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A waitress navigated the crowded restaurant, headed for one of the many tables populated by a family with small children. Their young parents had attracted a handful of glances and murmurs upon their arrival, but after nearly two months with the kids under their care, they had grown used to it.
“Here are your desserts,” the waitress said, already at the table. “Two strawberry cheesecake ice creams, a chocolate ice cream, and a bubblegum ice cream.”
The woman placed down each of the bowls—complete with bright plastic spoons—in front of Satoru, Mari, Megumi, and Tsumiki, the diners seated at the table. Having heard nothing but praise towards them, they stared at the frozen treats with bright eyes and a quiet impatience the waitress could smell as clearly as the scents of pizza and fried food filling the air. She wished for them to enjoy their meal and retreated, ready to tend to the next table.
“Let’s eat!” Satoru dug so hard into the ice cream his scoop curved, but it returned to its original shape as he pulled it away. The moment the cheesecake-flavored sweet hit his taste buds, Satoru nodded and joined the tips of his index and thumb. “Okay, the hype around this ice cream is more than justified.” He turned towards Mari, leaning forward. “What do you say?”
His girlfriend savored her own scoopful of cheesecake ice cream. The sound that escaped her throat spoke volumes, but she verbalized her opinion regardless. “It is great! It tastes like milk with a touch of strawberry.” With a grin, she concluded, “You can tell it’s homemade.”
Despite his flat expression, what Megumi felt about his serving was obvious: he was already on his third scoop.
“This is the best chocolate ice cream I ever had,” he mumbled, although his words were loud enough for his sister and adoptive parents to smile at them.
Tsumiki pointed at her bright blue bubblegum ice cream with her spoon, making sure to get Satoru’s attention. “You were right: it’s a very nice flavor.” The girl took another spoonful and, upon swallowing it, she added, “I didn’t know they could make ice cream out of bubblegum.”
“It’s not the bubblegum itself they make the ice cream from,” Satoru clarified. “They use bubblegum extract and dye it with food coloring.”
“The more you know!”
Mari watched the interaction with a smile on her lips despite the fact she was eating dig after dig of the rich, creamy cheesecake goodness in her cup. Satoru had adapted to parenthood far better than he expected. That didn’t surprise Mari; she knew he had it in him all along.
“What was your favorite part of the walk?” Satoru asked everyone at the table.
“The people building stuff with sand,” Megumi said.
Tsumiki took a sip from the multifruit juice in her glass. “I liked that too, but I’m really curious about the pedal boats. Can we ride one next time we go to the beach?”
“I’d like that,” Mari answered. “I saw those a lot on my hometown’s beach. My mother, my sister, and I used to sit on the pedal boats while they were on the shore to take pictures, but we’ve never actually ridden them.”
“Then, we’ll change that on our next beach day.” Satoru winked at Mari and she smiled at him.
While they had spent a good part of the afternoon on the beach, the family hadn’t touched the sea at all; they had gone there because Megumi had just recovered from a cold and, while he wouldn’t express it openly, his sister and his parents knew he missed having some summery fun. Despite his glances towards the shoreline, they all agreed not to swim until at least another week had gone by, but they still took in the beach’s energetic atmosphere. It had the power to recharge anyone’s batteries.
Everyone focused on their desserts and the table grew quiet for a moment. To Mari, that silence allowed for an introspection that soon gave way to a lone but powerful bittersweet memory. She let out a shallow sigh and put her spoon down without letting go of it. With his own spoon in his mouth, Satoru turned his head towards Mari.
“Everything alright?” he murmured.
“Yeah, it’s just…I let my thoughts wander.” The girl put on half a smile loaded with longing. “I apologize if I bring the mood down, but I’m suddenly thinking of how my father and I had a pending visit to an ice cream shop. He passed away before we could go, so, in a way, I feel like I’m making up for that.”
Satoru rubbed her back in a fast, soothing motion and Mari patted his thigh in thanks. The kids watched the interaction without saying a word, thinking of that adoptive grandfather they’d never get to meet. Not in person, at least.
“What was your dad like?” Megumi asked. His ice cream was taking a backseat for now.
Mari’s face lit up. She dragged her chair closer to the table and leaned forward. “He was the best person to be around, always supporting others, doing his best to get to everything despite his health issues, listening to whatever I had to say no matter how silly it was…” Mari propped her head on her closed fist.
“Did he take you to lots of cool places?” Tsumiki framed her face in her small hands, ready to listen.
