Chapter 24
Ginza, Tokyo.
Amidst towering buildings, a secluded European-style café on a street corner casts a soft glow from its crystal chandelier, filling the air with the aroma of coffee and rose tea.
As always, Keigo Atobe arrived early.
He wore a sharp, custom-made suit, his blond hair gleaming coldly in the sunlight, exuding an elegant yet undeniably aristocratic air.
However, at this moment, a few barely noticeable blue veins were twitching between his eyebrows.
The reason is simple.
Besides him, a group of people he knew very well appeared in the coffee shop one after another.
Tezuka Kunimitsu sat by the window, his aura so composed that even the air seemed to give way.
Yukimura Seiichi smiled, holding his teacup, his expression gentle, but a sharp edge lurked in his eyes.
Ryoga Echizen leaned back lazily in his chair, while Ryoma Echizen next to him was idly stirring his juice.
"Hey—you guys, did you come to the wrong place?" Atobe asked clearly.
Ryoma raised one eyebrow and grinned nonchalantly: "How could I have come to the wrong place? I just heard that 'this great one' secretly invited Hoshino Sakura to afternoon tea today, so I came to join in the fun."
Ryoma chimed in from the side, "Brother is right, I also want to see Sakura-neechan."
Atobe's sun throbbed twice.
"Echizen Ryoga, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
Yukimura put down his teacup and smiled gently: "I heard that Miss Sakura recently took a long leave of absence, and there are rumors at the musical theater company that she is pregnant. We... are also very concerned about her health."
Tezuka Kunimitsu nodded: "After all, she once performed for us at the World Opening Ceremony, and we should repay that kindness."
Atobe sneered, "Ha... How pretentious. Are you sure you're not trying to steal someone away while I'm treating you to dinner?"
“You underestimate us.” Yukimura smiled gently as always. “We just want to meet our ‘future mother’.”
A moment of silence.
—Atobe's veins finally bulged out.
"What are you all thinking?!"
Just as he was about to continue his sarcastic remarks, the coffee shop door was pushed open.
The doorbell rang crisply, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Sunlight shone on the blond hair by the door.
Sakura walked in gently, wearing a beige dress, her steps elegant. Two months pregnant, her belly wasn't very noticeable yet, but her overall demeanor had become softer.
The maid carefully supported her, pulled out a chair for her, and stood guard behind her.
In that instant, the air in the coffee shop softened.
"Long time no see," she said with a smile, her voice soft and warm with familiarity.
Yukimura stood up and bowed, Tezuka nodded in acknowledgment, and Ryoma and Ryoga waved simultaneously: "Yo~ Sakura!"
Sakura's eyes lit up when she saw Echizen Ryoma, and a genuine smile spread across her face.
"Ryoma! You've grown taller!" She walked straight over, hugged the boy tightly, and buried his head in her chest: "Still as cute as ever, like a kitten!"
"Hmm—"
Ryoma struggled helplessly, "Sakura-neechan! I'm almost sixteen!"
"You're still adorable at sixteen!" she said, her smile radiant with sweetness.
Tezuka, Yukimura, and Atobe, who were standing nearby, all had dark lines on their faces.
Atobe gritted his teeth: "...As expected, the Echizen brothers are the most dangerous."
Yukimura sighed with a half-smile, "It seems we've arrived too late."
Tezuka coldly added, "A miscalculation."
Just as everyone was still silent, a light footstep came from the doorway.
A deep, steady male voice rang out—
"Wow, the party was so lively! Am I late?"
Everyone looked up at the same time.
Minamino Shuichi walked in wearing a dark gray trench coat, holding his jacket in his arms, looking calm and composed.
He walked over to Sakura's table, bent down in front of everyone, and gently put his arm around her shoulder.
Did you have fun at the party?
Sakura looked up, smiled, and nodded: "Yeah, I'm so happy~"
That scene was so tender it was almost blinding.
Atobe finally smiled, his tone sharp: "I never expected to run into President Minamino here."
“Likewise.” Minamino Hideichi returned the smile with a polite smile, but his eyes revealed a sharp edge. “I didn’t expect that the heir of the Atobe Group would also take the time to have afternoon tea with a pregnant woman.”
"I'm just taking care of a friend."
“Me too,” he replied casually. “Except, she’s my wife.”
In short, it was so quiet you could hear the sugar spoon hitting the porcelain cup.
Yukimura smiled and looked at Atobe: "It seems that I didn't lose unjustly."
