My second fanfiction for Grave of the Fireflies. I got the idea for his at the same time I was working on "When I Remember This Life," but needed to get that one published first.

Seita is fourteen, and Setskuo is four years old, so he was ten when Setsuko was born. I tried to work with it and pinpoint how old he was when his mother was pregnant. I almost forgot they had last names until I remembered last night. I thought they didn't have last names in the movie.

Here's to my second fanfic for Grave of the Fireflies. ^_^


I was almost ten when my Mom told me she was expecting another baby. I was excited about being a big brother. I hugged my Mom and told her I couldn't wait to meet my new little brother or sister.

Dad was also excited as I was. He also wanted to know if he would have a son or a daughter. All I could think about was meeting my new sibling and helping Mom take care of him or her. I counted every moment of every day till the baby would be born.

"What should we name the baby?" Mom asked me.

I had a few ideas.

"Setsuko if it's a girl," I said. "If it's a boy Isamu."

"Those sound like wonderful names!" Mom smiled.

I couldn't remember a time when I was so excited about anything. I counted the days, then turned to months. I watched Mom's stomach grow bigger. I would gently stroke Mom's belly, and talked to the baby. Dad would also sit down and enjoy the moment in silence.

My tenth birthday was celebrated in the late spring. We had a celebration at the house. A small cake and my parents were there. But I couldn't wait until the day the baby was born. I was more excited about that than anything. I couldn't wait to see him or her.

I helped Mom buy baby toys and baby clothes. The baby clothes were white since we weren't sure if it was going to be a boy or a girl. Dad had the crib installed in the baby's room and then the rest of the baby's nursery was decorated. It was filled with all its new toys and I was just getting more and more ready to meet the new baby.

"Mom, when is the baby coming?"

"Soon, honey, soon." Mom had said.

"I can't wait until the baby's born," I said. "I can't wait to meet him or her."

"Have you thought of any more names for the baby?"

"I still want to name it Setsuko if it's a girl!"

"You really do love that name, don't you? " said Mom. "Do you have any other ideas?"

"I still want it to be Setsuko."

"Or what about Hana? That's a pretty name."

"Yeah, but I want to use that name when I'm grown up and have a daughter of my own."

Mom chuckled. "That's a sweet sentiment."

I smiled.

"What about boy names?," she asked. "Have you thought of any more?"

I furrowed my brow in thought.

"Well, I thought about Hiroshi," I said, "and I thought about Daisuke."

"I like those," said Mom. "Any more?"

"Haru." I counted on my fingers. "Tadashi. Kiyoshi."

Mom smiled as I counted the names. I couldn't help but feel like she could read me like a map.

"They all sound wonderful." Her smile brightened the garden where we sat.

I laid my head on her lap and stroked her belly. I felt the baby kick against Mom's belly. I smiled, and Mom smiled with me.

A few more weeks passed waiting and preparing. I still had more ideas on names, most if them being boy names. And then came the day. The day we were all waiting for. Mom woke up complaining about pains. I ran into her and Dad's room to see him helping her stand. I asked what was wrong and Dad said Mom was about to have the baby. It was happening. My baby brother or sister was about to be born.

Dad called a taxi to take us all to the hospital. When we arrived, a few nurses ushered her in and put her on a gurney. I watched them wheel her inside, and I was scared. I wondered if she or the baby were going to be okay. I looked up at Dad and he told me not to worry, that everything was going to be fine. He said he felt the same way when I was born: worried, scared, and whether or not he was ready to be a father. I didn't know if I was ready to be a big brother. Now that the day actually came I wasn't sure at all.

I joined Dad into the hospital, waiting outside the maternity ward. There were a few more families there. There was another boy my age waiting with his father and older sister, who must've been about fourteen at the time. The boy and his sister sat in the chairs while their father paced around the waiting area. I don't know how much time passed, I didn't even notice the boy asking me a question.

"What's your mom going to have?"

I looked up, blinking.

"I," I said, "I don't know. I'm hoping for a little sister."

The sister spoke up.

"Our mom is going to have twins," she said.

"Really?" I was dumbfounded as well as impressed.

"She thinks so," she said, "she feels heavier and she feels more than two feet kicking her stomach."

"Wow."

The boy spoke.

"Well, I'm hoping they're both boys," he said, "I don't wanna be the only boy in the family."

His sister laughed.

"Well, you will be if they turn out to be girls," said the sister. He frowned, which got his sister to laugh even harder. I even laughed with her.

Then the doctor came from the maternity ward. He looked at my father. I stood up when he did.

"Mr. Yokokawa?," he said.

"Yes?," retorted Dad. " How is my wife?,"

"Your wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl," said the doctor, lowering his mask. "Both made it through just fine."

A girl? I had a sister! I looked over at the other boy and his sister. They smiled at me.

"Thank you, doctor," said Dad. "May I see her?"

"Of course, sir," said the doctor, "come right this way."

"Seita, come on," instructed Dad, looking over his shoulder.

"Coming."

I said goodbye to the boy and his sister. They waved goodbye, and I turned and followed Dad into the delivery room. The doctor led us down the hall, passing four doors until we reached the fifth door.

"She's in here," he said, opening the door for us.

I looked in and I saw Mom in the hospital bed holding a squirming bundle of blankets in her arms. There was a nurse standing beside Mom, smiling at the bundle. The nurse looked at me and Dad.

"Congratulations, Mr. Yokokawa," she said, smiling. She looked at me and added, "Look who's a big brother now."

I looked from her to Mom to the bundle in her arms.

Dad stood over Mom, standing by her left side.

"Seita, come see your little sister," said Mom.

The nurse stepped away politely, keeping her smile.

"I'll just leave you four in private," she said.

As soon as she was gone I approached my Mom, standing by her side. I took a peek at the baby. She was so small and so pink. She had a very little black hair. She let out a coo, then opened her eyes. She gawked at Mom, then at me. Her eyes were dark brown. Her eyes stared at mine and I could remember the last time I smiled so wide and so big.

"Hi, there," I said.

"Shall we name her now?," asked Mom, looking at me.

"Yeah," I said. I looked at my sister. "Setsuko."

Mom and Dad smiled.

"It's perfect," said Dad.

"Of course it is," said Mom. "Our beautiful little Setsuko."

Setsuko gurgled and she let out some spittle. All I could do was laugh and smile.

From that day in my life was complete. We finally had what we wanted. A family.


Wasn't that adorable? :) I liked the meeting between Seita and Setsuko. I'm surprised no one's tried this.