Forward: Loose continuation of my third Itazura fanfic, "Operation: Official First Date" but characters and main plot driver is from the Live Action. One-shot. College senior Yuuki plans to propose to Konomi, but an unexpected guest shows up at the house with a suitcase in toll, claiming to be his fiancée. Major "Irie family boat" rocking ensured! Characters: Yuuki, Konomi, Nami, Kotoko, Naoki
Disclaimer: I do not own Itazura na Kiss or any of its characters. This was written for entertainment purposes only. Italicized font is for character's thought process (outside character dialogue) and for occasional emphasis (in character dialogue). Lines with ** mark means there are words or phrases explained in the footnotes.
For first time readers of my fanfics: I followed the relationship timeline for Yuuki and Knonmi's relationship based on my previous fanfics "Crushes";"From Crushes to First Love"; and "Operation: Official First Date" (but you don't necessarily need to read the previously mentioned fanfics to understand what is going on here) Main plot + Kotoko and Naoki's relationship follows the live action.
Soon to be Business Major/CS Minor college graduate, Irie Yuuki, rubbed his temples, addressing the agonized female in front of him with gritted teeth.**
"Explain."
"It's a long story, Yuuki-kun. I must start from around 8 years ago, when Irie-kun first went to Kobe… Oh, look at the time; weren't you going to meet Konomi-chan? You'll be late if you don't get going…" the 32 year old nurse tried to reason with the darkened-faced lad before her, not quite meeting his eyes.
"I already postponed our plans, so we have all the time in the world. Don't even think about leaving this room before you tell me exactly why some girl I don't know is currently sitting in our living room downstairs, with packed bags and gifts from Kobe, which by-the-way, she claims is dowry! Obviously she doesn't intend to marry Nii-san, as I am the only eligible bachelor in this entire household!"**
"Maa….maa, calm down. It's not that big a deal. You could just go down and talk to Nami-chan, tell her you are flattered, but already have someone you plan to marry." **
"Oh so Nii-san going on an Omiai for the sake of Pandai was a dai-jiken, but you practically forcing me into a marriage alliance with some random kid you encountered and had pity on 8 years ago is not a big deal?!" ** Yuuki's anger flared at Kotoko's nonchalant response, causing her to shriek and shrink back against the wall.
"Ah! I forgot to tell Irie-kun, we are running out of shampoo…where did I put my phone?" The scared young mother attempted to turn and slip away from the raging college boy, but he was quick to anticipate her every move and forcefully trapped her with one arm slammed against the wall, the other hand held under her chin, squeezing her cheeks.
"Where do you think you are going after creating this mess we are in? YOU go down and fix this NOW! If you dare, try worming your way out of responsibility…"
"Eeek, Yuuki-kun! I am your sister-in-law, this is not appropriate! IRIE-KUUUN~"
"Kotoko, why is Shina Nami-chan sitting on our couch, drinking tea like she's lived here for forever?" The renowned doctor in his early thirties, Irie Naoki, who just arrived home from a long shift, opened his younger brother's bedroom door to find his wife in a headlock, attempting to swat said brother away. A brother red with fury, might he add.
"Irie-kun~ Yuuki is bullying me." A struggling Kotoko wails at the sight of her husband, hoping to gain a vouch for her largely irresponsible but well-intended past actions.
"Based on the situation downstairs, I'd say you probably deserved it. Seriously, when you made that pact with Nami-chan, didn't you think it would come back to bite you in the butt? I stand by my decision years ago of being a neutral party. Kotoko's all yours Yuuki. Ah, but just be careful, she bites." With an unconcerned expression, Naoki leaves the room slightly shaking his head, muttering "shouganai-na" under his breath, and heads downstairs to strike up casual conversation with his former patient: leaving a despaired Kotoko to her own device against Yuuki, now inflicting harsh punishment upon her in the form of tickling. **
"So Nami-chan, you are in college now?"
