Makoto sighed and shrugged as he helped strap Aiko, Yumi, and Ren into the highchairs next to each other. "I should have checked their media consumption. I was a fool to leave everything to Ayane."
"Hey!" Ayane's voice echoed from the hallway as she returned with a now-clean and slightly less feral Asuka. "I only let them watch the kid-friendly stuff! Like GTO or Jujutsu Kaisen! It teaches them about friendship!"
Asuka let out a spirited "GAN-DAM!" and punched the air, nearly taking Makoto's eye out as he passed. He managed to get the mini members of his chaotic family strapped into their highchairs.
Ren was quietly playing with a small toy car. Yumi was already banging her spoon on her tray and demanding, "Meat now!" Aiko was now holding a plastic fork, her angelic smile never wavering.
Mafuyu began to serve. She gave Ren a small portioned plate of curry and rice. She gave Yumi a plate piled high with steak and a single piece of broccoli, which Yumi immediately rejected. Then she gave Aiko a small portion of chicken and salad, just like her mother.
"Thank you, Mama-fu," Aiko said before she calmly set the plastic fork down beside her plate.
Yuna plopped into her seat with grumpy satisfaction on her face. "See? Perfect parenting. I taught Yumi to have high standards for her food. That's a life skill."
Ayane and Asuka finally joined the table, clean-handed and ready for battle. "Alright, team," Ayane announced. "Let's eat! The sooner we finish, the sooner Papa can put you guys to bed…" Her voice dropped to a suggestive tone. "…and the real fun can begin."
Mika just took another sip of her tea, her gaze sweeping over the scene, the chaotic but loving and completely insane family they had built. She looked at Makoto, her eyes shining with deep and possessive love. "Yeah, let's eat."
Dinner passed in what could generously be called peace, if you didn't count two children screaming (Yumi and Asuka) and two grumpy mothers forcing them to finish their food.
The clatter of spoons and the remnants of the food-fight negotiations died down. Yuna was trying to wipe curry off Yumi's cheek, and Ayane was making airplane noises to get Asuka to eat her final green bean.
"So… tomorrow should be our anniversary. Time flies so fast, huh? I've already booked a room," he grinned. "We're going to send the kids to your parents, Ayane."
Four pairs of eyes snapped toward him.
"A hotel room, boss?" Ayane was the first to recover, her face breaking into a predatory grin. "Oh, thank god. My parents love the little monsters. And they've been asking when they can have a Grandkid Sleepover. I'll call them right now. They're probably tougher than we are, anyway." She was already pulling out her phone, excitement written all over her face.
Yuna's eyes lit up, a familiar possessive fire igniting in their depths. The grumpy mom facade melted away, replaced by the tsundere queen. "Hmph. It's about time you remembered what's important," she said with a triumphant smirk on her lips. "I was getting tired of sharing you with these noisy little brats."
She gave him a pointed look. "I've already gotten a nice costume prepared. You had better be ready, fat pig."
Mika set down her teacup with a soft click and a calm smile. "Lovely. I had been wanting a second child like Mafuyu-san. It will be nice to have you all to myself for an evening, darling." Her gaze was a silent promise of the terrifying devotion she planned to show him.
Mafuyu, who was gathering the children's plates, blushed a deep crimson. Her hands fluttered nervously. "Oh my," she whispered, worry and shy excitement tangled up in her voice. "Are you sure they won't be too much trouble for Ayane's parents? Four of them at once…"
She looked at Makoto, her eyes shining. "But a whole night… just for us?" The idea was a luxury, but it was happening. A small smile touched her lips.
"Yeah, if nobody complains, we can go with that," he giggled, wiping the children's mouths and gently lowering them down from the highchairs. His heart fluttered as he watched the kids, three girls and one boy, walk toward their shared playground with Ren leading the way.
"So… were you all happy, after all these years?" His nose was blocked, making his voice quiver as he watched the children, not daring to look at any of them. "Was I a good father for them? And a good husband for you all?"
The children's playful sounds faded into comfortable background noise: Yumi's bossy squeals. Asuka's booming laugh. Aiko's quiet hums. Ren's gentle directions point out something in a picture book.
The four women fell silent, the clatter of plates ceasing. The room went still in a way that made the air feel heavier. Makoto didn't look at them, he couldn't. He just kept his eyes fixed on his four children playing together, a messy little unit that somehow worked perfectly.
For a long moment, there was only the sound of the kids. And then, a sharp, huffing sound came from beside him.
"What kind of stupid question is that, you fat pig?" Yuna's voice was sharp, but it lacked its usual bite. Makoto felt a light, almost hesitant punch on his arm.
"Look at them," she said, her voice going a little softer. "Look at Yumi. She's a bratty, messy little tyrant who thinks she owns the house." She paused. "…Just like me."
"And look at you! You work hard, then you come home, and you let them climb all over you like you're a jungle gym. You buy them toys and puddings and read them bedtime stories, even when they don't deserve it." She huffed again and turned her head away, but not before he saw the shimmer of tears in her eyes. "You're an idiot... Stop asking stupid questions. Of course, we're happy."
Then a hand gently rested on his shoulder. Ayane leaned in, her breath warm against his ear. "Hey, Makoto," she said, her usual boisterous tone replaced by something warm. "We were two weebs who argued about manga in college. Now we run a cosplay group out of our living room, and we made a tiny Gundam pilot together."
She let out a shaky laugh. "This whole thing… this beautiful, insane fucking mess… is the best goddamn story I've ever been a part of. And you're the main character. You're a great dad. And you're a fantastic husband too, especially in bed."
Mika's voice came next, calm and clear. She just spoke, her tone steady but filled with undeniable warmth. "Do you know how many people would look at our life and say it was impossible, darling?"
"They would have guessed we'd tear each other apart. That it could never last." She let out a quiet sigh. "But I knew they'd be wrong, because of you. You hold all of us together, even when we're at our worst."
She gave him a perfect smile. "My life is exactly how I planned it to be now. You're an excellent husband, darling, the very best one. And I want another baby with you already, so don't forget that."
Finally, Makoto felt a soft presence in front of him. Mafuyu wrapped her arms around him, gently turning his face and forcing him to look at her. Her face was streaming with quiet, happy tears.
"Look at me, honey," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she placed his hand on her cheek, then moved it to her still-swelling belly. "Before you, I was broken and scared of everything. I didn't think I deserved to be happy." Her thumb gently wiped a tear from his eye that he didn't even realize had fallen.
"Now… I have four beautiful children and a fifth on the way. I have a home full of love and noise, and a husband who asks if we are happy." She gave him a smile of gratitude. "I have never known a single moment of unhappiness since the day I moved in here. You gave me my life back. And you are the best man I have ever known."
From the couch fort, Makoto could hear Asuka's booming, joyous shriek. "PAPA IS THE BEST!" followed by Yumi's indignant scream, "Baka Papa!"