Unicorn waffles came six to a box and cost about three hundred yen more than the store brand.

The store brand came twelve to a box and cost three hundred yen less than the unicorn kind. Mermaid waffles cost just as much as unicorn waffles. Dinosaur waffles cost five hundred yen more than the sore brand and didn't fit in the toaster. Pizza waffles cost two hundred yen less than the store brand they were on clearance, and they were on clearance for good reason. They tasted as good as the name implied. Blueberry frozen waffles, the name brand kind, cost one hundred yen more than the store brand but they were sold in packs of ten. So were Frozen brand Frozen waffles…but they cost six hundred yen more than the store brand because of the branded characters.

That was all that Masami had the mental space to deal with right now. The price of waffles in Seasoning City.

"Mom, Juro's taking all the syrup!" shouted Madoka as she practically leapt across the table to snatch the syrup from Juro's hands…Juro's probably sticky hands. Masami sighed and put another two waffles in the toaster. These would be for her, plain store brand, that was all that the baby liked. The morning sickness was supposed to end in the first trimester….for her the second…but she was in the third trimester. She would have thought that this kid would have given her a break by now but, no, she had no such luck.

Plain waffles it was for her.

"I am not! We have tons of syrup! You just don't want me to have a turn!" shouted Juro as he took the syrup back. Masami sighed…time to intervene. August thirty first could not come fast enough. That was when the kids went back to school. She could at least have some peace during the day…maybe even some quiet too while she was at it. Summer…was not good to the kids. It was too damn hot outside to do anything or go anywhere….well too hot for her. She was too big to take the kids to the pool, she looked like shit in a bathing suit, and the park was out of the question. Not in this heat. Not while she was this pregnant.

She wished that she had a bigger yard.

"You just had a turn with the syrup! Yesterday! Now it's my turn!" shouted Madoka. Being cooped up like this was bad for her…for the both of them. Shigeko and Sho…they had fought too….but not this badly. They'd had space to move around. There had been a yard with practically a whole playground in addition to the thousands of unused rooms in the house…the old house. This house was barely big enough for the…for the family she had now.

It was the best that she could so.

The toaster dinged. Her waffles popped up. The kids were still going on about the syrup. She reached up to grab a plate…the baby didn't like that. This had to be a boy, with all the kicking, Sho had been this active…but then again so had Madoka. Juro…well he'd worried people. The doctor used to have to shake her stomach to get him moving. He was too much like Eiji. Madoka…she had no idea who Madoka was like…maybe Sho. She had always assumed that Sho was like Touichirou, or how he'd been when he'd been a kid, but no…apparently Sho was like someone on her side of the family. Maybe dad. He'd always had something going on, dad, some kind of activity or project….or just making her run laps around the yard….or maybe even one of his 'rifle' drills where were really just her twirling around a length of wood he'd fashioned. Dad…he'd been full of energy. He would have loved Sho….and he would have loved Madoka too….and Juro, soft and sweet as he was, and even Shigeko…she was just as soft and sweet as Juro….

"Mom! Juro hit me!" shouted Madoka

"Did not! I hit the air! Your head was just close to my hand!" said Juro

"Well…you were practicing for when you do hit me! He's going to try and fight me, mom, and then I'm going to have to use my karate and break him in half!" said Madoka

"Mom! Madoka's going to break me in half with karate!" shouted Juro

"Mom, Juro's being a tattletale!" shouted Madoka

"Mom-!" said Juro

"Enough. Both of you. Madoka, Juro, share the syrup or I'm going to take it away and then nobody will have any syrup for their waffles." Said Masami as she turned around and made her way to the table. Madoka was clutching the syrup to her chest…and getting syrup all down the front of her shirt. Her favorite shirt. Masami was going to have to wash that later on or shed put up such a fuss in the morning. She had to do a load of the kids' clothes at some point, a load of her clothes since this was her last pair of pajamas, and a load of Eiji's things too when he came home from work. He only had so many work clothes and he wasn't allowed to slip…not even once. Last time he'd tried to get away with dressing down his job had sent him home.

She was so glad she didn't have to deal with that anymore.

No, all she had to deal with was the two kids at this table and the baby inside of her training for a kickboxing tournament. The baby was kicking….and now the kids were kicking too. They were kicking each other under the table like she didn't notice. Those two….it wasn't necessary to kick up such a fuss over syrup. She couldn't remember Sho and Shigeko arguing like this over syrup…well they had argued. Over TV time, screen time, toys….she wondered if they still fought…no. They would have been too big for that now. Eleven and twelve…almost teenagers. Teenagers wouldn't have fought….not over syrup….

The table jumped.

