Underneath the muted hum of Shibuya's evening bustle, Kumi murmurs, "I'm in Shibuya with my sister right now. Please keep it a secret." The weight of her secret presses down, and the city lights blur into a sea of uncertainty.
She hesitates before adding, "Are you really my father?"
Adachi's heart raced at Kumi's questions. Her innocent curiosity and directness cut through the barriers he had built around himself. He took a deep breath, aware of the weight of his words and the importance of his response.
"Kumi," he began gently, "I... I want you to know that I care about you, and I care about your mother."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Your mother and I, we had a connection, a deep one. But sometimes, life takes unexpected turns, and people make choices that lead them down different paths."
Adachi hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The truth is, Kumi, your mother and I weren't able to be together. But that doesn't change the fact that I've always held a special place in my heart for you both."
There was a moment of silence on the line, and Adachi could sense Kumi's contemplation. He knew he needed to address her other question as well—the one about being her real father.
"Kumi, I want you to know that your parents are the ones who have raised you, loved you, and cared for you," Adachi said gently. "I'm here to listen, to support you, and to be a part of your life in whatever way you're comfortable with."
He paused, his heart heavy with emotion. "As for the question of whether I'm your real father, Kumi, that's a complex matter. But what's important is that you have a family who loves you and supports you."
Adachi knew that his words were being recorded, and he couldn't provide all the answers he wished he could. But he hoped that his sincerity and his willingness to be a part of Kumi's life in a positive way would come through in his voice.
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Adachi's curiosity blended with a hint of amusement. "So, you found my contact information all by yourself?" he asked with a playful tone. "I must say, you're quite the little detective."
Kumi's voice held a mixture of excitement and determination. "Yeah, well, I had my ways," she replied, a hint of pride in her tone.
Adachi couldn't help but chuckle softly. "I see. You're resourceful, I'll give you that."
Kumi's curiosity got the better of her, and she plunged into her next question. "So, what did you do? I mean, why are you in prison?"
Adachi's heart skipped a beat. He had expected this question would come sooner or later, but he wasn't sure how much he should reveal to a young girl. After a brief pause, he decided to tread carefully.
"Well, Kumi, I made some mistakes in the past, things I'm not proud of," he began, choosing his words with care. "And those mistakes led me down a path that led me to where I am now."
There was a brief silence on the other end, as Kumi absorbed his words. Then, her voice returned, filled with a mix of curiosity and empathy. "Is it true that you were a detective? Like, a police officer?"
Adachi sighed softly, the weight of his past choices hanging in the air. "Yes, that's true. I was a police detective once."
Kumi's next question caught him off guard. "Why did you do those bad things? Were you just evil?"
Adachi's heart ached at the innocence of Kumi's question. He knew he couldn't simply dismiss it or provide an oversimplified answer. "No, Kumi, I don't think anyone is truly 'evil,'" he replied gently. "Sometimes, people make choices for reasons that might be hard to understand. And those choices can hurt others."
He paused, trying to find the right words to convey his thoughts. "But that doesn't mean that there's no hope for change or redemption. People can learn from their mistakes and try to make amends."
There was a sense of understanding in Kumi's voice as she replied, "Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
Adachi smiled, even though Kumi couldn't see it. "I'm glad you think so. And Kumi, it's important to remember that you're never defined by the mistakes of others. You have the power to choose your own path."
A/N: The formatting may be a little funky. The doc editor has been glitching on me