Heh. I had wanted to do a 30 day challenge, but by the time the time came around I realized that I was not going to have the time and energy to do it, so yeah.
Not going to lie, not having the time to get into something like that is a good thing because I start a new job tomorrow, the first after a year without one. I'm also going to use my brand new Nurse's Assistant license for it that I got in mid-October, so yay! Also, it's a sign I have to finish my stories before I start a new one.

Anyways, enjoy this longer chapter!

P.S. This chapter contains what month everything started in, in case you were curious.

At three months pregnant, you could be still experiencing those early pregnancy symptoms. However, a lot of women start finding that their nausea starts to happen less frequently and their appetite returning by the tenth week. Unfortunately, others could still experience this for a while longer. Fatigue continues as well, so it's best to rest and hydrate often. Also, don't be alarmed if skin starts to discolor, especially around the nipples and sometimes on the stomach or face. They are usually not permanent and will usually fade after the birth.

Sources: Healthline and Pampers

It was hot.

Megumi sat up from her sofa, blinking until the blurriness of her eyes cleared up. She then looked around, noticing that the throw that she had earlier was now in a messy pile on the floor. She also noticed how the light had changed in the room, indicating that it was now the middle of the afternoon instead of late morning.

"How long did I sleep for this time?"

The question was to herself, as there was absolutely no other soul in the apartment. Or there shouldn't be. The only person who had been regularly visiting lately had been Isshiki, who, if she went by the time on her phone and the schedule he gave her, should still be in class. Nene and Hinako were the only others close by, but they called much more often than visited her personally because of schedules.

Nene did come by once during their break, though. The woman had swung by a few days after their forced vacation with the intent of checking in on her. Nene had told her that she had purposely waited that long as not to bother Megumi if she was recovering. The bluenette filled in her in on her condition for the most part, telling her as much as she told Isshiki. During the visit brunet had also come by because he had decided to spend part of his days off with Megumi until she felt better. Eventually, they ended up taking a stroll around the area until Nene had to go. She was planning to go visit her family later on that week and she wanted to start getting ready for the trip.

"Etsuya has been asking me to take some more time off." She had mentioned a little before leaving. "I think he wants to go somewhere."

"Is he managing to convince you?" Isshiki asked.

"Perhaps." Nene had then looked at Megumi. "If you still don't feel good by the time your break is up, Hinako wouldn't mind extending it."

"I was fine when she forced me on it in the first place." Megumi pouted. The bluenette noticed the looks that the slightly older adults gave to each other. "I just don't like being idle for long periods of time." She had explained. And it was true. Ever since high school she had felt that way. If she wasn't doing something for school, Soma would drag her along in whatever he was doing. She even went on some trips with him after they graduated.

Megumi shook her head. This was another reason she wanted to go back to work. If she was idle for far too long her thoughts would go back to Soma, and it still hurt.

The bluenette stood up. She needed to find something to do before she became depressed again. Honey eyes flitted to the clock on the wall, and her brain started to figure out time.

Maybe she should visit Isshiki. She knew the way to the school he was at since he had taken her there before on an off day. And it only made sense that she should surprise him this time around.

It wasn't long before Megumi found herself in front of the classroom that Isshiki was teaching in. She stayed out of sight, leaning against the wall as she listened to her friend's voice coming through. Judging by how much he was talking and the lack of food scents she concluded that it was just lecture today. She looked at her phone, pleased that she had arrived when she had planned, which was about ten minutes before Isshiki finished for the day.

Megumi thought Isshiki could be a great teacher. He was always the "big brother" of the dorm, always helping her and their dormmates with school and cooking. Even when he graduated he stayed close enough to help out in anyway he could, sometimes even spending nights in case he was working with his juniors until the moon was high. Fumio had not minded. She had a soft spot for all her kids. He did actually leave after her class graduated but still kept in contact with all of them.

Soon Megumi heard the rustle of bags and the scraping of chairs, a clear sign that the class was over. She waited for the small class to walk out before peeping in. Isshiki was standing by his desk, his phone in hand and facing away from the door. She watched him place the phone to his ear and she was about to back out to give him privacy when she felt her own phone buzzing in her hand.

Isshiki was calling her.

An impish smile tugged at her lips as she quickly decided what to do. She let her phone buzz as she quietly walked in. She stood a few steps behind him, hearing a grunt as her phone stopped vibrating.

"That's weird. She usually answers her phone after a few rings."

"Sorry for not answering my phone this time." Megumi spoke up, her smile growing when the man jerked and spun around. "I just thought I didn't need to since we could talk face to face."

