The Yakuza's flower

Tea

Ume's pov

Today Hanayama had some work to do and I was just going to hang out with kozue since I had most of my errands done.

Kozue didn't even knock properly—she just did her usual tap-tap-tap and pushed the door open with her hip.

"Helloooo? I brought snacks—oh my god this place is huge, why does Hanayama live like royalty—"

I laughed as she waddled in with her belly leading the way.

"Over here," I called from the couch.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me.

"Ooh you look glowing today, Miss Pregnant-And-Thriving—wait, what are you hiding?" she said, narrowing her eyes at the way my hand kept fidgeting with my sleeve.

"What? Nothing," I said quickly.

"Ume," she said flatly, "I've known you since the beginning of middle school. You only tuck your hand away like that when you're hiding something good."

I couldn't help it.
A shy smile crept across my face.

And then I lifted my hand.

The ring caught the sunlight instantly—simple, elegant, heavy on my finger in a way that felt both surreal and perfect.

Kozue gasped so loudly I swore the maids in the next room jumped.

"YOU'RE ENGAGED?!" she shrieked.

I laughed, covering my face. "Yes! Well—I told him to wait at first but... yesterday I said yes."

She practically tackled me, careful of our bellies but still hugging me like she'd explode if she didn't.

"Oh my god, Ume, I knew it! I KNEW IT! You two were already acting married, but LOOK AT THIS RING—Hanayama did not hold back—"

She grabbed my hand and turned it in the light, admiring it from every angle like she was grading a diamond for a museum.

"Girl," she said breathlessly, "you're about to be Mrs. Tank."

I snorted. "Kozue—"

"No, seriously." She flicked my forehead. "Do you know how happy I am for you? He LOVES you. Like... not normal love. Hanayama-level love."

My chest warmed.
"Yeah... I know."

"And Prince gets an automatic daddy," she added with a grin. "Like... premium subscription tier."

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

Then Kozue leaned back on the couch, rubbing her belly.

"Okay, show me everything. The ring. The proposal story. The wedding plans. What did hanayama say? Did he cry? I feel like he cried."

"He did not cry."

"He definitely cried."

"KOZUE."

She laughed and nudged me. "Come on, tell me everything. I want all the tea."
————————————

We sat in the living room for hours — snacks spread out on the table, Prince crawling between us, the afternoon sun painting the room warm and soft. We bounced from topic to topic: the pregnancy, cravings, her due date, stupid things Baki said recently...

Eventually, Kozue shifted on the couch, rubbing her belly as the baby kicked.

"Okay, okay, real question," she said, squinting at me playfully.
"Have you guys decided if you're getting married before the babies or after?"