Chapter 79: Sarasa
"..."
Raymond's gaze stopped at something as he observed the picture on the wall, taking in the image of the young girl with a heart-shaped purse.
"Your daughter?" he asked softly, noting the fact that it was the only thing that stood out the most in the house.
Sakujiro's eyes flickered with emotion as he gazed at the picture, memories flooding back.
Despite his appearance suggesting otherwise, many would have mistaken him for the girl's grandfather.
Yet, to Sakujiro, she was more like a daughter than a granddaughter.
With a complex expression, Sakujiro nodded.
"Yes," he replied quietly.
"..."
Raymond decided it was best not to press further about Sakujiro's daughter, diverting his attention to the darkened bread instead.
He reached for one, asking casually, "Mind if I eat one?"
"You haven't paid for the others," Sakujiro reminded him sternly.
Ignoring the warning, Raymond took a bite, immediately sensing the bitter taste of the bread's spoiled ingredients.
Despite this, he continued chewing as if unaffected, quickly finishing it off.
"..."
Sakujiro watched with a mixture of speechlessness and annoyance.
His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Raymond, "You clearly aren't a beggar, yet you eat such bread as if it's nothing. Who are you?"
"...I grew up in a slum, so this bread is kind of nostalgic for me," Raymond explained, noticing Sakujiro's deepening frown.
Still, Raymond's lack of denial about being homeless confirmed Sakujiro's suspicions.
"I don't care, pay up..."
Ignoring Sakujiro's reminder about payment, Raymond continued, "Have you heard this saying..."
"You haven't paid yet..."
"A man who blames others has a long way to go..."
"You haven't paid yet..."
"A man who blames himself is halfway there..."
"...."
Sakujiro fell silent at Raymond's words. Raymond chuckled softly, "Well, I guess I should pay up, right?"
"Still, I don't have any money, but I'd like to offer you free food tomorrow."
"...Free food?"
"Yes, our restaurant will open for business tomorrow. You're welcome to stop by whenever you're free."
"..."
Sakujiro narrowed his eyes at Raymond, feeling slightly distrustful as he remembered the rundown state of the building a while back.
However, Raymond began to leave, prompting Sakujiro to sigh.
He had expected Raymond not to pay at all as he muttered, "I suppose I can be generous today."
"...Crazy guy."
He watched Raymond's figure fade away into the distance in silence.
Sakujiro closed the door annoyedly as he was about to rest.
However, his interaction with Raymond couldn't help but give him pause. He turned to gaze at the innocent smile of the little girl in the picture as he walked closer.
It was years ago, right in this very place.
Laughter filled the room as Sakujiro enjoyed a drink amidst his men, his family...
"What are you guys drinking?"
Suddenly, the childlike voice of a little girl pierced through the jovial atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention to their curious guest who had entered with wide eyes.
"Hey, little girl, this isn't the place for you," one of the men cautioned.
"Yeah, go find somewhere else to play," another chimed in.
But the little girl seemed unfazed by their warnings, her curiosity still piqued as she looked around with wide eyes, eliciting laughter from the men.
"Hahaha, she's fearless!"
"Quite an interesting kiddo!"
Sakujiro rose from his seat, his imposing figure towering over the girl.
"Alright, kiddo, what brings you here?" he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
"Hey, boss, take it easy. Don't scare the little one."
"Yeah, we don't need a crying kid in here."
"I'm not gonna cry!" the girl retorted, puffing out her cheeks in defiance, which only elicited more laughter from the men.
Sakujiro sighed and knelt down to the girl's level.
"Alright, what do you want?"
"I want to try some of these drinks!"
She declared, pointing to the shabby glasses on the table.
Sakujiro shook his head, his voice stern, "No, you can't. Those are for us."
"Can't I? Won't you share with me? Why not?"
She persisted, undeterred by his refusal.
Sakujiro found her persistence amusing, and he couldn't help but smirk at her boldness, "As I said, we found these at the junkyard ourselves, so they belong to us."
"Hmm..."
The girl seemed to ponder for a moment before reaching into her heart-shaped purse and pulling something out.
"Then what about this! Let's trade!"
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she extended her hands toward Sakujiro, offering him something.
"What's this? Bread?"
Sakujiro inspected the darkened loaf skeptically, realizing it was far from fresh.
"This bread isn't fit for eating," he remarked bluntly.
"Eh? But I thought it was better than what I found yesterday..." the little girl muttered, her disappointment evident.
Sakujiro felt a pang of guilt as he saw her dejected expression, and the accusing glares from his companions only made him feel worse.
"You made her cry..."
"...Such a big meanie."
"It's my fault?"
He mumbled, scratching his head awkwardly under their scrutiny.
Taking the bread from the girl's hand, he inspected it once more before relenting, "Fine, you can have it! It's just an apple juice anyway..."
"Really! Yeay! You're the best, Grandpa!"
She exclaimed with glee, her eyes shining with excitement.
Sakujiro couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm, though he felt a twinge of embarrassment at being called "Grandpa" by someone.
"She called boss grandpa, hahahaha!"
"See, I told you to shave your hair bald because of this, hahaha..."
Amidst the laughter and teasing, Sakujiro's companions couldn't help but find the little girl's innocence and curiosity endearing.
Her presence brought a lively atmosphere to the room, contrasting with the rough exterior of the group.
They looked at her differently, they were completely charmed by her natural ability to bring joy.
"I'm still middle-aged, you brat!"
Sakujiro retorted, though his tone was more playful than annoyed.
Ignoring his protest, she continued with her innocent questions. "What's your name, Grandpa?"
"Sakujiro. And you?" he replied, giving in to her persistent curiosity.
"Hehe, so it's Grandpa Jiro!"
The little girl giggled happily, "My name is Sarasa!"
...
...
...
A heavy sigh echoed through the room as Sakujiro gazed at the picture of Sarasa on the wall.
Ever since that day, Sarasa had become a frequent visitor to their base camp, and without realizing it, Sakujiro had grown attached to the little girl as if she were his own daughter.
He vividly remembered the joy on her face when she excitedly presented a pinhole camera she had discovered in the junkyard, only for it to disappointingly break after taking her picture.
"..."
Sakujiro's chest felt weighed down with emotion as he reminisced about that initial meeting with the spirited little girl.
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