It is a normal day in the country of Japan; mostly prominent to the location of Totsuki; the school for elite chefs.
We turn our attention to the Nakiri Mansion; the home of the Nakiri Family who are the owners of the school. Inside of the many rooms within the building; we find a daycare room where there are animal dolls everywhere, a few educational toys, and a well build while highly expensive looking blue baby crib.
In the room is a red haired baby boy with violet eyes and is wearing a cat onesies while just staring into a pair of golden eyes from an adult red haired man who is looking back at the little boy with a smile.
Both are on the carpeted floor and are just looking at each other. The pair are father and son as they are Yukihira Soma and Yukihira Haruki; both are spending time together in their home.
Haruki looks at his father all curious and confused while Soma looks back at his son with just a smile.
"what is it, Haruki?" Soma asked as Haruki let out babbles while waving his hands around. "wanna go somewhere?"
Haruki babbles more before he got on all four and started crawling to his father who watches him as his son went and climb up his right side to get onto his back where he laid down.
Soma looks at his son and sees him slowly falling asleep while latched onto his back shirt.
"I wonder if Erina tends to carry Haruki on her back when she's with him and Aki…" Soma wondered out loud as he just leans down while taking a nearby big and fluffy teddy bear that he uses as a pillow for his head. "well…I can think about it after a quick nap seeing that my son might cry if I get up."
Soma soon sleeps as he just rests with his son on his back.
A few minutes later; the door to the room was opened as Erina with her daughter Aki came in.
"Papa~! Haruki~!" Aki squealed out. "are in here~?"
"Aki, not so loud." Erina told her daughter with a quick shush before pointing in the room. "your father and little brother are here."
"ahh~! Not fair~!" Aki pouted in seeing how Soma and Haruki are sleeping. "no sleeping~!"
Erina sighs as she went and carried Haruki from Soma's back then nudges her husband's side with her right foot to wake him up.
"ugh..nnghh?" Soma grunted before he yelped when Aki came jumping on his back.
"Papa~! Wake up~!" Aki called out as Soma quickly regains his bearing and slowly get up with his daughter latching onto him.
"don't sleep here, Soma." Erina told her husband while patting and stroking Haruki who still remains asleep in her arms. "especially on the floor with Haruki on your back. Who knows what happens if you stir and dropped him to the floor."
"it's alright, Erina." Said Soma as he sat on the floor while having Aki sitting on his lap. "I remained perfectly still with our boy on my back, he's always ok with me." The man then points a finger at his wife while having a teasing smirk. "and for the record, the one who always stirs in their sleep is you. Always snuggling close to me when it gets cold or just getting on me when you feel the pillow isn't comfortable, right?"
"w-who are you speaking to!?" Erina exclaimed with a blush. "I do not do any of those things!"
"not so loud, Erina." Said Soma as he pointed his finger at Haruki who is stirring in his mother's arms. "don't wake up our little boy and make him cry."
Erina fumes with her face going red as she hated when her husband teases her from time to time.
"can we go get ice cream?" Aki called out into the conversation as she hugs Soma. "I want ice cream, Papa."
"alright, we'll go get ice cream." Said Soma as he carried his daughter up before standing back on his feet. The man held his little girl with one hand while the other went and takes Erina close by her waist. "come on, Mama. Let's go and get some ice cream to cool down your sour mood."
"Who are you saying that I have a sour mood?!" Erina huffs with a pout before Soma suddenly takes her more closer and then kisses her lips.
"ew~!" Aki whined while looking away.
Soma kisses Erina for a minute before they separated.
"Does the kiss and a free coupon for me to make you a delicious sundae will let me be forgiven from the possible punishment of me sleeping on the couch tonight?" Soma asked as Erina blushes while looking away. "I'll take that blush as a yes."
Soma and Erina soon exited the room with their children as they head downstairs to get some ice cream.
The next three days later; we find Soma and Erina with Aki and Haruki by Totsuki as they are with Alice, Ryo, and Hisako in a photography room that is mostly used by the newspaper club.
"alrighty~! Let's get all set up and ready~!" Alice called out while wearing a white sun dress and having a hand supporting her 6th month pregnant belly that is carrying her future son inside. The white vixen went to a table that has Aki who is holding Haruki sitting upon it. "I want everyone to smile for the camera, alright~? Can you do that for Auntie Alice, Aki-chan~? Haruki-chan~?"
"yes~!" Aki replied in enthusiasm while Haruki babbles and waving a hand around.
"She literally rented this room out from the newspaper club." Erina sighs while shaking her head as her cousin had planned to do a family photoshoot of their generation together but never bothered giving the details on where they will do it.
"ain't it fine?" Soma asked with a chuckle.
"The camera is ready, Ojou." Ryo called out while holding a high tech and latest camera model in his grasp.
"let's begin~!" Alice cheered out as Aki cheers in sync while Haruki babbles.
The photo shoot began as the first to go are Alice who did a lot of dress up. She took some photos of herself, a few with her husband, and a few with her niece and nephew together.
"smile for the camera~!" Alice squealed out as she is wearing a large adult size white fox pajama and standing beside Ryo who is wearing a large adult size Doberman pajama.