"Megumi." He chuckled. "You surprised me."

"That was my intention."

"Was this payback for always doing the same thing?"

"Just for showing up this time around. I can never get you back for the PTSD I have from you from our school days. I still look up at roof tiles thinking that you'll pop out from them."

"Why would I need to do that when I can come through the window? After all, you do live on the first floor."

"Isshiki Satoshi, I swear if you come through any of my windows I will throw the closest object I have in your face."

"Go through your bedroom one. Got it." Isshiki started to laugh. Meanwhile, Megumi was frustrated and embarrassed. She turned around and nearly stomped away.

"Megumi…" Isshiki called out to her during his fit. But the bluenette paid no heed and continued on. It was only when she heard hurried footsteps and a hand grabbed hers.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Isshiki encased her hand between his and brought them high enough to place his forehead on them. "Can I make it up to you?"

"…Perhaps." For a moment, she had forgotten her embarrassment as she took in the feeling of his hands around hers. They were warm, but not the unpleasant warm that she had woken up to earlier. Nor did it feel like when Soma would grab her hand to take her somewhere. However, she could not take the time to pinpoint what it was because someone cooed at them. Megumi had not notice that she had walked all the way to the front and now the middle-aged receptionist she had greeted earlier was smiling sweetly at them. Megumi's embarrassment came back and turned to mortification as her hand slid out from Isshiki's to cover her face. She heard her friend chuckle and say farewell to the other woman before leading her out of the building.

"I'm guessing that you saw the pictures that Soma posted in the chat. He's in South Africa still, right?" Isshiki asked.

"No. I haven't seen them. I guess he still is. You know how he can be in one place one day and be across the world the next without telling anyone." Megumi still hadn't told Isshiki what had happened between her and Soma. But she knew he knew something was up. He was perceptive like that.

"Have you eaten?" Isshiki changed the subject, which Megumi was grateful for.

"I had some rice balls this morning around seven. My stomach wasn't feeling the best. But if you are hungry we can get something to eat. I think I can hold something more down now."

"I can make something just to be safe." He offered. "Or we can." He corrected when Megumi opened her mouth to argue.

"Okay." Megumi relented.

They ended up going Isshiki's place. He had described it as an inn room but it was more like a small house in a private community. It had state of the art cooking gear and nearby was a store that had many ingredients, some even hard to find in Japan. Even though the houses were only for people who had connections to Totsuki, the store was open to the public. Megumi could have lived here if she wanted, but she enjoyed her home in the quieter district. And it was closer to Kirinoya which was a bonus.

The meal was complex enough to make together but simple enough for Megumi to eat at first. It was about two hours later when she was looking at her swollen feet while Isshiki was playing a game when she got the familiar and sudden urge to vomit.

"I'm so sorry…" She apologized after she had once again expelled everything from her stomach. Isshiki had fixed up a simple tea that she was currently sipping on. "I thought I could hold it down." Isshiki made a non-committal sound before sitting across from her. Megumi, feeling self-conscious about his intense gaze, averted her eyes to the tablecloth. It was decorated with tropical fruits.

"I think…" Megumi looked up when her friend finally spoke. "…you should go to the doctor."

"I don't-"

"Please." He didn't say anything else. He didn't need to. Megumi could see the concern and desperation on his face, which was something she had only seen once or twice before. Guilt twisted in her gut as she thought about him, Nene, and Hinako and how they all were worried about her. How she refused to tell them anything yet they were trying to take care of her.

She keeps screwing up with her friends, doesn't she?

"Alright." She nodded. "I'll go see one."

Honestly, Megumi would have put off her doctor's visit a little longer if it hadn't been for Hinako calling her the day after the visit to Isshiki's. Megumi's vacation was due to end soon and the bluenette had perked up thinking that the call for a schedule. However, it seemed like Isshiki had gotten a hold of the restaurant owner because Hinako told her that her break had been extended because she was still so nauseous and would not be allowed to come in until she saw a doctor and they said it was okay.

Megumi fumed after she hung up. She said she was fine. Why was everyone pushing her to rest? She was feeling even worse now that her mind was not as occupied. She started to contemplate to pull a Soma and disappear to different parts of the world, where no one she met would care enough about her health and she could ignore whoever she wished. But then, rationality came back to her. Soma doing that to her is what got her into this state in the first place. She might make her friends sad if she did that. And it wouldn't be fair to everyone who had taken care of her to this point without asking too many questions, especially Isshiki.

That's why she went to the clinic a couple of hours later. It was the middle of the weekday, so the wait was not that long. They did her height and weight and Megumi was surprised to see that she had gained a bit despite eating less. Her blood pressure was also a little higher than usual.

