Wow I'm so happy that I got such positive and good reviews from several of you readers! Thank you all who reviewed! I really appreciate it!
And here it is, the next chapter!
So when we last left our lovebirds, they have just gotten married and are off on their honeymoon at a hot springs resort. But during the middle of the night, cold feet returned to Toshiro once again as he sneaks out in the middle of the night without his wife knowing...
Chapter 5
Momo could feel the morning sun's rays shining on her face, signaling her that morning has come. She slowly opened her eyes and saw daylight from outside the window. Ready to start the day, she sat up and stretched her arms.
"Morning Lil' Shiro..." she said with a yawn, "Did you sleep well-?"
Just when she turned her body to look at the boy who should be sleeping in the futon next to hers, she got a surprise to see that Toshiro wasn't there. And his futon has been put away back in the closet.
"Hn? Toshiro?" she called out.
After searching the room and bathroom, calling his name several more times as she went, Momo returned to the sitting room with no sign of Toshiro. "Strange. Did he go out somewhere?" she asked herself. But that was when she noticed something on the table, a folded letter.
"What's this?"
She picked up the letter and noticed the handwriting on the front belonging to Toshiro. She then unfolded the letter and read the message Toshiro wrote.
'By the time you read this, I'll probably be arriving back at Karakura now. I decided to go back earlier. Don't worry about me, I took the bus back home. Just enjoy the rest of the time there until we go back to see the family tonight.
- Toshiro
P.S.- Don't even bother trying to call me. I've turned my phone off. Try not to worry so much Bed-Wetter.'
After reading what Toshiro wrote in the letter, Momo was upset from this unexpected and shocking message.
"I don't believe it...He...He left?!"
Somewhere at this time, a certain white haired boy just sneezed out of nowhere. "Achoo!"
He gave a sniff and cleared his throat. "It seems someone's talking about me from somewhere," he presumed mentally. (You might've heard the saying that in Japan, when you sneeze, someone's talking about you.)
Toshiro had just arrived back to his hometown after taking a bus and is now figuring out what to do.
"Well...Now that I'm here...what should I do?" he asked himself. He took a while to think about his current situation. "Let's see...the parents won't be expecting me and Momo to return from our honeymoon until tonight."
He's got about 10 hours until the supposed time to meet the parents. So what should he do until then? It's obvious he can't go back home while everyone else is there. He thought for a long time until a small idea came to mind.
...
Toshiro had no idea what led him to choose this place, but his feet eventually ended up leading him to his school of all places. Unfortunately since those in the soccer club should be currently getting ready to practice outside on the field, Toshiro avoided going past the field and went to the area where the P.E. or sports clubs are located.
He found a nice grassy spot under a tree to sit under for a while and dropped his duffel bag so he can sit down and lay his back against the tree trunk. He was thinking of just having a quiet time to himself, but it was hard to do while hearing the sound of balls bouncing on the ground from a distance.
The reason why he's hearing this is because it just so happens that he is close by the tennis courts, where the tennis club is currently practicing at this moment.
But Toshiro learned to ignore the sounds of the tennis players practicing and began to doze off in a nice cozy...
"Watch out!"
Toshiro's eyes snapped open when he heard a female voice giving a warning. The instant he saw a round object coming into his direction, more accurately his face, his sharp instincts and reflexes kicked in and he reached up and caught a tennis ball with no effort before it reached colliding into his face.
"Good catch!"
Toshiro lowered his hand that has the ball and saw the owner of the round item running towards him. To his surprise, it was none other than Haruka Amano.
"Sorry about that-" she began but Haruka then noticed that the person who caught her tennis ball was the same boy she helped caught his soccer ball that one time.
"Oh hello," she greeted, "Didn't expect you to be hanging here."
Toshiro looked at the ball he caught, then he looked at its owner and questioned, "Yours?"
Haruka nodded then gave a hesitant laugh. "Um, sorry about that. Some girls in our tennis team have a power swing. We and the boys tennis team keep losing a lot of our tennis balls lately."
Toshiro gave what sounds like a small scoff. But then he threw the ball back to Haruka. "I see."
Then something came to Haruka's mind that made her curious. "Say, I recall hearing that Class 1-A was going on a field trip today," she mentioned, "You didn't go?"
That was something Toshiro had hoped to avoid talking to anyone about. He quickly tried to think of an answer that won't reveal what he did.
