August 2025

Following the wedding, Ren returned to work while Sumire stayed home with Morgana, taking care of Yuki and studying when she had free time. She wasn't in a hurry to become a teacher or go back to work, satisfied with being able to take care of Ren and Yuki. Every day she woke up next to Ren and got to watch Yuki see or do something new was a blessing in itself. Around the time she turned three months old, Yuki started to lift her head 90 degrees, follow the sounds Sumire made, roll over, and play with her favorite toys. To both Morgana's happiness and distress, she loved to grab everything and anything, including his tail. On one of his days off, Ren went to test Yuki's abilities.


August 16th, 2025

"Alright Yuki. This is a top-secret mission, okay?" Ren held Yuki in his arms, walking out to his car while Sumire took a nap. On the weekends, he spent every second he could playing with Yuki while she was awake.

"Aaaahgo!" Yuki laughed and looked around the car interior.

"You've been in this plenty of times now. It's our car."

"Oooh!"

"Anyway... " Ren turned Yuki around from him and let her grab the steering wheel while tucking her legs into it. "Hold on tight, just like that."

Yuki giggled incessantly as Ren rotated the steering wheel back and forth with one hand while holding his other hand against her back.

"Ahuuuuuuuuuuu!"

Ren laughed with her, knowing the car was off and that this stunt had somehow worked out.

Then he spotted a shade of red out of the corner of his eye.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he turned his head. Sumire stood a few feet away from the car, arms crossed and tapping her foot. One of her eyebrows twitched furiously as she waited for Ren.

Silently, Ren took Yuki off the steering wheel and held her close.

"Yuki, this might be the last time you ever see papa. I love you with all of my heart, okay? Well, maybe half since I also love mama with all of my heart. Maybe I just have two hearts? Anyway, you're the cutest thing ever, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Ap!"

"Yeah. Ap."

Taking a deep breath, Ren slowly opened the door.

"Ren Amamiya."

"Yes dear?"

"What are you doing with our daughter?" Sumire spoke with the rage of a thousand gods, far more deadly than any Ren had fought.

"Playing… around?"

"Playing around in a car, without any safety harnesses?"

"Uh… The car was off, and I was holding my hand against her back…"

"I see. Hand her to me."

"Ga!" Yuki giggled again as Ren handed her to Sumire.

"Are you okay sweetie?" Sumire kissed her forehead. "Mama will play with you safely. I think papa needs to think a bit more about what he's doing."

"Auuuuuuuuuuh!"

"I'll give you a massage to make up for it!" Ren bowed. "I know your back has been hurting lately!"

Sumire turned to him and lifted his head by the chin with her free hand.

"That sounds good. Come on."

"I'm sorry…" Ren sulked his head as Sumire led him back into the apartment complex. That night, he gave her one of the best massages ever. He also gave Yuki a baby massage, which was another form of bonding.


In September, Yuki started to lift herself up while on her tummy with her arms, and began to support herself while on her leg. Additionally, she started to grab for things that were out of her reach, having crying fits when she couldn't get certain items. The constant cycle between crying for minutes at a time and laughing while trying to babble drove Sumire and Morgana up the wall, but they dealt with it, regardless. Just holding Yuki against her was enough to calm Sumire down when she felt stressed, and at points, she cuddled with Ren to feel even calmer. On rare occasions, Ren would have to take over completely. It was an incredibly stressful job, and even Sumire knew she needed to take small breaks. Their love for Yuki only grew with time, no matter how hard it got at points. Additionally, Sakiya came over one day wearing a proposal ring.


September 17th, 2025

"Hey, Sumire!" Sakiya hugged Sumire as she entered the apartment Ryuji and her had moved into. "Guess what?"

"Um… You've finally become a teacher?"

"Yes, but Ryuji proposed to me, finally!" Sakiya grinned and held up her ring finger.

"Aw! Congratulations! When's the wedding?"

"May!"

"Did you hear that, Yuki?" Sumire looked down at Yuki, who sat in her baby carrier.

"Aaaao!"

"Yes! Auntie Sakiya is going to get married!"

"It's too bad Ryuji's at work, as is Ren. I didn't want to wait too long to tell you, though." Sakiya patted Yuki's head.

"Ehhh!"

"You're going to have a little sis soon, Yuki-chan." Sakiya poked her cheek this time, making her giggle.

"So when is the wedding, Sakiya?" Sumire gave her an excited look.

"May 25th, 2026. That's the date of a World Cup, you know."

Sumire giggled. "I still keep up with all of the dates. It makes me feel nostalgic, always having to worry about when my next competition would be. I miss that rush sometimes, but I'm content with my life now."

"Yeah." Sakiya patted her stomach, which was well-rounded. "Being a rhythmic gymnast was amazing, and I'm glad we worked our way so high up, but it's nice to be retired. I can't imagine getting back into it now."

"I agree. We're at retirement age, and once you have a child, your hips will never be the same again. You'd have to learn your whole routine over again as you regain your balance."

"Yeah… no thanks!" Sakiya laughed and led Sumire to the couch. "Will you stay with me for a little while? We don't spend too much time like this anymore."

"Sure thing." Sumire sat next to Sakiya and took her hand. "We used to spend every single day together…"

"That just makes moments like these all the more precious…"

Sakiya and Sumire talked for a long while together, happy to be together again as they talked about Ryuji, Ren, and the lives they were leading with them.


October 12th, 2025

"Bababa!" Yuki played with her doll while Sumire finished a call.

"Yes, she can visit today. It's been a month since the last time, right? Of course. Ren and I will be here. Thank you so much! I know Yuki wants to see her!"

Upon hearing her name, Yuki looked up at Sumire.

"Awww! You can tell when mama is calling your name?"

"Uohoooo!"

"Uhooooooo!" Sumire nuzzled her nose against Yuki's. "Yuki!"

"Euh!"

"Yuki!"

"Eouuuu!"

A wide smile crossed Sumire's face. "I have to write this down and tell Ren!"

"Ap!"

"Yes! Apap! Papa!"

"Oahhhhhhhh!"

"I don't think she understands nor associates ap with papa, Sumire." Morgana laughed as he brushed against Yuki.

"She hasn't said anything close to mama yet…"

"I bet she's going to say Mona first!"

"Hmmmm…"

Sumire put Yuki back down to play, and a few minutes later, Ren arrived home.

"Welcome home!"

"Eventful day?" Ren wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her forehead while stroking her bangs out of the way.

