Jitsu -A different story-

Warm. That would be the best way to define the feeling that both Shizune and Rena were experiencing when they shared a small hug. The moment Shizune heard Rena's words, she couldn't help but want to hug her while the same affection she felt for Rena came to the surface once again, but driven by the honest feelings her daughter had just conveyed to her.

Rena didn't avoid that display of affection; instead, she hugged Shizune to clarify that none of her words were false.

"You know? It's been a long time since you hugged me like this." Shizune got a little lost in her thoughts, but still, what she said was true, and Rena responded precisely to that.

"I know… And nothing is indeed stopping me from doing it, you're my mom and I know you love me; you would never reject that I show you my affection in this way… It's just that…" Rena really wanted to explain, but she couldn't find an answer to it.

"Hehe. There's no need to find a reason, Rena. It's something that happens to almost everyone as one grows or matures." Rena could have accepted that outright, but Shizune had more to say. "Our way of being may change in some way, we may assume that nothing will change and that everything will remain the same, that it's not necessary to show all the time those feelings that are inside each one… But in reality, the important thing is to never forget what is special to us, nor forget those people who are or were important in our lives."

Rena tried to say something after hearing Shizune's words, but she couldn't really say anything in response, either because she had been thinking about the meaning of those words or because she didn't expect Shizune to go that deep, so Rena simply continued hugging her mother in the same way, even doing it a little tighter as if she didn't want to let her go. "Rena… I know you know that too, but I love you too much." Just like the way Rena had said it, Shizune didn't miss the opportunity to dedicate a few words to her daughter. "You are my only daughter, from the moment you were born you brought me that same happiness that I feel now, it's even bigger right now, and I want you to know that I will always be there for you."

"Mom…" It was true that Rena had felt that the moment was perfect to tell Shizune all those feelings she had for her, but she didn't expect that, in the end, she would be the one who would end up receiving the same treatment. In particular, she didn't expect that those words she was hearing would awaken many more feelings and unique memories.

"I also want you to know that I am very proud of you. I am proud because I am aware of everything you have been through and I know the effort, as well as the determination that you have put into everything you have done up to this point. You are an adult now, you are a wife, you are a mother… But, above all, you are still my beloved daughter." It was at that moment that Shizune separated the hug from both of them to then take Rena's hands, and although Shizune could see the state of her, she did not stop with her words. "I am very happy for you, and it fills me with an incredible calm that you are too. As I told you, I am not going to walk away from you, your mother will always be with you, so… You don't need to contain all that you feel, if you want to tell me that you love me, if you want to talk to me, if you want to hug me tightly… I am not going to reject you in any way, after all, those little details make me very happy and they let me know that I really have been a good mother despite everything, but, above all, they show me affection and love that you feel for me, and in this way, I can let you know that I feel the same for you."

Now it was Rena's turn to see an honest and warm smile on Shizune's face. She had heard everything she had just told her, and she didn't even know when, but for a long time now she hadn't been able to stop several tears from falling from her eyes as memories flooded her head, memories of her entire life up until this moment, but especially, those in which Shizune was always there for her.

Rena couldn't help it, she knew she was too sentimental about these situations, but at the end of it all, she was just like Shizune had said. She was happy, she loved her, and she wouldn't change anything about the present she has now. It was only a second after that that Rena opened her arms once more and lunged towards Shizune, causing the same scene of a tender hug to be what adorned the room, but that, in the end, made clear that love and affection that both mother and daughter felt for each other, and that, at the same time, made Rena feel like that little girl again who only needed the love and warmth of her mother so she wouldn't have to worry about anything else…

…

…

…

"So, Akira-chan will come again?" The question that Shizune had just asked was because, precisely, Rena had just mentioned that Akira would arrive in the city in a couple of days. Some more time had passed after that emotional moment, so both of them went back to acting relatively normally. "Yes, I asked her if she could come for a couple of weeks, plus she had already told me that she would like to come to see Makoto one more time." Reminiscing a little about the past, after Rena's labor was over and Akira was able to meet her nephew, she stayed in the city for a couple more days before returning to the town since she had some responsibilities to attend to. "She told me to tell you so that there wouldn't be a sudden surprise, so there you have it. It would have been nice if my in-laws could come too and meet Makoto, but they are just as stubborn as my grandparents."

Rena was complaining a little since, even though she made many calls to the town and sent many photos of her son, both Akio's parents and her grandparents had no idea of ​​going to the city and meeting Makoto, and instead, they had told Rena that they would wait patiently for they to go to the town in their place. It was also true that Rena understood that there were situations that could not be left unattended or similar, but she still found it incredible that her family did not make a greater effort to meet the new member of the family.

"Hehe… I don't have much to say in that regard, I guess we just have to wait a little longer. Makoto-chan is healthy, and as the pediatrician said, if you take into account all the care, a small trip should not be a problem." Shizune was also aware of everything, so she simply continued with the conversation.

"I know, but I am still worried. I don't know if we should make the trip soon or wait longer, but maybe in a month or two I think it should be enough to make the trip." Despite everything, Rena was seriously thinking about any possibility or aspect regarding the safety and health of her son, so she would not have any irresponsible thoughts.

These kinds of conversations continued to occur as time passed, both Shizune and Rena were watching the small monitor in case anything happened, but in reality, it could be said that those moments of calm were what they had learned to share in the last few months whenever they had the chance… However, that same calm was broken a little by the next question that came out of Rena.

"So… How do you and Kurono-san plan to celebrate your anniversary?"