Chapter 26 The True Origin of the Name "Satsuki"

The True Origin of the Name “Satsuki”

The days go by.

The time I spend with my daughter, Satsuki, flies by.

Being with her is so much fun that I always lose track of time.

December. The season has turned to winter, and it is getting colder.

Today I was supposed to have a regular secret meeting with Sophia-san.

“… eh?”

This time, I arrived on time.

After work, I stopped by our usual cafe… but strangely enough, Sophia-san wasn’t there.

She usually comes an hour or two early.

It’s rare.

I ordered a cup of coffee and waited for her….

“I’m sorry, Itsuki-san. I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No, it’s okay, but….”

Sophia-san, who took off her coat and sat down, had an unusually serious look on her face.

“Did something happen?”

I noticed that something was different.

Sophia-san nodded and then said in a low voice,

“I just got a call from my parents. It seems that Sasha’s in-law has contacted them….”

“Eh!?”

I gasped.

It seems that Sophia-san finally got information about Sasha’s missing husband.

“Ah, thank you… and so?”

“Sasha’s in-laws seem to be looking for Satsuki-chan.”

Hearing those words, I involuntarily clenched my fists.

That selfish remark made me so angry that I gritted my teeth.

“Why, now…!”

They didn’t even come to Sasha’s funeral.

They made Sasha do all the work, didn’t support her well, thought only about themselves, and didn’t think about her child at all!

“I know how you feel…but calm down. There’s more to come.”

Sophia-san also understands how I feel.

However, as if to say that this is not the time to be angry, she continued her words.

“Apparently… Sasha’s husband is sick. They were looking for a blood relative to take his place… and they found out that Sasha has a daughter.”

“Sasha’s husband, huh?”

Finally….

It seems that Sophia-san got some information about who Sasha is married to and who Satsuki’s father is.

“In other words, it is Sasha’s husband who is looking for Satsuki, right?”

“Yes. It seems so. My parents found out a lot of things. They found out what Satsuki-chan’s father did, who he was, how he married Sasha, everything.”

Sophia-san knows everything I want to know.

But do I really want to know? Sophia-san confirms my intention.

“In case you’re wondering, my parents know about our situation. That’s why they didn’t say anything about Satsuki-chan. They’re on our side.”

If I pretend that I didn’t hear it, I can go on living like I am now, not knowing anything.

I can pretend that I never heard about Satsuki’s father. Then Satsuki and I could just be father and daughter from now on.

But I don’t want that.

It would be embarrassing to be a person who could not face reality forever.

Most of all, it would be pathetic for me as Satsuki’s father.

To be an honorable father, I want to face reality.

I want to live with Satsuki with an open and proud heart.

That’s why,

“Please tell me. Tell me about Satsuki’s father.”

I bow my head.

I was already prepared.

“Yes, I understand… If that’s your wish, I’ll be happy, too.”

Sophia-san agreed as well.

And finally, I was able to find out about Sasha’s husband.

“Sasha is marrying someone who runs a big company overseas. He seems to be one of the most famously wealthy people. He is in his late forties. He and Itsuki-san are about ten years apart in age.”

“… And what is his name?”

“His name is Maxim.”

Sasha said,

She said Satsuki’s name came from “someone important to her”.

And the name of the man Sasha married was “Maxim”.

“Maxim, what does it mean? Do you know the meaning of that name?”

“Meaning? Well, I think it means something like ‘great’.”

Satsuki (さつき). May (五月/Tsuki/Beautiful month). Satsuki (皐月/May).

No. The nuance and meaning of all these names are clearly different from the names of Sasha’s husband!

In other words, Satsuki’s name comes from….

“Itsuki (いつき/Tsuki/Beautiful month).”

I shouted my own name. I covered my face with both hands and bit my lip.

Regret attacked my chest. Tears streamed from my eyes in frustration, bitter at my weakness in the past.

I really am an idiot.

Satsuki’s name came from “Itsuki”.

Someone important to her was me.

Sasha always thought of me.

She loved me enough to name her beloved daughter after me.

And yet, I was a coward.

Of course, when I first heard the name Satsuki, I knew it sounded like my name. I hoped that maybe Sasha cared about me too, and that’s why she chose a similar name.

But more than that, I was scared.

If the origin of the name Satsuki was Sasha’s husband… It was all my misunderstanding, and if it was a misunderstanding, I thought I would be destroyed.

So I didn’t have the courage.

I couldn’t get rid of the fear that Sasha might not love me.

I hated myself for that, from the bottom of my heart——