At the dinner table.
The fruit cake had been prepared by Yukinoshita Yukino and Kawasaki Saki.
The dishes were made by Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko.
Kawasaki Keika and Tsurumi Rumi helped with plating, and all the food they had brought was now laid out on the table.
Hiratsuka Shizuka and Tsurumi Saori had wanted to help too, but there really wasn't anything left for them to do.
Yuigahama Yui sat at the table, looking around at everyone with warmth blooming in her heart.
Last year on her birthday, she'd just eaten cake at home with her mother.
But this year, she was here—with the one she loved, with friends, with everyone from Sakurasou.
Ever since meeting Su Yu, her life had changed drastically.
"Th-thank you, everyone," Yui said with a smile.
"Don't start crying yet—we've still got one more guest," Su Yu said, noticing the shimmer of tears in Yui's eyes.
"Yui." A voice called out.
"Mom…" Yui looked toward the voice and saw her mother, Yuigahama Asuna, walking out from the Kawasaki household, surprise lighting up her face.
"I wasn't planning to come, but little Yukino sent a driver to pick me up. So, here I am. I hope I'm not intruding?" Asuna said with a cheerful smile.
"Of course not!" Yui stood up and hugged her mother tightly.
Asuna patted her back, her gaze shifting to Su Yu, eyes full of appreciation.
From the wedding rehearsal to the clothes he'd bought, to helping Yui fulfill her childhood dream—these things were nothing short of romantic.
She had read Yui's childhood diary and knew exactly how lonely her daughter used to be.
That was one of the reasons they'd moved houses back then.
But having too many people around didn't seem to help either.
Yui had always been the accommodating one, gradually turning into the girl she was before.
If it weren't for Su Yu, Yui might've lived a life of quiet resignation—working, surviving, going through the motions.
So Asuna was truly grateful to Su Yu.
What he gave Yui wasn't just love—it was transformation, inside and out.
"Your dad also prepared a birthday gift for you—it's at home. He was going to call you today, but I thought it might interrupt your date. You can call him tomorrow," Asuna said softly.
"Okay." Yui wiped her eyes.
Everyone took their seats.
Su Yu and Asuna sat on either side of Yui.
Kawasaki Kyouka clapped her little hands and started singing the birthday song, and everyone else joined in.
Yui closed her eyes and made a wish.
Then she blew out all the candles in one breath.
When it came time to cut the cake—
Yui gave the first slice to her mother, Asuna.
The second slice, surprisingly, wasn't for Su Yu—it was for Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino accepted it silently, their eyes meeting for a moment. Nothing needed to be said.
The third slice went to Su Yu, though Yui cheekily stole the fruit topping off of it.
Then came a slice for Shizuka-sensei.
Then Miura Yumiko, Ebina Hina.
Then Saki and Kyouka.
Finally, Saori and Rumi.
Once everyone had their piece, they began to eat.
The food and fruit were both delicious.
...
After dinner—
Asuna followed Yui upstairs to her small bedroom.
The clothes Su Yu had bought for Yui had been delivered to Sakurasou that afternoon.
Since Asuna had arrived late and only heard Yukino talk about the gifts, she hadn't seen them with her own eyes—until now.
Seeing all the clothes, the necklace, the cost of the wedding rehearsal, the meals and fruit… she realized just how good Su Yu was to Yui.
All this easily added up to over a million yen.
Watching her daughter's joy, Asuna couldn't help but feel a bit worried.
Su Yu spending so much on Yui—this wasn't necessarily a good thing.
If they got married, Yui might stay home to raise children. If Su Yu ever got close to another woman outside, Yui probably wouldn't say a word even if she found out. She'd just cry quietly.
Asuna herself had been a full-time homemaker, but she'd had financial support from her parents. Her husband hadn't been well-off at the start—it was thanks to that money that they pulled through.
If she'd relied completely on her husband, they never would've had a happy marriage.
Give and take—that's what makes love last.
Love without balance… in the future...
"Don't worry, Aunt Asuna," Su Yu's voice cut in, "Yui's not just a pretty face. She's been working on a game with the others, and it's almost done. Once it launches, she'll get a share of the profits. Plus, the game's going to be adapted into an anime."
"Making a game? Can Yui really do that?" Asuna asked, stunned.
"Yui can draw—don't underestimate her. I always call her a little dummy, but the truth is, she's very smart. She's helping me a lot with my work." Su Yu smiled.
"…I guess I was overthinking things," Asuna said, staring intently at Su Yu.
Su Yu just smiled, saying nothing more.
Asuna finally felt at ease and stopped worrying about her daughter's future.
...
Half an hour later—
Asuna and Yukino left Sakurasou together.
As they rode in the car—
Asuna suddenly brought up Yukino's fiancé.
Yukino didn't look surprised.
She had already been warned about this earlier in the day by Yui.
So—
"My fiancé is very capable. He's currently working with the Yukinoshita family's construction company. Both my sister and the rest of my family are very satisfied with him," Yukino replied calmly.
"I'm so jealous, Yukino. Yui doesn't really have any useful skills. I've always been worried about her. She played alone when she was little… We even moved to a more crowded neighborhood just to help her make friends. But in the end…"
Asuna spoke about Yui's past.
Yukino listened quietly, wanting to understand Yui better.
Once Asuna had said most of what was on her mind, she turned to look at Yukino.
"Yukino… honestly, I used to be worried that you and Yui would end up fighting over Su Yu-kun."
"You don't have to worry about that," Yukino said with a faint smile.
"I'm not worried anymore. I just hope you and Yui can stay friends. That girl is smarter than she lets on. She pretends to be dumb, but if Su Yu-kun ever did get another girlfriend, she'd probably act like she didn't know, crying all alone," Asuna sighed.
"I know. Yui is incredibly kind—just like my sister. The only difference is, my sister pretends to be someone else, while Yui lies to herself," Yukino said softly, speaking from experience.
Asuna nodded. She knew her daughter well.
Yukino glanced at her but didn't bring up marriage.
It still wasn't the right time…