"Thank you for having… me…"

Not even a single step into the house, Naru Kajima pulled out Anna from the doorstep and huddled outside the house in the middle of the night. with his brother who she came back with.

"W-W-Wait… why is Yuka Gin's entire family in his house?!"

"Oh, wait. I didn't tell you?" his stupid brother dumbfoundingly asked himself while loosening his necktie.

"We're all currently living with Nii, you see. It's temporary, though. It's until our house gets built."

"What… Maybe I should just back out…?"

"Eh… I'm the one that invited you, so just get in."

"But isn't another head just going to make the house cramped…? Heck, my brother is still freeloading with you despite this!"

"Rude, I'm paying them rent, okay?"

"Anyway, have you two had dinner already?"

"Ah, yeah. We ate out with our parents before we came here."

"Right… I already told you this before you left, but congratulations again in graduating, Yuka Nagi."

"Thanks… Now I can finally breathe easy and worry about my work for now…" Nagi then got in ahead of the two.

"Like I said… I was the one that invited you."

"I still feel bad…"

Finally fed up, Anna forced Naru in to the house.

All these years, Anna has never had any of her friends have a sleepover with her until now. And as probably the most expressive member of the Sakato family, she made everyone aware of her excitement.

After greeting the family briefly, the two of them came to the bedroom of the first floor that Anna currently occupies.

"Wow, your room is big."

"And the reason why I couldn't have you stay back at our old place was that because my room is too small…"

Naru's eyes toured around the room, and they stopped at a corner where a cat tower stood, then darting onto the bed where an orange cat lies finesse.

"Ui… I haven't seen you in a while~"

As if reluctant, that cat still let the girl pet her. But midway Naru giving her a hug, she instead asked, "Can I borrow your shower, Anna? I want to get changed."

"Sure~ I guess you had a long day. Though I could have probably asked Nii earlier if I could let you use his bath upstairs, but it would take a while at this point. He and Nee-chan are the only ones that use it anyway."

"Now you could have also told me that Ane Ringo is also living here too."

"Ah, not yet."

"Not yet, you say."

"It'll probably come after their wedding."

It's been zero chapters since the last time the engagement was mentioned.

"E-Eh? They're getting married now?!"

"Not soon, but they'll get there eventually, I guess? Besides, her pregnant sister is back next door so we're nothing short of lively around here.

Anyway, just give me a sec so I can get the bathroom ready for you."

"Thanks.

…

Suddenly, the people around me are grown-ups now… I'm just a year younger but it feels surreal. Don't you think so too, Ui?"

Not even a meow was heard from the cat.

"You… You better get used to me soon, cat. I'll be here for three days."

…

One by one, the former members of Blue Ink's Art Club, and by extension, their friends have graduated from their studies. Amidst the high of finally reaching the conclusion of their academics, the biggest challenge that would quickly approach them is what comes next as they now begin to take grasp of their own lives.

But while each and every one of them denies it, they know each other's capabilities and as they watched themselves grew the way they did since the first time they met.

The empowerment that they accumulated has helped them in many useful ways along the way, with some of them already having gone with a head start. At the end of it, they were the practical results of Taketo Juushiro's vision.

But even beyond that, some of them had chosen to peek through a small hole of the distant future.

▪ ▪ ▪

With only a few weeks remaining in Rin's leave from work, she seized the opportunity to reunite with friends from college as an entirely new life is now ahead of them.

Chiba, then followed by Reina, briefly arrived at the Akanami residence to greet Rin's parents and then her sister and Hiroomi. Four whole years have passed, and Rin had never mentioned that the head chef of Giotto's had become her brother-in-law. Chiba's shock just goes to show that Giotto's had definitely made a name in a saturated market where businesses come and go. Since the restaurant's opening, it has been 11 years.

After a breather from the summer heat, they headed out on foot getting a very quick glance on the ongoing construction nearby.

"Wow… I didn't know you can actually bleach your hair pure white," Chiba said in awe as she saw a man sitting across the street where a house is being built. "Yours is a different case though, Ringo."

"I know, it's amazing, right?" tired of explaining, Rin chose to just go with the flow, while Reina behind her is silently giggling looking at her brother. "He's always been there since construction started so I see him a lot."

