Harumi came home from work tired.
Tired in that very specific way of someone who spent the entire day being an adult without ever asking for a break.
— I'm ho—
She stopped.
Looked at the floor near the entrance.
Dirt.
Leaves.
Boot prints.
— …Ah.
The garden.
She sighed, but not from exhaustion.
From memory.
Before she could even take off her shoes—
— HARUMIIIIIIII!!!
Mei came charging down the hallway like a poorly controlled rocket.
— YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED!!! — she blurted out in a single breath. — WE WENT TO GRANDPA'S GARDEN AND HE TAUGHT US HOW TO PICK VEGETABLES WITHOUT KILLING THE PLANT AND SAID YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE SOIL AND WE PLANTED STUFF AND HE LET US TAKE A BUNCH OF VEGETABLES HOME AND TAKERU IS MAKING SOME WEIRD FOOD THAT ACTUALLY TASTES REALLY GOOD—
— Slow down. — Harumi laughed. — Go back. Start from the beginning. Breathe.
Mei took a breath.
It didn't help at all.
Harumi stepped inside, took off her shoes, and walked through the living room.
Clothes hanging to dry.
Dirty boots against the wall.
The smell of food drifting from the kitchen.
And for one moment—
too quick to turn into sadness—
she saw herself younger.
Coming home to this.
Noise.
Life.
Takeru appeared from the kitchen, stirring a pot with absolute concentration.
— Good evening.
— Good evening, chef. — Harumi replied. — What is this?
— An attempt. — he said seriously. — But it worked.
They ate dinner.
And it was really good.
But Harumi had a strange look on her face.
Like she was somewhere far away.
Takeru noticed.
— Is it bad?
— What?! — Harumi nearly jumped out of her seat. — NO!! It's DELICIOUS!! — she stuffed a suspicious amount of food into her mouth. — Seriously amazing!! Congratulations!! Ten out of ten!! Michelin star!!
He narrowed his eyes.
— Harumi.
She swallowed.
Sighed.
— We need to talk.
Mei lit up immediately.
— An important talk?!
— Kind of. — Harumi adjusted herself in her chair. — But it's a good one. I think.
She lowered her head for a moment.
Then looked back up.
— I started the school enrollment process.
Both of them widened their eyes.
— Really?! — Mei nearly fell out of her chair.
— Really. — Harumi smiled. — But… there's something I need to ask you first.
She looked shy.
A rare event.
— Are you two… really sure you want to stay with me? For me to be your guardian?
Silence.
— I really love you both! I want to take care of you, be there for you, go to school meetings, performances, birthdays, graduations… I want to help when you get a boyfriend, girlfriend, when things go wrong, when things go right… — she took a deep breath. — I don't want a life without you. But I realized it would be selfish not to ask.
Her face was bright red.
She looked like she might cry from emotion.
— So… would you guys be okay staying with me a little longer? — she added, trying to lighten the mood.
Takeru lowered his head.
And when he spoke—
he sounded more serious than usual.
— Harumi… you didn't have to take us in that day at the market.
— But you did.
— You didn't have to take care of us — but you did.
— You didn't have to look for me — but you insisted.
— You didn't have to love us — but you did.
He looked up, face completely red.
— And I can speak for both of us… we can't imagine ourselves anywhere else.
Mei got out of her chair, climbed awkwardly into Harumi's lap, and whispered into her ear:
— So… can I call you Mommy now? Like my friends do?
It hit her.
Harumi started crying.
— Of course, my love.
Mei hugged her tightly.
Takeru turned his face away and discreetly wiped his eye.
— YOOOCHAAAA!!! — Harumi suddenly jumped up, putting Mei on her shoulders. — THEN LET'S GOOO!! NEW LIFE!! SCHOOL!! FUN!! I'VE GOT THIS!!
Later that night.
The house was quiet.
Kids asleep.
Harumi sat on the couch, phone in hand, heart still racing.
She looked at the screen.
Kei.
— …I'm calling him.
Hard cut.
Kei had just gotten out of the shower, towel over his shoulder, hair still dripping, when his phone started vibrating on the counter.
He looked.
Harumi.
— …right now?!
His brain froze for half a second.
"I spend the whole day wondering if I should call her. And she calls OUT OF NOWHERE. AT NIGHT?! Do I answer?"
— Pick up. Obviously you pick up. — he muttered to himself, already grabbing the phone.
— Hello?
— KEIIIIIIII!!! — her voice came through way too loud, way too happy. — IT WORKED!!!
He froze.
— It… worked?
— EVERYTHING WORKED OUT!! I TALKED TO THEM!! AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID!! I'M SO HAPPY I'M LITERALLY SHAKING!! THANK YOU, SERIOUSLY, KEI!!
He smiled.
Without realizing it.
— Ah… I'm glad it worked out. — he said, sounding way calmer than someone internally panicking.
— SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU!! SEE YOU TOMORROWWWW!!
— See you tomorr—
Beep.
Call ended.
Kei stood there.
Phone in hand.
Hair dripping.
Heart strangely light.
— …she hung up. — he said to absolutely no one.
He took a deep breath.
And laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Relieved.
— That's good… — he murmured. — I'm glad it worked out.
And for the first time that entire day—
he slept peacefully.