"Mhm! Yuki can recognize when I say her name!"

"Really?" Ren smirked. "I'll need to try. Have you played peek-a boo with her yet?"

"Mhm! She becomes so happy when I reappear!"

"Adorable." Ren released her from the hug. "Let me try…"

Ren entered the living room, where Yuki sat on the floor with Morgana, playing with him.

"Yuki!"

She looked up at Ren and excitedly waved her arms.

"I'm a shapeshifter!" He covered his face with his hands and ducked down behind the couch. Morgana watched Yuki look toward him, confused.

"Where'd he go, Yuki?"

Ren crawled around the couch up to Yuki while she stared at Morgana and Sumire, who had entered the room.

"Gotcha now!" Ren grabbed onto Yuki and picked her up, pulling her to his chest. She giggled and babbled as he kissed her face.

"Aoooooooooooooooooahhh!"

"Aoahoah!"

"Boo!" Morgana appeared from behind Ren's shoulder, which made her squeal and laugh more.

Sumire felt her heart melt as she watched the three, turning around when she heard a knock at the door. Entering the kitchen, she opened the door and greeted Etsuko, Maruki and Rumi before leading them into the living room.

"Yuki-chan!" Etsuko ran up to Ren. "I'm here to play!"

"Hi Etsuko-chan, Dr. Maruki, Rumi-san." Ren set Yuki back down. "Yuki, do you recognize Etsuko-chan?"

Yuki looked at him, and then Etsuko, and then Morgana.

"Maybe she doesn't all that well yet."

"Yuki-chan's gotten bigger." Rumi observed. "How often do you breastfeed her?"

"Four times a day!" Sumire smiled and nodded. "She's just around the weight she needs to be, but she eats a lot!"

"Do you get sore?"

"Sometimes, but I think that's only because she has my appetite!"

"I see. Well every baby is different."

"Etsuko ate the recommended amount each day, if I remember correctly." Maruki rubbed his chin. "From what you're saying, it appears Yuki-chan eats quite a bit more than that."

"Same appetite…" Ren felt a shiver go down his spine.

"Yuki-chan!" Etsuko sat down in front of her. "Let's play!"

"Uehuuu!" Yuki picked up her doll and waved it around.

"Yup! Play!"

"Ap!"

"Hmmm… Do you wanna play, kitty?"

"Sure!" Morgana walked up to Etsuko and purred.

"Yay!"

Etsuko picked up some of Yuki's toys and began to play with her, to the best of her ability. Yuki didn't quite appear to understand what it meant to play with someone else, instead actively going between toys and looking around the room. Etsuko didn't let herself get mad, though, listening to her own mother's instructions.

"Etsuko-chan is very patient, Rumi-san." Sumire looked between the two with a smile.

"That's one of the first things we taught her, and one of the first things you should teach Yuki-chan. It's tough, given how kids are, but if you're stern enough, they'll figure it out."

"I see… patience…"

"I think we're both pretty used to being patient." Ren laughed and looked at his watch. "We waited all this time to get married, after all."

"I'm the one who taught you that!" Morgana bragged to Ren, jumping into the conversation.

Etsuko giggled as Morgana meowed and purred. "That tickles, kitty!"

The two continued to play, and Etsuko tried to demonstrate different things to Yuki.

"Pick it up like this, Yuki-chan!" Etsuko lifted up a toy above Yuki's head, which she started to reach for.

"Aaaaaah!" Yuki lifted her arms as high as she could, and started crying.

"Oh no!" Etsuko dropped the toy. "I'm sorry!"

"There there…" Ren picked Yuki up and cradled her in his arms. She wailed and cried as he rocked her.

"I'm so sorry!" Etsuko bowed.

"It's fine, Etsuko-chan." Ren shook his head. "This is totally normal."

"Ren is right, Etsuko-chan." Sumire bent down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Babies cry a lot. Don't feel like you did something wrong."

"..."

"You were like this too, Etsuko." Rumi laughed. "Just wait a few minutes for Yuki-chan to calm down."

"Okay mama…" Etsuko gripped the front of her dress and waited. Yuki eventually calmed down after a few minutes, and Ren put her back down. The two began to play together again, with Morgana staying close to both of them, doing his best to keep them entertained. Once it came time for Yuki to eat, Rumi, Maruki and Etsuko took their leave.

"Goodbye Ren-niichan, Sumi-neechan! Goodbye kitty, Yuki-chan!"

"We'll come to spend time and play with Yuki-chan again sometimes soon." Rumi patted Etsuko's head before turning to Ren and Sumire. "Thanks for letting Etsuko come and play."

"This was a fun exercise." Maruki nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course!" Sumire nodded while gently lifting Yuki's arm to have her wave. "Yuki says goodbye, too!"

"See you around." Ren gestured a goodbye while keeping one hand around Sumire's waist.

"I'll play with you again, Etsuko!" Morgana meowed from Ren's shoulder.

"Morgana wants to play with you again, Etsuko-chan." Ren repeated the statement.

"I know! I'll be sure to remember his name! Bye-bye!"

Rumi, Maruki, Ren and Sumire all gave Etsuko a confused look. She thought nothing of it, and pulled her parents to the door to make their exit, and Sumire went back to set Yuki down in her crib as she started to fall asleep. With Morgana on duty to watch her, Ren and Sumire cuddled up in bed to get some rest.


Over the course of November, Yuki learned how to sit upright without any support, and was promptly showered with toys by Sumire and Ren that stimulated motor skill development. She began to play with toys that encourage crawling, standing, pulling herself up to stand, and colorful books for mental development. Ren and Sumire eagerly counted down the days until she could crawl on her own, which didn't seem to be that far off.

Ann and Shiho got married on November 16th, 2025 with a western-style wedding, hosting the reception at the Wilton Hotel and Buffet with Haru's help for simplicity's sake. Ryuji acted as their best man and Makoto acted as the maid of honor. The suits of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were very well-signed and fashionable, commissioned by Ann herself.


On December 18th, 2025 Sakiya gave birth to a daughter, which Ryuji and her named Shizuku. Ryuji's mother and Sakiya's parents were the first to visit. Ren and Sumire were invited to visit within the second week of her birth, and the two fathers quickly found another reason to bond as they doted over their daughters. Sumire and Sakiya discussed the pains of labor together, and the feelings of motherhood. Sakiya joked about wanting to compete to see who could be the best mother, to which Sumire promptly stated she refused to lose. The joke quickly turned into another rivalry, much to Ryuji, Ren and Morgana's entertainment. Morgana and Ryuji shared an intimate moment together, and soon after that, the other Phantom Thieves, Sojiro, and Hanako visited.

