Meanwhile, Yumiko was sitting at a table in an expensive restaurant with her father.
Father had the appearance of a matronly man with a voluminous confidence that had a pleasant effect on other people around him, but his inner personality was not fully considered even by Yumiko herself, which forced them to communicate with each other in a respectful manner. His facial features resembled those of an Asian, and most of the traits transferred to Yumiko.
The waiter respectfully served them the hot dishes they had pre-ordered when they arrived, the dishes being mostly from the European food list.
"You shouldn't have been so wasted on me... I mean, we could have talked in a more modest place."
"You don't have to worry."
Father picked up a fork and a non-sharp knife, after which Yumiko did the same.
"Thanks to my work, my current wealth can provide the family with visits to wealthy restaurants. Better tell me, what news and events have befallen you, daughter?"
Her father leisurely began to cut a thin knife into a perfectly grilled steak, and when he touched it, the meat released a delicious juice whose aroma fascinated Yumiko.
"My current life...? While you were away, father, I was able to make some interesting friends."
"Hm? And who are they? Your classmates?"
"Yes. They appreciate me and we talk to each other on the same level. Each of them is a wonderful individual, and I'm sure you would have taken an instant liking to them when you saw them, Father."
"Amazing. It means things are going great in your life. It comforts me when you tell me about the positive news."
"Yes...but from the moment we became attached to each other, our relationship has taken on a completely different appearance...It worries me greatly."
Father, carefully chewing the meat, looked at the slightly distressed Yumiko. His eyes showed an interest in the subject that touched his daughter.
"Go on, I'm listening carefully."
"We have become dependent on each other. Is this a normal effect? I don't know how relationships with friends work, after all..."
"I see."
After finishing his meal, he began to cut another piece from the steak.
"Why aren't you eating? The dish will get cold soon."
Yumiko followed her father's actions and began to cut a piece from her steak:
"The problem that followed soon manifested itself as well — the over-excitement and concern on my part. Like I said, I had not previously had a relationship with my closest relatives, which made me completely unsure of what to do. I'm worried about further friendships with them and don't want any discord to manifest itself between them."
"Unfortunately, I cannot solve your problem. Your friendship is up to you, and the decision you make to remove your excitement depends only on your will for a better outcome. If you think your decision is the right one, or at least effective, then don't be afraid to personify all the unforeseen consequences you are trying to avoid."
"Of course I understand that...I don't feel comfortable asking you, Father, but in this case your answer is important to me...Are my current relationships with close friends considered normal?"
"What do you think, daughter, is most important in relationships with people? The answer is undeniably subjective for each person, and some may not be happy with it. Still, there are patterns in which, for a young person's life, their relationships with their loved ones are far from the most important factor by which they can recognize their existence. At their age, this person must move toward self-sufficiency and self-development in order to become a worthy citizen of society. However, this statement does not say that a person should not let his friends near him, for it is through them that he becomes a person. Relationships are always necessary, but one should not put it first in the way of growing up."
"Thank you, father. Those are the words I wanted to hear the most..."
Her father smiled when he saw her relieved face and added:
"Could you take one test to find out your true life values and priorities?"
"Sure, but what does this test entail?"
"I'll name the five most important things in a person's life, and you must put them in the order you wish."
"Okay. Honestly, I've heard of this test, so I know how it works."
"Even better. It means I don't have to explain to the crust. You know how to make people's lives easier, daughter, and society loves you for it. Here we go: family, love, work, friends, money. Put it in your order."
'This test means a lot to both me and my daughter. I have to figure out her priorities in life, and this test will help me understand all the experiences she's had in the time we haven't seen each other, and subsequently what kinds of things have changed her life values. You used to live only one promise, daughter, which you didn't even tell me about.
In fact, I understood what that promise might have been, and ever since then I can't stop thinking about how much pain you've been in all this time... But now you seem sincere. Isn't it because of your friends that you have become so spiritual? If so, I thank them for all the work they did to change you. You have become someone I can be proud of.'
Yumiko, meanwhile pondering her answer, finally pulled herself together and took a deep breath to show her resolve.
"Family, friends, money, work, love."
Yumiko, without even realizing it herself, greatly surprised her father with her conclusion, causing a tear to slip imperceptibly from his eye, which he immediately wiped away with a dark handkerchief.
"Father... is something wrong?"
"No. How much you've grown in this time. I'm proud of you, daughter."
Yumiko, though she didn't understand exactly what her father meant, was still somewhat relieved by his words and raised her eyes up to the ceiling to hold back her tears. They were tears of happiness, replaced by tears of admiration.
"I remembered my youth as you gave your answer. Once upon a time, I gave the same answer to my father when I was living in Osaka at the time."
"I am glad to hear of it, father. You have no idea how long I have waited to see you."
'But you should realize how careless a father I am that I could not even save you...Even now...something is dragging away my helping hand that I have so long desired to reach out to you. If I had been a little more prudent, you would have had a happy childhood, but my stupidity got the better of me. I'm sorry... I'm sorry with all my heart that I couldn't afford to take care of you, and that you weren't born into a happier family. You don't deserve to be treated that way, daughter...'
As father and daughter walked out of the restaurant, they felt a strong change in temperature. The cold that overtook them seemed more uncomfortable than the warmth that had been hovering in the restaurant. They walked to the nearest fountain in the middle of the square, which was not far from the bus stop, and, like the rest of the crowd, they waited for the water to start dancing and splashing upward.
Soon they had their backs against its parapet and decided to take a humble breather.
"Your new friends," Father volunteered to break the silence, "what are they like?"
"As individuals, they're very eccentric... They kind of stand out in society, even if they themselves say they don't want to."
"I wonder. What do you see in them that makes you call them friends?"
"Let me think... First and foremost, I decided to stop living in a shell, because it's time even people like me got out of the four walls. They helped me a great deal in this, though I brought us together in a common circle myself..."
"So you found them first, or they found you?"
"Hmmm, the one who first found me is one person, after which, coincidentally, others began to catch our eye as well. The second one, I suppose."
"But there is something wrong with your relationship at the present time?"
"I very much doubt that the goals we're moving toward are the right ones, because I feel like we've stopped somewhere... And that's too bad, because I know firsthand what it's like to stop, to not move..."
"You seem to care a lot about it... And are you going to do something about it?"
Yumiko nodded silently: "I want to save our friendship. Friendship should remain friendship, unconditionally, no matter what we had to go through to get closer..."
"I see. So you're confident in yourself. That's good, since you know what you want to achieve. I'll support you in anything, daughter, if you need it."
"Uh-huh, thank you. Father, exactly what I need right now is your guidance..."
The father, realizing the distraught eyes with which she glimpsed a passing family with two children, expressed his desire to help her. When he tried to reach out to his daughter, however, she interrupted him, saying in a comforting tone:
"But there's nothing to be done about it," her bitterly smiling eyes were closed. "I'm used to it, so don't feel sorry for me."
"Daughter..."
They spent several more hours strolling through the squares and sightseeing in the city. Thus, her meeting with her father today gave her the strength to choose her future path.
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P.S. Sorry for the wait, for I have been physically and spiritually preparing for the fourth volume, which should be a golden one, in which events are sure to yield greatness incarnate. If you are still reading this, rest assured that the awesomness is just around the corner, and it's coming.