As the sunrise came, Norio sat on the porch watching.Then came a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, greeted by Keren.“Mind if I sit?” She smiled.“Go ahead.” He replied.She plopped down beside him.“So...” She began.Norio kept his sight on the sun as it rose.“You think you found him, huh?”Norio kept looking forward.“Mm.”Keren smiled.“Are you nervous?” She asked.Norio looked at her.“Why should I be?”Keren turned.“I don’t know; you haven’t seen him in what, thirteen years?”Norio looked down.“It’s been fourteen, but-” He cut himself off.“But...?” She looked at him.“Nori,” Keren frowned.“Sun’s up; I’ll go make some breakfast,” Norio said as he got up and st

Rick stared for a good second.As he stepped over some rubble, his mind went blank. However, his body kept moving.Walking towards the boy he had let down fourteen years ago.He opened his mouth.“Nori-” He tried to get the words out, but they got caught in his throat.“Oh?” Norio turned around.Rick quickly turned.Chris and Maru pulled up.“Hey!” Chris ran out.“Wait, what the hell are you two-”Norio stared at Maru.“Ah.” He said.Rick quickly turned back to Norio.“I’m sorry, I don’t know why they’re here-“Norio closed his eye, nodding his head.“Nah, it’s fine.” He then opened his eye.“What’s the kid's name?” He questioned.“M-”Norio narrowed his eye at Rick.“Let her answer.” He said.Maru

As the day progressed, Maru remained huddled in her blanket."Maru," Rick gently called out.However, she did not look up."How about we eat something?" He suggested as he began walking over.Maru quickly hid her face in the blanket.Rick sighed as he sat down."Maru, you seriously need to eat something," he paused.The blanket began shaking."Maru..." He whispered."Please tell me you're not..."He quickly pried the blanket off her head.Maru squeaked.Rick touched his lips to her forehead.His eyes widened."You're burning up!" He cried.He quickly rose, rushing to the refrigerator.He went into the freezer, quickly grabbing an ice pack.Damnit! How the hell was I so clueless!? He thought to himself.As Rick got back to the couch, he gently placed the ice pack on the girl’s forehead. She flinched."Maru..." He whispered, caressing her

By the time Larkin arrived back home, he had figured everyone would be fast asleep.But as he opened the door, he was greeted by a familiar pink presence."Papa!" She cried, throwing her arms around him.Larkin, completely caught off guard, patted her head awkwardly."Kari..." He began."Shouldn't you...be in bed?"She sniffled, looking up."Mim said we had something to discuss!" She exclaimed as she grabbed his hand."We're in the meeting room, papa!"As she led him to the room, Larkin suddenly thought about those kids. Those kids that he had betrayed so many years ago.It was merely a game of pretending... He reassured himself.As the two came up to the meeting room, the door opened to reveal two other people sitting at a table."Yo," A man with pink hair gave a wave."Any news?"The other person, a lady, stood up."One of our spies found two possible candidates. She s