At home, Yuki reached one important milestone. She started to crawl everywhere. Sumire and Morgana kept a close eye on her at all times, as they quickly found her to be an extremely curious one. Ren joked that she might share his third eye, but the more she crawled around, the more likely it appeared. They couldn't prove anything, though. One night, Ren came home to not find Sumire waiting to greet him, which immediately made him panic internally. He rushed into the living room only to find Sumire and Yuki giggling up a storm as they laid on the bed together, with Yuki crawling up Sumire's torso. Ren practically had a heart attack at the sight, requesting Morgana help him. He laid down next to them and let Yuki crawl on him as she babbled and giggled with near-infinite energy. This routine became a nightly ritual for them all, with Morgana "chasing" Yuki and "being chased" around to stimulate her to crawl more.

At the end of December, the family celebrated their first Christmas together, with Sumire knitting an ugly Christmas sweater for Yuki, which was adorable, and a blanket as a Christmas present. Ren and Sumire both bought each other baby clothes for Yuki, reading "Mama's Girl" from Ren and "Papa's Girl" from Sumire. Morgana got an extension to his cat tower, which he loved.


January 2026

When January came, Ren and Sumire eagerly counted the days down together. Their nine-year anniversary since they started dating was quickly approaching.

As they waited, one development they didn't anticipate was a new degree of shyness and clinginess from Yuki, who started to cry more when they went out. Sumire found out that this was a sign of maturity in Yuki, who was simply growing up and recognizing more people, which was a scary ordeal. She also found a comfort object, which was primarily the blanket Sumire had knitted for her. Morgana also acted as a comfort "object" to her, always staying by her side, though he did give her some space to be independent. Yuki learned that her squeals, sounds, gestures, and facial expressions could all get Ren and Sumire's attention. Before, she did it unconsciously. Now, she knew how to tell them that she wanted something.


January 19th, 2026

Ren had the day off for their anniversary, and the three spent the day at home, playing with Yuki.

"Nine years…" Ren held one hand around Sumire's shoulder while poking Yuki with the other as they all sat on their bed.

"We've come so far, Ren." Sumire giggled and rested her head on his shoulder. "We promised on this day that we'd become the champions of our world. Now, she's sitting right in front of us."

"Morgana, you and me. We're one heck of a trio, aren't we?"

Yuki looked up at them curiously while they reminisced. She held out her tiny hand, which Ren and Sumire both grabbed together.

"Yuki…" Sumire felt her heart welling up with emotion as her daughter smiled and looked at her.

"M-M-M-M…"

"Hold on is she about to…?" Ren's eyes widened, as did Morgana's.

"M-Mama."

Yuki kept her eyes on Sumire, a precious smile on her face. Silence overtook the room as everyone's jaws dropped.

"Awwwwwwwwww!" Sumire's heart imploded. "That's right! I'm your mama, Yuki!" She picked Yuki up and kissed her at least a dozen times. "You said mama… Ren, she said mama!"

"She did." Ren was doing his best not to cry from sheer joy. His heart and chest were incredibly warm, and he couldn't stop the fuzzy feeling that created this warmth

"Too bad Mona wasn't her first word…" Morgana laughed and cuddled up against Sumire and Yuki. "Congrats."

"Mama! Mamaaaaaaaaa!"

Yuki continued to repeat the world, but they couldn't quite tell if she associated mama with Sumire. They chose to believe that she could, in any case.

"Mama!" Sumire happily repeated back to her. "I'm mama!"

"Mama!"

"Mhm! Say it again Yuki! Who's your mama?"

"Mama!"

"You're just so adorable!" Sumire kissed her some more, which made her giggle louder. "Yuki…"

"Should I try it?" Ren looked at Sumire, and then at Yuki. "Chihaya did say she was… Hmm…"

"Yuki, look at papa." Sumire turned her toward Ren. "Can you say papa? Pa-pa."

"Apap!"

"No no, say pa pa!" Ren mouthed it in front of her.

"Pa...pa!"

"That's right! I'm papa!"

"Papa!"

"Awwwwwwww!" Ren felt his heart give out, and he fell off the bed. This made Yuki giggle as he jumped back up instantly. "Here's papa!"

"Papa!"

"That's my girl!" He picked her up and nuzzled his nose against hers. "I'm papa, and Sumire is mama!" He turned her around. "Now, who is the kitty?"
"Mama!"

"Close, but no. Mona. Mo-na. Can you say Mona?"

"Moma!"

"Almost there…"

"C'mon, Yuki!" Morgana excitedly watched and waited.

"M-Mona!"

"You did it!" Ren kissed the back of her head and set her on the bed, where she started to crawl around.

"Mama! Papa! Mama! Mona!" She repeated the three words, simultaneously causing the hearts of the three to all melt. This continued well into the evening, until Yuki fell asleep cuddling with Sumire, Ren and Morgana.


February 2026

After their anniversary, Ren and Sumire had to adjust themselves to hearing mama and papa constantly, with those two words, alongside Mona, being stated constantly. They needed to fortify their hearts for the sheer magnitude of cuteness that was Yuki, especially now that she was trying to stand more often. They bought her play tunnels made with warm colors to crawl through, stacked pillows on their bed so she could crawl over them, and bought musical toys so she could make works of art. Ren and Sumire's parents visited frequently, and Yuki did recognize them, though she couldn't quite make out "grandma" or "grandpa" yet. They were delighted to visit their granddaughter, though, and spent nearly as much time doting on her as Ren and Sumire did.

All of her aunties and uncles would come over when they could, with Hanako, Sojiro and Futaba visiting the most frequently. She aptly nicknamed them "Fuba," "Hana" and "Soso." Haru and Makoto sited the most infrequently, but they made spare time to come and visit. Ren and Sumire went to visit Ryuji and Sakiya's apartment instead of having them come over, and Yuki took to calling them "Sasa" and "Ruru." She still couldn't quite grasp what it meant to be a "big sis," but they figured she'd learn. Chihaya was "Sisi," Yusuke was "Yuyu," Ann was "Ahah," Shiho was "Sisi," Etsuko was "Eheh," Rumi was "Ruru," and Maruki was… "Mama." Suffice to say, Sumire got jealous.

