The soft hum of background jazz music filled the air as warm sunlight filtered through the large windows of a modern café nestled in the heart of Tokyo. The atmosphere was cozy and refined—wooden tables, leafy green plants arranged in elegant pots, and the occasional clink of cutlery. Outside, the city bustled as always, but inside, it was a peaceful little world of its own.
Phuby sat at the center of a long table, flanked by his wife Hana and his stepfather Luky. Across from him sat Mrs. Wulan, Yamamoto Haruki, and Aiko. Their table was full—drinks, pastries, and plates of small desserts made it a feast of color and aroma. But even more vibrant than the food was the conversation.
"Tokyo cafés really know how to do it," Luky said, sipping his latte with a content grin. "Comfortable, stylish… and the cake is so soft."
"I told you," Hana giggled, gently nudging Phuby with her shoulder. "This place is popular with locals. Not just tourists."
"I'm starting to see why," Mrs. Wulan said, taking a bite of a delicate matcha roll cake. "The coffee's strong, and the view is lovely. Though I'll still take your kopi tubruk any day, Phub."
Phuby smiled sheepishly. "It's hard to beat your brewing, Ibu."
Yamamoto Haruki chuckled, folding his arms with amusement. "I think I could get used to this kind of gathering. It's nice. Calm."
Beside him, Aiko nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "This feels like the calm after the storm," she said softly in English. "A peaceful moment… after all the ceremonies and preparations."
Hana leaned into Phuby a little and whispered, "I still can't believe we're married now."
Phuby turned his face to her, offering a quiet, tender smile. "Me neither. It feels like a dream."
A small silence fell over the group—not awkward, but reflective. The kind of silence that came with the satisfaction of a journey well-traveled.
"So," Luky said, breaking it with a grin, "what's the next adventure for the newlyweds? Back to Cirebon?"
Phuby shrugged. "Eventually. But for now, I think we just want to enjoy this moment. Maybe stay in Kyoto for a little longer."
"Good idea," Mrs. Wulan added. "You've done so much—emotionally and spiritually—it's okay to take a breather."
Hana sipped her tea, then said, "I'm just happy both our families are getting along. It's… comforting."
Aiko looked at her daughter and reached across the table to touch her hand gently. "It means a lot to us too, Hana."
Then, as if on cue, Phuby pulled out his phone and opened the gallery. "Actually… speaking of new things…"
"Oh no," Hana said, grinning. "You're not about to show off the system again, are you?"
"Not showing off. Sharing," Phuby said with mock seriousness. "The system gave me a new feature. A shop. It updates weekly with properties and buildings from cities we've visited."
Haruki raised an eyebrow. "Properties?"
"Yup. Like houses, mansions… even land parcels. All legal, with full ownership letters appearing right after purchase."
Everyone leaned in slightly, interested now.
"And the best part?" Phuby added with a grin. "The cashback still applies. Double. If I spend five billion, I get ten back. Instantly."
"That's insane," Luky muttered. "How are you not rich-rich already?"
"I kind of am," Phuby admitted. "Last balance was over twelve billion rupiah. After buying the Kyoto house, I got ten billion back."
Mrs. Wulan gave him a playful slap on the arm. "You better not get reckless. I know you."
"I won't!" Phuby laughed. "But Hana and I were thinking… maybe we'll buy a countryside land parcel next."
"Somewhere peaceful," Hana added, "where we can get away from the city sometimes. Grow something, maybe."
Haruki nodded approvingly. "That's a very Japanese dream. A simple house, a garden, and quiet mornings."
"I like it," Aiko added with a gentle smile. "But don't forget the hard work."
Everyone chuckled.
As the laughter faded, Hana rested her head lightly on Phuby's shoulder. "I'm glad we're doing this together."
He smiled, then turned to his family and hers. "Thanks for coming here. I know this was supposed to be a vacation… and it turned into a wedding trip."
Mrs. Wulan rolled her eyes with mock exasperation. "We expected it, you silly boy. We saw it coming a mile away."
"You two were practically glowing," Aiko added, "and whispering to each other all the time."
"Don't act like we didn't know," Luky laughed. "We just didn't say anything. Waiting for the surprise proposal."
Hana buried her face in her hands, embarrassed. "You all are the worst…"
"We're the best," her mom corrected with a wink.
Phuby laughed, raising his cup. "To family."
Everyone raised their cups, echoing the cheer.
"To family!"
And just for a moment, surrounded by the warm glow of light, love, and laughter, it didn't matter where they were in the world. Tokyo or Cirebon, Kyoto or anywhere else—home was right here.