*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

Izumi walks over to the phone and picks it up.

"Hello Izumi, it's your mother. Are you coming to pick up Mika tonight? I know you're spending time with Kaachan right now, so do you just want to let him stay over?" She said with a hopeful tone. "Izumi?"

Kaachan gets up from his seat and places his hand over his mouth perplexed. "I've got work." He says as he rushes to put on his jacket and grab his briefcase. He stops at the door and turns around, seeing Izumi holding the phone with tearful eyes. Kaachan turns around not allowing her to see his guilt and fear. He quickly and harshly closes the door behind him.

"Izumi? Hello, you there?" Her mother asked worried.

"Sorry, nothing is wrong." She said as she was trying to hold back from crying.

"So is it ok if Mika stays with me tonight? Please?" She pleaded.

"Yes its fine I'll pick him up tomorrow at 1 pm ok?" She said with sorrow in her voice.

Izumi walked over to her bed and began to cry. 'Why doesn't Kaachan love me?' She thought to herself. She then felt her morning sickness starting to kick in. She ran to the toilet and let it all out. She sat back against the wall and placed her hands on her stomach 'He may not love you, but you will be loved.'

(The Next Day)

Izumi woke up at 12pm looking for Kaachan, but remembered that he left her crying last night. She got up and began to get ready to go pick up Mika from her mother's house. When she got to her mother's house Mika was happy to see his mother. Izumi thought to herself that she'll tell Mika that he's going to be a big brother while getting some ice cream.

"Mika I have a surprise for you." She said with the best smile that she could conjure up at the moment.

"What Mama?" He said as he looked at her joyously.

"How would you like to have a brother or sister?"

"I would love a brother!" He screamed enthusiastically.

"Well what if I told you that Mama is going to give you a brother or a sister in a couple of months?"

"Yay!" He said as he jumped out of his seat. "Is Daddy happy too?" He said with a sincere, warm smile.

"Yes, Daddy is happy…" She said with some sorrow in her eyes, but she knew that Mika didn't need to know, he was only 5.