The beach had tourist attractions on one side of the town. Rows and rows of traditional shops selling various local products stood tall at either of their sides. Ren parked his car a few meters from the entrance. Big vehicles were forbidden from entering the shop lanes. The husband and wife walked in leisure toward their destination.
"Wow!"
Tsubaki's eyes widened in delight, her smile curled up sweetly showing her pearly white teeth once she took a look at the colorful shop displays before her. She unconsciously tightened her hold around her husband's arm, earning his soft laugh.
"We should have breakfast first before going for shopping," Ren cast a look at one of the small restaurants on his left side. The restaurant looked cozy despite its small space. "I think that one is good."
Tsubaki turned her head from a shop displaying children clothes, she immediately nodded her head, following her husband's suggestion.
The couple took a seat at a small table beside the windows. They ordered the same set for breakfast. Since both of them would still have lots of things to try while enjoying their day out, they opted for a light breakfast.
"Darling?"
Ren lifted his eyes from his phone, he had just sent a message to Hibiki, reminding him to not bother him unless it was something extremely important. Once he met her eyes, a smile curled up on his lips.
"You're looking at me like that again," Ren laughed softly. He placed his phone inside his pocket, focusing all his attention on her. "Why?"
Tsubaki swiftly shook her head, she was still smiling widely while looking at him. "I just want to look at you."
Ah! She couldn't wait to tell him!
Once the couple had their breakfast, both of them took a stroll along the shop lanes. Tsubaki tugged at his arm once she saw the bakery she mentioned last night. Ren smiled helplessly when he saw her clear excitement in her eyes.
The bakery was big, way bigger than Camellia Sweets. The baking class was held in a special room. There were only four spots left so Tsubaki immediately signed them up for the class. The instructors gave them aprons and hats to cover their clothes and hair as well as two face masks. Ren was a bit awkward when the class started.
"Sweetheart, am I doing this right?" Ren asked as he helped her mixed the mixture of milk, water and flour together inside bowl.
"Yes, you're perfect," Tsubaki quickly praised him, trying to boost his confidence.
Ren stifled a laugh. He didn't expect one day he would find himself in a baking class, making milk buns. If any one of his subordinates seeing him clad in white apron and hats, they would surely be scared off their feet.
The class went smoothly despite a few messes created by the other participants. All of them laughed the blunders off, enjoying their time together. Since Tsubaki was already a good baker, Ren could easily maneuver his way from making any mistake.
When both of them started kneading the dough, one of the instructors stopped by their table. She took an interesting look at the way Tsubaki worked on her dough. She smiled behind the mask.
"You know your way, missus," the woman acknowledged Tsubaki's skills. "You're doing great. Do you enjoy baking?"
"Yes," Tsubaki answered with a smile, she glanced at Ren who was working seriously beside her. "I just want to spend some quality time with my husband so I brought him here. This is therapeutic."
"That's good!" The woman laughed, she had seen how this couple interacted since the moment the class started. They have good rapport between them. "Continue your job, please tell me if you need anything."
"Okay! Thank you," Tsubaki readily accepted the instructor's offer. She indeed had a request to make.
After placing the balls of milk bun doughs inside the preheated oven, the instructors allowed them to enjoy refreshments prepared inside a small lounge beside the classroom. All of them left the class, heading to the lounge in order to enjoy the sweet treats.
"Darling, you go and get our drinks first," Tsubaki squeezed his right hand, she pointed her chin toward the female instructor who talked with her earlier. "I have something to ask her, could I?"
"Alright." Ren nodded, he gave her a small smile as he added, "Don't be too long, okay?"
"Okay~"
Once Ren exited the room, Tsubaki swiftly went to the female instructor's side. The woman smiled politely at her. "Do you need any help?"
Tsubaki quickly nodded. She glanced at the door before she leaned over slightly to whisper. "It's like this..."
In the lounge, Ren took two glasses of cold barley tea with a plate of chocolate chip biscuits and a slice of cheesecake. He sat down at one of the tables provided, waiting for his wife to return. Ren fished out his phone from his pocket, there was a new message from Takuma.
takutakumaaa@jmail.com> How could you abandon me and go for a vacation first? Grandma said you'd only return in a few days!
Ren narrowed his eyes, he had completely forgotten about his cousin coming back to the country. He typed a short message and without waiting for a reply, he kept his phone back inside the pocket.
seulenhiver@jmail.com> Enjoy your last bit of freedom.
Ren took a sip of the tea, his face was as rigid and cold as winter, scaring the few people in the lounge who were looking at him. With a remarkable face and aura like his, it was not easy to divert one's eyes from him. He had attracted attention since the moment he stepped inside the classroom with a young lady he called 'sweetheart'.
Sigh... What a blessed young lady.
Tsubaki peeked inside the lounge, trying to locate her husband. Her eyes brightened once she saw him. Tsubaki hummed softly as she walked over to him. A few pairs of eyes were watching them.
They really looked like a match made in heaven.
"Darling?" Tsubaki gently called out to him.
Ren lifted up his face. The layers of frost in his eyes melted once their eyes met. A gentle smile curved upward his face. Once she sat in front of him, Ren placed a glass before her.
"Drink first," he softly reminded her.
Tsubaki smiled sweetly. She wrapped the cold glass around both of her hands, a sip of the cold tea was enough to quench her thirst.
As the husband and wife were lost in their own world, the people in the lounge were still secretly watching them. The women envied the young lady while the men admired the young man. From the way they carried their manners, the couple wasn't anyone to be trifled with.
Instead of being jealous over their appearances, the way they interacted in harmony and consideration brought their attention to them. The matching rings were enough to indicate that they were a pair of husband and wife.
"What did you ask the instructor?" Ren cut through the cheesecake using a dessert fork, he brought it to her lips. "Do you ask for any tips?"
"En..." Tsubaki took a bite of the cheesecake, her eyes wandered to the white ceiling while thinking of an excuse. "You could say so."
Ren smiled, his sharp gaze softened at the sight of her.
After talking for a while, the instructors came to tell the students that their buns were already baked to perfection. All of them returned to the classroom. Their hard work got paid off once they saw the fluffy milky buns coming out from the oven.
"These look great!" Tsubaki suppressed her excitement as she looked at her husband with a bright smile. "Look? Aren't they so soft and fluffy?"
Ren laughed, his voice was clear like a stream flowing in the summer. He nodded once, agreeing with his wife.
The instructors gave two choices to the students, either they took the buns home with them or stayed in the bakery to taste test them. Half of them opted to bring them home, including Tsubaki. Ren just followed her decision but he was confused when suddenly Tsubaki asked him to wait in the lounge again while she packed the buns with the instructors.
"I could help you, so..."
"Just go!" Tsubaki laughed lightly while trying to push him out of the room. "You'll know why."
"Alright..."
Then, a certain someone had to left the classroom with a confused face. Tsubaki apologized to him inwardly before she went to the instructor. The kind instructor had already prepared all the things she had asked.
"You're sure you don't need my help?" The instructor asked once before leaving Tsubaki with her task.
"I could do it myself, thank you for your help," Tsubaki gave the woman a bow, she was truly grateful.
"It's nothing," the woman quickly waved her hand. "I hope your plan would be going smoothly."
"Yes!" Tsubaki laughed in delight. She looked at the soft milk buns on the table. Her heart was blooming beautifully.