Friday 9 September 1997.

Zaboru right now is in his offices at ZAGE tower on his personal lounge at 51 floor, trying to keep himself steady while the morning sun crawls through the tall windows. His wife and family wait with him, filling the room with soft chatter meant to distract Ayumi from the weight of the day. They all gathered because today is the day he will take Ayumi to the hospital. Their child is finally ready to be born after nine long months, and her belly is round and heavy, the shape of a promise they both waited for. Zaboru leans in and kisses her cheek, trying to act calm, but the truth spills across his face. He is terrified in a way he never felt before, not even in his previous world. His heart keeps skipping and his hands will not stay still. Ayumi notices it right away, her smile gentle as she reaches out and grabs his hand, grounding him with just that small touch, as if she already understands every worry running through his mind.

"Relax Zabo, it's gonna be fine. Are you ready to be a dad?" Ayumi asked with a soft smile, squeezing his hand. Zaboru nodded, trying to hide how tense he felt. "Yes, I'm ready, Ayumi," he replied, though his voice trembled just a bit. Ayumi laughed quietly, a little teasing. "Your face looks super nervous, it's kinda cute." Zaboru chuckled, scratching the back of his head with a grin.

A few more minutes passed in quiet conversation and shared glances before Zaboru and Ayumi, accompanied by his father, mother, and younger sister Sanika, quickly made their way down to the parking garage. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, nerves, and anticipation. Ayumi's side of the family wasn't coming right away—they decided to arrive later to avoid any unnecessary commotion at the hospital. Since her family was Yakuza, their presence often drew too much attention, and today was supposed to be calm, focused only on the birth. Still, her older brother Akechi had already stationed himself at the hospital early in the morning, working with silent efficiency to ensure the entire perimeter was secure. He had men posted at every exit and entrance, making absolutely certain that nothing would go wrong when Ayumi brought their child into the world. Zaboru appreciated the gesture more than he could express, especially since his own nerves made him feel powerless. Knowing Akechi was there gave him one less thing to worry about.

On the way to the car, Zaboru was behind the wheel, gripping it a little tighter than usual, though he tried to stay cool. His little sister Sanika sat in the back, practically bouncing with excitement. She leaned forward between the seats and grinned wide. "Wow! I can't believe it! Not for long, I'm gonna have a nephew!" she shouted with sparkling eyes. Ayumi turned to smile at her. "Hehehe, then my child will have an amazing aunt." Sanika laughed proudly and threw up a confident thumbs-up. "Obviously! Best aunt ever!"

The whole car was buzzing with a strange mix of tension and joy. Their father, Zanichi, sitting beside Sanika, smirked and teased, "Someone's about to get nervous." He nudged Zaboru lightly with his arms. Zaboru shot him a look in the rearview mirror but couldn't hide the smile creeping across his face. Their mother, Keiko, let out a soft laugh, covering her mouth. "Heheheh, Zaboru is really going to become a dad!" she said, the warmth in her voice unmistakable.

Zaboru's cheeks flushed red, and all he could do was grin in response. The moment was surreal. Everything felt like it was speeding up, yet standing still at the same time. As they continued driving, the streets of Tokyo blurred past the windows, but inside the car, time felt wrapped in anticipation and love.

Then after a while, Ayumi and the others arrived at the hospital. The staff immediately guided her to the dedicated maternity room that had been prepared in advance. Even though she was eager, the actual birth couldn't start yet—there were still several medical steps and checks to go through. Nurses moved around efficiently, monitoring her vitals and prepping the necessary equipment, while a calm yet focused doctor gave her reassuring updates.

Now, Ayumi lay on the hospital bed, a soft blanket over her legs, her hands gently resting on her belly. Zaboru sat right beside her, holding her hand tightly. The hospital room buzzed quietly with soft beeping machines and murmured voices from the hallway, but inside the room, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of them. Ayumi seemed relaxed, almost glowing with excitement. She wasn't nervous—in fact, she looked eager, her eyes full of light. She was ready. Their son would be here soon.

Zaboru, however, was a mess inside. His mind raced with a thousand fears. His fingers tapped his knee constantly, and even though he wore a calm expression, his body betrayed his nerves. He tried hard to play it cool, to stay composed and strong for Ayumi, but she could read him like a book. She had always known him too well. Her gaze shifted to him every now and then, her smile never fading, as if silently telling him: "It's okay. I'm here. We're doing this together."

"Zabo."

Zaboru snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her, his expression tense. "Do you need anything, Ayumi?"

Ayumi smiled gently and nodded. "I need you to calm down, okay? Everything's gonna be okay, Zabo."

He nodded slowly, but his voice wavered with fear. "But… I'm scared. What if something goes wrong? What if the childbirth fails and… and it harms you or our son, Ayumi?"

