The child nodded.
She followed closely behind the old man.
The child's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Everything before her grew more and more familiar.
Ah—
Huh!?
The child widened her eyes.
The old man turned around and froze.
Then he found it somewhat amusing. "Haven't you been here once before?"
"Why are you still so surprised?"
"Uncle!?"
The child cried out softly.
Seeing the familiar red-robed back crouched beside the basin, the child raised her hand and rubbed her eyes.
Was it really Uncle?
Had she really not seen wrong?
Uncle...
She had actually seen Uncle again...
Before coming, the child had wondered whether she might encounter Uncle again.
But...
Although she had tried hard to think it through...
The child still felt...
That she probably would not meet Uncle again.
The grocery store belonged to the old man.
The old man did not even know Uncle.
How could Uncle always be at the old man's grocery store?
That was what the child told herself.
She had come without holding out any hope.
She merely felt a little regretful.
She wanted to thank Uncle for helping her back then.
It was only after she got home that she remembered...
Uncle had saved her...
Yet she seemed not to have even said thank you to him...
As for not helping Uncle catch the little goldfish, that could be overlooked.
After all, it really was too difficult.
But...
She had not even said thank you...
That made the child feel terrible.
How could she not even have said thank you to Uncle?
She had been so impolite.
She... had been so bad.
Uncle had... saved her...
A delighted light lit up in the child's eyes.
She immediately jogged over behind Uncle.
"Uncle!"
The