"You know, I'm probably just as nervous as you are."

  The words came out of Gin all of a sudden in the middle of a short walk from their home towards Mykes Hospital. Rin, who was on his side, however remained silent upon those words.

  "I'm not the youngest child, but I was way too young to even be aware when Anna was born, and you already know how I already was at the time of my nephew's birth. This is all new to me too.

  But I don't think I can even come close to knowing how Hiro is feeling right now."

  A few days before Yuna's pregnancy is due, it has been decided that she would be admitted to the hospital to receive all the care she needs before the day of the delivery.

  Needless to say, the presence of tension within the family has been very clear despite all of the preparations that have been done in the past nine months. While the family insistently denied, Gin could not help but feel bad that the constant stream of anticipating the unexpected and preparing for the worst had come from the experiences that came with his connections with them, and it has reached the point where the ever-so optimistic head of the house was even showing visible concern.

  Thus, as much as possible, he would put in the effort to help and give support whenever and wherever he can, be it physically or mentally.

  And amidst all the concerns that has been plaguing the Akanami family, and by extension Gin, he also has his own reasons why he wishes everything to be fine aside from his own feelings.

  "Also, if there is anything else that's worrying you, I'm always here if you want to talk about it. But for now, I don't think you have to mind it too much," he asserted, as though he knew what was in Rin's mind.

  "Let's focus on what's in front of us now, Rin."

  Suddenly, Gin was met with a nudge from Rin's shoulder that pushed him ever so slightly.

  "Careful now. We're still on the road."

  "Sorry. Felt like it after you psychoanalyzed me without me saying a word," she said, somewhat angrily.

  A few meters further, they arrived at the hospital… in such a way they did not expect.

  Greetings were showered at Rin in any moment she meets with the nurses, be it the reception desk or at the hallway outside the hospital rooms. In cases where the nurses do not approach her, she would instead be met with curious looks.

  Strange as it may be to say, but Gin felt that Rin had somehow turned into a celebrity.

  "Did you become a doctor here behind our backs, Rin? When did you get the time to study medicine without us knowing?

  Hmm… but you would probably look good on a lab coat… and we can't forget the glasses "

  "I'd like it if you stopped with your delusions, Potato. Even I'm just as confused as you."

  Reaching the room they needed to be in with the name of their sister, the door slid open with the sight of Yuna on a hospital bed with a book on her hand while Hiroomi keeps watch beside her.

  "Wow, now I wonder how monster meat tastes like…"

  "I think you're way past your craving phase, Yu…"

  "Oh, look who's finally here," Yuna waved as she noticed the couple's entrance.

  "You sure got us running around, Sis."

  "Didn't you drive Gin to our house?"

  "Yeah, but I don't see any point parking my car here when we're so close. It's better off used by someone that needs it more."

  "That's the perks of having a little sister and a little brother. How reliable and kind of you two."

  "Excuse me, ma'am. But I still need to work and see to our house's construction. Your husband is just way too generous to give me a paid leave," Gin shrugged as he dropped off a suitcase.

  "Let Chef Yuzu and Jean hold the fort."

  "I'm just glad that our staff was okay with the reshuffling of our organizational structure all these years, but I still need to be present a few times, you know."

  "I'm glad giving everyone a heart-to-heart worked for the most part."

  "Anyway… You seem really chill for someone who's going to give birth anytime."

  "No point fussing about it. I don't want to get too stressed."

  "Aren't you scared, Sis…?"

  If anyone else was stressed, it would be Rin on her sister's behalf, which has been prevailing for a few weeks.

  "Wait, isn't that a manga? Sorry to say but I neither know how to kill nor cook a monster."

  And it is in Gin's part to divert the situation and the tension before things could escalate.

  "I'm still surprised you guys can read those. The art of the food is really good, though."

  "Is that the final volume, Sis?"

  "Yeah. It's surreal how much food they're making and how many people they're feeding."

  "Oh, you bet Rin and I are going to cook up a feast once your daughter is born," he asserted as he patted Rin's head.

  "Just make sure to give me a list of what you'll make before even pushing for it. I need to make sure they're suitable for breastfeeding."

  "Turns out my brother-in-law is also a nutritionist."

