"Wow Riri-chan you've gotten good in cooking" Shiori said as she was amazed that Ririko has improved in cooking.
"Have you been practicing Ririko?" Sanae asked.
Ririko nodded.
"At first I thought it was just a wife's responsibility but then I find myself getting interested in it, I guess whenever Rei and Yamato said that they like my cooking it made me happy and it made me want to cook more.
Soon I started exploring things like how to make a tasty and healthy meal as well as exploring some international cuisine" Ririko said.
Soon Ririko finished cooking dinner, it was a Polish dish called Zrazy wołowe zawijane beef slices wrapped in filling and were braise. Everyone was amazed because it's their first time to see and taste such as dish.
After a few minutes later Rei returned home and he was greeted by Ririko who took off his coat because it's cold outside.
"So how was your matches?"
"I won the match was okay"
Rei then went to Yamato to check his son who seems to have enjoyed his time with Akari, meanwhile everyone who was present in their place is looking at them as they think that Rei and Ririko really are a couple.
"What are you guys looking?" Ririko asked.
"Oh nothing it's just you guys really are a couple" Yoshino answered.
"Of course we are we're married"
After a few minutes Rei changed and everyone started to eat, the dinner was more lively than before because Ririko's friends are here.
"So how's your married life you guys?" Asked Shiori
"Well it's your typical life I guess, I make a living by Shogi, Ririko takes care of the house and Yamato" Rei answered.
"Anyway what are you have been doing right now?" Asked Ririko.
"I just got promoted to PR director that's why things will be tough from now on" Yoshino said.
"I was thinking of going to Graduate school because that's one of my plans" Sanae said.
"Manoyama is getting more visitors so pretty much I'm just getting busier" Shiori said.
"As for me I got casted for a drama series, my role a villain though so you might hate me when you see me in the TV" Maki said.
"If you're hated it just means you're doing a good job" Yoshino said to Maki and the latter laughs.
"How about you Ririko, what have you been up to aside from being a housewife?" Maki said.
However, little did she know that she actually stepped into a landmine as she no Idea that Ririko is having some quarter life crisis, however Ririko just looked at her.
"Just as always I cook I clean the house, things like that" she said.
Then
"By the way Ririko-chan I want to say this but I've noticed that you've been buying a lot of beauty stuffs back at the mall, do you want to be beautiful?" Yoshino asked.
Ririko blushed.
"I guess I just want to look presentable to Rei" she said.
Rei blushed
"But to me you are already beautiful!" he responds.
Ririko blushed even more to the point where she can't maintain her calm nature.
"I know that, I think you're really handsome too, it's just I wanted to look good on myself" she said.
Then both Rei and Ririko blushed and were too shy to talk to each other, everyone thinks that they are cute and everyone thinks it's just a proof that they are still in love with each other.
After eating the 5 girls went to bath while Rei plays with Yamato and as he do he looks at Yamato who is smiling.
"Yamato I wonder what will you be like when you grow up? Also Yamato do you think mommy is happy right now?" Rei said.
That moment earlier he sensed that Ririko was sort of offended at Maki's question even though there's nothing to be offended about. Rei looked at Ririko's eyes and there he saw the sadness in her face the face he saw when she told him to continue playing shogi.
"I wonder what does Ririko want to do in life?" Rei thought.
Soon Rei and Yamato had their bath together and the two slept in the separate room because Rei's apartment has 2 rooms just in case Yamato grows old though Rei wants to move into a house once he earned enough money, it just so happens that his apartment was being sold when the time Ririko announced her pregnancy and as he result he wanted a place for her to stay.
Ririko slept with her friends in her and Rei's room, and it was nice, it's been a while since she spent some time with her friends. Though for the most part she prefers to be alone and just be with her family she was comfortable with them. They were like girls again they spend the night playing games, gossiping more in each other's life and stating each other's dreams.
However while Ririko felt nice In spending time with them deep down she had a time time answering their questions, but nonetheless she kept her cool and go along with their conversations.
The next day everyone was busy, Yoshino has work, Sanae is meeting a former classmate and Maki has a shoot, so it was Ririko and Shiori alongside Yamato who are left in the house.
Everyone left before 8 though it's a little too early for Rei, but as usual Ririko has her duties as a wife to take care of the house. Because Shiori is there she helped Ririko and the finished faster than the usual.
"So Riri-chan after this what do you do?" Shiori asked.
"After this I usually watch TV with Yamato sometimes we watch a kids show sometimes a drama, or if I'm not watching I practice cooking" Ririko answered.
"Is that so?" Shiori reacted.
It seems that in a way she understands what Ririko feels, having a life like that seems like a dream at first because you don't have to do anything and you're free to do anything, however if this continues you would eventually feel isolated.
"How about now what do you like to do?" Shiori asked.
"I don't know, maybe grocery shopping?" Ririko answered.
Shiori smiled.
"Then Great let's do it you should take Yamato with you as well, but first let's go explore the city" Shiori said.
So they went and roam around town and this time it's only the three of them, though they did it yesterday still it was fun even though they didn't buy any stuff.
