It has been a year since the incident involving the bald guy. It was March.

We were currently at Kōtaka's estate in the metropolitan area.

Starting today, we would be living there.

There was a reason we were moving from our previous apartment to this house. That reason was... Ika's pregnancy.

Yes, inside Ika's belly was a child conceived with me. And...

Rushia's pregnancy. After graduating high school, Rushia became a full-time writer.

And she had a child with me. I was becoming the father of two kids.

Akari, Nanako, and Midoriko graduated from high school.

Akari got into a vocational college, and Nanako was accepted to a veterinary university in the neighboring prefecture.

Midoriko passed her university entrance exams via an athletic recommendation.

She enrolled in the same university as Nanako.

I had married last year, and from then until today, I had been working on editing projects alongside Kamimatsu-san.

By his side, I wrote a light novel. My colleague Sakuhira was set to handle the editing.

"It's finally... happening. Your child is coming."

Ikka said it while stroking her swollen belly. "Yeah," I replied.

Inside Ikka was a girl, and inside Rushia was a boy. And then…… "Another one, finally……" Just as he spoke……

"Well look! Hikohiko! You made it!"

Kokou arrived at our location with a beaming smile.

In his hand, he held my son. "I've read it! Your new book!"

……After a year of fierce struggle, my work was finally…… about to be released to the world…….

"But that one comes out next month……"

Why does this guy have an unreleased book? "Don't sweat the details!"

Right. This man was incredibly unconventional. "Oi! Okariiiin!"

Akari and the others, having finished their graduation ceremony, came running over with their hands waving frantically.

It seems they had just finished their graduation ceremony and were in the middle of a celebratory after-party with friends. "So, is that it for the first round?"

"For now, yeah! Gotta change clothes—there's a second leg coming up!"

"I see. Try not to get too carried away, okay?"

Akari smiled wickedly.

"It’s officially lifted starting today! Let’s fill you up nice and tight, hehe♡"

I had agreed to hold off on having children with Akari and the others until they graduated from high school.

But today marked their graduation, turning them into college students. Which means, well... apparently she's thinking we're gonna have to start pumping it out like crazy from here on.

"Rushai Ichika beat us to the punch, after all~ So I'm going all out~♡"

……I looked toward the new house, located in the Kousaka family home.

"Are you really okay with living here?"

"Yeah. Besides, the Kousakas are part of our family too."

There were various reasons (like how tough postpartum life can be), but honestly, the biggest one was that I wanted to show the Kousaka matriarch what her grandchildren would look like.

I chose to live here because I wanted to make him happy.

"Waaaah! This makes me so happy! I'm... a lucky man!" Mr. Takahara hugs Ruchia tightly.

Everyone is laughing. I can laugh, too.

...When Misae dumped me, I thought my world had ended.

But in retrospect, that was the start of everything.

Once mocked as a "window-seat editor," I now share laughter with so many people. I can feel happiness. "What did you do to yourself?"

"No... I've just been thinking that life is hard to understand."

"What are you mumbling about, being all gloomy like that!"

Akari and Nanae say it with a laugh.

"That's right! Professor's life is still far from over, isn't it!"

That's true... This isn't the epilogue.

Our lives will continue to go on.

But…… there is one thing I am certain of.

I will never again have a hole in my chest. "Yeah. It's only just starting now."

Our family walked into our new home, laughing and joking with each other.

And from here on out, we’ll weave together countless memories.

Together with them, laughing as we go. 《The End》 This concludes the story. Thank you for reading to the end!