Little by little, the twins grew up.
They learned to raise their little heads and chest while being on their tummies, rolled over from their backs to the fronts, sit up on their own without support, crawling, pulling up to stand, taking first steps and calling to their Mommy and Daddy.
To Tsubaki and Ren, all of them were novel experiences.
They moved into the cottage in the suburbs when the twins were almost one year old. The couple celebrated their children's first birthday here as well as turning it into a housewarming celebration as well.
As Ren said before, this place was peaceful and beautiful. Tsubaki loved taking the twins out for a stroll whenever she could. The neighbors were good to them as well, welcoming the new family dearly.
One day.
Tsubaki was humming softly as she was spreading the whipped cream on the cake. She planned to bring a fruit roll cake to Ren later in the evening. While she was busy focusing on her current task, a small hand suddenly appeared from the kitchen island, trying to grab a fistful of the cut fruits.
"Fumiko~ Mommy saw you."
The small hand was retracted back. Then, a pair of eyes was revealed as the little one slowly straightened her legs.
"Hehehe~ Mommy, just one, okay?" The little dumpling with two buns on her head grinned cutely, "Fumi wants fruits~ Pretty please?"
Tsubaki laughed softly, "Where's your brother? You sneaked in the kitchen and left him alone?"
"Big Brother is busy with his toys," The little girl pouted, "Big Brother doesn't want to play with Fumi."
Time flowed so fast. Now, the twins were currently five years old. They could talk and conduct themselves well even though the mischievous of little children were still embedded in their minds and hearts.
Both Tsubaki and Ren understood that although they were twins, their children had different temperaments.
The elder brother, Kenichi, was usually calm and taciturn.
The little sister, Fumiko, was bubbly and bursting with energy.
The contrast made the husband and wife felt it was amusing.
"Big Brothers wants to finish building his toy model, en?" Tsubaki persuaded the little dumpling, "Mommy will give you fruits and then share them with Big Brother, alright?"
Fumiko tilted her head, thinking of her Mommy's offer then nodded.
"Okay, Mommy~"
Thus, the little dumpling carefully held a plastic bowl of cut fruits; strawberries, kiwis and peaches to the lounge.
In the lounge, a young boy was assembling the tiny components of the toy on the vast table. His actions were neat and meticulous. The components were mostly in pink and purple color.
"Big Brother, Fumi brought fruits~ Mommy gave them," Fumiko was well-behaved as she placed the bowl on the table, "Fumi will feed Big Brother, okay?"
"Thank you, Fumi," answered the little boy. He sounded indifferent but his eyes revealed affection to his sister.
From time to time, Fumiko would pick fruit and deliver it to Kenichi's mouth. The two siblings spent their time together in the lounge.
"Big Brother, why are you building a dollhouse?" Fumiko asked as she could no longer hold back her curiosity.
On the table, half of the dollhouse had been built. Kenichi was focusing on the inner parts of the dollhouse next.
"Fumi said it's hard to build the dollhouse. Big Brother helps Fumi," replied the young boy with his eyes remained on the parts in his little hands.
Fumiko's eyes lit up.
"Big Brother~ Fumi loves you the most!"
"Ack!"
Kenichi was pushed on the carpet as his little sister suddenly pounced on him. Fumiko was so happy as she rubbed her head on her brother's face.
This was the scene that Tsubaki saw as she entered the lounge. She burst into laughter, attracting the twins' attention.
"What are you two doing?" She asked while laughing.
"Mommy~ Big Brother build the dollhouse for Fumi!" Fumiko announced as if she was getting the top award from her kindergarten.
"Big Brother is so good," Tsubaki praised her young son, "En, Mommy is bored. Let Mommy help as well, en?"
"Okay, Mommy," Kenichi nodded his little head. He slowly sat up once Fumiko left him.
"Mommy, Mommy, sit beside Fumi," Fumiko patted on a space next to her. She eagerly wanted her Mommy to join them.
Thus, the mother and two children spent time together building the dollhouse. Almost one hour later, a pink and purple dollhouse stood proudly on the table.
"So pretty~ Mommy, Big Brother, thank you! Mua~ Mua~" The little dumpling kissed their cheeks. She was totally excited when the dollhouse had finally taken its shape.
Tsubaki glanced at the clock. It was showing four o'clock. Her eyes fell on the two buns next.
"Let's go to Daddy? Mommy has baked a roll cake. We can have them with Daddy."
