Amira: "Hiraki, Hiraki…!"Ren: "Darling, darling, hang on. We'll be at the hospital soon. Please, hang on."Amira: "Hiraki!"
(Upon arriving at the hospital…)
Doctor: "We are so sorry, sir. The stab wound was very deep, and she was bleeding out. We couldn't save your wife."Ren: "What? No, no! She's still alive!"Doctor: "We are sorry, sir, but we did manage to save your daughter."Ren: "Can I see her? My daughter, please."Doctor: "Yes. What would you like to name her?"Ren: "I will name her Hiraki Amira."Doctor: "A beautiful name."
(Three years later...)
Ren (Thinking):"Today is October 8, 2010, the anniversary of Amira's death, but it's also Hiraki's birthday."
Hiraki:"Dad, Dad!"
Ren:"What is it, Hiraki?"
Hiraki:"Dad, I got a cut! Dad, it hurts!"
Ren:"Calm down, I'll clean the wound now."
Hiraki:"No, Dad! Take me to the hospital. You're a policeman, not a doctor."
Ren:"Hiraki, no! Come here so I can clean the wound."
Hiraki:"Okaaay, Daaaaad!"
(At night)
Ren: "What is that noise?"(He enters Hiraki's room)Ren: "Hiraki! What's wrong, Hiraki? Hiraki, breathe, breathe! I'm taking you to the hospital."
(Later at the hospital...)
Doctor: "Sir, your daughter has been diagnosed with severe asthma."Ren: "And is there a specific cause?"Doctor: "It's unknown. But did your daughter complain of any pain or difficulty breathing?"Ren: "No, she was fine."Doctor: "Well, you will have to buy her an inhaler and several medicines for the asthma."Ren: "Doctor, is the disease chronic?"Doctor: "Yes, it is a chronic lung disease. It's a difficult disease, which is why she will have to follow treatments so your daughter can lead a more or less normal life."Ren: "Is there anything else I need to know?"Doctor: "Yes, the medicine she takes has side effects such as dental cavities and hair dryness. Therefore, I recommend that you don't use the medicine too often; it's better that you teach your daughter breathing exercises."Ren: ''thank you , doctor.''
Ren: "I am so tired. Hiraki is constantly getting sick. She has already been diagnosed with asthma; she has had bronchitis and pneumonia four times in a single year. How is this possible?"
— (Ring, ring — phone ringing) —
Ren: "Hello, who is this?"
Unknown: "We are calling from Hiraki's school. Where are you located?"
Ren: "I am at work."
Unknown: "You must go to Hez Hospital right now."
Ren: "Why? What happened to my daughter?"
Unknown: "She has fainted."
Ren: "Alright, I'm coming now."
— (Later at the hospital…) —
Ren: "Doctor, do you know why my daughter fainted?"
Doctor: "Yes, your daughter has several factors: she has low blood pressure, syncope, and low iron. She will need to take various pills and medications."
Ren: "Are any of them chronic?"
Doctor: "I'm afraid she will have the low blood pressure and syncope forever, but some years they can manifest more strongly than others, so you must be very alert. Also, if you do not wake her up before one minute passes from the time she faints, it could cost her life. The blood stops circulating enough and doesn't reach the heart or the brain, which can lead to cardiac arrest." Hiraki's POV
(5 years later)
Hiraki (thinking): "My Dad constantly looks very sad and stressed. Is it because I still don't speak Japanese very well, or is it because, even though we live in Saudi Arabia, I don't look Saudi? Well, I don't know, but..."
Hiraki: "What was my Mom like, Dad? What did Mom look like?"
Ren: "Well, your Mom was very beautiful and very intelligent. If you want, I can show you some photos of her so you know what she looked like."
Hiraki: "Okay, Dad!"
Ren: "Look, this photo of your mother."
Hiraki: "Dad, who is that woman next to Mom?"
Ren: "That's her best friend."
Hiraki: "And where is she?"
Ren: "We don't know; no one knows. One day, she suddenly disappeared."
