author's note
a confession is about to happen uwu
i hope i can make this as lovey-dovey as i wanted and imagined it to be, but the thing is.. i honestly don't know if i'm good with romance hhhh thats why i always add a dash of humor or angst to my stories
Responses for Reviews:
blinkkittylove: hm.. now i can imagine a baby of kotoumi's, crying because the baby of nicomaki's stole something from her, meanwhile the baby of nozoeli's tells the adults. the baby of rinpana's would probably cry as well lmao. as for tsubahono's baby.. probably in mama!Honk's arms, asking for more bread.
Hiei's Curry: it's the least umi could do! or well, she doesn't want to comfort a sulking pregnant lady..
Nitsuy: baby koto ftw!! as for kotori's confession.. ;)
TheHandofTheDarkness: i did warn that the characters would be more ooc and this story would be crappy since it is my first story, but anyways, thank you for the criticism and for finding this story interesting. i do agree that my chapters below ch. 10 were shitty, though, but i do believe i improved a little :)
With all that said, lez go!
Disclaimer: The Love Live franchise and its characters are not mine.
Chapter Twenty: Dense
The day after the gender reveal party..
"Umi-chan.." Kotori giggled as she bent her knees, trying to wake up Umi by poking her cheek "It's morning, time for breakfast, sleepyhead."
"Hn.." Umi furrowed her eyebrows, letting out a groan "Sunday..?"
"Yes, it's Sunday, Umi-chan. Come on, let's have breakfast so we can spend the day together."
"Mm.." Umi groaned again, slowly opening her eyes "Good morning, Kotori, princess."
"Good morning, Umi-chan. I think she says good morning, too." Kotori smiled, then stood up "I'll be downstairs waiting, go ahead and freshen up."
"Kotori is more bubbly today than usual.." Umi mumbled as she watched Kotori leave the room "Must be one of her mood swings.."
With that, Umi sat down on the bed, letting out a yawn as she began lightly stretching. Soon, she stood up and sat in front of Kotori's vanity (who insisted it's not just hers, but theirs) and began tying her hair into a ponytail, until an envelope and a CD with 'Sign' written on its casing caught her eye.
'To Umi-chan'
Umi was slightly confused, but she thought it was just a way of Kotori saying thank you. After she tied her hair up, she opened the envelope and set it aside once she got the letter inside.
To Umi-chan,
Ever since I could remember, you were good with your words. You knew how to show your emotions through little poems or songs, and that eventually lead to you to become the lyricist of μ's, the group that somehow knit us even more closer.
Do you still remember that day we recorded Anemone Heart? You were a blushing, stuttering mess as you handed the lyrics to me. After that, you were able to persuade Honoka-chan to let us walk home together without her. I was honestly confused, until you brought me to the park so suddenly. You blushed even more, but you somehow remained composed as you told me how you felt. How Anemone Heart portrayed how you felt. I saw a hint of worry and sadness in your eyes when I asked you to give me one more day to decide, but little did you know I just wanted to write a song for you too eheh~ I still remember how your face lit up when I called you 'my girlfriend,' how you smiled against my lips when we shared our first kiss. I always enjoyed looking back to the times we were happy, so happy, because we had each other.
I made a mistake of letting you go. I thought it was the right decision to stop us from being lonely, from feeling sad since we were thousands of miles away. It wasn't. Distance made me yearn for you more, even hearing your voice would be fine. Yes, I talked to the other girls a lot, but.. you're different. And the only time we ever talked -- is it even considered as talking? It was just at the groupchat where we'd say happy birthday to each other. Even still, after two years, I finally moved on from you.
Or so I thought. When I saw you after so long, you looked.. more charming. You were taller than me for a few centimeters, or maybe even an inch or two. Your hands looked more calloused, and you gave out this more serious aura. We barely talked when we were drinking, when the girls were singing, but by the time we were in our room, it completely changed. The next thing I know, I was kissing you again, I felt the warmth of your embrace again. I indulged in the moment, thinking it would be our last, but instead, we both received surprising news a month after. News that changed our life, news that brought us together.
After all these months, I still feel a hint of guilt for asking you to do such that night, especially since you just started working and we aren't ready to settle down yet. We both had to mature earlier in order to prepare for our little girl's arrival, but you did most of the work. You would always make sure I'm in a comfortable position before we sleep, always make sure that I get the cravings I want within minutes, always make sure I'm taking my vitamins and I'm eating on the right time and you sacrificed the most in many ways. But then again, if it weren't for that night, would I still get the chance to feel your warm embrace again?
