Sasa: I feel like a turtle...is the story going too slow?
Aika: Perhaps. *shrugs*
Sasa: What?
Aika: You don't think so?
Sasa: ...maybe...
Aika: I like it slow...
Sasa: Yeah...that's because you -
Aika: *covering Sasa's mouth* Please enjoy Chapter 4!
o-o-o-o-o
Sunday
o-o-o-o-o
Aika pulled the door to the cafe open before walking inside the cozy looking building with a stroller.
"Aika-chan! Over here!" Miwa called over to the pretty brunette who smiled at her long time friend.
Aika walked over to Miwa, pushing the stroller next to her chair before settling down.
"I missed you so much!" Miwa squealed before hugging her friend tightly.
Aika chuckled, patting Miwa's back softly before pulling away.
"Shh..." Aika whispered as she raised a finger to her lips in a Shhh-motion. She pointed at the tiny figure in the stroller which caught Miwa's attention.
Miwa blinked before she knelt down next to the stroller to look at the baby in the stroller.
Dark, curly brown hair and smooth pale skin with pink cheeks...
"She looks like a mini version of you," Miwa said slowly.
Aika smiled.
"You're not surprised?" Aika asked Miwa carefully, gauging her reaction.
Miwa shook her head.
"No."
Aika looked at Miwa who suddenly became serious. Usually, Miwa was a whimsical person who liked to play and have fun. Once someone pissed her off, well...let's not go there...let's just say things did not end well for the target of her rage.
"Two years ago...when you left for Osaka...I kinda figured why..." Miwa said as she sipped her tea. "It wasn't to escape the rumors...I mean, okay yeah...but your mother could have paid the headmaster to silence the shit talkers...yet...she didn't..."
Miwa raised her eyes to meet Aika's own violet ones.
"You left because you were pregnant with that baby girl right?"
o-o-o-o-o
Outside the cafe
o-o-o-o-o
Ryoma and his cousin Nanako were walking to the grocery store to buy some food to use for tonight's dinner.
He froze as he recognized a girl in the cafe.
She was the one Sakuno was introducing to everyone.
"You left because you were pregnant with that baby girl right?"
Pregnant?
Baby girl?
He stared at the girl through the window. She and her friend were too engrossed to notice him. Ryoma blinked as he finally noticed the stroller with a baby inside.
"Ryoma...Ryoma..."
He turned to his side.
"Let's go," Nanako said, tugging on her younger cousin's sleeve.
Ryoma gave one last glance to the two girls inside the cafe before following Nanako.
It wasn't like this was his problem..
Aika chuckled softly so as to not disturb her sleeping daughter.
Miwa looked at her, patiently waiting for her answer.
Aika sighed deeply as Haruka mumbled in her sleep before turning on her side to get into a more comfortable position to sleep in .
"Yes."
Miwa shook her head.
"I knew it."
Aika reached out for Miwa's hand.
"Miwa-chan...I'm sorry...it's just Momma didn't -"
Miwa cut her off.
"Aika-chan, it's okay...I understand...if it were me, I would not want anyone to know either."
The two girls smiled at each other before leaning over and trying to embrace each other with their foreheads pressed against each other.
"We are so pitiful," Both girls said, laughing with each other.
They moved away from each other when Haruka began to stir.
"So," Miwa said as she looked at Haruka. "What's your baby's name?"
"Her name is Haruka," Aika stated with a proud smile.
Miwa traced her thumb over Haruka's cheeks.
"She's pretty...just like you," Miwa murmured.
"Oh, Miwa-chan! You're pretty, too!"
Miwa frowned.
"Not as girly as you...I'm too tomboyish...that's why guys don't like me," Miwa said with a pout.
Aika laughed at Miwa.
"Oh, so you're saying you want a boyfriend now hmm?" Aika teased Miwa who gasped.
"Hey! I didn't say I wanted a boyfriend!"
Aika arched an eyebrow.
"Sure...just like how you said you didn't like Yagyuu-san from the golf club."
Miwa paused.
Aika smirked knowingly.
Miwa hardened her eyes.
"He's not in the golf club anymore..."
Aika laughed.
"You still like him right?"
Miwa's frown deepened.
"MOU! AIKA-CHAN!"
"It can't be helped," Aika chuckled at Miwa's expression. It was priceless.
"Help?" A tiny voice murmured.
Both girls looked at the stroller where Haruka's feet were thumping against the stroller.
Aika took her baby out of the stroller and placed her on her lap.
When Haruka's blue eyes fixed themselves on Miwa, Miwa gasped when she noticed those familiar blue orbs.
"They look just like..."
Aika nodded as she looked at her friend's stupefied expression.
"She has his eyes," Aika smiled sadly as her hands held onto her baby who was curiously watching Miwa.
"Who is she?" Haruka asked while pointing at Miwa.
"She's mommy's good friend," Aika answered as she looked at Miwa with a smile. "You call her Auntie Miwa."
"Auntie Miwa?" Haruka repeated clearly.
Aika nodded.
Miwa chuckled. "She's just like you...always so clear with that pronunciation."
Aika only smiled as Haruka reached her hands out toward Miwa with a great big toothy grin on her small face.
o-o-o-o-o
Later
o-o-o-o-o
Aika and Miwa walked side by side as they headed toward a nearby park with Haruka in tow, kicking her feet back and forth while in her stroller.
"Sorry for imposing on you, Miwa-chan," Aika apologized with a bashful look on her face. "I didn't expect Haru to want to play so much with you since she's normally shy with strangers."
"It's fine," Miwa chuckled. "I love Haruka-chan! She's so cute!"
"Cute, cute, cute..." Haruka repeated playfully.
Both girls laughed at the adorable toddler.
"Before I forget, thank you," Aika said to Miwa who became confused.
"For what?"
"Telling Tomoka-chan to show me around Seigaku...she's been real helpful."
"Ah...that's fine," Miwa said as she rubbed her arm. "Glad to help."
"Thanks again," Aika said happily.
"You're my bestie...of course anything for you," Miwa said as she poked Aika who jumped and poked her back.
"Mama...I play too!" Haruka demanded as she wiggled even more in the stroller.
"Ha ha! Wait till we get to the playground, baby!" Aika said to her excited two-year old.
On the other side of the park, Marui, Jackal, and Akaya were sitting at a bench together.
"Hey, sempais...isn't that Terumi-san from Niou-sempai's class?" Akaya pointed out the tough looking girl.
Marui's eyes followed Akaya's finger and narrowed in on a tall girl with jet black hair and steel gray eyes.
"Yup. That's Terumi Miwa for sure."
Jackal looked, as well.
"The monster of the Rikkai's Girls' Tennis Team," He added.
"Eh? Who is she with?" Akaya added as he noticed the more feminine girl who was rolling a blue stroller.
Marui shrugged.
"Who cares? Let's go before buchou and fukubuchou get mad at us?"
Jackal nodded.
"Let's go," Marui said, getting up to walk to Rikkai for practice.
As Akaya and Jackal walked in front of Marui, the redhead turned around to glance at the golden brown haired girl's back. His eyes narrowed as he thought about where he had seen her before.
Don't you guys love dramatic irony? I do!