218 – Epilogue: Eudaimonai

August 30…

2027.

"…Delivery!"

"One moment!"

It was barely 8 in the morning.

"Ms. Ringo Sakato?"

"Yes. I didn't know deliveries are made this early."

"About that, did you receive a call yesterday, ma'am?"

"Oh… right."

"We apologize for the delay. We do early deliveries in situations like this."

"Do I need to sign anywhere?"

"No need."

"Then, thank you."

…

I will need to get used to that name from now on, huh.

"What was that… Rin? The doorbell woke me up…"

From the railings of the stairs even if he looks like he could fall down at any moment, Gin slid down from it and stuck the landing on both his feet.

"Morning, Potato. The new Dutch oven just arrived."

"Oh… that's good. I still feel bad for the old one."

"Want me to remind you about it~?"

"Please, no. I barely woke up and it's really embarrassing.

That said, do you still have time before work?"

"Do you still have time before work? We leave at the same time today, right?"

"I don't take as much time to prepare as you, you know that."

"Well, sorry for being slow, Sonic the Edgelord."

"Wow, your insults just leveled up. First time I'm hearing that, and a fast edgelord to boot. If this was a few years ago, yeah.

Do you fancy some cereal, Rin?"

"I think we're about to run out of it. Haku and Kyupi's food is also running low."

"Guess I'll get them on my lunch break."

Hi, I'm Ringo Sakato, and…

Hehe.

Hehehehe.

Ehehehehehehehehehehehehe-

Stop.

Please forgive me, it's only been three days since then.

But yeah, literally right after Gin and I got married, I immediately started living in his place, as if that's anything new since the past few years. What's separation anxiety going to do to me when my immediately family is literally just next door. I dare it to throw hands at me if it can.

Although that said, I'm not sure if it's going to be same on my parents' end. Before the ceremony, I've been having discussions with Mom and Dad about them getting a pet, and how we'd join them when they think it's time to get one.

I would assume that they're probably going to get lonely in some ways, but on another end of very different discussions, there have been talks about chipping a part of the wall dividing this house and my parents', and making a path connecting the two. It might as well have happened long ago, but it never did.

Going back to the pet talks, it's hard to imagine that Gin was the first one to suggest after hearing that my parents wanted a dog. But unsurprisingly, he'd like them to get a small one. One thing that didn't change I guess is that he's still a bit uncomfortable with dogs, but I think my concern is that they would both scare each other—as he is still a but jumpy with dogs, and that the poor dog might get scared with how tall Gin is.

Nevertheless, life is moving on.

"I'm ready, Gin."

"Give me a sec."

From the slope going down the street, the scooter descended at which I sat on the back.

Sometimes, it brings back memories. Now, it has been ten years.

We would be here in White Street where I would be at the back of Gin's bicycle on the way to school when we are not walking. Now, we could feel the wind more as we swipe through the street swiftly towards Blue Ink High School.

"Your hair's good, Rin? I thought you were going to have it cut after our wedding."

"It'll just be fine. Let me rock the longer hair for a bit."

"I woke up yesterday with your hair on my mouth. It goes crazy sometimes."

"…So you want me to-"

"I never said you should cut it, ma'am."

"So you're willing to live with it~"

You can't beat the scenic vibe of the still silent street while pedaling along it relatively slowly, but having grown up through the years means that time has also become much more important.

"You'll be home earlier than me as usual, right?"

"Yup. I'll get started on dinner before you're back.

Also, not giving your wife a kiss?"

"Don't be absurd, milady. At least you had the decency to lower your voice, but we're in front of a school. Mato will chew you out if he sees you acting like that in front of your students."

"Aww, how cold."

"You've really been in a teasing mood recently, huh?

I'll be in Hatsuna, then. Hope your students don't give you much headaches. Love you."

"You too. Chu."

"I guess the chu will make do. See you later.

Ah, wait. Want me to build the desk for your office in the other room?"

"Hm, I'll just ask for help if I need it. Now, off you go."

