A/N: Here's Chapter Two of "Hana's Surprise!" Please read, review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Hana's Surprise!

Chapter Two: Hana's Realization!

Shingi watched with an impressed gleam in his eyes. Both him and Hana had started their respective teaching jobs, and though they were teaching different demographics (high school classes for Shingi, and elementary students for Hana), the two partners were settling very well into their respective jobs. So much so that both of them one time brought home gifts from the impressed parents of students from their classes.

Which is what made Shingi stare in amazement at his girlfriend. Hana had been given a box of chocolate-covered strawberries, and after they had dinner, she was devouring them for dessert. Though Shingi liked to eat, and admittedly had something of a sweet tooth himself, he couldn't imagine cramming so many berries into his stomach at one time.

"Wow…you…really love those strawberries you got from your students' parents, don't you, Hana?"

Hana moaned, red juice dripping down her chin as she nodded. Swallowing the fruity, chocolaty mush down her throat, she gushed "Yeah, they're so delicious! I might have to buy more of these at the konbini on my way home from work tomorrow! They're so good!"

Shingi sweatdropped, chuckling at Hana's enthusiasm. "I had no idea you had such a craving for strawberries."

"Chocolate-covered strawberries, dear." Hana teased, correcting him.

"Right…well, if you want them so badly, I guess I can see if I can find some while I'm away at work myself-"

Hana grinned, eyes sparkling as she bounced in her seat. "Really?! You're the best, Shingi! I'll love you forever!"

"I thought you already did." Shingi laughed, though a part of him couldn't help but think his girlfriend's giddiness was a little odd.

I know she's always been an energetic spirit…but this seems a little much, even for her. I wonder what's going on with her…?

Shingi would have taken last night's giddiness over Hana's seemingly bipolar mood just twenty-four hours later. The box of chocolate-covered strawberries he had waiting in hand fell out of his slackened grasp onto the table when he saw his girlfriend's teary-eyed face.

"Hana?" Getting up and walking over to her, he asked "Hana, what's wrong?"

Sniffling, the young elementary school teacher began to cry. "Shingi, I'm an awful teacher, aren't I?!"

In any other moment, Shingi would have laughed at the sheer absurdity of her question. From her compassionate treatment of others to her love of children, there was no doubt in his mind that Hana was the most qualified person to teach children he knew. But the look in Hana's eyes told him that, for whatever reason, she sincerely believed her own nonsense.

"What? No, of course not, Hana. You're a great teacher! Who told you that you were an awful teacher?"

"Shingi, you don't have to lie to make me feel better." Oblivious to her boyfriend's slack-jawed expression, she continued to weep "I know I'm an awful teacher; I'm probably messing up those kids' lives with every class I teach. Oh, I'm gonna get fired, I just know it!"

Shingi sweatdropped, unsure of how to handle things. "Hana, I'm not lying to you, I swear! I don't know how you thought you're a bad teacher, but I think you're being ridiculous-"

Suddenly, Hana's eyes narrowed, suddenly looking as furious as a raging bull. "Oh, you think I'm ridiculous, Shingi?! I pour my heart and soul out to you, and you think I'm ridiculous?!"

Hurt, Shingi narrowed his eyes in anger. "Hana, I said you're being ridiculous, not that you are ridiculous."

The anger on his face and in his voice vanished, however, when he saw his girlfriend reverting from her temperamental state to her prior expression of sorrow and self-loathing. "And now I've gone and snapped at you…I'm not just a terrible teacher, but a pernicious partner, too!"

Burying her face in her palms, Hana ran off. "Hana, wait!" A worried Shingi cried, only to stand powerless as his girlfriend slammed the door to their bedroom.

Sighing, the young man plopped down in the chair. He folded his arms on the table, resting his chin as he tried to figure out what went wrong.

*Knock Knock*

Hana sniffled. "Come in…"

The door creaked open, allowing Shingi to hesitantly slide in. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked once he sat down next to her on the bed.

"…I'm sorry I yelled at you…Kami, I don't know what's wrong with me!"

Shingi rested a comforting hand atop her own folded ones. "What is going on, Hana?"

"I-I don't know…" She admitted. "It's like my emotions are on the fritz lately. Yesterday I felt giddy, today I felt so useless, and I snapped at you at the drop of a pin. It's like I can't control myself anymore!"

Shingi wrapped an arm around his girlfriend, pulling her close as he flashed a warm smile. "Hey, everyone has their off days. I bet by tomorrow morning, you'll feel right as rain."

Shingi chuckled as Hana weakly punched his shoulder, knowing there was no bite to it. On the contrary, though it was still weak, she did manage to give him the slightest of teary smiles.

"…Thanks, Shingi. Sorry again for yelling at you like that."

"I told you, don't worry about it. Kami knows I probably deserve it sometimes." Hana giggled at the unfortunate truth of her boyfriend's admission. "For now, though, why don't you treat yourself?"