  "Hey now. Before I was a chef, I had to study about them. Sean and I had to midwife because we decided to take upon the duty, after all. I can't stress how thankful I am for learning from great people."

  "We Exiles never get tired to say that, huh…"

  The door slid open anew with the entrance of the sisters' mother, as well as Senna.

  "Guess Hiro and I will leave for now since we need to drive back to their house. We'll catch you later, Mom and Auntie."

  Thus, Gin sat behind the wheel of Hiroomi's car.

  "You also can't catch a break, huh, Gin."

  "I suppose it's kind of my fault when you look at the bigger picture."

  "Don't say it like it's something bad."

  "I know, I know. I don't think it's anything serious, but Rin really has been all over the place."

  "She's really anxious, huh… We really can't let the sisters be alone together until it's time.

  But look at the bright side, it just goes to show how much she cares about Yu."

  "Well, she had to deal with me before this. Even if it honestly gets annoying sometimes, I completely get where her worries are coming from."

  "You better not be thinking about how she would probably feel better about this if she hadn't met you, Gin."

  "I am way past that."

  ~ ~ ~

  "Man, you've really readied up for this month, I see."

  "What do you think we were doing these past few months?"

  "Well, I haven't really been in this house a lot but things sure changed."

  The few snippets within Gin's memories have greatly differed from what his eyes see now in Hiroomi and Yuna's abode. Upon the discovery of the child's gender, the couple had immediately prepared for the coming of their new family member by decorating and reorganizing the house that would ensure the safety of everyone in their home.

  This time, they needed the help of Gin to finalize anything, especially the things that he could lift and move around in a short period of time.

  "I better not show her me lifting stuff around…"

  "Please don't scare our daughter immediately."

  "Come to think of it… I haven't heard about the name of your kid."

  "I'm just glad Kuroko didn't give my and Akira's future children names in the short story he made.

  But Yu and I will keep it a secret until she is born. If anything, you and Ringo might not know it, but you have a stake on the name, especially her."

  "Huh?"

  "Let's just leave it at that for now."

  "Now hold on. You got me curious."

  "And I'll make you be until she is with us. Time to make you feel the times when you keep being cryptic on us."

  "Come on… at least a hint?"

  In Gin's insistence, Hiroomi sighed and scratched his head thinking of a something that could connect to him and his little sister in the vaguest way possible.

  "…Let's just say that we thought about the two of you when we were picking out names."

  "B-Bro, did you just name your daughter Kurorekishi (dark history)?" out of concern with Hiroomi's possibly questionable decisions, Gin sank with worry on his face.

  "Dude, I can't tell if you're joking or not. But who in their right mind would name their child like that?

  Anyway, can you help me make some space on the middle of the living room? I'm thinking the layout is not going to move for a few years."

  "Got it. Do you mind if I get some cleaning done here? You've been staying next door from me so for quite a lot so it's best to check for pests while we're at it.

  Oh, and maybe we should your hide knives on a drawer."

  "But I like my magnet strip…"

  "How am I the more reasonable one when I'm not even the one going to be the father…"

  A few hours of what was frankly quite annoying for Gin as Hiroomi and Yuna on the phone's keep changing their minds, they have decided on a layout that they were satisfied with.

  In just a week that he talked to Eito Uchizawa from Hitoretsu, Gin now values his advice more and more about interior design, as he got a quick lesson from him and improved the look of his house when he was visiting with his friend.

  "I'm going to get some fresh air, Gin. You can help yourself with coffee or tea if you want."

  With Hiroomi ascending to the second floor, Gin lied down on the couch as he began scanning the house.

  His mind's eye has begun seeing imageries of what could be very much the near future of the house he is currently at.

  "You don't have to think about it yet, so can it," he suddenly mumbled to himself.

  The small rattle that was lying around the coffee table then suddenly caught his eyes which led him to hesitantly pick it up and toss it to the air, watching the toy do several somersaults and the sounds following it.

  It was however not long until he got bored and found himself looking at an unopened pacifier peeking out of a box, to which he somehow intently stared at for a while. Little by little, his hand began reaching towards it with a tremble. His eyes began squinting and twitching as the curiosity and hesitation started fighting within himself. But in the end, the pacifier found itself on his hand.

  Minutes passed, and Gin kept staring at it, unmoving like a statue, and eyes only occasionally blinking as they burn the image into his mind.

