Chapter 30

The air on a summer night is warm, yet also slightly damp.

As evening fell, the courtyard of the Minamino residence quietly donned a new look—

Paper lanterns hung among the corridors and tree branches, their orange-red glow like sparks, softly scattering down.

The maids and butlers were busy setting up the stall: there were takoyaki, cotton candy, juice, goldfish scoops, and a small raffle table.

The air was filled with the aroma of grilled octopus and sweet candy, and the entire mansion seemed to be illuminated by the laughter of summer.

Sakura was completely bewildered when the maid led her to the bedroom.

"Madam, this bathrobe was specially prepared at the master's request."

"A yukata?" Sakura blinked her sea-blue eyes in surprise.

She looked at the open wardrobe, where a light pink yukata with a cherry blossom pattern hung quietly, tied with a snow-white sash at the waist.

"This is... prepared for me?" she asked softly.

“Yes,” the maid replied with a smile. “The master hopes that tonight, the lady will shine as brightly as the true protagonist of the summer festival.”

Sakura couldn't help but laugh.

"This person... clearly says he's too busy, but secretly prepares these things."

She gently touched her belly and whispered to the baby, "It seems that Daddy is really spoiled by Mommy."

Sakura, dressed in a yukata, stood in front of the mirror—

Her long golden hair was styled into a soft high bun, with a few strands falling down her temples.

The pink yukata accentuated her fair skin, and the sash at the waist cinched her curves, perfectly highlighting her gentle and charming temperament.

She turned around gently and smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

"Hmm... I don't think I look too 'pregnant' like this, do I?"

As she walked down the stairs, all the lanterns in the courtyard lit up.

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying with it the scent of incense from the night festival and the chirping of cicadas.

Minamino Shuichi stood under the lamplight, wearing a dark blue yukata, his red hair fluttering in the breeze.

The moment he looked up, his gaze was completely fixed—

A soft, pink light appeared at the end of the corridor. Sakura gently protected her abdomen with one hand and lightly held onto the handrail with the other.

Her smile was gentle, and her eyes sparkled like stars.

"Shuichi~ You're really exaggerating." She chuckled softly.

"This is just like a real summer festival!"

"certainly."

He stepped forward and took her hand.

"Because my wife wants a summer that has to be perfect."

Sakura looked into his earnest green eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

"You're getting better and better at sweet talk."

“I’m just being honest,” he chuckled softly. “You look really beautiful tonight.”

The night breeze caused the lanterns to sway slightly.

Sakura was led to the stall, and looking at the familiar "summer festival snacks," she couldn't help but smile.

Wow~ There really are takoyaki!

“Of course.” Shuichi coughed lightly, pretending to be serious, and said, “It’s a flavor personally supervised by the president.”

"Then I must try it."

She forked a takoyaki, carefully blew on it, and put it in her mouth; her eyes immediately lit up.

Mmm, delicious!

"How about some more cotton candy?" He smiled, picked up a cotton candy, and held it to her lips.

"Hey~ I'm not a child anymore." She smiled and nudged him, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

"To me, you will always be."

Sakura blushed slightly and lowered her head to giggle.

At a lottery booth not far away, the butler brought out a box labeled "Lucky Prize".

"Madam, the master has prepared a special prize. Would you like to try it?"

"A special prize?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "It's not going to be another 'I'll spoil you for life' voucher written by Shuichi, is it?"

“That’s not bad either.” Shuichi chuckled softly in her ear, “But this award is really different.”

Sakura mischievously pulled out a slip of paper and unfolded it—

A line of hastily written but gentle words was on it:

"Fireworks preparations underway at 8 PM tonight."

Your smile was the first firework I set off.

She paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head: "It really was you who wrote it."

"Of course." He gently took her hand and led her to the center of the courtyard.

A gentle breeze stirred under the night sky.

Shuichi made a hand gesture, and then a golden firework exploded in the sky.

The light illuminated Sakura's face, and she opened her eyes wide, looking up in amazement.

Fireworks burst forth, their pink, blue, and white petals reflected in her eyes.

“Shuichi…so beautiful,” she whispered.

“Yes.” He looked at her, not at the fireworks.

"But not as pretty as you."

She turned to look at him, smiling and shaking her head: "You really are... getting better and better at talking."

"Because the person I love is right in front of me."

He gently leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Fireworks burst above their heads, light mingling with the night.

At that moment, Sakura leaned against him and whispered—

"Shuichi, thank you."

Summers with you are truly blissful.

He held her tightly, his reply soft yet firm as a vow.

"From now on, you will be with me in every season."

