A/N: For my Shannon, to celebrate the new step in her life!

Fumino fidgeted nervously on her seat as she stared out at all the students gathered together for the entrance ceremony. Because she and Kazuma were new teachers this semester, they were going to be publicly introduced to the staff and students, and then they each had to say a few words. Even though she was only an assistant homeroom teacher this year (due to her pregnancy), she couldn't help but feel as though she were stepping out into empty space without a safety net to catch her. It was absolutely terrifying.

"You're going to do fine," Kazuma whispered to her, sliding his hand over hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Just take a deep breath and introduce yourself. Everyone is going to love you."

"Says the guy who panicked when he had to givehis first introduction speech," she muttered back, not feeling the least bit reassured.

Her husband chuckled and squeezed her hand once more before releasing it. Somehow though, his laugh was enough to bolster her up. He knew from experience how nerve wracking it was to introduce yourself as a teacher for the first time, and his laugh said that it was okay to be nervous. She just wished she had her younger self to smile and toss her a piece of candy to cheer her up, like she had done for him.

"This year we would like to introduce two new teachers to our staff. Ojiro Kazuma and Ojiro Fumino. Kazuma sensei is coming back to us after teaching abroad for four years, and Fumino sensei is joining us for her first year of teaching after having been a student herself here several years ago. We welcome them both to Kumaneko High School and hope that their tenure with us will be a long and happy one. After we hear a few words from them, we will move onto the beginning of the year speeches from each class's representative."

After the principal introduced them, he made his way back to his seat, grinning broadly at both her and Kazuma as the student body clapped politely. She couldn't help but feel like the floor was about to give way underneath her.

"Good morning students," Kazuma began, taking his place at the podium. "As the principal said in my introduction, I am Ojiro Kazuma. This year will be my eighth year of teaching, and my fourth here at Kumaneko High School. I recently returned to Japan after teaching at a high school on a southern island for several years. While it was a good experience, I'm very grateful to be back in Japan and back at the school where I truly feel like I belong. I'm looking forward to being the homeroom teacher for class 1-B, and I'm even more looking forward to teaching alongside my beautiful wife, Fumino. I hope that you will all take care of us in the coming school year. Let's work hard together!"

Fumino couldn't stop the flush that crept across her cheeks when he mentioned her in his speech. She hadn't expected that, though the whispers of the students after he finished wasn't surprising at all. There were bound to be those perceptive students among them that realized he had been gone for four years, that she had been in university for those same four years, and that he had been a teacher while she had been a student here at this school. While she would never regret the chain of events that had led to them falling in love and marrying, she couldn't deny that she also felt a little nervous facing a room full of people who may judge those events without truly understanding them or the reasons behind them.

Forcing a smile onto her face, she stood up as soon as her husband had taken his seat and made her way to the podium. Gripping the sides with white knuckled fingers, she looked out over the student body that was still whispering quietly among themselves. "Good morning everyone, I'm Ojiro Fumino. Starting today, I'll be the assistant homeroom teacher for class 3-C. This is my first year teaching after graduating from Yamaneko Foreign Language University a few weeks ago with a degree specializing in teaching English. I'm really looking forward to teaching here at Kumaneko, as I have very fond memories of being a student here. I hope that as a teacher, I can live up to all those who taught me and continue the tradition of making Kumaneko High School an enjoyable place to learn. Please, take care of me this coming year."

Her stomach rolled as she turned back to her seat, but she forced herself to stay calm. The bouts of morning sickness had lessened lately, but they weren't gone entirely. If she could just hold out until the ending of the entrance ceremony…


It turned out that she couldn't hold out at all.

Fumino lay on one of the familiar beds in the infirmary, a cool towel on her forehead, and Kazuma's hand holding hers tightly. She groaned, embarrassed that she had run out of the assembly, only to throw up in a trash can in the hallway. Even though the infirmary had only been a few doors away, she hadn't been able to make it that far.

So much for being over the worst of her morning sickness.

"It's not that bad, love. You're pregnant, it's to be expected." Kazuma squeezed her hand, attempting to soothe her embarrassment over what had happened.

"This isn't the way I wanted to be introduced to the students," she moaned, her face flushing as she remembered the titters of laughter as she had bolted from her chair and out of the gymnasium. Would she ever be able to live that down?

"Well, at least all we have today is homeroom and an introduction to our classes. We can go home in a few hours and I'll help you forget all about it." He was grinning down at her, his eyes warm with mirth and something steamier.

It didn't take a genius to understand exactly what he was planning to do in helping her forget. From the moment he had come home last week, it seemed to be the only thing on his mind. Not that she could blame him. Being separated for so many years had intensified her craving for him as well.

"Teppei will be home," she reminded him, feeling a little disappointed even as she did so. Trying to find time to be alone together with a ten year old around was more difficult than she had anticipated. When her brother had been younger, it was easy to find moments to be together after he had gone to bed. Now, the slightest noise woke him up and alerted him to what they were trying to do. It was a miracle she had even gotten pregnant at all.

Kazuma leaned close and whispered in her ear, his voice a sensual purr. "We'll practice being quiet."

The only sound she could make was a soft, wanting whimper.

Was the day over yet?