By one o’clock, Alvin Satō had sold all fifty steaks.
With lunch service over and the restaurant finally quiet, he wandered behind the counter, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a jar of goji berries.
He dropped a handful into a mug and poured in hot water.
Back in his previous life, every morning before work, Aiko would prepare the same drink for him in a thermos.
He’d tease her with an embarrassingly suggestive joke about the berries, earn a few indignant punches to the shoulder, then head to work grinning.
Now…
He made it himself.
It wasn’t the tea he missed.
It was the person who used to make it.
He sat there in silence for a while, lost in the memory, until a sharp knock on the bar pulled him back to reality.
His eyes refocused.
Jessica was standing in front of him.
“What is it?” Alvin asked absently.
“Don’t tell me you gave someone the wrong change again.
I keep telling you to study a little more, but you never listen.” Jessica’s expression darkened.
A split second later, her fist landed squarely on his shoulder.
“Ow.” That woke him up.
“Violence against your employer?” Alvin rubbed his arm dramatically.
“I’m docking your pay.” Jessica didn’t look the least bit worried.
She glared at him and muttered under her breath.
“Fine.
Dock all of it.” “You can support me for the rest of my life.” Alvin reached over and flicked her forehead.
“What goes on inside that head of yours?” “You’re a grown woman.” “‘Support me forever?'” He shook his head.
“If some guy ever tells you he’ll take care of you for the rest of your life, punch him.” “You’ll probably be doing him a favor.” Jessica pouted, putting on an exaggerated expression that made her look like a wounded fawn.
Alvin folded his arms, trying to ignore the goosebumps crawling up them.
“Go get back to work.” He pointed toward the dining room.
“And when someone starts courting you someday, bring him here first.” “I’ll make sure he isn’t trying to fool you.” Jessica wrinkled her nose.
“Hmph.” “I don’t need your approval.” “I know exactly what kind of man I want.” Alvin laughed.
“Well, whatever you do…” “Don’t look for someone like me.” “There aren’t many of us.” “And before you get any ideas, I’m not lowering my standards.” He glanced toward her chest with deliberate exaggeration.
“My future wife needs at least a thirty-six D.” Jessica instinctively looked down at herself.
Then she thought about the women Alvin had always treated kindly.
Dahlia.
Lilith.
Neither could be accused of lacking in that department.
Her face immediately fell.
She let out another irritated snort and marched off to wipe down the tables, completely forgetting whatever she’d originally wanted to tell him.
“Boss.” A cheerful voice interrupted Alvin’s amusement.
The blond young professional from earlier wandered over and casually bumped fists with him.
He even attempted a few exaggerated street gestures he’d clearly copied from neighborhood toughs, hoping Alvin would play along.
Alvin simply watched him with an expression that suggested he was enjoying a comedy show.
The young man laughed awkwardly.
“Seriously, though.” “Fantastic steak.” Then he rejoined the friends waiting outside.
As they walked away, Alvin could hear him bragging loudly.
“See?
I know the owner.” “He’s basically the godfather of this whole neighborhood.” Alvin just shook his head.
Not long afterward, an aging Ford sedan pulled up outside the restaurant.
JJ climbed out of the driver’s seat.
He walked around to the passenger side and hauled out a Black teenager who looked about sixteen or seventeen.
The boy’s arm was wrapped in bloodstained bandages.
Whatever had happened, it hadn’t been a minor injury.
Professor Wilson stepped out of the back seat.
Beside him was a little brown-haired girl of about five or six.
The four of them entered the restaurant together.
One look at Professor Wilson’s troubled expression made Alvin’s stomach sink.
Jessica quietly guided the professor and the little girl to a table before bringing them each a glass of water.
Alvin turned to JJ.
“What happened?” Without a word, JJ smacked the teenager across the back of the head hard enough to make him stumble forward.
The boy immediately tried to spin around and fight back, but JJ effortlessly restrained him.
“This kid injured Mrs.
Wilson.” Alvin’s expression darkened.
