By Zephyria 
Ariel let out a short exclamation and slowly looked around the room. The tea room was filled with cute trinkets, making it feel almost like a children’s playroom. While not spacious, it was cozy; next to a diffuser on the marble table, dolls of various sizes were placed haphazardly, yet impeccably. A couch with a simple yet sophisticated design was covered in leather with a subtle sheen, and a silver tray held a heap of chocolates and candies. Moreover, the sun pouring in through the window that occupied an entire wall made the tea room feel like a greenhouse. The other three walls were adorned with frames of all sizes, each containing a landscape painting in gentle colors that put the mind at ease.
That bastard Ash would never have this kind of taste.
“Sit here.”
Koi smiled brightly as he pulled out a chair for her.
“This is my favorite room.”
Of course it is.
Only then did Ariel smile and sit in the chair as Koi directed. He waited until Ariel was settled before continuing.
“Just a moment, I’ll bring the tea shortly. The children will come to say hello in a bit…”
As he spoke, there was a sudden tap, tap at the door. Sensing something light, Ariel turned her head, and Koi stood up with a look of delight.
“It must be the children.”
Accustomed to such occurrences, Koi went readily to the door and soon turned back with a radiant smile.
“Al, Grayson has come to say hello.”
As Koi stepped back, the small frame of a child appeared. Ariel blinked, then smiled and reached out her hand to the child.
“Hello, Grayson. I’m Al.”
“Hello.”
The child, now eight years old, looked much larger than his peers. As Grayson looked up at Al with eyes sparkling with curiosity, Koi introduced him.
“He’s the twin of your goddaughter, Stacey. Bill served as Grayson’s godfather.”
“Yes, I know. I am the godmother of your twin, Stacey.”
When she greeted him warmly, Grayson tilted his head to one side and stared silently at Ariel.
…Huh?
Suddenly, Ariel felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance. What was that? Just now. While she was blinking in bewilderment, she soon realized. Just as she let out a mindless “Ah,” Grayson suddenly stepped back, turned around, and dashed away. As Ariel watched the rapidly receding footsteps in confusion, Koi said with a wry smile,
“He’s probably going to Stacey. Those two are very close.”
“I see.”
So he came to scout her out beforehand? How cute.
Ariel, who had been wearing a wry smile, murmured softly.
“…It moved.”
“Hmm?”
When Koi, who hadn’t caught the words, asked back, Ariel simply shook her head.
“Nothing, it’s nothing. So, where are the other children?”
At that question, Koi changed his plan.
“Would you like to greet the other kids first?”
“My goodness, this is overwhelming.”
Ariel, who had visited to have lunch together, blinked her surprised eyes with a look of sheer exhaustion. Koi only scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Is… is that so?”
“Of course! Haven’t you thought about it? This is an amount that couldn’t be finished even if you spent a whole year on it!”
After scanning the books Koi had piled up, she exaggeratedly craned her neck. Koi laughed out of embarrassment and said,
“I didn’t go to college, so I’m not really sure…”
“I guarantee it. Even that doctor must know that it’s impossible to digest this volume. He must have a truly terrible personality. It wouldn’t make sense unless he’s doing this on purpose.”
“I see…”
As he nodded in bewilderment, Ariel looked at him with eyes full of pity.
“I thought you looked thinner than the last time I saw you. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? People like that only realize the limit when someone else points it out to them. Because they’re exceptional, they mistakenly believe everyone else can do the same.”
“Uh… no, I’m fine. It’s not to the point where I can’t keep up…”
Koi laughed and blushed.
“It’s difficult, but it’s fun. There’s a lot to read, but I lose track of time while doing it… and even if there are many parts I don’t understand, when I ask questions in the next class, he explains them in detail so I can understand.”
Hearing this, Ariel blinked as if it were something marvelous, then smiled.
“Well, if that’s the case, then it’s a relief.”
“Yeah, and actually, I…”
Koi hesitated, pausing before confessing in a fading voice.
“I want to go to space…”
“What? Space?”
To the startled Ariel, Koi nodded.
“I decided to go with Ash someday. That’s why I’m learning a lot, and if I can, I want to try the training. The professor said he’d give tours and teach more to the outstanding students.”
“I see.”
Ariel looked at Koi with admiration. She knew well that Koi had been deeply fascinated by space for a long time. And that he harbored the wish to go with Ashley.
But that was something from years ago. To think he had kept such a grand dream in his heart without giving up, even when it would have been easy to forget!
“I was thinking of making an opportunity someday, and this worked out so well.”
Koi smiled shyly, his cheeks flushing red.
“I’m working hard, but I’m still lacking in many ways. Still, if I visit the professor separately, he gives me tea and tells me a lot of things. I’m learning a lot.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Seeing Koi’s face so happy made Ariel feel good as well.
“I’ll pray that you get to go to space soon, Koi.”
She added with a playful wink,
“You’ll tell me first when that dream comes true, right? I want to write an article about Koi’s story.”
“Me? An article?”
Koi’s eyes widened. It was understandable, as the only articles his name had appeared in so far were scandals related to that bastard. Just as she felt a surge of pity, Koi nodded with a bright face.
“Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you, Al!”
“No, thank you.”
Immediately after, she scanned the surroundings as if someone might be listening and added in a lowered voice,
“Don’t tell that narrow-minded bastard that the doctor is meeting you separately to teach you things; the class might be abolished on the spot.”
“No way!”
Koi laughed and shook his head as if it were an absurdity. Ariel smiled back, but she was serious. Considering how Ashley had swung an ice hockey stick at Bill, she felt anger rather than amusement.
Of course, to her, to Bill, and to the Cheerleader sisters, Koi was a precious friend. The problem was the existence of the giant gnat clinging to his side. He would immediately become suspicious and terrifyingly jealous if Koi became even slightly intimate with anyone else.
Of course, Koi was completely unaware of such a side of Ashley. Although there had been an unfortunate incident long ago where Bill almost had his head cracked by an ice hockey stick, he regarded it as a mere happening caused by a misunderstanding.
Because he believed everything Ash said implicitly.
She had once wondered how he had been so thoroughly manipulated, but now she knew. Even if Ash called a pigeon an eagle, Koi would simply blink and say, “I see.” For a person like Koi, making up stories would be easier than breathing. Since he was a dirty lawyer whose daily life consisted of lies anyway, that much would be a piece of cake.
As she thought this far, the sound of a car was heard beyond the front window facing the garden. Turning his gaze, Koi immediately spoke with delight.
“Nathaniel is here!”
Oh, Ariel thought. She had already met and greeted Koi’s other children. Now, the eldest, the last one remaining, had returned home.
“He’ll come to say hello soon. He must have heard that a guest has arrived.”
As Koi spoke in an excited tone, Ariel smiled and agreed.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
In truth, she was indeed looking forward to it. While drinking black tea, Ariel recalled.
Finally, I get to see that kid.
Nathaniel was different from the other children of Koi she had seen earlier. During the time Koi went through various hardships while pregnant with Nathaniel, Ariel had been with him the entire time.
I wonder how he grew up?
She knew that, like the other children, he was the spitting image of Ashley. Still, the feeling would be different. While she waited, feeling a secret flutter of excitement, she heard footsteps walking across the hallway, just as Koi had said.
“It’s Nathaniel!”
Koi stood up happily and opened the door to the tea room himself. Ariel remained seated, waiting for Koi’s eldest son to enter.