Having just finished my rewatch, and still holding onto hope of a final OVA one day, I decided to envisage what an epilogue or conclusion to the story of Toradora would be. This is my idea of what a final episode would entail, to hopefully bring some closure to this amazing series. I've polished it up a little since I first uploaded it, so I hope you enjoy :)
A ringing phone woke up Ryuuji from his nap. How long have I been out for? What was supposed to be a quick morning rest had led to him waking up in the afternoon. And where was Taiga? She'd usually have told him off for slacking, but she was nowhere to be seen.
He needed a rest every now and then. Working had been taking its toll, and the kids had been keeping him busy when he was home. It was his birthday today after all, so he at least deserved a nap. What was the harm in that?
Sigh. Why was he trying to defend himself? He got up to answer the still ringing phone.
"Oh, hello…. The triplets' homeroom teacher, yes?... Yeah, I remember. What's happening? … They did what? … Ah I'm sorry… Yes, I'll speak to them as soon as they get home."
He put down the phone again. It seems their children had a little too much of Taiga in them, throwing around some of the tables in their classroom and starting fights. And here Ryuuji was thinking one Taiga was enough – let alone having to deal with three more short girls of fury.
Moments later, Taiga herself walked through the door. She was dressed in a short black and maroon dress, with a light cardigan over the top. She carried a bag full of food in one hand, and in the other, held her phone up against her ear.
"Ok, can't wait to see you. Bye"
She hung up and looked towards Ryuuji. A slight smile came grew her face as her long eye lashes blinked twice.
"You're finally awake. Have you enjoyed your birthday so far?"
Ryuuji nodded.
"It's been quiet which is nice. But where have you been? And who were you just on the phone to?"
"Ah, so many questions" said Taiga, lifting her head and walking off to put the food in the cupboard. "I just went to get some food."
His eyes glared at Taiga. He had realized things change over time: his eyes, for one, had slowly learned to tame their piercing gaze; and it surprised him how much their daughters had grown. But... one thing that hadn't changed was how clumsy his wife was. Perhaps it was juvenile, but Ryuuji was all too familiar with catching the falling Taiga to the point where it had become second nature to presume something would good wrong.
"That's a lot of food," said Ryuuji, realizing she'd catch him watching her if he kept quiet. "Why didn't you wake me? I could have come to help you carry it."
"Oh, I tried," said Taiga condescendingly, "but no matter how many times I poked you, your snoring just wouldn't stop. Ugggg..."
On her tiptoes, Ryuuji's short wife reached up and heaved the last jar into its place on the top shelf. After nothing came crashing down, Ryuuji let out the breath he'd been holding in. Taiga, perhaps having heard his loud announcement of relief, turned to him as she flicked the hair off her shoulder.
"You really were out of it. I'm glad the kids aren't home, or they may have burnt the house down while you happily slept away"
Ryuuji didn't have the energy to tell her it was her fault he was so tired. If she and the children hadn't tried to cook coup last night, spilling it all over the floor, the girls' school uniforms, and somehow into the other meal Ryuuji had prepared... then maybe he would have been able to have gone to sleep at a reasonable time. But instead, he had needed to recook dinner, then get the stains out of white shirts, then scrub the floor until almost ten o'clock, and then make sure the uniforms were dry. On top of that, he still needed to wake up early to get their bento prepared, and finish cleaning out the rubbish.
Instead of bringing all that up, there was something else Ryuuji needed to discuss.
"That reminds me! Their teacher rang just before. They started a fight in the classroom and now some of the other children are too scared to go back."
Taiga stood still for a moment, but then resumed unpacking the rest of the food.
"They grow up so fast."
"What? Don't tell me you're approving of this? Someone's going to get hurt eventually."
"Haha, you worry too much. They're like three little bombs when near each other. When one gets set off, they all do. They have to learn the hard way."
Ryuuji turned his back to her. At times like this, it wouldn't hurt if she took raising the children a little more seriously. She was almost more childish than they were, being self-centred, letting Ryuuji do all the hard work. And yet...
Two delicate arms wrapped around him as Taiga rested the side of her face on his back. Ryuuji turned around to see her comforting smile, and she snuck a quick kiss before resting her face again.
… she still manages to put all that aside when I need her too.
"It's ok. We'll speak to them when they get home alright?" she said. Ryuuji returned the smile and nodded.
It was peaceful standing here listening to the birds; Taiga's embrace helping drown out any worries that had started to build. He could have stayed here forever, but suddenly there was another knock on the door. Taiga's face lit up and told Ryuuji to go answer it.
"I'm going to go get dressed in some better clothes!" Her voice disappeared quickly as she ran to the bedroom.
The kids shouldn't be home just yet? And why is Taiga so excited? He turned the knob and opened the door.
"Ku- Kushieda! Noto! Maya!"