Detours aside, they walked on the same street where they found themselves around a kilometer away from home and to a house that they visited from time to time.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Thanks for having us!"

The three of them were then welcomed by the Azuki family.

The next academic term hasn't yet started which leaves Kobana with less workload being a CCI instructor, meaning that he could spend more time with his family and even invite her wife's friends for lunch as he was seen preparing in the kitchen.

"Aaahhhh… It's been a while since I last saw your family altogether," Rin blissfully uttered, reminiscing the past of when Rena first confessed about her family back in their high school days.

"Hi, Yoruuu!" Rin and Reina called and waved to the child at once leaving Chiba at utter surprise despite having seen such situation many times.

"Hellooo, Auntie Ringo."

"Gosh, I can never get used to being called like this. I'm still so young but now in a few years I'll probably hear that from my own niece…"

"How old are you again, Yoru?"

"I'm seven now."

With that answer, Reina felt feelings that she should not have. Memories of Rin from when she first met Yoru as a small child flowed into Reina's mind, causing the both of them to be overwhelmed by the seemingly lightning speed flow of time seeing how much the young boy has grown.

In Rin's mind, she still sees the two year-old child in him when in fact, it has been five years since then and Yoru is now about to come over to second grade in school.

On the other hand, Chiba is one step away from claiming that she doesn't know her other two friends seeing how strange they are acting.

"Don't scare my son too much, okay? Go sit on the dining table, though. We'll be done in a bit then we could catch up after the meal.

As if it was not apparent enough, the three of them had once again got the impression of maturity coming from Rena with the combination of her story and the maternal aura that she exudes. Obediently, they all came to the dining table anticipating the rare cooking they are getting from Kobana.

Being Division 1 students of CCI, the four of them including Rena had never really seen much of Kobana's teaching, and most of his classes are lecture-based after all. The only edge that the wife has is the she is, in fact his wife, and that she could enjoy the food that Kobana makes on the regular.

Needless to say, they were blessed with good food.

"I always shared cooking duties with my roommate, but it just feels different when you experience a new taste…"

"When did you leave the dorms, Chiba-chan?"

"Around last month? For now, I've found an apartment, but I'd like to move to a better place once I get a job."

"If Sector T1 is a good location for you, then I know a complex that is expanding. I can give you their contact info if you want."

"That will be a big help. It's a bit of a longer commute to visit my parents but if you can vouch for it then I'll give it a look."

"Are your… parents doing well?"

"In their own ways… I guess? Things are better now but I doubt things can go back to normal now. We're all fine with the status quo so that's good.

Anyway, let's not focus on the depressing stuff, okay? I want to hear what Rena's plans are now that we've graduated."

"It hasn't come up in a really long while, but are you still planning on opening a restaurant?" Rin reminded.

That distant declaration then prompted Rena's eyes to shut and her brows furrowed as her hand rested on her chin.

"Hmm… Maybe I should gain experience first…" she mumbled with hesitation.

"Even we haven't talked about that in a while until today," Kobana from the dining table chuckled while bringing out a box of jigsaw puzzle after finishing a game of scrabble with his son.

"Clean up after yourself later, okay?" in an endearing tone, Rena responded where the father and son replied back with a lengthy yes.

"What the… didn't that look kinda cute just now…" half-joking Rin asked Rena in awe.

"It does until it isn't," she laughed and continued, "You get used to it, but it could change based on how our son grows, really."

"Then, say you open a restaurant as you planned," Chiba interjected, "Would you like him to follow through?"

"That's a hard question… but if I follow my gut, I simply wouldn't want to make decisions for him unless it's a situation where I really have to, which in this case it isn't.

I want him to learn how to cook, though. You can get so far in your life with that skill at your disposal."

"It must be tough, isn't it…"

"It can be at times."

Thinking that Rin's whisper wouldn't be heard, she didn't expect a response and grew sheepish.

"But I still stand by what I said many times…

I never regretted a moment of it."

Various feelings suddenly rose inside Rin's chest. Instead of feeling glad, her lips curved a single smile and her eyes looked away.

"Somehow… did you… feel scared before you gave birth to Yoru?"