"Well I uh..." he stammered, "I-I decided that I'd rather skip and stay home. Besides, my grandmother's currently sick. I want to be around the neighborhood for her."
His half lie seemed to work well as Haruka believed it like he had hoped for.
"Oh, I see," Haruka said, surprised and a little sorry for the news of his grandmother, "Well I hope your grandmother feels better soon."
"Yeah...So do I."
Then he figured he shouldn't stick around too long in case more students come and question about his appearance at school when he should be with his class on their trip. "Well...I should get going now," he said to Haruka, a good excuse for him to get going.
She then had a thought that just came into her mind. "Say, do you play tennis?" she asked.
Toshiro got to his feet and shrugged his shoulders while dusting any dirt from his pants. "Maybe," he replied, "To tell the truth, the last time I played the sport was for PE in middle school."
Hearing this, Haruka decided to go out on a limb. "Okay then, how about a quick match?" she suggested, "Maybe you can show me a few pointers."
Toshiro had the notion to decline her offer, but seeing that he doesn't have anything to do at the moment, he decided that one game wouldn't hurt as long as it helps pass time. But there was one setback in her proposition.
"But don't usually both players need to have a racket?" he inquired, reminding Haruka that he is lacking a tennis racket of his own.
But that didn't stop Haruka, who gave a reassuring smile.
"No worries," she assured, "You can use my spare racket. Come on, one game?" She gave an eager look in her eyes to Toshiro.
Toshiro gave a heavy sigh and rubbed the back of his head before looking at her pleading expression again.
...
...
So Toshiro had a tennis match against Haruka on the tennis courts. Luckily for him, the rest of the girls tennis team members had left for the day and it was just him and Haruka on one of the courts.
Even though his main forte is soccer, Toshiro has caught up on the rules of tennis so fast and was playing proficiently as Haruka.
The tennis ball was over the net and heading to Haruka. She ran up to it and managed to hit a nice return. As the ball went over the net to her opponent's side, Haruka was impressed by Toshiro's abilities. Thanks to his training from soccer, his strong legs helped him dash after the ball faster than expected and return it.
"Okay then, see if you can get this!" Haruka proposed.
She stopped and swung her arm up to execute a volley, making the ball go high up as she intended. This was to make sure Toshiro doesn't reach the ball and let the ball fall and hit the baseline to win her a point.
But her theory proved wrong. Toshiro's eyes were on the ball flying high over his head and he showed an amazing feat by running and kicking off so to jump high up.
Haruka watched in awe as Toshiro was able to jump a good distance from the ground and with his agility, he twisted and swung his racket to hit the ball and send it shooting down on an unguarded spot on Haruka's side before landing back gracefully on the ground.
With Toshiro scoring another point and in the lead, Haruka stopped to catch her breath and wipe the sweat off her brow.
"Are you sure you never played since leaving middle school?" she asked for fun, "Cause it looks as though you've been playing on our school's tennis team for quite a while."
Toshiro twirled the racket he's holding over his wrist and caught it proficiently. (If you've seen Prince of Tennis, it's the same thing Eiji does when he flips his racket over his wrist.)
"I guess I learn the game quickly," he presumed, being modest.
Amused, Haruka gave a laugh. "Is there anything you can't do for a prodigy?"
All Toshiro did in response was give a smirk.
Now I suppose you're all wondering what Momo is doing all this time. Well with Toshiro gone, Momo was able to find something to do instead of sitting in her room at the resort all day until she goes home. So she outside to take a trail walk up the mountain, the thing she had planned to do with Toshiro but has to go alone instead.
But during her walk, Momo couldn't stop thinking about the problem she will have to face at the end of the day. She is afraid to face both her and Toshiro's parents if they found out that she had lost her just recently married husband and came back home alone.
Her worrying made her want to stop at a viewing area to look at the city far in the distance.
"Mou…What am I going to do?" she dreaded, "I'll never hear the end from my parents, or even Toshiro's parents."
While she continued looking out at the view, Momo heard scattered voices from the opposite direction of where she's going.
"Alright all of you, keep together! The last thing I need is losing some of my students before they graduate!" came a loud adult male's voice.
The man's loud voice caught Momo's attention that she turned and saw a large group of boys and girls who she figured must be in high school by their age looks. One adult was leading this group that looks like they're on a school field trip of some sort.