Hiraki: "Dad, how did Mom die?"
Ren: "One day, the same day your mother's best friend, whose name is Serina, disappeared, we went to look for her at her house because she had given birth to her son and her son was five months old, and Serina had problems with her husband that only your mother knew about. Then, when we arrived at Serina's mansion, some men appeared and started hitting me. I tried to protect your mother, but I couldn't, and I passed out from the blows. And when I woke up, your mother was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. During the entire trip to the hospital, she kept repeating the word 'Hiraki,' so that's why I gave you that name. Your middle name is because it was your mother's name."
Hiraki: "But, Dad, why did Mom never tell you those secrets?"
Ren: "Because she told me that if she told me, I would also be in danger."
Hiraki: "Dad, but which country was I born in?"
Ren: "You were born in Manila, Philippines."
Hiraki: "But how is that possible if you're from Japan and Mom is from Saudi Arabia?"
Ren: "Because your mother and I met at university in London, and your mother, although born in Saudi Arabia, was raised in London. That's why she was Serina's best friend. But then your mother wanted to live in the Philippines, so we moved there. And well, Serina was from the Philippines, so she had a house there. Your mother and I got married at 18, but from what I know, Serina got married at 16. But I truly never knew who her children were, nor did I know who she married, or her last name or anything, because your mother insisted on keeping everything a secret."
Hiraki: "But what happened to Serina?"
Ren: "I don't know, she disappeared."
Hiraki: "And why did we move to Saudi Arabia?"
Ren: "For two reasons: the first is that I didn't want to stay in the Philippines anymore, and the second reason is because we already owned a house in Saudi Arabia."
Hiraki: "That's cool!"
Ren: "Yes, well."
Hiraki: "But do we have a house in Japan?"
Ren: "Yes, we do, but it's only for vacations."
Hiraki: "That's great!"
Hiraki: "Dad, but do you think we can move to another country someday?"
Ren: "I don't know, honey."
Hiraki: "Dad, but what is that key that is hidden inside my panda bear plushie?"
Ren: "What key? What plushie? I never gave you a plushie."
Hiraki: "Yes, yesterday, when you were at work, someone knocked on the door, and when I opened it, it was a delivery man. He told me he had a box for me. Then, when I took it and opened it, there was a plushie inside, and when I hugged it, a voice came out of the plushie that said, 'Open me.' So I cut the plushie and opened it, and there was a key inside."
Ren: "Okay, honey, keep that key safe. Okay?"
Hiraki: "Okay, Dad! Hey, Dad, but why is there a locked room at home that's impossible to open?"
Ren: "Daughter, because your mother always told me never, under any circumstances, to open that room."
Hiraki: "Well, okaaay! But Dad, why have I never seen any of my grandparents?"
Ren: "Because your maternal grandparents live in London, and your paternal grandparents live in Japan, and since I'm a detective, I never have time for us to travel."
Hiraki: "Well, okay, but why don't I know any of my aunts either?"
Ren: "Because I don't know any of your mother's sisters, and I don't have any siblings."
Hiraki: "Oh, Dad, what a mess!"
(The next day)
Teacher: "Why is your Dad taking so long to come and pick you up?"
Hiraki: "I don't know, he always takes a long time."
Teacher: "Well, but you get out of class at five, and it's already seven."
Hiraki: "I know. My Dad signed me up for the after-school program so he'd have time to pick me up, but he still takes fooorever."
Teacher: "Well, then you'll have to go home alone."
Hiraki: "I know, Teacher, I'm leaving now."
(Later at home)
Ren: "Sweetheart, where are you?"
Hiraki: "Don't talk to me, Dad! It's nine o'clock; it's so late. You even forgot to pick me up."
Ren: "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I was just busy with work."
Hiraki: "Dad, what are all those wounds on your face?"
Ren: "Oh, nothing, honey. It's from the criminals. They're very bad, so I had to fight them."
Hiraki: "Well, whatever. Dad, I already made dinner. I'm going to sleep now. Bye."
Ren: "Bye, sweetheart. I love you."