Your dad might be dead

The man next to Big Dipper shyly peered at Big Dipper before quickly nodding. "Thank you…"

"Blah, you're insulting me! What's there to thank? We're brothers—good brothers! We're loyal and self-sacrificing, hahaha!"

Big Dipper burst into laughter.

"Big Dipper, where's your dad?" the shy boy suddenly asked after a long silence.

The dirty Big Dipper turned quiet.

A long time passed before Big Dipper finally replied, "My mom said my dad went far, far away, and it'll be a long, long time before he can return."

"Um… when will that be?" the timid boy asked.

"Winter probably," Big Dipper answered cheerily.

"…"

"Haha, are you dumb? It's all a lie to fool others. My dad either ran off with a mistress or he died. My mom must've told me that because she didn't want to make me sad." Big Dipper's voice was tinged with some loneliness.