author's note:
so, here it is.
the arrival of the bb seagull.
i started writing on this as soon as i published the previous chapter, so that i could try and write a lot of words, so i hope i can make this as fluffy and as emotional as i can!
Responses for Reviews:
Hiei's Curry: umi is definitely going to panic while kotori's water breaks lmao
Nitsuy: I'm glad you loved the chapter! As for their reactions, well.. you could say Kotori cursed Umi a lot..
With all that said, lez go!
Disclaimer: I don't own Love Live or its characters.
Chapter Twenty Three: Treasures
October 22, 2018, 6:52 AM
"I'll prepare breakfast for us, okay?"
"I'll come with you." Umi muttered, then let out a yawn "But Kotori.. it's so early."
"I thought you like waking up early?" Kotori giggled as she brushed her hair in front of the vanity, letting out a laugh when she heard Umi groan "Umi-chan, I know I'm in my final trimester, but you don't have to be so protective to the point you'd go everywhere with me.."
"I'm just worried.. what if your water suddenly breaks? And you accidentally hurt yourself?" Umi sighed, sitting down in bed. She stopped talking for a moment, and admired how.. how beautiful and, as Nozomi would say, glowing Kotori looked in her final trimester.
"Damn, I'm lucky."
"Umi-chan~" Kotori spoke in a sing-song voice, approaching Umi, who snapped back into reality "You're staring."
"Just admiring how beautiful you are."
"Shameless." Kotori laughed, then went out of the door "I'll call you if I need help."
"You should!"
With that, Kotori went down the stairs and began preparing breakfast, the same way she'd usually do. Although, half-way through, while she was beating up eggs together, she felt a trickle of liquid down her legs.
"It..it can't be."
"U-Umi-chan..!" Kotori called out loudly, touching her lower stomach as she looked down at the puddle of water "My water broke...!"
Umi ran down the stairs upon hearing that, her eyes widening when she got to the kitchen, where Kotori was leaning against the kitchen counter, staring at the puddle.
"Umi-chan.."
"Kotori..!" Umi approached her instantly, putting Kotori's arm around her shoulder to help her walk out to their car "We have to go to the hospital, now..!"
"But.. but I'm in my pajamas.."
"Kotori.. you're about to give birth, and you still care about your appearance?" Umi sighed in disbelief, sitting Kotori down on the sofa "I'll get you a change of clothes, then.."
"Hey, I'm not in pain. Oh, Auntie Nishikino also told me that when my water breaks, I need to put on a sanitary pad on my underwear. Could you get me a new pair?" Kotori asked calmly, despite Umi visibly shaking and panicking "I'll tell Yui-nee as well.. wait, should I still prepare breakfast?"
"No! For fuck's sake, no-" Umi paused, then covered her mouth "You did not hear that, baby. I'll call Aunt Nishikino. You're only 38 weeks as well.."
"It's also considered full-term, kind of.." Kotori shrugged her shoulders, then looked down at her stomach "Today, huh.."
Kotori's Pregnancy Updates GC
Kotori: Good morning, everyone! Hope you guys are having a great morning
S. Yume: Good morning, Kotori. How are you and the baby today?
Umi; her wate rbroke and sjes not even panivcking
Yui: whoa, umi has typos. Wait, wait, is that true?
M. Hikari: Already? Are you guys on your way to the hospital?
Kotori: Yes, Mom, after I change my clothes. The hospital bags are already packed in the car, so it's okay.
M. Kousei: Do you feel any pain?
Kotori: Not yet, Dad.
Umi: i am not prepared for htis. its too early
Yui: oh my god im gonna be an aunt
S. Yume: And off Yui goes, crying again.. Alright, dear, update us later on, okay?
S. Ushio: Good luck, Kotori, Umi. Mainly Kotori.
S. Ushio: Umi, try not to faint.
Umi: I WILL NOT.
Yui: send pics later please! aw baby.. i was supposed to be there for your birth.. but you came too early ;;
It happened so fast, Umi thought. Just yesterday, they celebrated Eli's birthday, and NozoEli's engagement, and today, Kotori's water broke. Two weeks before her 40th week mark. Umi handed Kotori a change of clothes, and stood outside the bathroom while waiting for her.