  "W-What the hell am I even doing… Maybe something is really wrong with me," as though coming back to his senses, he brought back the binky into the box and looked at his phone.

  "Almost time to head out…"

  Gin looked at the entire house for Hiroomi less the master bedroom. Millimeters before his hand met the door for a knock, the silence has aided into his expanded hearing which caught a few sounds that came from inside the room.

  Beyond that door, he could hear a few wails.

  "Hiro?

  Hiro, I'm coming in."

  His body had immediately carried a bit of urgency as his hand adhered to the doorknob and quickly rushed into the room, only to see Hiroomi's back, slumped and quivering as he leaned on the railings of the veranda.

  Gin then put on the coat that was on his arm and slowly joined Hiroomi outside and leaned on the veranda just the same. From his periphery, he could see that the coldness has reddened Hiroomi's cheeks, nose, and eyes.

  "Hey, tell me if something is wrong. When you're like this, you know that I tend to jump to conclusions."

  The fear has started showing in Gin's face. As he said, he could think of many possibilities as to why Hiroomi was suddenly emotional, and one of them was truly a terrible one which is why he wants things confirmed.

  "Hiro, please. I don't like where this is going."

  "Relax, man… Everything's fine… well, maybe not me."

  "Hahh… you know I'm very jumpy with these kinds of things, so please don't scare me like that."

  As if to retaliate, he wrapped his arm over Hiroomi's shoulder only for it to end up feeling like a scarf with its warmth.

  "You know… I think I kind of understand now why you stepped back when Ringo was still ill."

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Just say it, I blatantly ran away. No need to use other words. And there's nothing for you to understand. I just ran away like a coward because I didn't want to think about it, that's all."

  Regardless of the strong denial, Hiroomi continued, "You know that Sean and I helped a lot with labors, right? So many times I've considered being the one to see my daughter first… and I've even talked about the thought of it to Yuna. She herself said, she had no problems with it, especially after seeing me do it when she joined me in the base.

  But in the end… after so many 'I can do it,' and 'I will do it,' I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt the feeling of pressure and the weight of what I was to do. Such a delicate life would be entrusted to me, and it would be my daughter most of all. I couldn't bear the consequences if something were to happen if I took in the responsibility of my child's birth.

  Before I knew it, the excitement and the fear had mixed into something that I don't even know anymore."

  Despite the outcry of Hiroomi's feelings, the weight on Gin's arms that was put on him only a few moments ago had suddenly vanished.

  "I'm just relieved that it was nothing as bad as what I was thinking about…

  But in my opinion, I do think that your situation is quite unique that you can probably give yourself some leeway. Heck, how many people in the world are even in the same situation as you? I don't think there's anything wrong with deciding not to do it when you are met with options that are just as good.

  Or what, does pride have something to do with this?"

  "No, never."

  "In that case, it's still up to you as it looks like your judgment is still levelheaded. But if I am to share my thoughts on it, I think it's best that you think of it as a father to help lessen your worries. That way, you have less to think about, or at least that's just my inexperienced opinion.

  You have me, Sean, and the other Exiles to lean on. Heck, we could have asked Tenth for some of his thoughts, but I don't think we still have the time for it. Still, I could guess that he would choose the thing that's in your best interest."

  Hiroomi came away from Gin's hold and lightly tapped the latter's shoulder with his fist.

  "We always wind up talking about the first time we met, but look at us now."

  "I was literally a child back then, but I'm happy that we're now able to talk like equals."

  "It's just that you went and rushed in life when you shouldn't have caught up this fast."

  "If I have really caught up then I would be in a position where I could steal the restaurant from you, which is not going to happen even in a few years. I'm just a nutjob who only knows how to cook and draw."

  "About that, I may have some plans for you in the future to become a nutjob who knows more than to cook."

  "I am concerned, but you probably shouldn't be thinking about something like that when we reduced customer traffic in the resto.

  And if anything, we should probably stop yapping with each other since we're running late."

  "Wait, what time is it?"

  "It's way past 5. We have to get back to the hospital, and fast."

  "Crap… I hope Yu is not mad. Still have the keys with you, Gin?"

  "Never left my side."

  ? ? ?