Masami reached over and caught Madoka's glass before it toppled over. The last thing Masami wanted to do right now was clean up spilled milk. Madoka would have taken it better than Shigeko, of course, but that would not have absolved Masami of the fact that if that milk spilled she would have to be the one to clean it up. She couldn't just hit it with some kitchen cleaner and a paper towel, no, she would have to clean the entire table and flor properly since she hadn't done that in a while. She knew that she had been neglecting the house…but in her defense she was growing another human being inside of herself.

That was what she told Eiji, anyway.

She had been too tired to do….a lot…because she was seven months pregnant at the age of forty three. Geriatric pregnancy, they called it, like she was that sixty year old woman…or however old she was….that had been on TV a few years back. She was only forty three, nowhere near geriatric, but even without the most recent…developments…she would have felt rundown. Sho…he had been a walk in the park compared to this….since she had been thirty one when she'd had him. Madoka and Juro, even, had been easy than this…maybe women her age weren't meant to have children. Maybe she should have been more careful….nothing that she could do about it now. Nothing that she could do but take it day by day.

Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Second by second.

"Mom…my foot hurts." Said Madoka. She turned to the side and put her foot on Masami's lap. Juro had gone quiet…which made sense considering how much blood was on Madoka's sock. The whole toe…these were her special socks, the unicorn socks with the individual toes, and now…well it would have been easier to throw them away…but those socks had cost seven hundred yen. Madoka had practically had a mental breakdown begging for them at the store….why was name brand clothing so expensive? Togs for Tots had been great…but thanks to a little messy haired…she didn't even want to think it…that was out….

That damn kid.

Masami peeled off Madoka's sock. Juro squeaked and covered his eyes. Masami didn't blame him…this was a lot of blood. A lot that she would have to clean up. Cold water…a cold water cycle with the good detergent…the stuff she used on Eiji's work clothes. She would have to soak them first…that would take time…maybe soak them all night with some baking soda and then check on them in the morning? That…that would work. She missed it, almost, when she had just been able to throw the kid's clothes out when they got too dirty or ruined in some other way…even the nice clothes. Name brands…designer stuff…even some bespoke clothes….

That was then. This was now.

"Your fine, it looks like you just nicked your toe on the edge of the table." Said Masami. There was nothing wrong with Madoka's foot…but that was to be expected. She never stayed hurt for long. Masami was long past the point of worrying about her hurting herself…but she was not past the point of worrying that people were going to notice. She put the bloody sock back on Madoka. No need for her to inspect her foot…and no need for Juro to start asking questions either. She was going to treat this like a nonevent, she had no other choice, not unless she wanted to do some explaining…which she did not. She couldn't see any good that would have come of that.

No, no good would have come from that at all.

"It's Juro's fault….you hear that? This was your fault and….and you're lucky that mom's here or I'd use my karate on you-" said Madoka

"No using karate on your brother. Don't you remember what sensei said? Karate is only for self-defense, no beating up your little brother." Said Masami

"Fine….I'll use my esper powers on him then and-" said Madoka

"Eat your dinner, the both of you, before it gets cold." Said Masami. No. She was not going to entertain this discussion. If she entertained this discussion then it would become something more than what it was….and what it was…well it was just a game. That was it. She had just….well Madoka had seen some older boys playing a game and she wanted to play too. That was it…as far as Eiji knew that was it. As far as the kids knew that was it. Espers were not real….as far as they knew…..

As far as they would ever know.

"Mom, why can't I have powers? I need them to or Madoka's going to get me!" said Juro

"Nobody is getting anyone, alright? Now stop it…no playing at the table. You both wanted waffles for dinner now eat them because I am not making anything else. This is not a restaurant or a playground." Said Masami

"But it's not a game, either. Ritsu said that-" said Madoka

"Honey, that boy is just…really into playing pretend…and he shouldn't be playing with you anyway. Remember, we talked about this? The only boys who should be talking to you are boys your own age. That boy looks like he's at least in middle school-" said Masami

"He's in elementary school, he's a sixth year. Well he's going to be a sixth year this year." Said Madoka. Masami bit her tongue, she literally bit her tongue, she had no choice. She had to before she said something that she regretted. That kid…she was this close to digging up one of those missing person flies and telling his parents exactly what he got up to. She took her kids to the park. There he was. She took them to the mall. There he was. She took them to Costco. There he was. Hell! He'd even popped up, him and the blond kid, when she'd decided to treat herself at Lush! That annoying little son of a…she'd had enough of that kid…

But there was nothing that she could do.

She had to ignore him. What was she supposed to do? Call his parents and tell them that he'd convinced her daughter that she was an esper? She couldn't call them and tell them that, that would open up too many questions, so…so she was lost. He was too young for her to use the 'he's being creepy' excuse...still a few too many years away from that…and it wasn't like she had any real leg to stand on. She always ran into the kid in public….she couldn't just tell him off. He had as much of a right to be there as she did…and anyway, if she put up a fuss then it would just end up drawing attention to her…and the last thing that she needed was undue attention…

The last thing that her family needed was undue attention.

