This story takes place after the events of my previous fanfiction, "Two Weeks or Tokyo!" I do not own A Silent Voice or any of its characters. Many times in the story, there will be different types of quotes, so they will be explained briefly.

In the context of dialogue, regular quotation marks are used. In the context of being between dialogue or on its own, a thought will be denoted by quotation marks as well as italics. The same applies for sign language, so be sure to notice the words that follow, such as "Shoya thought," or "Shoko signed," to avoid confusion. In the case of some characters, they will speak while signing, so there will be either quotation marks and italics or just quotation marks. There will also be texts and emails; these will be denoted by italics without quotation marks.

The birds together were inseparable, so together, they migrated home.

Shoya gulped from the attention that he was getting. Introducing Shoko that way was a little redundant, since his mom already knew why he had left. Everyone in the audience knew just from the context of the whole situation that him and Shoko were a pair. In fact, everyone in the audience except Maria, whom Shoya had lowered to the floor and had subsequently wandered over to her grandmother, had encouraged him to make a move.

That being said, it was still a proper action to take, and one that he didn't really regret. As far as Shoya knew, his mother had only met Shoko once, right after he recovered from his coma and the Nishimiyas came over to celebrate his recovery. So most of the impression of Shoko his mother had must've been formed just from his words, or at least, that's what he believed.

Shoya turned his attention from one lady to another. "Ms. Nishimiya, Yuzuru. I am Shoya Ishida, and I will take care of Shoko." he said, bowing as he addressed either of them.

It was almost as if Shoya was introducing himself as a new person as well. The two desired to show an inseparable bond, one that had been formed half a year prior, but had been put into words and made official one night prior. No matter what the blessings and encouragement given to Shoya prior had consisted of, he wanted to properly reassure them as a new man- a new pair.

Of course, nobody had any doubt in his ability to take care of Shoko, but the ladies humored him for a bit.

Now Shoko stepped forward. "Mom, Yujuru, 'iz is mah boyfriedd, Shoya (Mom, Yuzuru, this is my boyfriend, Shoya.)" she said. She then turned to Ms. Ishida and bowed. "Miz Ijida, Ah am Shoko Nijimiya, an' Ah 'ill take care of Shoya. (Ms. Ishida, I am Shoko Nishimiya, and I will take care of Shoya.)" She had essentially repeated what Shoya said.

The two had not rehearsed this, or even properly planned it. Shoya didn't know that Shoko had planned to do this, and Shoko didn't know that he would. They were both nervous and flustered, but they were happy to formally address this with those whose approval was important. After they spoke, they stared at the ladies.

"So, nothing's really changed, then?" Yuzuru said with a laugh to break the silence. Shoya blinked. Yuzuru was definitely right, both of their proclamations were nothing new; they already made it obvious to their families how they would protect one another. Still, he felt a little good after they both said it.

The older ladies, who were drunk, laughed along with Yuzuru. "Well, we're glad to hear it still! Sit, you two! I'm sure the walk back from the train station left you tired! I even made you some breakfast!" Ms. Ishida said between hiccups as she pushed some chairs out for them. The two took their seats and ate slowly, so that if they needed to talk, neither would have a full mouth. "I shouldn't feel so tense…" Shoya thought as he glanced at Shoko. Seeing Shoko's relaxed face soothed him a little, but Yuzuru, who was interpreting through signs for Shoko, had a rather unnerving smile on her face.

Yuzuru remembered some of the things that her mom and Ms. Ishida had been saying they wanted to bring up in front of these two. She was suddenly very thankful that her camera had a perfect shot of Shoya's face and most of Shoko's face without her having to adjust anything and make it noticeable. She was also thankful that Maria was in arm's reach, so she could pick her up and cover her ears.

Ms. Nishimiya, who, despite being red-faced drunk, managed to have stern mannerisms. Her back was completely straight and her eyes bored holes in the head of Shoya. "Yeah, she's definitely going out of her way to scare me…" he thought with a gulp. Ms. Nishimiya began. "Well, we really are glad to hear it. As you know, *hic* your mother and I have been not only expectant, but hopeful that you two would finally *hic* confess towards one another." Shoya stared blankly. The way that she was able to hiccup while maintaining such a scary look was almost hilarious. If Shoya didn't know any better, he would burst out laughing.

