…w-who are you?

W-what do you mean by that...? Y-you're not my father! He died when I was young! Stay away from me!

But... No one ever told me about you... And your eyes... They look just like Kanae's sometimes, before she died... I-is that why I'm here? Am I dead too? Why am I still alive if she is gone...? sniffles

"Wait! You have to tell me what's going on!" Her voice was higher pitched now, almost frightened as her mind ran wild with possibilities and questions. She clenched the coin in her pocket, feeling more lost than ever before. "I-if you're not my father... Then who are you?"

She stumbled backwards slightly, feeling a sudden urge to run away from this strange figure, but fear kept her rooted in place. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something familiar, some kind of escape route should she need it. She struggled to maintain her composure, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

P-please tell me... Wh-what do you want from me? Why am I here with you? I-if it has something to do with Kanae...

Kanao's expression twisted in pain and confusion as she thought about what the figure could be to her now, besides being an abomination that had killed her beloved family. She swallowed hard, feeling tears streaming down her cheeks. "I-if you're not my father... If Kanae isn't here with me anymore... Then who am I supposed to trust?" she whispered softly, looking down at her feet as they trembled beneath her. "Wh-what do you want from me?"

Her voice quivered with fear and uncertainty, making it difficult for her to maintain her composure any longer. She reached up to wipe away the tears that had started to flow freely down her cheeks, not wanting this strange figure to see how much his words had hurt her already.

W-well... I-I'm sorry for not trusting you at first... It's just that I've been through so much and nobody's ever told me about you before... But if you say you're not here to hurt me or take me away from Kanae, then I-I guess there must be a reason why we met.

She hesitantly took a step forward, feeling slightly more at ease with this figure now that she knew he wasn't there to harm her. But her heart still ached for the loss of her family and she couldn't shake the sense of loneliness that had settled over her like a heavy cloak.

"I-if you really are Kanae... Or if you know where I can find her..." she trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to see her again." She paused before adding softly, "Please."

She waited, not daring to hope that he would understand what she was asking. His words had been so cryptic before, and she didn't want to get her hopes up again only to have them dashed cruelly against the unforgiving reality of their situation. But if there was even a small chance... She couldn't help but pray for it.

A moment stretched into several agonizing seconds, during which Kanao could hear nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. And then, finally, he spoke again. His voice was gentle, almost kind, like he truly did understand how she felt. "I can't bring her back," he said softly. "But I can show you where she is now." Kanao let out a shaky breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. She nodded slowly, feeling a tiny flicker of hope ignite within her once