And so he goes.

"Alright… back to work, then."

I guess I have some explaining to do.

I think it has been exactly two years and three days since the last chapter, and at that time, I was still working at Claude. So what happened? Did I get fired because they realized I was just having a time of my life on the several times I filed for a leave? No.

Well, they did find out I was having a fun time in those times, but it's not their business to butt in to.

Simply put, I resigned from Claude.

As much as I wanted to, I wasn't allowed a sabbatical leave of more than a year, so I came to the decision to leave the restaurant and also surrender the car I was using.

And for what reason did I have to give up a nice job—it's simply because I wanted a new perspective and experiences, which is why I am on a part-time work teaching in the culinary department of my high school alma mater, as well as becoming a lecturer in CCI in the coming second semester. Unlike on Gin's stint as being a teacher in Blue Ink, I still had to take additional teaching units, but it all worked out well.

But now that my leave of absence for the entire last week had passed, I am now back to reality after all the festivities.

And what exactly does this job entails? I basically handle theory classes and one practical subject, while also helping out in the cooking club from time to time. The only thing I never anticipated from the get-go… was that Mato-sen appointed me as the advisor of the Art Club while he stepped down as the co-advisor instead of the reverse.

Since I'm working part-time, I usually only report around six hours in a day which covers the classes, club, and desk work where I revise lesson plans which I thankfully don't have to make from scratch. I however have days where I don't have work, and that's to make way for my eventual work at CCI early on.

Still, I am nonetheless a newbie teacher that started a few months ago so I have to leave an impression that I am approachable.

"Nami-seeeeeen… we missed you so muuuuch…"

"Now, now, I just came back so keep your questions short."

Well… I do believe I'm pretty much past that hurdle. The only thing I need to work on is that I'm usually found at the rooftop by lunch eating and taking care of the plants, and while students do come to me for inquiries, it eventually devolves into idle chat when they're done with it.

"Is it true that the reason you were absent was because you got married, Nami-sen?"

"Aaaand where did you hear that gossip?"

"Is it really gossip, though~ We heard a teacher from the BM congratulating you earlier."

"Just to get it out of the way, yeah I did. But don't pry too much, especially you girls. And don't ask me for relationship advice; I'm not a friend that you can rely on for that."

"Ehhh, not even stories?"

"Not for you to know~ Now be good students and prepare for the practical in a bit. You only have ten minutes of lunch break, so chop chop!"

"Wait, do we have to call you by a different name now? Because it's your surname."

"Nah, just the usual is fine."

~ ~ ~

"Haaahhhh… It's still so much better when dealing with a few students at once…"

"Nami-sen, we're here~"

"Oh, sure… We'll start our meeting in five minutes. We'll review the concepts you all proposed."

"Yup, it really kinda stings seeing you in that seat instead of me, Ms. Sakato. Man, it sounds strange saying that."

Behind the club members, Mato-sen also entered the Art Room seeing me on his former desk with the chair inclined at its lowest, which for the record, he had also done so in the past.

"What a week it is, huh, Mato-sen."

"Ringo, it's only Monday."

I really thought you'll take more time off."

"Can't do. The day we decided was in the middle of a school year, and we'd just stay home anyway if we take time off.

I didn't think the club will get this busy, so… Alright! Eyes up here, everyone."

Over the years, the club has gotten more opportunities as an unofficial alumni association, at least within the club, has occurred semi-frequently. And to no one's surprise, it is being led by Ms. Sora which by this time has started work in one of their company's smaller subsidiaries.

Even so, the club undergoes a lot of changes at certain intervals depending on where the members have their interests aligned on. If there are a lot of KU members, then it will be in conventions like ManCon or ONRio. Otherwise, they will be tackling either traditional or more contemporary approaches. It just so happened that this year falls on the second one.

This time, the first big project of the club was called upon by the local government that's currently having a program to strengthen the tourism of the city. And since the members know that I'm a culinary teacher, the club has decided to focus the project on the foods offered in our locality after a few meetings.

