The sun crested gently over the distant hills of Uji, spilling golden rays across the newly planted rows of tea bushes and strawberry starters on the farmland that stretched peacefully around the farmhouse. The chirping of birds had become a familiar morning song, blending with the soft thrum of construction as Atsushi's crew continued working on the final stretch of renovations.
It had been one month since the first beam was laid and the first seeds planted. The farmhouse was transforming steadily, day by day—each nail, each board, a symbol of the life Phuby and Hana were building together. Now with the land taking shape and the rhythms of farm life settling into place, another change was approaching.
In the kitchen, the scent of freshly steamed rice mixed with miso wafted from the pot, as Mrs. Wulan packed the last few containers for their trip. Om Luky stood near the hallway, dragging his luggage toward the door with a sigh.
"Are you sure you'll be alright here just the two of you?" Mrs. Wulan asked, her tone laced with motherly concern as she turned to Phuby.
Phuby, who had just returned from checking the water pump system, wiped the sweat off his brow with a towel. "It's fine, Bu. The hardest part is over. The fields are growing, the crew is reliable, and I've already posted the job listings for farmhands and a part-time housekeeper."
Mrs. Wulan gave him a once-over. "Just don't overwork yourselves. Your body's not made of metal."
"Relax, Ma," Hana chimed in cheerfully, coming in from the back door with a small basket of strawberries she had just picked. "We'll be careful. You and Om need to check on the house and the shop in Cirebon. Palm Sari can't run itself."
Om Luky chuckled. "Well, not yet. But with you two leading things from here, I'd say the family's expanding just fine."
They all shared a quiet laugh.
Meanwhile, in the guest room, Mr. Haruki and Mrs. Aiko were zipping up their luggage. Their time in Japan had been brief but meaningful—reuniting with their daughter, witnessing her nikah and marriage registration, and watching her take this step toward an entirely new life.
"I still can't believe she lives in the countryside now," Mrs. Aiko muttered, slightly amused as she glanced out the window at the vast fields. "She used to complain about bugs."
"She's with someone she loves," Mr. Haruki replied gently. "That changes people. Even their tolerance for mud."
They made their way to the entryway where Hana hugged both of them tightly. "Please don't forget to call," she said, her voice soft.
"We'll video call every weekend," her mother promised. "And the next time we visit… I want to see strawberries ready to harvest."
Phuby bowed respectfully to them. "Please take care of yourselves. I'll take care of Hana."
Mr. Haruki looked him in the eye and gave a small, satisfied nod. "I know you will."
By afternoon, both couples had departed—one flight back to Cirebon, the other returning to Tokyo. The farmhouse, so full of voices and footsteps for the past month, now stood quietly under the open sky with only Phuby and Hana remaining.
They stood on the engawa together, watching the last of the departing taxis vanish down the dirt road.
"It's… a little too quiet now," Hana said softly.
Phuby slid an arm around her shoulders. "Let's fill it with laughter."
She smiled and leaned into him.
That very evening, the two of them sat at the large wooden table with laptops open, finalizing local hiring ads. The tasks were divided between full-time field workers to tend to the growing crops and a part-time housekeeper to help with chores during construction hours.
They made sure to offer reasonable wages, with room for bonuses after the harvest season. Phuby wrote the listings in both Japanese and Indonesian, while Hana reviewed the tone, making sure it sounded friendly and trustworthy.
The next morning, they posted flyers in the nearby town, left listings at the local convenience store and agricultural center, and posted online through the job boards popular in the region.
"We should start getting responses soon," Hana said, feeling satisfied as they placed the last flyer on the bulletin board.
"I hope we find someone who really loves this kind of life," Phuby said. "Not just someone looking for easy work."
That night, they returned to the farmhouse after a light walk through the fields, sipping warm barley tea under the stars. Phuby leaned back on the porch bench, hands behind his head.
"We did it," he whispered. "Even with all the craziness… we're really doing it."
Hana chuckled but didn't respond. She had her head resting against his shoulder, one hand gently placed over her stomach. Phuby glanced at her, catching the distant smile on her face.
"What's up?" he asked.
She bit her lower lip for a moment before finally saying it.
"Phub… I think… I might be pregnant."
Phuby sat up straight, blinking. "Wait, really?"
"I'm not sure," she added quickly. "But I've been… tired. And a little dizzy the past few days. My period's late too."
For a moment, Phuby was completely still. Then slowly, his face broke into a wide, stunned smile. "Are you serious?"
"I'll take a test tomorrow," Hana whispered. "But I wanted to tell you first."
He pulled her into a tight hug. "Whatever happens… we're ready."
They sat there under the quiet sky, wrapped in the cool night breeze and an unspoken promise of a new life soon to come.