August 9th

Sumire felt her legs shake as she stepped forward toward Ren, who delicately picked up the ring with his index finger and thumb. Slowly, he slid it onto her left ring finger and stood up.

"Guess you never saw that coming, huh?" Ren smirked with his classic, Joker-esque flair until Sumire pulled him in for a kiss, wrapping her arms around him.

"Show-off…" Sumire pulled back, blushing and looking away from him.

"You're calling me a show-off?" He laughed. "You just took the crown of the gymnastics world."

"I knew that was going to happen, Ren."

"Heh… Well, what can I say? Want to get out of here?"

"Mhm."

With a smirk, Ren scooped Sumire up in a bridal carry, with a round of whistles, hoots and hollers echoing throughout the stadium as the cameras broadcast everything.

"Ren!" Sumire's face went a deep shade of red as he spun around and made his way to the exit.

"Thank you all for watching!~" He yelled as the reporters and announcers went to follow, disappearing from sight.

"That's our leader!" Ryuji laughed as Sakiya and Hanako made their way up to the bleachers where they sat.

"I hope you do something like that with me." Sakiya wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in tight. "Thank you for watching me."

"You were amazing, Sakiya." Ryuji rested a hand on her head. "You're a silver medalist in rhythmic gymnastics at the Olympics, I think you can relax now."

"Mmmmm… I think so too. I'm fine like this." Sakiya closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest.

"I hope I can carry you like that one day, Futaba!" Hanako giggled as she sat next to her girlfriend. "When should we get married?"

"Wh-Wh-Wh…" Futaba went completely red. "I-I'm not ready for that, Hanako!"

"I'll wait until you are, then!"

"Hanakooooooo!"

"I'm happy for them." Makoto smiled and rested her hand on Haru's. "That was definitely more spectacular than our proposal."

"That's just how Ren-kun is!" Haru giggled. "I hope they have fun together!"

"I now have the theme of my next exhibit in mind, thanks to those two." Yusuke chuckled to himself and held his hands up like a frame. "Ren always finds a way to make things look spectacular. I need to thank him."

"How are you going to top that, Ann?" Shiho wrapped her arm around Ann's neck and shoulder, smirking. "Maybe you could propose in a bikini?"

"Hmmm… Maybe." Ann smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "I guess we should all get out of here, right?"

"I'm going to stay with one of you for a while, if that's all right." Morgana hopped onto Futaba's lap. "I'm a gentleman, after all."

"Huh? Where's Ren goin'?" Ryuji tilted his head.

"Can't say. It's a thieves' secret."

"Ahhhhh. I see. Well…" Ryuji rubbed his hand on Sakiya's back. "Who wants to go to a fancy French buffet to celebrate Sakiya's win?"

"I'd love to, Ryuji-kun!" Haru raised her hand, to which everyone else followed suit.

"Alright then!" He pumped his fist. "That sound good, Sakiya?"

"As long as I'm with you, Ryuji."

While Ren continued his grand heist, the gang made their way out to celebrate in their own way, finding a buffet that Haru helped Ryuji pay for, talking about Sakiya and Sumire's respective performances, attitudes during them, and scores. Their nights came to a close with each member returning to their respective hotels, with Futaba and Ryuji joining Hanako and Sakiya to get their belongings at the Olympic Village before going back.


August 9th, Night

Upon exiting the main stage of the Stade de France, Ren led Sumire around to gather her clothes and change.

"You made such a huge scene, Ren!" Sumire whimpered but couldn't hold back her smile as she looked at her gold medal and ring, now wearing a pair of track pants and a jacket.

"Did you expect anything less, Sumire?"

"W-Well... "

She sighed, a light blush on her cheeks.

"Is there anything you need to pick up in the Olympic Village?"

"Huh?" Her eyes widened. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yeah, our hotel."

"Our hotel?"

"You'll see." Ren laughed. "Let's stop by really fast."

"Um… Right."

As Ren gently took her hand, Sumire could still feel her heart pounding like a wild animal trapped in a cage. She couldn't stop blushing, and she most certainly could not calm down, not that she wanted to.

"I'm so happy! I feel like my heart is about to explode!" Is what she constantly screamed to herself. Ren could tell how she felt just by looking at her, which made her want to say it even more. They flagged down a cab and quickly made a trip to the Olympic Village, where Sumire gathered her things, and then had the driver take them to Five Seasons Hotel. Ren easily checked in, and the couple made their way to the deluxe suite he had booked. The room was Parisian-styled, graced with several pieces of artwork ranging across centuries, with a large, premium bed in the center of the room, a fireplace across from it with a large television above that, and two large, curtained balcony windows that offered a view of the hotel's garden and the skyline of France, which included the Eiffel Tower.

Sumire calmly sat down on the bed and took a deep breath for the first time all day. Ren noticeably saw her entire body seem to deflate compared to how tense it had been the entire day. Silently she motioned for him to sit next to her. As soon as he did, her entire body began to shake and shiver, and he calmly wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Sorry… It's just now really hitting me. I was sure everything until now was just a dream…" Sumire's lips quivered as she spoke.

"It's not a dream, Sumire, and if it is, the dream is true."

Ren slowly lifted the gold medal with his free hand, looking it over.

"Just look at this. The treasure we've fought so hard to get is in our hands. It wasn't given to you. You earned this."

His eyes immediately fixated on Sumire's face as he heard a sniffle, and tears lightly streamed down her face.

"I-I'm just so happy right now." Her voice cracked. "I can finally… finally…"

"Take your time." Ren gently put the medal down and moved his hand up to stroke her hair, untying the bun and letting it fall loose against her back.

"I finally became a woman worthy of being called your w-wife... "

"Finally?" Ren moved his hand under her chin and adjusted her head so she was looking him directly in the eyes. "You've always been worthy, Sumire. Ever since I first met you, you've been my whole world."

"You're still so selfless, even now…" She laughed weakly. "I…"

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sumire stood up and turned around, standing in front of him.

"It's my turn to take care of you, okay? You can't deny me this, so don't even try."

Ren felt the sheer willpower and desire radiating from Sumire as she gave him the same fierce, determined glance she wore on the world stage. He looked up at her and smiled. Right now, at that very second, he was the happiest man in the world.

"If that's what you want to do, I'll fully support you, just like always."

"Good." Sumire nodded and took off her medal, handing it to Ren. "I'll be right back then."

Ren placed the medal on a nightstand and opened his phone while he waited for Sumire to shower and completely calm down, and saw a barrage of text messages from everyone he knew, bar his friends that were there. Hifumi, Yoshida, Iwai and Kaoru, Shinya, Kawakami, Takemi, Ohya, Sojiro, Akane and Shinichi, Chihaya, Sae, Mishima, Maruki, and his own parents all texted him congratulating Sumire and himself on both the victory and proposal.

"Jeez… I didn't think everyone would stay up that late. It's past midnight in Japan right now…"

Cobbling together a single message to send to everyone, he texted: "Thank you all for your kind words. We're going to spend some time in Paris together and celebrate. There's more to come yet."