As for how it will be executed, they have decided to go with conventional illustrations with a focus on paintings hoping to be the forefront of the advertising campaign of the program.

It's nice to see that Blue Ink is not having any shortage of creative kids per year.

"When we pull this off, I hope TheArtClub sets their eyes on us!"

"Eh… We're just a bunch of amateurs so I'm not sure we'll even be on their radar."

"A bit of positivity wouldn't hurt!"

Upon hearing that short conversation from the students, I flinched a little and pulled on Mato-sen's sleeve.

"Wait, you never told them about it?!" I whispered.

"I didn't find a reason why?"

I could only facepalm receiving such a response.

"Besides… I think it's better that they don't know yet, considering that you're evaluating them."

"Hahh…

If there are no more concerns, we'll continue in another day. You can all go home now."

"Right~o. We'll see you tomorrow, Nami-sen."

I say dismissed, but it doesn't really mean that all of the members go home immediately as some stay to do exercises, and this time only one of them remained.

"Actually, Nami-sen!"

"Yes, Lia?"

"I never found the time to ask you about this, but I feel like I've seen you in the past before you were a teacher."

"Probably, since I do visit the school often especially for Open Event and I live close by."

"W-Well, I was just wondering if you and Sir Gin like to dye your hair a lot."

"Uh, pardon? Wait, you know about him?"

"I was a first year in junior high when he started teaching here. He stood out because he was quite tall.

I think that's when I first saw you—Your hair was white back then."

And then I immediately remembered that it was the time I was waiting for Gin for a lunch in Claude.

"Then I found out recently that he now works at Rei Hatsuna, and his hair is gray. Now, your hair is two-tone. Isn't that against the rules even for teachers?" she cheekily teased.

"Oh, it was him, right? There one you're married to. Congratulations, I guess…?"

Girl, you really just had to add that, huh.

"Well, thank you.

And it may be against school rules for flashy hair dyes with the exception of more neutral colors, but it can't be helped when it's natural."

"I've never heard anyone with a natural white hair… unless you're a 'B*njamin Button?'"

"Oh, wow. So kids still know that story.

But if you want an answer… Just like a piece of art is created with a story behind it, so did this. I guess you could say that this is proof that I am still alive.

And speaking of Hatsuna, new works will be showcased next month so feel free to give them a visit."

"I wasn't planning on commenting at all, but you just had to ruin it by plugging like Gin did. Goodness, Ringo."

▪ ▪ ▪

"Sorry I'm late. Cleanup took a while in the resto."

With Jean's entrance to the cafe, Gin gave a look to the other cafe crew.

"I'll take care of closing. You guys can head home."

"Ah, it's that time again, huh. We'll see you tomorrow then, Manager."

And so, Gin brought two tables together in the middle of the cafe and the former six members of the Art Club then took all of their seats.

Letting out a deep breath, I started, "Well then… Time for the monthly TAC meeting."

…

It's still hard to wrap my head around it, but TheArtClub is now officially a company.

As to how it happened… you could say that I was the one that spearheaded it, but the reason it came to light was because of Gin and Hatsuna and how beyond being a cafe, he managed to integrate his and by extension our passion in art. Thus, it gave me an idea.

After a lengthy process and discussion with Jean, Akira, Nagi, and Shiro, we decided on the structure of TAC and started its services ten months ago.

It's hard to put a name on what exactly TAC does, and it's also difficult to say that it is profitable within its first year especially because we're targeting a very niche market. I suppose the thing that we want to be is to become a "network" of sorts, and with that comes connections.

This idea would have never materialized if not for the initial head start that Rei Hatsuna brought in. In the guise as a collaboration between two entities, we managed to find artists starting from across Cotona that are willing to work with us in this venture.

Apart from bringing together creatives and shining a light to the artists that deserves it, we have held three events with our clients invited to share ideas and encourage collaboration among each other. And aside from that, it has become a way for the six of us to continue the activities that took a step back as Blue Ink's Art Club.

