Still 13 February. Meanwhile, at the Renkonan household, Ayumi is watching the Guitar Hero 2 and AKAI Z-Focus trailer from the TV. The broadcast is airing live, not only on YouTube but also on television, making it feel even more like a major event. For once, the house is unusually quiet—her children have gone out with their grandparents, Ayumi's parents, to play at the Hamazou household, as for Sanika she went on date with her Boyfriend Hidetaka Miyazaki , and Keiko she went to Yoga class leaving her alone for the afternoon.
She sits comfortably on the sofa, enjoying the rare calm, a small plate of snacks resting on the table beside her. The sunlight filters gently through the windows, casting a warm, peaceful glow across the room. It should feel relaxing, and in a way, it does—but at the same time, there's a faint emptiness lingering in her chest.
Because despite the quiet comfort, despite the calm afternoon, she can't help but miss her husband.
Looking at Zaboru's antics on the TV—standing on top of a speeding car, playing the Z-Guitar controller while the AKAI Z-Focus projects the game from ZEPS 3 onto the side of a moving truck—Ayumi finds herself completely captivated. His hair is swept wildly by the wind, yet his hands move with perfect precision, hitting every note flawlessly as if the chaos around him doesn't exist. The sheer absurdity of it should have been ridiculous, but instead, it only makes him look even more incredible. Her heart skips a beat, and she unconsciously inhales, whispering under her breath, "Wow… so cool…"
A small smile forms on her lips, and before she even realizes it, she feels that familiar warmth spreading gently in her chest, slowly growing stronger with each passing second. Somehow, she finds herself falling in love with her husband all over again, as if those feelings had never faded but were simply waiting for a moment like this to resurface. This—this exact feeling—is what made her fall for him so deeply in the first place, to the point where it almost felt like an obsession she could never escape. Zaboru has always been like this: effortlessly cool in the most bizarre, unconventional way, doing things no one else would even dare to try. He never does anything normally, always choosing the strangest, most ridiculous approach—and yet, somehow, it always works for him in ways no one can explain. That strange charm, that reckless confidence, that almost unbelievable presence… it all blends together into something irresistibly attractive, something only Zaboru could ever pull off, and because of that, she finds herself helplessly drawn to him again, falling deeper and deeper without even realizing it.
""Hehehe… that's my husband, all right." she muttered to herself with a smug grin, her eyes still glued to the screen. There was a quiet pride in her voice, something soft yet unmistakably warm, the kind of pride only someone deeply in love could have. Then her expression softened slightly, turning thoughtful as her mind drifted to something more practical. "But still… Guitar Hero at home? That's actually quite good… Zenshin could play this… even Arumi…"
The thought of her children made her smile gentle. She already missed them—their laughter, their noise, the way they filled every corner of the house—but even then, she realized something else more clearly.
She missed her husband more.
The quietness around her only made it more obvious. She wished he was home right now, sitting beside her, maybe casually bragging about what he just showed the world or teasing her about her reaction. But she knew that wasn't possible.
He was probably still at work.
Zaboru was always at work.
Her gaze drifted away from the TV for a moment as another thought crossed her mind, something softer, more personal.
"Tomorrow is Valentine…" she murmured quietly, almost to herself. "Will Zabo remember though…?"
She let out a small, helpless chuckle, shaking her head lightly as if dismissing her own expectation. "Well… we're not teenagers anymore… and he's extremely busy… I can't just focus on myself."
Even as she said that, there was a faint hint of disappointment she couldn't fully hide. She forced a small smile, pushing the feeling down as she turned her attention back to the screen, watching the rest of the commercial until it reached its end.
Once it finished, she turned off the TV, and the room immediately fell silent again.
For a brief moment, she just sat there, letting the quiet settle around her.
Then, with a soft exhale, Ayumi stood up from the sofa and stretched lightly. With nothing else to distract her thoughts, she decided to head to the backyard. Maybe feeding her rabbits and playing with them for a while would help ease the restlessness in her heart—even if only just a little.
14 February 2001 Sunday.
Ayumi is at home in the early morning, lying in bed with her children still asleep beside her. The room is quiet, filled only with soft breathing and the faint light of dawn slipping through the curtains. As she slowly opens her eyes, the first thing she notices is the empty space on Zaboru's side of the bed. He hasn't come back. She remembers what he said the day before—that he might stay at the office—and lets out a small breath, already knowing the answer.
He probably slept there.
Her gaze drifts toward the calendar on the wall. 14 February.
Valentine's Day.
She pauses for a moment, then quietly sighs. 'He's probably just too busy… it's fine,' she tells herself, trying to keep her tone light even in her own thoughts. A small, gentle smile forms on her lips, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
Carefully, she sits up so she doesn't wake the children too suddenly. Then, in a soft voice, she begins to wake them, coaxing them gently out of sleep. "Zen-chan, Rumi-chan… come on, wake up… let's get ready," she murmurs, her tone warm and patient.
Zenshin stirs first, burying his face deeper into the pillow. "Mom… five more minutes…" he mumbles sleepily, his voice barely audible.
