Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. It was a spring morning when you, Mirio, and your son Ryota left the house, heading toward the venue reserved for the celebrants. As always, you looked impeccable, elegant and strikingly beautiful, in a black suit composed of wide-leg trousers, a classic black jacket with funnel sleeves, and a low-cut white strapless top. Your long hair flowed loose and wavy, and your smile was utterly disarming.
Mirio was equally elegant: he'd chosen a wine-colored tuxedo, a black shirt, and his usual neat hairdo. Every now and then, you turned to admire him, his strong profile, his impeccable posture. You were truly proud to have a man like him by your side.
Your son, on the other hand, wore a soft light-blue sweater, black ribbed trousers, and tiny black socks. That morning, the sun made his eyes sparkle, a scarlet red you couldn't help but associate with his father, Katsuki Bakugo.
Amid laughter, music, and chatter, the three of you arrived at the upscale restaurant. Before getting out of the car, you noticed Katsuki holding hands with Camie, Endeavor with his entire family, and even Principal Nezu. Once you found a parking spot, you approached the group, smiling.
"Good morning, everyone," you greeted, walking past them with Ryota in your arms.
Camie, who was nearby, noticed the little one and gave a little excited jump.
"Hi! Tara, right? Nice to meet you!" she exclaimed, coming closer. "Can I hold him for a bit?"
You looked up at Katsuki. Oddly enough, he seemed to have recovered quite well from your rejection a year earlier. His eyes met yours for a brief moment, then he nodded, his expression almost neutral.
"Sure," you replied to Camie, gently handing her Ryota.
At that moment, you felt Mirio's arms wrap around you from behind; he brushed your neck with a slow, affectionate kiss. Katsuki immediately looked away toward the road, as if nothing had happened, though the slight stiffening of his shoulders gave it away.
"There you are!" Midnight's cheerful voice rang through the air. She was beautiful, radiant as the sun, wrapped in a dress that seemed made to make her shine.
"Thank you so much for coming!" she continued enthusiastically. "Come on, come on! The appetizers are already on the table!"
You walked over to Midnight, leaving Mirio a few steps behind.
"Hey… I didn't know any of this," you said, laughing softly. "Anyway… Congratulations!"
She hugged you tightly, smelling sweet and warm, then with a big smile she smoothed your hair with an affectionate gesture.
"Thank you, my dear Tara. It was hard to make a guy like him love me... but I did it!" she burst out laughing, theatrical as ever.
It was then that Toshinori appeared behind her, like a vision: tall, elegant, a sweet smile in his clear eyes. Your heart skipped a beat.
He looked at you for a moment, then reached out for yours. You felt his fingers intertwine with yours, warm, reassuring.
The world around you seemed to fade for a moment. Just the two of you, and that look.
"Congratulations." That was all you could say. Your voice was thin, almost distant. You still didn't know what to feel: whether to be angry, disappointed... or simply happy for them.
After that night, so long ago, when Katsuki caught you in the car, with Toshinori daring to get too close, touching you as if he could have you, he had disappeared. No calls. No texts. Absolute silence.
It was as if he'd erased everything in an instant.
For a moment, an old edge of pain tried to push itself into your chest, but you pushed it back instantly... That wasn't the right time to think about it.
You inhaled slowly, straightening your back elegantly, and took the hand that had been offered to you, as a gesture of pure courtesy. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Just a gentle smile. And a heart that, for that evening, promised itself to remain silent.
"Thank you, Tara-san," Toshinori replied, in that calm voice that seemed to slip directly into his chest.
Meanwhile, Midnight walked toward the stage, a small raised platform with a microphone stand in the center, bathed in the warm glow of the room's lights. The faint clinking of cutlery subsided, conversations faded, and a curious calm settled over the restaurant.
She cleared her throat elegantly, one hand on her hip, the other resting lightly on the microphone, exuding the confidence of someone born to be seen.
You all turned toward her, Mirio had moved closer to you, Camie was holding Ryota with a loving smile, Katsuki a step back, his gaze hard and lost in who knows what thought.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." Midnight began, her smile brilliant.
The room held its breath. You too.
For a moment, it was as if the world was waiting for what was about to come from those red lips.
Midnight smiled, elegantly touching the microphone. "First of all... I want to thank you. All of you. For being here today to celebrate my engagement." A happy murmur rippled through the room, followed by some applause.
She laughed, placing a hand on her cheek, almost blushing. "And as a thank-you, don't worry: you'll have plenty of food, and alcohol too. So... have fun, please!"
A wave of approval swept through the tables, glasses clinking, applause everywhere, hysterical laughter.
But just when she seemed ready to end the conversation, her smile changed. It grew softer. More conspiratorial.
"Oh... I almost forgot," she said, tilting her head slightly, looking in your direction. "There's someone else who'd like to say something."
