บท 11: These are All of Your Hard Work

The next morning during breakfast, Shouko noticed that the dark circles under Kyoya's eyes had diminished. Did he get a good sleep last night? Well, it was good for him if that was the case.

"Aren't you going to the company?" Seeing him dressed in home clothes, she couldn't help but ask.

"I'm quite free today so I'm working from home," Kyoya answered with a straight face. If Assistant Kuroda was to hear him, he must be crying terribly right now, questioning his boss' conscience.

"Ah, that's good," Shouko's eyes twinkled. Somehow, she was happy listening that he would be at home today.

"Do you like me staying at home?" Kyoya smiled faintly. He picked up the cucumber salad and placed it inside her porridge bowl.

"Well, yes," her cheeks flushed even though she was the one saying it.

Kyoya let out a chuckle. His mood lifted up.

Last night, he didn't even realize that he fell asleep while sitting on the couch inside the master bedroom. Luckily Shouko had yet to awaken by the time he rose from his slumber. After getting a good night's sleep, his mind turned clearer.

His dark thoughts from last night retreated to the back of his mind.

"How's your leg? It is still painful to walk?"

Shou would be coming after breakfast, that was why he decided to work from home today. If nothing required further attention, the bandage around Shouko's left calf and right arm could be taken off today.

The recovery process was rather short because she had just experienced a sprain instead of breaking her bones.

"I could walk a bit quicker than before, my arm doesn't feel too much in pain either," Shouko was telling the truth.

After more than two weeks since the car accident, her limbs weren't aching as much as before and her sprained bones healed. It was just that her lower abdomen would still occasionally hurt even though she noticed the pain had lessened already.

"Even so, don't strain yourself. It's better to be careful," Kyoya gently reminded her.

"Alright," Shouko didn't think too much of it so she just agreed with him. Well, he did have a point.

Shou arrived shortly after with two nurses. After he had finished checking up on Shouko, he said she could take off the bandage as long as she was still being mindful of her movements.

While the nurses tended to her, Shou gestured for Kyoya to go outside the room.

"Do you want to say something?" Kyoya sensed something from the way Shou acted. His cold voice was tinged with irritation.

"Well, yes. Regarding your wife," Shou quickly nodded. He braced himself facing the death stare from a certain someone.

Kyoya glanced at the door of the master bedroom. He tilted his chin, gesturing for Shou to follow him to the study.

"You know you couldn't keep it from her, right? When would you tell her?" Shou asked as soon as they entered the study.

Kyoya closed his eyes, his face turned downcast.

"I know you've warned everyone to not speak of that matter but are you sure you can trust all of them?" Shou pressed again. He was thinking of his friend's future. Regardless Kyoya would listen to him or not, at the very least he needed to say his piece.

"You do not want to stimulate her so I understand your action but, Kyoya, it could be too painful for both of you if one day this matter sees the light again. Especially if she got to know it by accident."

The temperature inside the room dropped rapidly. Shou shivered in fright. He knew he had intentionally touched the sorest spot in his friend's heart.

"Well... I hope you'd reconsider my words," Despite the fear, Shou kept on talking. He watched at the back of his friend's head. Kyoya was standing straight with his back facing him. "You could take your time but don't keep on delaying this matter. I'm speaking as your friend."

Having said his piece, Shou quickly escaped from the torturous space. He let out a deep breath once he got out of the study. He glanced at the door before he shook his head in resignation.

This childhood friend of his had a terrible temper. He was lucky he wasn't kicked out of the study at the moment he opened his mouth.

Inside the study.

Kyoya lazily opened his eyes. The light in them dimmed as Shou's words kept on echoing in his mind.

He was really a busybody.

Kyoya rubbed his temple. After taking a few deep breaths, his irritation gradually subsided. The coldness of the air gradually turned warm again.

Shou and the nurses went back to the hospital after leaving a few pieces of advice to Shouko.

At this moment, she was standing on the balcony, letting the crisp autumn breeze gently caress her face. A beige shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Even though she was wearing a knitted sweater but today's air felt colder than yesterday.

"Shouko."

Shouko immediately turned her head toward the sound of the voice. A soft smile graced her lips. "Aren't you working right now?"

"Everything has been settled," Kyoya replied as he made his way toward her. "Are you bored? Do you want me to take you to the library?"

"There's a library here?" Shouko's eyes twinkled in delight, earning a faint smile from Kyoya. "Could I go there? Well, it's true I'm a bit bored right now."

Ever since she came to this mansion two days ago, she had been cooped up inside the master bedroom. The only time she was out was when Grandpa and Ono came yesterday.

Actually, she was intrigued to explore this mansion but she kept quiet about her wish due to her condition. It was great when Shou said she could stop wearing the bandage.

"Let's go," Kyoya held out his right palm, offering it to Shouko. "I'll bring you there."

"Okay." Shouko smiled softly. She reached out her hand and placed it on his palm.

Kyoya swiftly enclosed his hand around hers, the warmth of his palm diffused at the contact and started spreading to her entire hand.