“Definitely!” Mari grinned. “He’d take me to our town’s festival every year and buy me cotton candy. Sometimes we’d catch a bus to take a walk in a nearby city, and if he had a doctor appointment in Tokyo, we’d buy sweets and snacks afterwards.
“He’d also take me to a big park by the train station, with fountains children played in and long tube-shaped slides. I never dared to go down the longest one…but that’s besides the point.”
Although he had never met the man, Satoru’s eyes twinkled with nostalgia. The admiration and affection in Mari’s voice when talking about her father made Satoru feel like he had been a constant presence in his life, too.
“Didn’t your dad like nougat ice cream?” he commented. “We could order a scoop for each one of us after we’re done with these.”
“Really?” Tsumiki sported a grin with dashes of blue.
Megumi’s eyes widened for a split second. “More ice cream? Nice.”
“I’m all for it,” Mari said, discreetly taking a hand to her chest. “I bet it’ll be as great as everything we’ve ordered up until now.”
With nothing but a few drops of melted ice cream left on his cup, Satoru slumped on his chair with a whistle. “I get why my father-in-law liked that flavor.”
“Yeah. It’s not my go-to, but I do enjoy it,” his girlfriend answered.
“I liked it too!” Tsumiki put her spoon down and reached for one of the napkins in the center of the table.
“Same.” Megumi’s face was as impassive as always, but the melted ice cream in the corners of his mouth accounted for his enjoyment of the treat.
Satoru chuckled and grabbed a napkin. “Let me fix that.”
He wiped the ice cream off Megumi’s face despite the kid’s claims that he was not a baby. Mari observed them with an amused smile, reclined against the chair’s backrest as her heart swelled more and more with every second Satoru spent tending to Megumi. He then checked on Tsumiki and, seeing as the girl had already cleaned herself up, he announced it was time to pay the bill.
Upon leaving the restaurant, the family decided on visiting a nearby gift shop. The array of beach toys exposed on the display outside had Mari wanting to get the kids a ball—and maybe even a new towel. Satoru thought it was a good idea, and with it being a gift shop, he hoped to find something odd and funny to put in the living room. They all navigated the aisles full of plastic toys and dusty trinkets in search of a beach ball that wouldn’t deflate in an afternoon. The main contender was one painted after a watermelon and the second, a classic red and white one. Megumi and Tsumiki went with the fake watermelon after Satoru pointed out that one of the sides of the red and white ball was sunken in.
Another thing that stood out in the gift shop was its clothing section. Most of it was shirts with silly slogans and beach wraps, but there also were hidden gems such as the white cotton dress Satoru spotted in one of the racks. He held it out in front of Mari and nodded in approval.
“This will look great on you,” he said.
Mari took the hanger the dress was on to get a better look. The moment the girl saw the delicate lace edging in its straps and neckline, she was sold.
“It’s beautiful.” Smiling, Mari added, “You have a good eye.” She draped the dress over her arm, hanger and everything. “Will you get yourself anything?”
“I’ll see‐” Satoru shrugged “‐the ball and towel are for all of us to use, anyway. Besides,” he trailed off, leaning in, “seeing you in that dress will be more satisfying than any purchase I can make.”
Mari giggled, color rising to her cheeks, but Megumi and Tsumiki returned before she could flirt back. They had been checking out a nearby shelf displaying various beach-themed souvenirs.
“I saw a snow globe with sand in it!” Tsumiki said.
Megumi furrowed his eyebrows. “Can it be called a snow globe if it has sand instead of snow inside?”
“Someone should coin the term ‘sand globe’!” Satoru chimed in, raising his index finger like he just had a revolutionary idea.
With everything they came for in hand, the family gave one last walk around the store. Satoru and Mari peered into one of the aisles and had the kids follow them into a different one; the aisle they had almost walked into included some…distasteful gift items intended for adults. They got a wall clock modeled after a sushi roll that Satoru really wanted to see hanging in the living room, then went back to pick up the sand globe Megumi and Tsumiki had seen. On the way to the cash register, the little girl couldn’t stop admiring the lighthouse and the thin glass sphere surrounding it, specks of sand still floating around.
It seemed like their purchases were all set, but that changed when Satoru walked past the display cooler by the cash register. The sight of the chilly soda cans made him aware of how dry his mouth was.
“I’m kind of thirsty after all that ice cream,” he admitted in a hushed voice.
“Honestly, I am too,” Mari said.
“Same.” Megumi and Tsumiki were also eyeing the drinks.