"Madoka and Ritsu sitting in a tree-" sang Juro

"Shut up or I'll destroy you!" screamed Madoka. She tried to stand up but Masami held her down. Now both of the kids were shouting at one another. She couldn't even pick out what they were saying, words were just flying across the room, and there was no sign that it was going to stop. She held Madoka in place, she hadn't been kidding about using her karate skills against her little brother. There was nothing that Masami could do but let this burn…it was like a tire fire, all you could do was let it burn….just sit there and let it burn its self out….

It burned quickly.

"Whoa, whoa, come on everyone, let's bring it down a dull roar." Said Eiji. Masami practically jumped up from her chair. Eiji…well that was a surprise…she looked at the clock on the wall. The cat's tail swished back and forth…the eyes moved….but that wasn't enough to distract her from the numbers it held in it's paws. Yes…it was more than past the normal time when Eiji came home from work…of course. It was dinner time. Her husband came home from work for dinner. Hell, he came home from work end of discussion. She didn't know why she was still surprised when he came home…they had been together for nearly six years now and they had two going on three kids…

Eiji came home after work. Even if he had to stay late because his alcoholic of a boss wanted to get drinks...well he always came home.

"Daddy!" shouted Juro as he stood up in his chair. Eiji reached down and hugged him. Madoka just crossed her arms and glared. That got her a pat on the head. Touichirou….he never would have even greeted the children when he came home…let alone touched them….or at least not his son.

"Hirai One, Hirai Two, and Hirai Three!" said Eiji. He reached down rubbed her stomach. Untitled Hirai Family Project must have been able to hear and recognize his voice, that was the only explanation for the flurry of kicks to her internal organs. How was there even enough room for all of this? Still…she was grateful. She used to have to practically get down on her hands and knees and beg Touichirou to interact with Sho back when he'd still been inside of her. Touichirou had given her some excuse about not wanting to hurt the baby…really he couldn't be bothered…

She was damn lucky to have Eiji. Damn lucky.

"Eiji…I didn't hear you come in." said Masami. She smoothed down her hair. She hadn't washed it in a while, it was somehow both greasy and frizzy at the same time. She should have washed it today…and she should have gotten dressed...or at least put some makeup on.

"I'm amazed that you can still hear anything with the way these two are screaming." Said Eiji as he leaned down and kissed her. The kids expressed their disgust, as kids their age tended to do, but she let it slide. Sure they were disgusted now but this could only be good for them, seeing that their parents loved each other. Shigeko and Sho…she wondered if they had even known that she and Touichirou had been married. They had never been affectionate, even in private. Touichirou hated it. He hated anything that had to do with emotion. He never even told her that he loved her…he just….pretended that he cared for her…

She gave Eiji's hand a squeeze.

"They're just…over excited. Here, sit, sit. I'll make you something." Said Masami as she got up. She pressed a hand to her lower back…which was then met by a much larger hand. Eiji rubbed her back right where it hurt…he remembered. Touichirou, when she'd been having back pain from being pregnant with Sho, her just offered to call Fukuda to fix her up….she shook her head. She was not…not going to think of what she had done to her last husband while her current husband was rubbing her back.

That was never going to happen again.

Well she didn't know any men, really, well enough to develop feelings for…and she had no reason to develop feelings for another anyway. Eiji was more than enough for her. He loved her. He held her when she needed it, made her laugh when she was feeling low, and was just…there. He may not have been the sharpest pencil in the box, she still couldn't send him to the store even if she gave him a list with brands and quantities…and a map of the Costco with all the locations marked…and also he tended to do things like toss a couple towels in with a load of bedding….and he also let the kids watch the wolf princess movie. Just because something was animated that didn't mean that it was for kids. Eiji…he tried. He tried for the kids and he tried for her…and she didn't need…she lacked for nothing in this relationship. Not love, on companionship, and certainly not sex.

No…Eiji was not Touichirou…and she was never going to treat him like Touichirou.

"But you just said that its not a restaurant. How come dad gets to pick his dinner?" asked Juro

"Because your father's had a long day at work. Now eat your waffles. Eiji, what do you want…anything but eggs. The smell of eggs…it still gets to me." Said Masami

"Eggs, onions, garlic, and fish. I remember." Said Eiji

"And tofuyo, dad, don't forget tofuyo." Said Madoka

"Well, yes, of course I didn't forget…but who likes the smell of tofuyo?" asked Eiji

"I do…with cheese…and also natto…natto smells good. I want natto." Said Juro

"We're out, baby, just eat your waffles. What about you, Eiji, any requests? For things we actually have." Said Masami. She needed to go to store at some point. It was just…so much. Getting herself dressed and presentable, getting the kids dressed and presentable, getting them in the car, finding parking, corralling the kids through Costco…and then there was always the chance of running into the little messy haired boy and his blond shadow….

