Ace thought for a moment.
"I'm not sure. I guess I saw everyone being all gloomy and that was my way of trying to lift the mood. ... Didn't really work, though." At his daughter's words, Ace's expression softened, his eyes glowing with joy.
"I am too. I'm even more glad that I made that wish," he replied as he nuzzled her.
"I'm glad I've been blessed with such wonderful children." His loneliness had vanished overnight, his bad reputation cast aside like rotten fruit. In his mind's eye he could almost see Kazare and Nataku smiling at him.