Notes:
Hello, Vera here! Did you miss me?
Well, as you know I'm back from my vacation and here I come to leave you this chapter.
I hope you like it
It's time for Maki to question herself a bit about what a home really is for her, it's also time to talk a bit about mother and father figures, and by the way, it's time to finally meet little Niji.
So here there will be some flashbacks combined with the present. Without further ado, Enjoy the chapter which is a long one.
Apologies if there are some errors in the translation.
I'm doing the best I can, if you don't like this translation you could read the fic in its original language, Spanish.
An apology if it took me months to update this fic, but here's a new chapter ❤
15. Nets
Autumn 🍂
21 weeks pregnant (Six months)
August 19
It had definitely been a busy week for the new mother-to-be. Perhaps all Maki needed was a break and to be heard.
Also, she also felt the need to find answers to one of the many questions she had been dragging around for days.
And that day she might finally find the words she needed to hear.
"Is that a nest?" She wondered quietly as her mind still wandered a bit.
"Maki san" Megumi named her.
It seemed strange to Megumi to see his relative very distracted, who had been looking at a branch that had caught his attention for almost 10 minutes.
Maki was sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree in the main courtyard that was used for training at the academy.
"Maki san, are you all right?" asked Megumi, but Maki still didn't listen or pay attention to him.
"Hey, I brought you the tea you asked for" the sorcerer of the ten shadows said once more, but she continued to ignore him as she was still super distracted looking at that branch.
"Home..." whispered Maki in a low voice.
Megumi didn't understand that behavior, he sighed as he held that can, so to bring her back to reality, he dared to do something that would make her upset, but that he also knew would make her react.
He put that cold can against his aunt's cheek. That reaction made the woman come out of her apparent trance violently.
"Megumi! What the hell are you doing?" Maki shouted and growled in annoyance as she rubbed her cheek from the cold that was burned her skin.
"Ask if YOU are okay."
"What is the reason for this question?" asked Maki with a grimace.
"I say this because you kept looking at the tree and by the way, I say it for them" Megumi pointed to three students who were super tired at the side of the court.
Maki for a moment had forgotten that she was currently training the three first-year students. They were a girl with long black hair and two boys. One of them was very serene with brown hair and the other was very cheerful with blue-black hair.
The poors guys were super exhausted from the workout that Maki had made them do that afternoon.
Which consisted of doing some laps under the sun and doing push-ups, squats, sit-ups and other exercises that were not finished yet.
"Sensei Okkotsu. Can we rest now?" asked the girl in the group. She was drenched in sweat.
"Just go around one more time!" commented Maki, caressing her huge belly, "You really need a lot of condition to accomplish your missions.
The students reproached this, and raised their voices in annoyance.
"But we have already run more than ten laps of!"
"And they still need weapons training and, incidentally, to be thrown through the air to resist more attacks!" explained Maki, crossing her arms.
"But we are already tired!" reproached the blue-haired studen.
"It's hot! Summer is almost over and that makes it more unbearable!" commented the girl.
"We can't take it anymore! Mercy!" the blue-haired student spoke again.
"Besides, we have to go on a reconnaissance mission in a while and we haven't rested" commented the brown-haired student, who was the most serious of the three.
Maki twisted her mouth "Stop complaining, when I was your age, just a few years ago, I would start training early in the morning and after school I would train too. Even when I was tired I was sent on missions just like you and I didn't complain. On the contrary, I kept training day and night without rest"
"Yes, but that was back in the day..." commented the girl in the group with annoyance.
Maki narrowed her eyes, "You guys better not piss me off. Or have you forgotten that I was the one who trained your master Yuta and your master Fushiguro?" She commented with a look full of malice, "Do you want me to beat you up" she said with a smile, "Because the pain of my blows lasts for years. If not, ask Fushiguro sensei"
Those three students turned to look at Megumi.
"She's right, I still ache from her blows" commented he looking at the students and moving his shoulders a little at the memory of those blows.
Those three trembled a little just of imagining that situation. And they even swallowed saliva with too much fear as they imagined how Maki trained some of the strongest sorcerers today.
Those faces gave Maki some amusement.
"Hehe But it's okay, go rest!" she waved her hand simply.
"You're lucky I can't swing a sword right now, so weapons training can be taken another day with Fushiguro sensei or with my husband when he has time"
"Thank you teacher!" commented the student who was the most serious.
"Now leave before I change my mind, I'll see you another day" said Maki with a broad smile as she opened her can of tea.
"Thank you very much sensei, we will see you and your baby another day!" said the blue-haired student, who seemed to be the friendliest of the three.
Maki sighed as she rubbed her six-month belly peeking out from under those sports clothes.
Again she looked up into the branches of that tree as she took a first sip of the drink Megumi had brought her.
"You seem very distracted today. Are you sure everything is all right?" he asked, taking a seat next to her.
"I just have a lot on my mind" explained Maki with a sigh, "It's been a heavy week and I have some decisions to make" she took another sip.
"I guess part of these decisions is due to the baby shower Nobara is organizing for you, right?" asked Megumi before opening his can of coffee.
"Yes, that's a big problem too!" she grunted as she stroked her belly.
Megumi sighed.
"Nobara won't stop talking about it, she even has a huge list of things she wants to buy you for the reveal party" he took a sip of his drink.
"I know, and she'll be even more excited when she's the first to know the sex of this baby"
"She still doesn't know?" Megumi explained "I thought she already knew since she seems so enthusiastic about a certain color"
"No, she doesn't know yet. She will only find out in a few days, when she accompanies me to Azami San to tell him if this baby is a girl or a boy" she let out a discouraged sigh, "And I know I gave her my word that she could give me this baby shower. So I can't go back on this decision any more than I can go back on my decision to be a mother" Maki lower her shoulders "I just hope she doesn't do anything extravagant.
Megumi noticed the discouragement in those words "I understand. Well, let's just hope she doesn't exaggerate so much with that party" he drank his coffee "Even so, I doubt it."
"Although… a part of me is accepting in a good way the fact that Nobara is doing all this for my baby and for me. And more that I feel that this baby shower would be something that Mai would also do for me" replied Maki turning her head to look him in the eyes.
"Why do you think so?"
"I don't know how to explain it all, but I have the feeling that the things Nobara is doing for me in this pregnancy, I feel that Mai would also do the same things if she were alive..." Maki caressed her belly and left her hand on it as she felt her baby move "And I mean things like this organizing my baby shower, as well as showing me maternity clothes and choosing clothes for my baby, also she shows me things and accessories that maybe the baby and I will need once I give birth, as well as Nobara is at times reminding me to take my vitamins and is watching over me especially when Yuta is on a mission outside the city..."
