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“Oh come on, Kirumi!” Kaede groans while giving her signature pout. “You had to wear the hoodie Miruma bought you?”
“Oh?” Kirumi suspends their cooking and faces Kaede, eyebrow raised. “Am I not allowed to appreciate your wife’s gift?” They chuckle when a shade of pink appears on their friend’s cheeks. “And you did say you wished for me to be comfortable during my pregnancy, and that I am.”
“Hmm, no need to be smug with me.” Her puffing becomes prominent, Kaede was attempting to hold in her laughter. “I thought you would be a little embarrassed with a shirt that uh…” She scratches her cheek. “Says…”
“Future MILF?” Maki calls from the table. After finishing Kaede’s statement, she curses to herself and presses a hand on her forehead. “I cannot believe I said that out loud…”
“Hmm, yes that.” Kirumi was initially flustered from the hoodie, typical Miu present that could’ve gone much worse. Phrase and silliness aside, they adored the gesture and Rantaro’s matching hoodie. They’re never going to wear it out of the house, but it’s so comfortable and they had to wear it any chance they get inside of their home. Not the best choice of attire when there’s visitors, but it’s only Kaede and Maki at the moment with other close friends coming by soon, it’s acceptable.
If only Miu had the free time to visit for lunch today. The commission she received from an overseas company had her hyperfocused on the project for two weeks with no hints of finishing soon. She pops in with a text saying “I’m alive” followed by some vulgar meme, but they miss sitting down with her and listening to whatever is going on in that brilliant yet wild mind of hers. It was a surprise that Kaede even found the time to visit, one of her students had a concert in a few days and picked up extra lessons, but they cancelled today because of a cold.
One pizza is finished cooking while the other received the last of its toppings. No time to waste, do the switch-a-roo with the finished pizza being placed on top of the stove to cool down. “Once Rantaro returns, I can finish with the—“ They turn over their shoulder and met with Kaede just inches away from their face. “K-Kaede?!”
“Kiiiirumi,” She chirps and lays a hand on their back. “I think you should sit down.”
“Absolutely not. Rantaro and I invited you all for lunch, we are offering our hospitality.”
“And? You’ve been doing everything since Rantaro left and you’re pregnant!”
“I’m only five months pregnant, not nine,” Kirumi sighs.
“Proving my point! You shouldn’t be on your feet this much!” Kaede gives her pointer finger a small wag. “You already set up snacks for everyone and finished like, three pizzas already? Can you sit down for ten minutes? Maki and I can set up the next one while this one is cooking.”
“But I—“
“Kaede has a point.” Maki tilts her head in Kirumi’s direction, unmoving from her seat. “And she’s not asking you to sleep for a week straight.”
“Exactly! You must be worn out by now.” Kaede taps their forehead. “Are ya?”
No need to do a temperature check, Kirumi already knew they were exhausted. Sleeping hasn’t been the best the past month, their feet were still sore from walking Cactus this morning, and their body ached from constantly bending and reaching for pizza ingredients. They wanted to sit down, they wanted to take the biggest nap in the world before the others arrived, but they can’t. Not because it’s rude to rest with visitors, that’s only part of the reason. Kirumi was nervous, extremely nervous, and they needed to distract themselves.
“Kirumi?”
They spaced out while pondering their worries. “Ah…” Kirumi eyes Kaede, face flushed with embarrassment. “Kaede…” They’re at a lost for words as the worry started to grow worse.
“Yeah, you’re shaking. Let us take over for now.”
Maki leaves her seat with a small grunt. “I can go ahead and set the table while Kaede works with the pizza…I hate touching cold cheese.”
“Ooooh! Can you decorate the pepperoni pizza at least? The same way you did with your students?”
“…Sure, whatever,” Maki huffs, face as red as the salsa on the counter.
“Great! Gameplan set! Now…” Kaede guides Kirumi towards the living room. “Go ahead and lay down for a few. Everything will be okay, don’t worry.”
“Kaede—“
“Go on now,” she repeats with a slight edge in her voice. “Just ten minutes, kay? Or fifteen! Or when Rantaro returns, but ten is the minimum.”
This is going to be the longest ten minutes of their life. As much as Kirumi wished to fight back, Kaede’s authoritative aura mixed with their exhaustion made them comply and collapse into the couch. Thirty seconds in and Kirumi was already fidgety, focusing on anything around the house isn’t doing anything for them either.
