The Morning, Rei and Ririko spent their usual morning together and Ririko is back to her quiet self now. However, Rei wanted to ask about what Ririko said last night but he chose not to say something.

"Ririko, no matter I love you okay" Rei said.

Ririko blushed.

"You don't have to tell me" she replied.

"I wonder what did Ririko means by don't be like her? that night I wanted to hug her, tell her all the good things that I see in her, but I feel like It won't have an effect on her. I guess she still has feelings of insecurities. But I wonder what can I do to give that confidence that she needs?

I wonder does does Ririko wants in her life" Rei thought.

These days would continue, Rei would leave to go to his "work" while Ririko stays at home does all the things that a housewife does. At first glance it looks like there's nothing wrong, Rei is making money and his earning is not just enough, but he has a huge income.

Yamato is still 1 year old and there's nothing really that much things that he needs other than his food diapers milk and toys. Ririko basically still has money to go and buy what she wants, if she wants to she can live like a queen, because Rei does treat her like a queen. But for some reasons she doesn't want to.

Ririko cleans, cooks, and as for her entertainment she would watch kids TV with Yamato or sometimes if he's in a real deep sleep she would go surf the net, in which she's doing the latter.

Ririko would surf for various stuffs and she has her social media. But then she saw a post on one of her classmates named Mio who just graduated college.

"Things were tough, I my father died I had to work hard and I got pregnant I'm 24 I'm a little too old but in the end it was all worth it" Mio said on her post.

Ririko was silenced after seeing that post. She turned off the laptop and suddenly she doesn't have the energy to do things and just want to think things.

"Mio actually did it. I remember she being bullied for being poor, she has no one to talk to but her boyfriend, but she did it. I wonder is this really it for my life?" Ririko thought.

Suddenly she thought of her friends and some people that she knew.

She remembered that Yoshino is now having a successful career, that Moe is a rising star, that Maki is doing a good job as an acting coach, and that that Shiori and Sanae are woking hard to endorse Manoyama.

A few days later

"Hey Ririko how about the three of us go to the park or go shopping?" Rei said in a shy tone.

"I wouldn't mind but don't you have any matches for tomorrow? I mean it's not that I don't want to spend time with you it's just maybe it's an important match or something" Ririko responded.

Rei smiled.

"I don't have a match tomorrow, actually I do but the guys from the Shogi hall told me that I should spend time with you and Yamato, and I thought they were right, is it okay?" he asked.

Ririko shook her head.

"Yeah it's okay, let's go shopping tomorrow, we can also watch movie what movie do you like?" she asked.

"Well there's this movie that I want to watch it's an American movie, it's called The Countess"

"I didn't you that you're into horror movies"

"No I'm not, I'm curious to see the movie I heard her story on the books so I got curious when I heard that there's a movie about Elizabeth Bathory, have you watched it Ririko?"

"No, but I've heard of it"

Suddenly they both looked at Yamato who was smiling and realized something.

"I think we should watch more family friendly" Ririko said.

"Yeah" Rei agrees.


The Next day, Rei, Ririko and Yamato went out to spend their family day together, they first went to watch a movie, a family friendly one, it's actually their type but they think it wasn't bad and at least Yamato is enjoying.

Then they went to the mall, buying clothes and toys. Unlike last time, Rei and Ririko has an Idea of what to buy. For the 1 year that they've been parents, they have gotten to know who Yamato is.

It seems that Yamato is smiling whenever he sees something that has mountains or any foreign wonders like Eiffel Tower or Roman Colosseum.

"I think he got his interest in seeing the world from me" Ririko said.

"Yeah I guess. By the way when did you start wanting to see the world?"

"I can't remember but I was very young at that time, probably during my Elementary days. I love Manoyama, but at some point I just got bored. I see the same city,same people and same activities. Then one day I was watching TV and they were showing in Italy that time. I was astonished, I know there's a big world out there but I never thought that it was that beautiful. So aside from my love in searching about unknown stuff I also read some books about the world, and as I read more, the more I want to go out and explore the world"

Upon hearing those words Rei felt guilty. Ririko is still 23 she's young and most of all Rei did know about Ririko's interest in exploring the world from the moment they started dating, of course they had the time to know each other, Yet Rei was careless enough to get her pregnant where she should be doing all the things she likes.

Ririko looks at Rei and quickly notices his facial expressions.

"If you feel guilty because you think you ruined my future then I want to say that I'm happy in my life as well" Ririko said.

Alas that wasn't enough to cheer Rei up but at least he did smile, Ririko was aware of it but she didn't say anything. Rei then grabs Yamato and carries him on his shoulder.

"Rei you've gotten a lot stronger"

"I did?"

"Yeah, you were shaking when you first carried Yamato in your arms, I remember that time Grandma was so worried that he might be too heavy for you"

"Well, I guess I did get stronger, maybe it's because I've gotten used to carry Yamato around"

After shopping they went to the park where they eat some snacks together. Ririko loves times like this because Rei often focuses on Shogi.

It was a peaceful afternoon they had fun and Yamato is having, and then.

"Rei-chan?"

Hina called Rei.

"Hina-chan it's been a while!"

