It was the first night after Aldo returned home. Iris was preparing to sleep on the floor with only a blanket.
โIris? Hey, what are you doing?โ
โHuh?โ
Iris flinched. Aldoโs tone wasnโt angry, but being asked, โWhat are you doing?โ by him made Iris nervous, fearing sheโd get scolded.
โThereโs a bed here; you should sleep there.โ
โButโฆ Father said I shouldnโt sleep in the bed.โ
โIโฆ did?โ
A memory Aldo didnโt have. Before he lost his memory, Aldo never allowed Iris to sleep in the bed. Heโd forced her to sleep on the floor without even a futon, allowing her just one blanket as a slight kindness.
โNo, from today on, sleep in the bed. As for everything up until nowโฆ Iโmโฆ sorry.โ
Aldo lowered his head, apologizing for the horrible things heโd done to Iris, even if he couldnโt remember them. Iris looked at him, wide-eyed and surprised.
โReallyโฆ I can use the bed?โ
โYes.โ
The house had two beds. Iris used one, and Aldo took the other.
The bed was a bit hard, but it was much softer than the floor. It embraced Iris, allowing her to sleep peacefully.
โ
โYawnโฆโ
With the morning sun shining in, Aldo woke up. Iris still seemed to be asleep. He went to the washroom to wash his face, and just as he was doing so, he heard a scream from the bedroom.
โIris! What happened?โ
Aldo rushed over without even wiping his face. Iris was trembling, and as soon as she saw Aldo, she repeatedly muttered apologies.
โIโm sorry, Iโm sorry, Iโm sorry, Iโm sorryโฆโ
โIris, calm down! What happened?โ
Aldoโs voice rose involuntarily, startling Iris. Realizing his mistake, he stood there, mouth half-open.
โOh, Iโm sorry. Iris, could you calm down? Can you tell me what happened?โ
โSniffโฆ sobโฆ Iโm sorry. Iโฆ I woke up later than Father.โ
Irisโs tears fell onto the blanket. Aldo let out a sigh of relief.
โOh, thatโs all? You donโt need to worry about that.โ
โHuh? Fatherโฆ youโre not mad?โ
โI wouldnโt scold you just for waking up later than me.โ
โButโฆโ
Iris hesitated, and Aldo understood. She had been living in fear of being scolded if she didnโt wake up before her father.
โItโs alright, Iris. โFatherโ wonโt do that anymore.โ
โReally?โ
Iris looked up at Aldo, her expression a mixture of half-relief and half-doubt.
What had the old Aldo done to this child? He couldnโt forgive himself for ever having hurt such an innocent girl.
From now on, he would protect Iris. Resolving to do so, Aldo came up with an idea.
โIris, how about we go outside?โ
โOutsideโฆ? Are you sure?โ
Iris asked, a bit taken aback. Aldo smiled warmly, trying to ease her concern.
โYes, letโs go on an outing today.โ
โBut, Father, donโt you have workโฆ?โ
Today wasnโt a rest day, a day when adults usually worked.
โOh, work starts tomorrow. The doctor said I should rest until then, and my workplace confirmed it.โ
Aldo had suffered a severe head injury, so his workplace had given him time to recover.
โIris, is there anywhere youโd like to go?โ
โUhโฆโ
โHmm, hard to think of something on the spot, huh?โ
โSorryโฆโ
โNo, itโs fine. Iโm not blaming you. In that case, how about I escort you around today?โ
Aldo took Irisโs hand and led her outside. They walked through the slums as Aldo checked the map, heading to a certain place.
โWelcome!โ
The worn-out clothing store in the slums. A female clerk called out to Aldo as they entered.
โIโd like to buy some clothes for this child.โ
โHuh?โ
Iris was surprised by Aldoโs words. Since her mother left, no one had bought her clothes.
โAlright, understood. Weโll take her measurements here.โ
โIris, be a good girl and listen to what the clerk says, okay?โ
โYesโฆโ
Iris was taken by the clerk to have her measurements taken, and Aldo patiently waited.
When she returned, the clerk showed her various fabrics.
โHow about this outfit?โ
โUmโฆ I think itโs good.โ
Iris answered somewhat vaguely, not sure what to say in this situation.
โIris, donโt hold back. Choose something you really like.โ
โYes, Father. Thenโฆ this light blue dressโฆโ
โThis one? Alright. Letโs try it on.โ
The clerk led Iris to the fitting room, where she changed. She emerged wearing the light blue dress.
โHow do I look, Father?โ
โIt suits you well.โ
Aldo had her change out of her tattered clothes and bought her proper ones.
After leaving the clothing store, Aldo and Iris headed to a barberโs next.
โWelcome!โ
โCould you cut her hair, please?โ
โHer hair is pretty damaged. Would you be okay with cutting it short?โ
โYes, thatโs fine.โ
Iris answered nervously. After all she had been through, she had a lingering distrust of adults.
โAlright, little lady. Iโll make you look cute.โ
The barber began trimming her damaged hair. Since much of it was damaged, they had to cut quite a bit.
โHer hair was really damaged. Maybe she didnโt have a place for proper care?โ
In the slums, it wasnโt unusual for families to lack proper care, so the barber didnโt find Irisโs condition too surprising.
โWell, to be honest, my wife left, and itโs just us men now. I really donโt know how to care for a girlโs hair.โ
Aldo made an excuse, and the barber looked at him sympathetically.
โAh, sorry to bring up bad memories.โ
โNo, itโs alright.โ
โHere, Iโll give you some shampoo for her hair. Use it to take care of her hair.โ
โReally? Thatโs great, Iris! Oh, how muchโฆ?โ
โNo charge for the shampoo; itโs a gift.โ
The barber laughed heartily. Aldo, looking grateful, said, โThank you very much.โ
โNow, Iris, thank him as well.โ
โOh, yes, thank you very much.โ
Prompted by Aldo, Iris thanked the barber.
โSuch a sweet girl. Sheโs going to be beautiful someday.โ
With her hair cut, Iris went from having long hair to a shoulder-length bob. Removing the damaged hair changed her look significantly.
From a rather gloomy girl, she now looked a bit more lively.
โOh, you look wonderful. Youโve become even cuter, Iris.โ
โReally? Thank you, Father.โ
Iris blushed and looked down shyly.