Ms. Nishimiya continued, still hiccuping a little, but less noticeably. "That being said, we have more than just the expectation that you two end up dating. That was sort of a given. We both want new grandbabies."

Shoya, who had been chewing on a piece of bacon, almost choked after hearing this. After a little bit of coughing and drinking water, accompanied with being pat on the back soothingly by Shoko, Shoya looked back at Ms. Nishimiya, whose expression remained unchanged. "We want at least three little grandkids." she said plainly. "Your mother and I are still young ladies, but don't make us wait too long, okay?"

"God, why did these two have to be drunk…" Shoya thought in exasperation as he covered his face from embarrassment.

Yuzuru translated to Shoko, who too covered her face from embarrassment. Shoya glanced at his mom, as if asking for help. She provided nothing of the sort, though. In fact, she did the opposite and added onto the trouble by saying, "And if you don't have a daughter, then keep trying until you do, 'kay?"

After more inappropriate and teasing comments, the ladies let up. They spent a few minutes sobering up and went to go see a movie (they wanted to drive, but Shoya put his foot down and made them ride a taxi). Everyone was relieved after they left- even Yuzuru got a little uncomfortable near the end of the conversation, and she had been prepared for it. Yuzuru took her camera off the table and stopped recording.

Basically, excluding anything inappropriate, the ladies made a list of demands of the two, as conditions for receiving the blessing of their relationship. "Didn't her mom already give a blessing though?..." Shoya thought with a red face. "I guess they're different people when they're drunk."

The list consisted of the following: they wanted three grandchildren and they wanted another granddaughter, but before any of that, the two had to get married. The last condition was that they had to marry in under two years. Because they had openly stated that they are dating, and they were both adults, who loved each other, it was only natural that marriage was the next step. However, they were far too early in their relationship to openly acknowledge any of these things. So instead, with red faces, they sat in silence, wishing the awkward conversation, which succeeded in embarrassing them, had never happened.

Yuzuru was sitting with the two, feeling uncomfortable from the silence. "Well, uh… don't feel so weird about it, guys." she said nervously while signing.

"Eajy for 'uh to say…" Shoko said with an exasperated look. Yuzuru just raised an eyebrow in response. Shoko was totally unused to her mother being this way, so it shocked her more than anything. But she was also a little happy. She wanted to marry Shoya as it was.

Shoya felt the same, but he not only believed it was far too early to marry, but it was doubly as far too early to have kids. The idea made him happy, having little kids with black or rosy-brown, spiky or smooth, hair running around. Suddenly, he remembered he had been forced into a weird situation once again. "Damnit! What is it with these girls and dictating my relationship…" Shoya thought angrily. Truthfully, he planned on meeting most of the expectations eventually without needing to be told by them. So being told was redundant and frustrating.

Yuzuru piped up, fanning the flames. "Well, disregarding that… Shoya, I told ya so! And you had so little confidence that I was right about everything!" she said with a smirk befitting of the statement. She was addressing how foolish Shoya was to have doubted her, of all people, in her knowledge of Shoko's feelings towards him.

"Yeah, thank you, Yuzuru." Shoya said, surprisingly calm. Yuzuru was hoping to get more of a reaction out of him, but things like that scarcely really worked on him. He would get frustrated really easily, but he was tough to actually crack. "I really needed the motivation," he said, finishing.

Shoko smiled, gathering what they were talking about. "'Eah, thanz! Shoya told me evwyzing! (Yeah, thanks! Shoya told me everything!)" she said happily. Evidently, Shoya had told about how he needed the push from Yuzuru and Miyoko, and all the pieces fell into place in Shoko's mind. He was nervous to explain it all, but Shoko didn't judge his methods in the least, since she had been doing essentially the same without realizing it at the moment.

Picking up on the pattern, Maria looked at Yuzuru and said "Thank you, Yuzu." with a bow, prompting the other three to laugh.

Yuzuru just gave a heartfelt smile. Not only was Maria adorable, but she was really happy to have them back.