"Hello, Aunt Nishikino?"
"Umi! Is there anything wrong? You called early."
"Kotori's water broke.. but she seems fine. Why?"
"Ah, there's no pain after the water breaks. Though, you guys should come to the hospital soon. We need to monitor both Kotori and the baby's heart rate."
"Yes, we'll be there soon. Are you there right now?"
"I'll be there before you arrive, of course. I'll ask the nurses to prepare a room for Minami and Sonoda, don't worry. Anyways, I'll see you there."
"Who were you talking to, Umi-chan?" Kotori exited the bathroom, all prepared and dressed up "Auntie?"
"Yes. She told me that we need to go to the hospital now. Are you feeling any contractions?" Umi asked, wrapping an arm around Kotori's shoulder, helping her down the stairs "There are different stages of labor-"
"Not yet, at least.. Ah, wait." Kotori hissed in pain, worrying Umi "Okay, maybe once every few minutes. But it's natural."
"Let's just hurry up already!"
"Umi-chan, like I said, I'm not in too much pain.."
"Kotori.. Kotori, we're here." Umi's hands were shaking as she unbuckled herself from the driver's seat, exiting the car and making her way to the backseat to help Kotori stand up "Just..just a bit more, okay?"
"I told you, I don't feel much-" Kotori hissed in pain again, gripping Umi's hand tight "Okay, the contractions are getting more painful the more they come.."
"I know, it must hurt.. Just a few steps away, okay?" Umi reassured her, taking fast steps towards the ER room while rubbing Kotori's shoulder "It will be okay. You two will be okay.."
"Minami-san! Sonoda-san!" The nurse looked up, and instructed the other nurses to help the two "Please prepare a bed for Minami-san, her water broke already."
"Understood!"
"Minami-san, Sonoda-san, this way, please."
Moments later..
"Kotori, Umi. I didn't expect to see you this early." Mrs. Nishikino smiled upon seeing Kotori lying down on a bed, wheeling towards the private room with Umi by her side "You are only 38 weeks in.. Regardless, it seems like this little one wants to come soon. Let's do a quick check, we need to see if you are dilated enough to start pushing. If there's anything wrong with the baby, we might proceed with an emergency cesarean."
"No.. my baby must be safe, I just know it..!" Kotori reasoned, then looked up to meet Umi's equally worried eyes "Umi-chan.."
"A-Aunt.. please, they'll be okay, right?"
"We hope so.. But I will say this, Kotori. If there will come a situation where we have to choose between you and the baby," Mrs. Nishikino's face turned serious as they entered the delivery room "it's you we will save."
"But, my baby.."
"Kotori, listen to me. It will be harder to leave Umi and your newborn behind if we have to choose." Mrs. Nishikino explained, signaling the nurses to begin preparing the room, to put an IV on Kotori and to check their heart beat "But of course, we will try our best to make sure that both you and the child comes out healthy."
"I'm never the religious person, but to any gods out there.. please hear my prayer.
Please, keep my daughter and Kotori safe."
8 hours later, 3 PM
"I hate you." Kotori cussed at Umi, who was eating a cup of instant noodles "I can't eat anything at all, and you're eating in front of me..! Cruel! Heartless!"
"You want another ice-chip?" Umi asked, to which Kotori nodded to "I know you must be hungry.. I'll give you all the cheesecakes you want once this is all over."
"You better. I'm still mad at you." Kotori mumbled, chewing on an ice-chip.
"I love you too, Kotori."
Soon, Kotori hissed in pain again, gripping the sheets tightly "It hurts even more.."
Mrs. Nishikino entered along with a few nurses, who checked Kotori's pulse, and both her and the baby's heartbeat while Mrs. Nishikino checked her dilation. While this happened, Umi set the cup noodles down, going beside Kotori.
"Give Minami some supplemental oxygen and increase the fluid level of her IV." Mrs. Nishikino instructed "10 cm. Kotori, you're finally ready to push. We have to wheel her to the delivery room. Umi, please, comfort Kotori."