  Dazed, Rin felt the sudden warmth on her cheek raising her hair as her hands caught a warm can of chai.

  "Finally found you," thus Gin joined her as they both leaned on the railing facing the hospital's outdoor courtyard sipping the same kind of tea that she was handed with.

  With the growing coldness, the can had remained on her hands clutched from one palm to another to savor on its warmth.

  "We should probably get in."

  Attempted as Gin may have, he did not receive a response nor movements.

  "It's going to be fine."

  "I'll be honest, I couldn't take those words seriously especially when it came from you."

  It was something that Gin did not want to hear at that very time, leading him to grow upset. But it was not as if Rin was entirely at fault for saying those, he thought. He was not exactly the person that one can observe optimism from, which is why his words may not have felt genuine to Rin.

  "You really know me too well. I'd like us not to argue, but it might be that you're exercising an unhealthy amount of worrying in this situation. Of course, I also don't want anything bad to happen to your sister and her child, but there haven't been any complications found… and today is the day of her delivery."

  In an attempt to assure Rin of something they do not have any control of, Gin could only stroke her partner's hair as an offer of tranquility to her.

  "Maybe I want to see your niece more than you do?"

  "Huh? No way, no way. You don't know how much I'm looking forward to see her."

  "I see, but that sounds like it contradicts with your feelings, though."

  "That…"

  "If you're really looking forward to it, then maybe we need to get back in and wish Sis success."

  The can finally sounded and Rin took a large gulp of the warm tea. Then, she pulled away from the railings that seemed to have prevented her from moving.

  "Sorry for being such a handful."

  "I don't think my hand is big enough to cover your head."

  "…"

  And before she moved away the hand that is still on her head, Rin pinched the skin of its wrist and started walking inside the hospital building.

  "Ow."

  …

  Outside the delivery room, several minutes after Yuna entered, Shuu has found himself sitting on the benches beside Gin, with both of their arms crossed and blankly staring on the opposite wall.

  "Lately, it does feel like you're spending more time with us than your own family," Shuu observed.

  "If anything, my parents wanted me to help Hiro and Sis as much as I can. Well, it's Dad that wanted me to, especially."

  Without any context, Shuu immediately understood what it could have meant, whether Gin himself also understood it or not.

  "I see, I see… That's wise of Amano, I suppose.

  You know, women are incredibly strong, and they are such great heroes."

  "I don't think I quite follow, Uncle."

  "Try to stop and think about how many months or cumulative years they have to go through from bearing a child, giving birth, and taking care of the little ones in their infancy."

  "Ah… thinking back, my mom went through it three times."

  "You know Junpei, right?"

  "Shiro's father, yup."

  "In the past, he wasn't particularly good with anything, see. Even her wife expressed discontent about it, but he eventually worked on it.

  I basically considered him a lesson to be a reliable partner early on into a relationship. As such, before Yuna was born, I resolved myself to step it up because I didn't want to feel helpless when it's just me and my daughter. I'd like to think that I did a good job of taking care of and protecting my daughters when they were still young."

  "You sure protected them well, Uncle," Gin genuinely thought, but not voicing it out to prevent any resurfacing of their coinciding dark pasts.

  "Suddenly, Uncle Junpei is catching strays. But it sure would help if you told me about this sooner. I never actively tried to improve myself much when Rin and I just started dating, so it led to some poorly thought decisions between us regardless if it resulted in something good or bad."

  "Maybe I really should have. Hiroomi was simply reliable that I didn't feel the need to mention it to him, and the sentiment kind of stuck with me that it didn't cross my mind in your case."

  Gin felt a sting in his heart after receiving an unintentional burn.

  "Nonetheless, I still told that to him after he married my daughter."

  All of a sudden, Shuu's eyes slowly directed towards Gin.

  To which he met with and sighed while patting Shuu's shoulder, "I understand. But would you say that I am a reliable partner to your daughter now?"

  "Who could say?"

  "Now you're just leaving me hanging, Uncle… Let's just settle with a 'Needs Improvement' assessment, then."

  Fast footsteps were suddenly heard as Hiroomi, Sumi, and Rin emerged into the hallway towards the delivery room. Mykes allows three people to enter the delivery room, which Yuna chose the three that just arrive to be her support.

  And with their arrival means that Yuna's labor has begun.

