After taking the meal, Ren led Tsubaki to a secluded corner in the hall that was bustling with the celebration. A set of couch and low table were put against the wall as the velvety curtain helped to obscure them from most of the public's view. Only a few could see them if they were sharp enough.
As Ren was laying out the plates on the table, Tsubaki took the chance properly size her husband up. He suddenly appeared here without giving her any hint during their phone call this morning.
"What are you looking at?" Ren calmly lifted up his eyes from the table and picked a plate of pasta before he sat right next to his wife, "You have been staring at me, sweetheart."
Tsubaki curved up a smile. She took the plate that was handed by her husband and answered coyly, "Someone is looking so handsome today. Of course, I have to feast my eyes on him."
Her cheeky answer incited laughter from Ren. He dotingly patted her head with an indulgent smile.
Although he came here as soon as he landed at the airport, Ren was still dressed immaculately. His tailored-suit was in dark gray with a bluish hue while his dress shirt was in the serenity color as Tsubaki's dress. The base color of his tie was in the same color only with intricate patterns in rose quartz color.
It was not the colors that her husband would usually wear since he mostly wore black, gray and white.
"Did you inquire anyone about my dress?" Tsubaki swirled the pasta around her fork and carefully took a bite.
"My battle armor has to match my wife's," Ren raised his brows as he drew a meaningful smile. He lifted up a hand and gently squeezing his wife's cheek.
This time it was Tsubaki's turn to laugh.
As the husband and wife sat in the corner, the guests who wanted to interact with Ren could only watch from afar. No one dared to step in and burst the pink bubbles surrounding the couple.
President Fuse's attention was solely on his wife. He didn't even bother to look around him. One by one, he stretched out his hands to take the plates laying on the table. Sometimes, he personally fed Mrs. Fuse even while it seemed like Mrs. Fuse wanted to snatch the plate from him. At times, it appeared they were bickering as the man would laugh at his wife.
This was really a silent feeding of dog food session. The ones with partners still got affected by their lovey-doveyness.
Even Kanako could only watch from afar. She dared not go near the couple. If she carelessly presented herself in front of the husband and wife, she had a bad hunch that President Fuse would throw daggers at her.
"Are you really that scared to approach them?" Mrs. Esumi frowned as she watched her daughter staring at the couple.
"Mom, you don't know," Kanako sighed, "Once, when I met Tsubaki and we somehow talked about President Fuse, he suddenly appeared behind her and... Urgh! I can't forget how chilly he looked at that time when he asked me to leave. He looked like a wolf wanting to devour Tsubaki!"
Mrs. Esumi chuckled, "Well, well. Their relationship is so good."
As she saw how smitten President Fuse was to Mrs. Fuse, it made her happy. It was good to see a husband and wife who had an affectionate relationship. Although she didn't know much about Tsubaki, from the short moment she met the young lady, she finally understood how could her fussy daughter befriend her.
"Ah, if you don't bring home a potential son-in-law to me who's smitten to you like President Fuse to his wife, you still have to work hard."
Kanako suppressed the urge to cry. How could that ice block Saito Hajime be affectionate like that man?
Meanwhile, the couple who was discussed by other people had just finished their meal.
"Enough, I'm full," Tsubaki pinched Ren's arm when her husband didn't listen to her. Ren still wanted to feed her the cut fruits, "We should go and greet President Souma and Mrs. Souma. We haven't greeted our hosts."
"Is Baby full too?" Ren lowered his eyes and looked at Tsubaki's bump. He gently patted it as he teasingly said, "Should Daddy give Mommy more food?"
"Seriously..." Once again Ren's arm became the victim of Tsubaki's crab-claw.
Under his wife's threatening gaze, Ren surrendered. He grumbled inwardly.
Didn't she understand she looked so cute while pouting like that? If not for their surroundings, he really wanted to kiss her senseless.
Well, it wasn't like he cared for other people. But, his wife would flare next if he dared to commit such an act.
Although Ren was reluctant, he still followed his wife as both of them came out of the secluded corner. Ren protectively placed his hand around Tsubaki's waist. They made way toward President Souma and Mrs. Souma who were talking to a small group of guests.
The guests saw the Fuse couple approaching. One of them exclaimed, "Ah, it's the newlyweds."
President Souma and Mrs. Souma tilted their heads. The latter brightened once she saw Tsubaki.
"I'm sorry we couldn't greet you earlier, President Souma and Mrs. Souma," Ren politely spoke to the couple, "Happy anniversary."
"Thank you for coming here, President Fuse," The middle-aged man's eyes flitted to Tsubaki for a moment before he unhurriedly continued, "...Mrs. Fuse as well. Both of you look happier. It is because a baby is coming?"
Ren answered with a calm smile.
"For a low-key couple like them to come, you're really great, President Souma," One man chimed in which earned smiles from the other guests.
Even though they were smiling, a few of them cast interesting looks on the couple, especially to Tsubaki. They were among the ones who whispered uncouth words during Tsubaki's arrival earlier.
"I'm very happy that Tsubaki comes. Your aunt here is grateful."
Mrs. Souma sensed the unpleasant stares and swiftly walked to stand next to Tsubaki, emphasizing that they couldn't trifle with the young lady who they secretly sneered for coming from a poor background.
"Of course, I have to be here, Aunt Shiori," Tsubaki played along with Mrs. Souma's good intention. It wasn't like she didn't notice the revolting gaze coming from a few of the people.
Seeing that the lady of the Souma house was clearly supporting the woman who they deemed as a low-born, the people concerned embarrassedly lowered their eyes.
Tsubaki sneered inwardly. She really didn't have a good opinion of people who tended to judge others because of their background. This kind of people was materialistic and superficial.
"...Then, we won't bother you," The man who butted in before said in a low voice. Once he scurried away, the others followed.
Mrs. Souma didn't reveal the unpleasantness she felt toward the guests. It didn't worth it. She focused back on Tsubaki and Ren.
"Have you had your meal? Since Tsubaki is pregnant, you guys have to pay attention to her mealtime. Don't have too much greasy food. Have more greens and nuts as snacks," Mrs. Souma lovingly looked at Tsubaki's baby bump, "Aye, I can't wait to meet this cute little one."
"It's still a long way to go, Aunt," Tsubaki chuckled good-naturedly, "We already have our meal. The food is good."
President Souma quietly looked at his wife's interaction with Tsubaki. When he retracted his gaze, his eyes collided with Ren who was openly staring at him.
"It must be tiring for you, President Fuse," President Souma was quick to mend the brief crack on his expression, "For you to straightaway coming here from the airport. You've even managed to match your wife's dress."
"I shouldn't let my wife come here alone," Ren maintained his mild expression even though a thin layer of frost started appearing in his eyes, "She's a strong lady but I can't help worrying over her."
As he said so, Ren let go of Tsubaki's waist and began to fiddle with her hair. Tsubaki wanted to smack his hand away but she could just shot him a glare.
Ren chuckled faintly.
His meaning was clear. He treated this place as an enemy's territory, the one place that would endanger his wife.
Mrs. Souma glanced at her husband. The longing in the man's eyes couldn't be hidden from her keen eyes. As his curiosity grew, it would just be a matter of time before her husband approached Tsubaki and directly asking her about Fujioka Masami.
The shield covering the truth would be unveiled in the near future. Her job right now was to ensure Tsubaki's safety.
Far from where the couples stood, Mr. Souma was watching them with a smirk hanging on his lips. Yet, the faint emotions in his eyes were indiscernible. Without anyone knowing, a voice kept repeating the same words in his mind.
'Brother, take care of my family.'
'Don't blame anyone if something happened to me.'
'Please.'