"U-Understood." Umi caressed Kotori's cheek, wiping away the tears that Kotori silently cried due to pain "Kotori, you can do it. I'm sorry.. If only I can be the one in your place and take away all your pain, I would. Hold on tight, okay?"
Kotori nodded, her grip on Umi's hand getting tighter as the contractions worsened. Eventually, they reached the delivery room, where they began to prepare for the baby's birth.
"Ah, please don't give me a hard time and come out already, baby.."
Three hours passed by with Kotori pushing, but it felt like eternity for the two. While Kotori barely screamed out loud, she did grip Umi's hand tightly whenever she was instructed to push, or pulled her hair, whatever she could get a hold of. Thankfully, there were no difficulties, and the baby seemed to cooperate well, barely giving her mother a hard time.
"Umi..chan..!" Kotori basically screamed out loud, her grip on Umi's hand tightening (to the point Umi would actually cry in pain, but she stopped herself of course) "It hurts like hell!"
"The head is crowning." Mrs. Nishikino announced, and beckoned Umi to view the sight "See why it hurts?"
"I.. I think I'll faint if I stay one second longer looking at her head.." Umi muttered, slightly horrified of the sight, and rushed back to Kotori "Kotori, just a bit more.. just hang in there, she's almost here."
"This might hurt a bit, Kotori, but I need to cut this part and inject an anesthesia here. Push later when I tell you to."
Sure enough, a part of her 'down there' was slightly cut in order for the baby's head to come out smoothly, and anesthesia was injected to help numb the pain. It was swiftly done, and once more, Mrs. Nishikino instructed her to push.
"Kotori, push, just a few more and she will come." Mrs. Nishikino instructed, focused on the baby and Kotori "Umi, encourage her, please."
"K-Kotori, come on.. you've been waiting for this moment, right? She's almost here. I know, I know it must hurt like hell. You can grip my hand tighter, or my hair-" Umi winced in pain as Kotori's grip on her hand got even more tighter, to the point where her knuckles turned white "T-That's it.. Come on, Kotori, push."
"Push!"
"We'll meet our little one after this.."
"Just a bit more, Kotori!"
"Kotori.." Umi used her other hand to caress Kotori's cheek again, wiping away the tears "I love you so much."
"One more, Kotori! Just one last push!"
With that, Kotori let out a loud, painful scream as she pushed, then panted as she was greeted by a sound that seemed more beautiful than anything else.
More beautiful than the sound of the ocean's waves during a sunset at the beach,
more beautiful than the melodious sound of the chirping birds every sunrise.
"It's a healthy, lively baby girl! Born at 6:53 PM, October 22, 2018!"
The sound of her daughter's loud and lively cry.
"Umi-chan.. it's over?" Kotori gasped, looking at Umi, who began crying "Why.. are you crying?"
"It's time for the Papa to cut the cord." Mrs. Nishikino smiled as she informed them, seeing the tears of joy flow from Umi's eyes as she approached her "Just cut here. Isn't she beautiful?"
Sonoda Umi always had steady hands -- hands that held bows, bokkens, shinais, and pens that wrote poetry and songs. The greatest treasures that Umi held, however, are Kotori's hands -- and soon, her daughter. Their daughter.
Her hands began to slightly shake as she held the scissors, cutting where Mrs. Nishikino told her to. The moment she snipped the cord, more tears began to flow.
"She's here. She's truly here."
The baby's cries got louder, and Umi couldn't help but sneak a peek. She was still rather grayish -- something common if the baby just came out. She wiggled her arms as she let out cries louder than the previous, her voice loud and clear.
"My little girl, Kotori's. Ours."
"They will take the baby to clean her up and check any abnormalities -- if there are any." Mrs. Nishikino explained as she handed baby girl Sonoda to a nurse "Please, go ahead and comfort Kotori, she's still in slight pain."
And to Kotori she went. To the mother of her child,
to the love of her life.
