One last chance

Making new friends

"So, how did you two young ladies meet?", the doting father said and ruffled Hiyori's hair, who at first protested but then she giggled with closed eyes.

"Hiyori-chan was helping Rotoko-san with the service."

"Papa, did you know that they are our neighbors?"

"Really?", he asked and the mother chuckled with her hand covering her mouth. "The brown house next to ours is yours?"

"Yes, but I didn't know that there would be someone to live in that beautiful cream house. I born here and I know very well Sawara, so it surprised me when I finally learnt that it isn't abandoned!"

"Oh no, that cottage belongs to my parents who come once in a while for vacations. Anyway, you were saying something before about Shichiro-san, right?"

"Oh yes! Well, Rotoko-san has a waitress working with him, but unfortunately she got sick. He also has Yokozawa-san, but I believe you know how he is"

"To be perfectly honest, I don't"

"Really?", the woman asked with wide eye and slightly parted lips. Apparently, everyone knew about Yokozawa Takafumi in Sawara. He seems like a celebrity, but Kirishima understands why due to his hard work in police and of course helping Sawara update with technology and other useful systems. "Aren't you exactly from here?"

"We are actually coming from Tokyo. We came here for business with the Shirakawa publishing company"

"But the cottage?"

"As I told you, it belongs to my parents. I'm just staying there due to my business"

"So, basically, you are new!"

"I can't deny it", he said and chuckled, gaining a giggle from the two ladies in in front of him. "So, as you understand Sharukai-sama, I don't know about him, except for his nickname and how hard working he is"

"Well, when Rotoko-san is going out to do chores, Yokozawa-san comes here to help him serve the costumers and of course making the orders. He cooks veeery good"

"Yep! He was taking care of Hasu when Rotoko-san went outside and he made an amaaaazing green tea cake the other day!! He put some chocolate strips on it!!"

"Chocolat...-papa!"

"What is it Hiyo?"

"Yesterday, when we came here, Rotoko-san gave us our orders. Your green tea cake had chocolate strips on it!!"

"... Yyyeaah, you are right!", he said and his eyes for no reason became sparkly. He wouldn't believe that a person like Yokozawa who works with the police would bake a green cake like that! It was one of the best treats Kirishima ever tasted." It was very good. It reminded me of my mom"

"Haha, really? Well, Yokozawa-san is a very good cook. He was once working as a sous chef in a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo when he was living there. I believe that's why he knows things about cooking"

"Awww, I really want to meet him!!!", Hiyori said and pouted slightly with her hands crossed over her chest, a sight that made the father ruffle her hair and laugh. He was thinking the same thing anyway!

"Hiyori cooks in the house when I am missing for work and she loves it very much. That's why she is so eager to meet another person that cooks"

"You haven't met him Hiyori-chan?"

"No..."

"Actually, now that I think about it, it's perfectly normal. He takes off his helmet when he goes in stores and he disappears when the work is done. He always wears it outside in order not to be spotted by the thieves. He works incognito", she whispered the last part, gaining a grin from the editor. "Anyway, enough about it. Hiyori-chan told us that she is going to attend the school Haruka goes."

"Yes. Shichiro-san told us about it and we want to go today once I finished my work earlier."

"If you need any help, you can ask us whatever time you want",she said and gave her business card with her phone number to Kirishima, who did the same. "The school is open right now, so you can do your sign up. I can give you the principal's number"

"Shichiro-san already gave it to me, but thank you very much. Have a great day", he said and the duo left the Cafe, waving then at Rotoko-san who spotted them and giving his usual smile to Hiyori. Kirishima gave a call to the principal, told him about his stay in Sawara and asked him if they could meet him now. Fortunately, they could meet him for information, so the duo walked the roads with destination the school.

They walked for 10 minutes and arrived at the school which was a few blocks away from the tobacco store they saw yesterday on their trip. The school was big with a nice yard, some beautiful trees and the walls were decorated with drawings probably painters did. They entered the building and walked the corridors, watching the lockers and doors that lead to the classrooms.

After some seconds, they arrived at the principal's desk knocking the door and entering inside when they heard a come in. Once they entered, they saw the principal standing up and giving a smile and a bow to them, who did the same thing to him. He motioned to sit on the chairs across him, which they did and then he sat down to.

"Kirishima-san, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine sir. As I told you on the phone, we came from Tokyo yesterday and we are going to stay here for 4 months due to business"

"Alright"

"And I want my daughter Hiyori to attend the school while we are here. I don't want to miss her fifth grade"

"Well, she is not going to miss it because we will take care of her as best as we could. Of course she can attend our school, but you know how fifth grade works, don't you?"

"I am well aware with the club activities and I know that she will be leaving after 15.00. I don't mind it since I work till 18.00 in the afternoon"

"Good to hear it because some parents have an issue with that", he said and both men chuckled at the realization. They stopped and then Kirishima took the initiative to talk.

"Thank you very much sir for accepting my daughter in your school"

"Thank you for choosing us Kirishima-san. The school starts in two weeks from now, so you have time to get prepared"

"Alright. By the way, this is my daughter Hiyori"

"Its a pleasure to meet you sir. I'm Kirishima Hiyori and I'm 10 years old. Thank you for taking care of me" she said and bowed to the man in front of her, who did the same

"It's a pleasure to meet a polite and sweet girl such as you Hiyori-chan. Well, if you have questions, you can always call us Kirishima-san"

"I will consider it sir", he said with his usual business smile and then stood up with his daughter, bowing to the principal and then leaving the school. Once they did, they walked the road hand in hand and chatting about Hiyori's attend at fifth grade. It seems she was waiting for it because she was hopping on her feet when they would stop their walk to gaze at the crowded buildings.

"Are you excited for it?"

"Yees!! I want to meet new friends and do activities!! I missed it so much!"

"I'm glad. So I was thinking maybe we could eat at Hasu. What do you say? "

"But Hiyo can cook for both of us papa"

"I know she cans, but I was thinking maybe I could treat her for her bravery. She met a new friend and helped Shichiro-san with work", he said, ruffling Hiyori's hair and gaining a 'hai' from her. He smiled at it and then continued their walk, with destination Hasu Cafe. The reason he wanted to go there was as he told to Hiyori to eat instead of putting her to cook and of course thank Rotoko for taking care of her while he was busy with work.

He didn't need to do this to a man he barely knows and met just yesterday and so he wanted to become his new costumer who would come there in breaks when he is at work or sit with his adorable daughter and eat or drink. He really needed to support the person he helped him today, even though he didn't have any obligation...