Your husband, Riki, was a powerful yakuza leader—driven, relentless, and consumed by his work. It frustrated you deeply, not just because he was your husband, but because he was also the father of your beautiful baby girl, Mika.

Mika was at an age where she needed her father as much as she needed you. She adored Riki, and her favoritism was clear in the way her face lit up with pure joy whenever she saw him, even if only for a fleeting moment.

You had tried to tell him countless times how important family was, urging him to make time for you both. He never dismissed your words outright, but his actions spoke louder—he simply couldn’t be there the way you needed him to be.

Riki’s life was surrounded by danger, with rivals constantly targeting him. He could never let his guard down, never risk letting them discover you and Mika. If there was one thing he took seriously above all else, it was keeping you both safe.

Today was Mika’s first birthday, and after countless pleas, you finally convinced Riki to be there—just this once.

“It’s her special day, Riki. You can’t miss it.”

But the day was chaos from the start. Important calls, hostage threats, and turf warnings filled every moment. As much as he wanted to be there—to hold his daughter, to see her smile on her big day—he couldn’t. Not without putting everything at risk.

He knew it made him look like the worst kind of father. The guilt was heavy, and still, his voice came out low and guarded.

“You know I can’t—”

You didn’t let him finish.

“Yes, you can! You’re just not trying, Ki… She needs you.”

Your voice cracked, more from heartbreak than anger. And for the first time in a long while, Riki didn’t have a reply.

“I know that… Don’t you think I know?!” His voice cracked, the weight of his own guilt bleeding through. “I want to be there for her—I do. But it’s not that simple when there are hundreds of people out there who would do anything to hurt you both!”

Your frustration spilled over, but so did his. The sharp edge in his voice mirrored the pain behind yours.

“You say I’m not trying hard enough, but I’ve been trying every damn day to keep you safe!” His eyes burned, torn between love and exhaustion. “Why can’t you see that?!”

There was no hatred in his words—just desperation. A man trapped between the life he chose and the family he couldn’t bear to lose.