"Umi-chan..how is she?" Kotori panted out, reaching out to hold Umi's hand "Our baby.."
"You did so well, Kotori.." Umi sniffled, then looked at the nurse who was coming close to them, holding the now pinkish baby "That's.."
A little girl wrapped in a baby pink towel, wearing the bonnet that Kotori made for her weeks before her arrival -- a peach bonnet with two red anemones.
"Baby girl Sonoda. She has a complete set of toes and fingers, nothing looks abnormal, and already has an adorable tuff of hair like her mother." The nurse smiled, handing the baby to Kotori for skin-to-skin contact "You did a good job, Mama."
"Umi-chan, look.. Our daughter." Kotori giggled, slightly crying as she took her daughter and carried her for the first time "Hello, angel.."
"She's beautiful, just like you." Umi muttered in awe "My little girl.. welcome to the world."
"Hello." Kotori cooed, watching her daughter wrap her small hand around her mother's finger "I'm your Mama.. I've been waiting for this moment, do you know that?"
"Kotori, we need you to push slightly to bring the placenta out, okay? It won't hurt that badly. We'll stitch this area up as well." Mrs. Nishikino smiled at the two "Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful little one."
"Okay.." Kotori pouted, but soon smiled again upon seeing her daughter's eyes flutter open "She's got my eyes.. But eheh, her hair-color is a mix of ours, no?"
"She looks so much like you." Umi chuckled, reaching out to run her hand gently over the baby's head "Thank you for being born healthy. Kotori.. thank you, you're so strong for handling with that pain.."
Umi was still crying slightly - out of joy, of course - when she bent slightly to kiss Kotori's head. Unbeknownst to the two, Maki entered the room by then as she was summoned by her mother, and took a quick photo of the family's first moment.
MUSIC, START!
Honoka: Maki-chan! how r they?
Hanayo: I hope Kotori-chan is okay.. and the baby too..
Maki sent a photo.
Maki: They're both healthy and safe.
Nozomi: how cute!
Eli: Just yesterday we were together, whoa.. is the baby cute?
Maki: Kotori is currently holding her.
Nico: name?
Rin: yeah! is it seagull?
Maki: I don't know yet, don't want to bother their moment. Most likely not seagull.
Maki: Just wait for their response later on, I'll exit the delivery room now.
The same day, 8 PM
After Kotori nursed the baby for the first time, their daughter was brought to the nursery first, to give her the first vaccines she needed, as well as to make sure she was healthy. Kotori, on the other hand, was brought back to the private room along with Umi.
"Umi-chan." Kotori called out, gently waking Umi, who still stayed beside Kotori's bed "Wake up.. Umi-chan."
"Huh.. what? Kotori, what do you need?" Umi snapped awake, examining her surroundings "Hospital room.. oh, so it wasn't a dream."
"It really wasn't." Kotori giggled, then cocked her head slightly "Did you message the girls?"
"I suppose I should.. maybe when the baby comes." Umi muttered, and at the exact moment, there was a knock on the door "Come in."
"Yo." Maki smiled, looking like a professional doctor "Someone is here to finally stay."
When Maki said that, she then wheeled in a hospital crib, where a baby girl with ash-blue hair slept, swaddled in a pink blanket. With the other hand, Maki was also holding a birth certificate.
"Have you two decided on her name? I will admit," Maki chuckled, bringing the baby close to Kotori, who soon picked her up "she's adorable. Umi, no doubts it's yours?"
"Her hair is definitely a Sonoda, what do you mean?" Umi rolled her eyes while smiling, taking the certificate from Maki "She's 8 pounds, 2 ounces.. 50 cm tall. Hey, that's similar to my size as a baby."
"Yeah, definitely a Sonoda.. My parents always said I looked small and fragile despite being born healthy." Kotori giggled while rocking her daughter "Umi-chan, what about Umiko? Child of the sea. It suits her well."
"Umiko sounds.. it sounds lovely. It suits her aura well, no?" Umi chuckled, staring at the two "It has three syllables like your name, and is sea related like mine.. it's perfect."