Once he finished the text, Sumire emerged from the bathroom, clad only in a white towel. Ren felt his heart skip three beats as she walked over to him and sat down, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her left hand around his right.

"Sumire, when you meant you wanted to take care of me… did you mean…?"

"I think you know what I mean."

Sumire passionately enveloped Ren in a kiss, and the couple spent a long, intimate night together as the two thieves who stole the hearts of the world.


September 9th, 2024, Night

In the week that followed the All-Around Final Competition, Morgana flew back to Japan with Haru and Makoto, with the members of the group leaving on different days. Eventually, all of the members returned to Japan and continued going about their daily lives. Ren and Sumire spent a romantic week in Paris on holiday, climbing the Eiffel Tower, gazing upon the exhibits at the Musée du Louvre, wandering the Jardin des Tuileries, walking through Le Marais, Sacré-Coeur Basilica of Montmartre, and other standout locations such as Versailles Palace. They flew back to Japan on the morning of the 17th, with Ren returning to work on the 18th. Sumire stayed home taking a long, well-deserved break. Things were quiet and peaceful for the two as they reveled in their victory, though for Sumire, a "break" consisted of regularly exercising each day, a habit she didn't intend to break. On top of that, she began to study more, planning to, down the line, become an elementary school gymnastics teacher. That was the case until the first of September, in the evening.

Sumire held her hands against her mouth as she squealed in joy, a small, white device falling to the floor of the bathroom, with two pink striped across a small indicator in the center. In the past few days, she began to feel nauseous, and decided to check something.

"Sumire, are you alright?" Ren knocked on the bathroom door worriedly.

"Yes, I'm fine!" She picked up the device and held it tightly, walking over to the door and opening it slightly.

"I heard you scream and came running. What's up?"

"Yeah, Sumire, are you all right?" Morgana brushed up against Ren's leg.

"Mhm!" A smile that was impossible to hide stretched across her face, her eyes excitedly gleaming beneath her black-framed glasses. "Let's move over to the kitchen!"

"Sure, sure." Ren happily followed her as she skipped past him, her blue leotard back on display. As they entered the living room, they both looked over at the bookshelf, and the gold medal sat in the display case Ren had set up all those years ago. Their collection was finally complete, and Ren was happy that could rest.

"So what's up?" Ren sat down on their bed, and Sumire joined him, along with Morgana.

"Well, Ren…" Sumire bounced up and down on the bed, a huge, bright smile on her face. "I'm pregnant!"

Time froze as Ren looked her eye in the eye and blinked once. Twice. Then, his heart exploded in his chest.

"Y-You're pregnant!?"

"Yes!" Sumire squeezed his hands together, still bouncing.

"I still don't know what that means." Morgana tilted his head. "You've never told me. I mean, Rumi was pregnant, and then there was Etsuko… Wait, you're having a baby!?"

"I am!"

"That means you're going to be a mom! A-And Ren's going to be a dad?" Morgana looked between the two with his eyes wide.

"Yes!"

"Huh… Well, congrats!"

"Oh man... " Ren felt himself break out in a nervous sweat. "This is actually happening…"

"I'm so excited, Ren!"

The sheer euphoria emanating from Sumire made Ren's heart melt on the spot. He was still trying to process it, but he was going to be a dad.

"We… We have to tell everybody! This is big news!"

"Let's gather at Leblanc! That'd work, right?"

"Yeah." Ren nodded. "Let's shoot for next Sunday. We might not be able to gather everyone immediately, but I'd really like it if we could. We can wait, right?"

"Let's do it! If we need to wait, we'll wait!"

Sumire pulled Ren down onto the bed and lovingly gazed at him. Both of them silently stared at one another, their fingers intertwined. Time slowed to a crawl as they held each other. One chapter of their life had just ended, and another was beginning.

...

"Are you excited, Ren?"

Ren took a deep breath and rolled to look at the ceiling.

"There are 100 different feelings going through me right now, and excitement is definitely one of the top three, alongside hysteria and fear. But that's okay, because you're here with me."

"I'm not worried about anything." Sumire smirked and tapped his hand with her fingers before nestling her forehead against his, the warmth of her soft touch comforting him.

"I'm sorry that I freaked out." Ren laughed. "I really am just… I never thought I deserved something like this."

"Neither did I. Not for a long time." Sumire took a deep breath, raising her free hand and rustling his hair. "But then, I met you, and everything became clear to me. You do deserve this, Ren. Do you know why?"

"Why?" He smiled.

"Because I said so."

"You already sound like a parent!"

"We have a lot to do now, Ren. I want to do this right."

"We'll knock parenthood out of the park. I mean, if all else fails, we have Morgana."

"Haha! That's right!" Morgana chuckled from his tower. "Wait… How do you take care of a baby?"

"That is something I'll have to teach both Ren and you." Sumire closed her eyes. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight. My heart won't stop pounding."

"We need to sleep, Sumire. If we don't get ourselves in order, how can we be parents?"

"That's true."

"I can't stop thinking about it." Sumire rubbed her stomach while keeping one hand clenched around Ren's.

"Just imagine Sakiya jumping over a fence over and over…"

Sumire took another deep breath.

"It's too funny."

"Hmmm..."

Ren scooted closer to Sumire and snuggled up against her. "How about now?"

"You know this makes it worse."

"I do, but I just can't help myself."

"Hmmm... " Sumire let herself sink into the bed and Ren's arms. "I don't want you to let me go."

"I won't."

"Goodnight, you two." Morgana yawned. "Seriously. From what I remember of your Etsuko adventures, you both have a lot to do."

"Mmmm… Goodnight, Morgana."

Ren and Sumire eventually lulled one another to sleep, excited beyond belief at the immediate future ahead of them.


September 15th, 2024, Afternoon

In the days following Sumire's announcement, Ren became even more protective of her, not that he wasn't already. This only made her smile as she thought back to the time Ren spent with Etsuko. As unprepared as he might have been, his actions now told her he wanted to do everything he could to be a good dad, even this early on. The couple made their way to Chihaya's booth in Shinjuku, both wanting to ask her very specific questions.

"Why hello, Ren-kun, Sumire-chan! Congratulations!"

Chihaya sat on a comfortable, foldable chair on the street corner, behind a simple, folding table. Throughout the years, she hadn't done anything to make her setup more elaborate, as she found it better to allow customers to approach her as "Just" Chihaya.

"Thank you, Chihaya." Ren motioned for Sumire to sit down.

"You can sit down, Ren."

"No no, I insist."

"You two are just so cute!" Chihaya giggled as Sumire smirked and sat down.

"Thank you, Chihaya-san."

"I assume you know exactly why we're here." Ren crossed his arms around Sumire's shoulders and leaned forward on the chair. "You already said congratulations, and I feel like that's for more than one thing."

"My my." Chihaya smiled and placed a card in front of my mouth. "I'm not spying on you two!"

"I know, but you know, don't you."

"Why yes, yes I do!"

