December 5th, 2010

Afternoon

Dorm Lobby

Yukari sat in the dorm's lobby, sitting with little Hisato to her breast. The infant hardly ever gave her enough time to rest in between feedings, wanting to be fed almost every two to three hours at a time. Although she was told by the doctors that this was normal, it was exhausting and she hardly got any sleep at night because of it.

The only rewarding feeling she felt from all of it was that the doctor told her Hisato was gaining weight. At least she felt she was doing something right.

When he wasn't feeding, Yukari was doing what school work she could do, teaching herself with what notes Junpei and Aigis took for her. Although she had been offered by select teachers to give her private lessons in the evening, but she passed, not wanting to be a burden. Also because the dorm was a bit… messy from having an infant being raised in it.

Hisato pulled away and gave a small, soft burp. She pulled up her bra and shirt, then placed him in his cradle in front of her and picked up her schoolwork where she left off. She had to admit, Hisato was alike in his father in the way that he was easy to handle. Despite the constant feeding he demanded from his mother, he was calm for the most part, only crying when she got too focused on her schoolwork and hadn't held him in a while.

Evening came and so did her friends from school, loading her up with more schoolwork to do. It was always nice to have them come home at the end of the day. Even Junpei was playing the part in keeping Hisato entertained while she got some rest before dinner, which Fuka gladly cooked for everyone each night.

"Hey! what's up, little guy!" Junpei held Hisato in front of him, watching as the baby sucked his thumb. "Ready to spend time with Uncle Junpei?!" He bounced him a little and he gave a little noise of content.

"Didn't you say you had test to study for, Junpei-san?" Aigis recalled to him, sitting across from him. She too, in the past months, loved keeping Hisato content. As well as being still interested and intrigued by human babies.

"Y-Yeah, but Hisato doesn't need to know that," He grinned, chuckling a bit to himself. "He's too much like his daddy to learn from me so soon. Isn't that right, my dude?" Hisato gave a disconcerned gurgle, making little kicks as well.

"I wouldn't say that so soon, Junpei-san," Fuka said from the kitchen with a soft laugh. "You'll be surprised what babies can learn at such a young age," She flipped the two slabs of chicken, letting them sizzle in the pan.

"I, myself, am deeply interested in what Hisato-san will grow up to be like... " Aigis thought outloud. Nobody else took any mind to it, just not verbally, that was. So she continued to stare at Hisato as Junpei played with him, bouncing and holding him.

…

March 31st, 2011

Morning

Dorm Lobby

"Have you decided where you're going next, Yukari?"

Mitsuru had came to visit, for whatever reason, assumably to check up on little Hisato. She and Yukari sat next to each other in the lobby of the dorm.

Cradling the six-month old infant in her arms, she stared off into the distance. "I… really don't know, Mitsuru…" She softly responded, patting Hisato's back as he quietly slept in her arms. "My mother has been anything but cooperative and refuses to help. On the other hand, I cannot afford college tuition, even if she did offer her help. Hisato has drained most of my savings I had, as well as kept me from getting a job to make some funds… I… I'm kinda lost at this point…" She tried her best not to let tears out in front of her son, to keep from waking him or rousing him up.

Mitsuru stayed silent, giving a long moment of thought before speaking again. "Do you have any other relatives to turn to?" She questioned.

"No," She immediately replied, turning her head even further away from her older friend. She really didn't have anybody else but her and the others.

"Then that's settled," Mitsuru announced, standing up from her spot. "I am going to aid you,"

Yukari was taken quite aback from her sudden declaration. "Mitsuru, I…" She started, staring up at her. "No… No, I won't. I cannot ask you for help. I'd-"

"I'm not asking, Takeba. I'm telling."

This took Yukari more by surprise, making her speechless from then on out.

"I will pay for the tuition for whichever college you wish to attend," she stated flat out, not taking any other answer from the girl. "In the meantime, you'll be living with me in my apartment in Tokyo. I will make the booking of our flight and have the Kirjio family prepare the place for your arrival. I'll have your belongs sent there ahead of us. As for you, just get all your things packed by tonight and I'll take care of the rest. You worry about yourself and Hisato," She merely gave a half waved as she walked away, pulling out her cell and making calls.

