"But Kiyoshi-san isn't here yet."
And neither was anyone from the Matsumoto family.
"It's alright," Shuugo rubbed her upper arm affectionately. "Midori-san, they might be late. They will understand why we have to start without them. Don't worry. Let's just start, alright?"
"... Alright."
Despite her agreement to start without Kiyoshi by her side, Midori was unable to concentrate on the entire ceremony.
Other expecting mothers basked in joy over the prospect of seeing their children and holding said children in their arms, but all Midori could think about was Kiyoshi's absence.
To make it worse, Shuugo was a bundle of nerves.
As the eldest son of the family, he had to represent their late parents and bestow parental blessings over Midori.