#shaylassss

— Niigata Division, July 19th, 2026 —

“Are you sure you don’t mind us leaving the girls here for the night?”  

“Sayaka darling, Mother and Father don’t mind watching the girls. Frankly surprised they haven’t stolen them away more.”  

Ayumu softly assured Sayaka as they stood in the foyer of the Hayami Manor, dropping their daughters off to go on a date. His parents, Teruhiko and Angela, stood in front of them, amused looks on both their faces, all the while Angela carried Sara and Yoshiko in her arms. Teruhiko made an attempt to reach over and carry one of them, but a warning look from his wife, as if daring him to take one of the girls from her, made him stop. 

“He’s right, Sayaka.” Angela soothed, shifting the girls in her arms until she had one balancing on each hip. “Teruhiko and I don’t mind having the girls spend the night. God knows how quiet this large manor can be some days. It needs the sound of children running through it.” 

“I’ve been telling you for a while now to downsize since you two are getting older,” Ayumu grumbled. 

“Nonsense. We still feel young, and besides, the manor was made for the family, and while it may have taken a while, I’m proud to know it’ll be filled soon.” Teruhiko smiled, an undeniable hint of pride in his voice. “Now go on with your date while you can. In a few months, you’ll be too busy to take one.” 

“He’s right, you know? So go on, get out two. The girls will be safe and spoiled while with us.” Angela shooed the couple, waiting for nothing more than to spend time with her granddaughters.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” The paramedic groaned, turning his head to stare at Sayaka at the sound of her amused giggles. “Since they’re basically pushing us out the door, ready to head out?” 

“Well, since your parents insist, I’m ready whenever you are, Ayumu,” Sayaka assured, linking her arm with his. 

“Say bye-bye to Mama and Papa, you two.” The Hayami matriarch told the little girls in her arms, who turned to rapidly wave goodbye at their parents. 

“Bye, Mama! Bye, Papa!”

“Bye, sweeties, we'll pick you up tomorrow morning.”

“So be good for Grandma and Grandpa.”

“So where are you exactly taking us? You’re the one who sprung the idea of us going on a date.” Sayaka questioned as they got settled into the car. “Not that I’m complaining; I love spending time with you.” 

“You’ll see pretty soon.” Ayumu winked, turning on the car. “You’re going to love it. Promise.”

“I’m sure I will.”

— Later — 

Dusk was now setting across the sky as Sayaka watched the sun fall lower and lower into the horizon, still unaware of where Ayumu was driving them. However, she just folded her hands gently across her large stomach, willing to let Ayumu surprise her with whatever he had planned. The man had yet to disappoint her, and she didn’t think he would ever do so with how he treated her. Something that still made her blush and swoon like she was once again a teen girl with a huge crush.  

“I know that look on your face,” Ayumu spoke, interrupting Sayaka from her thoughts and bringing her back to reality.

“What look?” Sayaka smiled back. 

“That you don’t know how to thank me for giving you so much.”

“…But you’ve-”

“But nothing, Sayaka.” Ayumu’s voice was firm even while staring directly at the road in front of him. “I give you what I give you because I love you. There’s nothing else to it. I don’t expect anything in return for it. Besides, you’ve given me something extremely precious to me already, and that is thanks enough for me.”

Ayumu took one of his hands off the steering wheel, placing it softly on Sayaka’s large pregnancy bump. To the paramedic, everything that had happened since Christmas had been a dream come true for him. From their weekend together, to Sayaka telling him about the triplets, and even all the support during the baby shower. Hell, even Seiji’s ribbing about knocking Sayaka up had been one of the better moments of his recent life. 

“So don’t go believing you need to give me something else.” The blond man assured Sayaka, who sat silently as she stared at Ayumu with a loving, almost tearful gaze in her eyes. 

Soon, a few moments later, the car rolled to a stop as Sayaka looked out her window and realized they were now in front of the Niigata Botanical Garden. 

“The garden?” Sayaka questioned the confusion in her voice clearly. “Aren’t they usually closed by now?” 

“Usually.” Ayumu nodded. “But I pulled a few strings so we could have the entire place to ourselves for the night. A private viewing of the flowers, so to speak.” 

“Just the two of us?” 

“Just the two of us,” Ayumu promised her as he exited the car, heading over to help Sayaka out of the car, giving her his hand to stabilize her as she took a step out. “Now tell me whenever you feel tired. You shouldn’t be standing for long once you get like that.” 

“I’m sure I can handle a little walking around, Ayumu,” Sayaka assured him as she patted his arm. 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t be a little concerned.” Ayumu gently responded as he led Sayaka to the entrance of the garden. 

The loving couple soon found themselves in the garden, spending the while together, chatting and laughing as they admired all the flowers around them. Roses, sunflowers, carnations, daisies, and all other kinds of flora caught their eyes as they absorbed each other’s presence throughout the evening. 

“They all look so pretty.” Sayaka admired taking in the sight of the hundreds of flowers in front of her.  

“You’re still prettier than all the flowers combined here to me.” Ayumu complimented, not at all looking at the flowers around them, but looking at her with pure affection. 

