The first thing Hanabi did after school was not go home, but head to Genya's house.
She loved Kurenai's twin daughters most, carrying one in each arm with practiced ease.
Sometimes she stayed at Genya's house so late that she only went home when Hiashi sent someone to fetch her.
Nami's mother helped look after her granddaughter.
Ino's parents were frequent visitors too. Inoichi Yamanaka brought a huge bouquet every time, saying it was for Ino, but the flowers always ended up in a vase in Genya's living room.
Ino's mother helped with the cooking, making a huge pot each time, enough to feed more than a dozen people.
Only with Kurenai and Konan did Genya refuse to leave things to anyone else.
Kurenai had no older relatives, and neither did Konan in Konoha. Their only family was each other and Genya.
Genya devoted the most care to them.
When Kurenai's twin daughters fussed at night, he soothed both of them alone, one in each arm, pacing the room and humming an off-key lullaby.
Kurenai leaned against the headboard and watched him. Moonlight fell over the father and his two daughters, and her eyes reddened as she simply watched.
Genya fell asleep on the sofa. Konan draped a blanket over him and gently kissed his forehead.
Neji and Tenten's child was born that autumn. It was a boy.
On the day Tenten gave birth, Neji stood outside the delivery room for an entire day without eating or drinking.
His hands trembled when he took the baby as he was brought out.
Tenten was pale when they wheeled her out, but she smiled at the sight of Neji holding their child.
Neji looked down at his wife, wanting to say, "Thank you for everything," but his throat felt blocked, and the