"smile…." Ryo stated in a monotone voice while not smiling before a flash of a camera was seen as Soma had taken the photo in their stead.
"that's the last of it." Said Soma as he gave the camera to Alice who checked it while Ryo takes off the costume that is itchy and hot to wear.
"aw~! Look at how cute me and Ryo are together~!" Alice squealed. "I've got to make 10 printouts so that I can put each one where my labs are~!"
"Alice, can we hurry it up for our turn?" Erina asked with a tired look as she is carrying Haruki who had fallen asleep in her arms. "we have other things to do, you know?"
"no you don't, my silly cousin." Said Alice while giggling. "I've canceled all your schedules with Hishoko-chan~!"
"what!?" Erina exclaimed in shock before turning towards Hisako who shakes her head with a frown.
"I'm sorry, Erina-sama. I could not stop Alice-sama." Said the aide with a guilty and regretful voice.
"don't worry~! All of your work for today are just normal talky talk~!" said Alice before she pulls out a large whiteish orange cat pajama. "come on! Let's get your photoshoot started~!"
"I am not wearing that!" Erina scowled.
"I want to! I like cat!" Aki squealed out while Soma chuckled.
It is the Yukihira Family's turn for the photo shoot as Alice had provided them with a large variety of clothes for them to wear.
"come on, Erina~! Closer~!" Aki whined while carrying Haruki as she is directing for Erina and Soma who are wearing matching blue and white outfits and are being told to make a big heart with their hands. "a heart! I want to see a heart!"
Erina grumbles as she lifted her left hand up and just made an arc that combined with Soma's and made a heart together.
"perfect~!" Alice squealed as Ryo take several photos in an instant with the camera.
"I'm going to send her to the Antarctic after this," Erina grumbles out while Soma chuckles.
"come on, Erina. This is fun, you know?" said Soma.
"next! You two wear these!" Alice stated while taking out a pair of pink sweaters with half of a heart on the side. "hurry~! Hurry~!"
Erina sighs as she knew that this is going to be a tiring photoshoot.
With the antics of Alice, she made Soma and Erina tried out many different rented outfits along with their children. From matching outfits to wearing Halloween costumes; the white vixen made them try everything that she could ever think of.
Currently, Soma sat on a chair with Erina sitting on his lap sideways as she has Aki sitting on her lap along with Haruki who sat on his big sister's lap, the father held his family close as they get tons of flashes from the camera.
"nice~! Nice~!" said Alice before she takes out two pairs of red and yellow cat pajamas, two are for adults while the other two are for toddlers and young girls. "next are these!"
"just how much you rented?" said Erina while putting down Aki to the floor so that she could stand up with Haruki stays in in her arms. "we've taken so many photos already."
"come on, Erina. Don't you want to have a lot of photos to remember Aki-chan and Haruki-chan once they've grown up?" Alice asked before she looks a bit weirded and distant from her cousin. "don't tell me that you're the type that is just satisfied with just a few photos of your children to remember by!? You're so mean, Erina!"
"i-I am not that type!" Erina exclaimed. "I have you know that when Aki and Haruki were born, I took photos of them whether they were sleeping or just having fun!"
"then, it's alright if you wear these, right?" said Alice while handing the cat pajamas to her cousin. "make sure to wear them perfectly, ok~? I got to check on the other outfits that are coming!"
Alice soon left and Erina was left jaw dropped because her cousin used the old mind trick to make her agree to wear the cat pajamas.
"you really got to learn when Alice is tricking you or not, Erina." Said Soma while carrying Aki in his arms.
"you don't think I know that?" Erina replied with a glare at her husband. "would've been nice if a certain someone just stepped in and stopped her using the old trick of hers."
"where's the fun in that?" Soma asked before Erina stepped on his foot. "ow!"
The photoshoot continued as Alice got the Family to wear a bunch of pajamas together from cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, and even kangaroos which were the funniest because the White vixen ordered specially customized kangaroo pajamas that has straps strong enough for the wearer to carry 5 year old in the big pouch pocket.
"smile~!" Alice called out as Ryo snaps the camera and several flashes hit Soma and Erina as they wore the Kangaroo pajamas with Haruki and Aki riding in the big belly pouches. "look at how adorable you guys are~!"
"this is getting too much.." Erina grumbles as she held her hands under her pouch that has Haruki riding inside.
"yeah, for once I agree." Said Soma as he blinks his eyes twice while holding Aki who is riding in his kangaroo pouch. "this many flashes can't be good for our eyes.."
"alrighty~! Let's go with the last one~!" said Alice as she snaps her fingers for Hisako to come with a cloth rack that has a rented wedding dress and tuxedo. "I want everyone to wear these and get a family photo together!"
"Where did you find these?" said Erina as she checks the wedding dress and realizes that it is the wedding dress that she wore during her and Soma's wedding a few years back. "I've rented it for my wedding and then returned it to Italy. How did you find this!?"
"I have my connection~!" Alice snickers before clapping her hands. "come on~! Hishoko-chan will get you all ready~! Chop chop now~!"
