As much as you wish that things would improve between you and Toji, that a romance would spark, there is nothing. There is nothing because you know he doesn't see you as your own person. He pictures you as the idea of something he misses and adores so much, his wife. He pictures you as his wife, a role that he holds fond memories of, and he has yet to realize it.

It explains his jealousy, and the kiss. He calls you his wife and refuses to acknowledge you as anything different. You want to think that it's better than the hostility from the beginning, but it saddens you. It just causes a gloomy estate to overtake your emotions.

It's not because you want Toji to love you as a person. You don't really care if he loves you or not, and you don't expect him to, after all the marriage is something neither of you wanted. But the thought that you're unlovable is lingering in your mind, and he's falling in love with the idea of a wife, not with you as a person.

It's Thursday night, five days after you and Toji kissed, and while he tries to speak with you more than usual, you're quiet. You only pay attention to the kids because whenever you open your mouth to speak with Toji, a lump forms in your throat.

You're folding the laundry while Toji and Misaki play with her dolls, and Megumi is in his playpen, his little eyes focused on the picturesque TV that displays a cartoon he has never seen before. You hear Misaki telling Toji how to hold his grandbaby right. Since he's Misaki's dad, he has been promoted as the grandfather of the dolls.

"Hold Megumi right!" You hear Misaki scold Toji and he apologizes to Misaki and to the baby doll as well. The name caught him off guard when he first heard it, but now he remembers a while ago when Misaki had informed him about one of his baby dolls being named Megumi.

"Don't use that tone with Toji, Misaki. It's disrespectful." You speak, as you finish folding all of her clothes. You put them all in her laundry basket, to carry upstairs and put it away.

"But mommy, he just won't do it right! I told him like- like- like- this amount of times that he's holding the baby wrong." Misaki justifies her tone, putting her ten little fingers up to tell you the amount of times she's had to correct Toji. "Ten times is a lot!"

"Have I ever talked to you like that when you won't listen?" You question and she shakes her head. You manage to not show your irritation even when it's almost impossible. "Talking to people with such a tone scares them away, and they won't ask for help in the future."

Toji wants to tell you it's not a big deal, but he knows better than to say that in front of Misaki. You know it's not something big enough to lecture the child about because sincerely you couldn't really care about how Toji feels at this moment, but you know that if she's using this tone with Toji then she's using it with someone else. It's more or less so she learns not to speak like that to someone else, and it just happens that she was talking to Toji like that.

"Sorry mommy." She responds, and you begin to walk away.

"Apologize to Toji, not me." You tell her before walking out of their sight. Misaki mutters an apology to Toji, and he quickly accepts it. They high-five and continue playing for a bit more.

Ten minutes pass and Toji stands up, giving Misaki her doll. He smiles at her. "It's bedtime. You have preschool tomorrow and Megumi has to sleep too."

Misaki nods and takes her doll before standing up and walking upstairs. Toji turns off the TV and picks up Megumi from his playpen. The baby is crying since his show was taken away, and Toji just pats his back ever so gently to calm him down. He walks upstairs to Megumi's nursery to look for the pajamas to put on Megumi.

He looks through the piles and piles of baby clothes. It's never ending because you keep buying more and more. Every time you go to the store you buy more, just thinking of your baby that isn't actually yours. Toji can't even begin to imagine the piles of clothes that are in Misaki's drawers, and he doesn't wish to ever see it or check it out.

"How about these?" He asks the baby who is sniffling after crying his little heart out. Toji kisses little Megumi's cheek. "Your stepmother loves these pajamas on you, so let's go with these. Your mother would've also adored them."

Toji sets the items on the changing table and takes Megumi to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to begin getting the baby's bath started. The door is open while he holds Megumi, waiting for the bathtub to fill up 1/4th.

"Night night, dad." Misaki waves at Toji, since the bathroom door is open. You stand behind her, and watch as Toji turns around to look at Misaki. He waves at her.

"Night night, honey." Toji waves back at her, then looks at Megumi. "Say night night to your sister."

"C'mon, say night night Megumi." Toji continues, trying to get the baby to mimic the words. "Say night night."

Still no success for the man.

"Blow a kiss at your sister." Toji says, grabbing little Megumi's wrist and putting the baby's hand up to his mouth. He quickly separates the hand from the mouth, saying "Mwuah."

You both laugh and Misaki continues walking to her room, you following behind.

-

Once both the kids are put to bed, you're both back in the room. The air is thick. You're both not sure what to say. Is there really anything to say?

Things have become strange after the kiss because there isn't much hostility radiating off him, but things haven't gotten any better because of you. He attempts to talk with you, but you can't form a proper sentence to say back to him.

But tonight to muster up the courage to say something to him because things don't necessarily have to be so awkward between the two of you. You just have to push away the negative thoughts.

