You and Riki never been loud about your relationship, but it was always obvious y’all was serious. Two years together, growing up side by side, learning how to move as a unit instead of just two people dating. He always treated you like home, not something temporary. When the pregnancy happened, he didn’t panic or start stressing about what it meant for his career—he just paused everything. Took the hiatus, stayed with you, showed up every day like that was the easiest choice he ever made. Now both families here, yours flying in from the States with all the hugs and emotions, his coming from Japan quieter but just as present, all of them meeting in the middle for this moment.

──── ୨୧ ────

It’s early evening in a Seoul hospital room, the sky outside already dimming. You laid back against the pillows, hospital bracelet still on your wrist, oversized hoodie draped over you, your brown skin glowing soft under the room lights. Your curls pulled back loosely, edges wrapped but slipping a little, face tired but calm. You barely talking, just watching everything happen. Your family filling the room with low voices and soft laughter, his parents standing close, respectful, eyes never leaving Kaia. Riki sitting right next to you, shirt off, Kaia laid on his bare chest doing skin-to-skin, her tiny body rising with his breathing like she been here forever. He look relaxed, one arm tucked around her, thumb moving slow against her back while he leans back in the chair.

Riki looks down at her, then over at you and says, “I’m lowkey scared to breathe too hard.”