Saying that, he stood up and opened the small bedside cabinet.
Rocco simply stared at him, memorizing every single detail of this moment.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Even though I asked for a reward, even though you must have carefully chosen it for me...
I never got to receive it.
Because I died before that next surgery ever happened.
"Here! Look at this, Rocco!" His father beamed, holding up a plush toy.
"This time, I picked a wolf! It has fluffy ears and a bushy tail—I thought you'd like that!"
In his father's arms sat a soft, round plushie—a chibi wolf with exaggeratedly fluffy ears and tail.
Rocco reached out and hugged it tightly to his chest.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Ah… how nostalgic.
This had been the last stuffed animal he had ever received in his past life.
"...Oh," he suddenly let out a quiet chuckle.
"Hm? What's funny?" his father asked.
"...Nothing. It's nothing."
Rocco kept his gaze locked on the plush, a smile tugging at his lips.
He had just noticed something.
