"I thought you'd left already!" Kanako whined while grabbing Tsubaki's right arm.
Tsubaki laughed heartily, her mood improved a little bit once she was back with Kanako. "The garden is beautiful. I lose track of time."
"Fine," Kanako decided to just let it go. "I'll just think that you just can't stop talking to your husband on the phone. Aunt Shiori is looking for you. She thought you didn't enjoy this party so it's better if you go and see her soon."
"Oh dear," said Tsubaki, feeling a bit guilty.
"It's not just Aunt Shiori! There are still lots of guests who want to meet you, Mrs. Fuse," Kanako added quickly.
Tsubaki pinched Kanako's hand, earning a pout from her. They walked to Mrs. Souma who was still talking to the group of women from earlier.
"Aunt Shiori," Tsubaki called out to the older woman with a smile.
Mrs. Souma paused from talking, she looked at Tsubaki. Her face brightened.
"There you are! I couldn't find you anywhere so I thought you'd left," Mrs. Souma. took one of Tsubaki's hands, pulling her to her direction.
"I'm just making a phone call," Tsubaki gave the same excuse she did to Kanako. "I'm sorry for my absence."
"Did President Fuse ask you to come home now?" Mrs. Souma asked with a teasing look. "Don't tell me you guys can't be separated at all?"
Tsubaki was a bit bashful, didn't expect Mrs. Souma to tease her like that too. She smiled awkwardly while silently glaring at Kanako who gave a knowing smile. The ladies within the small circle all squealed in delight.
"How do you adjusting to your married life? President Fuse is a good husband, right?" A woman in a white cocktail dress asked, her eyes gleamed in excitement. She was around the same age as Mrs. Souma.
"Aiya! Who told you to not attend Matriarch Fuse's birthday celebration the other day?" Her friend who dressed in blue outfits chimed in. "I feel like watching the romance drama on the TV when I saw how President Fuse treated his wife. They were so loving at that time I felt dissatisfied with my husband!"
"My husband is too cold," another woman said. "So I thought President Fuse will act like him too when I heard he's married. Who would have thought that he's like a completely different man when he's married!"
"Don't compare him with your husband!" The woman in white refuted the third woman. "I think most of our husbands are cold like that. I even have a fight with him this morning! He always forgets to squeeze the toothpaste tube from below!"
Tsubaki almost chocked on her saliva when she heard their conversation. All of them were so energetic. Did their husbands know they have been talking like this behind their backs?
These women were so... peculiar.
Kanako giggled when she saw the look on Tsubaki's face. She went in between the woman in white and the third woman, placing her hands around their shoulders.
"Ladies, I think you could scare Tsubaki like this. I don't think President Fuse would do anything to upset her," said Kanako while winking to Tsubaki. "So, let's keep your fights behind the closet, okay?"
"You're too carefree, Kanako!" The third woman pushed Kanako's hand from her shoulder. "Your mom is whining to us, asking us to find a husband for you. You'd better think about your own self first."
"Okay, okay~" Kanako laughed again. She had known these women for years since they were in her mother's inner circle. They always bickered like mother-and-child. "I'll find one for myself. Please don't worry about me~"
The third woman harrumphed. She glared at Kanako, much to Kanako's enjoyment.
"Please don't mind them, Tsubaki," Mrs. Souma smiled to Tsubaki. "I'm glad that you're enjoying this party. I'd like to invite you to another one too, perhaps in the near future."
"I'd love it!" Tsubaki immediately agreed. "At first, I was surprised when Kanako said you're a founder for a charity foundation. I love this tea party. The idea of letting the children explore their hobbies and skills is something genuine."
Mrs. Souma laughed lightly. She was truly happy hearing Tsubaki's words.
"I always hear things like some of the older children feel embarrassed to receive donations without contributing anything so I thought of this idea when I saw some of them have skills in arts," Mrs. Souma signaled to a waitress to go to her. She took a cup of freshly brewed tea from the waitress and handed it to Tsubaki. Tsubaki muttered her thanks. "It's not like receiving donations is a bad thing but some children would think that way. So, this is the best choice."
Tsubaki nodded, she understood what Mrs. Souma was trying to say.
"Maybe they feel inferior if they just getting money and stuff like that," Tsubaki smiled with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "They feel like they're useless, need to be fed by another person to keep on living. It's a sad truth. So, when I know that you've practiced this way to get donations, I think it really means a lot to the children."
Mrs. Souma nodded. She squeezed Tsubaki's hands, being thankful for her consideration.
They chatted a bit more with the women until it was time to go home. Every guest who chose to bring the items back with them would take them from the manager appointed by Mrs. Souma. Tsubaki looked at the frame of the drawing in her hands, she smiled happily. After making sure everything was okay, the manager took the drawing back in order to properly wrapped it with a special cloth.
"Tsubaki! Just let them hold it for you!" Kanako called out to her from the door. "Come!"
"Okay!"
A man in a black suit brought the drawing while following Tsubaki from behind. Most of the guests were getting ready to leave. All of them exited the tea house. Rows of expensive cars had been waiting outside.
"Aiya!" Someone gasped in shock.
"He's here!"
"Mrs. Fuse! Quick! Come here!"
Amidst the confusion, Tsubaki quickened her steps. Once she went outside the tea house, she too gasped in shock. Her eyes landed on a certain someone who was leaning against the car parked in front of the tea house.
"Ren..."
Ren looked up from the ground to his wife's surprised face. A small smile curled up on his lips when he saw her standing in amazement with the other ladies. He took a steady step to walk over to her.
"You're done already, sweetheart?" Ren reached out one hand, linking her hand into his.
"Yes..." Tsubaki was still surprised. She didn't expect to see him here. She was supposed to go home with Kanako. "What are you doing here?"
"To pick up my wife," he answered casually.
Squeals of delight came from the ladies who were watching them. Tsubaki lowered her head, she pinched his hand for making her feeling bashful. Ren chuckled inwardly. He turned his attention to the ladies before it finally landed on Mrs. Souma.
"Thank you for taking care of my wife," he said respectfully while bowing his head.
Mrs. Souma smiled sweetly. She was happy to see their loving interaction. "I'm glad Mrs. Fuse enjoyed my tea party. I hope she could attend the other one later."
Ren answered with a smile. He locked his gaze at Tsubaki who was still hiding her face by looking down to the ground. He laughed again.
"President Fuse, this is Mrs. Fuse's belonging. Where could I put this?" The man who was holding the drawing asked the man before him.
"Put it inside the car," he gestured to the car behind. "Then, we'll be taking our leave here."
"Yes! Yes! You may!"
"Good bye, Mrs. Fuse!"
"It's so nice to meet you!"
The ladies were trying hard from gossiping but the looks on their faces betrayed them. Kanako sighed helplessly as she knew they would target her to get the source for their gossips.
These ladies sure loved sweet love stories like this. When most marriages in high society were purely for business, they would crave to see a really loving couple like the Fuse Couple.
Ren bowed his head once again followed by Tsubaki. He turned around, wrapping his hand around her shoulders. The man followed from behind, he carefully placed the drawing in the car.
"Why did you come here?" Tsubaki asked as she fastened her seat belt. "You didn't say anything about coming here."
Ren looked at her, his gaze deepening as he answered, "I want to be by your side as soon as I could. Especially after you met the director. You knew something new, right?"
Tsubaki was turned speechless by his answer. Her heart felt so warm it made her wanted to cry. He was so thoughtful about her.
Tsubaki smiled slightly. A tear was threatening to fall down from her eyes. She muttered softly, "Thank you."
Ren nodded. His smile hadn't left his face. "You're welcome."