As for how our organizational structure looks like… Let's just say that Akira was appointed as "CEO" while Gin and Jean generally take care of the business and financial side of things, and that leaves me, Nagi, and Shiro with mostly managing the creative side and screening potential creators to work with.

But at the end of the day, it's an even distribution in our initial capitalization.

"I guess that's a wrap…"

"Working with Stylo is still a no-go since they're assessing us, huh."

"One sec, I'll bring out the family meal."

"Need help, Potato?"

"Nah, just stay comfy. Good work today."

Every time all of us meet, Shiro somehow always gives me a suspicious smirk.

"So, how's married life~?"

"Sorry to disappoint you if you're expecting anything, but nothing really changed. And it's barely even a week."

"Well, yeah, we've been calling you two a married couple since high school so what's there to change," Jean joked.

"I guess if we ever get into a fight, I'll leave him alone and pass through his window to my room next door."

"Uhm, can we at least compromise on that and just kick me out of the room? You make it sound like you're running away from home."

"You better not sleep in my office."

"At least let me take the futon on my way out."

"Anyway, how are you guys in this regard, then?" curiously, I asked everyone.

"No plans yet," all of them said in one voice except for Akira.

"First time I'm finding out about this. You planning to take my little sister away?"

"Can you phrase that better, Gin…?

But even if we got to that, I plan on living with Anna back and forth in our home and your parents' if it's not a bother."

"My parents would welcome it but you'll have to get used to Kei and his wife also doing the same thing."

"I also feel like I need to reassure you, but we're not on a rush. It's more economic to take it easy for a while like you two anyway."

"Oh, absolutely. That, and time is money," I had to add.

"Yeah, I still have three more years until my back starts creaking. Well, two, since I'm 28 next month."

"Please spare us the woes of reaching 30's. We're farther than you from that."

But then, Jean raised a curious question, "Cumulatively though, wouldn't it make you older if you add up the time you spent in the White Room after the first two years?"

"Let's not talk about that…

Instead, I have some news for you."

After briefly going to the break room, Gin came back with a large envelope that he handed to Jean. Upon opening it, it contains sheets of paper with illustrations printed that Gin have done over the years, even including Nagi's past online persona.

"Can I maybe have Ai-san look through them?"

"Uh, sure. But aren't these the drawings you're including in your upcoming art book?"

"Yup. It's almost complete with a few more pieces I'm thinking about. But besides that, I want to work with Ai-san to design a cover for it."

"Alright. I'll have you talk to her about the details since she's not used to designing for this kind of media."

"It doesn't have to be something complex and I have some references that could be used. The thing is just… I might need to have it done by the end of next month. I'll work with her at every step of the way if it expedites things."

"I'll tell her."

"Last thing, then. Are you guys going to be free before the year ends? This might also affect the TAC so I'm already asking in advance."

It goes without saying that most of us can't give a straight answer as there is a possibility that our schedules can change depending on our circumstance. Just like the usual Gin, even I don't know the reason for him asking.

With that habit unchanging and now that we would be discussing our life and future as one from now on, I simply gave him a stern look to which it seems like he got the hint.

"Thing is, my and Yuuga's contact from Japan has applied us for a booth in Comiket this December. I'll have to wait for confirmation if we'll actually get in, though."

"You're going to the Big Sight?!"

"Like I said, we still don't know if we're in. But even if we're not, I think it's a good opportunity for us since we'll be exposed to various artists."

"Are you loosening on your risks then?" asked Nagi. "Sounds like you're going there in person with Yuuga, and you know what that means, right?"

Over the previous years, I started to have a better grasp of Gin, and Nagi's previous situation, especially as I became more exposed to his streaming work by accompanying him sometimes. In Gin's case, there are some things that his viewers do not see, and one of them is moderation which I tried to help from time to time.

That was the point where I realized that no matter the size of one's viewer base, bad apples will appear. I would occasionally see messages disapproving of Gin's growth as a creator since he came out of nowhere in 2023 and became an illustrator for one of Taiyou Digital's talents almost immediately despite little to nothing in his portfolio.

