The morning sun spilled golden over the Uji countryside, casting a warm glow across the freshly plowed earth and the rows of dew-speckled tea leaves. Phuby and Hana had slowly settled into their new life—one filled with quiet mornings, soft laughter, and a future that grew stronger with every heartbeat within Hana's womb.
Now several months into the pregnancy, Hana's belly had grown noticeably rounder. Every time Phuby looked at it, he found himself both in awe and disbelief. He would often lay his ear against her stomach, listening quietly for any signs of movement, grinning like a kid whenever he felt a flutter.
"Did you feel that?" he asked one morning as they sat on the engawa, sipping herbal tea.
Hana placed her hands over her belly and smiled. "They've been kicking more in the morning now. Maybe they're early risers, like you."
Phuby smirked, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "They better not be too early. I'm not losing my sleep again like during exam week in college."
Hana laughed, nudging him gently.
Their days followed a gentle rhythm now. The farmhouse, once an old, worn structure, had been transformed into a modern home with traditional Japanese elements—wooden beams, tatami rooms, sliding shoji doors, and even a stone garden out front. Everything was solar-powered, with backup generators and a rainwater collection system in place. They were practically off the grid, living in a blend of ancient aesthetics and modern sustainability.
The staff had become part of their little community. Every morning, Kenta Sakamoto began work before sunrise, walking between the tea rows with a farmer's pride in his gait. Yuji Tani helped maintain the vegetable patch and assisted in deliveries. Yuriko Hayashi brought a certain cheerful energy to the garden, sometimes bringing homemade bento for everyone.
In the kitchen, Emi Fujiwara often prepared lunch with the produce they grew—meals filled with love and balance. She had become something of a surrogate aunt, fussing over Hana, and often threatening Phuby with a slipper if he made her overwork.
"You're not feeding her enough!" Emi would scold if she thought Hana was eating too lightly.
"She's the one who said she wasn't hungry!" Phuby would protest.
"Then make something she will want to eat, young man!"
They all laughed. The farmhouse had become a home—not just of two people in love, but of a growing family surrounded by warmth and care.
One breezy afternoon, Hana's best friend from Tokyo, Riko Nishimura, came to visit. Dressed in a light blue blouse and a beret, Riko stepped out of the taxi with wide eyes and an even wider smile.
Riko immediately leaned in, peering at Hana's belly. "You weren't kidding… you really are pregnant. And you hid this from me for how long?"
Hana laughed sheepishly. "Surprise?"
Riko spent the whole day with them—touring the farm, taking selfies with the tea fields, and trying to understand how two city kids managed to build a life like this.
"You guys are living in a drama," she said over lunch. "Like seriously. A good one. The kind where the main character time-travels into a better life."
"Well," Phuby said, sipping iced barley tea, "sometimes reality beats fiction."
"You got that right," Riko said, raising a brow. "And you're totally head over heels for her, huh?"
"Have been since day one," Phuby answered smoothly.
Riko grinned. "Keep it that way."
That evening, after Riko returned to Tokyo, the farmhouse was quiet again. Hana sat by the window, rubbing her belly and humming a lullaby. Phuby approached with a warm mug of chamomile tea and placed it gently beside her.
"Tired?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Just… thinking."
"About?"
"Everything. How fast life changed. How we ended up here. How we're already preparing for twins. It's a lot, but it feels right."
He leaned in, kissing her temple. "We've got this."
Hana reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I believe you."
The next morning, Phuby checked his system panel over breakfast. The shop refresh was still a few days away, and the new routines made him think about expanding operations quietly. Maybe buying a new delivery van for the produce business, or setting up a small cold storage space.
He mentally noted it for next week. The system still required purchases of at least Rp10 million to activate the cashback, but with the farm growing and Hana's pregnancy progressing, their needs were bound to increase.
He'd wait, watch, and when the time came—make the right investment.
For now, he looked over at Hana, who was sketching something with a pencil—another idea for their Zen garden, perhaps. The farmhouse wasn't just shelter anymore—it was their future's foundation.
And every passing day, it felt more like the start of something even greater.