The funeral of Fujioka Masami was held quietly.
The only ones who attended were Grandma Fuse, Aunt Kasumi, Satsuki, Takuma, Kanako, Saito Hajime, Aunt Shiori, Kouichi's family and Tsubaki's employees. The other ones were Kaede and Hibiki.
Tsubaki stayed in the hall as the family member of the deceased together with Granny Sumiko who insisted to accompany her. Satsuki was with them before he was called by Takuma over something.
Ren greeted the guests at the door in his wife's stead.
Donned in a black kimono and her hair up into a bun, she kept a shallow smile every time the guests came to offer condolences to her.
She felt tired but she still plastered the same smile on her face.
"Mom should already be with Father and Sister, isn't it?" Tsubaki murmured faintly while her eyes were trained on the photo of a woman smiling gracefully.
"Your mother is happy there," Granny Sumiko spoke in a soft voice, "She wants you to be happy as well."
Tsubaki lowered her gaze to her belly. She hummed as a response.
Although she had kept in mind that her mother would depart soon, she didn't expect it to be this soon. Her mother was able to witness her wedding but, she wasn't here to see her daughter giving birth to her grandchildren.
Tsubaki fluttered her eyelashes. Once again, they felt heavy by the unshed tears.
Ren came soon after. Hurt scratched his heart once he saw his wife sitting on the floor with her shoulders slumped down. He quickened his step and kneeled in front of her. Both of his hands reached her shoulders and waist.
"Sweetheart, let's go and eat something first," Ren persuaded in a soft voice, "You haven't eaten anything since this morning."
Even when she ate, it was only three spoonfuls of porridge. How could they sustain her current state?
"I want..."
I want to stay here with Mom. I don't want to leave here.
Tsubaki swallowed the rest of her words from the tip of her tongue. She forced herself to not say it.
If she said that, she would only add more worries to her husband the ones who cared about her. Moreover, she had to think of her babies.
Didn't her mother tell her to live well?
Tsubaki quietly looked at her husband. There were dark lines under his eyes, showing he didn't rest much nowadays.
Like her, he was exhausted too.
"...Okay."
In the end, Tsubaki nodded.
Ren smiled in relief.
Granny Sumiko told them to take their time. She would sit in the hall with the other guests. Grandma Fuse came to stay with her. The two old ladies chatted in low voices.
Ren brought Tsubaki to a separate room away from the guests. Even though they were all his and her close friends and acquaintances, the couple needed privacy at this time.
"Drink some soup first," Ren poured the chicken soup inside a bowl and placed it in front of his wife, "Grandma brewed it herself. She knows you didn't eat much."
"...Okay," Tsubaki lowered her head. She obediently took a spoonful of the soup and drink it.
It felt so bland.
Everything she ate now was tasteless no matter which food she had. Even her throat would feel uncomfortable every time she put something in her mouth.
Tsubaki suppressed the urge to throw up and continue forcing herself to finish the soup.
Ren watched his wife from the side. He lifted up a hand, took the stray strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Tsubaki glanced at him.
Her face lacked its usual luster.
Ever since her mother was pronounced dead by the doctor, she appeared so listless yet she hadn't shed a single tear.
Her eyes would glisten but she didn't cry.
His wife would just stay quiet and accept when people offering words of condolences to her.
Ren lowered his hand, gently tracing a thumb over her face. He saw her pupils trembled slightly before her eyes were moistened by a layer of mist.
A surge of pain spread in his heart.
"Sweetheart," Ren heard his voice sounded hoarse when he opened his mouth. He leaned closer to her, "You haven't cried. Are you forcing yourself not to?"
Tsubaki blinked.
"...What do you think?"
She asked softly.
Ren let out a weak laugh, "I don't want you to be sad but, I also know it's hard for you. I feel bad for you when I see you forcing yourself to be strong, sweetheart."
Ren didn't want Tsubaki to bottle up her feelings within her. With no way out, waves of storms would trouble her mind. Once they were unleashed, he didn't dare to imagine how would his wife become.
Tsubaki silently listened to his words.
She understood his concerns.
In truth, she really, really wanted to cry.
Yet, she forced herself not to because she didn't want to worry the people around her, especially him.
Although the time she spent with her mother was a short one, the grief enveloped her heart tightly until it was hard for her to breathe. Her body was numb yet her heart carried all the intense feelings for her.