On the lighter side, there are those that seem too fixated on prying on his personal life, like requesting him to turn off his voice changer and spamming it, or asking about Michelo Azuria who has retired for well over three years now.

As for the "is he single" comments, we just chuckle about it as it's quite a well-known joke even outside his streams.

Amidst the privacy risks that floated around my mind, all I could see in his face is a laid-back smile as he rocked his seat.

"It can't be helped so I'm probably going with some joke of a costume, but that's as far as I'm going to compromise."

"Hahh… I swear, every time we meet like this it's like keep getting chiller on things."

"It's not like I'm being less cautious, but there's more to it now than the crumbs that my past left.

That being said… I'll never stop atoning."

Beyond the scars on his hands from four years ago that hasn't yet healed, there was something deeper, like a scar that only he could see that is deeper than any imperfection on his two hands that he could not forget.

"Right, we watched V*nland Saga recently which is why he's like this."

"Oh, finally. See what I told you? You keep pushing it back and do you understand now why?"

"Aside from our height, I share some similarities with the main character, I found.

Anyway… can you guys help out on cleaning? I'll be closing soon."

…

Ten years.

In a matter of ten years since I've met these irreplaceable friends and the man I vowed to be one in flesh, I've smiled, smiled more, cried, and cried more. But now, there's more room to smile than to cry.

▪ ▪ ▪

Well, isn't Gin in a bit of a predicament.

In one of the few times I slept in and woke up extremely late in a weekend, I walked down the stairs seeing Gin sitting on the wooden porch looking very slouched.

"Morning… What's got you so hunched back…?"

Half the day hasn't even passed, and his face already looked soulless as he turned to me.

"Oh, you're awake…"

As it turns out, wrapped around his hand is a leash while a Shih Tzu is walking and sniffing around the yard. On my end, Kyupi started pacing around my feet once he spotted me, and then climbed on my arms when I offered.

I ended up being an assistant for him to take a big stretch, in the end.

"Is Chi not getting along with the cats?"

"Ah, not that… Your parents went out for a bit so they asked me to look after her. It's our first time meeting and I'm glad that she's warming up to me… but there's a big difference between having a cat and a dog…"

Gosh, he sounds so defeated.

"I had to eat standing up since she keeps wanting to reach for my food. Oh, breakfast is above the fridge…"

"Haha, you're certainly having a day, huh? Has she done her business?"

"Yep…"

A week ago, Mom and Dad finally adopted a dog, and a fluffy one at that. Despite the seeming woes that my husband is letting out, he just seems to be doing fine giving the little doggo rubs when she approaches him, which is a good sign for someone that is not very fond of dogs. If anything, he may end up spoiling him at this rate.

With that in mind, I turned to Haku which just gave me a lazy cat shrug.

"Mrow. (It's probably a different story for Kyu.)"

Indeed, as Kyupi keeps looking at the back of Gin and eventually walking up to him to tap his paw and rub his face on him.

Truthfully, I kind of forgot how cats exactly were in nature until Kyupi arrived, because Haku is just as weird as his housemate.

"H-Hey, hey. My face is off-limits. Please don't lick it…

Kyu, stop scratching my back. Ow."

"Deeeeeaaaaarrrrrr, look at here for a second."

The moment he took notice of the phone's camera pointed at him, he quickly took Kyu and Chi to his arms and beamed a smile in the frame. And to be honest, I am still getting used to this growing side of him.

Nonetheless, my photo gallery has never looked brighter.

…

As the advent of winter draws near, being under the sun has gotten so much more bearable which is why we decided to take the pupper for a leisure stroll at midday.

With my hand occupied holding the leash, Gin offered his arm that I then cordially locked mine to. I watched his visible breath with a long sigh leaving him before the words that then followed.

"Generally, living situations aren't really getting better by the year, are they?"

"I did not expect you to start with that."

