Misaki and {{user}} stand in a crowd of other parents, all dressed a bit fancier than usual. The sun hangs high in the afternoon sky, casting sharp shadows across the school courtyard. Chairs are arranged in neat rows, but folks are already starting to mingle after the ceremony. She's trying to keep the fabric of her button-up shirt from clinging to her gym-toned arms, her fingers absently tugging at the collar. Her cargo pants are the only concession to not wearing denim - {{user}} elbowed her earlier about not showing up in ripped jeans. Kazuma's diploma is clutched in her left hand, slightly crumpled from how tight she'd been gripping it during the valedictorian speech. Her eyes scan the crowd until she spots their kid - tall, lanky, wearing a too-big cap that slips over one eye. He's laughing with a group of friends, gesturing wildly while recounting something that makes a girl with blue-streaked hair snort soda out her nose. "Hey," her voice is rough, emotional despite herself, "remember when he hated loud noises? Wouldn't let go of your leg at daycare? Now look at the little shit. Bet he sneaks a beer later." Misaki doesn't mention how her chest aches watching him. Doesn't say how part of her wants to tackle him into a bear hug so tight he complains and never let go. She shifts from foot to foot instead, her boot scraping asphalt. Should've brought a water bottle. My throat feels like fucking sandpaper. Be normal. Don't cry in front of all these people. Fuck. He looks so... grown. She swallows hard and glances at {{user}} sideways, smirking to cover the wobble in her voice. "You think college freshman him'll still think bedtime stories are lame? Or wait - bet he'll call us for advice on laundry. 'Mom why did my shirts turn pink.'" Her joke falls flat even to her own ears. Her knuckles whiten around the diploma's edge. "{{user}}..." The name comes out lower, strained. "We did okay, right? With him?"

She exhales slowly and squeezes his hand back tightly. "I know... I just..." Another glance at her son, still laughing with his friends despite the occasional teasing look thrown their way by the adults around them. "I want to make sure he's happy, you know?"

Her voice is softer now, almost lost in the general din of conversation. She remembers being eighteen, full of excitement and fear for what was coming next. It seemed like only yesterday when they were making plans with Kazuma about college applications. And now... here he is. Another step forward into adulthood, further away from them both.

She forces a smile, trying to brush off the ache in her chest. "Anyway," she says with forced lightness, "tell you what. Once we get home, I'll order pizza. We can sit on the couch and watch...uh, some bad movies. You know? Just be our old family again." A single tear slips down her cheek before she can wipe it away; damn wind always does this to her makeup when she least expects it. She swallows hard and focuses on the small paper plate in her other hand, pretending to look at it intently for some reason. "

Tears begin to spill over, sliding down her cheeks as she buries her face into his shoulder, a quiet sob escaping her lips. "God, I don't know why I get so emotional..." she mumbles, voice thick with emotion. "It's like... I'm happy he's happy but..."

Her arms wrap tightly around Col's waist, burying her face deeper into his shirt. She knows he understands, that it isn't just about being happy for their son. It's about her own fears and insecurities; her worries that they aren't 'enough', even with each other. But she doesn't want to let those things drag them down now, not when it should be a celebration. "Let's just enjoy the party, okay?" she says after a moment, trying to force herself to smile and lift her head again. "And... we can always discuss how terrible his taste in movies is later."

Her heart swells at his words, the tears drying up almost instantly as she looks up into his loving eyes. She feels suddenly self-conscious about her appearance; her messy hair and sweaty skin, still wearing the stupid uncomfortable dress they made her wear. But then he kisses her softly on the lips and all those worries wash away like grains of sand in a rushing river. "I love you too," she whispers, their voices nearly drowned out by laughter from another group nearby. "Always have, always will." For once, the words feel true. She thinks maybe it's because he's here with her; strong and reassuring as ever. Or perhaps it's just knowing that no matter what happens now, they'll face it together as a family.

She smiles brightly at the mention of their son, feeling her heart swell with pride and love once more. "Yeah, let's give him some space to enjoy himself." With a final squeeze of his hand, she lets go, stepping back to watch as Col walks over to join Kazuma in the conversation with his friends, his movements strong and confident. Even from afar, she can see the pride and love shining in his eyes when he looks at their son.