Well Momo sighed and was reminded again of Toshiro and was going to continue her walk up the trail path...when she noticed that one of the boys in the group of students looked very familiar...from the way his black hair is tied up in a bun.
Suddenly Momo spoke in realization, "Eh? Sojiro?"
...
Indeed, Toshiro's friend is seen talking with a small group of friends from his class when he heard someone from a distance say his name. Looking to the direction of the voice, he saw Momo and his eyes widened when he recognized her, surprised as she is.
"Oh! Momo-san?" he responded with surprise.
When he was absolutely sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, Sojiro briefly left the group he's with and went over to Momo. "What are you doing here?" he said in bewilderment.
"Uh…I was going to ask you that," said Momo, "Well, Toshiro and I are-I mean...were, on our honeymoon."
"No way. Your honeymoon's here too?" said Sojiro in disbelief.
Momo nodded but then remembered the question she was going to ask first. "Anyway, what are you doing here Sojiro? I thought you'd still be back at school."
"Oh yeah. Our class's field trip is here. We're taking a mountain hike and going back to the hotel for the night."
"By the way, since you're on your honeymoon, isn't Toshiro supposed to be with you?" Sojiro then mentioned. He expected to maybe stop and say hi to Toshiro while they're at the same place at the moment.
But reminded of the embarrassing fact that her husband is absent at the moment, Momo was at a sticky situation.
"Oh right um..." she began, "Actually...Toshiro is-"
But thankfully Momo was saved from explaining her current situation when the voice of Sojiro's teacher is heard.
"Kusaka, stay with the group! We're moving on!" the teacher shouted impatiently.
Not wanting to be left behind, Sojiro needed to finish the conversation. "Oh I got to go," he said to Momo, "If you see Toshiro, tell him I said hi."
He then turned and ran back towards his class while Momo waved farewell.
"Uh...yes, I'll tell him you said that," she said hesitantly, "Bye."
Sojiro returned to his group of friends in his class, who saw him conversing with Momo just now.
"Who was that Sojiro?"
"You look like you're trying to flirt with her," one teased.
"No, of course not," Sojiro spoke, "She's a friend I know, nothing else."
As she watched Sojiro's class walk on, Momo couldn't believe how unlucky this marriage so far was turning out. "That was close...If anyone knows that Toshiro left me in the middle of our honeymoon, Toshiro and everyone else will never let it go. Just what is he doing right now?" she thought.
She only hoped that he wasn't doing anything silly on his own and prayed that she will be able to find him before their families find out once she returns to Karakura.
Meanwhile back in Karakura, Toshiro and Haruka have finished with their tennis match after a few games.
After changing out of her tennis uniform and into her school uniform, Haruka sat on a bench near the grassy spot by the trees with her tennis bag and waited for Toshiro to return from wherever he said has going.
He now returned with two canned drinks he got from a nearby vending machine and handed one of them to her. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I hope you don't mind getting tea," he said. He of course got a tea drink as well.
"Not a fan of soda aren't you?" Haruka inquired with a grin.
Toshiro shook his head as he sat down on the bench next to her. "Nor anything too sweet," he included.
"Well that sure was a fun game," said Haruka as Toshiro opened his can, "Are you sure you're not considering joining the tennis club instead of the soccer club?"
After taking a sip from his can, Toshiro sighed. "I'm sure," he answered, "Soccer was the sport I grew up playing after all. However, I don't mind trying a different sport for a day once in a while if I have nothing to do."
Haruka then looked at her watch and read the time. "Oh, I have to go home now," she said. She got up and picked up her tennis bag and faced Toshiro for a brief moment to say something.
"Thanks for the match. I hope you don't mind if we play another one some other time," she said.
Toshiro was quiet for a moment then said, "...If I have the time."
Taking that as a yes, Haruka gave a smile of thanks. "Well, see around school right?" she said, waving at Toshiro.
"Uh...yeah..." Toshiro answered, stoic as usual as he only gave a small wave in return. Haruka then turned and ran off to home and Toshiro remained sitting on that bench watching her.
He then realized that he normally doesn't communicate much to girls at his school this much in the past. Why on earth is he acting different to girls like Momo and Haruka. Reminded of Momo, Toshiro then exhaled and laid his head back to look at the sky.