"So that means... " Sumire started to bounce in her seat. "You know that we're having a baby?"

"Mhm! Congratulations!"

"Phew…" Ren let out a sigh of relief. "Then I also can assume that you know what we want to ask?"

"Yes. Go right ahead. Let's see what the cards tell us." Chihaya held out her hand toward Ren.

"Hm?"

In his back pocket, he felt a warm sensation.

"Oh!"

Reaching his hand into the pocket, he pulled out The World Card, which he kept in the pocket opposite of Akechi's glove. "Here."

"Thank you very much."

Chihaya placed The World face-down with the rest of the deck and began to shuffle it around on the table. Sumire gulped and leaned forward slightly.

"Chihaya-san, will our baby be a boy or a girl?"

"Hehe... "

As Chihaya continued to shuffle the cards, he noticed that there were several cards from other decks. The Faith. The Charity. The Hope. The Counselor. The Fool. Slowly, she flipped over The Faith, The Fool, and The World, placing them all atop one another.

"On a Spring morning, eight months from now, Ren Amamiya and Sumire Yoshizawa will be blessed with a little baby girl."

Ren's eyes widened as Sumire jumped out of the chair, spun around, and hugged him.

"Ren! We're going to have a little girl!" She squealed with joy again as Ren felt his throat tighten up.

"Yeah… Yeah we are…" He slowly raised his hands and hugged her back. "A girl…"

"I know you two will find only joy in the coming future!" Chihaya clapped. "As those who can change fate, there's nothing left to stand between you and the world!"

"Hah… I… I really am going to be a father…" A tear streamed down Ren's cheek. "I'm still not used to the thought."

"Now we have to gather everyone!" Sumire looked up at him and rubbed the tear away. "I'm so excited!"

"Everything is proceeding exactly as I have foreseen…" Chihaya whispered to herself.

"Was there something else, Chihaya?" Ren gave her a curious look.

"Just have her call me auntie!"


September 21st, 2024

In the weeks following Chihaya's fortune, Sumire began to have cravings.

Lots.

Of cravings.

At first, it consisted of simple needs. A candy bar. A certain kind of fruit. Ren happily obliged. As time passed, Sumire began to eat more, both out of hunger and a desire to get as much nutrients as she could. Over the years, the two had slowly depleted their Mementos savings, but Ren made good money. At least, he did once upon a time.

After numerous text conversations, Ren managed to get everyone he wanted to invite to agree on September 21st to meet at Leblanc. He drove there with Sumire early, and as they entered the cafe, they found that Hanako and Futaba were the "first to arrive" so to speak.

"We beat out the couple that invited everyone!" Futaba snickered as she sat on a barstool. "Next thing you know, you'll both be late for the wedding!"

"You live three minutes away." Ren rubbed the back of his neck as he stepped in. "I wouldn't say that's very fair."

"It still counts!"

"Hey, Kid, Sumire-chan."

"Hello Ren-kun, Sumire-chan!"

"Don't forget me!" Morgana leaped out of Ren's bag and onto a booth table.

Hanako and Sojiro both waved from behind the counter, with Hanako wearing her own orange apron.

"A black-haired, glasses-wearing barista… Where have I seen that before…?" Ren rubbed his chin.

"I've been helping Sakura-san for a while!" Hanako giggled.

"Sojiro, Hanako-chan. You're practically family now." He huffed.

"Oh, right! I've been helping Sojiro for a while!"

"I'm glad he's letting someone else help." Ren clapped. "It's fun work, isn't it?"

"Yes!" She nodded.

"Now… Not to be the party pooper, but I already know exactly why we're gathering today!" Futaba pointed a finger at Sumire.

"Futaba, please wait." Sumire gave her a dead-set, serious glare with a faint smile.

"Yes'm." Futaba instantly shot her back straight up and closed her mouth.

"Thank you!"

Hand-in-hand, Ren and Sumire walked over to one of the open bar stools, with Sumire sitting down and Ren standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her shoulders.

"How's post-Olympics life been treating you two?" Sojiro quizzingly looked at them while adjusting his glasses.

"Great! I feel like I can finally relax!" Ren replied.

"I feel the same way." Sumire nodded, rubbing her hand against his knuckles. "I finally get to do what I've always wanted to do."

"Don't worry, Boss, I've been taking care of them!" Morgana meowed.

"What do you mean?" Sojiro rubbed his chin. "I thought the Olympics was your big goal. And what's the cat saying?"

"It was, but now, I finally get to take care of Ren. Morgana says he's been taking good care of us."

"Ah, I understand. You really got lucky, kid. You have the girl of your dreams and a cat taking care of you!"

"Tell me about it." Ren chuckled. "Every day is a blessing."

Sumire leaned her head back against Ren's chest, smiling.

"Ren's been taking care of me this entire time, Boss-san, so it's only fair that I return the favor."

"You deserve to relax, Sumire-chan! Those performances were better than anything I could have done! I'm happy to have helped teach you!" Hanako set down two cups of coffee on the counter.

"I never would have been able to pull it off without you, Hanako-chan. I put everything you taught me into practice with those performances. I didn't let a single second of my training with you go to waste, especially with the hoop."

"You don't need to tell me that out loud! I saw that all in your routine!"

"I still want to thank you." Sumire took a sip of her coffee.

"That's just like you, Sumire-chan!"

"Now that you're all done training me, what's your next step, Hanako-chan?"

"I'm actually going to open a rhythmic gymnastics studio here in Yongen-Jaya! I'm certified to be a coach, but I can also teach groups of girls!"

"We're going to be p-retty popular." Futaba clicked her tongue as she opened her laptop. "I just recently opened the website, and the forum is already flooded with requests."

"You're helping her, Futaba?" Sumire tilted her head.

"Of course I am! I'm going to do what I can to help my girlfriend!"

"Thank you, Futaba-chan!" Hanako leaned over the counter and kissed her on the cheek.

"N-no problem... boo." Futaba turned red and giggled.

Out of nowhere, the chime of Leblanc's doorbell interrupted their conversation.

"What is bonkin'!" Ryuji yelled as he stepped in, his arm wrapped around Sakiya's.

"Hello, everyone." Sakiya gave Sumire a nod and a wink.

"Sakiya, Ryuji! Thank you for coming!" Sumire attempted to bow, only to find herself pulling Ren forward, which made everyone laugh.

"Hey, Ryuji! Sakiya!" Morgana jumped down and ran up to them.

"Hey Morgana! 'Course we came!" Ryuji scooped Morgana up with his free hand and slid into a booth, with Sakiya playfully nudging him against the wall.

"I hope you've enjoyed your break, Sumire." Sakiya brightly smiled at her, looking her directly in the eye.

"I have! How about you?"

"I enrolled back in university to get my teaching certificate and master's degree. I can finally become a teacher."

"That's wonderful!"

While the two started at each other, a strange silence overtook the cafe for a few seconds.

