Chapter Three: The Unexpected Result

The lounge was simple yet effective in its design; it had white walls, frilled curtains covering the windows, and had little decoration save for wedding dresses adorning every part of the room; a bride's dream. For many women, all of these dresses were fabulous and could drive them into a corner filled with mental pressure in an attempt to choose one to wear on their most special day. However, for this girl, it was different. There was really only one dress that suited her appearance and physical stature. As she left to try on the newly-ordered dress, she glanced over at her bridesmaids talking nonchalantly about the events of the past two months. She smiled and left to try out the new dress with high anticipations.

"Hey, did you hear?" asked Maya. "Ryuuji finally completed the first level of his apprenticeship!"

"What's the first level?" questioned Yasuko, having clearly been left out of the daily visits to eat the enormous amounts of failed cakes that Ryuuji had baked.

"Ryuuji had to bake a perfect chocolate gateau that was good enough to serve to the customers," replied Ami. "One thing led to another and he finally finished baking a perfect replica of Nakamura's recipe for it."

"How many levels are there?"

"Well Ryuuji didn't tell us, but I remember from talking to friends of that there were-"

She stopped talking and fixated her gaze upon the figure that stood at the doorway; everyone else followed suit. Stood there was a entrancing figure, dressed completely in a dazzling white that melted into the background, who seemed as if she was embarrassingly satisfied at how quick she drew the attention. Her hair was curled back; a quick and amateur, yet well performed, attempt at changing the petite girl's image.

"Who are you?" asked Minori in disbelief, regardless of the fact that she had been best friends with this girl for years.

"Minorin!" she answered. She puffed her cheeks into a well-recognised appearance.

"Tai-Taiga?!"

"Of course! Who else could it be?"

Everyone was stunned once more, even with this revelation. Images of Taiga as a delinquent, back when the second year of high school had just started, raced through their minds.

Taiga stepped forward slowly, the magnificent dress trailing behind her, making her figure more graceful, like that of well respected noble. Now she was closer, everyone could see the lovely addition of a golden hairpin, sparkling against the rays of light.

Ami decided to break this awe-filled atmosphere. "Hey, tiny Taiga. Even the right dress can make you look decent!"

Everybody laughed. "Stupid Chihuahua," said Taiga. "You may be a model but anyone knows I'm more beautiful than you at the moment."

Ami shook her head in jest, even though deep down she knew it to be true. "Don't be silly. I'm far better looking."

The friendly teases carried on for a while before they all had to go. Taiga went back to get changed again.

"Who would have thought Taiga would look that stunning," said Maya after Taiga had been gone for a while. "And that wasn't even the full outfit yet, she only wore the dress."

Minori nodded. "Yeah… it's just a reminder of just how much Taiga has changed after meeting Ryuuji."

When Taiga had come back from changing, they exited the shop and returned back to Ryuuji's house for a snack.

***

"So Noto finally asked me out!" exclaimed Maya.

They were all catching up from the last time they all met together, even Yasuko joined in and talking about her newlywed life with her husband.

Taiga sat there, not listening to the conversations and thinking about Ryuuji. I wonder what our lives will be like when we get married, she thought. What will happen in the future? What if Ryuuji-

Suddenly, a burning sensation in her throat threatened to spill out of her mouth. Before it could, however, she dashed to the bathroom, leaving a trial of destroyed chinaware behind her. Alarmed, the girls followed Taiga to the bathroom hoping to find out what was wrong.

Upon reaching the door, they saw Taiga, bent over the sink, vomiting her guts out with all her might. Minori hurried forward and patted Taiga on the back, hoping to relieve some of the pain. After a short while, Taiga stopped as if her stomach was void of anything else. She looked at Minori with appreciation in her weakly-looking eyes.

After a while, Yasuko inquired, "Taiga, have you had your period yet?"

Taiga looked confused. "Now I think about it… not yet, no. Why?"

The situation was so perplexing that no one had any idea what Yasuko might be hinting at. "Wait here." She quickly ran out of the house, grabbing her purse on the way out. Baffled, the others just stood there until she came back. Held in her hand was a tiny box. She handed it over to Taiga.

Taiga looked at it. "A pre-pre-preg-pregnancy test?!"

Everyone looked dazed; everything was happening too quickly for them to comprehend.

"Just take it," Yasuko said. "It could be the reason why you were vomiting."

Taiga slowly nodded her head and went to the toilet whilst Ami started to realize what was taking place.

"Taiga could be pregnant?!" exclaimed Ami. "How could this be possible! Unless… well I guess it is their style to rush into things."

Minori and Maya just stood there, dumbstruck. After an uncomfortable silence, Taiga stepped through the door, this time with a white thermometer-like apparatus in her hands. She did not need to hold it up and show it to them, the two lines were as clear as day; it was positive.

~To be Continued in Chapter Four~

I'm sorry for the short chapter this week. I've been extremely busy this week with little time to even think about the story let alone write it. But I did find a short amount of time and I hope you enjoyed it. I will still write a chapter once a week, so stay tuned!