The sky was a brilliant blue, the kind of morning that begged for laughter and open fields. Haru carried the picnic basket with one hand and Hana with the other, the little girl clinging to his side and chattering endlessly.
"Mama said we can play tag later! Papa, you're going to play too, right?"
Haru adjusted the basket. "Depends. Do I get a head start?"
"Nope!" Hana giggled. "You're too fast already!"
Aara walked beside them, her wide-brimmed hat shielding her from the sun. She glanced at her husband with a soft smile. "You know, you're surprisingly good at carrying both a basket and a wriggling child."
"Years of training," Haru replied smoothly. "Survival skills don't fade."
Behind them, Mika ran ahead, waving excitedly at the field. "There's a perfect spot under the trees! Kaien, come on!"
Kaien adjusted his bag of books, sighing. "You're going to run out of energy before we even eat."
Ren rolled his eyes, jogging ahead to chase Mika. "Don't be so boring, Kaien. This is supposed to be fun."
Ayin walked with Aara, carrying a blanket. "They're a handful."
"They're alive," Aara said softly, her gaze warm as she watched her children dart across the field. "That's all I could ever want."
They settled under the shade of a large oak, spreading the blanket as Haru unpacked the food. The children swarmed immediately.
"Papa, I want the rice balls!" Hana reached first.
"Wait your turn," Kaien scolded, already reaching for the neatly packed bento.
"Don't boss us around!" Ren shot back, but he was already chewing before Kaien could argue further.
Mika set her little solar car on the blanket, winding it up and sending it rolling across the fabric. "Look! It still works!"
Ayin clapped her hands. "That's impressive. Maybe one day you'll invent something that makes picnics easier."
"Like food that serves itself?" Haru asked dryly.
"Yes!" Mika's eyes sparkled. "I could try that!"
They all laughed, and for a while, the world was nothing but sunshine, food, and chatter.
Later, when the children ran off to play, Aara leaned back against Haru's shoulder. He slipped an arm around her, pulling her close.
"You're quiet," he murmured.
"I'm… full," she said with a soft laugh. "Not just from the food. From this. From all of it. I never thought we'd get here."
His thumb brushed her hand gently. "We fought hard for this. You fought harder than anyone."
She turned her face up toward him, her eyes shining. "And I never would've made it without you."
He kissed her forehead, lingering there. "Then we'll spend the rest of our lives making sure it stays this way."
In the distance, Hana's voice carried across the field. "Papa! Mama! Come play tag!"
Ren shouted right after. "Yeah, come on! You're on our team, Papa!"
Haru groaned theatrically, rising to his feet. "I thought this was supposed to be a picnic, not training."
Aara laughed, watching as he jogged after the children, Hana squealing with delight as she escaped his grasp. Ayin sat beside her, shaking her head with a smile.
"They're going to remember this," Ayin said softly.
Aara's heart swelled. "So will I."
For the first time, the echoes of battle felt far, far away—replaced by the sound of laughter carried on the summer wind.