Tsubaki woke up early to prepare the breakfast. It was her second day of living in Spring Garden but it didn't reduce her usual momentum. As Ren wasn't picky in terms of food, she opted for a traditional commoner breakfast. The big sized refrigerator had been stocked with fresh ingredients.
Ren came downstairs when she was almost done serving the food on the table. Grilled mackerels, miso soup and stir-fried vegetables were accompanied with steaming hot rice. He inevitably smiled at the sight of the home cooked meal.
"Do you want coffee?" Tsubaki asked while opening the cabinet that stored various types of coffee beans.
"You, sit down." Ren gripped her shoulders and led her to the dining table. "I'll handle it. Tea for you?"
"Yes." Tsubaki smiled, she untied the apron. "Thanks."
Ren returned her smile. A few minutes passed before they started their meal. They didn't talk much, simply enjoying their food in silence.
"Just dress as usual." Ren instructed while he washed the dishes. "I'll wait for you downstairs. I haven't showered yet too."
As it was still spring time, Tsubaki chose a one-piece white dress with a peach coloured jacket. She sat in front of the vanity table and started combing her slightly curled hair. She gathered two sections of her hair and tied them together, creating a knotted half-up hairdo. Her long hair fell effortlessly like a waterfall. She picked her cream coloured sling back and stashed her purse and phone inside. As her feet still had faint bruises, she wore her white sneakers.
Ren looked up when he heard footsteps descending from upstairs. He couldn't help but smiled lovingly at the sight of her in her usual white knee-length dress.
"Why?" Tsubaki looked curiously at him, confused with his stare.
"You look gorgeous."
Tsubaki was baffled. She just wore a simple dress! This man really knew how to sweet-talk to her. In the end, she smiled, didn't surrender under his flirtatious gaze. "You look handsome too."
Ren chuckled while shrugging off his shoulders. He wore a black chino pants with a white long sleeve shirt. A black denim jacket was folded on his left arm. Dark brown leather shoes completed his look.
"But..." Tsubaki sized him up once she stood in front of him. "Don't you have any colourful clothes? I only see you in black, grey or white."
"Why? You said I looked handsome." Ren frowned.
"Do you mind if I say you look like a black reaper in the middle of spring?" She smiled shyly, scarlet blossoming on her cheeks.
"I love how it sounds."
Ren held Tsubaki's hand, gripping it tighter as he didn't allow her to pull it back. He smiled when he saw the reflection of her pouting on the mirror nearby. Even when he drove he didn't let go of her hand.
"What are we doing here?"
Tsubaki stared at the home furnishing centre in front of her. Ren didn't answer her question in the car earlier when she asked him about his secret plan. In the end, he brought her to a popular home furnishing centre in the city.
"Didn't you say our home looked rather dull?" Hands in the pockets, Ren peered at his wife. "It's time for us to decorate it. Let's go."
Ren casually pulled Tsubaki close and put his hand around her shoulders. Once they entered the store, a sales advisor greeted them. She approached them with professional manner.
"Good morning, mister, miss. May I help you?"
"We're going to browse around first. Don't mind us." Ren didn't even spare a glance at the young woman.
The sales advisor was quite startled with the man's icy cold voice. Still smiling, she nodded and retreated.
"Can't you be more gentle?" Tsubaki smiled apologetically to the young woman. "She just doing her job."
"There's no need. I think I was professional enough." Ren answered immediately. His eyes spotted something and lit up. "That white carpet looks fluffy. Come!"
Tsubaki sighed helplessly thinking of his two clashing personalities.
They spent the morning deciding on the furniture and other decorative items. Both of them gave each other opinion on what they should get. As Ren didn't want to involve an interior designer, they made decisions themselves based on the theme that they had decided.
"We should get these."
Ren stopped in front of a rack which displayed cute plates and bowls set. In his hands were two mugs in pink and light blue colour.
"We already have them." Tsubaki was reminded of the expensive fine china that filled one of the cabinets in the kitchen. "Don't spend money recklessly."
She had been repeating the same line since she saw how Ren picked and bought the items. Even when she showed a slight interest over something, he would signal to the sale advisor to pack it up. After that, she remained cautious with her suggestions.
"But these are cute. There are doodles of a couple." Ren rotated the mugs until they formed an illustration of a couple linking hands.
"If that's the case, give them to me." Tsubaki took the mugs from Ren. Before he could say anything, she said with a firm tone. "You don't want me to pay at least half of the bills so let me pay for these. Just consider it as my wedding gift to you."
Ren was touched. He finally agreed.
Tsubaki picked the ones in boxes. Ren who was standing beside her called out her name. She looked up in an instant. Before she could react, a kiss was placed on the corner of her lips.