"Yes, I am attending Todai as a second year nursing student with a minor in psychology. I was going to visit you and Kotoko-san sooner, Irie-sensee, but like I mentioned in my last letter, I got busy with school and volunteer work at the hospital." **
"Todai? Have you seen Yuuki around campus then?"
"Iie, I just transferred from Kobe City College of Nursing last semester; and from what I've heard, our department buildings are on opposite sides of campus. Also, Irie-sempai is a fourth year, so there are not many opportunities for us to meet, unless we join the same circle." **
"Glad you are doing well. But I take it you came today for reasons other than catching up with your former physician?" Naoki joked, motioning to the large suitcase besides the sofa and the various bags on the coffee table, in spite of already knowing precisely why Nami is at their home.
"Ah, these are omiage from Kobe, my mom insisted I bring some, since I will be troubling you and your family for the next month, until the unforeseen contract situation for my apartment clears up."
"Yes, your mother did contact me before to explain. Let me show you to the guest room so you can unpack."
"EH? EH? Nami-chan, you're not here to marry Yuuki-kun?! Irie-kun, why didn't you tell me she was going to stay here?" An exhausted but alarmed Kotoko, followed by a still-irritated Yuuki, came down only to hear the last bit of Naoki and Nami's conversation. At this new information, Yuuki glared even more at his elder sister by marriage with a "just you wait till this is over" expression, which she returned with a sheepish grin, shoulder shrug, and brief flicker of relief in eyes.
"Kotoko-san, I see you haven't changed one bit in the last 8 years. Of course not! What normal person would take a promise of this nature, made to a twelve year old with heart disease, seriously? Besides, no sane college student of this day and age would marry someone they've never met or only heard about through the grapevine." The snarky twenty year old girl replied, with an amused smile and a "duh, ain't that obvious" brow raise.
"I did tell you, last week at dinner with our parents. I guess you were too busy gushing over the dessert to retain the information." Naoki quickly clarified with a knowing look for his forgetful wife.
"Bu-bu-but you gave me that threatening letter! And you swore you will marry Yuuki when you turn 16, before going into your operation. That seems like a serious thing to say in a life or death situation!" Kotoko accused the new arrival, gaping like a fish.
"Oi! It's almost like you want her to marry me. What about Konomi, huh? You shouldn't play both sides of the field, you fraudulent woman!" Yuuki snapped at his bewildered sister-in-law and her ill-conceived logic – more like, lack of logic, he'd like to rephrase. **
"How else would Irie-sensee and I get back at you for making promises you couldn't keep, Kotoko-san? I can't believe you still fell for it after so many years. You just made my day!" exclaimed the now "healthy-as-a-bull" girl in between boughs of laughter, while plopping down on the plush seat, clutching her stomach.
Kotoko didn't have time to react or recover from the shock of being played by the Yuuki-clone-like lady from Kobe, for the doorbell rang, marking the arrival of another person soon to be overwhelmed by this startling situation at the Irie residence.
"Yuuki-kun, is everything ok? Your call got cut off-
Konomi's eyes widened in shock as a beautiful female unbeknownst to her, hooked an arm around her boyfriend's.
"Hi, you must be Konomi-san, nice to meet you! I'm Shina Nami, the new resident of Irie's home." With a megawatt smile, the prankster extended her hand out towards the other poor girl, without loosening her hold on Yuuki, who's dumbly frozen from shock of what is transpiring – it was a onetime thing, he swears (sometime time in the near future, when asked about this day by his ever-curious 6 year old niece, Irie Kotomi).
"What? Yuuki-kun? Sorry, I must have interrupted something important. I'll call you later." With teary-eyes, the fourth year Tonan-U fashion major ran out of the house as quickly as she came. Yuuki immediately brushed off the chuckling esteemed guest and bolted after his baffled girlfriend of four years, shouting:
"That was not funny, Nami-san! If this situation becomes unrecoverable, it's all your fault baka-Kotoko!"