"I've just had various random things I've been thinking about. But would you say that life's gotten more difficult?"

"Depends on how you put it. Financially, I think we're doing fine, but on the other hand, I think it's better to say that life's gotten challenging with the stuff we're currently putting ourselves into."

"Challenging… that's one way to put it. Then if we're going by that, I'd say that it's less challenging now."

"In what metric are we talking about for you to say that?"

"In whatever BS we had to deal with in the past."

"Ah. Those things somehow don't feel real. It's like our definition of reality has gotten so skewed that it's now returning to how it should be when the issues we're dealing with do not include some absurd situation."

"Compared to now, no matter how stressful things can be, they just feel… kind of mundane?"

"It doesn't include us literally dying so while that's a bold thing for you to say, I guess in a sense it's true."

At each step, Gin suddenly inched closer until our shoulders touched while the dog in front of us remained walking with her eyes only looking forwa-

She just looked back at us for a second as if telling us we've slowed down. Sorry, ma'am.

"It's jarring how you're in an awfully good mood after saying some doomer things."

"I've just been reflecting a lot. And these days, I come out of it feeling brighter and cheery rather than squirming like a dying worm on salt or clicking my tongue."

"Yeah, you used to do that all the time when you remember anything remotely unpleasant."

"How about you then? Done some reflecting?"

"Just enjoying the present for now."

"I see. That's so like you.

Also, we agreed not to do anything big for a while now that we're married. We should probably start thinking of a list of the boring stuff we want to do."

"I'll start with fishing."

"What? That sounds fun, though.

How about building a tent in our room?"

"We have the stuff so let's do that tonight.

Then let's have Chi decide what we do for a whole day."

"Approved. Let's race on who rolls eight identical dice too. And also do a science experiment."

"Catching bugs in summer? Hide-and-seek in the underground base? Maybe we can stop by a store and buy a toy hammer before going home and play rock paper scissors."

"Somehow we're starting to think up of childish activities."

"Well, we were never childhood friends. Imagine me proposing to you with snot on my nose and missing a tooth."

"I can't lie, I don't think I can imagine you as anything but a sad kid."

"That's mean. Any others?"

"You mean the insults?"

"Uh, no. The stuff you want to do."

"Oh. Then let's think about more hypothetical what-if stories."

"Ooh, I like that. Now, this one isn't really boring, but wouldn't it be interesting if we learn how to sing properly?"

"I'll think about that. But how many have we thought of?"

"I wasn't keeping count. But it just goes to show that there's still a lot ahead of us, isn't it?"

"We do, we do~ It sounds like nothing's going to stop you anyway even if you're inching closer to your 30's."

"Can you not remind me of that? The joke's getting old."

"Just like you."

"…"

For one, Gin has always had a deadpan look. It's just that I can tell the very subtle changes when something hits him.

"Hmm?"

"Maybe I shouldn't have married you."

"I've been in a very teasing mood so you'll have to live with that."

"I'll have to think of ways to get back at you."

A lot of things ahead of us, he says.

While it may sound like we're just childishly throwing out some dumb things, we know for a fact without saying anything to each other that those very same boring and childish things are going to be meaningful.

It's just proof that this has been the freest we have become in the time we have our own backs.

What I found out in this life is that in the midst of the big things that occupy us, it's the small and modest things that somehow bring us the most excitement.

And speaking of modest…

No, my wedding was not off-screened.

Chapter Message:

To absolutely date this chapter, the first draft was written in January 2025... and the date in this chapter is ten months after the time this is being released. It's so funny in hindsight that this story has pretty much skipped the entirety of 2026, and maybe rightfully so.

One issue I have with some epilogues I've read is that careers of the characters are simply just glossed over. That is not to say I don't admit glossing over what the characters are doing now, but I at least wanted to expound on their occupations; just that I wish I have more time for those.

There will be four more epilogue chapters ahead, and the cover will be updated one last time which I held off until now because its content is based from this chapter.

Thank you for reading!

Next

219: How many wedding chapters does this make it for this story?