Shoya and Shoko had a conversation to clarify some things. They would definitely be staying at their respective homes overnight- sleeping over had been a one time thing, or at least reserved for special occasions. Other than that, they would be completely spontaneous. If, in the next morning, Shoya texts Shoko and asks to hang out, they probably would. They were on winter vacation, after all. While they still could see each other in person, they would try to.

Other than the awkwardness from before, the rest of the day played out pretty normally. They sat around, joking, watching TV, and snacking on food. Only now, there was a different light in their eyes as they looked at one another. It made Yuzuru happy to see, and them happy to experience. They did little things that they hadn't before. They would sit closer, close enough for their shoulders to touch. They would hold hands. When one laughed, they would look at the other and not be so shy as to look away. Yuzuru, who was a little bit of a third wheel at the moment, pulled her phone out and texted Miyoko.

big news, miyoko!

A short while later, Miyoko responded.

Tell me you have photos!

"She picks up on context clues fast, huh?" Yuzuru thought as she replied. She sent a photo of the two that she got when they walked in. It showed Shoya holding Shoko's hand while he leaned over to pick up Maria.

That's so cute! They look like a family!

After a little while of sitting around the kitchen table and chatting, they decided they wanted to do something more fun. Yuzuru, who was worried she would be intruding on the new couple's privacy, but the two unanimously agreed that they owed Yuzuru time. For Shoya, it was because she played Cupid; for Shoko, it was for the same reason, as well as the fact that it was her dear sister whom she hadn't seen in months.

So, they all, including Maria, began to play some party games. It was chilly, so Yuzuru didn't want to go out anywhere. Also, they didn't want to go to lazer tag yet, since Yuzuru had already reserved a spot at a set time several days from now. So, they spent their hours at the Ishida residence, making memories.

Around dinner time, the ladies got back from the movie. They sat down at the table and sighed. Shoya could tell that they were beginning to regret drinking so much so early in the afternoon. Since the adults were obviously tired and had headaches, the young adults and Yuzuru got up to prepare some dinner. They were clearly a lot more lucid than before, since they were apologizing for talking so inappropriately to them. Shrugging it off, dinner was made, and conversation was normal.

After dinner, Mrs. Ishida brought something up that surprised everyone. "Oh, by the way, Maria. Your mother is going to try and make you a little sibling!" she said excitedly.

Shoya realized that, in his business with college and mustering up the courage to ask Shoko out, he completely forgot his sister was in a relationship where she would have kids. Apparently, everyone else forgot too. Maria replied with a, "Yay!" before continuing to stuff her face with dinner. Shoya thought about this for a moment. "Ahh, I get it. So that's why she brought this all up today…" he thought. The pieces clicked together; in her drunken stupor, her excitement with eventually having another grandkid manifested pointedly, trying to get Shoya to follow suit. "And I'm guessing she's hoping for another granddaughter..." he thought as heleaned back in his chair and looked over to Shoko. Shoko was smiling happily, clapping, and congratulating Ms. Ishida and Maria. While considering how kind Shoko was, he couldn't help but think that the pieces had clicked for her just as soon as they did for him.

Ms. Nishimiya was not well enough to drive home yet, so the general consensus was to let them all stay over for the night. Well, this was certainly a topic of contention for Shoko and Shoya. They disagreed with the ladies, embarrassed, since they had previously come to the agreement that sleepovers were reserved only for special occasions, they tried to disapprove of this without sounding too willful or upset.

Shoya, to solve everything, offered to walk the girls back home. As Ms. Nishimiya considered it, Yuzuru interrupted. "Aww, I was looking forward to a sleepover!" "Well this is a weird situation…" Shoya thought as he scratched his head. "If Yuzuru stays over but Shoko doesn't, it'll be weird… Should I just give them my room and sleep in the hall?" he considered.

Thankfully, Ms. Nishimiya cut his train of thought off. "No, I think that you girls should go home." she began. "Shoko hasn't been in her own bed for a while now. I'll stay here, and leave from here to work tomorrow morning." Shoya sighed in relief.

After a little bit more chatting, Shoya took Shoko and Yuzuru back home. The whole walk there, he held Shoko's hand. They all three chatted happily, and Shoya was sure to be on Shoko's left side, so that she could hear him better and he wouldn't have to relinquish his grip on Shoko's hand to sign.

