Chapter One: Retsuko's Secret
Retsuko slowly opened her eyes with a slightly annoyed look at the clock that showed six-thirty.
"Come on, it's been less than an hour." The red-panda muttered while clenching her legs tight. Despite this, she couldn't escape the terrible sensation of needing to use the bathroom again. Taking a deep breath, Retsuko tried very carefully to get up only to feel an arm still around her.
"Hmm, need to pee again?" Haida almost chuckled. Retsuko sweatdropped slightly while turning to him.
"I'm sorry I woke you again."
Haida came in closer and kissed Retsuko's cheek.
"Don't worry about it. It's Friday anyway, plenty of time to sleep tomorrow."
Retsuko got up and out of bed, walking through her and Haida's apartment. It wasn't particularly large, with only two bedrooms, a single bathroom, and a small kitchen. The spare bedroom acted as a makeshift storage room for their extra stuff, including Haida's guitar and Retsuko's home karaoke machine. Additionally, she saw a Haida's cross with a lamb nailed to it.
Finally, she reached the bathroom and relieved herself for the third time that morning. Retsuko sighed as she got up and glanced at a small item resting on her bathroom countertop. The white stick she'd nervously used several weeks ago and still checked every morning despite having gotten the answer so many times. Even so, Retsuko picked it up and stared at the blue plus sign with a frightened look.
"...After I count to ten, and then I'll be a calm mother to be." She said to herself while also rubbing a wedding ring on her right hand. Retsuko turned twenty-eight a month prior, three years since she decided to give Haida a chance, and two years since they were married. That night on her birthday, Restuko nervously checked on her lack of a particular bodily cycle and got her answer.
Twenty minutes later, she sat at the foldable table her and Haida used as a dining table. Haida set down some coffee, orange juice, and tamago in front of Retsuko, who still looked far too tired.
"Thank you." She said quietly before sipping on the coffee.
"Don't worry about it. You shouldn't be stressing yourself now." Haida said, unaware of the subtle stress such kindness unwittingly brought to his wife. Still, Retsuko did her best not to get upset. He was only trying to help.
Haida sat down, touched his forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder, and then clasped his hands together for a moment before bowing his head and muttering something. Retsuko did the same, though mostly for Haida's sake.
Her hyena husband finished his prayer and then began eating with Retsuko. However, after a moment, he noticed that she ate her tamago slowly and uncomfortably.
"Retsuko, I didn't mess it up, did I?" He asked while nervously sweatdropping. Retsuko went pale and did her best not to appear disgusted.
"It's delicious."
"...I'm sorry." Haida said as his head lowered.
"It's fine, Haida! I think I'm just suffering from more food aversion." Retsuko sighed.
"I can make you something else! We still have time before work!"
"It's ok."
"Please, you need to keep your strength up!"
Retsuko sighed again with a fearful look. So far, no one other than Haida knew she was pregnant, and she wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. Even though they were married, Retsuko dreaded the gossip at work from Fenneko, Kabae, and Tsunoda. Not to mention her mother's inevitable intervention.
"Maybe I should eat less, I can put off the weight gain."
"I don't think that's good for the baby, Retsuko."
"..." Retsuko shook in frustration, mostly because Haida was right.
After finishing breakfast, the two got dressed and stared at their apartment door. Retsuko felt Haida's hand grasp hers in support while he gave her a warm smile.
"It's going to be ok. I promise."
"...Arigatōgozaimashita."
The two walked through Tokyo's streets and noticed the ever-increasing stress from the faces of each individual they passed. Many looking destitute or depressed as they lingered on street corners having nowhere else to go. The subway ride showed similar fear among those riding, though Retsuko mostly ignored them do to her current situation.
Eventually, they arrived at the workplace and were forced to separate due to separate changing rooms. Retsuko carefully watched Fenneko, Tsunoda, and Kabea, who changed with her and wondered if she should have just changed in the bathroom.
"I understand Kirito and his wife Asuna from our partner company spent most of their time in VR! It's a wonder how they six kids!" Kabea spoke in her usual rumor spreading tone to Tsunoda.
Despite how fast Retsuko tried to change, Fenneko looked over at her as she put her work shirt on.
"Have you quit Yoga?"
Retsuko froze in place and went pale. In fact, she'd gone to Yoga twice as often in desperate hope it would make her look not pregnant. Clearly the extra effort wasn't working.
"...Yes! I suppose I've been slacking off!" Retsuko cried while rubbing the back of her head, nervously. Despite this, Fenneko, Tsunoda, and Kabea all stared at her with a keep interest.
"Your marriage to Haia is still going well, I presume." Fenneko asked as she watched Retsuko closely.
"No, no, no, no!" Retsuko's expression turned to terror as she sweated profusely.