Kirumi wants to stop thinking about the surprise visit from their parents a few weeks back. The look on their faces when they discovered Kirumi was pregnant, asking too many questions that Kirumi wasn’t prepared to answer, having the audacity to say Rantaro would not make a good father because of events in the past. Kirumi didn’t have time to argue for their husband, they instantly ridiculed Kirumi on how unfit of a mother they would be. The baby would never receive a proper Mother’s love, that’s what their father said, because Kirumi would be insufficient in emotional support.
That’s not true. Just because she was committed in her maid work doesn’t mean Kirumi was incapable of loving. She loves her friends, she loves Rantaro immensely, and her heart is overflowing with love for their baby. They’re making it sound like Rantaro and Kirumi didn’t went through years of therapy and planning before having this baby. They were going to be okay, but everything they said to them on that day…they picked at the worst spots, it still hurts.
Kirumi curls into a ball and buries her face into a pillow. She could hear chattering and footsteps approaching her way but remained unmoving.
“Kirumi.”
She rolls on her back, looking up at Maki and Kaede. Maki had her typical teacher stare that was stern yet comforting while Kaede provided a warm smile. “Sssoooo,” Kaede chuckles shyly. “What’s going on?”
Kirumi flutters her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You’re hiding something,” Maki says bluntly.
“We won’t tell a soul about it, not even Rantaro.” Kaede presses a finger on her lips. “You can trust us.”
Kirumi does trust them. Maki and Kaede have done so much for her during this pregnancy, if only there was a proper way to express her gratitude. “There’s no need for that…” She sits up on the couch and tightens her grip on the pillow. “And I would rather not trouble you more.”
“You can never trouble me.” Maki takes a seat on the couch. “Your husband? Absolutely, but not you.”
“Might as well spill it while it’s the three of us—“ Kaede glances down at the pillow covering Kirumi’s stomach, “well, four.”
“It’s…” Kirumi bites her tongue. “Ah, my apologies for my behaviour. I am…” Deep breaths. “Still uneasy about the visit from my parents.”
Maki grimaces. “Why did you invite them to begin with?”
“I didn’t,” Kirumi quickly answers. “They came impromptu and before Rantaro came home from school. I never told them I was pregnant, so it all came as a surprise and…” They squeeze the pillow. “They’ve had some choice words, best way to put it.”
It was Kaede’s turn to turn visibly upset. “What’s with them? Are they still all pissy because you didn’t do all that government shit?!”
“I believe they are past that. This time they expressed concern—“
“Concern my fucking ass,” Kaede huffs.
“…About Rantaro and I becoming parents,” she finishes. “They believe we wouldn’t make fitting parents because of past actions from the both of us.”
“Past actions? What do they…” Maki falls quiet and scrunches her nose for a moment. “Sisters?”
Kirumi shuffles slightly. “Correct, then my emotional deficiency.”
“Emoti—“ Kaede scoffs while pinching her forehead. “Sounds like they’re talking in a damn mirror!”
Maki rolls her eyes. “Do they still think you’re both seventeen? Comical of them.”
“What she said! You and Rantaro are going to make perfect parents! Everything you’ve done to reach this stage, it’s remarkable!” Kaede places both hands on the pillow. “The fact that you and Rantaro also did extra steps to ensure you’re both fully prepared for this baby shows how loved they are. Kirumi, you truly have nothing to worry about.”
“As for Rantaro.” Maki leans back on the couch and crosses her legs. “I know they will do all they can to protect the kid. They have their own worries—“ she shrugs, “understandable, but I personally believe they will be a fine father.”
“I know everything that happened to you both wont magically disappear, but rest assured that you got this in the bag. If you don’t believe so, then we are here to help you out. Me, Maki, Miu, Sonia, Peko, Taka, all of us.” Kaede gives her a firm nod. “We are all a family, right? And we love this little addition to our family too.”
A family. They’ve all done more for Kirumi in just a handful of years than her biological family in her lifetime. She doesn’t know where she would be without them, without their care and support, without their company and compassion, without their silent reminder that said, ‘You know how to love, Kirumi’.
Kirumi shudders, trying her best to hold back tears. Little Kiwi has such a big and loving family. “Sorry,” she mutters.
“Stop apologising, you’re worse than Rantaro,” Maki chuckles.
“Come on, Maki! Kirumi is here about to cry and you gotta say that?”
“Oh? You want me to say my words of advice?” Maki straightens her posture. “Easy, fuck your family. While we are at it,fuck Rantaro’s Dad too.”
