Clannad

The Lost Girl

Note: Ushio pregnant? NO WAI! For those of you who may think getting pregnant during High School is bad, just know that this is happening right before the end of school...So...Yeah. :L

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Chapter Seventeen – Graduation

And just like that, we found ourselves at Graduation time, singing the school's anthem, and hearing cheers come from all around us as we stepped up to the stage and received our certificate that told us that we had made it through our school years, and are ready to move on in the world...

But even if I wasn't ready, I would have to try my hardest. After all, being a parent so early on isn't going to be the easiest thing for me.

We never told Risha, Yurino, or Nyou until after graduation. The reactions from them all varied. Risha blushed wildly and just turned her head, while Yurino began asking lots of awkward questions, and Nyou smiled and said shyly, "Co-Congratulations!"

After graduation, I moved in with Ushio and her grandparents, so that I could be there for her. I regrettably hadn't worked before, so I had no money to buy a place of my own. However, Sanae was happy to give me a job with helping out around the bakery(Mostly with cleaning).

Akio still continued to be unhappy with me for a while, but Sanae was still cheerful, and made sure to wish us luck every chance she could.

One day, before Ushio and I headed out for a walk, Sanae stopped me and asked to talk in private. We headed into the other room, and she took a ring out of her pocket and held it out towards me.

"W-What is that for?" I asked. She smiled at me, and said, "It was Nagisa's ring...Tomoya said he couldn't bear holding it, so he gave it to me...And I think Ushio would like it." I hesitantly grabbed the ring, and nodded. "I...I understand."

And with that, I was able to speak those words that would ultimately bind us together.

"Ushio..." I said later that day as we sat on the park bench, side by side, our hands entwined. She looked at me in surprise as I moved and kneeled in front of her...

"Will you marry me?" The look of shock grew, and Ushio gasped as I pulled out the ring. "T-T-That's my..." she trailed off, and I nodded. "It was your mother's... But now you can wear it, and let it be known that her kindness and beauty will live on in you..." I said...

Tears came to Ushio's eyes, and she gently wiped them away, then nodded and gave me one of her warm smiles. "Yes!" she said, and I felt a tear come to my eye as well as I held onto her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger...

And with that, I knew my life had truly begun.

A month passed after that, and we had a visit with Dr. Chaan to see if he could determine the sex of our child. Luckily for us, he could.

"It's a boy." he said simply, and Ushio and I smiled, and I leaned in close to her, our cheeks touching. "I'm sure he'll be a handsome kid, just like his father." Dr. Chaan said, giving me friendly wink and walking off.

But then, afterward, we found the hardest obstacle in our path: Choosing a name.

"I have no idea..." I admitted to Ushio. "M-Me neither..." she said, "I only had girl names in mind..." I sighed. I thought naming our kid after Nagisa might be nice, but now... I thought.

"You don't have to rush that," Sanae told us, "Let the name come to you in time. Just like how Nagisa and Tomoya saw the beauty of the waves at the beach, and were able to come up with your name, Ushio." Akio nodded, and said, "That's right! But, you know, maybe naming him after his great grandfather wouldn't be so bad..." Sanae nudged Akio hard, and he sighed. "Or not..."

So Ushio and I stopped discussing it for the time being, and focused on the life ahead of us. Working for the bakery wasn't providing all the money we needed, but my grandmother was able to loan some money to me.

"B-But..." I tried to say, but she shook her head and smiled at me. "Don't worry about it. An elderly lady like myself isn't in need of much now-a-days...I just want to see my great-grandson raised in his own home." I smiled and hugged her, saying, "Thank you..."

After I let go, her face turned serious, and she said, "Um...Tokoi, there's something I should tell you about your father..." I clenched my fist, and I was suddenly reminded of why I hate him. "He recently contacted me, and said he wanted you to know that he's found a job and even has a new girlfriend."

I raised an eyebrow, and didn't know how to respond. My grandmother smiled. "I'm glad that he has finally moved on...He said he regrets hurting you, and wishes you and Ushio a happy life together." she told me...

And, for a reason that I couldn't understand at that moment, I began to cry. What am I doing? Don't I hate him? I told myself...But I suddenly remembered Dr. Chaan and Tomoya's pain...The pain of raising a child alone...

"I know you can't really forgive him, but he only means the best for you..." my grandmother said, setting her hand on my cheek. "I know..." I told her, wiping the tears from my eyes, "I guess I should've accepted it before, and I'm sure mom would be happy too..."

Mom, I thought. The image of her hadn't come into my head for many, many years. I was still too young when she died to remember her, but the picture my father had kept had stayed in my mind...

The resemblance was extraordinary. My dad would tell me that I got all of my good looks from her, and I only just realized that it must have hurt him to even set his gaze upon me...

Knowing this pain...I hope I never have to experience it.

To be continued...

Next Chapter – Tragedy

Note: This chapter is short, but that's only because this next chapter is going to BLOW...YOU...AWAY...And might even make you cry a little.