Tezuka sighed, "As expected, the outcome of this match... is already decided."
Ryoga shrugged: "Well, at least we all saw her."
Ryoma, still held in Sakura's arms, could only mutter in a low voice, "Sister, your husband is so scary."
Sakura patted Ryoma's head with a smile: "He just looks fierce, but he's actually very gentle."
As he laughed, Minamino Shuichi whispered in her ear, "Explain the definitions of 'cute' and 'hugging someone' to me when we get home."
Sakura: "...I suddenly feel that afternoon tea is a dangerous activity."
Outside the café, the setting sun painted the sky gold.
Atobe watched the two figures walk away side by side, and chuckled softly.
“Nanye Shuichi… Ha, I admit, you win this time.”
Yukimura smiled faintly: "You lost gracefully."
Tezuka adjusted his glasses: "Next time, please choose an opponent who isn't pregnant."
Ryoga laughed heartily and pulled Ryoma away, saying, "Sakura is still as beautiful as ever. In this battle, everyone was defeated."
At the street corner, Shuichi Minamino was gently holding Sakura's hand.
“From now on, I should accompany you to these kinds of ‘gatherings’.”
Sakura smiled, biting her lip: "Then... I'll invite your rivals' group for tea next time."
"Then I might just buy that store."
She smiled, her eyes crinkling: "You really are a dangerous fox."
He turned his head and gently kissed the top of her head: "That was only because you were in danger."
As the evening breeze blew by, they walked side by side, like figures in a painting.
As night fell, the exterior lights of the Minamino residence came on, bathing the courtyard in soft yellow light.
The moment the car pulled into the garage, Sakura had a premonition—the air tonight was a little dangerous.
She carefully got out of the passenger seat and looked up to see Nanno Shuichi with one hand in his pocket and the other closing the car door. His movements were elegant and composed, yet carried a quiet hint of jealousy.
"Shuichi...are you angry?"
She asked tentatively with a smile.
"I'm angry?" He raised an eyebrow, his gentle tone making one feel even more guilty. "No, I'm not."
—This sentence is a standard "Yes."
Sakura chuckled twice, picked up her bag, and walked into the house, muttering to herself as she went, "I'm just going to see an old friend~ Look, everyone's here, the atmosphere is so nice..."
"Yes, I saw it."
He followed her slowly, "Especially—the scene where you were holding that Echizen boy."
“…That was a misunderstanding!” She turned around and immediately put on a sweet smile. “He’s still young, I was just—acting on my maternal instincts.”
“Motherhood?” Minamino Shuichi chuckled softly, taking a step closer to her.
"That's strange. Why can't I see 'maternal instinct' in her? Instead, it seems like 'favoritism'?"
"No way~" She took a half step back, but he pulled her into his arms.
His movements were clean and efficient, carrying his usual imposing manner.
He leaned down to look at her, his tone half serious and half indulgent: "Do you know? When you smile, all eyes are on you."
“Then you should laugh too!” she pouted and retorted.
"I can't laugh."
"Why?"
"Because they were looking at my wife."
Sakura paused for a moment, then her eyes softened.
He lowered his head slightly, his forehead lightly touching hers, his voice so low it almost blended into the night breeze: "I just—don't like people getting too close."
"Then what are you going to do?" she asked softly.
"I'll punish you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he gently lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
It wasn't a rough kiss, but a tender, almost obsessive possessiveness—as if declaring: she was his, unshakeable.
Sakura, feeling a little dizzy from the kiss, gently patted his chest, her breath slightly ragged: "This isn't a punishment... it's just coaxing me."
He smiled and gently stroked her cheek: "Then consider it as comforting myself—and you at the same time."
"You really know how to make excuses." She couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, because I can't be fierce to my wife when she's being cute."
"Will you dare to be jealous next time?"
"I dare." He laughed confidently. "Next time, the punishment won't just be a kiss."
"You—!" She blushed with embarrassment and punched him lightly.
He smiled as he took her hand and gently kissed it.
"Okay, don't be angry anymore." His tone returned to calm. "I asked the kitchen to add your favorite honey pudding to dinner."
Sakura blinked and pouted, saying, "You're so quick to coax me."
“I can’t help it,” he replied softly. “I’m afraid you’ll feel sorry for me if I don’t smile for too long.”
The wind outside was still in the night.
By the window, the light cast their shadows on the wall—
One is tall and slender, the other is soft and nestled together.
In that sweet, heartwarming silence, all jealousy transformed into tenderness.
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