(In the evening, after everyone finished tidying up the apartment, the family gathered around a simple dinner table that Ahmed had prepared with his mother's help. The warm aroma of Yemeni food mingled with the sounds of laughter and conversation, making everyone feel as if they were home, despite being thousands of kilometers away from their homeland.)
Ahmed sat among his family members, sometimes translating the conversation of Misaki, Honoka, and Yoshika, and at other times participating in the discussions with his brothers and parents.
But despite his smile…
His father noticed the exhaustion he was trying to hide. He noticed the lack of sleep in his eyes, and the fatigue left behind by his studies, work, and heavy responsibilities.
Ahmed's father fell silent for a few moments, then looked at his son with a gaze filled with both pride and compassion.
Ahmed's Father: "My son… you have endured more than you should at this age."
(Everyone stops talking and looks at him.)
Ahmed's Father: "You study, you work, you look after others, and you try to make everyone happy."
(Ahmed lowers his head shyly.)
Ahmed: "I am just doing what I can, Father."
His father shakes his head with a gentle smile. Then he says:
Ahmed's Father: "And that is why I want to help you."
(Everyone listens with interest.)
Ahmed's Father: "I am a plumber by trade. I spent many long years working in this field in Yemen. I want to find work here and lighten some of this burden for you."
(Ahmed feels grateful for his father's words, but he knows it won't be easy.)
Ahmed: "I know, Father… and your expertise is truly great."
Then he adds after a moment of hesitation:
"But most employers here require knowledge of the Japanese language, and that might be difficult at the beginning."
(His father nods in understanding.)
Ahmed's Father: "Then we will learn it."
(Ahmed is slightly surprised.)
His father continues with a confident smile:
"I have learned a whole trade in my life; I will not be unable to learn a new language."
(A wide smile spreads across Ahmed's face.)
Ahmed: "And I will help you with that."
Then he reaches out his hand toward his father.
Ahmed: "We will succeed together, as we always have."
(His father takes his hand, while everyone feels the warmth of that moment.)
And on that night…
Ahmed realized that he was no longer carrying the responsibility alone. His family was by his side once again. And as the conversations continued around the table… Ahmed's parents and brothers began to ask more about the people who had stood by their son's side all this time in Japan.