They returned straightaway to Spring Garden. Although Ren planned to cheer his wife up by bringing him to a new dessert shop that was the talk of the town, he canceled his plan when he saw how exhausted Tsubaki looked.
Day by day, she appeared so tired.
Thank goodness President Souma didn't continue making a ruckus because of the unfavorable result.
Although Ren still couldn't let his guard down, he really hoped that the old man would keep his side of the promise.
His wife was so pitiful, he sighed.
Not only she had to endure the stress created by the troublesome Souma brothers, but she also had to nurse two fetuses at one go. Inevitably, she couldn't help but be drained of her energy.
Ren made a mental note to consult Dr. Shiimoto once again about nurturing a pregnant mother with twins. Or, should he create an account and join the parenting forum like how Tsubaki did?
He might as well did. So he could prepare himself if she once again complained about whatever she read on the forum.
Yes. Yes. He will prove that he won't turn to be like those useless husbands.
"Darling," Tsubaki threw her gaze at the ginkgo path of Spring Garden when the car passed through the gate, "When could we have our wedding photoshoot?"
Ren glanced at his wife. With a smile, he asked, "When would you want to do it?"
"As soon as possible. Our wedding is already so near!" Tsubaki sighed, "The ginkgo leaves have turned golden. It's best to do it soon. Ah! Before that, I have to prepare myself first."
Ren was puzzled by her words, "What do you need to prepare yourself for?"
The photos would be taken by a professional photographer. The dress she would be wearing had already been completed by the designer Ms. Noman.
Did she have to do something by herself?
Tsubaki gave her husband a sidelong glance.
Ah, men. They really didn't understand a woman's heart.
"I have to step up my skincare game. I don't want my skin to become dry because of this cold weather. A spa is a must before the photoshoot. En, I shouldn't eat too much at night later, lest I'd bloat."
Ren laughed at loud, especially when he heard her last sentence.
"Are you sure you won't come crying at me and ask for food in the middle of the night?"
Ergh...
Tsubaki was defeated by just a question from her husband.
She harrumphed and turned her eyes away from him. The sound of his laughter turned louder. In the next second, her head was rubbed by him.
"Alright, alright. I'll tell Aunt Kasumi to prepare the photoshoot session," Ren chuckled. He repeated his question "Well, when do you want to do it, sweetheart?"
Tsubaki blinked. She drew her lips into a tight line. When she spoke next, her voice was so low, "I should do it... after I meet my mother, right?"
Ren smiled, "Yes. I think that's the best."
Tsubaki tilted her head. She returned his smile.
After parking the car, Tsubaki pulled Ren to the ginkgo path. He couldn't help but helplessly shaking his head, "Don't you want to rest?"
"The air feels fresher today," Tsubaki took in a breath of the crisp autumn air. She smiled brightly, "Let's go for a stroll first. I want to have a date with you."
Ren shot him a doting smile, "Be careful, sweetheart. Don't run."
Tsubaki laughed in glee.
There were only a few people in sight. The husband and wife slowly walked on the path surrounded by the trees with golden leaves. As the autumn wind blew, it sent the ginkgo leaves glided in the air before they scattered on the ground, creating a view of a bright golden carpet.
"...install gates at the stairs, I think we should put them at every door, don't you think? The sharp edges of the furniture should be..."
Ren was all smiles when Tsubaki chatter nonstop about babyproofing the cottage. Even though their little ones wouldn't come out any sooner, it was wise to plan from now. Since the cottage was only occupied by a few pieces of furniture, babyproofing the entire house would be easier.
"We could install a swing in the backyard, let it hanging from a tree. The backyard is vast enough for us to have a garden pavilion and children slide. En, should we have a sandbox as well? Ah, but, I worry about them eating sand or getting infected by parasites living in the sand... We should postpone the sandbox first."
One by one, Tsubaki laid out her plans, even including the times when their children turned bigger. Ren loved hearing her planning out their future home. It gave him a sense of comfort.
"I remember we have a stream too in the backyard. The water is so clear. If we set up another pavilion there, sometimes we could enjoy teatime or dinner there. I love to listen to the stream flowing."
Ren laughed helplessly, "We might as well build a treehouse too."
Tsubaki shot him a glare, "Do you actually want to make fun of me?"
Her hands were itching right now. She felt like pinching a certain someone.
Ren innocently shook his head, "I am sincerely giving you an idea."
"Humph! I know you're laughing at me for planning so many things. You must have thought I have so many ideas. Ah, but having a treehouse sounds so tempting too. Okay, I'll forgive you for teasing me."
Ren tried hard to not laugh. His little wife was so silly.
But, it was good to see her happy.
When he saw her being too calm during the time she talked to President Souma, he was both relieved and distressed.
He was relieved because she didn't have a breakdown.
He was distressed because all of this exhausting thing had yet to end.
Regarding her mother who was currently in a sanatorium, Ren had yet to tell Tsubaki the details. She just knew where her mother was and that she was currently sick. Tsubaki didn't know the extent of her birth mother's illness.
While Tsubaki continued talking, Ren's steps halted on the ground. He quietly watched her back that was walking away from him, step by step.
"Sweetheart."
Tsubaki paused her step. She blinked in confusion when she saw there was no one beside her. She didn't notice that her husband had stopped walking as she was talking nonstop.
There was quite a distance between them.
Tsubaki turned around to properly face him. The hem of her dress fluttered in the air, following her movement.
She gave him a smile.
"Yes, darling?"
Her voice was sweetly calling to him. The words drifted in the air, reaching the man and gently seeping into his heart.
The sun was yet to set. Tsubaki silently looked at her dearest man who was bathed under the sunlight. His face was partially obscured as the light and the dark intersected by the tree branches above them.
Tsubaki felt her heart skipped a beat.
Ren curved up his lips into a smile. He lightly shook his head, "Nothing. I just want to call you."
"Hehe," Tsubaki gave a little laugh. A silly idea struck her mind.
The young lady ran a few steps toward the young man and threw herself on him. The man swiftly caught her waist.
"Aren't you usually shy to act like this in public?" Ren wiggled his brows.
Tsubaki looked up and smiled brightly, "I'm just staking my claim on you! Before my belly turns big enough until I couldn't hug you like this, I should hug you as many as I could now!"
Ren was grateful he was a human who had sturdy skeletons. If not, his entire being would melt into a puddle because of her adorable antics.
"How could you become cuter now? Are you carrying girls?"
"I've always been cute," Tsubaki retorted. Then, her eyes rolled upward as she was thinking, "En, it's good if we have daughters. I could dress ourselves up in similar mommy-daughters' outfits. Aiya! Since I'm their mommy, they would be as cute and beautiful as I am. Yes, yes, that should be expected."
Ren laughed out loud once he heard her praising herself.
"Yes, my darling wife is really cute and beautiful," He squeezed her cheeks and rubbed them as if he wanted to mold her cheeks into buns, "But, it's not fair. If you and our daughters have similar mommy-daughters' outfits, how about me?"
Tsubaki felt so smug listening to him, "What to do? You have to settle in wearing your usual monotonous outfits. If you wear pink like us, I believe your subordinates would be so surprised, so you'd better drop the idea."
Ren admitted defeat. He really couldn't fathom how did her brain work when she came out with the conclusion.
The husband and wife spent some more time bickering in the ginkgo lane before they returned home. The setting sun sprinkled its golden and reddish light on their backs.