1 year later.
It's 7 am and Ririko just woke up, usually she's the one who wakes up but this time it's different.
"Ririko good morning did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, did you make breakfast?"
"Yeah, starting today you have your culinary class so I figured that I should cook sometimes so at least things will be easier for you"
Ririko smiled.
"This really makes me happy, but still if there is a chance I'd like to cook as well, it's my pride for being a mother of course" she said.
Rei and Ririko were married for 2 years now and Yamato is also 2 years old, their little boy can now stand and walk although he still falls, he also seems to have an understanding on what's going on right now, that's why when Ririko looked at her he smiles.
It seems that he's happy because his mother is happy.
It was 8 o'clock and Ririko's class starts at 10 so Rei drove her, yes Rei has bought a new car, slowly but surely he wants to have all the necessities he needs for his family and a car is one of them.
Thanks to Rei's friends in the shogi hall he quickly got access to a good driving school and has learned how to drive. In addition it's good that Rei has a good sense of direction.
"Well then I'm off" Ririko said.
"Ririko!"
"Yeah?"
"I..I love you!"
Ririko blushed, even though she's used to him saying I love you she still blushes whenever he says it especially if it's in public. Rei also felt embarrassed but for him he believes that he was caught in the moment so he just straight out said it.
This time Rei should be going into Akari;s place to put Yamato into her care, but this time Rei doesn't have any matches but rather he's there to watch Shimada play, on top of that everyone in the shogi hall wants to see Yamato.
Sure they did see him when some of them visited Rei in his apartment but that's just about it, this is the first time that Rei will bring Yamato to the shogi hall.
At the Shogi hall
"Hey everyone I thought you're here to see my match?" Shimada said.
Everyone in the Shogi hall has turned their attention to Yamato, of course
Yamato is indeed a ray of sunshine in the shogi hall, everyone was happy to see him and Yamato was happy to be in the shogi hall, they can tell because he's not crying.
Moments later Shimada's match is done and everyone turned their attention to Yamato.
They are men buy they can't resist the cuteness of a child, everyone in the Shogi hall wants to hold Yamato.
"Kiriyama is Yamato-kun really your child? The boy's more lively than you!" Smith jokingly said.
"He is I swear look at him!" Rei said.
"But still Kiriyama you're really a dad huh?" Jinguuji said
"You think so Jinguuji-san?" Rei asked.
"Of course, you work hard, you spend with him and tried your best to understand you son, I think with those qualities you are really a dad" Jinguuji said.
"Say Kiriyama, tell me what's the hardest part of being a dad?" Nikaidou asked.
Rei looked up.
"I can't say it's my work because technically I do like my work, so I guess the hard part is doing the mother's duties, I mean whenever Ririko is tired or sick I tend to take care of her and Yamato and I do all the chores" he answered.
"But what about now that your wife's going back to school?"
"We've already talked about it, while Ririko's at school I'll leave Yamato to Akari-san, if I don't have a match then I'll take care of him. Grandma also said that she'll support our family and Ririko and we just have to ask her if there's anything we need" Rei said.
Suddenly everyone in the Shogi hall started crying.
"Kiriyama you're really a dad" everyone said.
"OF COURSE I AM!" Rei yelled.
It was around 3pm when Rei left the Shogi hall and went back home with Yamato, lucky for him the Shogi hall is not so far from their apartment, but along the way he saw a house that caught his interest.
Rei texted Ririko if he would pick her up but his wife said that Yoshino is driving her home, upon arriving home Rei started cleaning, he thought "maybe Ririko is tired or she has homework"
Their place is not dirty to begin with which is good thanks to Ririko's talents in household chores.
Suddenly something was dropped and when Rei looked at it he realized it was Ririko's cookbook. Rei looked at it and smiled.
"Ririko sure loves to cook huh?" he said.
Then suddenly
"Wait if she just went home from class doesn't mean she's tired right now, I guess I better prepare something for him" he followed.
So Rei went on to prepare something, lucky for him Yamato is asleep since he seems to be tired from playing with the Shogi hall members.
Hours later
"Rei I'm home"
"Ririko, welcome back, how's college?"
"It was okay, I'm still shy in talking to my classmates"
Rei smiles
"Just take things slowly and something happens me and Yamato are always here" he said.
Ririko smiles
"Thank Rei"
And then
"Ririko I forgot I made something for you since you must be tired" Rei said.
He then led Ririko to the kitchen where Ririko saw a Hamburger steak.
"Rei, I texted you didn't I? I told you that" Ririko said.
Rei then became confused, he looked at his phone and he saw Ririko's text.
"I maybe busy but I still want to cook, also Yoshino-chan is coming" Ririko's text said.
Rei scratched his head and laughs it off before apologizing but Ririko smiles.
"Still I'm eating it, thank you for cooking" Ririko said.
Yoshino then entered their apartment and the four of them eat. Yamato is 3 years old and he can now stand and sit and he can now eat, though he still struggles when speaking but so far he's doing better.