Arumi follows, turning to the other side with a small groan. "Ugh… mom, I still want to sleep…" she complains, clinging to the blanket as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Ayumi lets out a soft chuckle, watching them with gentle affection. "Hey, don't be like that. Remember discipline, okay?" she says, lightly patting their heads. Her touch is gentle, careful not to rush them too much, but firm enough to remind them that the day has already begun.
The children slowly and reluctantly sit up, rubbing their eyes, still half-asleep but no longer resisting. Ayumi guides them patiently, helping them off the bed and encouraging them step by step to begin their morning routine. Despite their sluggish movements, she never loses her calm, gently nudging them forward with soft reminders and small smiles.
She asks them to take a bath first while she heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast—not just for them, but for everyone in the Renkonan household. As she walks away, she glances back briefly, making sure they are actually moving, a quiet sense of responsibility and care settling naturally in her actions as she begins another day.
The house slowly comes to life.
Keiko is already up, moving quietly around the house, while Sanika helping her. Zanichi, on the other hand, only came home very late—after spending far too long at the ZAGE Tower, just like Zaboru. The development of ZEPS 4 is at a critical stage, and it has been consuming both of them completely. Even now, he is still asleep, exhausted from days of continuous work still sleeping like a log.
Ayumi moves through the kitchen with practiced ease, preparing breakfast as the morning sunlight grows stronger. Despite everything, she keeps her usual rhythm, taking care of the house, the children, and the family—just as she always does.
The family sits down for breakfast, the usual warmth of the table filling the space, yet today there is something quieter beneath it, something slightly off. The clinking of utensils, the soft morning light, the familiar routine—it all feels the same, yet not quite.
Keiko looks at Ayumi for a moment before smiling gently. "Ayumi, what's wrong? You look tired today."
Ayumi lets out a small chuckle as she continues eating, trying to keep everything light and natural. "Really, Mom? It's nothing… hehe, maybe I'm just lacking a bit of sleep."
Sanika sighs softly, resting her cheek against her hand, her tone more blunt as always. "Well… Nii-san didn't come back, and it's Valentine's, right… sigh."
Keiko exhales as well, shaking her head slightly. "That brat… he really goes too far sometimes."
For a brief moment, the table grows quiet.
The words aren't meant to hurt, but they settle heavier than expected. Ayumi's hand pauses slightly, her fingers tightening around her chopsticks for just a second before she forces herself to move again.
"Hehehe… don't worry, Mom. He's just busy."
She says it gently, almost too gently, as if she's trying to reassure them—but also herself. Her smile remains, steady and practiced, but her eyes soften just a little, carrying a faint trace of something she quickly hides.
Because she understands.
She really does.
Zaboru has always been like that—driven, consumed by his work, pushing himself further than anyone else ever could. That's part of why she fell for him. That overwhelming presence, that ambition… that way he always moves forward without hesitation.
But…
Even so…
Today is still Valentine's Day.
And no matter how much she tells herself it doesn't matter, a small part of her had still hoped.
Just a little.
The conversation slowly shifts after that, returning to safer, more ordinary topics. Small talk, daily plans, light laughter—it all resumes like nothing happened. And Ayumi follows along perfectly, responding when needed, smiling when expected, playing her role without missing a beat.
But inside, that small feeling lingers quietly.
She finishes her breakfast as usual, maintaining her composure, not letting anything show. Not even a hint.
Then—
Her phone vibrates.
The sudden sound breaks her thoughts.
Ayumi glances down, slightly surprised, and sees a message from her brother.
The moment she reads it, her expression changes.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"Ayumi, meet me at the café near the Renkonan household. I want to talk about something important."
Ayumi blinks in surprise as she reads the message again, her brows knitting slightly. Her brother isn't the type to casually ask for a meeting like this—especially not with that kind of wording. If he says it's important, then it must truly be something serious.
Her mind immediately drifts to possibilities, most of them tied to Akaishidan matters. That alone is enough to make her chest tighten slightly.
She lowers her phone slowly, her thoughts beginning to weigh on her. Without wasting time, she turns to Keiko and tells her she needs to go out for a while to meet her brother. Keiko simply smiles and nods, not asking further questions, trusting her completely. That simple trust somehow makes Ayumi feel even more aware of the situation.
Ayumi heads to her room and begins putting on light makeup, though her movements are slower than usual. Normally, she would do this quickly without much thought—but today, her mind keeps drifting.
She looks at her reflection in the mirror.
And pauses.
'I wonder… why does Nii-san want to meet me?'
The question lingers longer than she expects. Her fingers hover slightly before continuing, but there's a faint uneasiness settling in her chest. It isn't fear—at least, not exactly.
Just… uncertainty.
Something feels off.
She finishes getting ready, taking one last look at herself in the mirror, as if trying to read her own expression. Then, quietly, she leaves the room and heads out of the house.
The air outside feels a little colder than usual.
Or maybe it's just her.
As she walks down the path, her steps steady but her thoughts not, that uncertain feeling stays with her—following her silently, growing just a little heavier with each step she takes toward the café.
To be continue
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