"No regrets, right?" Sakiya raised her hand with Ryuji's, which they had kept closely intertwined the entire time. "I know what you're all thinking, but I don't want to hear it. I've already talked about this with Ryuji, but Sumire won fair and square, and I'm happier now than ever before. A medal is nothing more than a symbol of a dream, and Sumire's dream was my dream, too. We're all here to celebrate, so let's celebrate!"

"That's right, Sakiya! No regrets!" Sumire stood up with a passionate look on her face. "We went in together, and we came out on top of the world together, too!"

"Exactly!"

A faint smile crossed Ren's face. Before finding out Sumire was pregnant, he had worried about how Sakiya would respond to placing second. Upon hearing their exchange, though, he realized there was nothing to worry about.

"Thank you, Sakiya." He clapped Sumire's shoulders. "You helped us get this far, too. Hanako, Futaba, Ryuji, Sojiro… you all helped us get to this point, and we're both eternally grateful."

"Of course, Ren-kun!"

"We all wanted Sumire to win." Sakiya nodded. "Sure, I wanted to as well, but I'm damn proud of her for kicking my ass. I'm still the second-best rhythmic gymnast in the world, and even with Ren's stunt, people are going to remember the Olympics this year. I'm satisfied."
"You're my number one, Sakiya!" Ryuji threw his arm around her neck and pulled her against him. "We all won, really!"

"Mhm." She closed her eyes, still smiling. "I'm fine like this."

"Look at you lovebirds." Sojiro chuckled. "I'm proud of all of you. You kids all worked hard. That's why the curry and coffee's on the house today."

"Isn't it always on the house, Sojiro?" Ren furrowed an eyebrow.

"Quiet, kid."

A few minutes later, Ren's parents, Masami, his mother, and Daisuke, his father, entered the cafe.

"Hey mom, dad. I assume it wasn't hard to find this place?"

"These backstreets are so crowded, but no, we just followed the smell of coffee! Masami giggled.

"All according to plan, then." Ren nodded.

"Follow the smell of coffee and curry through the Yongen-Jaya Backstreets… What an odd way to give directions, Ren." Daisuke laughed.

"Yo." Ryuji held up an arm. "We're Ren's friends and all that!"

"Mhm. He's told us all about you!" Masami nodded, and the others greeted his parents, who Ren had long ago told them about reconnecting with.

Ann, Shiho, and Yusuke all found their way in a few minutes after the conversation died down.

"Hey!" Ann walked in with a wide smile. "We're back together again!"

"That we are." Yusuke stepped in behind her, with Shiho in front of him. "Hello again."

"It's good to see you all again!" Shiho waved. "What's the occasion?"

"We'll tell you once everyone arrives." Ren gave her a nod.

As the booths of Lablanc began to fill up, Akane, Shinichi, and Uzumi made their way inside shortly after the previous three.

"Hello everyone." Shinichi waved as he stepped in.

"Con-grat-u-lations!" Akane sang as she walked up to Sumire, which caused her immediately to blush.

"Thanks, mom!"

"Why are you blushing? I was just congratulating you on your gold medal again."

"O- W-Well, that's… the 20th time already…?" Sumire winced, realizing she had assumed the wrong thing.

"That doesn't make it any less special!"

"Akane-chan is right, Sumire-chan." Uzumi walked up to her and pulled her in for a hug. "Good work."

"Thank you…"

"We'll all congratulate you as many times as we want." Shinichi laughed. "We're all so proud of you."

"Mhm… I'm happy that Kasumi can finally rest peacefully now."

"She is, Sumire. She is."

The Yoshizawa family sat down in the free booth across from the Amamiya's, with Shinichi standing next to the booth. They reacquainted themselves, having met in the past after Ren reconnected with his Daisuke and Masami.

Shortly after, Chihaya, Makoto and Haru showed up next.

"Hello." Makoto looked over the group with a subdued smile. "It's good to see everyone again after such a short time."

"A month is a long time, Mako-chan!" Haru giggled as she tightened her grip around Makoto's hand.

"It certainly doesn't feel like it."

"I know you're stressed, but that's why you're here! Let's unwind and relax!"

"Mhm. Thank you, Haru." Makoto leaned onto Haru's shoulder.

"Of course!"

The couple sat down in two of the remaining bar stools.

"Hello everyone!" Chihaya bowed as she entered after Makoto and Haru. "My name is Chihaya Mifune! I'm Ren and Sumire-chan's fortune-teller!"

"Isn't she the one who sold you those salt rocks?" Sojiro leaned in next to Ren.

"That was a long time ago. It was an honest mistake." He whispered back.

"If you say so. She's a real standout."

"Thank you for looking after our daughter, Mifune-san." Shinichi stood up and bowed, being the one on the outside edge of the booth. "She has spoken fondly of you."

"It's my pleasure! Working with Sumire-chan has been a wonderful experience!"

"We've heard from Sumire herself about how accurate your fortunes can be. You're the real deal."

"I'm just Chihaya!" She shook her head. "Thank you, though!"

"You're also a new customer." Sojiro smirked. "Everything's on the house today. What would you like?"

"I'll have the house blend, please!" Chihaya sat down next to Futaba on a bar stool.

The last of the guests to step inside were Maruki, Rumi, Etsuko, and Sae Niijima, who both arrived a minute after the others.

"Hello everyone." Maruki nodded as he stepped in.

"Hellllooooo!" Etsuko giggled and waved as Rumi picked her up. "Hi, Sumire-neechan, Ren-oniichan!"

"Hi, Etsuko-chan!" Sumire waved to her.

"Hey Doc, Rumi, Etsuko-chan." Ren returned the nod. The rest of the former Phantom Thieves greeted them, and no one made a fuss.

"Hello." Sae adjusted her purse as she closed the door behind her. "It appears that I'm the last to arrive."

"Hey sis!" Makoto turned her hand and waved.

"Hi Makoto, Haru."

"You are, but I'm just glad that everyone made it." Ren looked around the cafe, which was effectively crowded to capacity. "I'm going to help Sojiro and Hanako finish making food, and then we'll start."

A series of "Sure's," "Alright's," and "That's Fine" echoed through the cafe as Ren joined the two to finish preparations, and everyone proceeded to make small talk amongst themselves, with the parents speaking to each other, Maruki greeting everyone individually, and Etsuko playing with Morgana.


"I'd like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and hear what I'd like to say." Sumire began after everyone ate and finished speaking to each other. "It's been over one month since we accomplished our dream. I wouldn't have been able to do it without everyone's support, and for that, I am forever grateful."

Ren walked out from behind the counter, standing next to Sumire as she pushed herself up. The two bowed deeply in front of the group that had assembled.

"I'm sure that you're all aware that we're getting married." Sumire gently rubbed the ring on her finger, leaning back up. "But that is just the beginning of our new dream." She tightly grabbed Ren's hand, massaging her thumb on his palm. Ren and I… We're going to have a child together."

Jaws around the room hit the floor while Chihaya devilishly tapped her fingers together and Futaba pretended to act shocked.

Sumire tapped her fingers together, a blush forming on her face.

"I'm p-pregnant."