"I was," Rena answered swiftly. "So many things were in my head at the time, including the trust my parents had in me that I lost back then. And I was still so young. Koba and I weren't prepared at all so I was incredibly anxious if I can really become a mother, let alone successfully giving birth.

It was to the point where everything feels like they are about to break, but see, all those worries disappeared after seeing his face for the first time."

A smile so gentle, yet it blew a figurative gust of strong wind towards Rin. The momentary surprise on her face disappeared as she faced down and clutched the teacup tightly with her hands.

"I knew I wasn't mistaken when I saw it earlier."

"Ahh, this…" taking notice, Rin adjusted the ring on her left hand.

"Is this where I say congratulations?"

"…Thanks."

Chiba's eyes continued to lock in on Rin's hand. As if in disbelief, she stared even close that it was almost uncomfortable.

"Isn't it… Isn't it common to wear one there regardless?"

"Still, it's as you can see, Chiba-chan."

There was a long pause, as if the information is slowly downloading into Chiba's brain until it completed.

"S-Since when?!"

The sudden scream left the son of the house at the back very much startled.

"Eyes on here, lil guy. We're almost done with the edges."

Rin responded, "Right after we graduated.

Anyway, I probably have to ask you for second opinion, Rena."

"I don't think second opinion is the right term for me, but sure?"

"You see… My sister is into her sixth month of pregnancy and I kind of mentioned you to her. I'd appreciate it if you can talk to her even for a bit."

"I'm guessing she's anxious?"

"Not really…? She just wants to hear some advice outside my mom and Gin's mother's."

"I'll try find some time as soon as possible."

"That would really help. Thank you."

Suddenly, there was a dead air for a few seconds enough to hear the sound of the puzzle pieces from the dining table, as silent as it already was.

Then, Rena hesitantly asked, "Is that all you want to ask?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"I thought you were going to follow up in asking for marriage advice, ahaha."

Of all the people to react strongly, it was Chiba as she fell to fluster while Rin remained nonchalant.

"I guess… I could get some pointers from you. But then again, the only objective thing that's obvious is that I've never officially moved in."

Again, Chiba flinched.

"You two were a special case, I suppose. Have you decided when you'll have the ceremony?"

"Not in the near future, I can say that. What's important between us is that we've established a clear status at the moment, and I've barely just finished my studies!"

"That's true. But as I've already told you, don't be hasty, okay?"

This time, Reina's eyes closed as she remembered a memory that's not her own.

"When we talk about that we just take it at face value at least at the moment. Gin and I… haven't really talked about it seriously, and we're faaaaar from ready for that.

For now, I'm satisfied with my two sons."

Needless to say, a misunderstanding sprouted in Chiba as she seemed to have caught mixed signals.

"E-Excuse me, Ringo…?"

"Ah, I mean our cats. But maybe I shouldn't call Haku my son…"

"He's probably like a younger cousin, but Kyupi is definitely your son," Reina interjected.

"I knew you'll get me."

Still just as confused, Chiba looked at Rena who also just lost the conversation, and melted onto the table.

"Hahh… are you guys really my friends?" she then jokingly sighed. "And Rena! How come you're taking all this in so easily?! What's up with this sudden heavy life talks…?"

Reina could only chuckle on the side not knowing how she should explain her nonchalance towards the matter.

"Pretty sure you also got a guy, Reina!" Chiba further complained.

"I don't really have plans as of yet. I'll let my brother go ahead whenever that will be."

"But back on what we're talking about… I take it that you're resolved that that is your sights in the future, Ringo?"

"…Yes."

"Like I said earlier, it can get difficult at times. But the last thing I want you to do is to regret it."

"You know that I always listen to your advice, Rena."

Ever since learning more about Rena, Rin had always taken her words with a certain weight as if they were not just mere words, but also an embodied responsibility. That was how much Rin valued Rena's experiences, especially now that she will be entering a new chapter of her life…

Into a stage where there are stakes and not everything, if not most, is fun and games anymore.

In a life where choices with significant consequences aren't for her to bear alone.

"If that's what you say… then you should probably start saving up for that starting now."

"I second that…" Kobana chimed in, somehow with a strained voice after hearing his wife.

"Ahaha, right… When I come back from my leave…

Ahaha…"