"What the heck is up with me?" he asked himself, "...I'm married for crying out loud..."
After Haruka had gone home, Toshiro still had extra time to kill and wandered around town more. He had gone to the arcade and played several fighting and racing games for a while, winning easily each time.
After that he walked around to find something else to interest him and eventually stopped in front of the movie theater and went inside to watch a movie that may be of interest to him.
The theater he sat in was half full as he watched the movie. But during the film, Toshiro took a few glances at his surroundings and noticed that many of those who came to watch the movie were couples. For a time when he didn't want to be reminded of his wife right now, Toshiro wasn't getting nowhere.
He gave a heavy sigh and sunk in his seat, running a hand through his hair. "Geez...Why can't I just forget about it?"
...
Eventually Toshiro grew tired of the movie and the fact that he was surrounded by couples and left the theater early. Walking by himself, he went to the park that was just down the street from his house so he can stop and think.
It was now night and nearly time for when the parents are expecting him and Momo back when he reached the park and found a spot to sit under another tree.
He inhaled and exhaled, tapping his fingers on his knees, unable to come up with an idea. "I can't go home alone. And I didn't leave in my note a place where we can meet at this time," he thought carefully.
This would be a time to call Momo and possibly find a way to meet up with her to figure out their plan before facing the parents. But after what he did, Toshiro reconsidered this act just to avoid hearing Momo and her upset lecture.
Eventually he gave a sigh of irritation.
"Ah what the heck? I'm just going to sit here and wait."
It was the only thing he could think of right now, so he laid his back against the trunk and made himself comfortable. The whole day of stressing out over the wedding and honeymoon made him tired that he decided to close his eyes and take a short nap.
...
After the fifth time of trying to call him, Momo got no clue or answer to where he is. She hung up her phone and sighed, "Oh...Where is he?"
She had just returned back home a short while ago by a bus and still has no luck in contacting Toshiro.
"We have to meet the family soon and he knows that both of us have to be there or else we'll be in trouble and they'll find out he ditched the honeymoon. Where could he have gone to at this time-?"
Her wondering eventually gave Momo a thought of realization. "Maybe..."
It was a long shot, but it's worth a try as Momo picked up her bag and heading towards a certain direction.
...
It was a coincidence that the place Momo thought of was the park. It was presumable because of a childhood memory that led Momo to come to this place to search.
She still had a little doubt that he would be there or not but soon...she found her answer.
The minute she saw the distinctive white haired boy sitting there under a tree a distance from the playground taking a light nap, Momo had the urge to go up and hurt him for what he did. Without making any sound from her mouth and her eyes narrowed, Momo marched right towards the boy.
Hearing someone's footsteps coming up and stopping right in front of him, Toshiro opened his eyes and jumped in his seat when he saw Momo looking down at him with a scowl.
"Oh...it's you Momo," he answered lazily, not showing any sense of fear from seeing her.
Knowing he's not being serious with her, Momo finally needed to release her emotion that she's been carrying for the entire day.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya…I don't know even where to start!" she scolded, "How could you run off like that?! I was worried! You didn't leave a single call telling where you were! What if I didn't find you?! How would I explain to your parents?!"
Her reaction was what Toshiro expected since he returned to Karakura and all he did in return was remain calm (and rub the inside of his ear with his pinky since it's ringing from Momo's raised voice).
"As I seem to recall, I did left you a note saying that I went home," he said in his defense, "So why are you freaking out?"
Momo wanted to protest but is unable to because much to her denial, Toshiro did have a point. But she decided to save the arguing and move on to the next thing in mind.
She let out a sigh of defeat and said, "Oh never mind. Now come on, we have to get ready."
"What? Ready for what-? Hey!"
Momo grabbed Toshiro's hand and pulled him up from the bench and started walking. "Hey! Let go! Stop pulling!" he yelled at her. But Momo purposely ignored his complaints as she dragged him off to prepare for the something...whatever it is.
...
Minutes later, Toshiro and Momo walked up to the front of the Hitsugaya residence now dressed in kimonos so to look like they just came back from their honeymoon together. Toshiro's was dark blue and had a white dragon stitched into the front as decoration while the sash he wore was turquoise. Momo's kimono was pink and has a yellow obi sash.
