Damn, have we really reached Chapter 30? Hell, it's really been 7 months since I started this story? Time flies

We're going further than we ever have before, jumping two decades after the events of the game. We're also bringing back my rarely seen 3rd ShuMako kid, Mai

This is likely the last chapter until next year, I'm heading to my home country Romania for the holidays. I'm bringing my laptop with me so maybe I'll get another one out before, but don't hold your breath

Happy Kwanzaa, I guess

She didn't feel the familiar warmth of the presence that always used to be beside her every morning. That was why Makoto sat up in the bed abruptly, rubbing sleep out of her eyes, looking around the room for any signs of her companion, only to see no one.

The police officer glanced at the clock and mentally cringed. 7:35? Late.

I wonder why Ren didn't wake me up

But beside the desk clock that signaled her oversleeping, the caught sight of the calendar that told her what date it is that day.

April 23.

She smiled softly.

Maybe this was why the house was so quiet, the kids and Ren had done her a favor of a peaceful, sleepy morning that gave her the privilege to sleep past a mother's required hour.

The woman leisurely made her way downstairs. The house was obviously empty and a bit cold for only one person to stay in, but warmth radiated from every corner. The little picture frames, the occasional medals, the Buchimaru collection, the tiny trinkets here and there reminded her of a different, happy story that made her smile everytime.

"That little piggy bank has been Hiromu's since he was five, he's never filled it up. The hand-made Buchimaru picture frame was by Mai...I remember her spilling glue on Ren's pants. And that karate tournament medal is Maya's, makes me proud every time."

She laughed softly to herself as she remembered the little vignettes of her family. Now that it's her birthday and they will all probably be out all day, she felt a little lonely.

Maybe I could go over Ann's or Haru's, or maybe visit sis."

She stopped her musings when she reached the dining table.

The table was set for one. A special, mouth-watering meal. It was still hot and it looked awfully delicious. Makoto could totally guess who prepared it.

She gently took the pure white tulip that was laid on her plate, relished it with her own smile, and finally decided to read the note on the sky blue post-it attached to its stem.

Mom: Sorry I'm not there. Got an early shift for my part-time job today.

Happy Birthday. - Maya.

Makoto eyed her favorite dishes and back at the note once again. It looks like her dear 15-year old overdid herself this time. The meal looked extra appetizing.

"Maya is almost 16 now...God, am I really 39 years old today?" She muttered to herself, it felt like yesterday that Maya was that little baby in her arms.

She trudged towards the kitchen, direct to the cupboard where she always got a can of her Buchi-kun morning candies, and was surprised to find the supposed-to-be almost empty cabinet loaded with their usual groceries.

A post-it note, now in pink, was stuck to her candy jar, along with a bright pink tulip.

"My, they really know my favorite flower." She smiled as she sniffed it, she glanced a pink card beside it

Mommy! Happy Birthday!

I woke up extra early to fetch all the groceries!

Love you lots - Mai-chan.

Makoto laughed lightly. Extra early for Mai? That would most likely mean that the girl woke up 5 seconds early and scrambled out of bed, leaving a messed-up, plushie-infested heap in her room. She could totally imagine her youngest child struggling to beat her time record to get to the grocery store, stuffing everything she thinks would fit the budget.

She cringed inwardly at the considerably high population of cheese-flavored potato chips in the cupboard, but she decided that she'll forgive Mai-chan for the meantime.

Makoto smiled while chewing her candy as she laughingly visualized the scene earlier this morning.

Knowing Hiromu and Mai, the two must have been insulting each other while the pre-teen sat on her sister's shoulders, fixing the groceries, while said sister was cooking like the master chef she was.

With another laugh, Makoto checked the fridge for her milk. Before she got to open it, though, another post-it was posted in the fridge-door, peach in color, along with a bright yellow tulip.

Mom... Uh, I fixed the fridge? I think.

I also managed to fix your favorite Buchimaru slippers, sorry it went missing for the week.

And sorry I wasn't able to find the right shade of pink.

I love you! Happy Birthday. - Hiromu

By the nearby bathroom door, Makoto noticed her recently-gone-missing special edition pink Buchimaru fluffy slippers. She picked them up and noted the clumsy and oh-so-obvious stitches that were two shades darker than the original color of the slippers. Her fingers strayed over them and finally, she decided to wear them - concluding that they were steady enough. A smile plastered on her face, she collected her flowers, picked up her milk can from the now-neat fridge and made her way back the dining table.

I wonder what Ren got for me...

Before she can take her first bite, a noise startled her.

"Mmmfff! FFF! MMMMFFFNNNGGGHHHH!"

Makoto's eyes traveled across the table and towards the wall. At the scene, her grin reached her ears.

"I wonder how in hell I missed this one."

There, in the center of the wall, just beside a family portrait, was Morgana. Mouth taped shut and body seemingly stuck to the wall via a duct tape, the cat struggled and squirmed and tried to speak up properly.

Poked on one side of the cat was a single, blood-red tulip and attached nearby was a white post-it.

Hey babe, had to go into work early

I've decided to shut the little guy up for you.

Have a nice, quiet, noise-unpolluted morning. Taking the whole family out for dinner later

I love you, my Queen - Ren.

P.S. Maya cleaned the whole place because she's a freak.

Hiromu started the laundry because he's paranoid.

Mai watered your flowers because she's a good girl.

I... uh, I taped Morgana to the ceiling because the kids did everything else.

"Mmffnghh! MMMMFFFGGHHHH!"

Makoto laughed. "Sorry, Morgana. I don't want to ruin my husband's birthday gift for me."