  Then, Hiroomi and Gin stood face to face. With a firm clasp of each other's hand, they briefly hugged with the latter giving Hiroomi rather heavy pats on the back.

  "I know you decided to trust the hospital for the labor, but she's your wife and then my sister, so you better do your damn best to walk her through it."

  "You bet I will."

  Similarly, Shuu gave his son-in-law an even tighter embrace.

  "Have you three eaten yet?"

  "We're ready to go, Dad. Here's hoping it wouldn't take too long."

  "Right… Then I think it's best to not keep my daughter, and well, my granddaughter from waiting."

  "Oooohh, I don't know how to feel about you being called grandpa, Uncle," Gin jested.

  "Oh, shut it. I'm still not that old."

  Thus, silence revisited the outside of the room.

  In a very short moment, Gin quietly went to his phone's dialer and called Sean at a weak voice, informing that the labor is undergoing, and also making sure that the restaurant is currently operating normally. He then returned to his seat and let out another lengthy sigh.

  "I guess we're going to be in here for a while, Uncle."

  "Been there, done that," said Shuu firmly. "The only thing that makes it feel strange for me is that I'm here rather than inside."

  "I should have eaten too before coming here. How about you, Uncle?"

  "I can barely even entertain the thought of stepping away even for a minute, and I don't think I'm even on a mood to eat despite tightening my belt."

  "That's not good, Uncle. We should at least try to get a fill even if little by little… which is why I came prepared.

  Jelly-filled donuts."

  Coming out of Gin's bag are two onigiri packed tightly on a cling wrap.

  "I have a lot in here if you want more later and…"

  A tall thermos bottle came out next.

  "Tea to calm our nerves."

  "You're awfully prepared… maybe a little too much."

  "I know that we're going to become two giant balls of nerves sooner or later, so I figured we'd need these. Although, we should probably save some for Auntie and company inside."

  Shuu then silently and reluctantly grabbed one of the rice balls, unwrapping the plastic wrap and taking a small bite.

  "Did you put fillings in here?"

  "I made tuna mayo and umeboshi. I don't know which is which, though."

  "I'd rather I don't eat something sour…"

  "You'll find out while you inch away at it."

  "…

  Somehow, I feel guilty that we're eating here while Yuna could give birth at any moment's notice."

  "We should probably eat near a vent, that said."

  Half an hour later, the two of them are pacing around the hallway restlessly waiting for updates through messages like an applicant waiting for the results of their job interview anxiously. With every ring sounded, two hearts pounded only at which any news will bring them calm, and it would repeat as a cycle several times in the span of the next few hours…

  Until they stopped receiving updates from the inside.

  On the chair closest to the door of the delivery room, Gin has found himself hunched with his hands locked on his nape. The frustration has been slowly starting to get to him as he tries to isolate the growing wails of pain from the inside and the loud footsteps of Shuu, who has not sat down for an hour.

  By the minute, Yuna's cries have become more and more frequent, while Hiroomi's voice has started to pick up, yet only hear a voice itself rather than words as his focus has now been likened to a pinball where his thoughts won't stay in one place.

  Until one word passed through his fading wits.

  Push.

  Filtered from the continuing unrecognized words, all Gin could hear was "push" amidst a distorted melody of moans and voices talking over each other.

  Yet, it felt nowhere as unbearable as the explosion of memories he was forced to remember some years ago.

  And more than anything, a strange tranquility visited his consciousness despite the chaos in his mind.

  Gin stood up. His heart pounded more than it already did, as the newfound excitement clashed with the unease. All of his hair from head to toe stood up and shivered alongside a jolt that momentarily struck him.

  All the while, Shuu was stopped on his pace not because of the the vigorous rise, but of something his shocked eyes locked at Gin's face.

  "A-Are you alright, Gin…?"

  "Huh… I am? Is something wrong?"

  "Uncle called me by name?"

  "No, it's just… Your hair… It's the first time I'm actually seeing it change…"

  "W-What…?"

  If anything, even Gin himself has never seen his hair change appearance at the very moment it does. Thus, he hurriedly pulled out his phone only for its camera to see a completely ashen hair.

