Making the Right Decision

It was the night of Futaro and Yotsuba's anniversary. And Futaro's mind was still in doubt of whether the woman he had been living with for over a year was the true Yotsuba that he had chosen and not one of the other twins. Was it really possible for them to have switched? Or maybe Futaro was just overthinking?

The only thing Futaro was sure of was that he had to find out the truth for himself. It was already been a year and everything he is still as confused as he was from the beginning of his marriage.

"Yotsuba, dear?" he asked. "Dinner is ready. You should take a rest from all that choreography. I made roast beef with rice and a nice side dish of fruit salad."

"Wait? Really? Okay... I'm coming down," Yotsuba said. She was sweating profusely after hours of training in the garage.

"When are you coming back to the USA?" she shouted while heading to the bathroom to clean herself up.

"Oh? Yeah. Tomorrow morning. But today was fun, right? This is our first anniversary after all."

A voice of concern went of Yotsuba's voice. "Yeah... it was... fun... but..."

"What was that, dear?" Futaro asked.

"Nothing." Yotsuba answered with a sad expression. "Give me a minute."

Futaro paced around the living room, his unease growing with each passing second.

He had managed to cook a nice meal, set the table, and even added a small vase with fresh flowers in an attempt to make their anniversary dinner special.

But the lingering doubts in his mind overshadowed his efforts.

Yotsuba finally emerged from the bathroom, her hair damp and a towel draped over her shoulders.

She forced a smile as she joined Futaro at the dining table. "Thanks for preparing dinner, Futaro. You're always so thoughtful."

He managed a weak smile in return, his mind still preoccupied. As they sat down, he couldn't help but notice the strain in Yotsuba's voice earlier.

He cleared his throat, deciding to broach the subject gently. "Yotsuba, I hope you know that I've been doing my best to balance work and home. It's just... things have been busy lately."

Yotsuba looked down at her plate, her expression conflicted. "I know, Futaro. And I appreciate all that you do. But sometimes, it feels like you're always gone. I miss spending more time with you."

Futaro felt a pang of guilt. He had been so focused on his work and career that he hadn't realized how much it was affecting Yotsuba.

He reached out and gently held her hand. "I'm sorry, Yotsuba. I didn't mean to make you feel neglected. You're right, I should make more of an effort to be present."

She looked up at him, her eyes softening. "I just want us to have more moments together, like when we were dating and getting to know each other. I don't want our marriage to become routine."

Futaro nodded, his determination solidifying. "You're absolutely right, Yotsuba. From now on, I'll make sure to set aside more time for us. We'll create new memories and keep our relationship strong."

Yotsuba's smile returned, and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Futaro. I know you're always working hard, but knowing that you're willing to make an effort means the world to me."

They shared a warm gaze, the atmosphere shifting as the tension dissipated. Futaro realized that he had been so consumed by his doubts that he had almost missed the opportunity to address Yotsuba's concerns.

He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against her forehead. "I promise, Yotsuba. Our relationship means everything to me, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep it thriving."

Yotsuba's eyes shimmered with emotion, and she nodded. "And I'll do my part too. Let's make this second year of marriage even more amazing than the first."

Futaro grinned, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a while. "Deal."

Futaro's phone buzzed softly on the coffee table, drawing his attention away from the intimate conversation with Yotsuba.

He quickly glanced at the screen, his heart racing as he saw Nino Nakano's name flashing across it. His palms grew sweaty as he read the message, his mind racing with a mixture of excitement and guilt.

Yotsuba continued to talk, her voice a soothing backdrop to the turmoil in his mind.

He forced himself to focus on her words, nodding and offering responses when needed. But his attention kept drifting back to the message from Nino, each word fueling the growing tension within him.

"Yotsuba, I... I need to use the bathroom," he mumbled, his voice slightly shaky. He rose from his seat and made his way to the bathroom, his heart pounding in his chest.

Once inside, he locked the door behind him and finally allowed himself to fully read Nino's message.

"Miss me yet, darling? Our secret rendezvous tomorrow night will be unforgettable. Don't keep me waiting. - Nino"

Futaro's pulse quickened as he read the suggestive words, his mind spinning. He couldn't believe he had allowed himself to get caught up in this dangerous game of flirtation with Nino.

It had started innocently enough, just harmless banter between old friends, but now it had escalated to something that made his stomach churn with guilt.

He leaned against the bathroom counter, his mind racing with conflicting emotions.

He knew he had to put an end to this before things went any further, but the thought of hurting Nino or betraying Yotsuba left a bitter taste in his mouth. He typed out a quick response, his fingers trembling.

"Nino, we can't continue this. I'm married to Yotsuba, and she deserves my full loyalty. I'm ending this now. Please understand."

He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the send button.

He knew that he would make the right choice, but the weight of his actions settled heavily on his shoulders.

As he returned to the dining room, his mind was still reeling from the encounter. He sat back down, his gaze meeting Yotsuba's concerned eyes.

"Is everything okay, Futaro?" she asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

He reached out and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Everything's fine, Yotsuba. I just... needed a moment. But I'm here now, and I'm fully committed to making our second year of marriage even better than the first."

Yotsuba's smile returned, and she squeezed his hand back. "I believe you, Futaro. Let's focus on us and our future together."

Futaro's phone screen flashed as his hand had accidentally swiped it. And the screen showed Futaro's last message to Nino.

"I can't wait to see you too, Nino. I miss you too."