Chiba sat on the couch with Ryuji. He called Okajima and Sugaya over to watch Ryuji while he looked for Hayami and was waiting for them to arrive.
"Mr. Ryunosuke... Are you... Really my dad?" Asked Ryuji,
Chiba sighed. There was no point in keeping him in the dark now.
"I am..."
Ryuji gasped as Chiba moved his bangs to the side, revealing a pair of eyes similar to Ryuji's, a pair of eyes Ryuji had seen only once before.
Exactly seven years ago.
"Your mother and I... I loved her... But I kept my feelings bottled up because we had a business to run... Then one day... A different bottle got opened up and long story short we had you..."
Chiba looked at a picture hanging up on the wall of a four year old Ryuji.
"We agreed to keep what happened a secret to protect the business... Even from you... Everything Rinka told you about your father being an Alaskan fisherman was a lie..."
" - I mean... Dad... Why did mom run off?"
Chiba sighed.
"Its my fault..." He began "She wanted us to be a real family... But I had to remind her-"
"Do you not want us to be a family?" Interrupted Ryuji.
"No that's not it..." Said Chiba. "It's just... I'm responsible for my employees and my business, y-you'll understand when you're older."
"Dad... You're an idiot."
"Wh-what?"
"Family should always come first." Said Ryuji. "At least thats what mom told me."
Suddenly the doorbell rang.
"Thats Uncle Okajima and Uncle Sugaya."
Chiba got up and opened the door, letting the two men in.
"So the cat got out of the bag." Said Okajima.
Chiba simply nodded.
"I need to find Hayami and bring her back."
"I hope that you also plan to make things right." Said Sugaya
"Make things right?"
Sugaya gave Chiba a knowing smirk. Chiba looked back at Ryuji and smiled.
"... Maybe I should."
"Its about damn time!" Said Okajima.
"Okajima watch your language, my son is right there!"
"Sorry..."
"Keep an eye on Ryuji until I get back." Said Chiba "Okajima there's leftovers in the fridge if anyone gets hungry, Sugaya don't let Okajima anywhere near Hayami's room."
"I thought you had more faith in me." Said Okajima. "I'm not the perv you used to know."
"Uncle Okajima what's that magazine in your coat pocket?" Asked Ryuji.
Chiba looked at the pocket in question and saw a dirty magazine sticking out.
"Why did you call him over again?" Asked Sugaya.
Chiba sighed, grabbed Okajima's magazine and walked out of the apartment, stopping only to throw the magazine in the recycling bin.
Hayami sat alone on a park bench, the sun was setting and everyone was making their way home. A couple with a child passed them by, looking very happy. The former tsundere sniper felt a stink of sadness as she watched them leave.
"That could have been us..."
"I thought I'd find you here."
Hayami noticed Chiba approaching him.
"Chiba? Why are you here?"
"Because I need to be."
Chiba took a seat next to her.
"I needed some space." Said Hayami. "Everything was just-"
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize, you aren't completely wrong after all." Said Hayami. "I forgot to look at the big picture, it's not just about my happiness-"
"Thats not what I was apologizing for..."
"Huh?"
"Rinka... I wanted us to be a family, even before that night... You're my best friend... My partner... And the love of my life."
Hayami blushed.
"Never thought I'd hear you say those things sober."
"I've always tried to be a responsible man... But maybe I was too responsible. I put my business ahead of my family.. that ends here."
Chiba got up and reached into his pocket.
"Rinka... Lets be a family."
He took out a small red box and held it out to her.
"I bought this on the way up here... It's not very expensive or flashy but you've never been into those sorts of things."
Hayami stared at Chiba speechless.
"We might lose some clients once this gets out, but we'll manage. After all it's the quality of our work that matters."
"Ryu."
"I'm ready to be Ryuji's father."
Hayami bolted up and pulled Chiba into a tight embrace, which he quickly returned.
"Is this a yes?"
"Why the hell would I say no?"
They both smiled and looked at each other.
"You better take good care of me and Ryuji."
"Believe me, I intend to."