"FOR REAL?" Ryuji tried to stand up, only to hit his knee on the booth table. "Ow!"

"Oh my god! Congratulations!" Ann jumped with joy. "Is it going to be a boy or a girl? You have to tell us! Wait, do you even know?"

"My Sumire is having a baby!" Akane pumped her fist. "Finally!"

"Wonderful…" Uzumi nodded with approval.

"Oh? Congratulations, Ren! My little boy has grown so much!" Masami squealed.

"Congratulations! This is big… We're going to have a grandchild…" Daisuke chuckled.

"Congratulations, Ren-kun, Sumi-chan!" Haru giggled and squeezed Makoto's hand.

"Indeed. Congratulations." Makoto nodded, her smile now bright. "We truly have all grown up."

"I'm happy for the both of you." Sae brushed her hair with her hand.

"Knew it." Futaba nonchalantly remarked.

"Hahaha… This is simply wonderful!" Yusuke cheerfully and eccentrically held his hands up in the shape of a frame. "I'm simply overwhelmed with emotions right now… Ah. Thank you, Ren, Sumire!"

"So that was your real dream…" Sakiya laughed to herself as she looked at Sumire, whose face had turned red, despite her excited smile. "I'm proud of you."

"Hoo boy..." Sojiro chuckled from behind the counter.

"A baby, huh? I'm happy for you." Shiho gave them a thumbs up.

"Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood." Chihaya continued to tap her fingers together.

Ren quickly glanced at Shinichi, who hadn't spoken, and then intently at Maruki, who stood near the door, wide-eyed and smiling.

"Yoshizawa-san, Amamiya-kun… Congratulations. You've both come so far… You truly have crafted your own reality together."

"A baby?" Etsuko looked up at Rumi curiously.

"You get to be big sis Etsuko!" Rumi smirked and ruffled her hair.

"How cute! Wait, does that mean I get to be an aunt?" Hanako's eyes widened.

"Amamiya-kun."

Ren slowly looked over at Shinichi, who tapped his finger against his crossed arms.

...

"Congratulations."

A sigh of relief.

"Thank you, everyone! According to Chihaya's predictions, our baby is going to be a girl!"

"She?" Masami's eyes widened. "We're going to have a granddaughter! Oh I'm so excited!"

"Ah… This is wonderful news." Daisuke smiled.

"Yes!" Ann cheered "Cute dresses here we come!"

"A granddaughter!" Akane and Uzumi interlocked hands. "I'm going to have a granddaughter!"

"And I'm going to have a great-granddaughter!"

"Damn… Maybe we should catch up, Sakiya?" Ryuji playfully looked at Sakiya.

"Heh… Maybe."

"You've got a third player coming along!" Futaba clapped. "Don't let her be influenced too much by Sojiro, though."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Sojiro huffed. "You really have surpassed me, kid. It doesn't feel all that bad, though."

"Thank you all." Ren scratched the back of his head. "From one world onto the next, right?"

"That's the grandest way I've heard to someone raising a child." Makoto laughed. "But knowing you two, you're both going to knock it out of the park."

"Do you have any names in mind?" Akane's eyes glimmered.

"Yes…" Sumire put her hand on her stomach.

"Yuki. Our love blossomed as snow fell."

"So cheesy!" Futaba cried out.

"Is that so?" Sojiro frowned. "Wish I could have named her…"

"Ren, Sumire…" Yusuke held his arm out toward them. "I insist that, upon the birth of your child, I create a painting akin to the Sayuri for you two. The sight of a mother united with her child for the first time… I can feel my urge to paint it swelling even now."

"That sounds lovely, Yusuke!" Sumire giggled.

"I'm looking forward to it already." Ren nodded before looking around the room again.

"I want to be the best father I can be. A good friend of mine ended up leading an incredibly hard life, all because his father treated him like a tool. I want to make sure my child, or children, never have to receive treatment like that. That is the best I can do for him now."

"Akechi-san…" Sumire mumbled as all of the Phantom Thieves' eyes widened as they connected the dots instantly.

"You're gonna be fine, kid." Sojiro clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah… Thanks."

"Is there anything else?" Sojiro looked over to Sumire.

"No." She shook her head. "Let's eat!"


October 24th, 2024

With the cat out of the bag, so to speak, Ren continued to work while Sumire began to browse for baby clothes and gear. Hiraguchi and Murakami both agreed to help her formulate an exercise routine over the course of her pregnancy. Sumire wanted to stay in shape, and old habits die hard. As the weeks passed, several members of the core Phantom Thieves stopped by their apartment and visited. During this time, there were two major craving incidents.

"Hi!" Ann stood at the doorway, her long, blonde hair loose against her back, which bobbed as she looked around.

"Hi, Ann. Did you come fresh from a gig or something?" Ren took note of her beautiful dress, which was tight-fit and a deep red color.

"Something like that!" She laughed. "I was in the area and wanted to say hi!"

"Of course. Come on in."

"Ann!" Morgana ran up from the living room door and sat at her feet.

"Hi, Morgana!" She bent down and pet him. "Are you the guardian of the house or something?"

"Yup! How'd you know?"

"Because you look the part!"

"Hehe… Thanks."

"Hm? Oh, hello Ann-chan!" Sumire opened the living room door fully, dressed in a violet sweater and black sweatpants. "How are you?"

"I'm doing great! You?"

"I'm okay, mostly." She held a hand against her lower stomach. "I've been more nauseous than usual today…"

"Well don't push yourself, silly!" Ann walked up to her and gently wrapped an arm around her. "Sit down!"

"Thank you…"

"Sumire…" Ren walked in after them. "I know you're glad to see friends, but you need to relax on your bad days."

"I know… I just wish I didn't have them."

"It can't be helped, right?" Ren leaned down over the couch as she laid down and kissed her on the forehead.

"No…"

"Just rest for a little bit. Maybe you'll feel better if you stay down. I'll keep you in a bear grip and snuggle you if I have to."

"I wouldn't mind that… But I'm okay."

"Good." Ren smiled, stood back up, grabbed two chairs, and placed them next to the couch. "Sit down, Ann."

"Thanks." Ann took a seat and looked around. "Huh. I don't think I've ever been here... "

"Really?" Ren tilted his head.

"Nope. How long have you lived here?"

"Uh… Over six years."

"Wow. I mean, I guess it makes sense, since I am constantly traveling. It's a nice place. I like how you decorated your shelf with a bunch of stuff from Mementos along with a bunch of other collectibles."

"Heh. The best thing on that shelf is the gold medal, though."

"I bet." She looked down at Sumire. "You don't need someone to stay with you constantly, right? I can be free whenever. Gigs can be moved and stuff."

"It's okay, Ann-chan. This happens sometimes, but I have Ren, Boss-san and Sakiya on emergency dial. Mom and dad too."

"That's good. Everyone can rest easy if you have all your bases covered."

"That's right, Ann!" Morgana jumped into Ren's lap. "Just like being a Phantom Thief, you need to plan out everything!"