"Wanna go! Wanna go!" Fumi quickly raised up both of her hands, eagerly wanting to follow her Mommy.
"Okay, Mommy," As always, Kenichi was calmer.
Tsubaki packed the cake inside a white pastry box, let the children wore their own shoes then took them out of the cottage.
They walked alongside the street, heading to the studio where Ren worked.
Once they settled down here, Ren went all out with his next career. Although he still had more to learn, with the help of the sculptors who he recruited, he opened a learning studio for whoever wanted to join in.
The studio was in the same neighborhood as the cottage where they resided. They could either walk or cycle to get there. Tsubaki would usually bring the children to the studio in the evening, had tea time together there before all four of them returned home.
Actually, she herself opened a small bakery here but, right now, she left most of the management to the three employees she hired because aside from the twins, she had another matter to focus on nowadays.
When they arrived, Ren was talking to one of the instructors. The children who joined the class in the studio were preparing to leave. Then, the instructors turned around to handle another task.
"Daddy~ Fumi's here~"
Fumiko let go of Tsubaki's hands, ran to his Daddy and pounced on him.
Ren laughed out loud. He quickly caught the little dumpling and swiftly carried her. After patting the girl's head, he turned his attention to Tsubaki and Kenichi. His eyes curved as he smiled softly.
"Sweetheart, didn't I tell you that you don't have to come here?" Ren brushed one side of his wife's face, "How are you feeling today?"
"Hehe, you treat me as if I haven't experienced pregnancy before," Tsubaki teased her husband.
Ren lifted up his brows, "Well, that was five years ago."
Tsubaki was currently three months pregnant. It was always her intention to give birth once again after the twins but Ren persuaded her to not be in a hurry.
Giving birth to twins was already an arduous task. Taking care of them also took more effort. He didn't want her mind and body to be stressed if they have another baby in a short time.
Thus, the couple decided to wait until the twins reached four or five years old. They planned to just focus on the three children.
Tsubaki was already in her early 30s while Ren was in his late 30s. Even though it was still possible for her to give birth again before she reached her 40s, Ren didn't want to put his wife at risk. It was enough to just have three children.
After this third baby was born, Ren planned to undergo vasectomy. Tsubaki was surprised because she herself wanted to ligate her tubes but, she was moved when she heard his reason.
"You've given birth to our children. I can't possibly let you undergoing ligation too."
Thus, the matter was decided in this way.
"Mommy, Daddy, quick~ Fumi wants cake, Big Brother also wants it!"
Kenichi narrowed his eyes at his little sister who used his name to get what she wanted.
"Haha, let's eat the cake now," Tsubaki pinched the little dumpling's cheeks, "You foodie, you dare to use your brother's name, en?"
Kenichi nodded. Yes, Mommy. Don't be fooled by this glutton!
Fumiko hid her face on her Daddy's chest while she laughed.
The family of four sat inside the pantry. Ren cut the roll cake into a few slices, gave one each for his wife and children before asked Kenichi to send the other two slices to the instructors who were still in the studio.
The little boy seriously attended to his task.
"Mommy, Daddy, do you know, the teachers said we could go to flower-viewing next two weeks. They would give up letters this Monday."
When Kenichi returned, he heard his little sister was telling their parents what the teachers informed the kindergarteners this morning.
"Mom, Dad, the teachers plan to ask if the parents want to join or not," Kenichi reported as he took his seat next to Fumiko.
"Ah, it's good then," Tsubaki was pleased, "Ken, where would the picnic be held at?"
"At Hanasaki Park," Kenichi answered curtly.
Hanasaki Park was located within this suburb. The beautiful view of the park and its natural lake had never failed to attract viewers no matter from this suburb or the other places.
"Let's wait until we receive the letter. We can have a picnic together. Daddy would make your favorite food, alright?"
Ever since he learned to cook and bake more when Tsubaki was pregnant with the twins five years ago, Ren would always cook for the family, letting his wife rest. He could easily cook as well as Tsubaki now.
"Fumi wants strawberry shortcake~" Fumiko was quick to make her request.
Ren narrowed his eyes and smirked, "Little dumpling, Daddy remember your dentist told you to watch the number of sweets you eat, right?"
Fumiko shrank her neck when she remembered the terrifying dentist. She looked like a wilted flower.
The rest of them laughed at the sight of the little dumpling looking so pitiful. The ambience around them was peaceful and in harmony.