Outside the hospital room, Huiqi could clearly hear Akira Mado crying through the door. She had probably woken up, read the contents of the farewell letter, and broken down again.
Knock, knock, knock.
After knocking three times, Huiqi pushed the door open.
"Stop crying. Focus on getting better first."
His words sank like a stone, receiving no response.
Still, Huiqi set the lunch box aside and portioned the food into small bowls, placing one in Juuzou Suzuya's hands. "Have something to eat. Shinohara really cares about you."
"Shinohara... Shinohara..."
Seeing how deeply Juuzou Suzuya cared about Yukinori Shinohara, Huiqi couldn't help feeling moved. Shinohara had done it-he had helped shape a deeply troubled child.
Just as Huiqi brought a bowl over to Akira Mado, someone arrived at the door.
The woman was surprised to find another person in the hospital room. Her gaze held a hint of confusion, but seeing Huiqi struggling to feed Akira, she understood. "Excuse me, are you her father?"
"I'm not... I suppose I'm something like half a father." Huiqi was already drenched in sweat. Although Akira Mado wasn't resisting him, she had no desire to eat on her own either. For Huiqi, who had never cared for anyone before, this was genuinely difficult.
"Half a father? I'm Yukinori Shinohara's wife. It's nice to meet you."
The woman introduced herself.
"Likewise. Just call me Huiqi. Yukinori Shinohara is my senior too. I have a duty to look after him."
"Thank you so much. Juuzou Suzuya and I can take turns watching over him." The woman set her basket aside, then went over to Juuzou Suzuya and said something to him.
As soon as Shinohara's wife approached him, Juuzou Suzuya hurriedly stood and bowed, his voice full of guilt. "It's all my fault! All of it! If