"You really miss those days, huh, Morgana?" Ann giggled. "I mean, I do too, don't get me wrong, but at the same time, we were always in a lot of danger…"

"You all have a lot more to worry about than the Metaverse." He nodded. "I can understand not wanting to be in danger. I do miss it, though."

"Are you happy like this, though?"

Morgana pondered.

"Yeah. I am. Taking care of Ren and Sumire is my duty, and as a gentleman thief, I'm going to take care of Yuki, too!"

"Great!" Ann reached over and pet him. "I'm proud of you for finding a purpose!"

"Thanks!"

Ann, Morgana and Ren all started chatting about the miscellaneous details of their lives, with Ann talking about potential ways she could propose to Shiho, wanting to emulate Ren's to some degree, though she didn't want to show off that much. The more they spoke, the faster the hours flew by. Sumire began to feel a bit better, and Ann went on to take her leave. As she walked through the kitchen, she noticed a small chocolate in a glass bowl.

"Hey, Ren, can I have this?"

"Have what? Oh, the chocolate?"

"Yeah!"

"Well… That's…"

"Yes! Thanks a bunch!" Ann innocently plopped it into her mouth and walked toward the door. Ren gulped and followed her. "Goodbye, Morgana!"

"Goodbye, Ann!"

A few seconds later, as Ann was opening the door, Ren stopped in his tracks.

"Ren…"

A menacing aura made the skin on his back crawl as he slowly turned around and saw Sumire staring at the bowl.

"Where's my chocolate?"

"I… Uh… I… Was just going to get some more! The last one fell, and I had to throw it away!"

"Please hurry… I really need it…" Sumire bit her bottom lip and gripped her fist.

"I'll be faster than a hedgehog!" Ren pushed Ann out of the apartment hastily. "Run while you still can, Ann."

"It was just a piece of chocolate…"

"It wasn't just a piece. It was the last piece. Don't you remember Sumire's appetite? Now she's pregnant too!"

"My bad… What kind of chocolate was it, anyway? It tasted really good. I can pay you back for it."

"That was the last piece from a Grand Chu Chocolate assortment by Pierre Marcolini!"

"Pierre Marcolini…?" Ann pulled out her phone and looked up the chocolate. "16,000 Yen for a box!?"

"Don't worry about it, really!" Ren walked past her. "I'll see you later! I have to find that box!"

Ann sighed and took off after him.


November 7th, 2024

The second great craving incident occurred randomly. Most symptoms of pregnancy occurred randomly, Sumire's pains, aches, and other symptoms happened at any point of the time, anywhere. On the 7th of November, Sumire ran out of A5 wagyu, which was not easy to find, or cheap to purchase. As a substitute, Ren bought A4 wagyu.

This was a grave mistake.

Innocently, Ren happily heated up the beef and made a simple dinner dish for Sumire. It was perfect, until she took her first bite.

"Ren."

"Yes, Sumire?"

"This isn't A5 wagyu."

"It's not?" He nervously swallowed.

"No. The texture is entirely different, as is the flavor."

"It's not really that different, is it…?" He felt a cold sweat break out.

"It's completely different." She gripped her fork. "I'm sorry, Ren, but I'm craving A5 wagyu. It's driving me crazy. Please…"

"I… Uh… Morgana, any suggestions?" He turned to his feline friend, desperation in his eyes.

"Sorry, partner, but we need to go find that A5 wagyu."

"How long can you hold out, Sumire?"

"An hour, maybe. I'm sorry." Sumire slowly dug her fingernails into her skin. "I can't explain how badly I need it, but I really, really do."

"I totally understand!" Ren ran to grab his jacket and keys. "Hold the fort, Morgana! I'll be back!"

"Roger that!"

In complete panic mode, Ren made his way into Tokyo proper, on a desperate hunt for A5 wagyu. He needed to use all of his connections to find a seller, but he managed to secure some before his hour was up. This was not the first time Sumire cravings so badly that they hurt,and he truly felt bad for her. She had to bear the burden of harboring their child with her own body, all by herself. Just like when she stepped out onto the mat for a performance, all he felt he could do was watch and try to comfort her with words. She said that's all he needed to do, but it still left a bad taste in his mouth, no matter how many times he tried to accept it. Upon returning he quickly fried up the A5 wagyu, and set down the plate in front of her.

"I'm really sorry about that." He took deep breaths, drained from running around many small, local markets."

"I'm sorry for making you do so much for me. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, yet here I am again, being selfish." Sumire frowned, but couldn't stop herself from eating.

"You're caring for a baby, Sumire! I'm just… I'm just watching again." Ren gripped his hands and looked at the ground. "Just like always…"

"Ren." Sumire quickly finished her last bite and stood up, looking him straight in the eyes. "Stop that. You know it's not true. I know that I can't quite take care of you the exact way I want to yet, and that I need your help, but you do so much more than "stand there." You're the pillar of hope that I can always cling to… You're the reason I'm proud to be standing here now. I'll keep reminding you, just like you reminded me, and helped me put my grief behind me."

"So what can I do?"

"We still have to pick out a venue, don't we? For our wedding."

"Oh right!" Ren's mood immediately brightened. "We've only picked out a date!"

"That's right! I'll take care of the baby, and you can plan the wedding!" Sumire wrapped her hands around his and excitedly smiled. "Sound like a plan?"

"Yes!" Ren nodded and slowly let go of her hands. "I'll start right now!"

"Go get 'em tiger!"

Ren moved over to his computer, where he began looking up how to plan a wedding, what the best locations in Japan were, and what to wear. He texted Haru, who happily agreed to help fund it all, and declared that her only requirement was that everyone wears Phantom-Thief-based suits and dresses, to which he agreed. His research easily turned into an all-nighter as he fully engrossed himself in doing what he could to help Sumire.


December 25th, 2024

'Merry Christmas!" Sumire kissed Ren on the cheek as he leaned up in their bed.

"Merry Christmas…" He yawned. "How do you feel?"

"Good, but don't worry about me! Today is a special day!"

"Well, I know that. It's Christmas."

"Not just that…" Sumire giggled. "We finally get to give each other gifts again!"

"Oh right!"

"If you forgot, that's okay! Just getting to spend the day with you is a gift in itself!"

Ren felt his heart melt like an ice cube in a pan of boiling water.

"I love you so much, Sumire… But I did get you something." He nestled his nose against her hair, which she had kept at the same length since the World Championship of 2023. Resting in her hair was her bright red ribbon, which she only ever took off when showering or to wash it, keeping it as clean as possible.

"I love you too."

Sumire gently took his hand and guided it to her stomach, which had started to round out a bit.

"She also loves you."

"How can you be so sure?" Ren smirked.

"Because you're her papa."

"I am… Have you felt her move at all?"

"Not yet."

"Hmm…. By now I thought she'd be as feisty as Morgana."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Morgana stared at the two from his cat tower.

"You're going to teach her what you know too, right?"

"Well of course!"

"Exactly. Now, are we going to have a turkey this year, Sumire? I don't think we've had once since well…. 2018?"