"Nami-chan, why did you do that?" Kotoko asked, not willing to believe that the sweet little girl from years ago grew up to be a scheming home-wrecker.
"He needed a little push. I just gave him that."
"Huh?"
"I think she meant, she rocked the boat so Yuuki would have a unique occasion to give Konomi an unforgettable proposal." The quick-witted Naoki explained to his clueless spouse while Nami nodded in agreement.
"Ehhhh. EH?! Yuuki-kun was planning to propose?"
"I'm surprised you didn't see the ring box bulging up from his right pant pocket. I noticed the moment I arrived. And you live here too, so you probably had many opportunities to find out, not to mention you were with him in his room for a good hour before this. I am actually kind of impressed by the severity of your clue-missing ability. Say, will you be a test subject for my thesis on the wonders of the human brain?" The impish university sophomore asked Kotoko in all seriousness.
"I refuse. Ah! I need to get Yuuki-kun's proposal on camera! Okaa-san will be so delighted!" Kotoko declined Nami's condescending offer by mustering her best Naoki impression (of when he would coolly turn people down in a heartbeat), then swiftly returning to her boisterous self, she rummaged around the house for her mother-in-law's extensive high-definition camera and recording device collection. When she finally did locate the necessary items for producing a key entry in the Yuuki and Konomi relationship vlog/diary; she fumbled out of the house, with a grumbling Irie Naoki reluctantly on her tail.
"The two of them are long gone already, how on earth are you going to find them in time?" Naoki asked the nosy woman, who was currently at a lost as to head right or left, her conflicted thought process well-written across her scrunched up face.
"That's what you are here for, Irie-kun! Now which way should we go?" Kotoko looked at her brilliant husband expectantly.
"Alright, back home." He turned to enter the front gate of their house, which they were still standing in front of.
"Ok! Right it is! Let's go!" She caught him by the arm and marched onward, ignoring his protests.
"Ttaku, you only hear what you want to hear." He muttered, still walking in pace with her.**
"Hm? What was that?" She whipped around to ask him as cars whizzed by.
"Nevermi-
"There! You really are a genius Irie-kun!" Kotoko beamed when she spotted a familiar young couple seated inside a café across the street, behind Naoki. She quickly got settled on a conspicuous bench by the sidewalk, perfect to use as a vantage point for her Blu-ray camera, narrating each detail of the scene she sees through the lens.
"They are talking, oooh he's wiping the corners of her mouth! I don't see the ring, which means I made it in time to capture the proposal! Wait Yuuki is taking something out of his coat pocket! It's the rin- a pen. He's signing the bill. No, why are they leaving? Hurry, Irie-kun! We have to hide before they see us when they come out of the ca-
Kotoko's eyes widened for a split second before fluttering close, as she melts into the sudden kiss Naoki planted on her lips.
"Behind PDA is usually the best impromptu hiding spot. Do not try it with anyone else though." ** He whispered as he pulled away, glancing across the street to locate his younger brother and his female companion. "They are headed towards the park." He informed his still dazed wife, who snapped out of her reverie at his voice and sprung up quickly, only to be pulled back down for a second quick peck.
"Baka, Yuuki is bound to notice if we follow so soon." He affectionately flicked Kotoko's forehead, inducing an adorable "oh". For the next three minutes, they sat there in comfortable silence: Naoki observing his surroundings with an arm around his petite wife; Kotoko admiring her hubby's handsome physique with eyes of pure adoration.
The sneaky pair arrived at the nearby park just in time to witness (and record on Kotoko's part) the golden moment.
"Konomi, are we clear now? I literally just met Nami-san today. It's a long story as to why she showed up all of a sudden, like I said before at the cafe, you should ask baka-Kotoko and Nii-san for the details. Trust me; I don't plan to live the rest of my life with anyone else besides you." Yuuki spoke reassuringly, reaching into his pant pocket in preparation of one of the most important life questions he'd ask his beloved girlfriend – hopefully more, by the time they head back to his home.
