Fumino practically vibrated in excitement all the way to the Ojiro family home. From the driver's seat, Kazuma couldn't help but glance over and give the occasional smile. His wife looked so excited. Fumino's smiled vibrantly when she caught him looking.
"This is going to be so much fun, Kazuma!" She bubbled excitedly. "I can't wait to talk to Emma-Kaa-san! She's going to be so excited! And we can arrange play dates later! Oooh! I hope it's a girl!" She reached over a gripped Kazuma's bicep in excitement. "And can you imagine the look on Touma-san's face? He's going to be so surprised! I'm glad Ryu had this cosplay still…" Fumino looked down at the bright sundress she was wearing. Joyful cherries dances across the fabric but the natural fall of the dress was interrupted by a blatant bulge on Fumino's stomach. At two months along, it was far too early for Fumino to start showing so prominently. Instead, some well made padding sewn into the dress allowed Fumino to appear somewhere between seven and eight months along. Sitting there in the dress, Kazuma thought she had never looked more radiant. He couldn't wait until Fumino actually was that far along.
A playful pat turned his attention back to his wife's face. "Eyes on the road, Kazuma. We need to get there in one piece. Right, Teppei?" Fumino called to the back seat. She blinked when she received no answer from the bubbly child. She glanced back and fought the urge to coo. The excitable boy was curled against the window in his dinosaur booster seat. He held his bunny tightly in his arms while he dozed. Teppei unconsciously sucked on one of the floppy ears while smiling dreamily.
Fumino met Kazuma's gaze after a moment. They both grinned in shared adoration of the child.
Teppei really was adorable.
Planning to surprise the head of the Ojiro family was all well and good, but when it came time to actually do so, Fumino found herself eaten up by nerves. She could still remember back when Touma-san had forced her separation from Kazuma. While it obviously hadn't worked, and she had eventually (Fumino hoped) mellowed the strict Ojiro head out a little, Fumino could still remember the anxiety and loneliness the man had caused her.
A light touch drifted down her arm and she glanced over at Kazuma. He smiled gently at her and his warms eyes glowed with encouragement. Below them, Teppei also looked to comfort her. His chubby fingers latched on to her pants leg and he grinned up at her.
"It's okay, Buncha! Ma-kun's daddy isn't so mean anymore!" Fumino grinned down gratefully.
"Sorry, I forgot for just a minute. Say 'silly Buncha'!"
"Silly Buncha!" Teppei giggled and crowed happily. Fumino grinned down for another moment before reasserting her attention on the door. Raising her small fist, she rapped twice on the large, oak door. For a moment no one answered. Then the door creaked open to reveal a maid. The woman smiled.
"Greetings young master and-Oh!" The maid gasped as she caught sight of Fumino's expectant appearance. "Congratulations! Oh! Now I win the bet!" The maid shouted as she lifted her fist in the air. A moment later, the woman blushed tomato red at her unexpected show of both emotion and unprofessionalism. "Oh! I'm so sorry! Gomen, Gomen! Please excuse my outburst!" The maid rushed to apologize as she began to rapidly bow. Fumino's eyes went huge. Meanwhile, Kazuma just laughed.
"So, you guys still bet on who's going to be adding to the family and who's getting married?" He asked jovially. The maid's blush deepened to a darker crimson.
"Ah! Erm-Well! I'm so sorry!" She stuttered before dropping into another bow.
"Nah, it's fine! It's fine!" Kazuma waved the woman's embarrassment and apology away with another grin. Meanwhile, Fumino found herself blushing.
"You bet on when the Ojiro family expands?" She asked curiously. The maid tentatively nodded.
"Yes, though we bet on other things too, like when extended family will visit or whether members of the branch family will succeed in life. Things like that." Though she no longer stuttered, the young maid did keep her gaze on the floor. She was still blushing bright scarlet as she began to lead them into the mansion. "Ojiro-sama is waiting for you in here." She murmured as she gestured to a closed set of sliding doors. From experience, Fumino knew the living room was on the other side.