Shizuku became Yuki's "little sis," and just like Ren, Ryuji doted over his daughter and ogled her all the time. Sakiya turned out to be quite a mother, and Sumire and her bonded even more. With Morgana's help, Yuki began to slowly walk while clinging onto furniture, though it was only a few steps at a time. What excited Ren and Sumire more was when Yuki tried to walk with them by clinging to their legs. It was a slow process, but she was quickly learning. Just as importantly, Yuki started to respond to simple commands. On Ren's birthday, Sumire treated him to his favorite meal, steak, and more time with Yuki. Being called papa was the best gift ever to him, and he was content. Like the months before, this was a time of pure bliss for the three.


March 12th, 2026

Ren picked up his phone as he walked to his car, exiting Tokyo Mental Health. He cursed himself out, having missed six calls from Sumire. Under most circumstances, he couldn't pick up his phone at work, and now he was worried sick.

"Hello? Sumire, is everything alright?"

"Thank goodness you picked up! I'm sorry for calling so many times!"
"Are you hurt? Is Yuki hurt?"

"It's nothing like that!"

Ren let out a sigh of relief as he turned his car on, the cold winter air hitting him one last time as he closed the door.

"I'm so sorry that I made you worry. It's just… Yuki is trying to walk!"

"Really?" Ren's mood completely shifted as a smile cracked across his face.

"Yes! She's been saying papa all day, too! I think she wants to show you!"

"That's too cute…" Ren laughed. "How far has she walked?"

"Not very far. She can go one or two steps before falling down, but she isn't giving up!"

"I'll be home in a few minutes. Love you, Sumire."

"I love you too! Drive slow!"

Relieved and now overjoyed, Ren put his phone away and drove back to the apartment. Once inside, Sumire greeted him as he took off his coat, Yuki clinging to her leg.

"Papa!"

"Look at you, Yuki!" Ren bent down and ruffled her hair gently. "Let's walk in the living room!"

"Papa!"

"C'mere!" Ren scooped her up as Morgana jumped onto his back.

"I've tried to get Yuki to chase me around while walking, but I almost feel like she waited for you to get home…"

"I'm not sure. I guess we'll find out!"

Ren walked into the living room and set Yuki down before walking a few feet away and squatting, with Sumire standing near him with her phone out, ready to record.

"Alright! Show me your true form, Yuki!"

Excitedly, Yuki stood herself up and wobbled for a second before appearing to catch her balance.

"Go slowly, Yuki. Sl-ow." He beckoned her to walk to him.

Yuki smiled, and Sumire hit the record button on her phone. Morgana stayed behind Yuki as she took one step forward, and then another. Then a third, and a fourth.

Then, she took a fifth step, and a sixth. On her seventh and eighth step, she reached Ren.

"You did it, Yuki!"

Ren picked her up and rolled backward while hugging her to his chest, laughing with her the entire time. "That's my girl!"

Morgana jumped into the hug while Yuki squealed and giggled. Sumire felt her chest burn with love as she watched and recorded the scene, ending the recording and joining them all a few seconds later.

"Mama! Papa! Mona!" Yuki repeated the three words as they all embraced each other, happy as can be.


On March 13th, the family visited Kasumi's grave, cleaning it and leaving offerings before all speaking to her. Even Morgana spoke to her during this visit, stating that he was doing everything he could to take care of her niece. The day after Yuki that, Etsuko and Rumi came to play again, and this time, Yuki was much more receptive of her big sis. Etsuko and her played together with the various toys, and she tried to show Yuki certain things to do, though it would still take some time before Yuki could keep her attention on Etsuko.


For Sumire's 25th birthday, Ren made her a massive bento that was curry-flavored, harkening back to the time she attempted to make him "curry bento," much to her embarrassment. They spent the day together with Yuki and Morgana, satisfied with each other's presence.

In April, Yuki started to walk around more frequently, pushing toys while walking and even following Morgana around. This activity made Morgana very happy, as, like Ren and Sumire, watching Yuki grow was a gift in itself for him. He played around with her as much as she wanted, moving toys around while she tried to catch them and even playing hide-and-seek. Yuki began to copy the sounds Ren and Sumire made, and much to their confusion, the ones Morgana made, too. They brushed it off, assuming she was just mumbling. She clapped, banged toys together, and copied gestures that they made, playing her own version of peek-a-boo with them. The gesture that Sumire loved most of all was when Yuki learned to lift her arms in front of her, repeatedly yelling "mama!" This was her cue to pick up and snuggle Yuki, which is something she felt she could do until the sun blotted out of the sky. Additionally, she began to roleplay with dolls, and Ren was pretty sure she designated one doll as Etsuko, one as mama, one as papa, and some others as her aunties and uncles. Near the end of April, Ren and Sumire contacted their close friends and family, planning out Yuki's first birthday party. They carefully organized it, and as the day approached, Sumire made sure Yuki was freshly napped before the party, and kept the loud noises to a minimum. With Sojiro's permission, they traveled to Leblanc to celebrate Yuki's first birthday.


May 10th, 2026, Leblanc

"Happy Birthday, Yuki!"

Ren and Sumire's close friends and family, who all made time in each of their ever-busy schedules, cheered as they celebrated. Written on the low-sugar, baby-friendly cake with frosting was the message "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE HEART STEALER," and after cutting off a small slice, Yuki promptly began to play with her food. She sat down in the booth on Sumire's lap closest to the staircase leading to the attic, with Ren next to them. Sakiya held onto Shizuku, who was roughly two feet tall and weighed about 7 kilograms, with hints of blonde hair growing on her head. She stood next to Ryuji beside the booth, while Sojiro, Futaba and Hanako stood behind the counter. Ren and Sumire's parents all sat at one booth, while the Phantom Thieves sat in the remaining booths along with the Maruki family, alongside Shiho, Chihaya and Takemi.

"Mama! Papa! Mona!" Yuki covered her face in cake, doing her best to use a spoon, but getting messy nonetheless.

"You hear that, Shizuku?" Ryuji poked his daughter, who Sakiya held in her arms. "It's your big sis Yuki's birthday!"

Shizuku curiously looked between her mother and father, entranced.

"Her little beady eyes are so cute…" Sakiya smiled as she looked into her daughter's emerald green eyes, the color they both shared.

"She looks just like you, Sakiya." Sumire giggled as she made her way to Sakiya and gave her a half hug.

