"I wonder why Dylan-san wanted me in on this meeting," Naoki complained. He had barely made it back to Tokyo before receiving a summons to appear at Pandai with his wife. "I haven't even had a chance to report in at the hospital yet. After all, Kotorin is your business, although I don't know how they're going to explain a space pregnancy."
Kotoko made a moue. "He insisted that he wants to make sure you're on board with the new program. Beyond that, I don't know any more than you do. And if they are going to make Kotorin pregnant, how much longer do you think we can keep the news from Okaasan?"
"I don't know. I just dread the explosion of excess once she hears."
"And we're going to have to watch her carefully if it's a boy, so she doesn't repeat history."
He closed his eyes. "You had to remind me of that, didn't you?"
She shrugged. "You know it's a possibility."
Upon arrival, they were ushered into one of the Pandai conference rooms. Dylan's core team was already in attendance and cheered their entrance with cake and balloons. Kotoko accepted their congratulations with blushes, while Naoki shook hands with all of them.
"Okay, people!" Dylan stood at the front of the room. "Kotoko's happy news is not a setback but an opportunity! I've had this idea on the back burner for awhile now, but now is the time," he clicked a remote and the projector lit up, "for us to diversify our product."
"What product?" Kotoko whispered.
"You, apparently," Naoki replied.
"Kotorin's European tour has been cancelled. That one was in five months," Dylan glanced at her, "and I don't think your husband, AKA your very personal physician, would want you to be traveling then." Naoki nodded at him in agreement. "We will only schedule domestic events for about three more months. A new costume design will disguise your, uh, different shape until then. But that's not the headline. What I'd like to announce today is a partnership with Minori of Tokyo for maternity fashion meeting the needs of today's modern woman."
"Aren't there enough of those, though?" Kotoko expressed doubt. "You can find them at almost every department store, and they even have specialty shops."
"Sure. If you prefer boring homogeneity in your clothing. But," he addressed the rest of the room, "we have Kotoko here, the image of the working woman. Started her own business in college, has a second job in a high-profile, technology-related field, yet married with genuine family ties. A strong role model for young women and a sex symbol to boot." He pointed to her. "Remember, you made the list of top ten female entrepreneurs in Tokyo Business magazine."
"Yeah, and if she'd been put on the cover, that would've been the top selling issue for the year," joked Tanaka.
"That's the power of my fanboys," Kotoko acknowledged.
"Anyway, you have the fame to give birth—sorry, I couldn't resist—to this line. Businesslike, yet chic and sexy maternity wear."
"Did he say 'sexy'?"
"Calm down, Naoki-kun, not all of them. Minori has been looking for a real person, not a generic model, for her line. As if that wasn't timely enough, the model under contract for their upcoming spring line has had to go into rehab. Kotoko will take over both and we'll saturate the market even before the baby bump makes its appearance."
"But Dylan-san," Kotoko waved her hands in denial, "All I've done are Kotorin publicity shots and a few magazine articles. I don't know how to be a high-fashion model."
"It doesn't matter, darling. Kenji here," he indicated the freelance photographer who had taken over the Kotorin photography for the past two years, "has been tagged for the job. He has an extensive fashion resumé, so he'll walk you through anything you don't understand."
"So I just show up and wear these clothes?" Kotoko turned to Kenji. "And you tell me where to look and how to pose?"
"I'll be with you all the way," he assured her with a wink. "Not to mention that a top model from France who will be visiting Japan has indicated an interest in being the foil for Kotoko's shots."
"Excuse me," Kotoko raised a hand as if she was back in school, "what do you mean by 'foil'?"
Dylan answered for him. "He means a beautiful backdrop for you, darling. You're the star, but this will add some international cachet to the campaign. We'll know in a few days if it all works out. In the meantime, you have additional contracts to sign and Sasahara here from Minori is going to take your measurements. So go into the adjacent room and strip down for him."
"Strip down—!?"
"Again, calm down, Naoki-kun," Dylan reassured him as the rest of the assembly filed out, "he's as apt to make a pass at her as I am."
Naoki narrowed his eyes. "I don't know. I recall a few times on our honeymoon..."
"It's absolutely lovely teasing you. You're always so serious. Go on in with them if you're that concerned."
"Now that I have your current measurements, Madame Kotorin," said Sasahara, "can you tell me what differences your pregnancy has already made?"
Kotoko looked at the figures, then cupped her breasts. "These are the only changes. About a ten centimeter increase."
"My! The Titty Fairy blessed you early, huh?"
Naoki laughed as his wife mouthed the phrase after him. "Just don't repeat it in Mom's hearing."
"I know better than that! Although I might try it out on Yuuki-kun to embarrass him."
"I see your relationship didn't changed much in my absence."
"Really, Naoki, of what use are younger siblings except to torment?" She turned to the designer's assistant. "I hope I will be able to do justice to the designs and that your company won't regret using a non-professional."
"Not a bit, dear! That type are ten yen a dozen. You, however, are recognizable and will put Minori-sensei's line on the map, so to speak."
"The sky map maybe," she giggled.
"Well, we plan to shoot for the stars."
"Kotorin is Queen of the Universe."
"If you two have finished trading puns, Kotoko has to sign her new contracts and we have to figure out a way to tell the happy grandparents-to-be!" Naoki broke in.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Naoki had never seen his mother at such a loss for words. Unfortunately, it did not last long. "Kotoko-chan!" she screamed as she rushed the smaller woman and enveloped her in a hug. "Finally, you and Onii-chan are going to give me grandbabies!"
"We didn't exactly do it with you in mind," he muttered.
His brother, next to him, snickered. "Here goes the last remnant of peace in this house."
"No," Naoki corrected Yuuki, "this is relative calm. Just wait until the baby arrives. I understand that colic can keep an entire neighborhood awake."
"I wouldn't think any child of yours would be so rude as to do that, Onii-chan."
"Yes, but it will be part Kotoko," he sighed.
"Ah, yes, Baka-chan's genes are probably dominant."