  "Wait, now's not the time. I can't be distra-"

  The faint sound coming from inside the delivery room fell silent. At a split second, Gin was overcome with a wretched possibility his mind has conjured up, and felt as if his heart literally stopped for a moment as it caught him coughing and heaving.

  But it was immediately washed away by a high-pitched cry very far from the sound of Yuna's wails. The sound did not stop, and it was the only sound that he and Shuu can hear.

  Gin almost fell over as Shuu pounced on him for an embrace.

  "She's here… She's here…"

  It was all Shuu could say, but it was enough to sum up all of the feelings welling up inside him. Gin could feel his shoulder damped for the tears, and so he gently stroked Shuu's back.

  "Congratulations, Uncle. You're now a grandfather."

  ~ ~ ~

  After five hours of labor, Rin and her mother, along with a nurse came out of the room bearing good news. But as soon as she saw her significant other, her face crumpled carrying tears and her voice cried out upon running into Gin's grasp.

  "Congratulations, Mr. Akanami. You granddaughter was born safely. If anything…" the nurse's head slowly bent down and their eyes looked as if drained of life. "If anything… it went incredibly smoothly…"

  "Y-You did well… Thank you very much for the support," Sumi claimed so as to give the nurse reassurance and patted the nurse on the shoulder.

  "Um, what exactly happened there?"

  Disheartened, the nurse mumbled, "It felt like I didn't even do anything… Mr. Katsuto was so fast that it's making me second-guess why I work here…"

  "O-Oh… Sorry about our son. He's just as anxious as we are, but it's incredible that he still managed to pull himself together, from the way you say it. Really, we're sorry."

  "The doctor almost mistook him as one of them," Sumi chuckled.

  "Now he's gone and done it. Then, when can we see them?"

  "Ah, we will call you when it's time, so we ask you to be patient."

  As the nurse returned, the two men finally managed to make their restless partners sit and catch a breath.

  "Told you everything is going to be fine," said Gin, but met with a glare from Rin only for it to look funny in his eyes as it happened while he was blowing her nose.

  "What happened to your hair?"

  "It just changed, no biggie. How are you feeling?"

  "…Happy."

  "That's what I like to hear. I still have a lot of the onigiri I packed so help yourself. If it's fine for Sis to eat maybe she can also have some later."

  "Give me, like, three."

  "Woah, slow down, miss. Don't inhale the rice balls all at once. I'm going to pour you tea."

  …

  Several minutes later, the door slid open with Hiroomi exiting the room.

  "Dad, Gin. You can go see them now."

  "Ah, only three people are allowed at a time," Rin raised. "I'll go with you two."

  Upon congratulating the new father, the three of them walked into the room and saw the baby being breastfed on Yuna's arms. Beyond the clear tiredness found on her face, it was undeniable that the happiness was found on her smile.

  It took all of Shuu to stop himself from reacting strongly, and loudly in that regard, upon seeing his granddaughter for the first time.

  While Rin and her father took a closer look at the baby, Gin stepped back to silently observe the child in the distance, which Yuna had noticed the terrific smile adorned under his gray hair.

  "Gin?"

  "I'll go take a seat for a moment. I'll look at her in a bit…

  First, though… what's her name?"

  For a moment, Yuna looked at her daughter, then her eyes gradually rolled towards her younger sister, and back to Gin.

  "It's Mahiru."

  Even if Gin had tried to piece together the clues that Hiroomi left him, at that very moment, Gin's mind drew a blank, not because he was at his wit's end, but because he was visited with a feeling leaving him not being able to think straight.

  Nevertheless, he walked to a chair but as he tried to sit, his knees buckled and lost strength, and fell rather hard on the seat.

  "A-Are you okay?!" suddenly panicked, Rin ran towards Gin.

  "Sorry, I'm good, really. I just need a moment.

  I'm fine, Sis. No need to worry about me."

  "If you say so…"

  Five minutes passed, and Gin stood up with a shocked expression on his visage. He touched his face, felt his body, then touched his face anew as if he was utterly confused.

  But seeing Shuu and the others cleared his mind and walked closer to get a better look at the baby.

  "Uncle Shuu? Sorry if this comes off weird, but I have a question…"

  "What is it?"

  "Am I… alive right now?"

  Needless to say, the other three fell astonished.

  "W-What do you mean…?"

