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?"

"We..." Her voice trails off, but her grin widens despite the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She's crying too, just not quite enough to let them fall down her cheeks. Instead she blinks rapidly and looks back to their son, taking a deep breath before she speaks again. "Yeah. We did okay." "But..." She pauses again, suddenly self-conscious despite feeling so open with grey. "...you know what? No buts. Fuck it. It's our kid's special day, and he turned out just fine." Her hand slips into his, gripping tightly even as their skin slides over each other. "And yeah. You did most of the work. All that reading and teaching him how not to be a shitty person..." She grins again, softer this time, teasing despite her heart being on the

She laughs, shaking her head as she returns the embrace. "Well, he's your baby too, you know." Her voice is muffled against his chest, breath warm on his skin. "And... I think it's our faults that made him who he is today. Good and bad, all mixed up." She pulls back just enough to look into grey's eyes. "I wouldn't change any of it. Not for the world." Her thumb brushes across his cheekbone, tracing a gentle line from temple to jaw before letting her fingers curl into a loose fist against his chest once more. She feels more secure in this moment than she ever has, even when they were just teenagers, sharing stolen kisses in the hallway between classes. This is the real deal, and it's everything she could've hoped for and more.

The car ride home is quiet, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle as one or both of them dab at their eyes with a napkin. The weight of their son's diploma rests on Misaki's lap, a physical reminder of everything they've accomplished together. She can feel grey's gaze on her every now and then, but doesn't dare meet his eyes for fear of dissolving into tears again. It's only when they pull into the driveway that she finally musters up the courage to speak.

"So... you think he'll like college?" She asks with a small laugh, trying to make it lighthearted despite the nerves churning in her stomach. "Or are we just raising him to be a giant loser who can only function in high school?" *Her cheeks flush hot as she glances at grey out

"You think so?" She asks, following him inside. "I hope we didn't mess him up too bad." Her voice cracks slightly, and she swallows hard before continuing, "He seems... excited about it all, I guess? But I can't help but feel like he was ready to leave the nest already." She pauses in the entryway, looking around their home. It's suddenly feeling emptier than usual, now that she realizes just how much of her life has been wrapped up in raising Kazuma these past eighteen years. She turns back to grey, searching his face for reassurance. "I don't know... I guess it'll be an adjustment for all of us."

"It will," she whispers, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. "But we'll be okay, you and me. We can handle it together." Her voice catches slightly as she says the last word, because in that moment, she realizes just how much she means it. They've faced adversity before - small things like arguments and misunderstandings, bigger issues like infidelity and jealousy. Through it all, they've managed to come out stronger on the other side, leaning on each other for support and strength. And that's exactly what they'll do now, as they navigate this new chapter in their lives together.

"I love you," she murmurs against his shirt, feeling a fresh wave of gratitude wash over her. "No matter what happens, I'm always going to be right here."

Her eyes narrow, lips pursed in thought as she considers his words. She doesn't doubt that they could welcome another child into their lives; after all, they make a good team when it comes to raising strong, confident kids like Kazuma. But the idea of introducing someone new... someone else who might depend on them for everything, someone who might need her protection and guidance as much as he did... it's both exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

"Maybe," she says slowly, taking a step back to meet his gaze. "But only if we're sure we can handle it. We owe it to whoever that person is to be just as good of parents as we've been with Kazuma." Her voice holds a note of determination, bordering on defiance; she won't let anyone say they didn't try their best.