"I see why you wanted to be a mom. It's almost as stressful as practice, and this time, you don't have a choice! Despite that… You can actively see the progress your child makes, and it feels so rewarding."

"Yes!" Sumire clapped. "Watching Yuki grow has been a blessing for Ren, Morgana and I. Every day involves something new happening, and just like a routine, we're working hard to make sure Yuki grows big and strong!"

"Mhm."

"Oh… Little Shizuku-chan!" Futaba popped up behind Sakiya, grinning. "I'm going to teach you all about the mystical land o-"

"Futaba." Hanako hugged her from behind, which made her flare-up in a blush. "You'll have to wait a bit longer before you can show her anything."

"When are you two going to get married already?" Sakiya snickered as Futaba's blush turned a deeper red.

"M-M-"

"We're waiting just a bit longer." Hanako excitedly explained. "I'm still getting settled into being a rhythmic gymnastics coach for a lot of students, but it's really fun! I also don't want to give Futaba a heart attack…"

"You already are!" Futaba cried out.

"You're so cute, Futaba!"

"Nnnngh…"

"I feel like I'll be the one having a heart attack." Sojiro chuckled. "To see my daughter married… It's every father's dream."

"I'll charge if I need to revive you." Takemi grinned.

"You've got that right." Shinichi nodded in response. "I can't believe it's been nearly a year since Sumire and Ren-kun got married…"

Don't worry, Sakura-san!" Chihaya giggled, standing near the entrance. "That day is not far off!"

"Heh. Really?"

"W-What are you saying?" Futaba looked at Chihaya, flustered.

"Oh, nothing!"

"Time flies when you have grandkids!" Akane giggled as she reminisced with Shinichi.

"You're one to talk!" Uzumi cackled. "I'm practically skin and bones, but I'm not going out until I see more great-grandchildren!"

"M-More?" Sumire lightly blushed. "I just want to focus on Yuki for now, grandma!"

"It's only a matter of time…!"

"Grandma…"

"Mama!"

"Yes, Yuki?" Sumire looked down at her daughter, who was still covered in cake. She pointed at the cake, and then back at Sumire.

"Do you want more cake?"

"Mama!"

"Let's clean you up first…"

"Hold on Sumire!" Ren stood up and pulled out his phone. "I need to get a picture of this…"

"Oh, sure!"

"This cake is delicious!" Ann giggled in delight. "You need to eat it, Yuki-chan!"

"Heh… Cake…" Shiho snickered.

Sumire adjusted herself in the booth to hold up Yuki, and as she did, Yuki's cake-covered hands met Sumire's cheeks, covering her in cake.

"Oh no… Yuki…"

"Adorable!" Ren grinned as he took a picture.

"Ren!"

Everyone in the room erupted in laughter as Sumire, red-faced, picked up a few napkins and walked into the bathroom to clean Yuki and herself off.

"Sumire used to be just as messy when she was that young…" Akane happily sighed.

"Really?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me more."

"Oh of course, Ren!" Akane giggled.

"Hold on." Masami held up her hand. "You have your fair share of cute stories, Ren."

'Mom… please…"

"Oh?" Akane smirked. "Go on."

"Heheh… Back when Ren was a baby, he once covered himself in yakisoba noodles!"

"Mom!" Ren felt his face heat up.

"What? I'm just telling the truth!"

"I've seen a picture!" Sumire emerged from the bathroom, now cleaned up. "She is telling the truth!"

"Ack!" Ren winced, now completely embarrassed.

"Oh dear…" Daisuke sighed.

"Ren-kun, could you send me a picture of Yuki-chan covered in cake?" Haru giggled. "It's quite cute!"

"Sure…"

"I'm glad to see we're all just as active as ever." Makoto smiled and nodded. "You really notice how fast time passes when you watch a child grow."

"If only I could capture the feelings one may have when watching their child grow…!" Yusuke gripped his fist. "I must figure out how!"

"It's good to see everyone has grown so much and remained so optimistic." Maruki nodded in his corner.

"Can we give Yuki-chan presents now?" Etsuko looked between him and Rumi.

"Let's find out." Rumi looked up at Sumire. "Yoshizawa-san, can we hand out presents?"

"Oh! Sure!"

"Papa!" Yuki looked up at Ren, smiling with her arms raised.

"Hm? What's up?" Ren picked her up from Sumire's lap.

"Mona!"

"Yes, Yuki?" Morgana peeked his head above Ren's shoulder.

"Mona!" She reached her hand out and started petting his head.

"We'll get her back on track to open presents in a minute…" Ren patted her back.

"Yuki-chan!" Etsuko got out of her booth and walked up to Ren. "Yuki-channnnnn! Here!" She held out a square, wrapped box.

"Alright Yuki." Ren spun her around and set her down standing. "Open the present." He pointed.

"Eheh!" Yuki walked up to Etsuko, who set down the present. She helped Yuki open it, revealing a brand new doll.

"Happy Birthday, Yuki-chan!"

"Eheh!" Yuki picked it up and stumbled right up to Etsuko, holding her arms open.

"You want to hug me?"

"Eheh!"

"Um…" Etsuko looked up at Sumire and Ren, who both nodded to her. "Okay…" She gently wrapped her arms around Yuki and hugged her, triggering a series of "D'aww's" around the room.

"Eheh!"

"I'm your big sis, Yuki-chan. Just like you're the other baby's big sis. I'm gonna teach you how to be a good big sis."

"Eheh!"

Etsuko released the hug, and Yuki slowly walked around Leblanc. Everyone smiled and waved at her as she circled around and made her way back to Sumire.

"Mama!"

"Did you have fun saying hello to everyone?" Sumire picked her up. "Let's look at the rest of the presents now."

"Mama!"

The rest of the group helped Yuki unwrap her presents, revealing a plethora of clothes, a lobster plushie, a big bang burger plushie, a box set of the entirety of One Piece, and various other toys. Ann and Shiho got her a lot of clothes, ranging from onesies to frilly dresses.

"We're going to do the same for Shizuku-chan next year!" Ann giggled and walked up to Sakiya. "It's still crazy to think this is Ryuji's kid."

"I'm standin' right here…" Ryuji sighed.

"I know!" Ann clapped his shoulder. "She's so cute!"

"She's my pride and joy." Sakiya kissed Shizuku's cheek.

"I can't wait till she starts walkin'." Ryuji nodded. "Because that'll mean she's going to start running, too!"