"Nice name. She slept through the babies' cries at the nursery, so she seems like Umi's daughter, definitely." Maki added.
"Sonoda Umiko.. and, father's signature.. signed." Umi muttered, writing on the birth certificate "Maki, could you take a quick photo of us together? So I could tell the girls."
"I.. already told them. In fact, Nico posted something on Instagram without your consent due to excitement.. I told her to put it down, but," Maki let out a sigh after taking a quick photo of the family "she said it gained a lot of likes already. Anyways, I'll take a photo with my phone, then I'll send it to you."
"Huh? What did she post on the Muse Instagram account?" Umi muttered, going to the social media and logging in their account "Oh.."
musicstarto: Today, Kotori and Umi welcomed their little girl! Congratulations, you two! -niconiconii
Along with the caption, Nico posted the photo that Maki captured earlier. Surprisingly, a lot of their fans seemed happy, congratulating them. While Umi read the comments, she couldn't help but smile, until Umiko let out a cry.
"Oh.. the nurses told me that the baby," Maki pointed at the little ashbluenette "needs to be nursed by the mother. I.. don't think I want to see that sight, so I'll excuse myself. Kotori, Umi, congratulations."
With that, Maki left the room, holding the signed birth certificate with a smile.
"Congratulations, you two seem like wonderful parents already."
"I.. Should I turn?" Umi asked, watching Kotori unbutton her pajamas slightly to nurse Umiko "Yeah, I should-"
"You saw me naked multiple times in the past, now you're acting all shy?" Kotori scoffed, then her eyes widened as Umiko eagerly - like Umi? - sucked "Someone seems hungry.."
"B-Being intimate and watching you nurse our child is different!" Umi reasoned "Totally different!"
"Our child, huh.." Kotori smiled, caressing Umiko's little head "Our Umiko. My Mi-chan.."
"Okay, maybe watching you nurse her is fine.." Umi nodded to herself, and looked at the door upon hearing someone knock "U-Um, come in."
"I see that the little one is now nursing.. that's good. I came here to bring food for the parents." The nurse smiled, leaving two trays of food on the side-table "Please call me by pressing this button if you need any help. Do you guys know how to burp a baby?"
"I think so.. you put the baby like this, right?" Umi mimicked the burping position for the baby, to which the nurse nodded to "And then gently pat the baby's back."
"Yes, indeed. Please get enough rest today, but we will be here if you need any help. Tomorrow, we'll check both the Mama's and the baby's health, and do skin-to-skin contact for the..?"
"P-Papa." Umi muttered, to which the nurse beamed to again.
"Skin-to-skin contact for the Papa and the baby. We'll also give you a baby-book, to monitor the little one's growth every checkup. If they're both healthy and have no visible complications, we can send you both home by October 25."
"Thank you, nurse."
Sure enough, by the time Umiko stopped nursing and Umi burped her (with caution, as if she thought of her daughter as a porcelain doll that could break easily) both the baby and Kotori fell asleep. Once in a while, Kotori would wince in pain, and a nurse would come to switch the cooling pads that numbed the pain for her.
"I feel like I fell in love with you all over again, only this time, a bit harder." Umi chuckled, holding the sleeping Kotori's hand "You just proved to me how amazing you are."
"I just.. wish I could've gone through that pain instead of you. That agonizing pain of the contractions worsening, the pain that's about to come.. all of that. I wish I can take it away from you. But the only thing I can do is stay by your side for the rest of my life in return." Umi held Kotori's hand close to her lips, kissing it gently "I'll forever be in your debt because of this."
Like she detected her father being all 'romantic,' Umiko's eyes fluttered open, and she let out a small cry, causing Umi to rush and carry her in her arms.
Ah, she never really got the chance to admire her daughter's cuteness until this moment came.
A small, cute button nose.
Ash blue hair.
Extra tuff of hair on top.
Droopy, amber eyes.
Pink, rosy cheeks.
Soft skin.
