Gendo stood back and accepted the assorted well-wishes, though he did not receive nearly as many as Yui. Or maybe they just preferred to talk to her, which was probably the case. It was preferable to him anyway. Leave Yui with the attention, all her friends, and he would stay back and...

His eyes locked on to Yui, and more specifically who she was talking to, smiling at, holding the hands of. Gendo's jaw clenched, but that was the only reaction visible as he watched Y... his wife interact with Fuyutsuki.

"Thank you for coming," she said after kissing his cheek. "I hope you don't think it's too odd."

"Not at all." He stood at his full height, the scent of her perfume lingering in the air around him. "I'm just... glad to see you happy." He wanted to squeeze her hands and never let go, but knew that wouldn't be proper. Not with another man's wife.

"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. And Gendo. You've been... too generous all this time."

"It was... the least I could do." Those were the only words he could think of, the only words that wouldn't be awkward, alienating. The ones that didn't say how much he envied Rokubungi, how he had wanted to be the one with a future with her because no one made him feel quite the way she did.

"I'll still talk to you. I'm not dropping off the planet or anything. We can have lunch when I'm on campus," Yui said, trying to put the best possible spin on things since she could see the unhappiness on his face.

"Thank you, but... things are changing faster than we can compensate for. I don't think... your husband would approve of..."

"You think too little of me." She held up her hand, little finger extended. "I can keep a handle on Gendo," she said with a little smirk.

"You're a treasure, Yui," Fuyutsuki replied, a genuine smile creeping on his face. "Go on. You have other things to be doing besides talking to me."

"Thank you again... Kozo," she said before pulling her hand from his.

"How is your family?"

Gendo turned his gaze to Yui's father, standing next to him. "My family?" He shrugged.

"Yui is my only daughter so I'm sure you can see why I'm rather protective of her." He waited, but received no reply from Gendo so continued. "She is also my only child..."

"I assumed this wasn't just going to be a friendly chat. So what is it you want exactly?"

"You make it hard to hold a friendly conversation, even when I put forth the effort. Your relationship with your father must not have been a very good one." For a moment he saw Gendo get angry, furious. "But that's not unforgivable, and my concern is not your family..."

"But your own. I think I can see right where this is heading, and if you pardon my bluntness, I think you're out of line asking me such a thing."

Progress. There was some there, even if it wasn't totally obvious. "Then refuse; no need to be rude."

"I didn't say no either. I'll think about it."

As much as to be expected. "Of course. And congratulations. I think I'm as qualified as anyone to say what a wonderful gir... woman Yui is."

"Biased, but it seems everyone is in Yui's favor. Makes me wonder sometimes." Aside from her monthly mood swings, she seemed too good to be true. But then, he'd put up with anything she had, for better or worse.

"If you had known her mother, you might know better."

"It doesn't matter anyway. We'll manage to deal with anything that comes up."

"You're not a fan of that professor fellow, are you? I saw the way you looked at him when Yui was talking with him. He seemed nice enough."

Gendo's lip twitched. "Nice enough... and far too interested in Yui. She called me possessive and I don't deny it, but..." Gendo looked again at his new wife. "I wouldn't be if I thought I could live without her."

"In a way, you frighten me, but... I can't argue with Yui's judgment. She wouldn't listen."

"Yes," Gendo said without any real reply for that. "I think it's time for us to go now."

"Yes, I suppose it is. Be sure to take care of her... always."