Minori cheerfully leaped around the room and gave Taiga a huge hug. Ryuuji had almost forgotten how much energy she brought.

"We came to surprise you! Taiga had told us you were feeling a bit down, and so she planned for everyone to have a reunion on your birthday."

Well, that explains all the food Taiga bought. Ryuuji's face, both shocked and excited, grew a large smile.

"Everyone? Uh, who else is coming?"

"Ami and Haruta definitely. Maybe Kitamura – though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to make the trip over here."

"Is he still in America?"

"Yeah. I hear he's a professor at some university. Crazy how the time flies."

"I know, it's been…," Ryuuji tried to think about how many years it had been since they had all last seen each other, "… uh… far too long."

He scratched his head and continued "but I'm glad you could come."

"Wouldn't miss it!" replied Minori.

"And besides," she whispered, getting nice and close, "any excuse to come taste some more of Takasu's cooking!"

She then turned to Hisamitsu and Maya. "So, you two. You got married as well?"

Hisamitsu blushed a bit.

"Uh, yeah. We got together just after graduation and it just went from there, I think. Can't say our story was as exciting as Taiga and Ryuuji's though. She was stubborn as ever, and I had to ask her five times before she considered going out with me."

Maya glared towards him.

"Uh- but we do have a little man on the way now which, is exciting!"

Everyone, suddenly becoming aware of the pregnant Maya, let out some excited gasps and squeals.

Maya spoke up, "I still remember at the wedding when you and Hisamitsu were saying our first was going to be a boy, Takasu. And it was funny that- uh…"

She looked over to Minori whose smile had faded.

"Uh… Kushieda… you know, we would have invited you as well. It's just that… well…"

"No problemo guys. I understand. It's hard when I don't live around these parts anymore."

Ryuuji remembered she would always throw on a huge smile when responding like this, but this time there was only a slight lift of her left cheek. Was it just their wedding she missed? Perhaps it's more than that-

"I can't believe you guys stayed here too," she said, turning back to Ryuuji who had started cooking dinner, "last time I was here you seemed so sure you were going to move."

Minori had been around a lot when the girls were still babies. She had helped Taiga look after them while Ryuuji was off at work, and it had made Ryuuji feel more at peace knowing she was there as well. Of course, Taiga was extra careful around their kids, and was almost surprised how quickly she'd slipped into the motherly role. Then when the girls had gotten old enough for school, Minori didn't come over as often. The last thing they'd spoken about was moving closer to the city for Ryuuji to earn a more sustainable income, and to give a better opportunity to their children.

"Sigh. I don't think we'll ever be able to get Ryuuji away from this place. In fact, you should see the place he took us for our honeymoon. Talk about cheapskate."

"Hey, that's not fair! I didn't have much money then, but I've been working hard since… hey, why are you all laughing... This is for my birthday remember!"

A familiar voice sounded from the front door.

"Look at you two. All grown up, yet still exactly the same."

"Kawashima!"

She walked in and looked around, clicking her lips in dissatisfaction.

"So, you're still living in your mother's place? I thought you would have been more productive than that."

Ryuuji narrowed his eyes. It'd been some time since he'd seen her, and already the sly woman was throwing shade. But there was a practical reason they'd stayed in this place. Ryuuji's mother had met someone through Ryuuji's work at the bakery and was off touring around with him - getting the chance to be young again. So their place was unoccupied, and the rent was much cheaper than anything else Taiga and Ryuuji had been able to find, so it made sense to stay there. At least until something else worked out.

That was what he told himself anyways.

"Really Kawashima? That's the first thing you have to say?"

"She does have a point though" said Taiga, acting smug as she sipped at her tea.

"Hey, who's side are you on?"

"Relax. I still love you."

Ryuuji smelt the pork was starting to burn and rushed back around to attend to it. Minori and Taiga walked over to Ami, with Minori giving her a friendly punch on the arm.

"It's nice you could make it."

"Well Taiga was pretty forceful. How'd you even get my number?"

"Hmm. Haven't I always had your number?"

"Um, no, you don't? I specifically got a new phone so you wouldn't."

Minori removed her hand from Ami's arm and inched backwards slightly.

"Ugh, of course. I should have known you'd help her Minori."

"Well, it was a special occasion! I only told her the modelling places you'd been working at. And then Taiga went and persuaded them for your number."

As Minori said the word "persuaded", an evil fire burned in Taiga's eyes.

"Minorin didn't betray you, so get over yourself," said Taiga, standing between the two with her small figure looking up to Ami. "And besides, I only invited you because it's Ryuuji's birthday and I knew he would have been upset if you couldn't make it."

"Oh, really now? And what does he have to say about that?"

Ryuuji came over carrying the plates of food. Pork chops, marinated in ginger, with a decent serving of rice and salad.

"I'm glad you could come. I'm interested to hear what you've been up to since graduation."

"Well, I definitely haven't gotten married or had a child like some people here."

"Three" interrupted Taiga.

"Huh?"

"Three children. We had triplets."

"Triplets? But how on earth did you manage to…"

She looked down to Taiga, but upon noticing an angered expression already forming on her face, she decided not to finish her sentence.

Everyone sat around the table as Ryuuji finished setting up. They asked about some of the events and products Ami had modelled for, and while she didn't speak too much about it, it sounded as if she wasn't doing it as much as everyone had originally suspected. Maya shared the past few years of her life with Noto, and then Taiga had the chance to talk about raising the children and her volunteer work with the local church. Of course, conversations eventually targeted graduation – the day when Taiga had returned.