If Yukiko hadn't been working in her family's inn or practicing manners for her entire life, she would have spit her tea all over the table in surprise. "I'm sorry, you're what?!" she asked once she had swallowed. Her eyes widened as she looked Chie up and down from across the table. "You're joking!"

Chie blushed, pushing her hair behind her right ear. "You know, I kinda wish I was," she admitted. "I thought I was over this whole being pregnant thing. One and done, you know? But I guess life had other plans. I'll be seeing a doctor tomorrow just to make sure."

The raven-haired woman sat back in her seat, letting it all sink in. Chie was pregnant with her second child, meanwhile she herself had remained at the inn, just like she had always feared. Doom and regret weighed heavily over her and pinned her to her seat. She had wanted a family of her own, just like Chie, yet her later-discovered sexual preferences didn't allow her to. If only she had known that back in high school, then maybe she and Chie would be their own little family. Her regret felt as if it were burning a hole through her heart. How she wished she could go back in time and accept Chie's love for what it was!

Chie stirred her ice around in her tea with her straw, and absent smile on her face. "But I swear, this child will be my last. I feel bad about the age gap between my two kids. What if they never understand each other because of it? Times are always changing, and who knows how much longer I'll be able to keep up?" She sighed. "I'm so lucky to have you back, Yukiko. You've always been my rock, making sure I never strayed from the right path. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Friend. That word felt like a knife to Yukiko's chest, but she chose to ignore it. It wasn't as if Chie knew the kinds of feelings she held deep inside. The love she felt for her best friend was tearing her apart from the inside, but she could stand the pain as long as Chie never left her side again. Even the chance to see Chie happily live her life from the back seat was enough for her. She had decided that when Naoto told her that Chie was moving back to Inaba.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you were with Akihiko," she slowly said. "At the time, I was very confused about so many things, and my life wasn't happening the way I had always wanted it to. I was holding so much resentment in my heart for everything and everyone close to me because I felt like they were the only ones with a way out. I was so trapped in my own darkness that I refused to look toward the light."

Chie's face fell into a frown. "Yukiko, I…" She struggled to come up with words to say. "I had no idea you felt that way. If I had known, I wouldn't have let us fall apart like that." Her brown eyes stared down into her cup. "You suffered all alone with nothing. That breaks my heart."

"P-Please don't say that!" the other quickly exclaimed. "I'm doing a lot better these days, I swear! I actually like being at the inn now! My mother is even thinking of handing it off to me soon. I'm thinking of accepting it as my own and maybe going about renovating and updating things here and there over the next few years. I love my life now, I really do! There's no need to worry about me."

Her friend felt torn. "Are you sure that this is really what you want, Yukiko? I mean, it's not too late to back out and do whatever you wanted to."

Yukiko bit back a bitter laugh. "It is, though. Graduation was my only way out, and I failed to leave here. Now I'm stuck, whether I like it or not. Not that I'm complaining. I've grown accustomed to this life. It doesn't bother me like it used to when we were younger."

The brunette pleaded with her for only a moment longer but then smiled. "I'm planning on staying in the area for awhile, so if you ever need help, please don't hesitate to reach out. Remember when I used to help out when we were younger? That was always fun. Touma can come after school and do his homework in the lobby." Her eyes lit up as she spoke of all of the possibilities. "Please let me help you, Yukiko!"

Yukiko laughed. "What choice do I have when you're just so excited about it?" she teased. "I suppose it would be nice to have someone to help me out who knows how to work behind the scenes there. Yeah, that sounds fun!" She then thought of Chie's living situation. "How long are you planning on staying at your parents' house?"

Chie blushed. "Well, I mean, until I get on my feet and can afford my own place, I guess," she answered with a shrug. "I guess me being pregnant might change things, but my parents are so suffocating. They think the divorce was a bad thing and have a grudge against Akihiko, even though there's no bad blood between us. It's definitely inspired me to move out of there as fast as I can, so let me know when I can start," she laughed.

"Why don't you come stay at the inn? We have extra rooms, you know. And it'll be convenient for work. It's also within walking distance of the school. Not so bad, right?"

Chie's eyes lit up. "Yukiko, this is perfect! We can be roommates, just like we always wanted to be! Let's do it! I'm so excited now!"

Yukiko's heart pounded in her chest over Chie's excitement, but she tucked the happy feeling away in her heart, eager to get to know who Chie was as an adult.