[Despite the pain, despite the tears and despite memories that both warm her up and tear her apart, Ino manages a small smile. She tries to wipe her cheeks with her free hand, but she still can't help her tears from falling.

They're right. She and her father aren't only connected by blood but by their hearts. There's a saying that people die twice; first when they exhale their last breath and second, when someone says their name for the last time. So as long as she remembers, her father will live on.

She will never be able to bring back a part of her that she knows died along with him, or at least will die along with him, but she can always rebuild herself again. Her father passes away, but she has to live on.]

Mm... [A soft nod, willing tears away with her smile.] I love him, then. I love my Dad and I'll say it over and over again. [Both with words and with actions. She glances at both her teammates with affection, a silent gratitude in her watery eyes, but when her gaze lands on Shikamaru, more tears begin to fall even when she's still holding that smile.]

You should do the same for Shikaku-san too, Shikamaru. [And at that, she gives the hand holding hers a soft squeeze. She's here for you, too.]