She Sigh while she moved that can of tea in her hand "For all that, a part of me thinks that if Mai were still alive, she would also do all that for me..." her voice wanted to break "I know that she would have loved to be an aunt..."
"I understand" Megumi answered serenely, he thought that Maki was going through a stage of pure nostalgia due to pregnancy and longing for the past "And maybe you are right. Mai would have done it for you"
He thought it was all due to her hormones.
"Yes, I think so too. Although I haven't dreamed about her for several months now. The last time she came to visit me in my dreams, was that time when I found out I was pregnant, that time when I finished my mission when we traveled to Atami, remember?"
"I don't forget the scare you gave Okkotsu senpai and me"
Maki laughed lightly at that answer.
"Well, that time Mai scolded me for my recklessness in fighting that curse while pregnant"
Megumi knew what she meant. It was that time Maki woke up crying and screaming Mai's name in Atami.
"Perhaps she is waiting for the moment she considers opportune to visit you again" consoled Megumi.
"Yes, maybe you're right. Maybe she's just waiting for me to make more recklessness or mistakes to come and scold me that I'm doing something wrong" she let out a light laugh that came from her chest and then turned into a heavy sigh.
Maki continued speaking while tenderly caressing her belly, "But the one I've been remembering lately is my mother" the corners of her lips lowered.
"Your mother?" There was a hint of confusion and curiosity in his voice "Do you dream about her or just remember her?"
"Yes to her" Maki sighed, "They are memories because they don't feel like a dream" she drank more of her tea before continuing to speak, "They feel like memories from many, many years ago. Maybe they must be very old memories of mine about my mother before she went crazy"
"Maki san, Did you love your mother?" asked Megumi curiously.
She sighed as she looked at her belly.
"No"
The jet-haired man kept silent at that resounding answer.
Maki continued speaking, "I confess that I didn't love her because she was never really a good mother to us, even so, I have very present the only happy memory I have of her, which is one where she, Mai and I were in a small flower garden, that time I think the three of us had left the Zenin residence for some things. I just remember we were sitting among the flowers. Mai and I were playing while my mother watched us and smiled. Maybe that was the only time I remember her smiling... it was also the last time I remember her as a sane woman" her gaze lowered and she looked at her belly "Definitely her being a servant in the Zenin clan and combined with the mistreatment she received from my stupid father and everyone else inside that house made her lose her mind…Still, I just hope she is resting in a better place or if she is in hell, it is not too much of an ordeal"
Megumi upon hearing this, began to better understand why Maki was conflicted about the issue of motherhood since it was due to the Zenin clan in general.
"What about you Megumi? Do you remember your mother? Do you remember what she was like?"
He shook his head no. "Not exactly. I understand that my mother died when I was a baby. I don't remember Tsumiki's mother's face either. But that's something I don't care about anymore."
"I see…" Maki leaned her hands on the bench and leaned her head back, "It seems we've had nothing but absentee mothers. And I don't want that for my baby…"
The sorcerer sighed at those words.
"Megumi, do you think we will be good parents?" asked Maki surprisingly. He only raised an eyebrow at such a question. "What?"
"What I'm trying to say is that do you think that because of our damn lineage, we will be good parents in general? I ask since it seems that neither fatherhood nor motherhood are strong points for the Zenin's"
"I really don't know" Megumi looked at what was left of the coffee in his can. "Everyone experiences parenthood differently. So you'll have to figure that out on your own. Although I don't think you're going to be a bad mother"
Maki sighed at such words.
"I think you're right, I want to be the best mother for this baby" she moved her legs a little "Although I also feel that this issue of how our parents were in general is affecting Yuta."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because does he want us to go look for his parents to give them this news..." she sighed and crushed the can with her right hand in total annoyance.
"Does Okkotsu senpai still keep in touch with his parents?" asked Megumi.
"He is not very close to them, let's just say that the situation with his parents is somewhat complicated"
"Complicated?" Megumi's eyebrows drew together slightly at such a response.
"Yes, let's say that my in-laws are not very "close" to Yuta and they are somewhat "difficult" people to deal with" Maki caressed her belly. "The truth, it's very difficult to have a conversation with them, even when I met them, they didn't seem to like me and now that I'm going to have a baby from their cursed son... I don't think they like the idea that their first grandchild is born from me and can inherit Yuta's power" she sighed heavily, "I guess I'm afraid of how they might react to this news. They didn't even attend our religious wedding"
"Did they react badly when they met you?" asked Megumi seriously.
Maki pouted. "I could see their faces of shock and disgust when they met me. I guess they expected Yuta to marry a woman with perfect skin and who was "Normal" and didn't see any curses, you know what I mean? No?" she waved her hand back and forth, "Maybe they wanted their son to marry someone like Rika once he was an adult"
"I understand," Megumi put aside his can and sighed, "It's common that non- spellcasters can be afraid of us."
"Yes, but that's not all. There's something else Yuta said that makes me crazy and a bit annoyed!" she crushed the can even more angrily.
That behavior surprised Megumi, Maki really looked upset.
"What else did Okkotsu senpai say?"
"He said..."
Flashback
Two days ago.
"Move in?" came out of Maki's mouth with surprise.
That word froze her in that moment, she was sitting on the edge of her bed as she caressed her belly.
Both she and Yuta had woken up early to go to their respective jobs and missions assigned to them that day and, also, they wanted to be free shortly after noon since they were going to buy a gift for Utahime sensei, who the day before had given birth to her baby.
So very soon they would go to visit her to meet little Niji.
It was so surprising what her husband said, that Maki was still processing those words as she put on her slippers and got up from that bed.
"I think it's time to look for a new home, it's a good time to move" he had said with a slight smile.
"Are you serious?" asked Maki again. She looked annoyed as she stood up.
Yuta scratched his cheek a little when he saw his wife's reaction, he was finishing dressing at the side of his closet "Yes, I was thinking that maybe it would be a good idea to move to a bigger apartment" he looked at his room "with this baby, we are going to need more space"
"But we've only been here for a little over a year! And I'm telling you, I don't want to move out yet!" Maki said annoyed as she combed her fingers through her now longer hair, leaving her room in her pajamas, crossing the hallway to go into her kitchen to take her pre natal vitamins.
Her husband followed her into the kitchen, "But listen to me Maki!" he was interrupted.
"ALSO!" She put the pills in her mouth and drank the water.
She swallowed and continued speaking, "We barely finished furnishing here and that was only two months before we conceived this baby" she said with a grimace as she pulled out the ingredients to prepare her breakfast, "So I don't feel ready to leave here!"