Hana gasped as Shingi finally brought out the box of chocolate-covered strawberries he'd been waiting to give to her. "Shingi…did you really…?"

The young man nodded. "I'd been meaning to give you those when you came home. but with everything-"

Shingi's eyes widened, silenced as Hana passionately kissed him on the lips. Breaking off the kiss, she snatched the box and tore the cover straight off. Drool dribbled from her lip as she stared hungrily at the treats within.

"Thank you so much, Shingi! I've been craving more of these all day!" Her expression softening, she looked back to her boyfriend and suggested softly, "Here, why don't we share them?"

Before he could ask what she meant, Hana took a strawberry and, after tearing off the stem, popped it halfway into her mouth. His eyes sparkled as he finally realized her intention and, with a hungry grin of his own, met her lips around the strawberry. As they bit down into the fruit, their juice-covered tongues danced with each other.

The young couple continued their fruity reconciliation, the strawberries vanishing one by one as they enjoyed sharing the sweetened taste through their kisses. Their prior argument and Hana's mood swings forgotten, they relaxed into each other, enjoying the amorous occasion.

The restful state Hana should have woken up in was overruled by a sudden wave of nausea that rudely awoke her from her dreams. Feeling the bile rise up her throat, her eyes widened and she held her palm to her mouth, trying to keep her impending vomit at bay.

Bathroom! I gotta get to the bathroom!

Frantically she thrashed off the bed, accidentally kicking Shingi in the leg and causing him to stir. "Ha…Hana…?"

He blinked in confusion, seeing his girlfriend crawl with gusto into their bathroom. His confused eyes widened in panic at the sound of puking coming from within.

"Hana!"

Ripping the covers off his body, he got to his feet and rushed over to the bathroom. His heart went out to her as he saw her kneeling over the toilet, expelling last night's dinner and dessert from her stomach. Kneeling next to her, he started rubbing her back, desperate to make her bout of illness even a little bit easier.

"I…I'm okay, I'm okay…" she wheezed once the vomit had ceased.

She weakly pulled at the lever, flushing the colorful mixture down the toilet. Continuing to rub her back, Shingi stared in concern.

"Hana, what happened? Did something not agree with you before we went to bed?"

Hana shook her head in confusion. "I-I don't know, Shingi. I don't think I ate anything strange or rotten or even marginally old. I don't know why my body's so temperamental lately. First I couldn't stop eating those strawberries, then my emotions went flying everywhere, then I started getting sick this morning…"

Hana gasped, trailing off as the wheels in her head started to turn. Sickness in the morning…morning sickness. It, the cravings, my mood swings…no, no, no it can't be true! C-Can it…?

"Hana?" Shingi's concerned voice shook her out of her panicked thoughts. "Hana, what are you thinking?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, her legs shook as she tried to stand up, her boyfriend quickly helping her to stay steady. Once she was certain she wouldn't collapse, she looked pleadingly to Shingi.

"Doctor…I…I need to see a doctor, Shingi."

His brow furrowed in confusion, but seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he nodded. "Okay, we'll get dressed, eat a quick breakfast, and then I'll take you to the doctor."

Hana nodded gratefully as she walked out of the bathroom, easing herself out of her boyfriend's grip. Shingi followed after her, concerned for why Hana was so desperate to go to a doctor.

After a quick breakfast that she was sure she wouldn't throw up during the commute, and quick phone calls to their respective schools to inform them that they were calling out sick, the couple went to the nearest doctor's office they could find. Hana was grateful for the brief delay between their arrival and being called into the examination room, for it allowed her stomach to settle and for her to exercise some degree of calm.

Once they followed the doctor to the appropriate room, Hana, accompanied by Shingi underwent a series of physical tests and answered a handful of health-related questions. When they were done, the doctor left the room to compile the information and make an official diagnosis. The uncertainty left Hana extremely nervous, nearly squirming in her seat.

"Hana, Hana…" Shingi squeezed her hand, smiling warmly at her. "It's gonna be okay; I'm probably sure it's nothing. You probably just caught a stomach bug somewhere; it happens to everybody now and then."

I hope you're right, Shingi… Hana prayed …And I hope what I'm thinking is wrong-

At that moment, the doctor came back in, startling her out of her thoughts. Both she and Shingi sat at attention, and Hana clasped her hands together.

"So, what's the diagnosis, Doctor?" Shingi asked. "Is something wrong with my girlfriend?"

Smiling, the doctor shook their head. "No, she's as healthy as a horse. Nothing's wrong with Morime-san." Though Shingi let out a sigh of relief, Hana tensed up for the inevitable addendum. "Actually, her tests showed good news."

"Good news…?" Shingi parroted, tilting his head in confusion while Hana turned pale as a sheet.

Oh no…so it's…true…?

"Morime-san, you're expecting a baby. Congratulations on your pregnancy."