A week passed.
Seven days.
Seven nights.
Heavy.
Quiet.
Every morning—
Mochi woke up.
Hope first.
Phone next.
Same screen.
Empty.
No calls.No texts.No surprise window entrances.No screaming Ben chases.
Nothing.
The house felt hollow.
At dinner—
Mochi tried.
She really tried.
Chopsticks moved slowly.
Rice untouched.
Eyes dull.
Shoulders low.
Candy watched her.
Big worried eyes.
Maya pretended to eat.
Didn't fool anyone.
Their mother sighed.
Soft.
Even their father noticed.
He watched Mochi.
Too carefully.
The way she moved.The way she didn't look up.The way she smiled too late.
Finally—
He put down his spoon.
"Mochi."
Her head snapped up.
"Y–Yes, Dad…?"
His voice was gentle.
Rare.
"I met that boy."
The chopsticks slipped.
Clink.
"Y–You WHAT?!"
Candy froze.
Maya stopped chewing.
Their mother blinked.
"I saw him yesterday," her father continued."At a mobile phone repair shop."
Mochi's heart thudded.
"W–Why… was he there…?"
Her father sighed.
Tired.
Amused.
"He broke his phone again."
Candy yelled.
"AGAIN?! BECAUSE OF BEN?!"
"Yes," her father nodded."That dog chased him.""Into a drainage pipe."
"He slipped.""Phone died."
Maya slammed her forehead.
"His life is a cartoon."
Mochi covered her mouth.
Horror.Sympathy.Embarrassment.
All mixed.
But her father wasn't finished.
"And I learned something else."
Everyone leaned in.
"He isn't lazy," her father said."He works.""Hard."
Mochi's eyes widened.
"W-Where…?"
Her father placed something on the table.
A card.
"He works at Game-King Company.""Developer.""Good salary.""Good reputation."
Mochi stared.
It wasn't just a card.
A visitor pass.
Her name printed.
On the back—
Messy handwriting.
If she wants to meet me.
Her breath caught.
Eyes shimmered.
Candy jumped.
"He gave DAD a pass?!"
"That means he cares!"
Maya snorted.
"He fought a dog army for her.""Of course he cares."
Their mother smiled.
"She's blushing again…"
Her father cleared his throat.
"He said he felt embarrassed.""He didn't want to disturb you.""Until his phone was repaired."
Pause.
"He wanted to come properly.""Clean.""Ready."
Mochi's chest tightened.
Embarrassed.Shy.Trying his best.
Just like her.
Her father slid the card closer.
"If you want," he said,"you can go tomorrow."
Mochi picked it up.
Hands shaking.
Heart loud.
"I… I want to go."
Candy cheered.
Maya smiled.
Their mother wiped a fake tear.
"My shy giant baby," she said,"going to see her boy again…"
Mochi hid her face.
Red.
Burning.
But inside—
Something woke up.
Hope.
Warm.
Alive.
Because tomorrow—
She would see him again.