Eri chuckled, reached out, and gave his arm a light pinch. It was barely a squeeze.
"Don't give me that. You spent half a month in the United States; don't think I'm blind. You were eating steak and drinking red wine in California every day, while I was at home, unable to even swallow water because of morning sickness."
She intentionally drew out the last syllable, her voice filled with coquettish playfulness.
Takuya Nakayama took her hand and wrapped it in his palm.
"My fault. From now on, even if Wall Street collapses, I'll be here at home with you."
"You said it yourself." Eri squeezed his hand back, her thumb rubbing against the back of his hand. "If the doctor says I've gained weight at tomorrow's check-up, you'll have to take responsibility."
As the two were chatting, the sound of wooden clogs clicking against the floorboards came from behind them.
Miyuki Nakayama walked over with a plate of sliced fruit and set it on the small table between them.
"Takuya is back." Miyuki glanced at her son before turning to her daughter-in-law. "Eri, have some fruit. Is your appetite any better today?"
"I'm feeling much better, Mother." Eri let go of Takuya's hand and picked up a piece of apple. "Everything has been tasting so good these past few days; I even stole two more of Kazuki's puddings."
Miyuki beamed, unable to hide her smile.
"It's a good thing you can eat. You were the same way when you were pregnant with Kazuki—your appetite exploded after the first three months. Takuya, keep an eye on Kazuki and don't let him pester Eri too much."
"I am." Nakayama Takuya picked up a piece of melon and handed it to Eri.
There was some movement at the entryway.
Nakayama Hayao strode in, holding an exquisite paper box.
"Where's Kazuki?" the old man asked the moment he walked in, looking for his grandson.
"He went to wash his hands," Miyuki replied.
Nakayama Hayao walked over to the veranda, placed the box on the table, and glanced at Takuya.
"No overtime today?"
"The E3 handover is finished," Nakayama Takuya replied. "Frank is keeping an eye on the Netscape situation."
Nakayama Hayao nodded and didn't ask any more questions about work.
He had seen it clearly these past few days: his youngest son was determined to be a devoted husband who put his family first.
Kazuki ran out after washing his hands, his eyes lighting up as soon as they landed on the paper bag on the table.
"Grandpa, what is this?"
"The latest remote-controlled car." Hayao pushed the box over, his face full of kindness. "I specifically had someone bring it back from Akihabara."
Kazuki cheered and hugged the paper bag, eager to unwrap it.
Eri watched this scene and leaned close to Takuya's ear, lowering her voice.
"Do you think your dad will clear out all the dolls in Akihabara once he finds out the one in my belly is a girl?"
Takuya Nakayama turned to look at her.
"Did the doctor tell you?"
"I went for a routine check-up yesterday, and the doctor let it slip." Eri winked, her eyes full of mischief.
Takuya Nakayama chuckled.
"The old man will probably build an amusement park in the yard."
The family sat around the dinner table.
The atmosphere was relaxed.
Hayao Nakayama was putting food on Kazuki's plate as he ate.
Miyuki was attentive to Eri's appetite, occasionally turning nutritious dishes toward her.
"Takuya," Hayao Nakayama put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Sony has been making big moves lately; Ken Kutaragi took a trip to Hollywood."
"I've heard about it," Takuya Nakayama said, swallowing his food. "They want to copy us, approaching Columbia Pictures to make movie-based games."
"Are you confident you can handle it?"
"They're just following the trend; nothing to fear." Takuya picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and placed it in Eri's bowl. "Our development experience and technical foundation are still far deeper than Sony's. Even if they get the script, it won't be easy for them to achieve the same results as Toy Story."
Eri looked at the tamagoyaki in her bowl and poked it with her chopsticks.
"Dad, please stop talking about work with him at the dinner table." Eri looked up at her father-in-law, her tone full of playful teasing. "He's made 'leaving work on time' his life motto now. If you give him any more work, I'm afraid he won't even set foot in Sega tomorrow."
Hayao Nakayama was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Fine, no more work talk." The old man pointed at Takuya. "You kid, you're completely under your wife's thumb."
Takuya Nakayama shrugged, unconcerned.
"Only with a stable home front can you win battles on the front lines."
Miyuki chimed in from the side.
"Takuya is right. If you had been half as devoted to your family back then as he is, I wouldn't have had to raise those two boys all by myself."
Having his shortcomings exposed by his wife, Hayao Nakayama gave a dry cough and picked up his teacup to mask his embarrassment.
After dinner, Kazuki pestered Hayao to help him assemble a remote-controlled car in the living room.
Takuya helped Eri walk in the courtyard to aid her digestion.
A gentle summer breeze blew by, carrying the scent of soil and grass.
"You were pretty bold at the dinner table earlier, joking around with the old man like that," Takuya said, slowing his pace to match hers.
"Dad has a great temper. As long as you don't mention Nintendo, he'll take any joke." Eri linked her arm with his, leaning half her weight against him.
They walked to a bench in the corner of the courtyard and sat down.
Takuya reached out and put his arm around her shoulders to help her get comfortable.
"These past few months have been tough on you," he said.
Eri leaned on his shoulder, gazing up at the night sky.
"Not tough at all. We have Aunt Keiko at home, Mother is always finding new ways to cook for me, and my dad comes over every few days to fight with Kazuki over his toys. I'm living more comfortably here than when I was a 'rich girl' at the TV station."
She paused for a moment and tilted her head to look at his profile.
"It's you I'm worried about, running back and forth, managing the company and taking care of the family."
"I don't mind." Takuya pinched her cheek. "No matter how high Silicon Valley Online's stock price goes, it doesn't compare to having dinner with you all."
Eri hummed softly.
"You're such a smooth talker. Did you practice that with hostesses in the States?"
"I've been framed," Takuya Nakayama said, raising his hands in surrender. "In the States, aside from meetings, it was all roadshows. I barely even saw what a hostess looked like."
Eri was amused.
She snuggled closer into his arms, finding a comfortable spot.
"Takuya."
"Hm?"
"If it really is a girl, have you thought of a name?"
"I have," Takuya said, taking her hand. "Let's call her Miki. Miki Nakayama."
"Miki..." Eri whispered, nodding. "It's pretty. Kazuki, Miki. You can tell they're family just by hearing it."
"We are family, after all," Takuya Nakayama said, pulling her closer.
In the yard, Kazuki's cheers mixed with the whir of his remote-controlled car.
The living room light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the lawn, casting long shadows.
Takuya Nakayama looked out at it all.
From the soul that had died of alcohol poisoning at a graduation party in his past life, to having all of this now.
He knew exactly what he wanted.
The empire of his video game company was expanding, and he had already gotten ahead of the internet wave.
But none of that felt as real as the warmth of the woman in his arms.
"After we finish your check-up at the hospital tomorrow, let's go have that kaiseki cuisine you love so much," Takuya said.
"Okay." Eri closed her eyes, enjoying the quiet summer night.
Life should be like this. Half grand and magnificent, half simple everyday joys.
And he would have both.
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