The morning sun filtered softly through the gauzy curtains of the mansion's dining room, casting a golden hue over the long, polished table where Phuby, Hana, and both of their families sat sharing breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants mingled with laughter and light conversation, yet an undeniable heaviness lingered in the air.
Hana's parents, dressed neatly in casual yet elegant traveling clothes, sat beside each other while quietly eating. Their luggage had already been packed into the Alphard that waited outside, and their flight back to Japan was scheduled for the afternoon. They had stayed in Cirebon for nearly a week, enjoying their time with their daughter and getting to know Phuby and his family better—but time, as always, felt too short.
Hana had been unusually quiet that morning, pushing her food around her plate and only offering brief smiles whenever anyone addressed her. She tried to keep her spirits high, but Phuby noticed the way she kept glancing at her parents with a wistful look in her eyes.
Mrs. Wulan leaned toward Hana with a warm, maternal smile. "Neng, are you alright?"
Hana looked up and nodded quickly, blinking away the emotions pooling in her eyes. "Yes, Bu… I just wish they could stay longer."
Hana's mother gently patted her daughter's hand from across the table. "Sweetheart, we really enjoyed our stay here. But duty calls back home." She offered a soft smile. "And we promised to visit again, didn't we?"
Phuby, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, put the cup down and sat straighter. He glanced around the table, then looked to Hana with a grin—though his heart ached a little seeing her trying to be brave.
"Well…" he began, voice calm yet purposeful, "how about we all go to Japan together this time?"
The room fell silent.
Hana blinked. "W–what?"
Phuby turned toward her with a lopsided smile. "Seriously. We've all been working so hard lately. The shop's running well. The mansion's almost done. We deserve a break, right? Let's go on a trip. Not just you and me—everyone."
"You mean… all of us?" Hana asked, eyes wide with disbelief and growing joy.
"Yup. Let's go explore Japan. Go around, see the sights, eat real ramen, all of it."
Before Phuby could even finish his sentence, Hana leaped from her chair and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes! Yes! That would be amazing!"
Her parents chuckled at her sudden energy, while Mrs. Wulan raised her eyebrows at the sudden hug. "Aduh… Neng, you hug him like that in front of your parents?"
Hana's cheeks flared with color, and she quickly sat back down, giggling. "Sorry…"
Hana's mother smirked and leaned toward Mrs. Wulan. "Looks like we'll have to supervise them on the trip, Wulan-san."
Mrs. Wulan snorted playfully. "Iya, kita harus jagain. Nanti malah nikah di sana, siapa tahu."
Phuby nearly choked on his coffee. "Mak…"
Everyone laughed, except Phuby, whose face had gone red. Hana buried her face in her hands, embarrassed but clearly delighted.
As the conversation turned to light teasing and travel plans, a soft ding echoed in Phuby's head.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]Cashback system has been updated.— Cashback now only applies to purchases with a minimum value of Rp10.000.000 per transaction.— Current balance: Rp12.758.000.000
Phuby's expression didn't shift as the message blinked across his vision. He mentally filed away the update. The new condition didn't bother him too much—it just meant being a little more strategic in how he spent money. With how smoothly things had gone, it was a small trade-off.
He focused back on Hana, who was glowing with excitement. She was already asking her father if they could go to Kyoto and visit the old temples. Her mother requested a stop in Hokkaido, and Om Luky joked that he only agreed if he got unlimited sushi.
Phuby leaned back in his chair, feeling a calm sort of pride settle into his chest. The shop was stable. The mansion nearly complete. His family and Hana were smiling. And now, they were heading toward a new adventure together.
Yes, this was only the beginning.