Relief coiled in her stomach. If they were being received in the living room, Touma must be in a good mood. The man normally reserved the living room for family members only. While Kazuma and she had usually been seen to in the living room on their visits, they had been referred to the parlor once or twice before. The distinguished setting and the man's poor countenance had made for a very stagnant family reunion.
Kazuma nodded her thanks to the maid before opening the shoji doors.
On the other side, Emma and her baby, Miru-chan sat on the couch facing the door. Touma Ojiro sat on the large arm chair (Fumino liked to call it his throne) that faced away from the door. Upon their entrance, Emma immediately brightened before going completely still at the sight of Fumino.
"Fumino-chan!" She gasped out. Her shocked expression must have alerted Touma to something unexpected occurring for her turned to look. Immediately, a gob smacked expression washed over the man at the sight of Fumino. Fumino grinned. This had been what she had been hoping for. Touma Ojiro had always appeared unflappable, even in the presence of his sons. Not once had she seen the man surprised or startled. Now, with the help of Ryu, Fumino had surprised the un-surprisable. And it felt great. Almost. This dress was really starting to get uncomfortable.
Despite being wholly focused on Touma-san's expression, Fumino began the next part of their plan. Beside her, she felt more than heard, Kazuma began to do the same. As one, they both lunged in forward and threw their arms in the air.
"Surprise! You're going to be a grandpa!" The younger Ojiro couple announced in tandem. Teppei launched forward a few steps and blew on a Kazoo.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" Teppei cheered. Fumino grinned. Perfect! The only way it could have been better would have been to add confetti!
"What on earth…?" Touma trailed off uncertainly as he gazed at Fumino in shock. The man had risen from his chair in his surprise. He now stood to one side of it with a hand placed on the back for support. Fumino almost felt sorry for him. He appeared barely able to stand.
"You're-You're pregnant?" Touma asked.
"Yep!" Fumino made sure to pop the 'P'. "Surprise!"
"Wh-When are you due? Its… soon, isn't it?"
"Not exactly." Kazuma answered with a slightly shifty grin.
"I'm due in about seven months." Fumino revealed.
"Se-seven m-months?!" Touma ogled her seemingly basketball sized stomach. Then he frowned. "That's impossible! Kazuma! What are you playing at?"
As one, the Ojiro family of three burst into giggles and laughter. The ruse was up.
"I mean what I said! I'm due in seven months!" Fumino gasped out between her giggles. Slowly she straightened and wiped away her mirthful tears. "I'm not actually this big yet. It's a dress Ryu let me borrow. See," She wiggled the playful cotton hiding under the vibrant cherry covered fabric. "Its just cosplay. We thought it would be a funny way of telling everyone. I'm actually two months along and not showing at all so far." She explained to the confused father-in-law. The man breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank heaven." Touma-san muttered gratefully. He slouched against the arm chair in visibly thankfulness and Fumino couldn't help but giggle. From her place beside the Ojiro patriarch, Emma also let out mirthful laughter.
"That was a good trick!" She gasped out. "I couldn't tell the difference and I've had two!" Fumino shared a grin with Kazuma. This really had been a good trick. It also doubled as a great icebreaker.
"Thank you!" Fumino murmured gratefully. At least one recipient of their prank had enjoyed it. Touma-san still looked a few moments from a heart attack.
"And that dress is so pretty!" Emma praised as she looked at the cute sundress.
"Thank you! I'm going to ask Ryu to remove the pillowing for when I actually need maternity dresses. Its too pretty to waste. Though, it's a bit itchy with the pillow. If you don't mind, I'd like to use the guest bathroom to change into something more appropriate?" Fumino asked as she raised her blue tote.
"Of course! I'll have the Erika-chan bring out some refreshments for you while you're changing. You have to eat for two now!" Emma cheerfully herded Fumino out of the room. Fumino grinned. Though she had certainly surprised the Ojiro patriarch and matriarch, it seemed things were going to be okay after all. Behind her, she could hear Kazuma and Touma beginning their own awkward form of conversation. She grinned.
Hey, long time no see but Spring Break sucked and the week after wasn't much better. Sorry I'm so late, only two more chapters to go!
~Blitza