Satoru opened the door to the cooler, picking soda cans according to everyone’s requests. Mari wanted a cherry-flavored soda; Tsumiki, a regular lemonade; Megumi, a cola; and Satoru himself, a cola from a different brand that promised a touch of strawberry flavor.
“I never understood why ice cream makes you thirsty when it’s meant to cool you down,” Mari commented, standing by Satoru in the line.
“It’s because of the salt and sugar in it,” he explained, “which slows hydration.”
Tsumiki’s eyes brimmed with admiration at the fact. “You’re smart!”
Satoru’s chest puffed out and he smiled to himself. It was hard for him not to find the children’s wonder at the smallest things endearing.
Two tourists later, the family paid for their acquisitions and left the gift shop. They sat down on a nearby bench to enjoy their drinks, the cans coated in chilly droplets from their moisture. Some of the passersby turned their heads at the hissing cracks of the cans opening almost at the same time. Satoru found it cool and wished he had known it would happen so he could have recorded it.
A gentle and welcome breeze soared through the street. Satoru and Megumi’s hair swayed in it, but they chose to ignore that because the cold drinks had all of their attention. To them, their effect was that of water on dry soil.
“I had so much fun today,” Tsumiki said, leaning back on the bench, “I already can’t wait for our next outing.”
Megumi took a sip of cola. “I had fun too. Lying in bed all day was getting boring.”
Satoru and Mari exchanged a look coupled with a smile.
“I’m glad you two had fun,” Mari said.
“We all had a pretty nice day, didn’t we?” Satoru took a long sip of his strawberry-flavored cola. He already knew that afternoon would be one of his favorite summer memories.
The drinks didn’t last much longer. After throwing the empty sodas into a trash can, the four of them made their way home. Right before the first crosswalk, Megumi took hold of Mari’s hand. It wasn’t his first time showing that level of trust, but Mari still looked back at Satoru with a bright grin he corresponded to.
Tsumiki mimicked her brother and held Satoru’s hand. The young man gave it a playful shake despite lamenting deep down that his other hand was busy with bags—Mari was in the same spot. If only they all could walk back home holding hands like the little family they had become…
The first thing the four did upon arriving home was putting the things they had bought away in their respective places. Tsumiki placed the sand globe on a shelf, next to some of Mari’s books. Satoru hung the sushi roll wall clock above the TV and marveled at how fun the living room was looking. Megumi thought the clock belonged in the kitchen, but said nothing.
Standing by the couch, Tsumiki hid a yawn with her hand. “I’m a bit tired.”
“Me too.” Megumi sat on the couch and dangled his feet.
“What a pity, I want to stay up late!”
“But it’s important that you sleep if you feel tired,” Mari told Tsumiki. Having had the same dilemma countless times, she understood the little girl all too well.
“Besides,” Satoru chimed in, “Mari and I will be going to bed soon, too.”
Knowing it’d be best to go rest already, everyone retreated into their respective rooms to put on their pajamas and then reunited again to say goodnight. Satoru and Mari accompanied the children into their bedroom as they unmade their beds and climbed onto them. The young man took the AC’s controller from the dresser and turned it on.
“I can do that too.” Megumi crossed his arms.
Satoru turned to him with the controller in his hand. “Don’t you feel more comfortable sitting in bed as I turn the AC on for you and Tsumiki?”
“Well… Yes.”
The family bid each other goodnight. Satoru and Mari left their children’s bedroom, with the latter closing the door at the same time Tsumiki turned the lights off.
“How about we sit down for a bit before going to bed?” Satoru pointed towards the couch with his thumb.
“Sounds good to me! Let’s go.”
Just like he did in Megumi and Tsumiki’s bedroom, Satoru got the AC started and plopped down on the couch, draping his arms over its backrest. Mari joined him, intending to just lean against his side, but it wasn’t long before both were in each other’s arms. Who cared about the heat? Not them.
Satoru closed his eyes and let out a long exhale through his nose, hinting at a smile. “Looks like the kids had a great time today.”
“Yeah‐” Mari nuzzled against his shoulder “‐Megumi’s face glowed as soon as we set foot on the beach.”
“If I’m honest, I was a bit afraid that he and Tsumiki wouldn’t adapt well to life with us, especially Megumi… But they’ve been doing great.”
Mari gave him a lazy nod. “Why wouldn’t they, when we’re giving them the care and affection they barely got from their biological parents?”
“You’re right.” Satoru ran his fingertips up and down Mari’s side. “Can I be honest again?”
