Spring Blooms When I'm With You

Except for getting the mysterious envelope, there was no other thing that happened to Tsubaki or Ren. Both of them met President Souma and Mrs. Souma before bidding their farewell. Tsubaki chose to ignore the occasional look thrown at her by President Souma.

She somehow got a hunch that this man would really seek her soon.

As for Mr. Souma, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Do you still go to your bakery? I plan to make a visit soon," Mrs. Souma asked before they parted.

"I do, even though I tend to go a bit late nowadays," Tsubaki was elated at the thought of Mrs. Souma coming to Camellia's Sweets, "Kanako always comes to freeload on the desserts. Aunt, you shouldn't let her benefit for herself only. Please come."

"Alright," Mrs. Souma nodded in a good mood, "I'll text you later. Be careful on the road."

"Goodbye, Aunt Shiori," Tsubaki gave a bow to the couple, "See you again, President Souma."

Ren silently followed his wife's action. Although he had grown to dislike President Souma because of his involvement in Tsubaki's parents' matter, he still couldn't display it too openly.

"Are we going back to the old house?" Tsubaki asked once they got inside the car.

"No," Ren shook his head, "We're heading to our home."

Instead of returning to the old house, Ren instructed Hibiki to drive them back to Spring Garden. He had made a call to Grandma, saying that he would straightaway bring Tsubaki to their home. Grandma relented if he promised to come to the old house next weekend.

Once they stepped inside their abode in Spring Garden, Ren breathed out a sigh of relief.

He had really missed their home, as well as her presence.

No one knew how hard he suppressed himself to not immediately come home after the news of his wife being blocked by Mr. Souma's bodyguards reached his ears. He couldn't stay still until the moment he saw her safe and sound at the banquet earlier.

"Sweetheart," Ren's voice croaked as he called out to her.

Tsubaki lifted up her eyes from the shoe cabinet where she placed her heels. With a turn of the corners of her lips, she smiled dazzlingly at him.

"Yes, darling~ Hehe, come here."

"...I was scared," Ren said dumbly.

Tsubaki smiled wearily. A hint of fear and loss tinged her man's voice as it was muffled down by her skin.

"I am safe. Our baby is safe. You are here with us, darling," Tsubaki was patient as she ran her fingers over his head. The feeling of his soft hair tickled her palm.

Ren raised up his head. Tsubaki looked straight at her husband's eyes that had turned red. Seeing him like this distressed Tsubaki as she understood what was he scared of.

Tsubaki stroked his face with the back of her hand. Ren turned his head and kissed her knuckles. His action brought out laughter from her lips. Soon, her laugh was swallowed down by him as he molded his lips with hers.

It was a long and ardent kiss.

As Ren sensed his wife was almost breathless, he reluctantly parted his lips from hers. Before she could react, he peppered her face with tender kisses. His lips skimmed over her skin like butterflies. Tsubaki chuckled once she regained her breath.

"Darling, I haven't say it," Tsubaki cupped his face. Her eyes curved as joy and love overflowed from them, seeping straight into his heart.

"What it is?" Ren dropped another light kiss on her lips.

Tsubaki giggled as she felt ticklish. Her smile was imbued with warmth, then, she softly said, "Welcome home, darling."

Ren paused from continued kissing her. Tenderness gleamed in his dark eyes. He replied, "Sweetheart, I'm home."

Wherever you were, that was my home.

Ren prepared a warm bath for both of them. Although Tsubaki didn't say anything about it, he could tell she was tired. Perhaps, it was due to her moving around when they were in the banquet as well as the tension burdening her mind because of the crooked man's instigation.

"How does it feel?" Ren asked his wife who was sitting with her back facing him.

"Oh, that feels good," Tsubaki laughed in contentment. She played with the bubbles floating on the surface of the bathtub.

Ren smiled as he pressed the same pressure on her shoulders.

"Do you want to eat anything for dinner tonight?" Ren switched his hands from her shoulders to her head. He lightly massaged her temples as he watched her from the back.

"Hurm, what do I want to eat, en?" Tsubaki lowered her eyes and playfully patted on her bulging tummy, "Baby, hurry up. What do you want to eat? Daddy's going to cook for us. En? What did you say? Ah, Baby wants omurice, chicken tempura, cuc.u.mber salad, grilled salmon, strawberry pancakes,..."

"Are you really sure that's what Baby wants?" Ren laughed heartily. He still remembered how much she had eaten at the banquet. She was still hungry?

"I and Baby have telepathy. How could you deny that?" Tsubaki answered cheekily.

Ren helplessly smiled at how his wife replied to her. He stood up from the bathtub and came out of it. Water with bubbles splashed on the surface of the bathroom. He turned around and opened up his arms.

"Alright, alright. Daddy won't say no to Mommy," Ren grinned foolishly, "Come, sweetheart. Let's rinse the bubbles first and then I'll cook for you."

Another burst of laughter from Tsubaki filled the bathroom. She carefully stood up and let her husband carried her to the shower.

"I miss being pampered by you," Tsubaki professed while clung tightly to Ren, "Ah, where would I find a man like you? If you're going on another business trip, I think I have to follow you along."

"How come your words become more sugar-coated now?" Ren said so even though he was extremely pleased with his wife's coyness toward him, "Do you only eat honey while I was away?"

"I'm your honey~ Hehehe~"

Ren used all of his self-restraint to avoid committing something he shouldn't have.

Ah, what to do?

His wife had become so cute and sweet.

By the time they came out of the bathroom, it was only a little over five o'clock. Tsubaki dressed in a set of warm home clothes before she plopped on the bed. She rolled around a few times before she stopped and cutely blinking at her husband who was watching her by the bedside.

"Darling," Tsubaki spread out her arms, "Hug me. I want to sleep."

Ren let out another laugh. He quickly got into the bed and held her in the safety of his arms. He nuzzled their noses together as his laughter still reverberated inside the bedroom.

"You can't sleep without me?" Ren playfully pinched her nose, "But, I have been away for a few days. I heard Grandma said you frequently took naps."

"I pictured the pillow as you so then I could sleep," Tsubaki answered cleverly. She sighed in comfort as she snuggled closer to her husband, "Ah, it feels good to have my cuddly bear back with me."

Ren broke into another laughter. He couldn't count how many times he had laughed today because of her cheekiness.

"Go to sleep," Ren let his wife laid her head comfortably on his upper arm. His other hand dr.a.p.ed over her waist as he pulled her toward him, "I'll stay until you sleep. By the time you wake up, do expect a feast on a table, alright?"

"Hehe~" Tsubaki placed her hands around his tapered waist. She started to recite, "Omurice, chicken tempura, cuc.u.mber salad, grilled salmon, strawberry pancakes,..."

Ren once again felt helpless. He quietly watched his wife fell asleep as her voice turned incoherent. In no time, her eyes closed and her breathing evened, signaling that she had fallen into a deep sleep.

"You have worked hard, sweetheart," Ren leaned down and brushed his lips on her forehead, "It's time to rest."

Tsubaki hadn't mentioned it but Ren saw the moment when the waitress handed her something that looked like a piece of paper. Since he would habitually glance in her direction, he watched the moment.

Ren didn't know if the paper was important or not. If it was, she would bring it up later.

"Baby," Ren lowered his voice. His gaze landed on his wife's protruding belly, "You have done a good job accompanying Mommy for Daddy. Continue being Mommy's support, okay?"

Ren chuckled lightly as he thought it was incredulous to speak to their child who was just beginning to form in her belly. Even so, the action brought tranquility to him.

She was here with him and their child would grace their world next.

There was nothing else he wished for except for their happiness until the end of their journey of life.