“Uh, I’m sorry?”
Another voice comes from behind. The three instantly turn around and find a confused Rantaro carrying a tote bag of groceries in one hand and a set of keys in another. “Well…” They chuckle nervously. “Is this a bad time? I can tell Kiyotaka to wait in the car—“
Kirumi’s exhaustion and worry vanished when Rantaro arrived and her only thought was to have them in her arms. Kirumi used her remaining energy to leave the couch and run first into her husband, greeted with a startled ‘oof’ and almost knocking Rantaro off their feet. They manage to regain their balance and hugs Kirumi with one arm. “Hi Kiwi,” they press a few kisses on her cheek. “And Little Kiwi.”
“Hmmm…” She squeezes her husband before pulling away. “How was the shopping? You were gone for quite some time.” Cue a small head tilt. “And you said Kiyotaka was here?”
“Well, I was getting everything for dessert like you requested, but it’s been awhile since you’ve had your buffalo chicken dip.”
“It’s been two days,” Maki deadpans from the couch.
“That’s what I said, too long,” they laugh. “I wanted to have the ingredients prepared just in case you wanted that for lunch instead. Or dinner, or the middle of the night, I can never predict when my Kiwis want it.”
“That was…” Kaede snorts, “rather romantic of them, don’t you think Maki?”
“Don’t pull me into this.”
“And Kiyotaka was shopping as well! He provided paper plates and cups, now we don’t have to worry about any dishes afterwards c-cause u-uh…” They shove the keys in their back pocket and strokes Kirumi’s cheek with their knuckles. “I know that incident the other day took a toll on you. I’m sure my words and actions may not do much right now, but please know you are going to be a wonderful mother.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. “Oh, Rantaro…”
“They were right about everything regarding me. I was a lousy brother, that’s why my family cut me off after everything, but please trust me when I say this. I will never repeat that or anything similar.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Kiwi, I understand if you secretly believe in the future—“
Kirumi didn’t want to hear it. She refuses to listen to these lies about Rantaro potentially being a bad father. She pulls them into another loving embrace and presses her lips against theirs, only way to shut them up and have their busy brain slow down for once. Is it rude to kiss when they have visitors? Possibly, but she’s also wearing the pink hoodie with a peculiar phrase, they didn’t care about that or this kiss.
Kirumi cannot wait for the day when Rantaro holds the baby in their arms. She cannot wait for them to continue the bedtime stories in the nursery, be reminded again and again of how amazing of a Father they are.
Fuck, Kirumi loves Rantaro so much.
“Aheem!” Maki clears her throat dramatically, causing the couple to break the kiss. “You two done?”
“Ah…” Kirumi’s face starts to burn. “My apologies.”
“I’m not sorry.” Rantaro sticks their tongue out. “Gotta fulfil their kiss quota! Pretty sure they need another three until it’s filled for the hour.”
“Like I said—“ Maki shoots a hard stare at Kirumi, “Cannot stand your husband. Give me your damn tote bag, I’ll start up dessert and you can…fill that kiss quota or whatever.”
“I think it’s cute, given everything they’ve been though,” Kaede chimes in.
Maki rolls her eyes and takes Rantaro’s tote bag. “Whatever,” she pushes it in Kaede’s arms, “you handle this, I’ll help out Taka.”
“You’re the best, Maki!” Rantaro calls out before pressing their foreheand against Kirumi’s and whispering, “she bought a few books for Little Kiwi the other day.”
“Did she now?”
“Yeah, they’re still in my classroom but I’ll be sure to pick them up on Monday. She’s a wonderful aunt.” They nuzzle her nose for a moment before sneaking in a quick kiss. “Along with Miu and Kaede, they have something planned too but won’t tell me what it is. Let’s not forget everything Taka has done, saaame with Peko and Sonia…”
“And how perfect of a Father you are?” Kirumi purrs.
“M-Me? Heh, well—“ Rantaro stammers. “Little Kiwi isn’t here yet, so we cannot determine that—“
“Hush.” Kirumi holds their very warm and freckled cheeks. “Enough of that, you’re a great father, end of story. Now…” She nods towards Kiyotaka as he entered their home, “everyone else shall be arriving in the next half hour. Between the five of us, everything will be completed with around ten minutes to spare. Are you ready to assist us?”
“Let me change into the hoodie so we can match.” They brush their thumb along Kirumi’s side. “And then all of us can finishing preparing lunch, as a family.”