She took out some eggs and rice from the refrigerator, as well as her miso soup that she craved so much in the mornings. She also started to snack on some fruit.
Her husband sighed as he embraced herand rested his hands on his wife's belly.
"I know, but even so, I feel like we're going to need space for the baby's things. And looking at a new apartment won't hurt"
Maki rolled her eyes, she didn't seem to be in a good mood that morning.
"Looking for a new apartment is too tiring. Have you forgotten how exhausting it was to find this place and how rushed we were with the moving?" she answered still with a grimace on her lips.
"-I still remember it very well" Yuta looked around to admire their small home from that view in the kitchen that allowed them to look into the small living room they had, "But still, this topic is important" he said seriously.
Maki sighed as well, looking where her husband was looking.
In theory, their apartment was not as large as one would think. But it was spacious and comfortable enough for the two of them.
That home consisted of a small living room, which was very close to the dining room and the kitchen, which was only divided by a small bar.
They had a bathroom which was large enough, since it had enough space for the bathtub.
Besides that, in that hallway they also had their small space where their dryer and washing machine were located. The one that was responsible for Nobara finding out that the two of them were secretly married.
At the end of that hallway and next to the bathroom, they had the only room in that apartment. Which was the room they both shared.
That place also had a small balcony, which overlooked the street and had a good view of the sunset.
That apartment was in an area with a lot of pedestrian movement, since it was very close to a train station that took twenty minutes to the center of the city of Tokyo, so it was a place that was in a modern and busy neighborhood.
They were also close to many convenience stores
Although really with their sorcerer salaries they could afford something much bigger and more luxurious, but they were both very comfortable there or so it seemed.
"This place is our home and I don't want to leave it so quickly..." said Maki with a sigh.
"I know, but with time, this apartment will be too small for us once the baby is born and starts to crawl and then start walking" Yuta kissed Maki's shoulder "Only this is a point that I think we should be thinking and planning in time as the couple we are and as the parents we will soon be" He caressed her belly "Besides, we still need to buy the crib and other things for our baby Osaka"
"I thought we talked about that. We said that once this baby is born he will sleep next to us for the first year. We had agreed that we would co-sleep with he" Maki grunted. She didn't want to think about everything they had yet to buy at that moment.
The sorcerer sighed. He knew he wouldn't change her mind any time soon, especially if she hadn't had breakfast.
"I know, Maki, and I will respect the year of co-sleeping, but still, just think about it, okay? Our son will need his own space after that first year of life" Yuta kissed her shoulder once more and continued talking.
"I've started looking at some apartment options that are much more spacious than this one, as well as looking at a house or two. All those options I have left on the living room table, I wanted us to look at them together but I am getting late for my mission."
His wife snorted at those words.
Yuta gently released her as Maki turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I just want you and our son to be in a "nest" that you consider comfortable for both of you. As I said I want to see and give everything to you two" said Yuta with a slight smile.
Maki was still looking at him seriously and silently.
"Do you think you could take a look at the options I have seen? Please? I also need your opinion about those places I have found for the three of us" asked Yuta looking her in the eyes.
Maki could see the excitement in his eyes, he was really considering the move.
She rolled her eyes. "Okay, I'll take a look at them before I leave for the academy" her voice sounded pessimistic.
Her husband gave her a kiss on the lips. "Thank you, I love you!" said Yuta with a big smile and because he was in a hurry, he took out some pieces of toast that Maki had put in the toaster.
"Yuta, won't you stay for breakfast?" she asked as he began to eat some chopped fruit.
"Not this time. I'm sorry Maki but I have to go now" he said with his mouth full and hurrying to swallow those pieces of bread and fruit. "As I said, I want to leave early so I can be with you all afternoon and also so we can go buy a present for Utahime sensei and little Niji" he drank from a bottle of water.
"True, her baby was born yesterday..." Maki commented softly, caressing her belly.
It was amazing how fast time was passing and now Maki only had almost four months to go before her little soybean seed was born.
"I love you!" her husband said once again and stole a kiss from her distracted lips, "I'll see you later at the academy!"
Yuta said goodbye almost in a hurry because he had to leave for his mission.
Maki sighed as she watched him run to the front door, put on his shoes and grab his sword sheath and then run out of there.
"I love you too..." she said in a whisper as she watched him walk out the door.
Although they had been living together in that home for more than a year, there were still days when Maki felt nostalgic when she saw Yuta leaving many times in the morning, especially when their mission schedules did not coincide and they did not see each other all day. That made her nostalgic and now with this pregnancy, that feeling increased twice as much.
The alarm that warned that the rice was ready began to sound. Just as the smell of miso soup invaded the kitchen.
Maki turned off the stove and the rice machine. She made herself some scrambled egg and while she was at it, she made herself some tea and decided to have breakfast sitting on the couch.
She carried all her breakfast on a wooden tray and placed it on the tea table where those leaves left by Yuta were.
As she put some food in her mouth, she looked at the places he had begun to consider as their new "nest" as Yuta had named it.
But since she was not in a good mood that morning, she decided to ignore those leaves and started watching TV instead. She really wasn't feeling well enough at that time to move.
Back to the present with Maki and Megumi
Megumi began to speak after hearing that version from Maki
"Well, Okkotsu senpai has a very valid and well-founded reason for them to get another place. A son will always need his own space"
"I know that Megumi, I just don't want to move" she stressed those words with too much annoyance "And even less when I'm four months away from giving birth, I don't want to stress about moving in my state" she sighed "That apartment is my home, it's my "nest"" she said looking at the branches "And I don't want to leave it yet."
Those words caught Megumi's curiosity.
"By the way, Maki san, I never asked this before but how did you get that apartment where you currently live?"
A big smile formed on her face. One more memory had come to her mind. "Hehehehe, an old woman sold it to us. It's funny how we came across it since" she let out a slight chuckle "Yuta always has a strange luck with old ladies" she sighed.
Maki began to remember that day when they found their current apartment.
Flashback
A year ago. Mid-March.
"Damn our luck!" grumbled Maki, who was very upset, "Why didn't that salesman wait for us to complete the payment? Did that stupid couple pay him more?"
"We'll find a better place to move to" said Yuta, caressing his wife's arms.
"Yuta, we have to find a place soon and we have to deliver that apartment in two weeks!" Maki really looked stressed, "And going back to living in the academy dormitories is not in my plans."
These newlyweds were still looking for a place to live.
They had only been living in their first apartment for two months, since they found the place shortly after their civil marriage.
But unfortunately their run of bad luck was getting worse because the place where they were living at the moment had been requested by the owner and the other apartment that had caught their attention had just been won by another couple.