"Don't think I'll let her turn into a track star at the age of two, Ryuji."

"'Course not, Sakiya!"

"I wonder if she'll want to get into rhythmic gymnastics…"

"Hold on, you'd let her start that at four but not running at two?"

"Let's just settle on three, Ryuji."

"I'm with Ryuji here." Ren ruffled Yuki's hair. "Yuki here is already trying to run, even if she falls over."

"Papa!"

"Yes, my sweet little birthday girl?"

Yuki pointed at the spoon and plate.

"Yes, that is a spoon. Sp-oon. Or is it spo-on?"

"I think she wants more cake." Morgana jumped down next to Yuki.

"Mona!"

"This will be your last slice. La-ast. L-ast?"

"Mama!"

"You really like to say our names, don't you!" Sumire picked Yuki up. "This will be your last piece, okay?"

Yuki puffed her cheeks and pouted.

"You know what last means, then…"

The birthday party continued as everyone chatted amongst themselves, catching up in person and enjoying each other's company. Yuki left satisfied and full of cake with her parents, who stored all the presents in their car. She was one year old, but that was just the beginning for this family.


May 25th, 2026

Ryuji and Sakiya had a Shinto-style wedding and a western reception, with Ren and Sumire as the best man and maid of honor. Yuki got to toss flowers, even though she didn't particularly know what she was doing, being a one-year-old. Shizuku was traded between Ryuji's mother and Sakiya's parents as they went through the ceremony. During the reception, both Ren and Sumire had prepared speeches, and Sumire chose to speak first, patting her beautiful green bridesmaid dress as she stepped up onto the podium in the reception hall.

"Hello everyone. Most of you are familiar with the story between Sakiya and myself. We met at the Grand Prix Thiais in 2018, and from there, we shared a rivalry that brought both of us to the Olympics. It was a long, hard road to get there, but we made it. We both had our own reasons to take the gold, and even if we were rivals, we were something more than that. Sakiya is like a sister to me. In all that time, we shared everything with one another, especially determination. She taught me how to believe in my routine and not let anyone else bring me down. She taught me how to embrace failure and come out stronger for it. I wouldn't be the woman nor the mother I am today with her. As for Ryuji, he is an incredible man, devoted and loyal to all his friends, especially to his wife and daughter. If you ever need someone to spend time with when you're feeling down, Ryuji will always be there to give you a hand and take you out to eat some ramen. Both of you mean so much to me. Thank you."

As Sumire stepped down, Ren stepped up and adjusted his Captain Kidd-like yellow tie, looking over the crowd.

"Hello. I believe all of you know me at this point, but my name is Ren. I've been Ryuji's best friend since our second year of high school at Shujin Academy. Believe it or not, he threatened to take my lunch money when we first met. A real delinquent, that one. I'm just kidding. Ryuji is the furthest thing from a delinquent. He's hot-headed and jumps to conclusions, but that's only because he's fiercely loyal to his friends. Him and I got into so much trouble together, but no matter how bad it got, he always had my back. If we were on a sinking ship and there was only room for one on the lifeboat, he'd gladly let me take the spot, and then I'd drag him with me because I love him that much. Both of us are dads now, and I've never felt more like a brother to him. There's something just so… fulfilling about mutually doting on our daughters. If it weren't for Ryuji, I honestly don't think I'd be who I am now. We're brothers till the end." Ren gave Ryuji a nod, winked at Sumire, blew a kiss to Yuki, and then looked at Sakiya all in one fast motion.

"Sakiya. Even though we met at that Grand Prix, we didn't really start to learn about one another until a few months later. Since the day we met, I figured you were perfect for Ryuji. You're forward, daring, and sometimes a bit scary. Of course, you're not as scary as Sumire when she learns you were playing with your daughter in a ca- anyway! You let me help you through your own personal struggles, and we formed a sort of rivalry ourselves, competing to see who's vision of Sumire would overcome the other. As it turns out, both you and here blew away all of our expectations. You are an incredible woman, and I wish both Ryuji, Shizuku, and you the brightest futures possible."

Tears streamed down the bride and groom's cheeks as they clapped together. Upon thanking Ren and Sumire for their wonderful speeches, there was cake to be had and talking to be done. When Sakiya tossed the bouquet, it once again landed in Hanako's hands, and in a daring act, she grabbed Futaba by the waist, spun her around, put the flowers in her arms, and bent down while she was dizzy, proposing to her on the spot.

"H-Hanako-chan?" Futaba stepped back in surprise. She knew this day was coming, but not when or how.

"Will you marry me?"

"W-well of course I will!" Futaba stuttered in her answer, red-faced with tears freely forming in her eyes. "I've been waiting so long!"

"I wanted to make sure I did it right!" Hanako stood up and took Futaba's hand. "I love you, Futaba."

"This is just like…" Futaba sniffled as Hanako slid the ring on her finger.

"This isn't like anything!" Hanako giggled. "This is my proposal to you, the woman I love!"

"Hanako… that's not fair…"

"We have to start planning the wedding now!"

"I… Yeah!"

Hanako wiped the tears from Futaba's eyes as everyone in the reception hall watched in complete awe.


The next couple of months saw significant developments, with Yuki learning how to use everyday items correctly, including a spoon, a hairbrush, and more. She wasn't perfect, but her mind was in the right place. Etsuko visited when she wasn't going to school, and the two formed an even stronger relationship as Yuki became more cognitively aware of "who" Etsuko was, and how she was her "big sis." While Ren continued to work, Sumire taught Yuki new vocabulary and helped her recognize and associate words with objects, people and places.


September 8th, 2026

Sumire sat Yuki down in the living room, setting up various objects and having Morgana sit near her.

"Okay Yuki, point to mama!"

Yuki pointed at Sumire, who squealed with delight.

"Yes! That's right!"

"Mama!"

"Remember the word love? Can you say love?"

"L-love!"

"Good! Now, can you say 'Love mama!'?"

"Love… mama!"

"I love you too!" Sumire leaned in and kissed her. "I love you so much!"

"Love mama! Love mama!" Yuki patted her mother's cheeks and grabbed at her glasses.

"Careful! Mama can't see without her glasses!"

"Love mama!"

"Can you say 'Love Mona!'?" Sumire pointed at Morgana.

"Yeah, say that!"

"Love… Mona!" Yuki pointed at him.

