As Kyouko was finishing her story, one of the boys raised his hand without waiting to be called.
"How long you been married to Haruki onii-san?"
"Ah... umm..." she hesitated, clearly caught off guard, her hands pausing mid-gesture.
But before she could speak, Haruki stepped into the room, smiling as he approached.
"One year," he said smoothly. "More than one year now."
The children turned to him with wide eyes.
"Then—then—" another girl piped up with a grin, "when are you gonna have a baby, Haruki onii-san? With onee-san?"
The question hung in the air like a firecracker.
Kyouko’s eyes widened, her lips parting, but no words came out.
A soft blush crept over her cheeks, and she quickly looked down, hiding a small, breathy laugh behind her hand.
Haruki scratched his cheek, clearly caught between amusement and embarrassment.
"Well... that’s a tough question."
He looked at Kyouko, "We’ll see," he added with a smile. "Maybe someday soon."
The kids all let out a collective "Oooooh~" followed by cheerful giggles and whispers.
One boy clapped excitedly.
"I hope it’s a girl! She’ll be so pretty like Onee-san!"
Another added, "No way! A boy, so he can play soccer with us!"
Kyouko laughed, eyes glowing with warmth.
Just as the laughter settled and one of the children climbed onto her lap, Kyouko’s phone buzzed softly in her pocket.
She glanced at the screen.
She looked over at Haruki, who had just taken a seat beside a group of boys showing off their drawings.
He met her gaze with a calm smile.
She took a breath. Then answered.
"Hello," she said softly, her voice calm—but inside.
How dare this man ruin my peaceful day...
"Kyouko? Where are you?" came Satoshi’s impatient voice.
"I’m visiting someplace," she replied, her tone even. "Why?"
"My business partner wants to invite us to a private dinner. Tonight. It’s important."
She stared at the wall.
Her eyes narrowed, but her lips curled into a false smile as she interrupted smoothly.
"Hmm? I can’t... hear... you..."
"Hello?" Satoshi repeated, irritation creeping into his voice.
"Ah... the signal... bad... hello?"
Her voice became lighter, as if flickering through static.
"Sorry, can’t... hear you..."
A beat of silence passed, and then she exhaled slowly, slipping her phone away.
"Who was that, Onee-san?" one of the kids asked curiously.
She looked at them with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Ah... just some pervert. Maybe a scammer, who knows~"
"Mm?" she looked up from her tablet.
"Try calling your mom!" Satoshi’s voice was sharp.
"I was trying, Papa..." Satomi replied coolly, tapping her phone again. "But it looks like her phone’s out of reach."
Her tone was calm, but her brow twitched slightly.
Satoshi clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Damn it... Fujiwara wants to have a private dinner tonight. He was expecting all of us—and especially your mother. You know how important this is for the company."
"I know, Papa, I know." Satomi sighed. "I’ll try Haruki now. If she’s with anyone... it’s probably him."
She opened her contact list, eyes narrowing.
Then tapped Haruki’s name.
Meanwhile, back at the orphanage...
Haruki’s phone buzzed quietly on the nearby table.
He glanced down, saw the name.
He raised it slightly, just enough for Kyouko to see the screen.
She looked over from where she sat on the floor, her fingers gently tying a little girl’s long hair into a neat braid.
She smiled faintly. Calm. Serene.
She didn’t say anything—but her eyes said enough.
Haruki pressed the answer button, lifting the phone to his ear.
His tone was clipped. Professional.
"Haruki? Is Mom with you?" Satomi’s voice came fast, demanding.
Haruki let his gaze flick briefly toward Kyouko, then away.
"No. I’m in a meeting right now. Important. Can’t be too long. Call you later."
And just like that, he ended the call without waiting for her reply.
Kyouko sat quietly, her fingers moving with practiced ease as she tied the long, silky strands of the little girl’s hair into a neat, elegant braid.
The child sat still in front of her, clearly enjoying the attention, her head tilted slightly forward like a sleepy kitten.
Kyouko’s eyes softened as she worked, her expression peaceful—almost glowing.
"You’re so cute..." she whispered.
"I wonder if... I can have a child..."
The moment the words left her lips, her eyes widened slightly.
She quickly covered her mouth with one hand, her cheeks tinged pink.
She glanced up, hoping no one heard.
He had been leaning quietly by the wall, watching her with warm eyes.
Another little girl across the room looked up, eyes sparkling as she saw the finished braid.
"Onee-san!! I want that too!! Please braid mine!!"
Kyouko laughed softly, her hand resting gently on the first girl’s shoulder as she finished tying the ribbon at the end.
"Okay~ come here. I’ll make you look just as cute."
The second girl skipped over, sitting down eagerly in front of her.
Kyouko tucked her hair behind her ears and began again—gracefully, carefully.
From the side, Haruki watched, arms crossed casually, leaning against the wall.
His gaze was warm, eyes never leaving Kyouko as she knelt among the children like she’d always belonged.
"I was hoping our first child would be a boy. Or twins, maybe."
Kyouko’s hands paused for a moment.
Her cheeks flushed again.
She didn’t look back at him—but he could see the way her lips curled into a smile.
"Mou~ don’t say that in front of them," she whispered under her breath, barely audible.
The girl beneath her squirmed excitedly.
"What did he say, Onee-san?"
Kyouko gently tapped the girl’s head.
"Nothing~ just your silly Haruki onii-san saying silly things. Sit still~"
Haruki chuckled, his eyes lingering on her.
One day, I’ll have Kyouko.
Married to her. For real.
No more stolen nights. No more sneaking around hallways like we’re something shameful.
I want her to wake up beside me every morning.
I want to say she’s mine—openly. Proudly.
But the only thing standing in his way—
That man who doesn’t deserve her.
But what if he never lets her go?
Haruki stood quietly in the orphanage hallway, hands in his pockets, watching the soft afternoon light spill across the wooden floor.
From inside the room, he could still hear Kyouko’s gentle voice as she braided another child’s hair, her laugh soft and kind.
I don’t want to wait anymore.
I don’t want to live .
I don’t want to hide the best thing in my life.
I don’t want to keep saying "maybe someday."
I want her. Officially.
As the mother of my child.
And if Satoshi refused to give her up...
Then maybe it was time for me to stopped waiting.