"Say Ririko, how the relationship of you guys went? I want to tknow the full details?" Yoshino asked.
Both Rei and Ririko blushed.
"We started dating because we were both curious about it, but even though we were in a long distance relationship we never cheated in each other" Rei said.
"Some things happened that's why I ended up getting pregnant but even though it was unplanned I didn't regret it" Ririko said in a shy tone.
Yamato smiles.
The Next morning Ririko left early and Yoshino drove her, Rei was left at home with Yamato. Rei woke up late because yesterday he has a headache but he didn't bother telling everyone about it, but it did made him sleep too much.
Ririko did left something for him and as usual Rei was impressed at her cooking, Rei looked at her cook book and found what did she cook for him today.
"Ririko's cooking is improving everyday that it's like she became a pro in just 3 years. Back then she was happy when she made a curry, now she's saying things like French Cuisine and some experiment dishes that I don't know.
She's really trying her best, so I guess I have to try my best In Shogi too" Rei said
But before he can do that he has to clean the house first, at first glance his apartment looks clean but there's some dust and some things are misplaced, and the floor.
"Alright let's clean this place around!" Rei said.
With that Rei started cleaning the floor while Yamato watches his favorite morning cartoons, it was a while until Rei finished cleaning and he was tired.
The Next is laundry, even though Rei and Ririko are married and they have done it multiple times Rei is still embarrassed in seeing Ririko's underwear, nonetheless he still washes it along with his and Yamato's clothes.
Unfortunately Rei had a hard time doing Laundry, he was confused on how to use the washing machine and he was anxious about little things like "did he put too much soap on it?" "With him doing the laundry won't the clothes be ruined?"
Although he had a hard time doing the laundry he still finished it and his househusband duties continues, after washing them Rei took the clothes outside.
Afterwards he took Ririko's cookbook to cook something for Yamato and like earlier he had a hard time understanding what's inside Ririko's cookbook, nonetheless he still managed to do it, unfortunately it's clear that Yamato does not like his cooking.
"I guess Papa still needs to work on his cooking right?" Rei jokingly said.
"I don't know if I'm really bad in house duties or I'm just plain lazy" he followed.
But then.
"It's okay" Yamato said.
Rei's eyes widen but he then smiled.
"Yamato you wanna watch cartoon together?" Rei asked.
Yamato nods and after eating the two went into the Tv and watched some cartoons, It was okay at first but Rei quickly realized that Yamato was not interested. Eventually Yamato got off from Rei's lap and went into his Shogi board.
"Dad" Yamato said as he looks at Rei the moment he reached the shogi board.
Rei was susprised.
Rei went beside Yamato.
"Yamato you want to learn shogi?" Rei asked.
"Umm" Yamato said meaning it's a yes.
Rei was a surprised he feels like crying but he ends up laughing a little.
"Shogi is not that easy you know" he said.
"But my dad is an awesome shogi player therefore I'll be awesome as well" Yamato said.
Rei laughs.
"I can't argue with my son can't I?" he responded.
"With that I taught Yamato how to play Shogi, it's been a long since someone has shown interest in Shogi, I did taught Ririko how to play it but she never really got the hang of it, I wonder if Yamato will still have this interest until he grows up.
I mean I will support him no matter what no matter what he wants to do in life but I kind of feels nice to see someone getting inspired at something because he looks up at you.
I wonder if I'm a good teacher no I wonder if I'm a good teacher at all, I hope Yamato is getting what I'm saying" Rei thought.
It alright getting dark when Ririko returned and Rei welcomed her.
"Rei I'll be cooking for tonight alright?"
"It's okay I can cook"
"No it's my duty as a wife and besides I've come to love my wife duties in fact I feel feel burdened when I do those" Ririko said.
Rei's P.O.V
This is just the beginning of my house husband duties, I think this next 4 years is going to be tough I need to earn money and check the apartment and I plan on giving Ririko and Yamato a house before Ririko can graduate.
Every morning I wake up Its either Ririko has left something for us or I'll cook for Yamato, afterwards we take bath together and since Yamato is 3 for now I leave him to Akari-san's place while I go to the Shogi hall and play shogi.
It's a good thing that Akari-san is there and she likes to take care of kids, and it's good that Yamato has taken a liking to Akari-san. I guess Akari-san agrees because Hina is now in college and Momo is in elementary and Someji-san is starting to feel weak so she kinda feels alone.
Sometimes I take Yamato to the shogi hall where some players meet him. Afterwards we head home and I clean the house If I have time or If I'm too lazy enough I try to improve my Shogi.
Ririko returns and we have dinner and we sleep together.
Yeah by the looks of it I need to work harder but you know what? I never regretted supporting Ririko's decision of going to college. I'm her husband and I want my wife to be happy and seeing her go to college making friends and trying to develop herself? I'm proud as a husband.