"nice job finding it." Said Soma to Alice while Erina left with Hisako to get into her wedding dress along with Aki and Haruki. "how did you find it? I'm curious."
"let's just say that I know a certain someone would love to see Erina wear the old dress again." Said Alice with a wink. "if I can get a favor from that certain someone, I will be swell enough to babysit my nephew and niece."
Soma looks at Alice before he chuckles and then nodded.
"you got yourself a deal." Said Soma as Alice giggled all mischievously.
"just for an extra price, I had that wedding dress customized." Said Alice before she motions for Soma to lean near for her to whisper some words into his ear. "there is a zipper…."
Alice continues to whisper as Soma just chuckles in hearing her words.
"you are one sly white fox." Said the Indra while shaking his head a few times.
A few minutes later, Soma wore his old wedding tuxedo suit back on before he turns and sees Erina who came back while wearing her old wedding dress that still perfectly fits her figure.
"h-how do I look?" Erina asked as she looks a bit embarrassed.
"as beautiful as the day I married you." Soma replied as he came near and held Erina close before pecking her forehead. "I knew very well that the veil couldn't hide how beautiful you are that day."
Erina blushes hard as she is embarrassed because she is feeling the same embarrassed and nervous feeling upon the day of her marriage to the red haired man.
"Erina-sama, Aki-kun and Haruki-kun are ready." Said Hisako as she came back while carrying Haruki as the little boy wears a matching tuxedo with Soma and Aki wears a small wedding dress of her size that is alike with Erina's wedding dress.
"Papa! Look at me! I'm like Mama~!" Aki called out while all giggles and smiles.
"yeah, you do." Said Soma with a nod before he has a thinking pose. "but on second thought…maybe you should change."
"why?" Erina asked her husband.
"because seeing Aki wear that dress just made me think of whichever son of a gun who will try to marry her in the future." Said Soma with a rather annoyed face as every father feels the same annoyance when their little girl grows up and wants to marry someone. "ugh….just thinking about it makes me really antsy and want to punch someone's face."
"is that the main reason?" Hisako asked with a sweatdrop.
The family soon started to take photos as Soma and Erina went first.
"hold her closer~!" Alice called out directing the two parents to lean close to each other. "alrighty, cheese~!"
Ryo started to take photos as flashes just came popping.
"okay, then look at each other while holding your hands and leaning your foreheads together." Said Alice as Soma and Erina turns towards each other and did as instructed. "just look down and not each other."
More flashes came from the cameras as Alice hums while nodding.
"alrighty~! Its Aki-chan and Haruki-chan's turn!" Alice called out as Soma and Erina steps aside and Hisako brought the children in. "look at the camera and smile~!"
Soma and Erina stood by the sidelines as they watched Aki hugging Haruki with happy smiles before the camera takes their photos.
"hey, Soma…" Erina whispered out as Soma made a hum while glancing at her. "Aki….Haruki….they're growing up fast, right?"
"they are." Soma replied before looking back at their children as Aki held up a small bouquet with a big smile while Hisako carried Haruki as it is the little girl's turn for the photos. "they're kids, growing up is what they do. Kinda like we did when we were kids."
"when we were kids….huh?" Erina spoke out while looking down with a sad smile.
"what's wrong?" Soma asked seeing his wife's expression.
"it feels as if it was just yesterday I held Haruki when he was born and it feels just as if it was the same day when Aki was born…." Erina muttered as she tears up a bit. "I feel…."
"hey.." Soma went and took his wife into his arms then pecks her forehead. "don't start to think that they'll leave us so quick."
"but…they're growing up so fast and the time we spent with them.." Erina muttered out as the mother feels emotional from the thought of her children growing up and leaving her side. "it feels so short."
"it does, but the memories made with them will last forever." Said Soma as he and Erina then looks at Aki and Haruki as the two are sitting on a chair together. "being a parent is never easy, nor is it something that feels good to become. There's that downside but there is the upside." the red haired chef/father looks at his wife. "our kids will always be our kids even if they grew up as adults. They won't stay small, but they'll always stay that way in our hearts. nobody ever said that this parenting job is better than being a chef, but it's always satisfying when we see our kids grow up and become chefs like us."
Erina looks at her husband before back to her children as Aki carried Haruki while having a big happy smile on the camera.
"I know it's hard for us upon the day we have to let them go." Said Soma as he gently grasps Erina's hands. "but knowing that we raised amazing kids who we know will be great people in the future? That's something we should always look forward to as their parents."
"Mama~!" Aki squealed out as she carried Haruki and went to her mother who crouched down and then takes the two into a hug. "let's take a picture together~!"
Erina hugs her children as she smiles before lovingly hugging them both.
"yes." Said Erina before pecking Aki's forehead and then Haruki's. "let's take a picture with all of us."
Aki and Haruki smiles as so did Soma who went and carried his two kids into his arms.
"do it close, you two~!" Alice called out as she directed the family for their last photoshoot. Erina sat on a chair while having Haruki sitting on her lap, Soma who stood by his wife's side and carried Aki who is all grinning excitedly. "say cheese~!"
"cheese~!"
A white light flashes as the photo was taken of the Yukihira Family that will be very much remembered by the Family.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye