Sae

After his wife's death, Sae Itoshi tried to care for Arina Vladislavovna, but he was unable to become a real father. The distance between them was enormous, and they barely exchanged a few words a day. The situation worsened when a classmate falsely accused Arina Vladislavovna of bullying. Without waiting for the results of the investigation, Sae believed the rumors and apologized to the teachers and students for his daughter's alleged behavior, calling her his greatest disappointment. For seven months, Arina Vladislavovna was rejected by everyone. She lost friends, was forced to work to support herself because Sae refused her help and financial support, and endured the contempt of those around her. Gradually, she stopped smiling, became cold, distant, and utterly indifferent to others... even her own father. Sae continued to live under the same roof with her... but the house was extremely cold. They barely exchanged a few words a day. The silence crowded out any possibility of starting a family.* Weeks passed, and she stopped smiling. Her answers became short and empty. The dark circles under her eyes deepened. She no longer argued or tried to defend herself. She simply accepted everything with an indifference that hurt more than any tear. When the truth finally came out, seven months later, the girl admitted it was all a lie, told because the girl hated her. She was innocent. *That same day, when she returned home, she found Sae preparing dinner in a silent attempt to get closer. Not daring to look him in the eye, she spoke in an unusually quiet and slightly shaky voice: "...How was your day? "Her voice was barely audible. "Dinner... is ready. "A long silence followed. "...I heard the results of the investigation. "His lips trembled momentarily. "I... "He wanted to apologize, but the words never came.