"We are."

"Sounds good to me." Ren leaned up and planted his feet on the floor, letting Sumire press herself against his back.

"You can stay in bed if you want, Ren." She wrapped her arms around his chest.

"I can't let you do all the work, Sumire." He leaned his head back, and she kissed him.

"I want you to, but I'll let you help. I actually already bought a turkey yesterday while you were working."

"Makes sense. What time is it?"

"Seven in the morning. It's been thawing since last night. Let's start preparing it now."

"Mhm."

Sumire let Ren go, and he went over to pick his Christmas sweater of the day. In her downtime, Sumire had mastered knitting and made even more unbearably ugly sweaters, but he wore each and every one with pride, as did Morgana. Following him, Sumire took his hand as he tugged on the sweater and pulled him into the kitchen. They spent the next several hours preparing the turkey, delighted just to be together for the day. Once they finished, they brought it out to the table and began eating.

"Save some for me, alright?" Ren laughed as Sumire swiftly and precisely cut out pieces of the turkey, filling her plate. "You don't want to overdo it anyway, right?"

"I don't, but, funnily enough… I really am craving turkey."

"Oh. I see."

"How do you like the tuna, Morgana? I bought it with you in mind!"

"Itsh delicshious!" He responded with his mouth full. "Thank you!"

"From God slayer to parent…" Ren pulled out his phone. "It's been eight years since then…"

"Given your experience with Etsuko-chan, I feel like raising Yuki is going to be an even more difficult task for you!" Sumire giggled after finishing a cut of turkey. "Ah. I have to use the bathroom again. Please excuse me."

"You still think about Yaldabaoth?" Morgana perked his ears and spoke after Sumire closed the living room door.

"Of course I do. I know it's all over, and I know we have bigger things ahead of us, but that was still the craziest day of my life. I mean, we shot him in the face!" Ren held his arms out.

"Yeah, and now you're gonna have a baby!"

"I know!"

"If you know, then start focusing on learning to be a dad!"

"Start focusing… Morgana! You're totally right! I'll start now!"

In a bout of speed, Ren ran over to his computer, booted it up, and opened browsers on all three of his monitors, looking up things like "How do be a dad," "How to raise a baby," and "How to take care of your wife." Channeling his inner Futaba, he started reading across all three browsers at once. Morgana jumped on his shoulder and watched, and the two found themselves completely engrossed in the research.

"Konnichi… wa!"

Ren jumped in his seat as Sumire snuck a kiss on his left cheek.

"Oh. Hi Sumire."

"What are you doing, Ren?"

"Uh… looking up how to be a dad…" He blushed a light shade of red.

"That's so cute!" She pecked him on the cheek again. "I'm happy you're taking this seriously."

"I take everything seriously, Sumire." He sarcastically scoffed.

"I know you are, and that's what makes me so happy!" She giggled.

"It just won't sink in. The realization that I'm going to be a dad, I mean. I just keep thinking about everything I've done up until now, and nothing has prepared me for this."

"You're going to do a great job, Ren." Sumire rested her head on his shoulder.

"I don't want to wing this… That's all."

"You don't have to. We're in this together."

"Together… Right." Ren raised one hand to touch her cheek, and the other to her hand, which rested on his other shoulder as Morgana hopped down to his lap. The three stayed like this for a long time.

Later that night, Sumire presented Ren with a small, wrapped box, decorated with a red and black decal.

"Merry Christmas."

"Thank you, Sumire."

Ren slowly unwrapped the box, which was made of fine, Japanese wood, and slowly opened it. Inside was a ceramic, white domino mask with a decorative black outline around the eyes.

"Sumire! Where did you… How did you…?" Ren's jaw dropped as he looked at her in shock.

"Morgana and I worked with Yusuke to recreate your Joker mask." Sumire giggled.

"I'm just… Thank you both so much. Now I really do feel bad I didn't get you anything."

"Don't." Sumire touched a hand to her stomach. "You already gave me the best gift I could ask for."

Ren's heart melted again as he slowly lifted the mask to his face, perching it on his nose.

"It's showti-" He cleared his throat. "Sorry. It's showtime!"

"Looking cool, Joker!" Morgana laughed. "Though you don't have a reason to wear a mask anymore."

"I have one reason, actually." He pointed to Sumire. "The stories we're going to tell our little girl will be legendary!" Ren stood up. "I'll be right back."

Sumire and Morgana watched him walk out of the apartment for a few minutes, returning with a wrapped, long, nearly flat box.

"What's this?" Sumire took a hold of it. "It's a little heavier than I thought, just based on appearance."

"Open it up." He grinned, still wearing the mask.

"Alright…"

Sumire slowly unwrapped the box and opened the small suitcase only to find…

"A gun?" Her jaw dropped as her eyes went wide.

"It's your gun from the Metaverse. Don't you remember?"

"A perfect replica!" Morgana cheered.

"I… Thank you… But what am I supposed to do with this? It's not real, right?"

"No!" Ren waved his arms.

"I see… Do you want me to tell Yuki stories while you wear the mask and I hold this… gun?"

"Um… Yes?" Ren smiled awkwardly and shrugged.

"You dork!"

The night came to a close with the three of them laughing together, as a family.


January 1st, 2025

"Happy New Year's!"

"Happy New Year's!"

"Happy New Year's!"

Morgana, Ren and Sumire all yelled together at once as dozens of fireworks went off both on TV and outside their apartment, the Rainbow Bridge in sight.

"Any New Year's resolutions this year?" Ren snuggled up against Sumire as they both sat on the couch together, resting his head against hers.

"Raise Yuki well. That's all."

"Same."

"I'm going to help too, you know! I'm going to be the best guardian Yuki will ever have in this apartment!"" Morgana snuggled between them.

"We're what, almost 5 months in now?"

"Mhm." Sumire patted her stomach. "I can feel her moving, now. It's strange, but… It's reassuring. I know she's healthy."

"Just a few more months, huh? Well… I'm going to have to study some more."


February 14th, 2025

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ren!" Sumire poked Ren on the cheek as he groggily woke up.

"Huh? Oh… Thank you, Sumire."

"Are you still tired from work?" She gave him a warm smile. He looked her up and down, taking in the view of his soon-to-be wife. She wore white sweater and sweatpants. Her stomach had rounded quite a bit in the past few months. From what Ren remembered, she was due in May.

"Yeah…" he leaned up and let his feet hit the floor. The cold sensation of his feet hitting the floor jolted him awake slightly.

"Wait… Oh wow… I just realized!" Ren's eyes widened as Sumire smiled and held out a box of chocolates.

"We can finally spoil each other again!" She giggled, "Go sit down on the couch, okay? I'll make you some coffee."

"You don't have to," He shook his head.

"I finally get to spoil you again, and you tell me not to, Ren?"

"Fair point…"

Ren walked over to the couch and sat down. He looked outside and saw that it was snowing heavily. Since December, his schedule became more sporadic, and the days he had off each week were different. Luckily for him, he had Valentine's Day off.