  "I mean what I asked. Am I here, am I breathing, do you see me, am I existing in the same place as all of you?"

  "You are."

  As Shuu was struck with silence, Rin swiftly answered on his behalf.

  "You are here, Gin. You are alive, you are breathing, we can see you, and you exist here with us," thus, Rin held his hands tightly. "You're not going anywhere. I'm sorry you had to relive that again."

  "I see…"

  His shoulders trembled, his voice shook, and tears fell from his eyes as he placed Rin's grip closer to her face.

  "I'm so glad… I'm so glad…

  Congratulations… Sis…"

  ~ ~ ~

  Near midnight.

  "Aha, so this is where I find you."

  After looking for a ladder, Rin climbed onto the top of the glass roof over Gin's porch and joined him as she sat at his side.

  "We went home together but you left shortly after."

  "I had to do something, then I ran back to the hospital for a bit. I was about to message you that I'm here but you found me first."

  "Geez, you make your girlfriend climb that high? And why is your jacket just lying around beside you? It's getting really cold, you know."

  "Sorry, I wanted to talk a bit with you on my veranda but Mom and Dad are already asleep."

  "I see…

  Then, did I choose the right words earlier when you asked us a question? I had an inkling on what it was about…"

  "You were spot on.

  If I were to tell the story, it felt like I literally died earlier, but somehow woke up. I revisited Uncle Eijiro's memories when he first saw me after I was born. Right after that, he went back to his room and a few minutes after… it felt like a light slowly shutting off.

  It felt so real that when I came to, I was extremely confused. But you guys brought me back. At least now, it felt like I've brought closure to how sad he was that he couldn't see me grow up because I will be here now to see Mahiru grow over the years."

  "Now isn't that good for you," Rin whispered as her head leaned on Gin's shoulder.

  "Aaahhh… I might get a bit busier this time. I know I'm second-in-command in Giotto's kitchen but the resto won't probably see Hiro for a while. I'm also probably going to be visiting the base more on his behalf. It's times like this where I wish I studied business management, not that Hiro didn't train me for this."

  "Well, break a leg. I guess I'll join you as much as I can."

  "Much appreciated.

  …

  Well, let's just say I bought flowers when I stepped out."

  "Hm?"

  "I got one for Sis… and I should have probably told you earlier that I also sent another to Rena."

  "U-Uhh…? To Rena…?"

  "It might be extremely late, but in the same way I gave some for Sis, I wanted to congratulate her for having Yoru."

  "Wait, what? That's awfully sweet of you."

  Then, what turned out to be under Gin's jacket was another bouquet of flowers that she handed promptly handed out to her lover.

  "And this one's for you."

  Rin eyes widened, and her lips trembled. The sudden burst of her feelings prevented her from speaking, but with great effort, she was able to say what she wanted to.

  "T-This…

  Are you congratulating me for having our nonexistent child?!"

  Her forehead was flicked.

  "Goodness… quit saying some nonsensical stuff, and saying the words 'nonexistent child' just sounds so messed up…

  Girl, it's September 20. We've been together for eight years already."

  "Ah…" the lights of the yard was bright enough that Gin could see Rin's entire face gradually becoming red from embarrassment and covered her face with the flowers.

  "Gosh, you have one hell of an imagination, Rin. Who knew you were still this much of a blush bomb."

  "Shut up for a moment…

  But thank you."

  "How far we've come, huh. It felt like it was more than eight years, but thank you also for sticking with me all this time."

  "We've really epitomized 'thick and thin', haven't we…"

  "Alright, heads up."

  At a moment's notice, Rin found herself on Gin's arms while descending at the yard.

  "Let's go sleep for now. We'll talk about what we'll make for a feast and then I'll help out at construction. How long are you on leave?"

  "I'll go back to Claude on Tuesday. But isn't it Saturday tomorrow?"

  "Oh, right… Then maybe I should go start looking for materials for my porch project. Maybe you could accompany me and treat ourselves with a good meal afterwards?"

  "That sounds nice. I also want to gift Sis and Mahiru something, so let's get something together for them."

  "Already acting the part of the aunt, I see."

  "That makes me sound like I'm already so old. Still… I'll get do dote on my lovely niece so…

  Hehehehehehehe…"

  "Huh, that last laugh came out quite creepy."

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