74 I Wonder Who Were Their Parents?

Old Takashi drove the car until they reached a shopping mall. Shouko had promised Akari to meet at one of the book cafes on the ground floor. It was already close to 4 PM. A piece of soft music was audible once she got inside, it sounded so mellow and rhythmic, pleasant to the ears.

"En, where is she?" Shouko looked at her wristwatch. It was ten minutes past their appointed time.

Shouko placed her bag on a chair before she walked toward one of the tall bookshelves. Her eyes lingered on the book spines, reading their titles as her gaze fell down on a shorter shelf beside her.

Rows and rows of children's books were arranged in a neat pattern following their sizes and colors. A few books caught her eyes.

Shouko crouched down, she took out of the books from the shelf. Her eyes bent as she realized it was really her books.

A copy of Aiko and the Moon was in her hands.

An idea popped in her mind. She snapped a photo and sent it to a certain someone with a message. If someone looked at her expression right now, they would only see stars sparkled in her eyes. 

A Scribbler in Autumn: I found my book here! So excited! *happy dance*

Shouko straightened up as she flipped open the book. The book appeared quite worn out with a cracked spine yet she didn't feel disheartened seeing it. When she thought of how it came to be this way due to countless children reading the book, indescribable happiness surged in her heart. 

In two minutes, a reply came.

Man with a Wife: You still don't want me to come? *puppy eyes*

Shouko shook her head as she laughed helplessly. This man was still adamant about playing truant once again!

A Scribbler in Autumn: If you wanted to sleep on the couch tonight, I dare you to come.

Man with a Wife: I don't mind sleeping on the couch as long as you'd still sleep beside me *smirk*

A Scribbler in Autumn: Alright~ Just come here and I swear I'd ban you from hugging me.

Man with a Wife: Wife, I'd continue working diligently to earn money to raise you.

"Hahaha~"

Shouko pressed her mouth. Her man was so silly sometimes she didn't know how to react.

As she was laughing by herself, Shouko felt the hem of her coat being tugged softly. She looked down and saw a small hand touched her coat. It was a small girl with two cute buns on each side of her head.

"En, what's wrong, sweetie?" Shouko crouched down again, letting herself to be on the same eye-level with the girl.

"Pretty sister, could I have the book in your hand?" The little girl's cute voice sounded as she smiled bashfully at Shouko.

"Oh, you want this book?" Shouko was startled, she pointed the book to show it to the little girl. "You can already read, sweetie?"

The small bun pouted while shaking her head. She then pointed to a direction with her short hand. A much taller boy was looking at them while bowing respectfully to Shouko.

"I can't but my brother can. He said he would read it to me if I behaved well in class," The little girl said.

Shouko's smile deepened. She handed the book to the little girl before she gently rubbed her small head. "Then, you must be a good girl. Let your brother teach you how to read too, alright?"

"Okay! Thank you, pretty sister!"

Shouko was stunned when the little girl suddenly leaned in and kissed her cheek. A sweet milky scent wafted in the air as the little girl came close to her. Then, the small bun turned around while running happily toward her brother.

The young boy mouthed his thanks to Shouko while cuddling his sister. Shouko answered with a sweet smile.

They are so cute. I wonder who're their parents.

Then, an image of herself and Kyoya walking with a small child between them suddenly materialized in her mind.

Shouko couldn't help but blush. No! They hadn't reached the step yet so how could they have a child?

She patted her flushing face, the heat began to spread from her face to her ears.

"What are you dazing about?"

Shouko was caught off guard. She turned around. Her eyes brightened at the sight of Akari. "You're finally here!"

"Sorry! I got caught up with something!" Akari quickly clapped her hand as she bowed with an apologetic look.

Shouko smiled, she playfully pinched the younger woman's arm. "Enough with it. Let's sit first."

"Alright~"

When both of them turned to go to the table booked by Shouko, their steps paused when both of them realized there was a person who was staring at them intently. Or rather, the person was looking at Shouko.

Shouko carefully looked back at the young woman. She regained her calm and softly asked, "May I help you, miss?"

The young woman appeared startled when she was greeted by Shouko. Before she could open her mouth, Akari exclaimed.

"Eh, Hina, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you go to the boutique?"

"You know her?" Shouko cast a look at Akari.

Akari nodded. "She's one of the teachers at the kindergarten. We came together since she planned to go shopping."

"Oh, that..." The young woman named Hina was totally flustered. She looked at Shouko for a second longer before she diverted her attention to Akari. "I forgot that I borrowed your lipstick earlier so... Here, take it. Thank you."

Hina took out a lipstick from her bag. She showed it to Akari with her face still appeared in unease.

"Ah, you could just return it to me tomorrow," Akari laughed, she took the lipstick from Hina. "Oh, ya! Let me introduce my new friend to you! This is Yuasa Shouko. I met her during my camping trip last week."