Ayumi chuckled softly, her hand reaching out to stroke his hair with slow, calming motions. "Zabo, you can't let your mind run wild like that. Don't overthink it. Let's just try our best, yeah? We can't control everything, and we shouldn't torture ourselves trying to."

She gave him that look—the one that always anchored him. "You've already done everything a husband could. You got me the best doctor, the safest hospital, and you haven't left my side for even a second. That means you've already given it your all. The outcome? It's out of our hands now. So stop worrying about the things we can't touch."

Zaboru swallowed hard. Her words sank in slowly, clearing a bit of the haze that clouded his head. His hand in hers finally stopped trembling.

"I just… I just don't want to lose either of you," he admitted in a soft, broken voice.

Ayumi squeezed his hand, her voice steady but kind. "You won't. I'm not going anywhere. And neither is our baby. So be strong for us, okay? I need my Zabo here—not the one trapped in his fears, but the one who always pushes through them."

Zaboru exhaled, long and deep. His shoulders dropped. He nodded again, this time with more certainty. The weight didn't vanish, but it lifted just enough for him to breathe.

And so, he stayed right there with her, silent but solid, fingers interlocked with hers, ready to face whatever came next.

Then, not long after, the labor began. The tension in the room shifted instantly. Nurses moved quickly and with calm professionalism, adjusting equipment, preparing tools, and giving Ayumi soft, firm instructions. The doctor entered, offering a reassuring nod to both of them. Ayumi's breathing grew heavier, her face tightening with each contraction.

Zaboru stood by her side, gripping her hand tightly, though his own hand trembled. "You're doing amazing, Ayumi," he said, trying to steady his voice. She was sweating now, strands of hair sticking to her forehead, but her grip on him never loosened.

As the contractions grew stronger, Ayumi began to push. Her cries echoed through the room "ZABO!!", filled with strength and pain and determination. Zaboru's heart pounded as he leaned in closer, whispering encouragement between her strained breaths. "I'm here. I'm right here. You're not alone."

Ayumi squeezed his hand like a lifeline, her knuckles white, her body trembling with effort. Her face was red with exertion, but she didn't back down. The doctor's voice guided her through it: "One more push, Ayumi. You're almost there!"

Zaboru wiped her forehead with a cool cloth and kissed her temple. "You've got this," he whispered, overwhelmed by both fear and admiration. Ayumi clenched her jaw and pushed with everything she had. A few more agonizing moments passed—and then it happened.

A cry. Sharp, loud, and unmistakably new.

Ayumi collapsed back onto the bed, panting, exhausted but smiling through tears. Zaboru stood frozen, eyes wide, staring at the tiny figure in the doctor's arms.

Their child had arrived.

Then after the childbirth, the nurse smiled warmly and said, "Congratulations, sir. The baby is healthy." The newborn cried loudly, filling the room with the beautiful noise of life, and Zaboru stood frozen, overwhelmed, unable to believe what he was seeing. His eyes welled up with tears as the weight of the moment finally hit him. Ayumi, still lying in bed and exhausted beyond words, looked completely drained—but through it all, she smiled, her joy shining through her fatigue. She was so happy.

The nurse gently handed the baby to her. As soon as the child was placed in Ayumi's arms, the crying began to soften, then stopped altogether. The baby nestled into her warmth as if recognizing the heartbeat that had surrounded him for months. Ayumi looked down with eyes full of wonder. "Hello, Zenshin," she whispered softly, tears running down her cheeks. Then she turned her head to Zaboru, her voice shaking but proud. "Zabo… our child is born."

Zaboru smiled so wide it hurt. He leaned down and gently caressed her hair, then looked down at the little bundle resting calmly in Ayumi's arms. "Hello, little fella," he said quietly, his voice cracking with emotion.

Ayumi chuckled weakly and looked up at him. "Do you want to hold him?"

Zaboru's eyes widened. He backed slightly, unsure. "Ayumi… I'm not ready yet."

"It's fine," she said reassuringly, her voice still tired but full of calm. "You don't have to be perfect. Just hold your son."

Taking a deep breath, Zaboru reached out. Carefully, he held his son for the first time. His arms were stiff at first, like he was afraid of breaking something so small and fragile. But as he stared down at Zenshin's tiny face—his closed eyes, his wrinkled nose, his little fists twitching—Zaboru's body relaxed. He smiled with a mix of awe and disbelief, holding his son gently but firmly, as if protecting a piece of his own soul.

After a quiet moment, he handed the baby back to Ayumi, still in shock but glowing with pride. And with that, Zenshin Renkonan, child of Zaboru and Ayumi, was born into the world.

To be continue