Silence. A suspended moment. No one spoke anymore. She didn't mention names. She didn't point to anyone.
She simply looked in your direction again.
"Come," she said, in a calm, confident voice. "it's yours."
Beside you, you felt Mirio stiffen for a moment. Then you saw him: he was slowly getting up.
Your heart skipped a beat.
Mirio walked toward the stage, step by step, while everyone in the room watched him. There wasn't a sound out of place.
He stepped onto the stage, his hands trembling slightly, and it was obvious. He gripped the microphone with both hands, as if afraid it might slip away. He walked back toward you, his gaze downcast, his breathing heavy.
He still held the microphone in his hands as he turned toward you. He walked slowly, as if every step might make the world crumble. His gaze was downcast, his breathing heavy. When he stopped in front of you, the buzz of the restaurant seemed to fade away. It was just the two of you, alone.
"Tara..." he said. Your name caught in his throat. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears.
"I really tried to put what I feel on paper, but no words fit. Every time I thought I was done, that it was enough, you would arrive: a simple gesture from you, a laugh, or the way you held Ryota as if that was the only way you could protect the entire world. And then I knew I had to start over, because what I feel for you never ends."
He swallowed. The microphone stand in his hand vibrated imperceptibly. "I saw you be strong even when you shouldn't have been alone. I saw you forgive things no one asked you to endure. And then I understood that with you, love isn't something that comes suddenly… it's something that comes back. Every day. Always. Homeward."
Inside you, your stomach tightened.
"I don't promise you a perfect world," he continued, "I promise you mine: my shoulders when you're tired, my silence when words hurt, my voice when you need me to remind you who you are. I promise that, whatever storm comes, I will be the port. Your port. And if the sea tries to pull you away… I will dive in to reach you, without thinking."
The lights of the room fell on your glossy cheeks. He looked at you as if you were about to vanish, and as if, at the same time, you were the only real thing in the room.
"I don't know how to do magic. But I know how to find my way back to you. Always to you." He gave a half smile, fragile and beautiful. "Let me stay with you for the rest of my life."
His hand dropped to his pocket. The click of the box made you jump. He knelt before you: a slow, uncertain movement, but one that split the air in two. The ring shone for a moment in your eyes.
"Tara... will you... will you marry me?"
Time stood still. You didn't answer. Not right away. You felt your heartbeat like a hammer in your ears. You heard the rustle of a dress a few steps away.
You looked for support in the eyes of others.
Midnight laughed, excited, her hands clasped before her lips. Toshinori was hugging her from behind: it was a quiet, almost modest pride. Mt. Lady had brought a hand to her chest, holding back an "oh" that trembled on her lips. There were faces everywhere, scrutinizing you as if you were the star of the day. Then your gaze fell where you didn't want it to.
Katsuki.
His gaze was downcast. There was a dark shadow in his pupils, as if in that moment his eyes had turned black with rage. His fists were clenched, his knuckles taut. A dark fury burning deep beneath his skin. And in that burn, you felt a door closing, long ago, once upon a time. When he left you alone and pregnant, to go back to his ex. The tightrope between who you were and who you became.
All those thoughts sent shivers down your spine. For a moment, the "no" and the "yes" were like two elastic threads pulled in opposite directions, both of them painful. You thought of Ryota, of the way Mirio reached for your hand when everything felt like too much, of how he had loved your son and kept loving him even though he wasn't his. You thought of the little you who had only ever wanted a safe place, and of the you now, who had almost found it...in his arms.
You looked back at Mirio. He was trembling, biting his lower lip. He was waiting for you, not for the applause. And you understood that, deep down, the answer wasn't in that painful past that had only ever hurt you, but in the voice calling you here, now. And that voice was his.
Tears welled up on your beautiful face, without asking permission. Your breathing became labored, shallow.
"Yes..." you whispered, "Yes, I want to marry you, Mirio."
The room erupted: applause rang out, hysterical laughter broke loose, chairs shuffled to get closer, and glasses clinked in a shower of delicate sounds. Midnight was the first to reach you, embracing you first with her eyes, then with her arms.
"Congratulations to you too, darling," she said, holding you tightly. Toshinori nodded, like someone who had just seen something fall back into place. Mt. Lady clapped her hands too loudly...and didn't care.
"Long live the newlyweds!" she exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.
Katsuki didn't move. Camie still had Ryota in her arms, smiling and even slightly excited.
The applause for Mirio's proposal was still filling the room, when a voice inside you called to tell you that it wasn't over. That you too should take the next step. You touched his hand, a very light touch, the promise of a "trust me", and turned toward the microphone.
"Wait…" you murmured.
You didn't even raise your voice, yet the room fell silent. Everyone was turned toward you, in a profound silence. You felt Mirio's breath on your shoulder, hot and fast, as if he'd run a marathon.