"I know. Still, we can keep looking. I will try to talk to Mr. Yamaguchi to give us the opportunity to continue living there for at least another week while we find our new home"
Maki sighed at that comment. She felt pressured.
At that moment, they noticed that they were in a neighborhood they had not entered before. It came to their attention that there was a convenience store a few meters away from them.
"I'm thirsty, let's go in and buy at least a bottle of water and something to eat on the way" commented Yuta with a slight smile. Maybe that would also calm his wife's anger.
Maki sighed. "Ok" she said with annoyance.
Once inside, Maki and Yuta had some drinks and some onirigis and sandwiches. They were a bit far from their old apartment, so they would eat on the way.
Once they left that store, they noticed that an elderly woman was having some trouble with a curse that was bothering her with her shopping bags.
Yuta did not hesitate to help her.
Maki just observed how her husband was very helpful, she knew that he was a good man and that compared to her, he did not hesitate to help others and that made her feel proud of her husband.
Yuta quickly eliminated that curse, guiding his positive energy in his hand on that specter to end it quickly.
"Is ok?" asked the special grade sorcerer, approaching the older woman, who seemed surprised to see that the specter was eliminated with the touch of the man's palm.
"Thank you very much, young man, for eliminating that spirit that has been chasing me for years" said the old woman.
"No problem" Yuta replied with a big smile.
"Can you see those things? I mean those spirits?" asked Maki approaching the woman and Yuta.
"Since I came back from a trip a few years ago, I started to see that spirit everywhere. I guess it rubbed off on me after I went to an ancient temple near the Aokigahara forest" said the woman, her shoulders feeling lighter.
"It is very common for such spirits to attach themselves to people in places with a lot of negative charge" said Maki.
"But from now on he won't bother you anymore" Yuta replied with a faint smile.
"Let me repay you in some way since you have helped me with that being that bothered me" said the old woman with a slight bow "Please, let me invite you to my humble home for dinner"
Maki and Yuta looked at each other. Maki gave him a look that this was not a good idea, but Yuta made puppy eyes, that they could not refuse since he did not know how to say NO and even less coming from a lady like her.
Maki sighed and pouted slightly. She knew she had married someone very kind.
"OK, it will be a pleasure to accompany her" Maki finally gave in.
These sorcerers accompanied the elderly woman to her apartment. They were both surprised to see the building where she lived. It looked modern from the outside and was very well kept and was very close to a train station.
Even that place was located in a very comfortable area.
Yuta helped the old woman with her errand bags, while Maki walked beside her husband and spoke various topics with the woman.
An announcement caught the attention of Maki as they entered the elevator of that apartment building. The sheet of paper said in large and very legible letters "Apartment for sale" accompanied by a photograph of the place and a telephone number.
"Is there an apartment for sale in this place?" asked Maki curiously.
"There is" the old lady replied with a smile as the elevator doors opened, "And that apartment is mine"
Maki and Yuta turned to look at each other in surprise once the old woman said that.
"Come, I'll show them to you if you like"
Once the three of them got off the elevator, they approached the old woman's apartment.
To the surprise of those two, Mrs. Kimura had been living there for years and greeted the old lady who was arriving with her guests, while she was watering the plants she had at the entrance of her apartment. Which a year ago, were only buds and stems. And now they were beautiful flowers.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Yamauchi" The woman stopped sprinkling water on her plants and concentrated on those who were arriving.
"Oh good afternoon Mrs. Kimura! Watering your plants?" asked the elder Yamauchi.
"That's right, I want to prevent the stems from wilting" said the old lady. "I see you have company. Or are they coming to see your apartment?" asked Mrs. Kimura curiously.
"They are my guests, they are helping me with my shopping" smiled the old woman as she opened the door of her house.
"Good afternoon, and yes, we were helping Mrs. Yamauchi" Yuta said with a slight bow and then showed the shopping bags he was holding.
"And by the way, we also came to see this apartment" commented Maki seriously.
"Very good. I hope you like it here, especially since we are in a very safe area" commented the lady with the plants.
"With your permission, I'll see you Mrs. Kimura. Both of you come this way" said the elder Yamauchi as they entered the apartment.
"With your permission" said Yuta as he and his wife entered behind the old woman and quickly closed the door.
"She is Mrs. Kimura, she is a good woman, although sometimes she is very curious not to say "gossipy"" explained the older woman in a chuckle.
"We've noticed" Maki commented, putting her hands on her hips.
"Only she lives in that apartment since all her children are married" explained the old lady, "This apartment complex is mostly inhabited by newly married couples like you two, as well as singles and one or two retired or elderly people like me" said the old lady with a smile, "make yourselves at home.
Welcome to my little nest"
Maki and Yuta admired the interior. It was very comfortable and incidentally, it gave off a very homey and peaceful vibe. Although at first glance, there was a bit of a culture shock as the place not only had Japanese decorations, but also some foreign furniture and things.
The walls were covered with nice pictures and maps from other parts of the world. In addition, the tatami looked clean and the house in general looked tidy.
"Let me help you with the things and prepare dinner!" Yuta offered to carry those bags to the kitchen.
"Thank you very much and seriously, you are very kind. You remind me of my husband and don't worry, I will prepare dinner as a token of gratitude for having freed me from that thing that always followed me everywhere. That thing was even following me inside the house. " commented the old lady with a sweet tone.
"Is your husband at home? We don't want to disturb" asked Maki with curiosity as she observed several photographs of that woman with a man just as old as her, but that man had Latin features.
Maki was really looking for an excuse to get out of there.
"Don't worry, I'm the only one who lives here. My husband died almost six years ago" said the lady with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry" said Yuta when he heard that. He felt sorry for that woman.
"Hehe you have nothing to apologize for. That's the law of life, even so when you love someone too much, you still love and remember them even in their absence. Don't feel bad for me, maybe I will meet him soon. Come, I will prepare a special dish that my husband used to prepare for me to cheer me up" the old woman answered kindly.
That woman treated her guests with great attention and even prepared a dish that caught the attention of those two since it was not a typical Japanese meal.
"I hope you like it, this is a food from my husband's country. They are Argentinean empanadas" explained the woman.
"Thank you very much for the food!" said the sorcerer out of politeness.
Yuta and Maki took a first bite and were surprised to taste that combination that at first seemed strange to them, but in their mouths, it tasted too delicious to their taste buds.
"This is delicious!" Yuta complimented with a big smile.
"Seriously, this is new to me and it tastes great!" replied Maki before taking another bite.
"I'm glad you will like it, the first time I ate one of these was back in the 60's, when I traveled to Argentina" said the old lady happily, taking a seat in front of the two and taking a sip of her tea.
