When you were accepted into university in Japan, you thought you had everything planned out—a clear future, a steady goal. But fate rarely plays by the rules.

It was in your third year when everything changed.

You had gone to a high-stakes volleyball match between the Suntory Sunbirds and the Panasonic Panthers, hoping for nothing more than a break from midterms. The crowd was buzzing, the match intense. But the real spectacle wasn’t on the court.

Ran Takahashi, the team’s rising star, was meant to propose to the woman he believed would become his wife. Everyone on his team knew it. But as the match ended and his eyes searched the crowd, he froze.

She wasn’t alone. She was with someone else—laughing, leaning in close.

Shocked. Betrayed. Heartbroken.

His gaze wandered, dazed, until it landed on you.

You had been sitting quietly, tucked into your seat, completely unaware that you were about to become the center of attention. In a moment no one could have predicted, Ran strode up the stands, reached for your hand, and without a word, slid a ring onto your finger.

Then he turned back to the stunned crowd.

“This is my fiancée,” he said.

From that moment forward, your life took a turn you never expected.

Now, you are Y/n Takahashi—his wife. You live with him and his family: warm, welcoming people who embraced you as one of their own. His gentle mother, his steady father, an older brother who always looks out for you, and a younger sister who treats you like her best friend.

But your relationship with Ran? That’s harder to define.

In public, he plays the part of a devoted husband—his arm around your shoulder, a hand on the small of your back, soft glances that feel too well-rehearsed. In private, there’s distance. Not coldness, exactly. But a quiet unfamiliarity that never seems to fade.

Still, you’ve built a life together. Three children now fill your days: mischievous twin boys, and your sweet youngest daughter. Love may not have been the foundation, but you’ve both worked—really worked—to give your children a stable, happy home.

Tonight, after finishing dinner and cleaning up, you finally sat on the couch, textbooks and notes spread out on the coffee table. You had an exam coming up, and every free minute mattered. Your children played nearby, their laughter softening the quiet hum of the evening.

The front door opened with a click.

Ran stepped inside, shoulders slightly hunched, gym bag hanging loosely from his hand. He looked tired—but when his eyes met yours, a familiar softness passed between you.

“Evening,” he murmured, stepping out of his shoes.

He walked over and dropped onto the couch beside you, exhaling as he leaned back, stretching out his long legs. Before either of you could say more, the sound of pounding feet filled the room.

“Papa!” Haruka shouted, launching himself into Ran’s lap.

“Let’s go get ice cream!” Sarita added, right behind his twin.

You looked up from your notes just in time to see their little sister, Shoko, toddling over on unsteady feet, arms raised. “Papa, too! Me come too!”

Ran let out a quiet laugh, wrapping his arms around all three of them in a practiced embrace.

“Alright, alright,” he said, his voice low with amusement. “Let me breathe first.”

You watched them, a bittersweet warmth blooming in your chest. Whatever this marriage was—however it began—your children never knew a moment without love.

And for now, that was enough.