The tears from before stung her eyes and began falling down her cheeks.

"Mitsuru…" She whispered, only for her and her son to hear. After watching the older girl leave the room, she held Hisato closer to her and rubbed his head with a gentle hand. "Well, Hisato… Looks like we have our work cut out for us…" She started to softly cry, comforted by her baby's silence with a smile across her face.

…

April 5th, 2011

Afternoon

Mitsuru's Tokyo Apartment

"Home sweet home, I'd say,"

Yukari was in disbelief at the sight before her eyes.

The place lived up to the standards of someone, like Mitsuru, who grew up with money. Sure, she could have guessed it, as the entrance to the apartment building itself was quite the show alone. Right in front of her was the entryway, as elegant as one could get. Wooden floors polished enough for her to see her reflection, lights almost as bright as the city's at night, the furniture too gorgeous to even let a bag sit on. Out from the large windows could be seen the setting sun in the distance, settling over the shining city. The living room had one of those flat plasma screen TVs she'd only heard of, let alone seen. The kitchen looked straight out of a cooking show or a shopping channel and that was just the surface. The only thing that barely stood out was the semi-fancy cake and balloons on the dining table. Everything was just so shiny and… fancy.

"You… You really sure about me and Hisato living here?!" Yukari gawked, still having yet to seen all from where she stood. The college student took both of their bags and walked past the graduate, giving a soft chuckle.

"I won't have even booked the flight if I wasn't," She replied, satisfied with Yukari's reaction. "Come see your room!" She walked off into one of the side rooms on the other side of the kitchen. Still shocked, she walked forward in disbelief, looking around more till she stood in front of her the door to her bedroom door. In the room was a king sized bed, fit for more than even three people to slumber in, a large dresser, shown to already be filled to the brim with her clothes and then some, a TV nearly identical to the one in the living room, even a mini living area off to the side for herself and a separate area for Hisato not far from the bed as well.

"I-Is this all normal for you?!" Yukari gawked once more, looking from the decorations on the walls and floor to what she could see of her very own bathroom. Mitsuru placed her bags on her bed for her and stood back, proud.

"I guess you can say that," she replied, still chuckling at the younger girl's astonishment. Pointing towards the bathroom she mentioned the bathroom had both a tub and shower, along with a full body mirror and all the other essentials and then some. Then she finished off by taking Hisato from Yukari and placing him in his large, fancy crib with a mobile and everything. She turned back to her once more and smiled.

"Make yourself at home," Mitsuru gladly told her. "This is all yours and Hisato's,"

Tears began streaming down her face. She covered her mouth as she started to cry, a smile hidden underneath. "Oh Mitsuru… This is all so much… Thank you…!" She rushed into her friend's arms, who welcomed her with open arms, letting her sob her heart out and repeatedly thank her, again and again.

"You must be tired from the flight," Mitsuru softly laughed, pulled out from the hug once Yukari calmed. "You get situated in your new space while I order some dinner for us. Sound good?" All she could do was nod and Mitsuru left her alone in the room.

Yukari spinned around the room in awe, looking at every single detail with admiration. Her laptop was there at the desk and her books on the shelve. It was things young girls could only dream off…

Hisato snapped her out of her daze with a happy, loud gurgle. She walked on over to his crib to see him on his stomach, wiggling around. When he noticed her, he looked up into her brown eyes with his, making small sounds of content and happiness. This made her sign, a smile spreading across her face.

"So many people love you, just like they did your father, Hisato…" She quietly spoke to him, leaning down to look at him. All he did was continue to look up at her and make noises and smile. She couldn't help but smile back, watching as he, too, was curious about his new surroundings. But then that became a past interest and he soon reached a small hand up to his mother. Without hesitation, she placed her finger in his hand and watched as he wrapped his tiny fingers around it, holding on as if she were to leave him.

"You'll live a blessed life… I promise…"