After the party, all the colleagues headed their separate ways as they bid goodbye to Takumi and Saunji.
Turning to Saunji, Takumi delightedly said, "I'd like to thank you today, Saunji."
"Thank me?" "What did I do?" He asked playfully.
"Don't play the one who doesn't understand what I mean. You know exactly what I'm thanking you for."
—
"I know you don't like being thanked all the time, but you must hear it, so listen up!"
"Alright, go on!"
"I had given up on the possibility that anyone would be showing up today, but you kept hoping until the end. Throughout my life, I've been used to others avoiding me like the plague, but things changed when I met you and got acquainted with our colleagues."
"Through today's feast, I've decided something." Takumi uttered the following in an assertive tone as he continued, "Based on what we talked about friendship and stuff, I thought it over and decided to give it another try."
Hearing such pleasant words, Saunji grinned joyfully and said, "That's great, but am I the one who made you change your mind about things?"
"Yes and no."
"Yes and no?"
"What I mean to say is, you're the source of it all but not entirely. You know how I've always been satisfied with working and going home every day, not doing anything in between—-----"
"Yes and—---"
"Well, from the moment I met Luna, I've been thinking things over and interrogating myself about the kind of life I've been leading until very recently." Grinning slightly toward Saunji, he uttered, "So to say that Luna and you, Saunji changed my perspective on life, so thank you."
Saunji was delighted to hear such praises from Takumi who he had befriended just recently. Stating jokingly, Saunji uttered, "Who would have thought that the man who would avoid me every chance he got would now be praising me with such essence? And to think I'm the one to thank for such a miracle. I truly am an exceptional person."
For the first time, Takumi didn't retort Saunji's words and simply walked away. Following him closely, Saunji asked, "As we get well with each other and all, can I understand that I'm allowed to show up to visit whenever I wish?"
Hoping to gain a positive response to his question, Takumi shut him out instantly with a negative one. "You wish, Saunji! Go home already, it's quite late!"
Before entering his car and driving away, he stopped and uttered for the last time toward Saunji, "Also, don't show up at my house tomorrow to pick me up. See you tomorrow at work!"
"Goodbye, drive safe!" Saunji waved in his direction as he entered his car and drove off from there.
The preparations for Luna's welcoming party were going in full swing. On the weekends, Takumi swung by to help with whatever was left to do. Haruki also lent a hand.
"When will Luna be arriving?" Haruki asked in the middle of the preparations his big brother who was hanging up garlands from the side.
Hanging up garlands one after the other, he answered his younger brother's question. "In a few days. By Wednesday, she'll be here with us."
Once his question was answered, Haruki asked a second question to his big brother which was, "While you're at work, will Luna be residing alone at home?"
"Why would she be alone at home?" Takumi answered the question hypothetically and added instantly, "Just like you, she'll be attending school every day, so she won't be alone at home."
"What about after school?" "Where will she be staying after school?"
The questions kept coming nonstop to Takumi. This time, as Haruki asked his set of questions, Takumi didn't have an answer to any of them. Stopping hanging up the garlands for a moment, he looked toward Haruki and uttered simply, "I haven't thought about it. You're right, when she gets out of school, where should she stay until I come to fetch her and take her home?" "I can't possibly take her with me to work, so what should I do?"
Stating confidently, Haruki uttered to his elder brother, "Don't concern yourself with that, big bro because I have a solution to your predicament."
"You've got a solution?"
Takumi was intrigued to hear what his younger brother had come up with as a possible solution. Haruki spoke up and said, "After school, why don't I take Luna to stay here until you're off work? What do you say, big bro?"
Takumi thought about the suggestion Haruki had formulated and found it to be not such a bad idea. Forwarding his response to his younger brother, he said, "That's not a bad idea, but will our parents agree?"
Nodding, Haruki retorted, "I know they'll agree. They have no reason to refuse as Luna is also part of the family now."
"Alright, in that case, I'll have to trouble you, Haruki."
"It's my pleasure to be troubled."
A few days passed and then came Wednesday, the day Luna would be leaving the Seaside Orphanage and starting a new life in the Hasegawa household.
At the Seaside Orphanage, Lady Claire was aiding in preparing Luna's belongings. While packing her clothes, she landed on her toys from when she was small and couldn't help a tear escape from her eyes. Before the tear could drop to the floor, Luna caught it in her hands.
Noticing her tears, Lady Claire quickly wiped her tears away. Seeing her reaction, Luna uttered as she made her face, "Why are you hiding your tears from me, mommy?"
"I'm not crying." "Why would I be crying? Today's such a joyful occasion, so why should I be sad on a day like this?"
She utterly denied it in front of her daughter who didn't believe a single word she was spreading, but decided to play along with her for the time being.
"Yes, you're not crying. "She spoke as she hugged her mother lovingly and added, "My mommy is such a strong and independent woman, so why would she cry? There's no way she would cry because I'm leaving her."
Not being able to carry out the pretense any longer, both mother and daughter shed tears alarmingly, no longer being able to control their emotions, let alone keep them under control.
Separating from each other after a while, Lady Claire helped wipe her daughter's tears and Luna did the same for her.
Hugging her daughter gently, she uttered, "Starting from today onwards, you'll be starting a new life. You'll be residing in a new home, in a new environment, and you'll be meeting all sorts of people every day. You'll even be attending school and making friends, facing challenges along the way. I wish for you to be happy and to always have a happy grin on your face at all times."
"Mommy, I'll come visit you every weekend, I promise," Luna uttered in a reassuring tone to her mother who didn't say a word.
Separating momentarily from each other, Luna uttered to her mother the following, "Just because I'm leaving today, that doesn't mean I won't come back. This orphanage will always be my home and the kids here will always be my brothers and sisters, so I'll come back and when I do, I'll be bringing you guys lots of gifts, I promise."
"I'll study hard and make a name for myself and once I do, I'll be giving you guys a better life under better conditions."
Lady Claire was overwhelmed by everything Luna was saying and uttered in the middle of it all, "You're only six years old. Why are you saying such big words?" "You don't have to do that, my baby girl; just focus on being happy and don't worry about us, we'll be fine, so take care of yourself too."
Not listening to her mother, she repeated, "I'll make it happen, Mommy." "I may only be six years old, but I'll certainly keep the promise I made to you today. I'll give you and the kids a better life, so none of you will ever lack anything throughout your lives."
Lady Claire kept silently packing Luna's belongings. Two hours later, Luna bid goodbyes to her brothers and sisters of the orphanage who were saddened to see her leave them. Promising them that she would come back to visit, they all rejoiced and embraced each other lovingly.
Another hour later, Takumi arrived at the orphanage to fetch Luna. He watched as Luna bid goodbyes to everyone at the Seaside Orphanage.
Running to Takumi, she uttered, "We can leave now. "She uttered, harboring the most natural smile in the world.
Grabbing Luna's hand, Takumi turned around for a slight second and waved to Lady Claire who did the same before they walked away.
Throughout the drive, Luna didn't say a word and neither did Takumi. Arriving at Takumi's parent's house, Luna hesitated to step inside the house.
Noticing the lovely decorations, Luna's face brightened. Takumi then said, "All these lovely decorations were made just for you, to welcome you into the Hasegawa household.
With everyone gathering at the door a minute later, Takumi's mother uttered alongside everyone else, "Welcome home, Luna!"