Being forced to wear a kimono, Toshiro was putting on a grumpy attitude again. "Sheesh...why do we even have to wear this?" he complained, tugging the collar of his shirt to loosen it.
"Because it's good manners and tradition," Momo simply answered, "Now come on. We don't want to keep them waiting. We'll just go in and get this done."
Now they were about ready to enter the house and let their families know that they've returned from their trip. But just before they were about to walk through the gate, Toshiro grabbed Momo's arm and pulled her back to have one last word with her.
"…Not a word to them about what happened, got it?" he mumbled under his breath. He obviously wants Momo to avoid mentioning the fact that Toshiro ditched her during their honeymoon and avoid a big lecture from his parents in return.
Now as much as Momo wanted to punish him for leaving early by telling his parents what he did, she lost the motive to do so, thinking and nervous about what Toshiro might do later to her if she did tell.
So she sighed with defeat and said, "Alright, not a word."
...
Upon being welcomed back by their parents, no one suspected anything wrong with their trip, to Toshiro and Momo's relief. Of course both of them had difficulty with showing lightened expressions (which was torture for Toshiro) in order to make it so as if they really had a pleasant trip.
Sitting in the living room together having tea and snacks as one big family, the husbands sat on one couch, the wives on another, Granny sitting on one of the armchairs, Miyuki on another armchair and Toshiro and Momo sitting beside each other on the last couch.
Grandma decided to bring up a conversation. She spoke, "So children, how was your trip?"
Momo knew that this would come. So careful not to panic, she answered, "Oh it...it was really great!" She said this with energy but lying obviously. But she was able to make herself sound convincing.
Momo then nudged Toshiro's elbow with her own, signaling him to say something in order to make the lie sound real from his mouth.
"Yeah…Great…" said Toshiro with no enthusiasm at all.
Here, Naomi got really curious. "So? How'd it go with you two?" she asked anxiously, "Did you do anything fun together? Or maybe...something else?"
Toshiro gagged on his tea, almost getting the thought that Naomi is suspecting him of his act of ditching the honeymoon, but managed to recover.
"Oh nothing much!" Momo then quickly answered, saving them from suspicion, "Toshiro was really kind during the whole trip."
"Now now Naomi let's not ask them more," Granny insisted, "What matters now is that they had a good time together."
Toshiro and Momo were relieved that Granny saved them from saying anything and thanked her mentally.
"You're right," Miyako then said, "But these two do look so adorable together, especially now that they're officially married."
Then Jushiro turned to his in-law and said, "Say Tatsuya, how about a small glass of sake?"
Pleased with the offer, Tatsuya replied, "Of course."
Then Tatsuya turned and faced Toshiro and said, "Toshiro, how about pouring your father and father-in-law two glasses?"
To show his best manners, Toshiro replied, "Yes...Father-in-law." Then he came over and carefully poured two small glasses for the adult males (his arm was a little trembling but he managed to pull through).
Then the fathers did a toast between the two of them.
"To our children," said Jushiro.
"Our children," Tatsuya replied as both of them clinked their glasses and sipped the sake up.
...
After what seemed like forever to Momo and Toshiro, the adults continued having a long talk about adult things. At this point, Toshiro was now getting tired from all the day's activities and bored of listening to the parents talk that his eyelids were almost drooping.
Then when he felt like it was long enough, Toshiro now gave a yawn and sighed.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll be going to bed now," he dully announced, "You can find your room on your own right Momo?" Momo nodded as Toshiro got to his feet and started for the stairs, only thinking about collapsing onto a bed at the moment.
But he was stopped when his mother's voice is heard. "No, no. You must follow tradition Toshiro. So be a sweet husband and bring Momo to your room," she instructed, "It's all ready for you two to use for the night."
Toshiro froze in his spot and felt like staggering before he turned so he'd give his mother a look of disbelief. "What?"
"Eh? Lil' Shiro...carry me?"
Momo is pretty embarrassed at the thought of Toshiro carrying her, especially since she's older and taller than he is, and the fact that they have to sleep in the same room for the night. "Um, I don't really think that's necessary Aunt Naomi," she said, trying to avoid the part about being carried by Toshiro.
"I am doing no such thing," Toshiro instantly stated, "And why do we have to share a room?"
"Like I said, it's tradition," Naomi encouraged, "Every married groom carries his wife to their room on their first night after they return from their honeymoon. I heard that people who don't do it get bad luck for a long, long time."
