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I'd really appreciate it if you guys would review my work, any critique is welcome. And without further ado, onto the story!

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The next morning I had Kinnosuke wake me up so I could leave early to my doctor's appointment. The trains in Tokyo run like clockwork but you never know what sort of delays that I could possibly have.

I dressed myself in something cute but easy to take off in case the doctor needed me to. I waited at the station for a little while, I wanted to get there as soon as possible but I regretted it. Autumn weather isn't exactly pleasant at eight twenty AM. And I hadn't dressed properly, I should've looked at the weather before I left. Oh well. I got on the train and arrived at the right station with fifteen minutes to spare. It was a five minute walk to the hospital so if I didn't have any delays I would make it there exactly when I needed to. I walked down the busy sidewalk alongside many businessmen and women, I felt a bit out of place to be honest. Then a young woman wearing a medical mask practically ran past me. She was coughing something terrible. Probably trying to catch the train home.

I reached the hospital nine minutes before nine. Perfect. I sat in the waiting room for fifteen minutes and then my name was called. A nurse walked me down a hallway into a small room and asked me to wait. I suddenly felt nauseous and searched for a trashcan of somesort to puke into. My eye caught on next to the door, I dove for it and began to retch into it. As I was doing so someone tried to open the door from the other side. They stopped after they noticed something was in the way and patiently waited for me to move.

I finished up and scooted out of the way of the door. I heard a calm voice say "Mrs Ikezawa, would you kindly seat yourself upon the bed?" I obliged and came face to face with none other than Naoki Irie. My surprise must have been obvious because he responded by saying "The doctor you were supposed to see today came in with a terrible cold, we sent her home immediately. So clearly she wasn't able to see you, they instead chose me. I was the only one available, I apologize on the behalf of the hospital," He bowed his head in a respectful gesture.

He looked tired. I suppose residency isn't exactly easy.

I hugged the trashcan to my chest "Um, thank you. It's too bad that she's sick, I hope she gets better,"

Naoki smiled "Yes, as do I," He picked up a clipboard from the desk next to him. "So we'll have to start with your medical history because this is your first time visiting this hospital," He asked me questions about my family and myself for a bit before saying "Now how have you been feeling lately? Let's figure this bug out, eh? I've already ruled out the 24 hour virus as you've been sick for a couple days now," I sighed "Well it's really just nausea and a bit of fatigue, no achiness like I usually get when I'm sick, and the funny thing is I'm really only nauseous in the morning and late at night. It pretty much goes away in the afternoon and evening,"

Naoki looked at the clipboard briefly before asking me "When was your last period?"

I balked. "It's been nearly three months I think! I've been so busy lately that I didn't even notice,"

Noaki wrote something down before saying "We're gonna do some tests, but from this information alone I'm pretty sure you're a good few months pregnant,"

I wanted to protest him, tell him that I'd been really good about birth control, but maybe I hadn't...I couldn't know, I mean Kinnosuke and I had only been married for barely over four months at the time. Maybe we just weren't as good at it as we'd thought.

Noaki stifled a laugh "I guess you guys are more on top of it than me and Kotoko,"

I chuckled " I guess we are,"

Naoki had asked me to pee in a cup and asked me a few more questions before leaving and then coming back to take the cup. I waited in the room alone for a bit, contemplating how I should tell Kinnosuke. Would he be happy? I'm sure he would but now is such a bad time for a baby with the business and everything, not to mention medical bills. And I won't be able to work as much...maybe I should get a job as a phone advertiser or something I thought to myself.

Then Naoki came in carrying some papers and another clipboard. He smiled at me as he sat down. "You're ten weeks pregnant. You can get an ultrasound if you like,"

I glanced away. Do I want an ultrasound? I should ask Kinnosuke. I've got to tell him, it's his baby too. I ran my fingers through my hair. "I think I'll talk it over with Kinnosuke first,"

Naoki looked at the papers and then back up at me. "Okay, well I can prescribe you some morning sickness medication, it will help with nausea. Call the hospital if it doesn't and I'll prescribe you something else. You'll also want to set up prenatal visits as soon as soon as you can," Naoki handed me some paperwork to fill out and handed me some for Kinnosuke to fill out before I left, he then lead me down the hallway and we chatted a bit. He invited Kinnosuke and I over for dinner sometime, I told him I'd love to.

Right as he was going to say goodbye I asked him not to mention anything to Kotoko. "I want it to be a surprise for everyone, I know how much Kotoko loves babies and I want to be the one to tell her. Also I'm not out of my third trimester yet and you know how pregnancies can be,"

He nodded "Of course, I wouldn't have told her anyway, patients confidentiality and all that,"

I smiled and bowed respectfully. "Have a good day Naoki,'

I filled out the papers and left. Naoki had given me a prescription so I headed straight for the pharmacy down the street. It was nearly eleven O'clock and the sunlight cheerfully filtered through the buildings like honey as it warmed my face. A cold gust of wind blew down the street making my hair erupt into a spray of blonde fire. I tightened my scarf around my neck and burrowed my face into it.