"Excuse me for asking, but was your husband a foreigner?" asked Maki curiously.
"My beloved was Argentinean, he and I met when we were young, maybe we were the same age as you two when we got married and I can assure you that we lived a beautiful life as a couple and the last thing I have left of him is this place, but unfortunately it is too big for me alone" said the lady looking at her guests.
"So that's why you're putting it up for sale?" Yuta asked, trying to sound polite.
"Don't you have children to inherit this place?" questioned Maki.
That lady smiled a little when she heard those questions. First she shook her head.
"My husband and I never had children. That was a mutual decision and more than that we both spent many years going from one country to another due to our workloads" She looked at that young married couple "And yes, that is the main reason why I would like to sell it. A woman as old as I am, she has outgrown this nest, which could be better used by someone else"
She continued explaining with a smile as she looked at a photograph of her and her husband that she had near the table where the three of them were having dinner.
"I admit that this was the only place within four walls that I could call "Home" as we lived here for the last few years with much happiness before my husband passed away. I say this because most of my youth as well as my entire marriage was spent moving from one country to another, going back and forth from Argentina to Japan and that meant that we had to move from one apartment to another very often, There were even times when in a few days we had to look for a new place to stay" she smiled tenderly looking at that photo "Although as the Latinos used to say, in the end, home is not the four walls that surround you, but home is in the people who make us feel loved"
"So this was practically our last nest before autumn came to knock down the last leaves and death came to take one of the two of us first. And now it's my turn to say goodbye to this apartment because I don't want to spend the last years of my life in the city. I want to move in with a niece, who has offered to take care of me in her country house. Besides, the city is for you young married couples, an old man just wants to be in peace without so much hustle and bustle" said the old woman serenely. Her words seemed very wise at that moment.
"And my intuition tells me that you are looking for a place to start your marital life, aren't you?" Mrs. Yamauchi asked curiously.
Maki sighed.
"That's right!" she clicked her tongue, "our stupid landlord is asking us for the apartment we were renting and he gave us a very short deadline to move out!" replied annoyed.
"Hehe Well, something tells me that you have come to the right place, besides for having helped me I think we could reach an agreement on the price of this apartment if you are interested in buying it" said the woman with a smile before taking a sip of her tea.
Maki and Yuta looked at each other at that statement, which, it seemed that by fate, these two had found their new home.
Returning to the present with Maki and Megumi
"And that's how we got that apartment, besides, you did get to see that woman at our religious wedding. She was one of our guests" commented Maki, caressing her belly as she felt her baby kick, "Anyway, she already knows I'm pregnant. So we practically consider her as our "grandmother" and more than Yuta and I still keep in touch with her and her niece"
"I admit that what you just told me surprised me, but in the end they benefited from Okkotsu senpai's kindness" said Megumi looking at Maki who seemed very nostalgic at that memory.
"But as I said, we just finished furnishing that apartment a few months ago, and by the way, we've barely been living there for a year" Maki reproached with annoyance. "Megumi, don't you have a place to call home? Because that apartment is "MY HOME". Unlike that stupid residence of the Zenin clan, which I could never call as such"
Megumi shook his head a little hesitantly. He thought his relative sounded like a stubborn old woman. "Well, I understand your point that you don't want to move because it is too soon and because of the stress it could generate in your pregnant state, and the last thing we want is for you to return to the hospital" he looked at Maki in the eyes, "But just like birds, many times they look for a better branch where they can adapt their nests to the needs of their offspring" he looked at the branch that Maki was looking at moments before.
Megumi continued speaking.
"Besides, as that old woman said, home is the place where you feel comfortable with the people around you within those walls. So here you should ask yourself why you reject the idea of moving even though sooner or later you will have to do it for that baby. Are you rejecting the idea because of stress? or are you rejecting it because you are afraid of moving out of your comfort zone?" he asked, returning his eyes to Maki.
She just grunted at those answers while making circles with her index finger on her huge belly.
"Tsk! I thought you'd agree with me on this!" she looked down at her belly, "Your cousin Megumi just likes to piss off Mom!" she said to her baby.
Megumi sighed and rolled his eyes. Then he looked at his watch, it was close to two in the afternoon. He had things to do.
"Anyway. Maki san I must go, this day I promised Utahime sensei that Tsumiki and I would take care of Takeru while she is still in the hospital" he stood up.
"Damn it!" Maki also stood up when she noticed the time on her cell phone "You just reminded me that today, Yuta and I are going to visit her and meet her baby" she commented in a sigh- "the fact that Utahime baby is already born only reminds me that there are only a few months left for my baby to be born too. And by the way, it makes me feel bad because I still doubt if I will be a good mother"
Megumi sighed at that answer. No matter what he said, he knew that Maki would not change her mind.
"I guess the three of us could go to the hospital together, so I go for Takeru while you meet Niji" Megumi suggested.
"I like the idea. This way we won't go alone" sighed Maki. "By the way, Megumi, How is she? Does she let herself be held?" She questioned with fear.
Megumi could see the uncertainty on Maki's face. She was nervous to hold that baby and find out if she was cut out to be a mother.
"When you meet her, you will know." Just replied Megumi.
About 04:00 p.m.
Meeting a new family member such as a baby will always be a very memorable and unique experience for some people.
And as Maki had said, both she and Yuta that day went to the hospital to visit Utahime sensei, to go see her and keep her company that afternoon and they had also gone to meet little Niji.
With them, Megumi had also gone, who was the first to enter that room to go get Utahime's eldest son, to take care of him together with Tsumiki that night since Gojo would have a mission later and would not be able to take care of his son.
This was also because they had noticed that Takeru was showing jealousy towards his newborn baby sister. Besides, that a hospital is no place for a child like him to spend the night.
At that instant, as they were still outside that room, Maki was the most nervous and that showed as she held her husband's hand tightly as they were about to enter.
"Are you ok?" asked Yuta, looking at his wife.
Maki took a breath. "I'm just nervous and by the way, our baby is fidgeting too much... I think he's also nervous about meeting his cousin"
Yuta kissed her forehead and placed his hand on his wife's belly.
"Everything is going to be fine. The three of us are nervous, especially since ours is only a few months away. Even so" he kissed her on the lips, "if you feel uncomfortable we can go outside for a moment to get some air"
"Thank you" she kissed him back, "But as I said, it's just nerves, they'll pass. We'd better go in at once to meet that baby"
That gave Maki some brave and Yuta knocked on the door.
Gojo was the one who opened the door to that room.
"Welcome!, it's about time you two came to meet my beautiful daughter" said the proud father. He was too excited.
"Thank you Gojo sensei!" replied Yuta with a big smile as he and his wife entered the room.
