'The Reason'
'Love Hina' is by Ken Akamatsu

Writer's note: A story with purpose and meaning.

A year before, after a very happy event in his life…

Keitaro announced to a certain brunette that he was repairing the hole in her floor for privacy issues. Not liking it at all, he tells Naru that she could leave if it displeased her. However, she soon discovered what the source of her anger was and dealt with it. Intimacy issues was at the heart of it all with her doing something that neither of them would have expected, or even believed.

It has been quiet ever since…

Another change came when the resident kendoist had finally defeated her Ane-ue and declared her love for the owner of her home. Due to circumstances beyond her control, she knew it would never come into fruition. Not allowing this to defeat her, Motoko turned her passions towards writing and her studies. Allowing him to read her work, Keitaro supported her efforts to have everything published.

It has been peaceful ever since…

Having a serious discussion with someone endowed with a genius IQ allowed Keitaro some leeway with a certain Princess. Explained in an adult manner and no longer treating her as a child, Kaolla listened as Keitaro 'laid down the law' with her. Expecting a backlash from a rogue 'turtlebot' or some such device, the owner of the Hinata was happy to see that she took what they had shared to heart. No bots were forthcoming, as even the jungle had disappeared.

It has been less challenging since…

Expecting a difficult encounter with the youngest resident because of her recurring 'crush', Keitaro is happy to discover that she only wants to be friends. Yes, there were a few tears, and yes, she does love him in her own way, but romance was never part of the story with her. After their talk, and a cup of tea together, he tells Shinobu about his adopted Imouto. This one act opens doors between the two that neither of them had foreseen.

It has been harmonious since…

A woman with a passion for watermelons and flying turtles was at first a bit odd for him to handle. Wondering why she had never gone after him herself, Mutsumi confesses that she is gay and had always thought of him as her dearest friend. Taken aback by her statement, he soon learns why when both she and Naru declare themselves openly as a couple. Taking residency overhead from him, Keitaro smiles as a he had averted a crisis of the heart.

It has been more understanding since…

Now we come to the crux of our story, as she wears a gold band on the third finger of her left hand and has a protruding belly. About seven months along, I would say…

Here is Mitsune's story.

Seeing for herself how good of a man he was, a beautiful woman with vulpine features refused to step aside when the opportunity presented itself. After finally meeting someone who saw her as more than just a 'piece of ass', Mitsune grew to at first to become friendly with her landlord. Willing to lay her bad habits aside and support herself, she even worked for his cousin in the teashop until her articles began to sell again.

Friendship is not where this ends…

…as this soon grew into more with Keitaro beginning to focus in on the resident Fox too.

Having grown closer, she was now sober and even had quit smoking making the man she was rapidly falling in love with very happy.

Nonetheless, there were fits and starts from the beginning as others had to try to interfere with their growing relationship.

It has been somewhat of a bumpy road…

Neither took their eyes off the prize as they persevered and began to grow as a couple.

With his gentle spirit and her insight, they weathered the storm when his beloved Imouto came to live with them.

Needing convincing, as she had always loved her Onii-chan, Kanako slowly began to see for herself that Mitsune was the one whom enishi had bound him to for life. Her understanding and assessing everything in proper order even allowed her to become close with someone she had thought at first was a rival.

Acceptance of his relationship with Mitsune brought the two siblings together as they are closer than ever.

Kanako herself surprised the two by straightening out the Hinata files while finding out that he had also inherited a lot of money and very valuable land.

Money was no longer a worry as Keitaro proposed to Mitsune on her 24th birthday.

Their wedding was a big 'hoopty-do'.

This is not the whole story though…

Seeing his firstborn surrounded by those he now calls family, Keitaro has figured out why everything has gone the way it has up until now.

Taking Mitsune's hand and smiling at her, he says, "This is the reason."

The End