Not much here, this to tied people over until I'm done with the next chapter of Sisters at War.
"Rise-san, I don't need help down the stairs, I'm just fine..." Naoto told her best friend, completely exasperated by the attention she was getting. The Idol shot her a sweet smile before taking her arm and helping her walk down the stairs.
She sighed again which may have been the twelfth time today and her hormones were slowly getting the better of her as well.
"When you have a bump that big when you walk, you waddle like a penguin." Rise told her matter of factly. Naoto's mouth was wide open in shock.
"I do not waddle!"
"Yes you do now come with me." Naoto's face scrunched up in frustration as Rise helped her down the stairs. However she let out a small breath of happiness as she finally got to the bottom of the stairs of her house. Stair climbing has become more of a daunting task in the past couple of months.
"How is she anyway?" Rise asked pointing to her stomach, considerably swollen due to the stage she was at.
Yes, Naoto Shirogane was now pregnant. Something she would have never expected when she was in her teens. She slowly shuffled to the sofa before sitting down in a heap before the idol bounced around before landing next to her.
"She's fine, she moves around a lot though." Naoto said with a small smile on her face. Her left hand was stroking her stomach with care. Motherhood was something she found intimidating for a while now but as the pregnancy developed; she became more and more used to the idea of caring for a little one. Not like Souji minded, he was stoked by the news and has spoilt Naoto since pregnancy begun (Much to the detective's frustration). But Naoto made sure that the news was kept quiet, long enough that she could sort out her mind and her priorities. She needed time to think, how to tackle the new way of life and balance it with what seemed to be her duty, her character.
It took two months before the effects started to show. She tried to hide it by slowly altering her clothes, moving to more baggy attire, but Yakushiji was the first one to spot her change.
"Naoto-sama, you seem to be different lately, what are you wearing?" Naoto faked ignorance immediately, her self-defence mechanism kicking in. She was heavily self-conscious of her growing need to move to casual clothing. More often she moved to jeans and plain black or navy blue T-Shirts, straying away from her normally formal attire.
"Nothing, I just felt like a change of style that's all?" She said, without facing him as she went through the estate files, sorting out the old records of cases left by her late grandfather.
"Style? You've never been one for 'style' Naoto-sama." Naoto shrugged. Ignoring the statement altogether and continued to shuffle through files.
She felt a hand on her shoulder which made her jump slightly. She had to fight her reactions and remind them that Yakushiji is the only one here so she didn't have to worry. The motherly protection system was starting to become more apparent.
"Are you hiding something from me?" He asked slowly, but clearly enough to sound concerned. Naoto froze knowing he was on to her and it was REALLY hard to shake him off once he found something.
"It's nothing Yakushiji-san you must be seeing things."
"Your hand is trembling Naoto-sama." He pointed out quickly. That was a very armature mistake to make.
'Seems like I really can't get out of this without telling the truth...'
Naoto removed his hand from her shoulder before standing up. She moved her cap so her eyes were visible and looked the Secretary dead in the eye.
"Yakushiji-san I..." Naoto trailed off.
"You can tell me Naoto-sama I-"
"I'm pregnant." The words cut off the caretaker of the estate, seizing him in a grip of shock. Naoto sighed as she pulled up her shirt to reveal the swollen bump starting to form. Yakushiji's hands covered his agape mouth in shock.
"H-How long?"
"Two months." she said matter of factly. Not really interested in beating around the bush anymore.
"W-Why did you not say?" Naoto scoffed.
"I've been busy. I wanted to see how I truly feel with parenting; I needed some time to get used to it." She turned away, expression seeming more distant than before.
"Souji-san knows?" Anger flashed in her eyes momentarily before she caught herself. She really needed to keep on top of that.
"Of course he knows, as usual he's over the moon..." She sighed again. She let go of her shirt and turned back towards the files she was sorting through.
"...Try to keep the news down at the estate please." Suddenly she was enveloped in a massive hug which caused her to yelp.
"The estate will finally have a successor, I'm so proud of you Naoto-sama" He said joyfully as the detective tried to squirm out of his grip.
"O-Okay... L-Let me go..." She struggled until he eventually let go.
"Least everyone is happy for you right?" Rise pointed out brightly causing Naoto to frown.
"I just don't like the attention." She looked away to the table which had a picture of her and Souji on it.
"About 3 months in Yakushiji-san informed the whole estate about me. They cut the amount of cases I took by eighty five percent until a month later I wasn't allowed any." Naoto huffed, clearly annoyed by her special treatment.
"That explains all of the new gizmos you've been working on." Naoto nodded.
"I know they are all worried about the baby and how I shouldn't 'over-do it' but I have too much time on my hands because of it." Rise shot her a look of sympathy.
"Shame, is there any cases you can take on?"
Naoto shrugged.
"I've taken some private investigation cases not sanctioned by the estate, nothing huge, just looking for long lost relatives and things like that. Even I must admit crime is very taxing on the mind and body."
"Is that why Souji has been helping you a lot?"
"Yeah, for now he's the extra eyes and ears I need, not prefer right now." She leaned back, annoyed at her dependency on others on normally mundane and simple tasks. She hated the fact she had to ask Souji to help her on investigations before she was written off for leave. A Shirogane was independent, doesn't need anyone but themselves.
"I'm sure he's happy that he gets to spend more time with you." Naoto let out a breath, remembering how considerate he tries to be.
"That's true." She stroked her stomach slowly.
"I miss him..." She said sadly. Rise raised an eye brow on how quickly Naoto was shifting through her feelings, and actively changing on a whim.
"It's so strange not to see you in control." The statement instantly got her attention.
"What?" Rise put up her hands defensively.
"Hear me out. You are going through emotions quicker than I can keep up, it's like you're being more honest." Naoto flinched then frowned.
"Are you saying-"
"No I'm not. I'm just pointing out that your hormones have a solid hold on you." The logic in Rise's words was undeniable as she shrunk into the sofa, ashamed of not being able to keep herself in check.
"I can't wait until this is over..." The detective mumbled.
Rise patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry; we're all looking forward to it."
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