Before he could say anything, Professor Wilson hurriedly stood.
“No, no.” “It’s not that serious.” “He only pushed her.” “She fell.” “The doctor says she’ll be fine after a couple of days’ rest.” Only then did Alvin relax slightly.
Professor Wilson and his wife had become indispensable to the school.
Wilson looked even more apologetic.
“Actually…” “Ginny cut Jason’s arm.” “That’s why I came.” “I’m sorry to trouble you again, Alvin.” Only after hearing Mrs.
Wilson wasn’t seriously hurt did Alvin finally let the matter rest.
He ignored the struggling teenager for the moment.
Instead, his attention settled on the little girl clutching Professor Wilson’s coat.
So…
This was Ginny.
The little girl Professor Wilson had asked him to adopt that morning.
In his previous life, Alvin had always wanted a daughter.
He and Aiko had talked about it countless times.
But money had always been tight.
They were afraid that if they tried for another child and had another son, they wouldn’t be able to give either child the life they deserved.
So they never took the chance.
Now…
He wasn’t even married in this life.
Yet somehow, a daughter had arrived at his doorstep.
That morning he’d been irritated by Professor Wilson’s high-handed decision.
Now, looking at the tiny girl with her delicate features and frightened, animal-like eyes…
His heart melted.
Compared to her, the teenage delinquent waiting behind JJ ceased to matter.
Alvin slowly crouched until he was at eye level with her.
A warm smile spread across his face.
“You’re Ginny, aren’t you?” “My name’s Alvin.” He extended his hand.
At that moment, he looked less like a twenty-five-year-old man and more like a father greeting his child after a long journey.
On anyone else, the expression might have looked strange.
On Alvin, it felt perfectly natural.
Whether encouraged by Professor Wilson or reassured by Alvin’s gentle smile, Ginny cautiously reached out.
Her fingertips brushed his open palm.
Then she instantly pulled them back.
Fear.
Uncertainty.
Hope.
Every emotion was written across her small face.
Alvin never moved.
His hand remained exactly where it was.
Waiting.
Patiently.
Silently.
Offering only encouragement.
Ginny looked at Alvin.
Then at Professor Wilson.
The old professor smiled and gave her an encouraging nod.
Slowly, she released her grip on his coat.
Like a timid little animal testing whether food was safe, she reached toward Alvin’s waiting hand once more.
Alvin’s smile only grew warmer.
This was a child who had never known security.
A child who had learned to fear the world.
He had all the love he’d never been able to give the daughter he once dreamed of.
He wouldn’t hesitate to give every bit of it to her.
Finally…
Her tiny hand settled completely into his.
She felt the warmth in his palm.
Warm.
Safe.
She liked it.
As far back as she could remember, only Alvin had ever made her feel this way.
She had wandered through countless places.
Yet it was inside a humble Chinese restaurant called Peace Restaurant, hidden in the chaos of Hell’s Kitchen, that she experienced something she’d never known before.
Professor Wilson and his wife made her feel cared for.
Alvin made her feel protected.
She didn’t want to let go.
Timidly, she pointed at herself.
“Ginny.” “…Me.” “Ginny.” Alvin smiled so broadly his cheeks hurt.
He gently closed his fingers around her little hand.
Then pointed to himself.
“Alvin.” “Me.” “Alvin.” Ginny’s guard finally crumbled.
A tiny smile bloomed across her face.
She pointed at Alvin.
“Alvin…” “…Daddy.” Professor Wilson had clearly prepared her for this moment before bringing her here.
Alvin didn’t care.
His heart felt as though it might burst.
Still smiling, he nodded.
He pointed to himself again.
“Me.” “Alvin.” “Daddy.” Ginny’s smile grew brighter.
Still holding his hand, she leaned forward and pressed her little face against it.
Like a puppy that had finally found its way home, she closed her eyes and breathed in his scent.
Alvin gently cupped her cheek with one hand while the other stroked her soft brown hair.
A wave of fulfillment unlike anything he had ever experienced washed over him.
At last…
He had a daughter.