"Teppei? Can we talk to you for a few minutes?" Kazuma asked as he looked into what had become known as 'Teppei's room' in the year following the wedding. Originally, it had been firmly placed in his mind as Fumino's room more than Teppei's, but after the wedding that had quickly changed.
Teppei looked up from his building blocks and smiled happily.
"Okay!" He chirped before running over. Kazuma smiled down at the child as he led him into the common area. Fumino was already seated with a picture book in hand. She had bought it shortly after realizing they'd have to tell Teppei about the baby. She hoped it would help him understand what was going on.
"Hiya Buncha!" Teppei greeted his big sister with another carefree smiled. Fumino smiled back nervously. She wasn't sure how Teppei would take the news. He had never had to share her affection with anyone else before. Kazuma didn't really pop up on Teppei's radar due to the amount of attention the man lavished on Teppei.
"Hey, Teppei. Can you sit for me? I bought some cookies for you to eat while we talk." Fumino gestured to the opposite side of the table where a plate of cookies and a glass of milk had been set out.
"Ooh!" Teppei squealed. He hurried over to the other side of the table and stuffed a cookie into his mouth. After a moment of contentedly munching however, Teppei stilled and looked over at Fumino and Kazuma.
"Ne, what's wrong? You guys are acting ser-ri-us" The young child stumbled slightly over the big word but looked quite proud of himself when he managed to pronounce it without too much difficulty.
"Well…" Fumino looked awkwardly over at Kazuma, unsure of what to say. Though she had tried to prepare for this moment, it felt as if all of her carefully planned explanations had shattered into glass at Teppei's query.
"Nothing's wrong, Teppei. We aren't serious because something bad has happened, we're serious because something seriously good has happened." Kazuma explained. The man reached over the table and lifted Teppei to his lap. He held a goofy smiled on his face. Teppei smiled back tentatively before Kazuma continued.
"You see, Teppei. Fumino and I, we're going to have a baby. Fumino is going to have a child, a son or daughter." Kazuma explained happily as he pulled Fumino close. Fumino found herself nodding.
"Do you remember when Auntie Emma had baby Miru-chan?" Fumino asked.
"Yep! We had a picnic after swim! And then she said 'now' and everybody started screaming!" Teppei energetically waved his hands around as he spoke. However, his words caused Fumino to look down at her still flat stomach and rub it nervously. Kazuma smiled awkwardly at the five-year old's perception of the situation.
"Yes, I suppose it did happen like that didn't it?" Kazuma asked in amusement.
"Mm-hmm!" Teppei agreed. He looked quite proud of himself for remembering what had happened a little over a year ago. Suddenly he looked serious as he looked over at Fumino.
"Do I have to start screaming now?" The child's sudden change of attitude and his question caused Fumino to break out into giggles.
"No, Teppei. Its going to be about eight months before any screaming takes place, I promise." Fumino assured her little brother.
"Eight months?" Teppei asked curiously.
"Mm-hmm. It'll take about eight months before the baby is ready. Right now, the baby is sitting safe and sound in Fumino's tummy." Kazuma gestured to Fumino's stomach as he spoke. Teppei turned his attention to Fumino's stomach and stared at it for a few moments. He was frowning when he looked about up at the two adults.
"Where?" He asked. "I don't see anything!" Fumino's eyes widened and she burst into some more giggles as her husband chuckled beside her.
"That's because right now its really small. Smaller than even your pinky finger." Fumino explained.
"Eh!? But Miru was big!" Teppei exclaimed as he used his hands to show how big Miru-chan had been.
"She was when she was born, but it took a while for her to get that big. Before that Miru had to stay and grow inside Auntie Emma's tummy." Kazuma murmured. "That's why the baby won't be ready to be born for eight months. During that time, the baby will grow."
"Ohh…" Teppei mumbled before looking again at Fumino's stomach. "But…" He frowned. "How did the baby get inside Buncha's tummy?" Fumino stiffened before grabbing the book she had bought. She opened it to a page in the middle and was about to begin reading about how God put babies in their mommy's tummy when Kazuma spoke.
"Babies are created when a husband and wife love each other very, very, very much Teppei." Fumino froze and glanced over at Kazuma.
"But haven't Buncha and Maa-kun always loved each other bunchas? Why is there only a baby now?" Teppei asked curiously. Kazuma's eyes widened before he spouted off another fib.
"ER- it only happens between people who are married." He claimed.
"But weren't you married before?" Teppei tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"Umm…" Fumino elbowed him hard in the gut before turning back to Teppei.
"Even if a wife and a husband love each other very, very, very much, only God can make babies Teppei. God knows when its time for there to be a baby. So, even though Kazuma and I have always loved each other very, very, very much, God knew it wasn't the right time for us to have a baby."
"Th-that's right, Teppei-kun." Kazuma agreed. Fumino shot him a look and he shrugged sheepishly.
"Ohh…" Teppei murmured. He appeared to be deep in thought. "So… Buncha is going to have a baby?"
"Yep!" Fumino chirped happily. "I'm going to have a baby!" She exclaimed giddily.
"A little brother!" Teppei exclaimed. "You should have a little brother!" He pointed excitedly at Fumino's stomach as if his will alone was enough to grant his heartfelt wish. Fumino burst into giggles.
"I can't choose for it to be a boy, Teppei. And even if it was, it wouldn't be your brother." She chided gently.
"Ehh?!" Teppei voiced.
"He would be your nephew. You know, how Uncle Tomo is our uncle? Well you'd be my baby's uncle." Fumino smiled.
"Ehh!" Teppei jumped. "Whacha mean, Buncha?!" He gasped.
"You're going to be an uncle, Teppei-kun. Though, if it's a girl it'll be your niece." Kazuma explained gleefully.
"I'm-a be like Uncle?" Teppei chirped out. His eyes were wide and amazed, as though the thought had never occurred to him before.
"Yep. That mean's you'll have to be a big boy from now on, Teppei. You'll have to show the baby a good example." Fumino told Teppei.
"You'll have to be strong too, like Tomo-san." Kazuma added in.
Teppei gazed at them with awed, shocked eyes for few moments. Then, his cherubic face strengthened in determination.
"I will. I'll be da' best uncle ever, promise!" The five-year old exclaimed jubilantly.
I apologize for the wait. I've been stuck at my parents farm with no internet since the day after Christmas. Also, I just receive Zelda: Breath of the wild and have been seriously playing it. Like... I could play it for the rest of my life and be absolutely content.
Please Review for my mental health.
Blitza