"Wait, are you proposing to me right now?" The giddy girl asked breath hitched in a gasp, feeling more tears well up.
"Ah- I – wha-" Why is she being uncharacteristically sharp now, of all times? Seriously, I can never figure this girl out, probably why I 'm so crazy in love with her. He took a deep breath in, trying not to laugh at Konomi's lack of tact and steadily pulled out the ring box, got down on one knee, revealed the diamond ring, for he knew a classic proposal is what she always dreamed of.
"Sagawa, Konomi. Will you have the honor of being my bride?" Yuuki asked proudly, certain of her answer.
"Yes! Yuuki-kun, a thousand times yes!" Nodding with happy streams of tears, Konomi answered loudly, causing the nearby pigeons to scatter into flight, mirroring the scenery from his first confession to her four years ago.** Yuuki quickly slipped the ring on her finger, came up from his kneeling position to finish off his perfect proposal with a sweet kiss. So what if we are being recorded, if it's for Konomi, being the pinnacle of embarrassment isn't so bad. He thought as he swept his former girlfriend, now fiancee, off her feet in a princess carry, much to her delight, heading home with the romantically setting sun as their backdrop.
Later that night in her (and Naoki's) bedroom, Kotoko danced in victory at the blushing, blissful faces of Yuuki and Konomi smiling up at her from the paused screen, thinking she successfully captured her favorite protege's Kodak moment of a lifetime, without being caught for once. Naoki, in a celebratory mood himself – for he gained a "I-love-and-sometimes-hate-my-fiancee/wife-to-pieces" comrade – in the form of a newly engaged Irie Yuuki, decided not to pop Kotoko's peachy bubble. I'll wait for the right moment to let her down. He made a mental note before turning off the bedside lights, marking another peaceful goodnight at the Irie residence. Well, as peaceful as a short lull in the sea can be: for Shina Nami, their one month company occupying the guest room downstairs is bound to raise another tsunami in one way or another, this time with the help of Mrs. Irie. (All for the sake of her sons' happiness, she insists!)
** Footnotes**
CS – abbreviation for Computer Science
dowry - property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage
Nii-san (兄さん) – Short for Onii-san (お兄さん) used to address one's older brother
Maa..maa..(マア、マア) – Well…well (or there..there…) / Well now…
Nami-chan – Shina Nami from Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo season 2 ep 12 /ch.76 of the manga (fun fact: Reading of her name can translate to (ocean)Wave, but the way her name is written (奈美) translates as "奈" name of the fruit trees. "美" beauty)
Omiai (お見合い)– Arranged marriage meeting
dai-jiken(大事件) – big incident
shouganai-na（しょうがないな) - it can't be helped
Todai(東大) – Tokyo Universty
Iie (いいえ)– No
sensee (先生)– used to address professionals in certain fields (usually w/ titles: teachers, doctors, etc.)
I also thought that Nami might have kept in contact with Naoki and Kotoko periodically throughout the years via snail-mail, since they were her main benefactors (as core people who persuaded her to accept heart surgery, leading to her full recovery)
circle – club/ extracurricular groups
Omiage (土産) – gift or souvenir (typically a local specialty of where gift-er came/returned from)
"through the grapevine" – idiom to describe the rumor mill. (word of mouth)
Oi – Hey!
Ttaku（ったく）- Geez, ugh, for crying out loud (carries a "good grief" connotation.) other form of this word: Mataku (またっく)
PDA – public display of affection
"scenery from his first confession to her four years ago" - reference to my second Itazura fic "From Crushes to First Loves"
Thank you so much for reading this fanfic! I hope you have a fun time reading, as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you haven't already give my other Itazura fanfics some attention too please~
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Until another plot bunny finds me,
KookieKuma