"Mom was so happy ever since we brought to see to see Father, wasn't she?" Tsubaki lightly gripped a corner of his black suit. Her eyes were still looking at him, "Mom spent the last of her days being happy, wasn't she?"
"Yes, Mother was happy," Ren answered firmly. His jaw turned rigid as he held back his feelings yet his hold on her was still gentle, "She left without regrets. She was able to meet you and she wasn't sad before she departed. Wasn't that enough, sweetheart?"
Tsubaki curled up her lips. Crystal clear droplets began to stream down her face.
"Enough," She nodded lightly, "Mom was happy and... that's enough..."
Tsubaki slumped forward. Ren quickly hooked her in his arms. He placed one hand over her head and the other was supporting her back.
This time, he let her cry.
His own eyes reddened.
"Mother wishes for us to live well. We have to honor her will," Ren's hoarse voice echoed above her head, "Let's live well, sweetheart. You, me and our children."
"En... We'll live well," Tsubaki still answered despite her voice was muffled by her sobs.
She would continue to live well with her beloved.
Something that her mother didn't have the privilege to do, she would do it well.
After crying for so long, Tsubaki's emotions got stabilized. She was still sad but the immense pressure that clogging her dispersed gradually.
Ren persuaded her to eat more after wiping her face with a wet wipe. Tsubaki followed him. She finished another bowl of chicken soup. It helped to cushion her stomach and replenish her energy.
"Let's go out," Tsubaki placed the empty bowl down on the table, "We've left the hall long."
"Alright," Ren agreed.
The husband and wife came out of the room, walking in the hallway leading to the funeral hall.
The nearer they were, the clearer they heard of a commotion that happening at the entrance of the hall.
"...What's that?" Tsubaki paused her steps.
Ren frowned, sensing something unpleasant.
"...not allowed to be here!"
"I want to pay my last respects!"
"No, leave now!"
The sound of a woman and a man arguing spread in the hallway. Both Tsubaki and Ren were shocked to see that the ones who arguing were Aunt Shiori and...
President Souma.
Tsubaki unconsciously took a step forward with her eyes blazing in fury. Ren immediately followed suit, afraid his wife would be stimulated by the man's appearance.
"What are you doing here?"
Tsubaki's cold voice was directed to the haggard-looking middle-aged man. Ren didn't say anything. He quietly supported her from the side.
President Souma listlessly turned his head toward the voice.
This was the first time he appeared in front of Tsubaki after so long. His tall body looked frail and his cheeks were sunken, showing that he wasn't in a good health.
But, Tsubaki didn't care about that.
President Souma swallowed the lump in his throat, "I heard that... she's gone so I..."
"You're not welcomed here," Tsubaki cut him off.
"I know you hate me but, allow me to pay my last respects to her," President Souma begged.
Both his appearance and the way he spoke looked so pitiful but, Tsubaki's heart wasn't softened.
"When she's alive, my mother didn't want to see you. Even though she has gone, I won't disappoint her by going against her wish. Go."
Tsubaki firmly stated her point. Her chest heaved up and down as she restrained her anger from consuming her. Her husband's warmth helped to dispel her fury.
"...Let me see her, please..."
"No," Tsubaki remained indifferent.
She turned around, preparing to go back inside the hall. Without looking at the weak-looking older man again, she muttered coldly, "You can ask for forgiveness, but one doesn't have the responsibility to accept it. If you really regret the sins you committed to my parents, think by yourself on how you want to atone without involving us."
Once she said her piece, Tsubaki left without looking back. Her petite frame appeared solid and powerful as she walked past the man to enter the hall. Ren remained by her side. He cast a cold gaze toward the man.
Aunt Shiori glanced at Tsubaki's disappearing figure before she looked at her ex-husband.
"She has gone to her beloved man. With you here, you'd just upset the daughter she has to leave behind. Don't appear in front of her again."
Then, she left him alone at the entrance.
President Souma's shoulders slumped down. All of his energy was drained out. He stiffly turned around, taking steps to walk out of the funeral home.
Not far from where he walked, a figure stood motionlessly behind a large and tall wreath.
Mr. Souma just watched the commotion without revealing himself. His eyes were trained on the funeral hall.
Finally, you went to him.