Truly, that birth had represented an immense joy for both the strongest sorcerer and Utahime. And that could be felt in that place.
That luxurious room was filled with beautiful floral arrangements, most of which were flowers that Gojo had bought for Utahime, as well as a table of lavish gifts for both her and her daughter, most of which were also from him.
Although there were also gifts that belonged to the students who had previously gone to visit their teacher, as well as some gifts that were brought by close friends and colleagues of both parents.
That room also had pink decorative balloons and others that said in gold letters "It's a girl".
Truly that birth was an event worth celebrating in a big way and more so for the strongest sorcerer, who finally had one more heir.
In that hospital bed was Utahime, who was resting.
"Thanks for coming guys, I'm glad to see you here" she replied with a smile.
"We are glad to see you Utahime sensei and by the way, many congratulations" commented Yuta bowing slightly.
"We also came to bring a gift for you and your daughter" said Maki with a smile and showing those gift bags.
"Thank you very much guys, I appreciate the detail" replied the teacher very animated.
"And no congratulations or gift for me? Because I was the one who planted the seed to create that beautiful baby!" said Satoru with a bit of indignation.
"But it was me who did all the work!" commented Utahime with a grimace.
"Still, I deserve credit for being the father of this beautiful girl!" Gojo commented with a smile as he glanced at the crib where his daughter slept.
At that moment when those two seemed to be "arguing", the noise of their baby caught the attention of their guests, who had left those presents on the table that was full of gifts and, by the way, had gone to the sink they had in that room to wash their hands for hygiene.
The little girl was in her crib, which was next to her mother's bed. The crib was adorned with a beautiful pink blanket.
Maki swallowed and brought her hand to her belly as she heard those faint noises that baby was making. Her emotions were stirring inside her. Deep down she did not feel ready to see this baby.
Utahime smiled, "Well, I think it's time for you to meet little Niji" she said, looking at the crib and gently reaching in to caress her daughter's cheeks, "You can approach her without fear"
Yuta was the first to approach the crib, he looked very excited to meet this little girl.
A big smile lit up his face as he peeked out to see that newborn baby girl.
"She is a very beautiful baby, Utahime Sensei!" commented Yuta with a big smile.
"Thank you very much"
"Sensei, do you think I could hug your daughter for a moment?" Yuta asked out of politeness.
Utahime disbursed a big smile.
"Go ahead Okkotsu, you can hug her, you are like an uncle to her after all"
"Thank you!" replied the special grade sorcerer with a smile.
At that moment, Yuta carefully took the baby in his arms, while she made a few small noises.
"Hello little Niji, I'm your uncle Yuta!" he said with a very sweet tone, while holding the girl in his arms with great care.
Maki's heart skipped a beat as she watched her husband embrace that baby with utmost affection, while smiling sweetly at her.
The Maki hands rested on her belly, she was paralyzed at the sight of that tender scene. She knew Yuta would be a good father. But she still doubted if he would be a good mother, especially with everything she had told Megumi.
A hand rested on the shoulder of the new mother-to-be.
"You can also approach without fear" said Gojo to Maki, who seemed to come out of a trance.
"Huh? What?" came with difficulty from her throat.
"Maki san, is everything all right?" asked Utahime when she saw the face of that mother-to-be admiring a baby as if it was the first time she had ever seen one.
"Yes!" commented Maki, shaking her head a little to clear her head.
"Love, look!" Yuta approached Maki with that baby in his arms, "Niji is very small and beautiful, I guess our baby will also be that small," he looked very excited"
In that instant, Maki finally met that little girl, who had skin as white as her father and hair as black as night. If you looked at her closely, that little girl looked a lot like Utahime sensei.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Gojo asked once he approached the two.
"It is, many congratulations to both of you!" Yuta congratulated once again.
Maki only had her eyes on that baby. It was amazing how such a small being could be so cute sleeping. Her heart fluttered in her chest, her emotions wanted to overflow at such a scene.
- Maki, do you want to hug Niji?" asked Yuta, looking at his wife with enthusiasm.
"I..." she hesitated, "I don't feel ready yet... besides, she is very comfortable in your arms and I don't want to wake her up" answered Maki with fear, she was a little afraid to hug that baby.
At that moment, Utahime noticed that insecurity in her guest.
Maki simply took a seat in one of the comfortable armchairs they had in that room, sitting next to her husband, who was still holding that baby who seemed very comfortable in the arms of her uncle Yuta, as she slept peacefully.
The minutes passed and with them the conversation between the guests and the newly turned parents continued.
Gojo bragged too much about the arrival of his daughter and talked about the day that delivery happened and bragged about how it came just in time before his daughter was born, while Utahime tried to shut him up because of the fuss he was making.
In passing, during the conversation, Utahime noticed how Maki was looking at her baby.
Maki even momentarily caressed the baby's cheek, but she seemed lost in thought as she admired her. And at times she stroked her belly, apparently her baby was also restless.
Utahime felt that she needed to talk to Maki alone. So she came up with an idea to get them alone.
"Satoru, could you and Yuta go get some of the gyozas I like so much from the Gyopao restaurant in Roppongi please? I have a craving for those Japanese dumplings" asked Utahime kindly.
"Hu? But if we have room service, you can pick up the phone and order it with Ijichi. He will bring you whatever you want. Besides, what you're asking for is about half an hour from here" Gojo replied.
"I'm asking you as a favor as the mother of your daughter. So please. I'd like you two to go buy some gyozas to celebrate" said Utahime in a grimace.
At that moment, the teacher made a subtle nod toward Maki. To which Satoru understood what she was trying to say.
"Please... don't make the woman who just gave birth to your daughter angry..." said Utahime in a serious voice.
"I understand, all right, Yuta, come with me, let's go to that restaurant that is half an hour away to get what Utahime is asking for" answered Gojo getting up from the armchair where he was sitting.
"But!" Maki could not protest.
At that moment, Yuta turned to see his wife, to whom he carefully handed the baby. Maki was quite nervous but held her as best she could.
"Love, put her head close to your elbow, so she will stay asleep" Yuta explained.
"Maki, you'll take care of my princess and Utahime, if they need anything, call me on my cell phone or contact Ijichi" said Gojo smiling as he watched Maki try to carry his daughter.
Maki was dying of nerves as she held that little girl in her arms.
"We'll be right back!" said Gojo, pulling Yuta out of there in a hurry.
Maki stayed with Niji in her arms, she felt her breath catch for a moment as she watched her move gently, but she was still very calm.
"She's going to cry" Maki thought in panic.
"You seem a little tense Maki san, is everything all right?" asked Utahime sitting on the edge of her bed.
Maki came out of her trance when she heard that question.