"You look exactly like your mother. Other than the hair and height, of course. I got my mix in that." Umi giggled, bringing her finger close to Umiko's hand so she could wrap it around "Umiko.. I promise you, Papa will always, always protect you from now on. But promise me in return, you won't give Mama a hard time, okay? She did all the hard work, postponing her business and putting you before anyone else."
Umiko flashed her papa a small smile, a smile that actually made Umi tear up again.
"Papa loves you. Our little Umiko."
Umi relished the moment, rocking Umiko and telling her different stories, as Umiko barely showed intentions of sleeping. Her phone buzzed with congratulatory messages, from her colleagues, her family (Yui ugly cried upon seeing the photo of Umiko for the first time..) and of course, μ's.
MUSIC, START!
Umi sent a photo.
Umi: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for all the congratulatory messages, I'll be sure to tell Kotori when she wakes up. This little one was born on 6:53 PM today, October 22, 2018. She resembles Kotori a lot, other than the hair color, which turned out to be a mix of ash grey and blue.
Umi: She's born with no complications at all, both Kotori and her are healthy. Sonoda Umiko is excited to see you guys in a month. Please do give us time to enjoy this moment as a new family, but we will see you soon.
Nozomi: congrats, you two! elicchi is happy that the baby is born healthy
Eli: She's born a day after my birthday, too! Congrats again! She's a beauty, much like Kotori
Honoka: u might have to protect umiko-chan from ppl in the future lol but congrats! see you in one month, bb!
Hanayo: Umi-chan, Kotori-chan, congrats! Excited to meet you, Umiko-chan!
Rin: yeah, she definitely is a Sonoda.. congrats! good luck with the baby now! don't drop her!
Nico: i'm sure they wouldn't, rin. either way, congrats, umi, kotori. i will admit, umiko seems a bit cuter than niconii. i'm jealous maki got to see her first.
Maki: Hey, it's my job. I've got more chances to make her like me better than you guys.
Nico: cruel! taking advantage!
Eli: But you're not good with babies..
Nozomi: yeah, maki-chan. you said theyre just a small dumb human being.
Maki: Am I wrong?
Rin: not really..
October 25, 2018, 6 PM
Three days went by quick, and the family was finally sent home. Since Kotori is still in the process of healing, Umi often took care of Umiko at the hospital, and swore to continue doing it at home.
"Little steps at a time, Kotori-"
"Umi-chan, so protective until now?" Kotori giggled, entering their house while holding Umiko, who was fast asleep in her carseat "I should probably put Umiko-chan down.. no?"
"In her room, maybe? Or do you want to rest? We can put her in the co-sleeper at our room." Umi asked, to which Kotori nodded to "Upstairs we go, then. I'll just put these down so I can help you up."
"Mm, thank you, Umi-chan." Kotori took Umiko out of the carseat, and tiptoed to give Umi a quick peck on the lips "You're a great papa and partner."
"Anything for you two."
"Oh, she woke up. Hi, baby~! We're home!" Kotori cooed at her daughter, carefully walking up the first few steps of the staircase "Umi-chan, I just realized.. whenever we kiss, she used to kick.. now she wakes up."
"Hey, give your mother and I some time, too." Umi pouted, putting her chin on top of Kotori's shoulder "She's mine, too."
"There, there~ Once Umiko-chan goes to sleep, I can prepare dinner for us. Perhaps, we can spend time alone too. Watch a movie, maybe?" Kotori recommended, to which Umi shook her head to "Ehh.. why? I thought you want to spend time with me?"
"I.. I'll try to cook dinner. You should go and rest, you must be so tired these days.. having to nurse Umiko, pump milk for her, and of course, having to deal with the lingering pain after the birth. That's why.." Umi stood straight, and showed Kotori a charming smile "I'll try to do most things you usually do, so you can take a break."
"..there's no point in stopping you, no?" Kotori sighed, then soon smiled "Okay then. Then.. I think I can teach you how to cook dinner by telling you what to do. We have enough ingredients to make katsudon and miso soup today."
"Don't you usually keep a notebook that has your recipes, though?"
"Ah, you're right! Then I suppose.. you can do well without my help?"
"I hope so.." Umi sighed, walking beside Kotori "I mean, I follow instructions well, so I think I can do good."