"Good job!" Sumire held up her hands, and Yuki clapped them. They proceeded to play patty-cake while Morgana pressed himself up against her and purred.

"She's learning really fast…" He remarked while letting her pet him.

"Yes she is. Chihaya-chan said she was a wunderkind, and I think she was telling the truth. Yuki can walk already, say simple sentences… I'm so proud of her."

"I wonder if it has anything to do with Ren being… you know."

"Maybe. The Metaverse has been gone for nearly ten years, though…"

"Hmmm… I'm still here and just as young as ever. It's a mystery, I guess."

"Thank you for helping us raise Yuki, Morgana." Sumire scratched his ears, a wide smile on her face.

"Of course, Sumire! I'm the guardian of this apartment, and Yuki is the most important thing I need to protect!"

"Love Mona!" Yuki pulled Morgana in and nuzzled her nose against him.

"I love you too, Yuki…" He sighed. "Wish she understood me…"

"I'm sure she knows exactly how you feel!" Sumire reassured him.

"I know…" He closed his eyes. "She's so soft and squishy…"

"Yes, she is."

Sumire and Morgana waited for Yuki to look back up at her before continuing.

"Okay Yuki. What's this?" Sumire pointed at a baby bottle.

"Baba!"

"That's right. A bottle!"

"How about this?" Sumire pulled out a picture of Ren kissing Yuki on the cheek.

"Papa Yuki!"

"Good! You recognize yourself!"

"Yuki!"

"That's you!" Sumire pulled out her massive picture album of Yuki and opened it. There were dozens, no, hundreds, no, at least a thousand pictures printed out in the album.

"You are Yuki! Yu-ki!"

"Yuki!"

"Yes!" Sumire kissed her again while she pointed at a picture of herself.

"Papa…" She looked around, and then burst into tears.

"Aww, it's okay, Yuki!" Sumire picked her up after setting the album down. "Papa will be home soon."

"Papa!"

"I miss him too." Sumire nuzzled her nose against Yuki's. "Just wait a little bit longer."

Morgana joined the two and snuggled, calming her down after a few minutes. Yuki became drowsy, and Sumire set her down in her crib to fall asleep. She napped, and by the time she woke up, Ren had come home, and waited while staring into the crib.

'Papa!" Yuki immediately started squealing and giggling as Ren reached in, picked her up, and kissed her all over.

"Hi sweetie. Papa's home. Mama told me you can say more words now? Love papa?"

"Love papa!" Yuki repeated.

"You really can! You're amazing, Yuki!"

"Love papa!"

"I love you too!"

Sumire giggled as she watched from the kitchen doorway, holding a tray of food.

"Yuki."

"Mama!" Yuki turned to look at her while holding onto Ren.

"It's dinner time. Food." Sumire mouthed.

"Food! Food!"

"That's right! Let's eat!"

The four of them enjoyed a delicious meal together, with Yuki slowly eating more solids as she continuously grew. For Sumire, Ren and Morgana, this was a daily routine. Despite the repetition, all of them were happy to watch Yuki learn a new word, walk a little more, and simply grow up.


Time continued to fly by as Yuki grew and grew. In the passing months, she learned how to stand on her tiptoes, kick a ball, run a little bit, climb up and down furniture, walk up and down stairs, throw a ball overhead, and carry toys around while walking. Her vocabulary expanded to include even more words, but most of all, she loved saying mama, papa, and Mona. Sumire's favorite activity was teaching Yuki how to say short sentences, usually involving the words "I," "love" and "mama." In time, Yuki learned to say "I love love mama," which filled Sumire with bliss every time she said it. Ren, in a bout of jealousy, taught Yuki to say "I love love papa," and to say "I love love Mona." Although she could say these four words, the sentences came out as "I love. Love mama." She couldn't quite form sentences beyond two words, but that wasn't a cause for concern. Usually, it took children until around their second birthday to form three to four word sentences.

Everyone visited Yuki frequently, and her grandparents pleaded with Sumire for her to take some time away from Yuki and let her babysit. Sumire considered it, but rarely wanted to leave Yuki's side. She knew it would be good for her growth, though, so on occasion, she let other's babysit Yuki. One of Ren's favorite pastimes was "convincing" Sojiro to babysit her.


Leblanc, December 2026

"You want me to babysit your kid? Sheesh… What do I look like to you?"

"You look like my only hope. Everyone else is busy, unfortunately. Besides, you have Futaba and Hanako, don't you? Futaba can translate for Morgana, who will also be with Yuki. He has a lot of experience with her, you know."

Sojiro sighed. "Fine. I'll babysit Yuki-chan. Consider yourself lucky that she's so cute."

"Thank you, Sojiro. Are you excited for Futaba and Hanako's wedding?" Ren took a sip of his coffee.

"Of course I'm excited. Those two have grown so much in the past couple of years. Futaba finally got to publish Wakaba's research, and I couldn't be more satisfied. The Metaverse or whatever it was is gone, but at least scientists know that it existed, and why it shouldn't exist. Futaba told me she worked with that Maruki fellow to make sure it couldn't be used to hurt people, even if it came back. She worked so hard on it, and now she can finally relax with Hanako-chan."

"You must be satisfied, too."

"I am. You probably already noticed, but I quit smoking."

"I did." Ren nodded.

"Quit back when Hanako-chan first moved in. She told me that she didn't want to see me get hurt. Something about lung pain. Her smile was enough to convince me, and judging from Futaba's look, she wanted me to quit, too. I want to grow old and watch them grow up even more, Ren."

"Good on you, Sojiro." Ren gave him a nod and a smirk. "I'm proud of how far Futaba has come, too."

"Yeah." Sojiro sniffled. "I think, once they get married, I'll let her inherit Leblanc. I could do this till I'm resting in my grave, but Futaba has already proved herself. I already taught her everything I know, and she wears the apron well. Hanako-chan and her will make a fine couple, running this old cafe.

"A snarky barista and her wife, a kind, sweet barista. That sounds nice."

"Yup. When they aren't working at Hanako-chan's gymnastics studio, they'll be here. Futaba has plenty of ways to keep herself occupied. She designs websites, continues doing research, and through all that, she managed to make time for Hanako-chan and me."

"You raised her well."

"Don't count yourself out. You helped, too."

"Right." Ren stood up. "Thanks for taking my offer. I'll be back with Yuki and Morgana this weekend. Sumire and I are going on a nice, relaxing spa trip. Just the two of us."