What we did was really wrong and irresponsible, but I can't help but be.. glad that we did that. Because of that night, I got to know you more. Because of that night, we have this little bundle of joy on the way.
Umi-chan, you know I'm not exactly good with my words. I'm not good at writing song lyrics as well, but I just.. wanted to portray my love to you in a different way. In your way.
So, Umi-chan, here's my little love song for you. Of course, Maki-chan helped me with the music, but I promise I wrote the song alone! -8- So it really is how I feel for you, okay? Okay!
I love you, Umi-chan. I think I always have, I just didn't know. I'm sorry it took this long for me to realize it.
- Kotori
"Love.. Wait, she loves me?" Umi's eyes widened, then she grinned wide "Kotori loves me. Kotori loves me.."
Quickly, she took her laptop out and inserted the CD, which played the song. At first, Umi couldn't believe it was Kotori. After all, she used her deeper voice, but everytime there was a slightly higher note, Umi would smile since her high-pitch voice would come out.
"Umi-chan! Hurry up, the miso soup is about to get cold!" Kotori called out, coincidentally at the same time the song ended "Umi-chaaaan!"
"C-Coming!" Umi yelled back, trying to wipe the grin off her face "I-I'll just wash my face real quick, Kotori!"
"Hurry up, okay?"
Inside, Kotori felt slightly nervous. Of course, she knew that Umi loves her dearly, her actions always show that. But just.. what if? What if things changed? What if now, Umi prefers that pink haired bimbo bit--
"Okay, Kotori, relax.." Kotori muttered to herself, taking deep breaths "U-Umi-chan would never love or even like that Yuuki girl.. right? Of course!"
"Kotori?"
"Eek!" Kotori squealed, turning around "H-H-How long have you been there?! I didn't hear you!"
"For a while now, ever since you called Yuuki a bimbo." Umi chuckled as she sat down "Itadakimasu."
"I said that outloud?!"
Kotori let out a sigh as she blushed from embarrassment, but quickly shook her head.
"I-I hope you like today's dishes, I made your favorites." Kotori smiled, sitting down across her "Egg rolls, miso soup--"
"Ah, Kotori, is it okay if.. you make egg rolls for my bento tomorrow? I know it's probably a burden for you to make lunch for me everyday but.." Umi paused to take a spoonful of soup, then she opened her mouth once she swallowed it "is it fine..? I do enjoy your egg rolls, after all. And well, my team has an important meeting with the head boss.."
"I'm glad you told me! I'll make you some katsudon, some egg rolls.." Kotori began listing down the dishes she could make, then smiled as if an idea popped up in her mind "Mind if I decorate it a bit?"
"Decorate? Like, plating designs?"
"Yeah! And maybe some cute onigiri designs~" Kotori giggled "To cheer you on, of course!"
"I suppose it's fine. I'll look forward to it. Thank you, Kotori." Umi smiled "Speaking of which, what would you like to do today?"
"Well, I originally wanted to go out and buy things for our little girl, maybe some cute and soft fabric so I could make some onesies for her.. but ah, now I'm just lazy.."
"Then, do you feel any cravings for today? Or no?"
"..strawberry milkshake?"
"Eh? No twist?" Umi cocked her head, her eyes slightly wide in surprise "Odd."
"Mou, shouldn't you be glad that there's no twist? It means your little princess is behaving!"
"P-Princess.." Umi mumbled, then nodded "Okay then. After breakfast, I'll make some for you."
"Yay! Thank you, Umi-chan~!"
"Has she even read the letter yet?"
"I'll probably talk to her about it while she's having her milkshake. What's the best way to ask her out, though?"
"Umi-chan, I'll be out in the garden watering the plants!"
"Okay, but don't bend down too much and call me when you need to water the hanging ones."
"Mou, I can water those, too!"
"No, you can't--" Umi laughed, then let out a sigh when she heard the garden door shut "I was the one who hung them there, after all.."
"Now.." Umi thought, taking out her phone and opening the other groupchat.
(Umi calls it the cursed groupchat as the rest of the groupchat's members often team up against her to ask some..questions.)
