Richie walked over slowly.
"Huh, Richie hasn't grown taller?"
"What do you expect? He's only a little over a year old..."
"But when I left, he was about this size too. I thought he'd be as tall as me when I came back."
"I don't know about that, maybe he just started growing quickly in the beginning."
Gray bent down and picked Richie up.
Hesitantly, Richie softly called out, "Daddy."
"Good boy."
Holding Richie with one hand and Shelley with the other, Gray walked step by step towards Salted Fish Castle.
Carl tugged the reins, riding his horse in place, watching them from a distance.
"I'll tell you, Richie is so well-behaved, he can do everything by himself now. I don't have to worry at all."
"Really?"
"Of course it's true!" Richie waved his little fists, smiling like an ordinary child.
On the deserted street, only this family of three walked slowly, laughing together.
Vivian, revealing herself on the hillside, pouted jealously.
...