"Hello, my name is Yuasa Shouko," Shouko gave the woman a soft smile. She bowed slightly.

"Oh... yes, I'm Morita Hina..." Hina replied to the smile yet it looked stiff. "I'm sorry if I disturbed your time..."

Her weird appearance made Shouko felt something was off yet she couldn't pinpoint what was it.

"Oh, I'm running late so I should go now," Hina glanced at her phone before she quickly turned around to leave. "Bye, Akari!"

"Eh, wait, Hina!" Akari could only watch her colleague walked out of the cafe in a rush. "En, I just wanted to ask her if she wanted to go back with me."

"Is your house in the same direction as hers?" Shouko gestured for Akari to sit down, she still couldn't help but think of Hina's weird expression earlier.

"Yes, we lived in the same apartment building so that's why we came here together," Akari put her bag inside a basket placed under the table. The basket was provided by the cafe to allow their patrons to put their bags instead of hanging it behind the chairs or let them laid on their laps.

"Oh, alright..." Shouko decided to stop thinking of it. She began asking Akari if she wanted to order anything.

Both of them ordered a cup of coffee and tea each before decided to snack on cut fruits. Shouko was still full after her lunch with Editor Minagawa while Akari said she had a late lunch.

"Here! Look at them~ Aren't they beautiful?" Akari proudly presented her works. A stack of polaroid photos scattered on the small table as Shouko looked at them one by one.

"They are!" Shouko laughed happily as she stared at one of the photos showing her and Kyoya. 

Her husband carried her in his arms and both of them were smiling happily at the camera. The view of the autumn morning was so peaceful with the lake and trees as their background.

"You said your husband wants to hang them with fairy lights, right? Have you bought them?" Akari sipped on her coffee, she let out a satisfied grunt as the rich and mellow taste spread within her mouth.

"I haven't bought them," Shouko thought back of Kyoya's words. He had mentioned something before he went to work this morning. "He said he plans for us to go buying the fairy lights and other decoration items together when he's free. So, I can't start hanging them before that."

"Oh~ So mushy~" Akari laughed as she teased Shouko. "You guys couldn't be separated at all, aren't you?"

Shouko curled up her lips, pink blush spread on her face. Her eyes radiated pure happiness.

Their meetup ended shortly as Akari had a sudden date with Masaaki. Since her fiance had been busy after returning from their trip, the man planned to compensate her with a candlelight dinner.

"I need to wash up real quick and put on makeup! Gotta go, bye!"

"Be careful on the road!" Shouko yelled as Akari sprinted to leave the cafe. She knocked on her head, thinking what if the young lady fell due to her impulse?

Once she sat in the backseat, Old Takashi smiled as he peered at her through the rearview mirror. He slowly drove the car away from the mall.

"Young Madam, do you want to head home straight away or go to meet Young Master?"

"En? Meet him?" Shouko was startled. "Isn't he still in the company?"

"Yes," Old Takashi nodded. "It's just that before, whenever Young Madam goes outside, you'd always end up visiting Young Master in his office. Well, it's something Young Master loves as well."

"I did?" Shouko was quite hesitant about the idea. When she thought of herself going to the company, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

But, she wondered if he would like it if she did that. 

"En, Old Takashi, do you think Kyoya would be okay if I visited him right now?" Shouko clenched her handbag, she slowly throwing the question to Old Takashi. 

"It'd be more than okay!" Old Takashi answered excitedly. "I promise you, Young Madam, that Young Master would be so delighted to see you."

Shouko, "..."

Why did it feel like Old Takashi was playing a matchmaker? 

"If you're worried, why don't you text him first?" Old Takashi coughed awkwardly when he realized how excited he had been. 

"Oh, alright," Shouko agreed immediately. It would be better if she informed him first. What if he was busy right now? She didn't want to distract him.

A Scribbler in Autumn: Akari left early. It's it okay if I go to your company?

She has yet to blink twice when a certain someone called her. She answered the phone with laughter bubbling up her throat. "Aren't you working right now?"

"Wife, I worked extra diligently today," Kyoya's deep voice sounded next to her ear. "You should come and do an inspection to see it for yourself."

"Hahaha~ I will. Let's see whether you're working hard or not today," Shouko couldn't help but tease the man who was expecting praises from her. "Ah! Don't threaten your employees to speak good words about you, alright?"

Kyoya, "... I swear I won't."

Shouko laughed again when the corner of her eyes caught sight of something big rushing to her side. As she turned her gaze to look outside the windows, her eyes widened with fear struck her speechless. "That..."

A white van was coming fast to their direction, aiming right at the backseat of the car. 

"Young Madam!" Old Takashi panicked, he quickly swerved the car to avoid the oncoming van.

"Ah!"

HONK!!!

BANG!

The harsh sound of tires screeching on the road and vehicles collided were the last thing Kyoya heard through the phone before a quick beep disconnected the call.