The soft hum of the car engine filled the quiet morning air as Shinji and Aiko made their way to the orphanage. Frost coated the trees lining the streets, glittering in the soft sunlight of early December. The holiday season was in full swing, with colorful decorations hanging from lampposts, lighting up the city with a warm festive glow. Festive wreaths adorned the doorways of local businesses, and the sidewalks bustled with last-minute shoppers, their arms full of gifts wrapped in sparkling paper. However, despite the cheerful atmosphere of the city, a heaviness lingered in the car.
Aiko, seated in the passenger seat, cast a sideways glance at Shinji, studying his face. His expression remained calm, though his fingers gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than usual. She could sense the tension that radiated from him, the invisible wall between them that grew thicker with each passing day.
It wasn't that Shinji was cold or unkind—far from it. He was generous, always willing to help, but there was always something unspoken, something that lingered beneath his words and actions, a distance in him she couldn't close.
She shifted in her seat, trying to break the silence between them, though the words didn't come as easily as she would have liked. "You think the kids will like the gifts?" Aiko asked, hoping her voice sounded light and cheerful, though a touch of doubt slipped through her tone.
Shinji's eyes stayed fixed on the road, but a small smile crept onto his face, softening his expression. "They'll love them. It's not about the gift—it's about showing up. That's what they need."
Aiko nodded, though her eyes lingered on him a moment longer. She admired that about him—his ability to see the bigger picture, to understand what others needed without them even asking. "It's a good thing you're doing, Shinji," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm glad we came."
Shinji's smile widened, but he didn't respond. He just drove in silence, the low hum of the engine filling the space between them.
As they pulled into the orphanage's parking lot, neither noticed the black sedan that had trailed them at a safe distance for the last few miles. Shinichi, Shinji's brother-in-law, sat in the car, his phone in hand, carefully recording the scene in front of him. His brow furrowed as he zoomed in on Shinji and Aiko, watching them exit the car with bags of gifts in hand.
"What's he up to now?" Shinichi muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he watched the couple walk toward the orphanage entrance. A growing suspicion gnawed at him, something about Shinji didn't sit right, and this unexpected trip only added fuel to his doubts.
As Shinji and Aiko approached the door, they were met by Mrs. Sato, the orphanage's director. Her face lit up with a warm smile when she saw them, her arms spreading wide in welcome. "Shinji! What a wonderful surprise!" Mrs. Sato's voice, full of warmth and motherly affection, echoed in the crisp morning air. "The children will be so excited to see you."
The inside of the orphanage buzzed with life, laughter echoing down the hallways as children dashed back and forth, their faces alight with excitement. Christmas decorations, lovingly handmade by the children, covered the walls. Paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and a small Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner of the room, its branches bending under the weight of the ornaments. A soft melody of Christmas carols played from a nearby speaker, blending with the jingle of bells as the children raced past.
As the children spotted the couple, their eyes lit up. Shinji knelt down, handing out the toys and clothes with a gentle smile. Each child eagerly grabbed the gifts, their laughter and gratitude filling the room. Despite the warmth of the moment, a familiar knot formed in Shinji's stomach, the same feeling that always surfaced during these visits. I wish I could do more for them, he thought, though his expression remained calm and composed.
Aiko stood off to the side with Mrs. Sato, watching Shinji interact with the children. Her heart swelled with pride, but also with concern. She admired Shinji's kindness, his desire to help others, but something about it troubled her. He never talked about these visits, never mentioned where he went when he disappeared for hours at a time. Is this where he goes? she wondered, her gaze drifting back to him as he knelt among the children, his face a mix of joy and something much deeper.
Outside, Shinichi's eyes remained glued to his phone screen. He zoomed in as far as he could, trying to capture every detail. "What's he doing here?" Shinichi muttered to himself, adjusting his grip on the phone. "Why's he being all generous out of nowhere?"
As the last of the gifts were handed out, Mrs. Sato approached Shinji, gently touching his arm. "Thank you so much for this," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "You don't know how much it means to them—and to me."
Shinji nodded, though his eyes drifted toward the door, as if looking for an escape. "It's not just me," he said after a moment. "Thank my wife, too." His voice, though kind, carried a hint of hesitation, as if there was more he wanted to say but couldn't.
Mrs. Sato studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Is everything alright, Shinji?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing. "You've seemed… distant."
Shinji forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, just… life stuff, you know?" he replied, avoiding her gaze.
Outside, Shinichi shifted in his seat, noticing that Shinji and Aiko were moving toward the back of the building. His eyes narrowed as he zoomed in, curiosity gnawing at him. "What's he doing now?" he whispered.
Shinji sent a quick text, his fingers moving swiftly over the screen. Moments later, a young man appeared from the side of the orphanage, his face pale and drawn with worry. Shinji greeted him with a warm hug, patting him on the back, though the tension between the two was clear.
"How are you holding up?" Shinji asked quietly, his voice low and serious, carrying a weight that Aiko hadn't heard earlier.
The young man shrugged, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion. "I'm managing. It's… been hard," he admitted, his voice strained.
Shinji reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick wad of bills. "Here," he said, pushing the money into the young man's hands. "Take it. I know it's not much, but—"
The young man quickly shook his head, his eyes wide with surprise. "You've done enough, Shinji. I don't want to keep taking from you."
"Take it," Shinji said, his voice firm and insistent. "For Christmas. You need it more than I do."
After a brief moment of hesitation, the young man finally nodded, pocketing the cash with a quiet "Thank you… for everything."
From the car, Shinichi's pulse quickened. His camera zoomed in on the exchange, excitement bubbling up inside him. "Who the hell is that?" he muttered to himself. "Why's Shinji giving him money?"
Inside, Aiko watched the interaction with a sense of sadness she couldn't quite place. She didn't understand why this moment felt so heavy, so important, but there was a deep sense of melancholy in the air.
Shinji introduced Aiko to the young man as his wife. They exchanged brief glances and greetings before Shinji bid the man goodbye, hugging him one last time.
---
Later that evening, Shinichi burst through the door of the Marchesa home, phone in hand, eager to share what he had discovered. His mother and siblings gathered around as he hit play on the video, their eyes glued to the screen.
"Look," Shinichi said, pausing at the moment where Shinji handed over the cash. "Who's this guy? And why's Shinji giving him money at an orphanage?"
Aiko's mother's eyes darkened as she studied the footage. "He didn't mention anything to Aiko, did he?"
"No," Shinichi replied with a shake of his head. "Aiko doesn't seem to know anything."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her mind already racing with suspicion. "This is suspicious," she said quietly. "We need to find out who that man is… and why Shinji's keeping this a secret."
The tension in the room thickened as the video replayed, the mystery deepening with every passing second.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," she said coldly, her voice dripping with resolve. "One way or another."