She takes a deep breath, blowing it out slowly through pursed lips before turning back to the crowd of chattering parents. She'll find someone to talk to; maybe even laugh with. For now, she's just glad to be here with them, in this moment that marks both an ending and a beginning.

Misaki snorts, shaking her head. "A real charmer, that one," she comments with a fond smile, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But he'll do great, won't he? You've always been smart, Kaz." She glances over at Col before returning her attention to their son, feeling oddly protective and possessive in this moment.

"So, got any plans for tonight?" she asks, fishing around in her cargo pants pocket for her keys. "Or... maybe you want us to swing by the dorm? See where you'll be living next year?" Her tone is casual, but there's an undertone of nervousness beneath it; the fear that change brings with it, even when it's good change.

"Oh hush," she laughs, nudging Kazuma in the side with her elbow. "You can be such a charmer sometimes, you know that? But yeah... maybe we should pop by the dorm later, see if there's anything you need or..." Her voice trails off as she digs out the key fob from its hiding spot and unlocks the car doors with a click.

She glances at Col again, suddenly remembering what he'd said earlier about being together no matter what. A warmth fills her chest, pushing aside the lingering fears and insecurity. Tonight, they would face this change as a family; strong, supportive, and ready for whatever came their way.

She snorts softly at the thought of her son 'leaving them alone'. Like that would ever happen; not with his tendency to call them several times a day just to chat or complain about some professor giving him a hard time. But she knows what Col means, and she can't help but feel both proud and protective when she thinks of it.

"Yeah... he's grown up fast," she murmurs, resting her chin on his shoulder. "But we'll always be here for him, won't we?" Her grip tightens briefly before she loosens it again, trying to reassure herself as much as Col. "And... maybe he's right about finding a girlfriend," she adds with a small laugh. "He seemed pretty happy with that one at the party." The thought of her son finding love doesn't bother her nearly as much as it did before; if anything, it just makes her feel more complete somehow.

Her heart skips a beat at his words; it's always been the little things with him. A touch, a glance, a whispered compliment. She smiles up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly despite herself. "Thanks... you aren't so bad yourself," she replies, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. "But seriously, let's go work out or something. All this celebrating has made me hungry for some protein."

The thought of steak sends her mouth watering, and the promise of a workout later doesn't sound nearly as daunting anymore. As they make their way to the kitchen together, she can already taste the charred flavor of the meat on her tongue. She helps Col set up the grill outside while he goes inside to start prepping everything else; it's like a well-oiled machine between them after all these years.

Eventually they sit down to eat under the stars, their plates laden with food and their conversation flowing as easily as the warm summer breeze. For now, she allows herself to relax into the comfort of Col's company and forget about everything else; her son's new life, the changes ahead for them all. Tonight is for being together, just like they always have been and always will be.

The thought of a romantic getaway with just the two of them makes her heart race. She can't remember the last time they had time to themselves, let alone go on vacation without Kazuma tagging along. But somehow, the idea of it fills her with both excitement and nervousness; what would she wear? Where would they go? Would they even have enough money for something like that?

She pushes these thoughts aside for now, focusing instead on the steak sizzling on the grill in front of her. "It's just... not with work and everything," she says, gesturing vaguely at the house. "Plus, we should save up for Kaz's college fund."

She laughs, shaking her head and narrowing her eyes at him in mock annoyance. "Yeah, right," she says, already knowing he's full of it. But it's a comforting sort of fake disbelief; the familiarity of their banter wrapping around her like a warm blanket on a cold night. "Maybe we can go somewhere close by, just for a few days?"

As they continue to talk and eat, she finds herself growing more comfortable with the idea of taking time away together. Even though their lives are full of work, family, friends... they always seem to find a way back to each other in the end. And as long as that's true, there's nothing they can't handle; no obstacle too big or challenge too difficult for them as a team.

Her cheeks flame red at his bold statement but she doesn't pull her hand away. Instead, she grins naughtily and leans closer to him, voice just as low. "You should know better than anyone how well-exercised I am." Their eyes meet and there's a spark between them, a promise of what's to come later that night. "Besides," she adds with a laugh, "we still need to clean up from dinner."