"You are primarily here for nausea, Tadokoro?" The nurse asked soon after.

"Yes."

"How long has it been occurring?"

"On and off for about…two months?"

"Can you keep food and liquids down?"

"All liquids but with food it depends. Sometimes I can hold heavier foods but the next day I am unable to eat those same foods." There was a longer silence as the nurse tapped in her answers.

"Anything else that is bothering you or out of the ordinary for your body?"

Megumi thought about it for a few moments.

"Well, I have been sensitive to smells lately. It even sometimes makes me vomit if I get an overload. I've also been feeling a little swollen around the same time. And I've been taking more naps than usually, nearly every day." Megumi pause to think a little more. "And…more emotional. But I think the last two is because something had made me really upset and I'm still recovering from that. Actually, that's what I think is affecting me altogether. I'm just…sad. But my friends told me to come in."

"It's always good to check." The nurse said. "Especially if something like this happens." She clicked away on her keyboard before she hummed.

"Tadokoro, when was the last date of your menstruation cycle?"

Megumi blinked. That was something she hadn't bothered thinking of.

"May, I think. I don't usually worry about it because it's usually regular. I did feel some cramping in June, though."

"Well, it is concerning since it's August now and you haven't had one since May. Are you on any birth control? Sometimes that affects cycles."

Megumi shook her head.

"Are you sexually active?"

Megumi stiffened as hazy memories she tried to forget flashed through her mind.

"Can you define that?" She asked weakly.

"Have you ever had any sexual relations? As soon as you have one you become sexually active."

"…Yes. I am."

The nurse nodded before she got up from her seat. She opened a cabinet and handed Megumi a container.

"I need a urine sample, Tadokoro. Are you able to provide one for me at the moment?"

After she had done what was needed, Tadokoro sat back in the examination room alone. She thought about the questions that the nurse had asked. The questions had been asked before, every year since she was in high school. But for some reason they felt a little more ominous. She checked her phone, seeing that Isshiki had replied to her message about her going to the doctor.

Tell me what happens, okay?

Okay. Megumi typed out an affirmative.

It didn't take too long for someone to knock on the door. Once Megumi answered, a new woman came in. The bluenette assumed that it was the doctor.

"Hello." She bowed. "My name is Eto and I'll be your doctor today."

"Nice to meet you, Doctor Eto."

"Let's see…" Eto started to read off the symptoms that Megumi had told the nurse and when Megumi confirmed them, she continued.

"Are you aware that you are pregnant, Tadokoro?"

"…. What?"

"The symptoms that you are experiencing are what you expect with pregnancy. We took a urine sample to test for that and both times came positive."

"That's…that's not possible." Megumi could feel her body shaking. The doctor had to call her twice before the bluenette was able to stare at her. "We can also do an ultrasound to be sure."

Megumi nodded, hope flaring in her chest.

However, her hope was truly killed off when she saw the ultrasound.

She got a prescription for her nausea. She was told to notify the Health Office as soon as possible. She was also given other instructions as well, but the nice staff noticed how shocked she was and gave her paperwork to review later on.

Somehow, she managed to keep herself in control until she got home. She didn't even know how she made the walk home. As soon as she closed her door, her legs buckled and her back slid against the polished wood as she sunk to the floor.

She was pregnant.

She was nearly four months pregnant.

And Soma was the father.

"Soma…" She mumbled. She had to tell him! She fumbled around for her phone. Even though it had been weeks since she had looked up his name in her contacts, she easily found him. She held the phone to her ear as it rang…

"The number you have…"

"God-fucking-damn it!" Megumi screamed, throwing her phone in rage. She vaguely noticed the awful sound it made in the distance.

But she didn't care.

"Why?" She wailed . "Why did I have to love you? Why couldn't I just stay your friend? Why was I so stupid? Why? Why? Why?" She cried harder, unable to form words at that moment.

She was angry.

She was frustrated.

She was scared.

But all she could was cry.

Megumi wept until she made herself sick. She stumbled to her bathroom, her knees nearly slamming on the tile as she retched. At one point during her dry heaves she ended up on her side on the cold tile. She didn't have the energy to get up.

She didn't even have the energy to cry anymore.

Numbly, her hand went to her abdomen. She didn't even feel a bump. But she knew that a new life was growing in her.

How could she take care of someone else's life when she could barely take care of herself?

"I'm so sorry." She whimpered. "To you and to everyone else." There were so many things she could have done differently. But she didn't.

"I really am an idiot."