Finally Toshiro couldn't hear more of his mother's annoying and massaged the bridge of his nose before he gave an exasperated sigh of defeat. He doesn't know whether or not it is true what his mother says, but he sure isn't going to spend the night listening to more of her nonsense so he just don't give a darn.
"Argh! Alright, alright...Geez…Come on you," he muttered as he crouched down and scooped Momo into his arms bridal style. Momo gave a startled yelp when she felt herself lifted into Toshiro's arms and picked off the ground.
"T-Toshiro!" she stuttered.
She was surprised that he has great arm strength to even lift her, despite him being shorter than her.
"Don't drop her now!" said Naomi playfully. "Now you be careful now!" Tatsuya called out to Toshiro, concerned about Momo, "She's not an object!"
Toshiro sullenly said, "Yeah, yeah...We'll be going now. Good night."
And now he went to the staircase and began the trip up the stairs with his spouse helplessly in his arms.
"Lil' Shiro you don't have to do this! Put me down!" Momo urged, afraid that he might accidentally drop her along the way.
"Shut up," Toshiro grumbled, "It's not a picnic for me either. Besides, the parents are watching. If I put you down now, my mom will lecture me more."
"Oh but really Toshiro-!"
"Will you quit whining already? I'm not going to drop you."
He proceeded up the steps one at a time, panting and shifting Momo up in his arms once every few steps. All Momo could do is pray that he has enough strength to make it to the top without dropping her.
Finally Toshiro reached the room they'll be sharing for the night and thanked his stars when he saw his bed out in front of them. Tired of carrying her any further, Toshiro just dumped his wife unceremoniously onto the bed. After hearing her squeal, Toshiro fell on his back beside her and gave a heavy sigh.
"At last..." he said in relief, finally able to let off some stress off his shoulders.
Momo pushed herself up on the bed with her elbows and pouted at Toshiro. "Mou Lil' Shiro, don't do that!" she whined. But Toshiro wasn't in the mood to listen to her complaints, as he remained lying on the bed.
"Just be quiet..." he moaned, "You're too noisy..."
As Momo began to get off so she can change into her night clothing, she felt a part of her kimono caught on something. The reason why is because it's stuck under Toshiro. Momo tried tugging on her clothing not too hard, afraid that it'll tear, but it remained stuck.
"Lil' Shiro, can you move? My kimono's caught," she asked while shaking his shoulder.
But Toshiro groaned lazily and wouldn't budge. "Leave me alone..." he mumbled drowsily.
"But Lil' Shiro my kimono might rip!" She nudged his shoulder a little harder.
She shook his side and continued calling his name, hoping that he'd get up until finally Toshiro wanted her to be quiet and turned to lay on his side, freeing Momo's kimono.
"Geez...can you now be quiet...?" he muttered without looking at her.
Momo is relieved that she got herself free without ruining her kimono. But now she wanted to get Toshiro off the bed since he is hogging the bed they'll be sharing.
"Hey, Toshiro, come on now. You got to get ready for bed," she reminded. But like before, Toshiro is unwilling to move or do anything at the moment.
Needing to bother him more, Momo now sat right beside Toshiro and leaned over so her head and face is hovering right over Toshiro's face. She reached down and tapped his cheek several times.
"Come on now, get up!"
Not only from her tapping his cheek, but Toshiro was getting annoyed when she even started gripping the front of his kimono and shaking him, continuously calling out his name.
"Lil' Shiro-!"
"Would you get off of me already?" Toshiro finally snapped, raising his voice a little more, "Why can't you be quiet?"
...
The bride and groom didn't know this, but while they continued their little fuss, two certain eavesdroppers had placed themselves outside the bedroom door.
After seeing their kids go upstairs, Naomi and Miyako couldn't help but go up and listen from outside the door (the best they can do close to eavesdropping).
They now hear Toshiro grumpily shouting at Momo to keep quiet and Momo giving him a lecture in return.
Naomi couldn't help but be amused. "Well it sounds like those two are having fun together," she whispered to her friend.
"It's too bad there's no way for us to look in there," Miyako sighed sadly, "I wanted to take a picture of them."
But then their fun was ruined when Miyuki, who suspected that her mother and mother-in-law were up to something, came over and shook her head in disappointment after seeing what they are doing.