"Yeah things got really busy that we haven't seen each other in months how are you?"

"I'm okay, just as usual Igo to Shogi hall play shogi go home how about you?"

"I'm alright, I'm still getting a feel on what college life is I guess"

"You've gotten taller Hina-chan"

"You think so?"

"Yeah"

Rei was stunned upon seeing Hina, it's like she's a new person now. She now has longer hair and has a more developed body, her voice has also gotten deeper a little for a female.

She also carries herself like a woman now, she picks more mature clothes and is not that much quirky either.

Rei and Hina talked for a while and Ririko is watching them, and while doing so she can't help but feel jealous, not because of the possibilities that Rei will cheat on her, but from the fact that she's accomplishing something that she didn't accomplish.

They talked for a while and after they bid farewell Rei and Ririko went home, alas Rei didn't notice Ririko's feelings of insecurities.

As they went to bed Ririko suddenly got up and looked at her notebook in which she brought with her. There she turned her notebook into the last page where she looks at her bucket list.

Amongst the list are things like "Go to college" and "Explore Europe"

Suddenly her feelings of inferiority grows even more, but at the same time she's trying to hold things back because she doesn't want to worry Rei.


The Next week

"Rei today I'm going with my friend, I will leave Yamato to Akari-san is that okay?"

"Yeah, I know how important your friends are for you, and besides if it's Akari-san then I'm sure Yamato is in good hands"

"Also they will be staying here for a few days"

Rei felt silent.

"Is something matter?"

"Um no" Rei felt a little awkward because 5 girls are sleeping in their apartment.

Ririko felt that Rei wants to say something but it seems that he's too shy to do so, so she just let it slide.

Rei is again back in playing Shogi and Ririko is back on doing her housewife duties, but since Yamato is big enough to walk and play, there are times that Ririko brings him to the Kawamoto's and that includes today.

The couple then left together but later went on their separate ways. It was around 9 in the morning when Ririko arrived at the Kawamoto household.

This time it's only Akari who greets them as both Hina and Momo were in school.

"Ririko-chan, Yamato-kun good morning, here don't be shy I prepared something for you"

Out of respect Ririko ate Akari's cooking even though she's full.

"Akari-san how are you doing?"

"I'm doing well, to tell you the truth it's kind of lonely Hina is now in college and Momo is in primary school, it's only me and grandfather here so I'm glad that you brought Yamato"

There was a silence for a while.

"Akari-san don't you have any bucket list or goals that you want to accomplish?"

"Why did you ask?"

"I don't know maybe there's something you want to accomplish but didn't"

Akari looks up.

"To be honest I haven't thought of it, after our parents died, I thought of the things that I should do for us to survive on top of that I just can't rely on Grandfather alone considering that he's getting old. I guess you can say my elder sister instincts has awaken" she said.

Ririko looks up.

"I get what you mean, well anyway it's getting late I'll meet up with my friends, Yamato mommy will go out for a while so have fun with Akari-san alright?"

Yamato smiles at her.

Ririko then left and Akari takes care of Yamato as she puts him in the chair while he watches her and Someji how they handle the store.

"For some reasons seeing Yamato makes me think of you Akari, don't you have any plans on getting married?"

Akari looks outside.

"To tell you the truth I still don't know when, you can say I'm in a place right now where I'm okay with my life right now" she said.

Someji sighed.

"At this rate I don't know if I'll live old enough to see you girls tie the know"

It was lunch time when Ririko meets up with her friends and she was so happy as it's been a while since the 5 of them (Ririko, Maki, Shiori, Sanae and Yoshino) have been together.

The 5 of them went all out and had fun, they went to the mall where they bought some things that they like. They bought clothes, accessories, make-ups and of course toys for Yamato. They watched a movie and after that they went to eat together.

"Ririko-chan I didn't know that you have that money with it you, even I got a job I can't even buy that much stuff that you bought" Yoshino said as it seems that Ririko is the one who bought the items amongst them.

Ririko looks down.

"Rei makes good money" she said.

"Hmm..I wonder If I should marry a Shogi player as well" Maki jokingly said.

"Maki-chan you sound like you would do everything for money" Yoshio reacted.

"I'm kidding" Maki responded back.

It was around 4 when they called it a day and of course the 5 of them will be spending the next few days in Ririko's place, so the 5 of them went together Yoshino had a car so she drove them. They first went to the Kawamoto household where Ririko picks up Yamato.

Ririko also introduces her friends to Akari in which she was happy and told them that they should visit her before they go back to Manoyama.

As usual Shiori is really clingy to Yamato and lucky for her Yamato seems to like her too and the same goes to Yoshino Maki and Sanae.

It was around 5 when they arrived at Kiriyama's apartment, everyone was amazed at how beautiful the place was. It was just a simple apartment but it looked elegant and neat and the environment and the neighbors are also nice.

"Riri-chan you really have a nice place here!" Shiori said.

"You think so?"

"Yes, even if you don't have a house at least you have this, you really got a good life I envy you" Shiori added.

Ririko's eyes widen a little but she just smiles it out.

"Anyway I'll just cook something for us alright soon Rei will return so we need to have dinner" she said.