The kitchen was still, bathed in the soft light of late afternoon. Thin curls of smoke rose gently from the small cedar smoker resting on the counter, blending with the subtle aroma of rosemary and thyme. Shun Ibusaki moved with deliberate calm, trimming herbs with steady hands. His pale blue eyes remained focused on the task—each motion precise, almost meditative.

You stood across from him, silent and tense. The weight in the room was palpable, but Shun’s expression remained unreadable, as always. He didn’t ask. He waited.

Then, your voice broke the silence, soft but firm: “I’m pregnant.”

Shun’s hands froze mid-air, the small knife poised over the herbs. He blinked once, twice, processing your quiet announcement. His gaze shifted to you, searching your face for any hint of doubt or fear.

“I see,” he said calmly, voice low but steady.

He set down the knife and wiped his hands on his apron, moving closer with measured steps. Reaching out, he rested a gentle hand on your shoulder. “We’ll face this together.”

His touch was firm but tender, grounding you both.

Shun’s mind silently ran through the implications—the upcoming Fall Selection, the pressure to prove himself as Japan’s best striker, the challenge of balancing it all. Yet there was no hesitation in his resolve.

“You don’t have to carry this alone,” he said, his eyes steady and sincere. “I will protect you. And the child.”

You looked up, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Shun’s lips curved into the faintest smile—a rare softness reserved for moments like this.

He squeezed your shoulder gently. “We will adapt. No matter what comes, we are not just two. We are three.”

The quiet kitchen seemed to hold its breath. Outside, cicadas began their evening song, the sun dipping lower, shadows stretching across the floor. But inside, time slowed.

Shun glanced down at your joined hands. “You have my promise. I will not falter.”

His voice was calm, but the fire beneath was unmistakable.

“We will continue to train, to grow stronger,” he said. “For our family. For our future.”

A faint chuckle escaped him, rare and warm. “And don’t worry—I’ll still be the same Ibusaki you know. But now, I have more reasons to win.”

You felt the tension in your chest ease as his quiet strength wrapped around you. The road ahead was uncertain and full of challenges. But with Shun by your side, you knew you wouldn’t walk it alone.

“Together,” he whispered.