Chapter 26
The afternoon sun shone softly on the garden of the Minamino residence.
The roses are in full bloom, their petals layered upon each other, their delicate fragrance carried on the breeze.
A butterfly flitted by, and the shadows of trees swayed on the stone path.
Sakura had just woken up, her cheeks still flushed slightly.
Minamino Shuichi took her hand and they strolled slowly along the garden path.
His palms were warm and steady, his fingertips intertwined with hers.
"Have you slept enough?" he asked, turning his head slightly, his voice as gentle as the wind.
"Mmm~ I slept very well." She replied with a smile, her long hair gently blowing in the breeze. "The sunlight was so warm during my afternoon nap."
"That's good." He said softly, "You've been getting tired too easily lately."
“That’s normal during pregnancy,” she chuckled softly. “You don’t need to worry about it all the time.”
"How could I not worry?" He smiled faintly. "I'm the kind of person who makes sure you're breathing every time I wake up."
Sakura couldn't help but chuckle, glancing up at him: "Then how dare you call me neurotic?"
“I have a wife-loving syndrome,” he replied matter-of-factly.
The two walked to the white pavilion in the center of the garden.
The wind carried the fragrance of flowers through the air, and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, falling on the two of them as if bathing them in a soft glow.
Sakura leaned against the railing, gently stroking her belly.
"The baby seems to be much quieter lately."
"He probably knows that Mom is tired and doesn't want to bother you."
Minamino Shuichi stood beside her, his gaze fixed on her hands, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Shuichi."
"Um?"
Have you thought about... what to name your baby after birth?
He smiled upon hearing this, looking at her with gentle eyes.
"Actually, I've already thought it through."
"So fast?" She was slightly taken aback and looked up with curious eyes.
“If it’s a boy, we’ll name him Huiyi.” He said this with great certainty, with the kind of unwavering resolve only a father would have.
“‘Hui’ means radiant – we hope he is as gentle and strong as light; ‘Yi’ represents a new beginning. Because he is the first miracle in our lives.”
As Sakura listened, the corners of her mouth gradually turned up.
"What if it's a daughter?"
"We'll name our daughter Kui."
His voice softened even more, as if afraid of disturbing this gentle atmosphere.
“‘Sunflower’ means sunflower, always facing the light. Just like you.”
Sakura paused, her eyes brightening slightly.
"...You've already thought of a name for the baby so quickly!"
"Um."
He turned to look at her, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze earnest and almost overflowing with tenderness.
"Actually, I started thinking about a name the moment you got pregnant."
“You—” Sakura couldn’t help but chuckle, reaching out to gently poke his chest, “Isn’t it a bit too early?”
"It won't be too early." He held her hand, his fingertips gently tracing her knuckles.
"Because every day, I look forward to his (or her) arrival."
She looked down at her slightly protruding belly, her eyes as gentle as water.
"Then Huiyi, Kui... they will be very happy when they learn the meaning of these names in the future."
“Yes,” he answered softly, “because that was the first blessing that Mom and Dad made for them together.”
The wind blew again, and the fragrance of flowers wafted between the two of them.
Sunlight fell on their shoulders, their shadows overlapping, like the gentlest embrace of fate.
Sakura leaned gently on his shoulder, her voice so soft it almost seemed to melt in the wind: "Shuichi, I really love my life right now."
He put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "Then let's stay happy together."
Rose petals drifted down from afar, landing on their clasped hands.
Minamino Shuichi looked up at the sky and thought to himself—
Whether it's Huiyi or Aoi, as long as they smile like her, that's the most perfect future in the world.
In the afternoon, sunlight streamed into the Minamino residence through the rose arbor outside the window.
Several soft cushions were placed in the living room, and baby toys, a small bathtub, soft towels, and baby bottles were neatly arranged on the table.
Today, it was a prenatal class specially arranged by Minamino Shuichi for Sakura.
The invited pregnancy expert was a gentle middle-aged woman. With a smile, she set up the teaching props and said softly to Sakura, "Mrs. Minamino, today we'll practice bathing the baby and breastfeeding positions."
"Um!"
Sakura obediently tied on her apron, sat on the cushion, and looked as serious as if she were about to perform on stage.
Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the sunlight made her eyes sparkle.
Shuichi Minamino sat to the side, his hands folded on his knees, watching her quietly.
At that moment, he almost forgot to breathe.
The course begins.
"The first step is to bathe the baby," the expert patiently explained, holding a small baby doll in his hands. "The water temperature should be moderate. Support the baby's neck and back with your left hand, and gently wash the baby's hands and feet with your right hand."
Sakura nodded and carefully imitated the movements.
Her hands were slender yet steady; her fingertips gently supported the doll's head as she carefully wiped it with a small towel.
"What if it's like this?" she asked softly, her eyes focused and gentle.
“Very good~ This is the perfect angle. Mrs. Minamino is so thoughtful.”
As Minamino Shuichi leaned back on the sofa, looking at her gentle, focused, and almost maternal appearance, a strange warmth suddenly filled his heart.
Her expression was so serious, and her eyes and brows were as gentle as light.
At that moment, he felt that the person in front of him was more beautiful than any flower he had ever seen.
"Then there's the breastfeeding position."
The expert picked up a baby bottle to demonstrate, "The baby should be close to the mother, at this angle, with the hand supporting the head."
Sakura did as instructed carefully.
She held the baby doll in her hands and gently rocked it, her tenderness heartbreaking.
She coaxed softly, "Baby, you have to drink your milk obediently, okay? Don't cry."
The expert smiled and praised, "Wow, that's amazing! You mastered it so well on your first try. It's clear you'll be a very gentle mother."
Sakura blushed slightly and said softly, "Thank you... Actually, I'm still studying too."
Her smile was gentle and shy, and her eyes shone with the happiness of becoming a new mother.
Sitting next to him, Minamino Shuichi almost forgot to blink.
He felt his world quiet down at that moment—
Only her, and the future she held in her arms.
After the course ended, the expert packed up the teaching materials and smiled at Shuichi, saying, "Mr. Minamino, your wife is very dedicated and talented. You can participate in any childcare activities together in the future."
"Thank you," he replied politely, but his gaze remained fixed on Sakura.
After the guests left, the living room returned to quiet.
Sakura took off her apron, sat on the sofa, and let out a soft sigh.
"Phew, so tired... but so much fun."
"Are you tired?" He approached, squatted down, and massaged her fingers.
“A little,” she chuckled, “but I feel very happy, like getting to know our baby in advance.”
“You’re amazing,” he said softly. “When I was looking at you just now, I felt like time stood still.”
"Huh? Are you praising me?" She blinked, a smug smile on her face.
"certainly."
His tone was gentle, yet it carried an undisguised emotion and respect: "The way you took care of the baby made me realize for the first time how beautiful the word 'mother' truly is."
Sakura blushed and muttered under her breath, "You always talk like that... it makes my heart race."
He chuckled and placed her hand in his palm: "That's because my heart beats faster than yours."
A gentle breeze blew through the window, and rose petals fell around the two of them.
The sunlight shone gently on their clasped hands.
Sakura leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "Let's bathe the baby together after he's born."
He replied with a smile, "Of course, but only if you let me practice a hundred times first."
Her eyes crinkled with laughter: "Great idea! Then let Dad take his graduation exam too!"
Their laughter was carried away by the wind, lingering at the edge of the garden and the sunlight.
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