"Mom, seriously, leave the two alone," she insisted.
But the two mothers turned and gave Miyuki a "Sh!" to be quiet, only so they can continue listening on the married couple's conversation.
Now that Toshiro and Momo has become a married couple, it was best for the two to live in a place of their own together, parents' recommendation of course. So as a surprise, the parents took their children to the apartment that they have bought and prepared for them. Getting there by car took at least 6 minutes from and it is at a good distance away from Toshiro's school so no one could see where he lives.
After reaching the 2nd level of the apartment building, the parents and the wedded couple arrived in front of the room where Toshiro and Momo will live from now on. "Alright, this is it!" Naomi announced. She then handed Toshiro and Momo each a key that'll open the apartment door for them to keep.
"Go on Shiro, open it up and take a look at your new home," Toshiro's mother insisted.
Toshiro sighed as he went up to the door and unlocked it with his key then pushed the door open. He and Momo then walked in first to view their new home. To their surprise, it wasn't that bad. It had a regular living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and bedrooms just like a normal apartment home.
"Oh wow..." said Momo in awe as she began exploring the place.
Toshiro walked into the living room and got startled when he saw the his and Momo's wedding portrait hung on the wall over the TV set. There was no doubt that both of their mothers have enjoyed decorating the place as Toshiro realized.
There was one question that puzzled Toshiro though.
"Mom...since when did you got time to find and prepare an apartment for us?" he dare to ask.
"Oh since the day your grandmother told us and Momo's parents that you two were meant to be married," his mother willingly answered, "Miyako and I searched through every home ads for a nice place where the two of you will live until we found this place and have been preparing this apartment for quite a long time."
Toshiro was dumbfounded to find out that Naomi and Miyako had anticipated this wedding to happen longer than he realized and even planned out their living arrangements without his and Momo's consent. "I should've known..." he groaned.
Then he heard Momo's voice from one of the rooms down the hallway. "Oh this room is very nice!" she said pleasantly.
The mention of this made Toshiro suddenly get a shocking thought. "Wait a minute...!" he thought in panic, "Don't tell me that we're..." Recalling that their mothers were the ones who even prepared this apartment even alarmed him more.
Afraid but anxious to see for himself if what he thought is true or not, Toshiro went into the room he heard Momo's voice coming out from. What he found was a bedroom decorated in white and pink, a desk sitting in one corner and Momo is seen sitting on the bed that's meant for one person. Also present in the room is Miyako.
"I'm going to like sleeping in here," said Momo with a smile. She tested out the bed and found the mattress comfortable.
"Oh that's good," said Miyako, pleased with her daughter's thoughts on the room, "Naomi and I had so much fun decorating this room out of all the others."
Toshiro then had another thought of realization. "If Momo sleeps here...then I sleep..."
Instead of finishing his sentence, Toshiro left and went to the room right across the living room and looked inside.
To his relief, Toshiro saw that the room is another bedroom decorated in blue and has a bed fit for one person also. There was also a desk for himself to use.
"Oh thank the heavens..." he can finally breathe easily, "I have my own room."
For a minute, he thought that his mother had prepared a place where there's only one bedroom. And if there's only one bedroom...then that'll mean Momo and he would have to sleep together.
But back to the present, Naomi came in and heard Toshiro's last sentence.
"Well of course you sleep in your own rooms," she said as if it wasn't that difficult to realize, "Did you think that we, your parents, would make a sudden decision like putting you two in the same bedroom when you're still in high school? Shame on you for having doubt on your own mother Shiro."
Naomi shook her head and gave a 'tsk tsk tsk' before exiting the room.
With his mom not present and listening, Toshiro said to himself, "To be honest, I actually thought she was going to do that."
But then he was wrong about Naomi not able to hear his comment when she poked her head in his room once more to include a quick statement.
"Then don't worry! It won't be permanent. Once you've graduated from high school, we'll be changing it so that you and Momo will be sharing a room!" she announced cheerfully before leaving again.
Toshiro nearly staggered but recovered to turn and shout to his mother.
"Mom!" he yelled.
A/N: Well so far Toshiro and Momo are off to a shaky start in their married life. The real challenge for them starts from the next chapter and onwards.
Again, sorry if it felt like I rushed through in this chapter. I really wanted to get to the fun parts in the future chapters.
Please review if you get the chance!