Once they got to the Nishimiya household, Shoko invited Shoya in. It wasn't too dark out, and he hadn't been inside the apartment since the night of the firework festival, so he didn't see any harm. Besides, he was having fun and didn't want to leave yet. Yuzuru, unnecessarily went ahead of the two and plopped herself on her bed, beginning to play on her laptop. "You two don't make too much noise, okay?" she said with a look on her face that Shoya could only think to call stupid. When Shoko asked what Yuzuru had said, he just made a vague answer.

Yuzuru knew nothing would happen, she just wanted to get a rise out of Shoya. She began to vaguely search the internet for some video to provide background noise as she relaxed and texted Miyoko. Miyoko was becoming more and more close with her. Yuzuru was really relieved that she had Miyoko, since not only did Yuzuru not have many friends, but Miyoko was an alumnus of the school Yuzuru currently went to. In many ways, Miyoko was like a mentor to Yuzuru, and she could tell the feeling was mutual. They worked together on things; for example, they both skillfully coordinated blackmail to get Shoya to confess to Shoko. However, they both assumed they knew more than the other did in this, so they didn't really bring it up out of courtesy. On top of this, they were part of different organizations in the school during their respective time there, so this was another disconnect. Miyoko focused heavily on fashion and modeling while Yuzuru couldn't care less about being the one to wear the designs; she would be the one to photograph them.

Despite these differences, they got along really well. So since Yuzuru didn't want to be a third wheel for Shoko and Shoya, she was perfectly content with sticking in her room and texting one of her best friends. Even if Miyoko didn't respond, she knew she would feel weird if they kissed in front of her.

hey I'm bored. up to anything interesting?

She sent the text to Miyoko and scrolled through YouTube, looking trying to pass the time. She considered the irony of it. "I wanted them back, but here I am avoiding them…" she thought with a sigh. "Well, I did just spend the whole day with them, so I shouldn't be upset!" she thought, steeling herself as she slapped her fist down onto her palm.

As Yuzuru shrunk away into her room, Shoko stared at her. "I wonder if she's become more antisocial since I left…" she thought. Yuzuru had said something to Shoya, but the room was dark, so she couldn't read Yuzuru's lips, and there was other vague noise coming from her laptop, so Shoko couldn't understand it.

"Oh well…" Shoko thought after Shoya gave an answer. Now the two were alone, again. They could be romantic and not feel embarrassed from it. "'Ey, Shoya… 'old me." she said as she came in close to him. Shoya was a little surprised, as this came out of the blue, but he didn't object or even want to object. He wrapped his arms around Shoko and embraced her, both of them enjoying the feeling of warmth coming from the other, especially since it was chilly outside.

Shoya, leaning to Shoko's left ear, spoke aloud. "This is nice… I'm so glad we can do things like this comfortably…" he said soothingly, but in a loud enough voice for her to hear. They both knew that they had waited for a long time to be able to do things like this, though.

Shoko, whose face was pressed against the chest of her dearest, tilted her face up and stared into Shoya's eyes. Her eyes sparkled with joy of the moment and expectation of moments to come. Shoya didn't need to hear a voice or see signs to understand what she wanted, because he wanted it too. He leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against hers. After the kiss, they reluctantly separated. Shoya had to go home so that both his mother as well as her own didn't get suspicious.

"Tezz me 'en 'ou're 'ome! (Text me when you're home!)" Shoko called out to Shoya, who nodded in understanding.

After Shoya left, Shoko knocked on the wall to get Yuzuru's attention. "Yuju, ah'll be en my room, tezz me if 'uh need anyzin. (Yuzu, I'll be in my room, text me if you need anything.)" Since she wouldn't be able to hear a response if there was one, Shoko just laid down on her bed and kicked her feet up, waiting for a notification.

After Shoya got home, he and Shoko texted for a while. In the midst of their conversation, the idea that it would be proper to let his friends know how things turned out, specifically Tomohiro and Miyoko, popped into his head. He would tell Tomohiro because he was one of his best friends, who encouraged him to act even before Shoko went to Tokyo, and he would tell Miyoko because she had been just as big of a help, if not more of an active help to him than Yuzuru was.

So, he pulled up his contact list, found Tomohiro's name, and began to type.