"Wait… I'm not finished…" You said, "I have something to say too…"
The strap of your bag slipped from your elbow, brushing against the fabric of your black suit; the click of the zipper sounded deafening in the midst of all that silence. You pulled out a rigid, pristine white folder. Your name was written in large letters at the top, the margins perfectly aligned. You placed it on the table in front of you and opened it slowly, while everyone's eyes lit up with blinding curiosity.
"I went to the doctor a few days ago..."
You said, when suddenly a crack ran through your voice. The first tears pressed against your lashes, your mouth trembling. You took a breath, trying to gather your courage, straightening your back as you cleared your throat.
All around, gazes grew tense, wary. Everyone was eager to know. Midnight brought her fingers to her lips, her burgundy nail polish trembling slightly. Toshinori took a half step forward, as if to offer shelter. Mt. Lady stiffened on the edge of her chair; Camie squeezed Ryota, who was laughing at something only he could find funny, clearing the air with that bright, childish sound. Mirio… Mirio stood still, motionless, his irises wide, his hands still shaking.
"And the doctor told me that…"
The words caught in your throat. You lowered your gaze, searching for courage among the papers in front of you. You touched the corner of a printout, then slowly, you removed the ultrasound. The paper was black, with a tiny, light halo in the center.
You opened it with both hands and lifted it.
"He told me I'm pregnant."
A whisper passed between the tables, everyone looking at each other, speaking in hushed tones. You wet your lips, the emotion making your throat tingle, and you added, almost laughing through your tears:
"I'm in my second month."
Mirio looked at you as if he'd seen the sunrise up close. He stood still for a moment, not even breathing. Deep down, you knew how much he wanted to be a father, and how happy that news would make him. He took a step toward you, then another, and when he reached you, he didn't search for words, he didn't want to speak. He wrapped you in an endless embrace, rested his forehead against your temple, and cried. Without shame. Without holding back.
"Thank you..." he whispered against your hair. "Thank you, my love. Thank you for choosing me..."
You felt his chest heave. Midnight was the first to clap, shimmering in her neon-yellow dress and with her hair loose. Toshinori nodded slowly, clapping and winking at you every time your eyes met. Mt. Lady let out a high, funny, beautiful "help me…" and laughed through her tears as she wiped at the corner of her eye. Camie swayed slightly with Ryota in her arms, whispering something into his ear; he responded with a chuckle that made even people two tables away laugh.
And then there was Katsuki. You looked at him...you couldn't help it, because he was almost right in front of you.
He stood erect, shoulders stiff, eyes downcast and dark, with a flash that wasn't the fury of pride...they were full of pain. His hands clenched until his knuckles went white. He didn't say a word. And in that silence, you realized you had made the right choice. You turned to Mirio. His fingers sought yours, intertwining with the shyness of someone who had longed for this moment. The ultrasound trembled slightly in your hand.
"There are already four of us," you murmured, caressing his face.
"Yes...thanks, Tara," he replied, his voice still cracking.
The applause truly exploded; the lights seemed brighter, the music from the back of the room quietly picked up, and someone raised their glass without asking anyone's permission, as one does when joy is evident and doesn't need an official toast to acknowledge it.
You held Mirio close, hugging him tightly, feeling the ring against your finger. And it was then that you understood that, for the first time in a long time, that beginning had a name: family.
The evening was going wonderfully, and you were having a blast. Between plates full of food and bursts of hearty laughter, Mirio didn't leave your side for a second: he hovered over you with a new, almost fearful tenderness, and every now and then his fingers would wander toward your belly, as if he needed to make sure that little miracle was really there.
He kissed your temple first, then leaned in. "Can I… can I ask you something?" he whispered softly.
You looked at him, smiling. "Sure, tell me everything."
He caressed your cheek with one hand, his eyes drifting to your belly. "Could I… choose the name if it's a girl?" he asked, with the happy embarrassment of a child on Christmas morning.
You smiled at him. "Of course. What name did you have in mind?"
He stared at you for a moment, as if weighing the weight of the syllables. Then he straightened his back, placing his hands on his hips in a regal pose. "I want to name her Eri. Eri Togata."
Your eyes widened. "But… it's beautiful!" you said, caressing the back of his hand. "But… why Eri?"
Mirio lowered his gaze, and you could see a faint sadness in his smile.
"A few years ago, I took care of a little girl with that name. She was… fragile and incredibly strong at the same time. She had suffered a lot, which is why I loved her like a little sister. Now she's grown up, an adult, with her own life...she even has a boyfriend!"
He chuckled, pride shining in his eyes. "I'd like to name our daughter after her. In her honor. To remind us that we can always start over."
Your heart sank. "This is wonderful, Mirio."
You hugged him, feeling his low laugh vibrate against your chest. "Eri, then," you murmured, closing your eyes.
He kissed your forehead. "Yes. Eri."