Maybe she and Eiji could head out this weekend…make it a family thing….at least she'd have an extra pair of hands.

"Put some of those tie dye waffles in for me, would you? " asked Eiji

"We're out of those. We have plenty of unicorn-" said Masami

"Dad can have my mermaid waffles but that's it!" said Madoka

"Madoka! Don't be like that." Said Masami with a sigh. Madoka…sometimes she was like ten kids…ten wild kids…but at least she was off the esper thing for now.

"No, it's fine, unicorn waffles it is. God, I love this. Breakfast for dinner, now this is living. I bet that nobody else on this block knows how to have fun like we do. Come on, up high Hirai's." said Eiji. He high fived all the kids, including her stomach. She knew what he was doing. He was trying. He was trying to make the best of a bad situation. She knew that she was being a piss poor mother. She knew that she needed to make actual food for her family….take care of them….

She'd work on that later.

Right now she was going to make waffles…so that was what she did. She took two waffles out of the deep freezer and put them in the toaster. It had been such a pain moving this thing but…well it was a necessity. No more grocery delivery every single day…and no more Fukuda coming over with 'extra' food. She had to feed he family herself on a budget…she needed to get used to living like this. She had been living like this for almost as long as she'd been living with Touichirou…that was what they had been doing, living together. She had essentially been his kept woman. Not his wife…just…a woman who lived in his house, took care of his kids, and occasionally slept with him. She…that was not her life and…this was just the hormones, that was all. She was just getting overly emotional and…

Her pocket vibrated.

She dug into her pajama pants and fished out her phone. If they were pushing back the start of the next school year again….she didn't care if Juro's teacher had Lyme disease, the economy was bad. Certainly there was an out of work kindergarten teacher they could hire or a student or even just a mom. It was kindergarten, it wasn't like they were learning physics and calculus. She muttered under her breath as she clicked her phone on…

Oh.

An email…from Fukuda…on her other email account. She didn't think. She just swiped the alert away. New phone…she had to change the settings. She didn't even know why it was sending her alerts…it wasn't like she checked that account that often…or ever. She just…she knew that…that Fukuda was doing a good job. She knew him. He was taking care of the kids like he'd promised and…and he'd made a few promises….but she couldn't hold up her end…of it all…

Sho was better off with Fukuda.

She had a family now and…and it wouldn't have been good for anyone if Sho…if Fukuda just showed up on her doorstep with Sho. Eiji didn't know anything. He didn't know about Sho or Shigeko….or Fukuda. No, as far as he knew Touichirou had been cruel to her and that was why she had run away…and that was why he was raising another man's daughter. If Fukuda showed up here then…then she'd have to tell him that she left two kids behind…with their father…an esper and a something of a yakuza boss…and apparently he had a cult too….no. There was no point in…in bringing up any of that. Sho…he was better off with someone who could take care of him…and Shigeko was better off with her father. Touichirou had always been her favorite parent and she had never been shy about expressing that. The kids…they never would have been happy here.

She was serving waffles for dinner.

That was the best she could do. Novelty waffles for dinner. Novelty waffles that she could barely afford. She had been doing the mental math on boxes of fancy vs store brand waffles…the kids never would have been happy here. She had seen snippets of their lives, back when she and Fukuda had been in contact, and Touichirou….was keeping them in the manner that they had become accustomed to…they never would have been happy here….and that was what mattered. Their happiness. This was…what was best for them…and her kids, too. Madoka and Juro were not taking this whole new sibling thing especially well, especially as she got closer to her due date, and adding two more kids….two kids who were nearly teenagers…

That wouldn't have been goof for anyone.

"Madoka, Juro, you'd better let your dad have some of that syrup." Said Masami as the waffles popped out of the toaster…somehow overdone even though she hadn't touched the damn thing. They needed a new one. That would run them down twenty thousand yen for a nice one…or ten thousand for a cheap one from Don Quijote…or even cheaper if she went to the secondhand store….but that couldn't have been sanitary. There was no real way to deep clean a toaster…so Don Quijote it was…or maybe she could just splurge and get one from Costco…it was hard enough taking the kids to one store let alone two…but at least Eiji would be there to help. He'd help with the kids…he always did….he was a good husband like that.

He didn't even complain that all they had for dinner was waffles…he was a keeper if there ever was one…or at least he was a better husband than Touichirou had been and Fukuda…could have been.