faced with such innocent, crystal-clear eyes, how could Akutsu Tōru bear to tell her outright that her parents had died in a car crash?
"Where are Mom and Dad now? I want to see them!" Yui quickly stepped down from the podium and ran to his side, clutching the corner of his uniform tightly as she spoke with urgency.
"…All right." Akutsu let out a soft sigh, his heart aching. His own daughter was about the same age as this child…
Under the confused stares of the entire stadium, Akutsu gently led Shirakawa Yui into the police car.
No sooner had they sat down than he heard the girl's clear, bell-like voice:
"Uncle, what's your name? Thank you for taking me to Mom and Dad. When we find them, I'll make sure they treat you to dinner!"
Her pure, grateful tone was so innocent it brought tears to Akutsu's eyes — and even the officer driving the car blinked rapidly, struggling to keep his vision clear.
How could they possibly tell her the truth?
With a strained smile, Akutsu forced down the bitterness in his heart. "Hehe, Uncle's name is Akutsu Tōru. You can just call me Uncle Akutsu."
"Mm! Uncle Akutsu!" Yui chirped, her eyes shining.
As the car drove on, she grew quickly familiar with him. When she learned that Uncle Akutsu had a son a few years older than her, she clapped her hands excitedly and insisted she wanted to play with him.
By the time the police car arrived at the general hospital, night had already fallen. Akutsu carried Shirakawa Yui carefully in his arms as he stepped out of the vehicle and strode through the hospital doors.