The stadium was crowded with spectators who had come to support their favorite football teams. Murphy had already bought two tickets for himself and David. Throughout the walk to their reserved seats, David repeatedly noticed the people around were glancing at him. He knew that compared to the other people around him, David had the largest build, even to Murphy. The two of them sat side by side in the middle rows so that the football players on the field could be seen quite clearly.
"I invited you because my favorite player from one of the national teams is performing today. He has been ranked first for more than five consecutive seasons. Do you have a favorite football team as well, sir?"
David remained silent for a moment, observing the stadium stands as they became increasingly crowded with spectators before looking back at Murphy.
"No... I didn't have time for that before..."
"Oh... I understand that. Maybe you were very busy with all those missions in Delta Zero." Murphy slightly confused but smiled.
The match was finally opened with fireworks and a lively marching band performance. After that, each football team entered the field. When one player from the team Murphy had mentioned came out, almost the entire crowd erupted into loud cheers.
"Let's welcome today's biggest star...!!! ROBBIIINNNNN...!!!" one of the commentators shouted through the stadium loudspeakers.
A sea of spectators wearing the same jerseys as Robbin's team immediately began chanting his name. Murphy did the same, while David remained seated quietly, watching Robbin. He had a tall build like most football players, brown skin, and curly black hair.
The match began, and as expected, the football team led by Robbin dominated the game, with Robbin scoring the most points. The spectators continued cheering, clapping, blowing horns, and some even played drums whenever Robbin put the ball into the opponent's goal. After the match ended and Robbin's team won by a landslide, the spectators gradually dispersed. David noticed how happy Murphy was after watching his idol's impressive performance. They returned to the car to take David home.
"If my favorite team has another match later, would you like to come again, sir?" Murphy started driving.
"Yes..." David replied. Murphy simply smiled.
While they were on the road, David suddenly noticed a fast-food restaurant.
"Let's go there first..." David said, pointing toward the restaurant.
"Oh... that's good timing! I'm starting to feel hungry too, sir!" Murphy drove into the restaurant's parking lot.
They got out and entered the restaurant. The atmosphere inside was not crowded, so they were able to order immediately. David paused for a moment while choosing his meal before finally selecting a burger combo.
"I'll pay." David said after Murphy had placed his order as well. Murphy thanked him. After their food was ready, they sat at a table in the corner and ate together.
"Sir, I heard from the Space Force that you've been placed on leave because you've frequently been absent from duty, and according to our commander, you've been suffering from depression. I invited you because someone I know from Delta Zero told me that you used to enjoy watching football matches on TV while staying at the base camp. I'm just worried that you might be forced into early retirement."
David paused eating briefly. "I'll be fine..." he replied as continued to eat. Murphy gave a faint smile.
After they had finished, David went to the restroom while Murphy waited in the car. After leaving one of the toilet stalls and washing his hands at the sink, someone else began washing his hands beside him. David glanced at the man through the mirror, and instantly he was reminded of someone he had met before. When he looked directly, the man appeared younger, with fair skin, short brown hair with bangs.
Without realizing it, David reached out and grabbed one of the man's arm. The man suddenly became startled.
"S-Sir! I'm sorry... is something wrong with me???"
David immediately pulled his hand back and turned toward the mirror in a fluster.
"I-I'm sorry..." he left quickly and returning to Murphy's car.
David arrived home toward evening. Dianne and Darla greeted him cheerfully and invited him to have dinner together. David nodded and still joined his family for dinner.
"Dianne... how long have I been on leave?" David asked. His wife looked slightly surprised by the question.
"Dear... I-I've actually been sending regular reports about your condition to your unit. If you're feeling better, they'll gladly welcome you back to active duty. Do you want to go back to work tomorrow?" she asked.
"I need a little more time..." David said. Dianne smiled and told him not to rush himself.
While in his room, David sat beside the bed and thought once again about the man at the restaurant restroom. He felt that he knew that person very well, yet he did not know who he was. Suddenly, David clutched his head with both hands and breathed heavily as he tried hard to remember him. Suddenly, someone held his right shoulder, and David instinctively glanced toward Dianne, who looked startled as well.
"Darling, a-are you still not feeling well?"
"I-I'm alright, Dianne... I-I'm trying not to think about it anymore..."
Dianne caressed both of her husband's cheeks. She slowly brought her face closer to David's and kissed him on the lips. David returned the kiss while gently holding his wife's cheek as well.
The next morning, David still wanted to take Darla to school. Dianne placed Doly into a special carrier for transporting cats. David looked at it with a puzzled expression. She noticed his reaction.
"Darling, after taking Darla to school, take Doly for the regular health check-up. You used to be the one who was always happily taking it there."
"W-Where is it?" David scratched his head.
"At Dr. Peterson's animal clinic, darling..." Dianne smiled. David felt confused by the routine his wife said he had once enjoyed.
After arriving at the school, Darla kissed his cheek again and told him to take good care of Doly until she came home. After that, David searched for the address of that animal clinic using his phone.
David arrived at the clinic, and it appeared to be not very large but neat and clean. He then carried Doly inside, and the receptionist greeted him warmly as though he had long been a regular customer there. David was immediately escorted to Dr. Peterson's examination room and the doctor greeted him. David observed that the doctor was already middle-aged, with part of his hair turning gray.
"I'm happy to see you again, Sir David. Previously, Ms. Dianne was the one who brought your beloved Doly here. She said you were ill and needed to rest at home all day," Peterson said.
"Y-Yes, Doctor... I'm much better now," David sat near the examination bed.
The doctor smiled and began examining the cat's health. David simply watched as Doly kept meowing toward him. After Peterson injected a type of liquid that he explained was a vitamin to maintain Doly's health, the examination was finished.
"Doly is still as healthy as always, sir. Honestly, I was deeply touched to see how much attention you always pay to your cat's health, especially after I learned about your background." Peterson said. David remained quiet, thinking the doctor's words.
Peterson then explained that before becoming a veterinarian, he had been an Army sergeant. One day, after returning from a military operation at an overseas base camp, Peterson found that one of his platoon comrades had fallen into severe PTSD because of a deadly battle in an armed conflict zone.
After returning home and being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, he still showed no significant improvement. One day, his young niece brought him a rabbit. A miracle happened as he gradually recovered and was eventually allowed to return home. He finally took early retirement and began raising rabbits.
Peterson visited his former comrade several times, but sometimes his friend would become sad again whenever one of his rabbits died. In the end, Peterson made the biggest decision of his life by also taking early retirement and enrolling in veterinary school, hoping that he could help care for his friend's rabbits. Even now, Peterson still visits his friend's rabbit farm and helps treat any rabbits that become ill.
David silently listened to the doctor's story before thanking him. Peterson also asked him to convey his regards to Dianne and Darla. After returning home and feeding Doly, David once again sat at his computer desk to read documents about his work in the Space Force. Usually, his wife would pick up their daughter later that afternoon. However, when Dianne returned home, David noticed something unusual.
"Where is Darla?"
"Oh... didn't she tell you that she's staying overnight at her cousin's house tonight? That's why I brought a bag with her things earlier."
David shook his head, and Dianne let out a sigh while smiling at him. Then his wife took something out of her bag—two tickets—and showed them to David.
"Earlier, I picked up the concert tickets that I had booked online. Tonight there will be a performance by a famous rock star, and this is a wonderful opportunity for just the two of us. I know you used to enjoy rock music, darling!" Dianne said enthusiastically.
Once again, David remained silent as he looked at his wife, only now realizing that there had been another thing he used to enjoy.