The wind blew the paper lanterns, and golden halos swayed on the water's surface.

The last firework burst into bloom in the distance, like a heart on the horizon.

Quietly beating—

I shine for love, I was born for her.

The afternoon sun shone quietly into the living room.

The television screen flickered, and the sports channel was broadcasting the International Tennis Open.

The screen shows a familiar stadium and familiar poses—

That resolute figure was none other than Tokugawa Ichiya.

Sakura sat on the soft sofa, hugging a cushion in her arms, with a thin blanket draped over her.

She leaned slightly against the back of the sofa, her long golden hair falling over her shoulders, her hand unconsciously resting on her slightly protruding belly.

The sound of the racket hitting the ball echoed in the room with a "snap."

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and for some reason, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

—That was a memory from outside her former world.

She has toured so many countries and met countless audience members.

And those people standing on the field are also chasing their own stage.

Their gazes, like the strings of her violin, shone with a passion for their dreams.

Sakura's eyes softened.

The scene shifts to the moment when Tokugawa Ichiya is fighting hard, and she can't help but smile faintly.

"...Still just as serious."

She murmured softly.

She recalled that a few years ago, she and her musical theater company were invited to tour the world, and it was at the opening ceremony that she met those teenagers for the first time.

She was playing the violin on stage, while they were organizing rackets backstage.

The brief exchange, lasting only a few minutes, unexpectedly became part of the memories.

—Atobe Keigo's confident smile.

—Yukimura Seiichi's quiet yet sharp gaze,

—Tezuka Kunimitsu's calm and almost imperceptible gentleness.

—And the youthful spirit and vigor of the Echizen brothers.

They are all shining in different directions.

At some point, they all reached out to her with the hand of affection.

"Miss Sakura, I will prove with my victory that I am worthy of you."

"I'll come back to listen to your violin after I win the world championship."

"The pinnacle of music and tennis—wait for me to catch up with you."

Those youthful and sincere confessions, when recalled now, still feel like a gentle breeze brushing against my heart.

But she refused them.

It wasn't because she wasn't moved, but because she understood—

Everyone should walk their own path.

"Their dream is the stadium."

She spoke softly, a gentle light in her eyes.

"And my world is an ocean of musical notes."

At that time, she was just a young principal violinist, passionate about music and wanting to convey emotions through melodies.

She doesn't want to be a burden to anyone's progress, and she certainly doesn't want "liking" to become a reason to hinder her dreams.

"Even if they use victory as a wager for their confession, that kind of affection... is too heavy."

She sighed and gently stroked her belly.

"I just hope they can win with a smile, not lose because of me."

On television, Tokugawa delivered the winning goal.

The entire audience stood up and applauded.

Sakura unconsciously clapped her hands as well, and said softly with a smile, "Congratulations, Tokugawa-kun."

At that moment, she suddenly felt a strange sense of peace.

She is no longer the girl who stood alone on the world stage performing.

Now, she has a gentle husband and a baby of her own.

Life has moved to a different rhythm.

She leaned back on the sofa and whispered to the baby in her belly:

"Mom has met many dazzling people before."

But...of all those lights, the one Mom loved most was the one who always gently caught her.

After saying that, she smiled softly.

"Your father is always so quiet, yet he knows how to put people at ease."

Just then, familiar footsteps came from the doorway.

"I'm back."

Shuichi Minamino's voice remained as gentle as ever.

He changed out of his coat and went into the living room.

Seeing that Sakura was watching TV, he asked softly, "What are you watching?"

"A tennis match," she replied with a smile.

"Tokugawa Ichiya won."

"Oh? The contestant who once invited you to perform in Europe?"

"Um."

She tilted her head and smiled gently, "He won very well. That focused expression is a bit like yours when you're working."

Xiu Yi smiled slightly and walked over to sit down next to her.

"So, do you also think your husband is quite handsome?"

"Um……"

Sakura pretended to think for a moment, then looked at him with a smile, "I'd say he's barely handsome~"

"reluctantly?"

He raised an eyebrow slightly and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"It seems I need to reassess my place in your heart."

"Hey~ Shuichi!" She laughed and pushed him away, but still leaned into his arms.

On television, the commentator is summarizing the match results.

And at that moment, the distance between them gently shortened.

Sakura leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and sighed softly:

"You know what, I've figured it out now."

Some people are meant to be admired, while others are meant to be liked...

But you are the one I want to rely on.

Shuichi Minamino lowered his head and kissed her hair.

"Then remember, from now on you'll always rely on me."

"Of course."

She laughed, her voice as soft as the echo of a harp string.

"Because I have found the gentlest melody in my life—"

That's you.