Help Umi Ask Koto Out!
members: Umi, Eli, Maki, Rin, Honoka
Umi: so..
Eli: Is it finally the day?
Maki: Honestly thought you two were together already..
Rin: are they not together?? wha?? kayochin told me that two people should love each other before makin' babies happen??
Eli: Rin, no.. I don't know how to explain it, but no..
Maki: Rin if you got a fertile dick and someone has a fertile vagina, and you do the nasty without protection, there's a high chance that baby/babies would come even without love.
Eli: HEY DON'T TAINT HER INNOCENCE
Maki: I AM DOING THE SAME THING YOU ALL DID WITH MY BELIEF IN SANTA.
Umi: You guys are absolutely no help. Wait, where's Honoka?
Honoka: i have been kneading dough for so long i dont feel comfortable not squishing anything
Honoka: so umi-chan r u finally gonna confess to kotori-chan??
Umi: She gave me this love letter, as well as a love song. She did say 'I love you' so now.. I'm just wondering how to ask her out.
Eli: You guys are practically dating already but ok.
Rin: what eli-chan said! and wait, is what she said true? love isn't required for baby making??
Maki: I'm surprised your innocence is still intact.
Maki: Anyways, just..just ask her out your way?
Maki: Our ways are totally different so she may notice that you asked for our help.
Eli: Yeah. Just do the same as before
Rin: yeayea!!
Honoka: faito dayo, umi-chan!!
Umi: But everything is not the same as before..
Umi: There's a baby on the way, and before, we were just careless highschool students
Umi: Now every step determines whether or not I can give a happy and complete family for our child.
Eli: Umi, even if, let's say, you two don't end up together
Eli: which is wrong. you two will definitely end up together
Eli: I'm sure you two can raise your daughter well.
Maki: Now go and ask her out. Isn't it bad to keep a lady waiting?
Honoka: a preggo birb lady
Rin: hey hey, maki-chan, so does that mean i can get kayochin pregnant?
Maki: Yes but please don't.
Maki: Not now.
Maki: That KotoUmi baby is enough.
Umi let out a chuckle, leaving her phone on the coffee table and ignoring the notifications. She took a deep breath in, before going to the backyard, where, surprisingly, Kotori wasn't watering the plants. Instead, she looked like she was deep in her thoughts, pouting as she sat on the swing that Umi had just built weeks ago.
"Kotori?"
"Umi-chan." Kotori smiled, slowly swaying "I thought you're making milkshake?"
"It's best served freshly made, so I decided to wait until you were done watering the plants." Umi responded, approaching her and slightly pushing the swing "You aren't watering them, though."
"Tomorrow is the scheduled watering day for them. If I water them too much, they could die." Kotori explained, then let out a sigh "Hey, Umi-chan..?"
"Yes?"
"Did you.. read that letter already?" Kotori mumbled, and to her surprise, Umi switched positions and faced her. Still, Kotori averted her gaze, trying not to meet Umi's "It's..badly written, no? And the song too-"
"I love you too." Umi smiled, cupping Kotori's chin so she could face her "Thank you for the lovely song."
"S-Say it again?"
"I love you." Umi repeated, then chuckled "But hey, this time, can you say it?"
"Umi-chan," Kotori grinned, cupping Umi's face "I love you. Would you.. would you be mine again?"
"I've always been yours, silly." Umi nodded, leaning forward to kiss Kotori's forehead.
"I want a kiss here, too!" Kotori smiled mischievously, pointing at her lips "Umi-chan, onegai~?"
"N..Not in front of the baby, Kotori."
"She won't mind.. right? See! She kicked, so she approves!"
"It could also be a sign of disapproval.." Umi mumbled, before leaning closer to Kotori "Just.. just a quick one, okay?"
Much like the first kiss they shared years back, both of them ended up smiling into the kiss.
"Ah.." Kotori pulled away first, wincing as she held her stomach "Mou, you kick too hard sometimes.. you're really a Sonoda, no..?"
"Speaking of Sonoda.. Yui-nee is very excited to come and visit on your birthday, she insists to have a baby shower." Umi stood up, reaching out for Kotori's hand "Let's go, Kotori?"
"Hey, Umi-chan.." Kotori stood up, holding Umi's hand "I know it's too quick, but.. does Sonoda Kotori sound good to you?"