Kyoya led her toward the east-wing of the mansion. They walked slowly as Shouko's leg was still in healing. As they headed toward the library, they met Old Toshio and a maid who was rearranging one of the photos hung on the hallway.

"Young Master, Young Madam, are you heading to the library?"

Old Toshio appeared happy seeing the couple walk hand-in-hand. If even at this moment their relationship was good, he believed it wouldn't take long for their Young Madam to get back with the Young Master.

"Bring tea and snacks later," Kyoya instructed, silently confirming the old man's question.

The two servants bowed once and left, they didn't have the intention to become light bulbs.

Both of them stopped in front of a closed wooden door. There was an intricate carving on the surface, attracting Shouko's attention. She was so eager to look inside this room full of books!

Kyoya looked at the way her face brightened, he couldn't help but feel soft inside.

"This is one of your favorite places in our home," Kyoya stretched out his hand, held onto the doorknob and slowly pushed it open.

Once the door was fully open, the sight of the inside made Shouko gasped in surprise.

It was a really beautiful home library!

The wall was painted white with rows and rows of built-in shelves stood tall in their position. Various titles of books could be found there and all of them were properly separated according to their genres.

There was a set of comfortable couches in the beige color placed on the right side of the library. A small vase of flowers graced the center of the white coffee table at the center of the couches.

"Do you like it?" Kyoya couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of clear admiration in her eyes.

"Yes..."

Shouko was in a trance. He said this was her favorite place. Did it mean she had spent most of her time here?

She had always love confining herself in a library but she couldn't do so in Yuasa family manor. Mother Yuasa would erupt in anger every time she saw Shouko spending time in it. She would spout nonsense, something like her presence would taint the books in there.

"There."

Kyoya lifted up his free hand, he was pointing to a corner. Shouko's gaze followed his movement. She saw a set of a white table and a chair at the place pointed by him.

On the table, there were to potted plants, a book holder in the shape of connecting triangles, pen holder as well as a pink laptop. Under the table, a fluffy white carpet being laid over the smooth marble floor.

"That..." Shouko trailed off, she got a hunch of what they were for but she didn't dare to voice it out loud.

"Do you want to see your books? The one you've written?" His eyes were so soft and his voice was so indulging when he asked her.

"What?" Shouko was totally surprised. "I have... written more than one book?"

Kyoya smiled without a word. He led her toward the white shelf beside the table.

In front of them, a row of children's books was arranged neatly on one of the compartments. Kyoya took one of the books and handed it to Shouko who was waiting with expectations.

"This is..."

Shouko was speechless. She recognized the title. This book was the first one that managed to get her a publishing deal.

Many of her coursemates scorned her when she mentioned it since being a children book's writer was considered low by most of them but Shouko didn't mind.

She had always wanted to send hope and love through her writing to the children out there.

"Aiko and the Sea," Shouko muttered in a low voice.

In her hand, a thin children's book was displayed in front of her. There was an illustration of a young girl in a white dress facing the blue sea before her. Her name was printed on one side of the book.

Shouko flipped the book open. Colorful illustration greeted her sight. Her eyes went up and down each of the paragraphs in the book.

This was really her book! The one she poured all of her heart into!

Kyoya's lips curved upward. He was satisfied to see her face smiling happily.

"Let's sit first," Kyoya pulled Shouko toward the couch. He gently pressed her shoulders, trying to make her sit. "I'll bring the other books for you."

He then returned to the bookshelf. Five to six books were held properly in his hands as he made his way toward Shouko. He sat beside her, maintaining a respectable distance before he placed all of the books on the coffee table.

"These are all of your hard work," Kyoya glanced at his little wife. "You've managed to fulfill your dream, Shouko."

Shouko stared at the small tower of books with wonder and awe in her eyes. Her hands were trembling when she picked them up one by one. All of the illustrations were vibrant, befitting for children's books but what caught her attention the most was the name of the writer.

These were hers.

Her dream came true.

She was overwhelmed by her own feelings.

"Kyoya, did you know?" Shouko laughed softly, a trace of sadness accompanied her as she traced the titles with her index finger. She was unsure of herself but at this moment, she felt like pouring her heart out.

"I've always told myself, no matter how others belittle my dream, I won't give up. I love writing and I want to spread the love to all children in this world if possible. I hope, someday, if any of them were having difficulties right now, my story could comfort them."

For someone who had a bleak childhood, she wished for the other children to not experience what she had all these years.

Shouko lifted up her eyes, her brown orbs were wet with tears but her smile was so radiant when she was looking at him. It caused a small ripple to stir in his heart.

"Perhaps, some of them have been happy, right?"

One of his hands raised up and it slowly reached for her head. Kyoya gently patted her head, he smiled indulgently at her who was holding herself back from crying.

"Believe in your dream," He spoke quietly, his eyes didn't stray from her gaze. They were locked firmly into hers as if she was the only one he could see in his world. "They are happy. Because of you, even the unfortunate ones could feel a trace of happiness."

His words sounded so warm in her ears. Shouko was caught in a daze.

She could clearly hear his trust in her dream.