"Really? You're staying a whole week Kitamura? That's so cool."
It had reached the part of the night where everyone had broken into smaller groups, ate junk food, and chatted to each other about their lives. Taiga, Ryuuji, Minori, and Kitamura all sat out on the balcony, under the cold night sky.
"I'm glad you think so Taiga. Making a trip all the way from America for a single night wasn't really going to be worth it, so I asked around at Ohashi High-school and they're going to let me run some talks and workshops there for a few days."
"Very nice Kitamura. Very. Nice."
"Thanks, Kushieda. I hear your team has been doing well these last few years."
Ah, Ryuuji remembered that Minori was still into her softball. Apparently, she'd even competed at some national competitions.
"The opponents have been tough, but our team is tougher! This season is shaping up to be a great one. One more qualifier tomorrow and we'll get the chance to compete for our third national title."
It may have been all the sugar, but Minori was still full of energy. She got up onto her feet and started miming her signature swing.
"It's nice to hear you've been getting along well with your team"
"Yeah, I've gotten pretty close with them all. Some I knew from Ohashi, and others it feels like I've known forever, even though we've only been together three years. We're hoping to go travelling together one day as well."
Kitamura smiled.
"Have you ever thought about coming to America?" he asked, "I hear they have some great scholarships and facilities at the university I work at."
"Aw I don't know. America is pretty far away. Plus, I wouldn't know my way around and would probably annoy you and Sumire"
A serious look grew on Kitamura's face.
"Well, I haven't actually seen much of Sumire lately. She's been busy in her preparations and study, so we only get to speak every now and then. Her dedication does inspire me though."
Minori blushed a bit amid her smile but let the silence of the night take over. Ryuuji and Taiga would often come out here late at night when the kids were asleep, just to be alone with the vastness of the sky. Over the years the stars seemed to have danced around, faded away, then reappeared more brightly than ever. Taiga had once told him how, even though they look right near each other, there are huge distances between them. Hearing about his friends' adventures made him realize they'd all moved on into pursuit of their own lives.
"So Ryuuji was saying your father wasn't doing well Taiga? What happened?"
Taiga explained to Minori how her father was in hospital here in town. After his company went bankrupt some years ago, she'd heard he'd been forced into some less profitable employment; consequently, he'd gotten quite ill and had been recovering ever since. A number of times the hospital had contacted them on the request of Taiga's father, but Ryuuji didn't' like the idea of her going to see him.
"Is he going to be alright? Why won't you let her see him Ryuuji?" questioned Minori.
"He's going to be fine, which is why I wasn't keen on it. He never contacted us once after our marriage, even after we invited him to the wedding. He's never made any effort to see us or the children, and it's only now that he wants Taiga to come talk to him about his mistakes. Again. I mean, we already know what happened the last few times he tried doing that."
"True. But being hospital changes people Takasu"
She looked down to the ground. "I should know."
Ryuuji was about to ask her how her family was going. She stopped him.
"All I'm saying is… don't wait till it's too late."
He understood her concern. He just didn't want to see Taiga hurt again.
Kitamura piped up. "Speaking of too late, what are you doing still working in the bakery? With the grades you got and the study you did, you're smart enough to be my teacher."
He's joking of course. Kitamura's a smart cookie.
"Not many opportunities around here. The bakery pays well so I haven't worried about it."
"If you applied to any of labs in the major cities, I have no doubts they'd hire you."
"Then we'd have to move, transfer the girls to a different school, uproot our lives-"
"Would that be such a bad thing?" interrupted Taiga.
Her response was a bit of a surprise to Ryuuji. This was the first time she'd shown any interest in moving. Ryuuji knew she was no stranger to traveling, but it wasn't something he had a lot of experience in.
"Toi has often told me she'd like to go exploring," continued Taiga, "Amaya wants to get in theatre, and Sakura has told me she finds it easy making friends."
"They don't get a choice" said Sakura, right on queue.
Everyone turned to see this short, confident girl towering over them all.
"Everything ok Sakura?"
She thrusted her jacket forward – one of the buttons had fallen out. Taiga, rising to the challenge, got the sewing kit and started weaving it back in.
While she was doing so, Kitamura spoke to Sakura about how school was going. Most of her responses were about how boring it was, and how easy it was forcing people to be friends with her. Kitamura's concerned face usually would have caused Ryuuji to clarify, however, he was still occupied thinking about moving to the big city and Taiga's eagerness.
It wasn't that he opposed it. It was just- it would be a big step to take.
To distract himself, he started giving verbal advice to Taiga about the sewing, but before long, she got fed up and threw the jacket in his face.
"It wasn't that bad!" he replied.
Taiga merely let off a groan.
"Anyways, while we're on this topic, how did you get Toi to come back inside? I thought for sure it was going to be like that time her birthday fell on Easter."
"Ah, my dear Ryuuji. If there's anyone who can appeal to the troubled mind of a young girl, it's me."
Then she whispered to Sakura, "plus, I just have to tell her that daddy can be a bit stupid sometimes, and that usually cheers her up."
Ryuuji finished the last few loops on the jacket and held it up. Thanking her father, Sakura put it on before sitting in his lap. A few smaller conversations broke out, such as how Kitamura spends his American holidays, or the close games Minori has been in. Ryuuji hugged his daughter as he watched her enjoying hearing about all the adventures.
"Hey Takasu, look what we found!" echoed Ami's voice.
Carrying Sakura on his back, Ryuuji got up to walk inside. No sooner had he and the others stepped back into the main room than a book was shoved in his face.
"You two almost look happy," mocked Ami.
Ryuuji looked at the photo album of his and Taiga's wedding day. The front picture was of him carrying Taiga, with a bright blue sky behind them. Her arms locked around him, and the most perfect smile he'd ever seen – though he thought his own smile left much to be desired.
Their daughters started happily browsing through the pages, pointing out photos of Ryuuji in his suit; Taiga walking down the aisle; Taiga chasing the piano player back up the aisle for playing the wrong song; the moment Ryuuji and Taiga kissed; the function held at the lodge; and Maya catching Taiga's bouquet.
"You know, you never told me about the wedding" Ami stated. There was a cheeky glimmer in her eye, and as soon as she said it, his daughters immediately decided it was story time.
"Ah girls, remember you have school tomorrow, so you need to be getting ready for bed."
"Please dad! It won't take long" said Toi. She was usually the one Sakura and Amaya got to make all the requests.
Are the girls really that eager to hear our wedding story?
It was clear they were, and to the embarrassment of Taiga and Ryuuji, it was Minori who stood up and volunteered to share what happened that day. Ami looked towards him, as if encouraging him to relax and let the kids have some fun. He was almost scared for having left them with her all the night.
"Fine. I'll go make us all some tea then" conceded Ryuuji.
Everyone got comfortable and finished up the snacks lying around the house. However, as Haruta went to reach for the last cookie, the three girls gave him a nasty stare, and he backed right off. Noto and Maya snuggled up against the wall, while Kitamura closed off balcony.
"Right. Everyone ready?" said Minori. "It all started with the reception…"