I walked into the pharmacy bringing in many leaves along with me. I gave the clerk my prescription and waited for a bit while he found it. He returned after a bit and I thanked him in japanese and wished him a nice day in english as I left.

The wind had died down a bit and my scarf comfortably rested on my shoulders without blowing this way and that. The walk was uneventful except for a pair of dogs that got into a fight that their owners had to pull them out of. It was rather funny, as one was a black lab and the other a blonde. I skirted the fight, but nonetheless watched until it was done. I knew I had a bit of time before my train so I grabbed a cup of green tea from a coffee shop on the corner before the train stop. It warmed my gloveless hands as I stood at the stop.

The train arrived exactly on time, as usual, so different from london. I quite liked it. I got on the train and saw Kotoko. She was wearing light blue scrubs and pink tennis shoes with a coat that was far too big. She always looked cute, but she almost looked more cute when she wasn't trying to.

I walked over to her "Kotoko, how are you?" I asked quietly. She looked up at me and smiled, we barely had a difference in height but I was wearing slight heels.

"I'm just now heading home from work, how are you?" She whispered, wary of upsetting the other train riders.

"I'm doing alright, I'm also heading home, I'm absolutely famished, I can't wait to have lunch,' I whispered back.

"Why don't you come over to my place? My mom hasn't seen you in quite a while I'm sure she'd love to,"

I contemplated it for a bit before asking "You didn't work too long of a shift didi you?"

"I don't feel tired and I hate sleeping during the day, I'll probably go to bed around six," She replied.

After that I texted Kinnosuke that I'd be visiting Kotoko and having lunch with her he texted me back a thumbs up emoji. I don't know why he's so obsessed with emojis, I've never use them.

The Irie house was clean as always. The white walls glistened with polish and every surface was rid of dust and clutter. Mrs. Irie really did keep a tidy house. So different than Kotoko. I chuckled at the thought. Kotoko took her shoes off at the door and yelled "Mom, I'm Home! Chris is here for lunch! I'm gonna go change quick!~" Her and Naoki's forms of communication, It still baffled me how they got along so well. Mrs. Irie met at the door as I unzipped my boots and took them off.

"Why, hello miss Ro-Ikezawa. Mrs. Ikezawa. It really is a pleasure to see you again, how are you and Kinnosuke doing?" She asked as she stood patiently in the hall.

I finished taking off my boots and bowed " Doing quite well thank you,"

She unfolded her hands "Oh how wonderful. Would you please join me in the kitchen? I've started to make curry and it's almost done, I just need a touch of something, but I can't figure it out,"

I followed her into the kitchen, her slippers padding along the floor. "How is Yuuki doing? He's in middle school isn't he?" She turned around as she reached the island. "Seventh grade, eighth in the spring. He's not as smart as Naoki but I don't mind. He's got lots of friends and even a little girlfriend, being sociable is better than being smart I think,"

I smiled "I agree, having friends is really important. Now, what's up with that curry?"

Mrs. Irie turned to the stove excitedly "I'm not really sure, it doesn't taste right for some reason, here you taste it," She beckoned me over as scooped a spoonful out of the pot.

I took a sip, I knew exactly what was wrong. "There's no tonkatsu sauce in this," I said. Kinnosuke always puts tonkatsu sauce in his curry and now I do to.

Mrs. Irie turned to face me. "I can't believe I forgot to put tonkatsu sauce in it. My head is in the clouds today. So much is going on right now I can barely make out up from down," Her eyes were big but she was smiling.

I chuckled. "What has happened that's so earth shaking?"

"Well Kotoko has just found out that she's pregnant, she hasn't told Irie yet though and I only found out by accident. Now don't say anything, dear Kotoko doesn't know I know,"

I was speechless. This woman had just told me the biggest thing that's ever happened to the Irie family like it was nothing. And I wasn't supposed to say anything? Good grief. I just smiled in response and hoped Kotoko would come into the kitchen as soon as possible.

She did and we ended up having a nice filling lunch that warmed my belly. I'm glad miss Irie didn't have any hard feelings towards me anymore. I think me getting married softened her up a bit. I told Mrs Irie that I really enjoyed the lunch and would be happy to join her again sometime before I left. I then walked out in the the afternoon weather and walked home. The apartment was quite close to the Irie's, barely over a mile. When I got home I had barely taken off my shoes before I flopped down on my bed and passed out.