"It's just that..." she let out a breath, "this is the third time I have carried a baby in my arms. Besides, within the clan we were not allowed to carry the babies that were born. And the two previous times were not very good since those babies just cried in my arms... maybe I'm not good with children"
"But Niji is not crying in your arms right now" commented Utahime with a slight smile.
"And that's what surprises me the most... maybe it's because he hasn't opened his eyes and sees my scars..."
Utahime carefully got off her bed and started walking toward the couch.
"What is you doing? You should stay in bed!" commented Maki, worried as she saw the woman get up and walk towards her to sit on the sofa.
"I'm fine, but I also want to make sure that you are" Utahime took a seat next to her "besides, the pains are already passing, this day are more bearable than the previous days. And I can even move better"
Maki sighed and turned her gaze back to that baby, who again moved gently in her arms and made slight noises.
"You're afraid of holding babies, aren't you?" Utahime asked calmly, but there was a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Maki nodded her head yes. "More than fear, I am not so familiar with this yet, besides the previous times when I hugged those two babies, the first one cried in my arms and it was the one that alerted me that maybe I was pregnant, and the same thing happened with the second baby I hugged, both cried in my arms and thinking with a cool head and leaving superstition aside, I think they both cried because of my appearance" She sigh "I know that when my baby is born I should hug him, but I am afraid he will cry when he sees the appearance his mother has"
Utahime smiled a little.
"Your baby will love you no matter what you look like. Just like Yuta loves you"
Maki sighed at those words, she still didn't understand how Yuta could love her so much if she had lost her beauty.
"Although I am also surprised that at this moment when I am holding this little girl, my baby is very quiet inside me" said Maki looking at her big belly.
"Maybe it's because your baby is asleep or maybe he's just getting used to his cousin's presence" said Utahime kindly. "By the way, do you already know the sex of your baby or Do you want it to be a surprise?"
Maki sighed. "I wanted it to be a surprise until the baby was born, but we'll know soon enough since Nobara will make me a baby shower and at that party she will reveal the sex of this baby. She's already taking care of all that!" she clicked her tongue and her expression changed to one of annoyance.
That gesture was noticed by Utahime, who could tell that Maki looked both annoyed and thoughtful. "And I guess that party is stressing you out"
Maki rolled her eyes. "Too much... and more that it's not something I'm excited about..."
"I understand, but sometimes we have to do our part and even more so if our closest people are doing it with love for us"
"Maybe" Maki pouted.
At that moment, that baby became restless and even started to cry. And that made Maki panic.
"What did I do now? What's wrong with her? Why is she crying?" asked Maki, gently cradling the baby in her arms.
But she really didn't know what to do at that moment and it showed in how she looked desperately at Niji. Even her eyes filled with tears. Hormones were also playing against her and even more so when she heard that baby crying.
"Will I really be able to do this right?" Maki questioned with regret and stress.
But Utahime comforted her once more. She patted her on the shoulder, "I can tell by the crying Niji is doing it's because she's hungry, plus it's been three hours since she last ate," she carefully got up and took a bottle from the crib.
"How can you be so sure that Niji is crying because she is hungry and not because she just watched me?" Maki questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Utahime smiled slightly. "Some will call it 'maternal instinct' and others will say it's just logic. Every mother is able to know her child once she holds it in her arms and lives with it"
"Well, that seems the most logical thing to do" Maki pouted.
"Maki san, would you please feed her?" Utahime handed that bottle to the green haired girl.
"Are you sure you want me to do it?"
"So you could practice" explained Utahime with a smile and crossed her hands over her chest, that was a pose she used to do when she was absolutely right in her word.
Maki lowered her shoulders, she didn't want to feed the girl. But even so, she still accepted.
She carefully brought the bottle to the baby's mouth, who calmed down and began to drink from the bottle.
"You were right, she was hungry" commented Maki, amazed by what Utahime had said.
"It's just logic. Babies cry for everything, it is only necessary to identify why they cry, as in this case it was because Niji was hungry. Once you become a mother, you get to know the signals your children use to communicate with you even when they are very young," commented Utahime, sitting down next to Maki again.
The green haired girl kept looking at that baby. She admired her eyes, which were also a beautiful blue like those of her father Satoru and Yuta.
That baby already seemed to be calm while eating. Even Maki also seemed to be calmer at that time.
"Thank you for helping me feed her with her bottle" Utahime commented with a sigh as she relaxed her shoulders, "I already wanted to rest a little from my breasts and especially since she and Takeru suck so hard, I guess she inherited it from her idiot father." Utahime caresses her breasts a little over her hospital clothes.
Maki smiled slightly at that comment and then sighed regretfully.
"I really don't know if I will be able to breastfeed my baby once he is born…"
"Are you saying that because of your scars?" Utahime asked.
Maki nodded in agreement. "Yes, the burns left an irreversible mark on the upper part of my body," said Maki while looking at Niji and playing with her little hand, "among them, my mammary glands were also affected, even so Azami said that we could try with some treatment for me to produce milk or in her case, try with some formula that nourishes my little baby soybean, even so, I would like to try to breastfeed my baby even if it is just once. Although I am also a little scared because I used to see how painful it was for the women in my clan to do it"
Utahime kept silent at those words. She felt empathy and a little pity for the Zenin, the burn marks on her body were very visible and despite having been treated with the reverse curse technique, her damage was irreparable.
"You should not feel bad if you cannot breastfeed your baby. Every mother is a different universe"
"I know. It is simply that I still doubt very much if I will be a good mother," commented Maki looking at her superior.
"Within the Zenin clan, I never had contact with the women who became pregnant, so practically all of this is new to me. Besides, we were never allowed to carry each other's babies because there was a tremendous mistrust there, and even more so because some of them could kill each other's babies just out of envy or because of orders from others. Also, everything was very difficult for the women who became mothers since they not only had to take care of the new baby alone but also had to fulfill their obligations as wives and servants. That's why I dedicated myself to training because I really didn't want to be like all those women..."
Maki sighed "And now that I have chosen motherhood. It's hard for me to understand all this because I never had a good role model, let alone a good mother"
Utahime put her hand on Maki's shoulder. "You are not alone in this. You have me and Shoko to help you with whatever you don't understand and by the way, we can teach you the basics you need to know for the arrival of your baby" she said with a warm smile.
"Thank you very much Utahime sensei" she smiled sweetly at her. Then she focused her eyes on Niji. "Really, I never thought they would be this small and delicate... I guess my baby soybean see will also be this small once it is born"
"You are welcome Maki san" Utahime smiled and looked at her baby, who had finished eating.
