A man rushed down the hospital corridor, his shoes clattering on the floor. "She's born! Good job! Thank you!" he shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks as he hugged his wife, who was standing beside the incubator where their newborn daughter lay. The couple, approaching middle age and having undergone years of fertility treatments, had finally received the child they had longed for.
"What should we name her?" the wife asked, looking between her husband and their baby daughter.
"I already have a name," he replied. "It's 'Yume,' which means 'Dream.' She's the angel who fulfilled our dreams and hopes."
The new mother chuckled and said, "Dreams and hopes... that's a beautiful meaning."
"Yeah, it is," he agreed, hugging her tightly. She leaned into his embrace as the attending doctor entered the room.
"Congratulations on the birth of your child," the doctor said, bowing deeply. The couple returned the bow.
"I have to tell you something," the doctor continued. "Due to her premature birth and your advanced age, your child might face some developmental challenges. We'll do our best, but you should be prepared for potential complications."
The couple was stunned, but they quickly regained their composure. "No matter what happens, she's our daughter, and we will raise her with all the love and care she needs," they responded resolutely.
It took ten months for Yume to be discharged from the hospital. Fortunately, there were no lasting complications, aside from a slight physical weakness. The couple was determined to give their daughter the best life possible.
However, Yume frequently caught colds and fevers, which required frequent trips to the hospital. It seemed that the city's air quality wasn't suitable for her. A doctor suggested they move to a place with cleaner air, so the couple decided to relocate to a smaller town with a better environment.
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The father worked in a Tokyo government office and had a decent position, but he was willing to give it up for his daughter's health. He requested a transfer to a rural office.
"Are you sure about this?" his boss asked. "You have a promising career ahead of you. The pay in the countryside won't be as high."
"I know, but my daughter's health is more important," he replied firmly.
Three months later, he received his transfer notice to a small town. "Yes! We did it!" he exclaimed, bursting through the door of his home.
"Shh! Yume just fell asleep, so keep it down!" his wife whispered.
"Sorry. We finally got the transfer! Now Yume can grow up in a healthier environment!" he said, showing her the transfer notice.
"That's great! Let's celebrate tonight! I'll make something special," she said as she headed to the kitchen.
The couple's current home was a small government apartment in the city. However, the new housing provided in the countryside was a detached house with a garden. When the husband thanked his boss for finding them the house, he was told something unsettling.
"The house looks new, but there's something strange about it. People say it's haunted."
The husband shrugged it off. Neither he nor his wife believed in ghosts. "We'll be fine," he said.
"Thank you for everything!" a female colleague said, handing him a bouquet of flowers. "Now Yume-chan can grow up safely!"
"Thanks, and sorry for leaving work incomplete," he replied.
"No worries. We'll handle it!" she assured him.
The husband was eager to leave the city and start a new life. He used as much paid leave as he could to prepare for the move. The family packed their belongings and cleaned the apartment. During that time, they arranged for Yume to stay at the hospital for extra care, even though it wasn't covered by insurance. They didn't want her to breathe any more city air than necessary.
After saying goodbye to their neighbors, the night before the move arrived. His wife announced, "Tonight, we're having 'moving noodles' for dinner!"
"Aren't moving noodles for giving to the neighbors at the new place?" her husband asked.
His wife shrugged and continued eating.
The husband was about to head out to clean the car when his wife reminded him to finish eating. "The noodles can wait. You're the best cook in the world!" he said as he rushed out.
His wife sighed, but she was also slightly amused. "Yume-chan, your daddy gets all flustered when it comes to you. I'll make new noodles when he gets back."
The next day was moving day. "Let's head out toward our new happy life!" he said as their white sedan signaled and slowly drove off.