However while roaming the city they ended up going into a make-up store which is just near from a university.
At first everything looks fine however Shiori noticed something.
She noticed this since yesterday, that Ririko has been looking at beauty products and cute clothes more often. It's something that she finds unusual considering that Ririko typically likes things like the occult or something about cooking.
"Riri-chan, do you really want to be beautiful?" Shiori asked.
Ririko then gave Shiori an Embarrassed look
"I just want to look good in front of Rei. I guess this happens if you're in love with someone" Ririko said.
However there seems to be more than that because it's not only the beauty products and cute clothes is what Ririko is looking at.
Because the make-up store is near the university students also come to the store to buy something or just to roam around and window shopping, and that's what Shiori noticed.
Shiori noticed that Ririko has also been looking at the students who come by, she the noticed that she has a sad but envious look at her face and with that it seems that Shiori is slowly getting what Ririko want in life.
"Riri-chan do you want to go to college?" Shiori asked.
Ririko then froze for a bit.
"I don't know" she answered.
However despite saying I don't know Shiori is fully convinced that Ririko wants to go to college.
Things get more awkward when suddenly Hina saw Ririko and Shiori.
"Ririko-san I didn't know that you're here"
"Oh Hinata, and those and she is your friend I suppose"
"Yes she is Sakura Chiho-san she is a law student"
Hina introduces Chiho who is much more livelier compared to back when she's in middle school where she was quiet due to being bullied.
"I see that's good"
"This is Shiori my best friend, we've been together for as long as I can remember" Ririko said as she introduces Shiori
The 4 girls talked for a while as they eat in a restaurant. The 4 girls talked about life but apparently Shiori was quite the observant type.
Shiori noticed 2 things upon observing Ririko. The first is whenever Hina talks about how hard and challenging college life is Ririko gets more interested, and second whenever Ririko talks about her life she always say that it's the same and that there's nothing new.
Afterwards the Hina and Chiho left and Ririko and Shiori left as well.
When the three of them arrived home Rei and the rest are still not around and because of this Ririko quickly prepared dinner for Rei, and while she do Shiro then approached her.
"Riri-chan after today I'm really convinced that you want to go to college" Shiori said.
Ririko looks at Shiori.
"What made you say that?" she asked.
"It's just a hunch, but you seem interested when you're talking with Hina-san, you're interested and the same time I feel some sadness inside you" Shiori answered.
An hour later Rei and Ririko's friends arrived home and they talked about what they did for today.
A few days later Yoshino, Shiori, Maki and Sanae are heading back to their respective places. But before they leave Maki looks at Ririko.
"um Ririko, I'm sorry" Maki said
And Ririko wonders why.
"Back then when I asked you about what are you doing in your life right now, I didn't know that you felt uncomfortable that time and I kept talking about how busy I am. Anyway I'm really sorry okay?" Maki said.
Ririko nodded which indicated that she accepts her apology.
After that Ririko went back to do daily tasks as a wife. This time Rei is staying home because he's feeling sick and he was told to stay and get some rest.
"Ririko did they left already?"
"Yeah they we're glad they went here, thank you for letting us spend time together"
"Ahaha I know how important they are to you"
Then there's a moment of silence.
"Rei, if by chance I didn't get pregnant what would have done into your life right now?"
"why did you ask?" Rei asked her back.
"well nothing I'm just curious maybe there's something you like to achieve back then?" Ririko answered back.
"But it's not like I regret our life right now okay I just-"
"I understand, well as for me, I don't really have anything to achieve, I guess because I got into a point where I'm earning money, I can support myself, so I felt contented, so I guess the fact that you and Yamato are here makes me feel challenged in a good way. Like there's a reason why I kept on playing shogi other than just because I learned to love it" Rei answered.
Ririko blushed and smiled upon hearing his answer, he sure is head over heels for her, however that made her feel guilty in what she was going to say.
She then sighs.
"I mean, you see I have some what ifs and one of my what ifs is that what if I go back to college?" Ririko said it.
Ririko closed her eyes as she expects that Rei will give her a disappointed look but when she opened her eyes she was surprised to see her husband smiling.
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
"I mean I was think you'd say things like "You already have me and Yamato why go back to school?" something like that"
Rei held Ririko's arms.
"Ririko when I said I love you I meant that I will support you all throughout, I never told you that you have duties as a wife. You supported me in shogi career I'll support you in whatever you want to do in life, but of course don't forget me and Yamato" Rei said.
"But who will take care of the house and what about Yamato who will take him to school if he grows up?"
Rei then held Ririko's hands tigher.
"We'll make sure everything will be alright, besides like I said I never gave any responsibilities to you. If you can't then I'll cook, I can ask help for Akari-san if there's no one who can take Yamato to school.
I'm just glad that you finally said what you wanted to say. As a husband I should know you, I think I was too dense on that sorry" Rei said.
Upon hearing her husband's words, Ririko can't help but shed a tear, and because of this her emotions took over and she immediately hugged Rei despite knowing that he is sick.
"I really couldn't ask for a better husband other than Rei"
