The wives are accomplices again today.

Act 5: Wedding Anniversary

"Are you free on the 15th of next month?"

During lunch break.

Yugo asked while looking at his smartphone.

"The 15th?"

Kazuma opened his schedule book.

"...Ah."

That day had a large red circle drawn on it.

Wedding anniversary.

"It's our wedding anniversary."

"Oh, what a coincidence."

Yugo laughed.

"Ours too."

"Seriously?"

"That's why I've been told many times to come home early this year."

"Mari too."

The two looked at each other.

"We can't afford to mess up this year."

"Absolutely not."

They swore to each other and returned to their respective work.

A few days later.

A phone call comes into the sales department.

"Sorry for the sudden call!"

The department manager rushed onto the floor.

"The presentation for the large project has been moved up!"

The office buzzed with activity.

"When is the date?"

"The night of the 15th."

At that moment.

Kazuma's expression stiffened.

(You've got to be kidding me...)

Their wedding anniversary.

The restaurant he had reserved with Mari.

His plans spun around in his head.

The manager said apologetically,

"I'm counting on you just this once."

"...Understood."

As a salesperson, he couldn't turn down this job.

Kazuma bowed his head silently.

Meanwhile, at Yugo's company as well.

Yugo.

I was stopped by my section manager.

Can you go on a business trip on the 15th?

Huh?

The client says that's the only day they are available.

For Yugo, too,

it was his wedding anniversary.

...Yes.

I couldn't refuse.

That night.

The two of them were slumped over in an izakaya.

It's over.

Kazuma stared at his beer mug.

Me too.

Yugo was the same.

I couldn't refuse.

Me too.

What should we do?

We have no choice but to tell the truth.

I guess so.

The two of them smile wryly.

"It can't be helped if we get scolded this time."

"That's true."

Around that time.

At a cafe.

Mari and Rika had also each received messages from their husbands.

"I'm really sorry. Work came up."

Mari stares at her smartphone.

Rika also lets out a small sigh.

"Work, huh."

"It can't be helped, I guess."

Mari tries to smile.

But,

she felt a little lonely.

"Are you angry?"

Rika asks.

"No."

"Really?"

"...Just a little."

Mari answered honestly.

“I know your work is important.”

“Yeah.”

“But you know.”

She smiles while looking out the window.

“I just wanted to be the priority at least once a year.”

At those words, Rika also nodded quietly.

“Me too.”

The day of the wedding anniversary.

The presentation was a huge success.

The contract with the client was also finalized.

“Great work!”

“Let’s have a celebratory drink!”

The department manager raises his voice.

The people around them get excited too.

However.

“Excuse me.”

Kazuma stood up.

“I’m going home today.”

“Huh?”

“I have a promise with my wife today.”

The sales department falls silent.

The manager is surprised for a moment, then

smiles.

"Go."

"Manager..."

"The contract is secured."

"Yes."

"Then today, do your job as a husband."

Kazuma bows deeply.

"Thank you very much!"

Yugo is also sprinting from his business trip destination toward the station.

"Make it in time!"

He rushes through the ticket gate while loosening his tie.

"Please...!"

9:00 PM.

The restaurant is closed.

Kazuma's shoulders slump.

"Was I too late...?"

At that moment.

"Kazuma."

A familiar voice.

When I turned around,

Mari was standing there.

I've been waiting.

Huh?

Not here.

Mari smiled slightly.

At home.

Kazuma felt a tightening in his chest.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

I'm really sorry.

Yeah.

I know it can't be helped because of work.

...

But.

Kazuma gently took Mari's hand.

I don't want to put you second just because of work.

Mari's eyes widened in surprise.

I realized it halfway through today.

“To what?”

“It wasn't a choice between work and Mari.”

Mari listens quietly.

“Both are important.”

“...”

“That's why.”

Kazuma smiled sheepishly.

“From now on, I will properly cherish what is important.”

Tears well up in Mari's eyes.

“That’s cheating.”

“Huh?”

“If you say something like that.”

She smiles while wiping away her tears.

“I can't stay mad at you, can I?”

The two look at each other,

and naturally break into smiles.

Meanwhile.

At Yugo's house.

When he opens the front door,

Rika is dozing off on the sofa.

On the table,

are two small cakes.

Yugo quietly covers her with a blanket.

Rika wakes up at the movement.

“...You’re back.”

“I’m home.”

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Sorry for making you wait.”

Yugo holds out a small box.

“I bought this on the way home.”

Inside is a simple pair of keychains.

“It’s nothing expensive.”

He smiles, looking embarrassed.

“But.”

“Yeah?”

“Next year, and the years after that.”

“I hope we have a home to unlock and come back to together.”

Rika bursts into laughter.

“What is that, a proposal?”

“Is it not?”

That's not quite it.

The two of them laughed together.

And then, they gently held hands.

The following week.

At the usual cafe.

Mari and Rika were drinking coffee.

It's over, isn't it?

Yeah.

The Husband Correction Project.

Mari smiled and shook her head.

No.

Huh?

Maybe we weren't correcting them from the start.

Then what?

Mari gazed at Kazuma walking outside the window.

His back looked just a little more reliable than before.

Married couples really do help each other grow, don't they?

Rika smiled gently as well.

That might be true.

The two of them quietly clinked their cups together.

That sound was not a toast to a successful operation—

It was the sound of a toast celebrating the fact that two couples had taken a new step forward.