[Now that he's paying attention to him, it seems that Tama's wise beyond his years. His words bring Ryuunosuke to mind-- another young man walking, steadfast, towards the future with hope held firmly in his hands.

There's a beat of silence, but not an uncomfortable one: it seems like they're all fixed upon the koi. It swims around, iridescent, graceful as a real fish would've been in the water. Out of the corner of his eye Mikotoba catches the woman who's joined his girls, but doesn't say anything. If Tama sees her, he'll see her. If her presence is painful, his silence might spare him a moment of it.]

I can only pray for such a hopeful future. It is... the best that I can offer the two of them, now.

[Mikotoba isn't Iris' father. No matter how close he'd gotten to bringing her home; no matter what Sholmes may claim; it's nothing he should've earned after a mere month of caring for the girl. But he has a promise to keep. And above all else, she's Sholmes' daughter. His life is entwined with hers, as it is with Sholmes. She-- the both of them-- are family.]

If I cannot cast aside the past, perhaps one day my daughter will. She shouldn't be forced to carry that burden.

[Susato, smiling, holds Iris out to the iridescent woman beside her.]