Sumire came back into the room with two cups after a few minutes and she sat down next to Ren. They turned on the news, but it served as white noise. Both of them sipped their coffee in peace.

"Considering you finally get to spoil me again, what do you want to do today?" Ren smirked.

"There's only one thing I want to do today, and we're doing it right now." Sumire smiled and took Ren's hand.

"I dig it." He smiled warmly.

Sumire lifted her hand and cupped it around the side of his head.

"Actually… There's something I want to show you. Here," She gently guided his head until it was lightly pressed against her stomach. They both waited a moment, and Ren felt a light nudge coming from her stomach. He gasped and smiled.
"Was that?"

"It was! She's kicking, Ren!" Sumire exclaimed with glee.

"Oh man… I still can't believe it sometimes…" Ren moved his hand onto her stomach, and she placed a hand on top of his. He looked up at her, and she looked down at him.

A silent, blissful wave washed over them both. Warmth overtook them as the world faded away around them. They both felt a few more kicks as time passed. Ren closed his eyes and let his breathing match the rhythm of Sumire's.

"I'm…"

"So happy." Sumire finished the sentence. "Ren…"

"I can't believe I'm gonna be a dad…"

"And I can't believe I'm going to be a mom." Sumire spoke calmly. "Back when I first met you, as myself, I thought I was worthless. And look at me now... at us now, Ren. Back then, you showed me that instead of leaping across the gap like Kasumi, I could build a bridge, with you at my side. We did it together. We took the world stage! Now we're having a baby girl…"

Ren leaned up and pulled her head against his shoulder.

"We did take the world stage, Sumire. But do you know what we haven't done?"

Sumire tilted her head, smiling. "What we haven't done?"

"We haven't become our world champions yet." He pointed down at her stomach.

"What…" Sumire slowly blushed, "Do you mean… this whole time…"

Ren laughed. "Yeah. I do."

"The champions of our own world… You meant a child the whole time?" Sumire blushed, but felt a smile cross her face.

"Yup." Ren nodded, smiling back.

"Y-you're such a dork, Ren!"

"Hey, you're the one who said we'd become the champions of our own world! You basically confirmed that you wanted to have a kid, too!"

Sumire averted her gaze, still blushing like crazy. "That's…! Um…"

"You're not denying it~"

"Fine!" Sumire puffed her cheeks, "I did! At the time, I didn't think that's what you meant, but… I realized as time passed, especially since we moved in together, that you meant you wanted to have a… a baby!"

Ren chuckled and patted her shoulder. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Sumire sighed. "I want to be a mother… and I want to take care of you, Ren. I've waited so long for this…" She turned her head and gazed at the gold medal, which sat on their bookshelf in a glass case.

"From one dream onto the next, right? I look forward to it all, Sumire. Our wedding, our baby girl… I'm the happiest man on Earth right now!"

"Yes! The wedding is in July!" Sumire nodded and pressed her head against his. "I can't wait!"

The engaged couple held one another close as they each held a hand against Sumire's stomach, feeling Yuki kick as time passed.


March 6th, 2025

Sumire entered her third trimester around Ren's birthday. She began to have abdominal pains and backaches, and she had to start exercising much less, usually only doing light walks every day. Despite that, she still wanted to treat Ren well, buying him a simple gift. A new watch, so he could take his time.


March 14th, 2025

On White Day, Ren bought Sumire premium, genuine To'ak chocolate, which cost him a pretty penny, but the smile on her face as she took her first bite washed away all of his money sorrows. They spent the day together shopping for baby supplies. Clothing, a crib, blankets, toys, a lot of bibs, burp clothes, milk storage containers, a nursing pillow, nursing bras of different sizes, breast pats, diapers, ointments, and more. Both of them wanted to be completely ready, taking advice from their own parents and a lot of articles, sent by Futaba. Afterward, they finalized their plans for the wedding with Haru. Over the past few months, Ren had worked closely with her to pick a venue, get the outfits made for everyone, and retrieve all of the necessary accommodations. This was all at Sumire's request, whose ideal White Day was one spent with Ren.


March 25th, 2025

"Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

Ren woke Sumire up with a breakfast in bed, which consisted of salmon teriyaki, miso soup, and rice. It was a staple breakfast, but Sumire was always delighted to have Ren cook for her.

"I'm going to treat you just for today, if you'll let me."

"Give me a minute…" Sumire groaned and leaned up, having been laying on her side all night. "It's hard to sleep now…"

"I'll snuggle all day with you so you can rest, if that's what it takes."

"I'd like that…"

"Just rest easy, Sumire." Morgana sat on the bed next to her. "We're nearly at the home stretch."

"Mhm… Some days are just harder than others."

"We all have our bad days." Ren held the tray in front of her. "Now eat up."

"Thank you." Sumire clapped her hands in prayer and eagerly ate her breakfast. They spent the day together relaxing, with Ren taking less appointments per week to stay with Sumire for the final stretch. With Maruki's help, he was scheduled to go on leave for two months, starting in May. For her birthday, their friends and family all bought Sumire a plethora of gifts for the baby. More clothes, more bibs, and more diapers. With Hanako's help, Futaba got a shirt with the text "MAMA SUMI" printed on it. Saving the best for last at the end of the night, Ren gave Sumire a large, red-wrapped box.

"Let me see…"

Sumire slowly unwrapped the box, revealing a baby sling.

"Aw… Thank you so much, Ren!"

"It was Morgana's idea, really. We both figured you'd want to be more active again after Yuki's born, so we got you that. You'll be able to carry her everywhere and still have your hands free. I'm not sure how long it'll be before she can safely sit in that, though."

"I'll find out, don't worry!"

"Good."

"Phew… Opening presents made me feel exhausted. Just last year I won the gold at the Olympics, and now I can barely open a few boxes." Sumire sighed, taking a deep breath.

"You're lugging around a baby that is also using your body to survive. Don't think you need to push yourself." Ren patted her back.

"Right. Now that we're done, I'm going to lay down…"

"Let's go to sleep together now. There's not much left."

"To sleep, Sumire, Ren!"

"Thank you, Morgana."

"Hehehe."

Ren led Sumire over to their bed, and she quickly fell asleep on her side. He stayed awake a while longer, watching her, before exhaustion lulled him to sleep as well.


May 10th, 2025

Ren and Sumire's day began like any other at this stage of the pregnancy. In the middle of April, Takemi started visiting daily, and today, she decided to stay from morning till evening, knowing the due date was within the next 48 hours. Sumire constantly found herself having to use the bathroom and feeling contractions. Her movements were sluggish, but she continued to push herself, sitting on the living room couch. Time passed slowly… Hours… Slowly… And then, she felt a push. A contraction. Once. Twice. They wouldn't stop.

"Ren, Dr. Takemi, come here." Sumire looked at them and broke out in a nervous sweat.

"What is it, Sumire?" Ren grabbed her hand immediately and rubbed her knuckles.

"Sh-She's coming."

"You mean…" Ren's eyes widened.

"The baby's coming!"