"I'm meeting Jin tomorrow." You inform Toji, who raises his eyebrow and has a couple of questions about this meeting.

"Really? Why?" He asks.

"Article." You keep your answer vague.

"Yeah... That's coming out soon enough so I guess you have to make sure it's perfect." Toji responds, keeping any other comments that might suggest that Jin has any type of romantic e.feelings for you. At this point it's clear.

"I'll make sure of it."

"I have the day off tomorrow so I can take care of Megumi." Toji says, and you hum in response, acknowledging his words. He watches you sit at the edge of your side of the bed with your black nightgown. He can only see your back but he keeps looking at you, sitting on his side of the bed. "How long do you think it'll last?"

"I don't know. Less than an hour." You respond, fixing the strap of the nightgown that is falling. Toji watches and shifts uncomfortably, and he hopes you don't turn around. You don't care to look at him.

Toji realizes how touch deprived he is, just by that single motion and his reaction.

-

You begin to get ready for your meeting with Jin, taking into account that Jin has a crush on you. So you do your best to look pretty. Something that will catch his attention. Something good enough to convince him how great your marriage with Toji is.

Toji is downstairs with Megumi, giving him a snack so you don't worry about the baby. You just worry about making yourself look better than ever. Your makeup, hair, and outfit is flawless. Everything, even down to your accessories.

"Hey, when are you leaving so I can drive-" Toji walks into the room holding baby Megumi. He's in awe because of your appearance the moment he walks into the room. You look different.

"It's fine, don't you think it's best if he doesn't see you? After all, he has it out for me." You respond, looking at yourself in the mirror, running your fingers through your hair.

"Well I'm not sure if that's the best possible thing to do. You're my wife after all." He replies, with a normal tone. You expect something different because usually he'd have an abhorring tone when he refers to you as his wife, but those feelings are clearly changing. But not the way you'd like them to.

"Would it really matter? He'd think you're at work, and I just hired a sitter for Megumi." You speak. Toji puts Megumi on the bed before walking over to you, wrapping his arms around your waist. He looks at you through the mirror, and you look at him for a split second before averting your gaze.

"You're my wife." He responds before placing a kiss on your neck. It nearly makes you nauseous because you know the truth and it hurts you. You can read right through it, but he hasn't noticed it, and you don't know how to tell him. "Don't you want him to think that? That we're a perfect couple?"

"Last time you practically wanted me to seduce him. Let's stick with that plan." You tell him, your hands landing on top of his, and pushing his hands away. You turn around to face him. "And think about what you really want."

"What? I just want to get this dumb stuff with the Zenin's over with, and maybe get along with you." He answers.

"I think you want more." You say, and he furrows his eyebrows, thinking about what you could be referring to. When he thinks he's got it, he chuckles.

"If you're worried that I'll fall in love with you, I assure you that won't happen." He replies and you just blink and try to think of what to say. You take a deep breath.

"Not with me." You mutter. You walk away to grab your purse and then grab baby Megumi into your arms. You kiss his chubby cheek.

"I'll miss you baby. But I'll come back right away." You coat your voice with a sweet tone as you talk to the baby. You kiss his cheek again before giving the baby to his father. Megumi immediately does grabby hands so you'd take him back.

"So you don't want a ride?!" Toji yells as you walk out of the room. Your silence is his response.

-

"Jin." You stand up from your seat and stick your hand out for him to grab. He grabs it and shakes it before taking a seat. You take back your seat and bring your cup of coffee up to your lips to take a sip. "So about the art-"

"It's ready, no need to speak about that." Jin quickly clears up, and you act oblivious. You tilt your head and quickly ask.

"So why are we meeting this lovely afternoon?" You question.

"To be honest..." He begins. He clears his throat before speaking again. He's clearly nervous so you expect some kind of confession or something. Perhaps you should've discussed this with Toji to check what he wanted to do beforehand. "I just wanted to see you. Mrs. Zenin you're a lovely woman, and I can't get enough of it."

"Well, Jin, that's highly inappropriate. I am married after all." You say, not being sure about what else to say. You take another sip of your drink, sitting in silence for a minute. "But I do have to say that I wanted to see you too. I was really nervous while getting ready."

"Really?" His eyes light up, and you get him right where you want him.

"Really. You're so interesting, and a really nice person." You respond, holding back a smirk. "Sorry that I only speak with you about the article and all, it's just that it makes me worried. It's something really important to the Zenins and I really want to impress them."

"Well, you don't have to worry about that." Jin grins, and you return his smile.

"Really?" You question, tilting your head. You reach over and put your hand on top of his. "Will you be nice enough to put in a good word?"

"Of course." He tells you. And you like it.

He sees you as your own self. And you like that.

"Thank you, Jin, you're such a sweetheart."