"..you're back to teasing me so soon." Umi grumbled "Of course."
"Or maybe Minami Umi?"
"Kotoriii.. stop teasing me or else no strawberry milkshake!"
"Hey! No fair~!"
"Hey, Umi-chan?" Kotori looked at Umi, who soon handed her a milkshake "Ah, thank you~! So good.. Ah, right! Umi-chan, what..what relationship do we have now?"
"Ah, right.. I wasn't able to do it properly." Umi mumbled, coughing to clear her throat as she sat beside Kotori "Kotori, would you be my g-girlfriend?"
"Of course, gladly!" Kotori nodded, grinning "Though I did see Yui-nee's message on your phone earlier.."
"About her pestering me to marry you on the spot, right?" Umi rolled her eyes, still slightly blushing "I'll do that someday. For now, I'm just.. glad you're mine."
"I'm glad, too. Ah, right, Umi-chan!"
Quickly, Kotori set down her milkshake on the coffee table and went up the stairs. After hearing a few shuffling from upstairs, Umi was greeted with her now girlfriend holding a navy blue box.
"Ta-da! The way I confessed with a song and a letter is not really my way of showing love, so.. I made you this!" Kotori grinned, handing her the box "I hope you like it!"
"You didn't have to get me anything, but.. thank you, Kotori." Umi sighed at first, but soon smiled as she took the box from her hands "This is..?"
Umi's eyes widened as she moved pieces of paper aside, slowly taking out a navy blue suit. Soon, she also took out a grey necktie.
To Umi-chan
I hope you enjoy this! •8• Work hard always!
"I made it grey so we can match in a subtle way, cause, you know, my image color is grey!" Kotori enthusiastically explained "Do you like it..?"
"I love it. You made this? As in, you designed it just for me?" Umi asked, and smiled when Kotori nodded "Seems like I have a new lucky suit now."
"I'm glad you love it! Hey, from now on, don't buy suits from any other tailor.." Kotori pouted "I'll make you suits instead. It's my way of showing my love for you, anyway."
"How long did this take you to make..? Is this what those measurements were for? You didn't have to lie.."
"Then it wouldn't be a surprise.."
"Ah.. right. You have a point. Should I try it on? I think it's a perfect fit.. See, it is!"
By the time it was nighttime and they were preparing for bed, Umi realized nothing changed from their daily lives. Sure, today had..a few kisses involved instead of the usual stolen forehead kisses, but other than that, it was all the same.
"Kotori?" Umi called out as Kotori entered their room "How long have you known?"
"Known what, Umi-chan?" Kotori calmly replied, getting under the covers with her "Is it--"
"How long have you known that you..love me?"
"Ah, two months." Kotori smiled, then laughed as Umi tickled her "U-Umi-chaaaan!"
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I thought you would reject me!" Umi groaned as she stopped tickling her "Mou..you made me wait another two months.."
"It's not my fault you're dense and didn't realize it.."
Umi's eyes widened as she recalled the times Kotori seemed more.. affectionate, more clingy and more loving.
"..true." Umi shrugged, and soon smiled as she felt Kotori nuzzle closer to her "Kotori?"
"Hmm~?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Umi-chan."
"Even if I'm dense?" Umi jokingly said, letting out a chuckle "I don't think I'm that dense though.."
"You're dense, and it's okay, I love you and your dense self." Kotori giggled, then soon let out a yawn "Goodnight, Umi-chan."
"Goodnight, Kotori."
Well, at least Umi got a letter, a love song and a suit thanks to her denseness.
side-note:
im not so satisfied with this chapter ;;; but i'm honestly stumped on how would kotori confess, so here you go! kotoumi's now dating and umi (and her dense ass) is now out of her misery of being a single gay sea. the next chapter, kotori and yuuki meets again uwu but it may take me a bit longer since i plan to just, slack off for a bit ;; hope u guys understand!
btw, if you guys are curious what the song is, it's Sign by Aya Uchida! i love that song so much lmao it actually inspired me to write this story as well
btw, now that kotori has confessed and they're together, we're about.. four chapter away until bb seagull comes to the world (since i plan on having a few skips) and then after that, i plan to write six chapters of them being parents and wrap up this story by chapter 30 :)
reviews are highly appreciated!
see ya next chapter, and take care until then!
- zumi