"Enjoy it, kid. Breaks like that don't come often."

"Trust me Sojiro, I know. See you soon."

"Goodbye."

Sojiro took his glasses off and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief as Ren left.


A few days after Ren visited Sojiro, Ryuji and Sakiya held a big first birthday party for Shizuku at Leblanc, a practice which the two sets of parents agreed to do every couple of years, so long as Sojiro permitted it. For Christmas, the Amamiya family kept it simple, opting to spend the day together, ugly sweaters, hot chocolate and all. Yuki woke up to a huge amount of presents, though.

2027 rolled in like a tidal wave, with Yuki's development accelerating as her mental capabilities grew. Sakiya visited frequently with Shizuku, and Yuki quickly bonded with her "lil sis." Etsuko continued to visit, and the two deepened their friendship even more. Sumire tied a small ribbon into Yuki's hair, which Etsuko wanted to match. They associated dolls with the people they knew, and made up roleplay to the best of Yuki's abilities. When Sakiya visited, Sumire and her talked about the blessings and woes of raising a child, about the development of rhythmic gymnastics in Japan, and how it was as popular as ever, and their excitement regarding Futaba and Hanako's marriage.

When Ren and Sumire's birthday's came up, Yuki was able to properly associate "Papa day" and "Mama day" with the dates. Both of them found this adorable, and after watching Sumire give Ren her present, which was a camera for him to make his own photo album, Yuki picked up her "mama" doll and held it out to him.

"Papa day!" She gestured for him to take the doll.

"Aw, Yuki!" Ren laughed and bent down to pat her head. "Thank you, but you can keep it. Keep. I already have mama." In a quick swoop, he picked Sumire in a bridal carry and kissed her while she blushed.

"R-Ren!"

"Why are you blushing?"

"B-Because you picked me up so suddenly!"

"But we're married."

"W-Well that's-!"

Yuki giggled and raised her arms while she watched them.

"C'mere you!" Ren bent down and let Sumire pick Yuki up, and Morgana jumped on his shoulders.

"Isn't this heavy, Ren?" He laughed.

"Not at all!" He wheezed. "Sumire's as light… as a feather!"

Yuki continued giggling and kissed Sumire on the cheek.

"Love mama!"

"I love you too, Yuki!"

Sumire made Ren hold her and Yuki for several more minutes, with him eventually collapsing onto the bed together, laughing together, as a family


On March 25th, "Mama day," Ren got Sumire an indoor bonsai tree.

"Thank you, Ren!"

"Mama day!" Yuki pulled the ribbon out of her hair and held it out to Sumire.

"Aw, thank you, Yuki!" Sumire took the ribbon, untied her own, and tied Yuki's into her hair. "Come here!"

"Okay!" Yuki surprised them with another word she had learned and reached her hands up. Sumire picked her up and sat down on the couch. She tied her ribbon into Yuki's hair and pulled out a small hand mirror. "There, now we match!"

Yuki giggled and pecked Sumire on the cheek, who squealed in delight and set off a chain reaction that melted Ren's heart instantly.

"Do you know what I really want for my birthday, Yuki?"

"Papa!"

"Um…" Sumire's cheeks turned a light red. "Well, yes, but what I really want is to watch you grow up!"

"Up up!" Yuki bounced in Sumire's lap.

"Yes! You're going to grow into a beautiful young woman!"

"And papa will keep any nasty boys away from you!" Ren flexed his arms and smirked.

"Ren, please!"

"What? Morgana's on my side, right?" He pointed to his feline companion, who sat on his shoulders.

"I am! We'll protect Yuki together!"

"You two… Don't listen to them, okay Yuki?"

"Love papa! Love Mona!" She pointed at them with her little fingers.

"I love them too. Just don't let them tell you to stay away from boys…"

"Boys! Boys!" Yuki yelled.

"Yuki no!" Ren and Morgana cried out.

"Oh dear…" Sumire giggled and patted her daughter's head.

That day, Yuki continued to chant "boys" well into the night, unsure of what a boy even was.


May 10th, 2027

Ren stretched his back as he stepped out of Tokyo Mental Health, having just finished work. It hurt him to have to work on Yuki's birthday, but that was life. In the past couple of years, notably after dedicating himself to helping people once Sumire won the 2024 Olympics, he became a well-known therapist around Tokyo. To this day, he heeded Sumire's word and did not overburden himself by taking on too many clients or stressing himself out. Even when he did, it was difficult for him to remain stressed when he came home to the smiling faces of his wife and baby girl.

"H-appy birthdayyyyyy!" Ren sang as he opened the door to his apartment. Yuki ran straight into his arms and hugged him.

"Yuki day!"

"Yup!" He picked her up and kissed Sumire on the cheek as she joined them for a group hug. "Did you party all day with mama?"

"All day! All day!"

"Good!" Ren kissed her on the cheek. "Two years old already… You're just getting bigger and bigger!"

"Yuki big!"

"Yes!" Sumire ruffled her hair. "You're getting bigger!"

"It's crazy how time flies." Morgana reached out a paw and tapped Yuki's head. "I guess that's not a bad thing though. I bet things are only going to get more fun when you start to talk more."

"Love Mona!" Yuki rubbed Morgana's ears while he purred.

"I love you too."

"It feels like yesterday when you were helping me on our bed while Dr. Takemi was here… Now our little girl has been with us for two years…"

"Yeah. Now, to celebrate that..." Ren reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Here, Yuki." He dropped it into her hands. "Open it. Open."

"Yuki excitedly opened the box and pulled out two cherry blossom pins.

"You wear those in your hair. You know what your hair is, right?"

Yuki reached her hands up and pressed the pins against the top of her head.

"Exactly! Mama will help you put them in."

Sumire let go of Ren, took the pins, and put them in Yuki's hair, creating the smallest pigtails ever.

"Tada!"

"Perfect."

"You mean purrfect, Morgana." Ren smirked.

"Ugh.."

That evening, Yuki got to eat some cake, which had become her favorite food, and snuggle with her mama, papa and Mona, her three favorite people in the world.


After celebrating Yuki's second birthday in May, Ren began saving money and traveling out to the countryside, slowly but surely plotting the next big step he wanted to take with Sumire and Yuki. In September, Futaba and Hanako would have their wedding, and, by next year, Ren and Sumire planned to enroll Yuki in the same kindergarten that Etsuko used to go to.

After that, they wanted to see how life would change, and what the future held for them.

As a family.