When they reached the room, Kotori set Umiko down on the co-sleeper, cooing to her while Umi turned on the AC and the humidifier.
"I'll go ahead and prepare dinner for us. Umiko," Umi approached her daughter, bending down to smile at her and slightly tickle her stomach "try to sleep, okay? So your mother can take a nap, too."
"It's fine, Umi-chan. I think.." Kotori yawned, nuzzled in bed beside the co-sleeper that's attached to their kingsize "I'd rather watch Mi-chan like this.."
"I'm still amazed at the fact that she's here already." Umi chuckled, planting a soft kiss on Umiko's head, and another on Kotori's forehead "Alright then, I'll call you when dinner is ready."
"Do your best, Umi-chan!" Kotori cheered as Umi walked out of the door, then smiled at Umiko "Would you like to hear another story? Hm.. well, when I was little, your Auntie Honoka recommended that your Papa and I should climb a tree with her. Well.. we almost fell.. but we saw a really beautiful sunset that time!"
Eventually, minutes passed, and Umiko fell asleep. Kotori let out a giggle, putting a small blanket on her.
"Sleep tight, Umiko-chan."
Soon, Kotori drifted to sleep as well, while Umi.. she had a few difficulties, but finally, after almost two hours, she finished preparing dinner for them and smiled at the sight of the dining table.
Two bowls of rice, katsudon and miso soup, and on the highchair was a bib and a baby bottle. But ah, something.. something seemed wrong.
"Wait.. Umiko can't sit down yet." Umi sighed, frowning as she slumped her shoulders "What an idiot father I am. I forgot the different milestones of a baby."
"Father, huh.." Umi beamed at the thought again, her smile turning into a grin "I'm a father, of course..!"
"Kotori, Umiko--" Umi announced her presence in the room, then halted once she saw the sight of Kotori and Umiko asleep.
The sight warmed her heart, especially when she noticed Umiko's little hand wrapped around Kotori's finger. She noticed how Umiko's little eyebrows would furrow at the smallest sounds as well, similar to how Umi reacts when something bothers her in her sleep. Umi let out a little laugh at this as she put the blanket over Kotori.
Dinner can wait, can't it?
"Welcome home, Umiko."
Of course, it can. For now, she just wants to relish in this moment and..
"Maybe I can close my eyes.. just for a little bit." Umi yawned as she got under the covers with Kotori, gently hugging her from behind "Sleep well, my loves."
That sleep was soon interrupted by Umiko's cry for hunger, and Umi being the 'superpapa' she is, she insisted on feeding her the bottle while Kotori slept, instead of Umiko latching on Kotori.
"This is.. I can get used to this new normal." Umi chuckled, carrying Umiko and watching her suck the bottle eagerly, her amber eyes wide open.
Umi then turned and gazed at Kotori, who slept soundly by her side.
"Yes, of course, I can get used to having the best treasures of my life by my side.
I've been waiting for this moment, after all."
side-note:
writing about birth is complicated.. but anyways, here's the details about bb seagull
Her name is Sonoda Umiko. Born on October 22, 2018, one day after Eli's birthday and the day Eli and Nozomi announced their engagement. Umiko looks more like her mother, inheriting the way she has a tuff of hair on top, as well as her soft, droopy amber eyes. She got a mix of her parents' hair color, which is why it turned into an ashy blue color. However, she did inherit Umi's facial expressions, but mainly Umi's attitude as well. Umiko barely cries -- only when she's hungry, or needs to have her diaper changed -- but often stays up at night. Umi would stay up, telling Umiko stories about.. anything. It could be about μ's previous liveshows, or childhood stories, or children's stories. Kotori would often wake up the next morning, with Umiko in Umi's arms, both of the bluenettes fast asleep.
With Umiko here already, my main question for you guys is.. how many chapters would you like to have left? The main story is about to end soon, but I do want to write about the girls (yes, the girls because another couple will be expecting very soon huehue) being parents, so please let me know!
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and until the next, stay safe and wash yo hands!
- zumi