“Charmer.” The brunette giggled. “Not to mention you’re extremely biased.”

“Biased or not, you're still gorgeous to me, dear. Always will be.” 

A loud grumbling broke the peaceful atmosphere, and Sayaka blushed as she realized it was her stomach letting her know she was far hungrier than she thought she was. 

“Hungry?” Ayumu questioned despite already knowing the answer. 

“Just a bit.” Sayaka chuckled.

“Come here.” The paramedic gently grabbed her arm, leading her down a specific path. “I knew you’d get hungry while we were here, so I made a plan for that as well.” 

It was only a few moments before there, in front of Sayaka, was a little area filled with trees and dangling lights with a round table set for a meal with two chairs surrounding it. Flowers and candles adorned the table, adding to the romantic ambiance. 

“It was supposed to be more of a picnic,” Ayumu confessed as he brought Sayaka to the table and pulled out her chair for her to sit. “But I didn’t think sitting on the ground would be easy for you, let alone getting up from it. So candlelit table-side dinner was my next bet.”

“Oh, Ayumu, I love it!” Sayaka swooned. “It’s perfect.”

“I had hoped you would.”

“And I do.”

“Good now, come on, I got some of your favorites for you to eat. You deserve a little spoiling for carrying triplets.” 

And the next few hours were bliss as the loving couple spent the next quiet while enjoying their meal. Filling the peaceful garden with every little thing that crossed their minds, and if there had been anyone else in that garden, their cheerful peals of laughter would’ve been heard from all over, no matter where they were. 

Ayumu wasn’t lying when he said that he had some of Sayaka’s favorite foods. All of which had left the pregnant woman drooling. The spaghetti that had been prepared was especially delicious. There had even been a few cupcakes decorated with butterflies for her as well. All of which she ate with gusto.

“This was really good, Ayumu,” Sayaka complimented, her face bright with thanks. “I know you worked hard on it.” 

“Nothing too hard if it’s for you, Sayaka.” Ayumu smiled. “As long as it’s for you, I’ll do it over and over again. It makes all my work worth it to see you enjoy it.” 

For the hundredth time that evening, Sayaka was once again a bright shade of red at how he was treating her, and her heart was nearly beating out of her chest at how romantic he was being. God, Sayaka wanted it to never stop. She never wants this man to stop loving her and treating her like she is the most beloved treasure he could ever possess.

“Now, would the lady be so willing to graciously accept my hand?” Ayumu stood from his seat and extended his hand for Sayaka to grab. 

“She will.” Sayaka nodded as she grabbed his hand, letting him walk her a little way from the table, and to her surprise, the sound of classical music began to play around them.

“Waltz with me?” The blond asked, setting his right hand on her hip while his left hand gently laced fingers with her own. 

“As if I would say no.” The amber-eyed woman laughed, almost left breathless at the romantic gesture. 

“God, you’re beautiful,” Ayumu praised, staring down into Sayaka’s eyes, the moonlight making them look stunning. “What did I do to deserve someone like you in my life? 

“I could ask the same thing,” Sayaka confessed. “The time we’ve spent together has been nothing but a dream come true to me.” 

“That goes for both of us.” The paramedic placed a kiss on her forehead as he gently led Sayaka through the dance. “Just barely a year ago, we were just friendly to each other, and now here we are expecting triplets.”

“I know, right? I can barely believe it.” The brunette hummed, basking in the romantic warmth around them. “But I’m glad we took the leap on Christmas.”

“Quite the leap if you ask me,” Ayumu laughed before leaning his head down to Sayaka’s ear. “Some would even say a little filthy if they knew all that we did those four days.” 

“Ayumu,” Sayaka blushed, the memories of that weekend rushing back. “That’s for them to wonder about and for only us to know.” 

The violet-eyed male laughed at Sayaka’s cute expression as he twirled her around. “Hey, it brought us closer together; you can’t deny that.” 

“A lot closer.” The pregnant woman giggled. “We’ve even moved in together. The girls were so excited when we told them.”

“Oh, they were so excited that they even decided to share a room together." 

“I’m glad to see them getting along like sisters. I just know they’ll be good older sisters to the triplets.”

“I know they will be dear,” Ayumu assured as they swayed to the music. “I don’t think we need to worry about them. They’re good girls.” 

“You’re right.” Sayaka relaxed, and whatever nerves that were in her body disappeared as the music began to slowly fade away, and with it the waltz as well. The couple came to a quiet finish of their dance. “Oh, the music is over.” 

“That means it’s time for me to do this.”

“Huh?” 

Ayumu chose not to respond and only just let go of Sayaka, with her breath knocked out of her chest, and the world around her came to a screeching halt as the paramedic got down on one knee and pulled out a small white box from out his pant’s pocket not an ounce of anxiety in his eyes as he stared at Sayaka in the eyes with nothing but pure love and affection. A gorgeous pink diamond ring was in the box as Ayumu proceeded to ask Sayaka the most important question of the night. One that completely blindsided her.