"I have work to get to!" Retsuko hastily finished putting her work-clothes on and ran out of the changing room. Fenneko, Tsunoda, and Kabea all narrowed their eyes.
"Her secret will be ours." They said in unison.
Retsuko raced to her workplace and frantically began working. Anai already at his station and entered in numbers before turning to Retsuko.
"Good morning."
"Good morning!" Retsuko nearly shouted. Her on-edge demeanor made Anai sweatdrop nervously.
"Are you alright?"
"Me? I'm fine! I'm perfectly fine! Just another day at work!?"
"Here comes the boss!" Someone shouted.
Everyone in the office hastened their work pace as Ton sat at his desk and began working the abacus like a machine.
"That's right! Don't forget you're expendable!" He huffed. Upon hearing this, Retsuko hastened the pace of her own work. Since the economic downturn, almost a dozen employees were laid off, and everyone feared suffering a similar fate.
Fenneko, however, showed no fear as she sat down beside Retsuko and stared at her with keen interest.
"So, Retsuko, how is married life?"
Retsuko trembled and attempted to stay on her work, but Fenneko stayed on her even as she worked.
"I imagine things are going well if you haven't divorced him."
"Are you finding yourself fulfilled?" Kabea asked as she rose up behind Retsuko.
"You must tell us!" Tsunoda proclaimed. All three women surrounded Retsuko, who now felt ready to collapse.
"...Please, just a little more time." She begged.
"Give her some space!" Haida growled at the women as he came and sat down beside his wife. Haida gave her a supportive look while forcing Kabea and Tsunoda back. Fenneko, however, kept her keen eyes on Retsuko.
"What could you be hiding?" She wondered while putting her paw to her mouth.
Restuko continued working until she felt a pressure in her lower body.
"Oh no." She tried to hold it, but the discomfort became too much, and she got up. Fenneko watched her carefully, despite Haida's desperate attempt to get between his wife and Fenneko, the hippo and goat followed her to the ladies room.
This continued as Retsuko went another three times in the same hour, despite not drinking anything. Kabea watched Retsuko's every step very carefully. From her frequent trips to the bathroom to her fatigue, Kabea's eyes narrowed as she looked at Haida and then Retsuko.
"That's it, I'm sure." Kabea and Tsunoda went into the ladies' room and carefully waited for Retsuko to return, which she did. At lunch, Retsuko ate with Haida. Retsuko finally relaxing slightly as Haida rubbed her feet.
"Arigatōgozaimashita." She almost moaned in relief while Haidia smiled. Haida's expression changed sharply, and Retsuko similarly jumped when she noticed Fenneko, Kabea, and Tsunoda all moving towards her slowly with a keen interest in their eyes.
"Retsuko, do you care to explain this!" Fennoko almost shouted as she held up a pregnancy test with a blue plus sign on it.
"Ehhh!"
Retsuko collapsed from her chair while Haida frantically ran over.
"Retsuko!"
The rest of the workday dragged on in the worst way imaginable. Everyone asked Retsujo about her condition. Haida sweatdropped the entire day and did his best just to keep going. At their shift's end, the two walked out of work together. Haida noticed the numb smile on his wive's face as she left the building.
"...Retsuko, I-"
"Karaoke." She muttered.
"...Right." Haida took Retsuko to the karaoke center and sat down in the private room as she entered a particular song number. The heavy-metal started, and Retsuko's expression changed to one of pure unrestrained rage.
"Nosey coworkers getting into my business! Don't they have anything better to do with their time! Frequent urination, stomach pain, and fatigue! All for a baby in nine months! You did this to me, Haida! All of this is your fault, you animal!" Haida took her raging words, knowing it eased some of the stress on his wive's physique. He continued to listen for several minutes before Retsuko struggled to catch her breath, after which he came forward and embraced her.
"It's going to be alright." He said in a warm tone. Retsuko felt tears in her eyes before she hugged Haida back.
"Arigatōgozaimashita."
The young-adults held hands as they walked up the stairs to their apartment together. Retsuko rested her head against Haida's shoulder with a more relaxed breath. Whatever happened, he'd be there beside her. Knowing that gave Retsuko comfort.
Haida opened their apartment door but dropped the keys when he and Retsuko saw who waited for them inside. Retsuko's mother stood before them with a stern expression, and her arms crossed.
"Mama?" Retsuko muttered with sweat trickling down her back.
"Just when were you planning on telling me?" Retsuko's mother asked as she held out the positive pregnancy test.
"Ahhhh!" Retsuko cried.
Author's note
Hey there, this is a bit of new territory for me, I've tended to avoid stories like this before, but this is one I wanted to give a try
I hope I captured the characters and essence of the show, with a few additions of my own,
Please let me know what you guys think, positives, negatives, room for improvement.
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)