“Yes.” The girl looked up at him.
“Lately, there have been times when I’ve felt a bit jealous of non-sorcerers: they get to experience days like this one whenever they want and without worrying about Curses, missions, corrupt higher-ups, and all that.”
“I miss things about my life as a non-sorcerer,” Mari said, brushing away a lock of hair threatening to stick to Satoru’s forehead, “but I never regret the path I chose because it led me to meeting you.”
Satoru kissed the tip of her nose with a giggle and she chased him to return the gesture. Although Mari went back to resting her head on his shoulder, she didn’t take her eyes off him. She swallowed hard and took a breath, but then averted her gaze.
“I can almost see your thoughts running like a teleprompter,” Satoru joked, then took on a more serious tone. “What’s in your mind?”
Mari pulled away and shifted so she was facing him. Their knees touched and she sandwiched one of Satoru’s hands between hers.
“This is kind of big‐” she chuckled nervously “‐but…something I didn’t think was possible happened.
“Basically, seeing you take on a father-like role has made my love for you grow even more. I already knew you were an amazing person, but the way you care for Megumi and Tsumiki has further reinforced that for me. They’re thriving, they’re happier than when they first arrived, and it’s all thanks to you deciding to take them under your wing.”
Satoru’s expression softened in a way only Mari got to see. He leaned forward and touched her forehead with his, cupping her cheek with tenderness. “You should give yourself some credit, too. They love being around you.”
Mari covered Satoru’s hand with hers and ran her thumb over the back of his fingers. She held his gaze with her brown eyes, which hinted at one final confession she needed to get out.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” he encouraged her.
Mari took a deep breath. With Satoru’s blue irises taking up most of her visual field, she said it, “Your relationship with Megumi and Tsumiki has made me realize that I want to have biological children with you in the future.”
Satoru’s breath caught audibly in his chest. His eyes widened and his mouth slackened, and when seconds went by and Mari added nothing that could make it feel like it was just a passing thought, he pulled her into his lap and wrapped her up in a tight hug.
“I want that too, sweetheart.” He pulled himself away from her shoulder and looked into her eyes. “I want Megumi and Tsumiki to play with miniature versions of us. Once we get older, we’ll have our own kids, we’ll love them, and we’ll give them everything they need and more, just like we’re doing for their older siblings.”
Mari buried herself in Satoru’s embrace, setting her face by the crook of his neck and inhaling his perfume. “Good. I don’t see myself having kids with anyone but you.”
“Me neither.” Satoru tightened his hold. “You’ll be a perfect mom. You already are.”
“And you’re a perfect dad.” Mari gave him a loud kiss on the cheek and closed her eyes. The steady hum of the AC was the only sound in the room for a little while until she mumbled, “I like to imagine us with a boy and a girl. He’d have your white hair, your eye shape with my eye color, and my nose, because then he’d have my dad’s nose; she’d have long brown hair, blue eyes, a big smile, and she’d be a little shorter than him.”
The picture Mari’s description painted in Satoru’s mind became more vivid with every word she said. He ended up seeing himself alongside Mari, the both of them around a decade older, watching their two future children playing together.
“Yeah… I can imagine it too.” He ran his hand up and down the girl’s back. “Our kids will be the most gorgeous ever.”
Mari raised her gaze. “With you as their father, that’s a given.”
Satoru chuckled and kissed her head, leaning his against it and calling Mari his pretty girl in a whisper. He closed his eyes and all he could see was the white-haired boy and the blue-eyed girl looking up at him with eagerness and wonder, probably expecting him to join them in a game or help them with homework. His clan’s elders would kill him if they discovered how much he found himself preferring a life like that with Mari over one where he’d just be “the heir of the Gojo clan.”
As minutes went by, Satoru and Mari’s snug closeness, the AC sweeping over them at the right temperature, and the natural tiredness after such a fun and active day had their eyelids growing heavier and their bodies deflating against each other’s. Satoru forced himself to open his eyes and let out a yawn.
“I’d love to stay like this,” he said, “but we probably should go to bed.”
“Yeah. We can always keep cuddling there.”
The two of them got up from the couch and headed towards their bedroom, arms almost touching. A few steps away from it, Satoru wondered, “Should we tell Megumi and Tsumiki about our plan on giving them siblings in the future?”
Mari looked at him with a soft snort and a faint smile. Her hand was already on the doorknob.
“We should wait. Otherwise, they might start asking for a sibling now.”