I slowly wake up from my long slumber and rub the sleep from my eyes before I stare at the light billowing in from the windows. 'It's no later than eight o'clock.' I thought as I looked, and it being Sunday, the school doesn't need me there to teach. I slowly turn my head over to see Lilly, still sound asleep. Looking at her every morning still makes me smile. I slowly get up, trying not to wake her and head to the restroom to clean up. I swallow my slowly diminishing amount of medication, I guess those doctors were right about the amount of medication that I would need to go down, although I didn't expect it to take five years. After closing the bottles and shutting the medicine cabinet, I look at myself in the mirror. 'No need to shave today.' I think as I examine my face, bare of even the smallest amount of stubble.
        After showering, I poke my still damp head into the bedroom and notice Lilly is still asleep. I grin at this, and take the opportunity to make her some breakfast in bed. 'After all, it is mostly her day today.' I think remembering our plans for today. Today is not only marking our three year wedding anniversary, but it's also her baby shower. She's got quite the baby bump, and the baby kicks on regular basis, although she shows no sign of the ever rumored appetite changes and she still looks as beautifully dainty as when I first entered the tea room back at Yamaku. As I ponder on these thoughts, I notice the eggs and vegetables are almost burning. I quickly gather myself, and set the food on the tray along with a glass of orange juice.
        As I quietly step into the bedroom, I set the tray on the empty bedside table and sit on the bed beside Lilly, and with no more disturbance than a gentle kiss on the cheek she awakens. She sits up slowly, and turns to my direction. "Mm, good morning Hisao." she says groggily and rubs the sleep from her blue cloudy eyes. I notice her cheek as a pink imprint on her cheek from the pillow case. I smile and set the tray on her lap. "Good morning, my your hair is starting to look a little like mine." I say with a coyote like grin. She gently taps me on the head with her fork before giving me the cutest innocent act pout. After she finishes her breakfast, she gets up to take a shower and I leave to go the dishes. As I turn my wrist I to check the time, I see its almost nine o'clock. 'Well then, time to get to work.' I think before heading out the back door. Heading into the shed, I pull out our umbrellas and chairs for our yard tables and set them accordingly. I then proceed to grab the gigantic barbecue Lilly's uncle Jigoro gave me for my birthday, well that and a death threat if I break Lilly's heart.
        I set the monstrous machine up and look into the kitchen calling for me to bring the cooler with the soda and the beer her sister requested. After doing so, I notice Lilly is done preparing the various things for grilling. After brushing my protests off like they were bits of lint on a sweater, she prepares various things for me to grill, most of them coming from America. Even with all these steaks and burgers, I manage to convince her to allow me to buy various breads from the local convenience store. After setting the last few things up, I hear Akira's car pulling up. After walking through and talking with Lilly, Hideaki and her walk through to the backyard. Akira waves with her ever casual "Yo." and I return the gesture. Hideaki looks more and more like a boy everyday, compared to the hair ties and stockings I saw when I first met him. He wears a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a tie slightly undone. He spots me and bows to me, 'Now only if he was less formal.' I think to myself. Akira, spotting the cooler immediately raids it for a beer and cracks it open before speaking. "Oh, the folks can't make it here, they're caught up with business." Lilly shrugs it off as if she expected it.
        As I grab a watermelon soda, I hear a shriek I haven't heard since my wedding day. "HIIIIICHAAAAN~!" I duck as Misha jumps at me for hug, although she obviously caught on before I even had the chance and brings me to the ground. I get up rubbing my neck as she apologizes and I just tell her its okay, and before long Shizune appears in front of me. [Hello, Hisao. Enjoy seeing us again?] Picking up sign language in college was a good idea so I didn't have to always listen to Misha. [I enjoy seeing old friends, although my back doesn't.] I sign, remarking to Misha who in return gives her trademarked laugh. As I head into the kitchen I notice the long Amethyst hair I could never forget. "Hisao! Congratulations on your wedding and coming child." Hanako says to me. She's gotten a lot more confident and loud spoken, but still has her shy days. "Thanks, Hanako. Always a pleasure with you around." I say, greeting her. In soon, I have Hideaki bothering me about eating something. Coming to my senses, I start to go out and cook the various meats my wife has prepared.
        Before long, everyone is full and the party is in full swing. Lilly begins opening the presents for our Nursery I built over the summer break. Various toys, a changing table, and a blanket for the crib. After thanking everyone for the gifts, people start leaving. I check the time, seven o'clock. Akira is staying in hotel in the nearby town with Hanako, while everyone else just drives home. After cleaning the mess up, I go into the kitchen to notice Akira's suit coat on the chair. 'I'll call her to come back and get-' my thoughts stop when I see Lilly cringe in pain from a contraction.
"Lilly! Are you alright? What's wrong?"
"H-Hisao... It's.."
"It's what? What's happening?"
"It's... Time..."
        I break into an anxious sweat as I notice that Lilly's water has broken. I rush her to the car, grabbing Akira's suit coat to throw on Lilly to keep her warm. I rush as quick as legally possible to the hospital in town before rushing her inside. After quickly getting her into a wheelchair, the orderlies rush us to the birthing suite and so begins the most stressful part of Lilly's day. As she grips my hand with the force of a vice grip, I keep her breathing normal and slowly time passes. After two hours of not being able to not feel my hand, our new son arrives in the world. After dressing the baby in a blanket, Lilly is handed our handsome son, with a full head of hair as messy as his fathers. Lilly can't help but happily weep as she holds our blanket clad son. She looks to me with a red cheeked smile, and asks the hardest question I've had since my university exams, "What will his name be, Hisao?" I think deeply and remember my friend from my childhood before coming to Yamaku. "Shin... Shin Nakai." I say with a teary smile and the look on her face shows her approval of the name.
        Noticing the suit coat casually tossed on the nearby chair, I tell Lilly of the situation before exiting the room. After dialing the number, I hear a groggy voice answer. "Hisao...? This better be important.." Akira says groggily. "Er, yeah you forgot your suit coat over at my house. Come by the hospital to get it. Anger rises in her voice, "Really, Hisao? You called me for tha- Wait, why the hospital..?" Akira says with new found concern. I can barely hold bad the tears, and my voice becomes choked. "Sh-Shin was just born not ten minutes ago.." I say with a smile on my face. The line goes silent until the girliest thing I've ever heard come from Akira's mouth rings through, nearly making me deaf. "EEEEH! Hanako! Wake up, we need to get across town now! Lilly just had her baby!" The line goes dead and I start to laugh loudly. As I step into the room, I see Lilly still cradling our son. "He's as handsome as you are, Hisao." She says, sniffling. I agree with her before giving her a loving kiss. Today has shown me that my life with Lilly, as only just begun.