"And your training of everything you need to know about babies starts right now!" she looked at Maki, "now that Niji has finished drinking that bottle, we are going to teach you how to take the air out of her and then we will move on to you learning how to change a diaper and you will do it all yourself!" she said pointing at Maki.
"WHAT?" came with confusion from Maki's mouth.
And so they did. That afternoon, Utahime taught Maki how to hold a baby, also, taught her how to change a diaper. Something that did not please the first-time mother-to-be at all.
She gave an arc of disgust "Agh! I'll definitely leave the diaper thing to Yuta for him to do!" said Maki rubbing her belly "even my baby didn't like this!" she wrinkled her nose.
Utahime laughed lightly as she now carried Niji in her arms.
"You will gradually get used to it" she sighed and kissed her daughter's forehead, "Just as babies gradually get used to their new environment" she sighed a little "I only hope that Niji will soon adapt to our new home"
Those words caught Maki's attention. "New home?" she asked curiously.
"Didn't Satoru tell you? The children and I just moved to a bigger apartment" Utahime took Niji up a little to look at her in her arms and then carefully lowered her to kiss her forehead once more "we decided to do this because with the arrival of a baby, more space is needed"
Maki sighed. "I guess I know where Yuta got the idea to move from..." Maki grunted in annoyance, "It seems like everyone is on board with moving lately," she commented, rubbing her belly.
Those words caught Utahime's attention. "What's going on with that particular subject, Maki san?"
"It's just that Yuta also talked about moving and the truth is, I'm still not convinced about it... I mean, we've only been living in our apartment for a year and I feel it's too soon to move."
"You may feel it very soon, but with the arrival of a baby many things will change, and among them, the home"
"But the idea of moving just bothers me..." Maki commented without stopping caressing her belly, in which she made gentle circles, "I understand that we should also get a bigger place but..." she sighed with annoyance. "I don't want to leave my comfort zone, especially since I'm a few months away from giving birth!" she grumbled.
Utahime sighed as well. "Maki san, what is a home to you?"
"Huh?"
"I asked you what you consider like a home."
"Well, that question is very subjective... at this point, you're the second person to ask me about what I consider home today," she responded with a shrug.
"Although I know that the idea of moving may upset you, consider that your home is always built with the people you have chosen as your family" Utahime looked tenderly at her daughter, "They say that home is always where your heart is."
Those words left Maki deep in thought as she rubbed and looked at her belly.
"Home... family..."
Both the talk with Megumi and with Utahime sensei had left her very thoughtful. And it seemed that everything she had experienced that afternoon had given her an answer to what she should really do.
After a while, Yuta and Gojo returned with the things Utahime had asked them for.
And so those four adults spent a pleasant moment while eating what Utahime had sent for them.
09:00 p.m.
Maki spent the rest of that afternoon and hospital visit in deep thought with those words.
Once they got home, she sat in his favorite sofa and was looking at everything they had both bought to furnish their apartment over the course of the year.
"Is everything all right, Maki?" asked Yuta sitting next to her, "Since we were with Utahime sensei you seemed very pensive. Are you and the baby all right? Did something happen?" he placed his hand on his wife's belly.
Maki sighed. "I'm fine. I'm just a little thoughtful about what you said about moving"
"Oh, and what have you thought about? I know we had that conversation two days ago and I still didn't know how to ask you if you had already thought of something about it" answered Yuta scratching his head with his free hand.
"Well, after analyzing it and thinking about it too much, I came to the conclusion that I think you're right" She put her hand on Yuta's hand "Once the baby is born we will have to look for a bigger place for the three of us. Besides Utahime sensei and Megumi also said so"
"I understand. I'm sorry if you were stressed with this issue because of me" Yuta apologized, taking Maki's hand and kissing her hand.
Maki caressed his cheek with her free hand, "But you are right, as you said this is a subject that we had to touch sooner or later and I have thought about all this and I already have an answer for you about moving" she replied, taking her husband's hand.
"So? And what is it?"
"Well, first I confess that a part of me doesn't want to leave here soon because this is our nest and here there are many memories of how we built it" she said.
"Yes, I admit that we have very good memories here," her husband responded with a smile.
"True, we have many memories together here, like when Nobara found out that we were already married because of the washing machine we bought, and it was with that purchase that she found out that we already lived together in this apartment," Maki said, laughing as she remembered the expression in the face of her best friend at such a discovery.
Yuta also laughed. "We wanted to keep the secret of our marriage a little longer, but that phone call gave us away"
"Yes, but that was because of my carelessness. That time Nobara answered my phone and when she heard that I was called 'Okkotsu Maki' instead of 'Zenin Maki', she knew that we were married" Maki smiled at the memory of seeing Nobara's face surprised by her friend's new surname.
"Hehehe and from there she arranged our religious wedding" Yuta replied with a big smile at that memory.
"Yes, or do you remember when the first thing we bought together in this apartment was the bed and the refrigerator?" asked Maki with a smile.
"Of course I remember. You wanted a big refrigerator because you wanted to have a lot of food at home, although I also remember the first times we went shopping together. I would always fill the cart with noodles and rice and things like that and you fill it with other things like junk food" replied Yuta caressing his wife's hand with too much affection.
"Yes, at the beginning the shopping was a bit of a difficult because you were very organized, always keeping your list of things to buy and I just put in the things I saw and wanted at that moment without following the list" Maki sighed at the memory.
"I always liked shopping with you. And I want to continue going shopping with you as long as my missions give me time" Yuta now kissed his wife's cheek, while he hugged her and Maki settled down, resting her head on her husband's chest and shoulder.
Yuta put his hand on Maki's belly, feeling her baby move in that instant.
"I remember when we started buying the other furniture. You wanted most of it to be one color and I wanted it to be another color" Maki smiled, patting her belly. "And in the end we always chose a different color."
"Yes, although what we always agreed on was the bed we wanted, which was a little difficult to get into the apartment because of the base we had bought for it" answered Yuta with a big smile.
Maki kissed her husband lovingly "Or when we bought this sofá and the first thing we did was to make love here. Although we've done it in almost the entire apartment" her cheeks tinged slightly.
Yuta reciprocated that kiss and a smile of complicity appeared on his lips.
"And so we filled this home with things. And also of memories like our days of rest where we spent together here on the sofa or in the bedroom watching movies and series, or when we argued over little things but we always solved them by talking or making love or training with the swords"- he caressed his wife's hands- "or when we bet on who would be the one to do the laundry for a whole month" Yuta continued hugging Maki tenderly.
"I remember that bet very well, I won and you had to wash all the dirty clothes. Especially your shirts, which get dirty very quickly" she answered proudly.
"That's because you're the one who gets my T-shirts dirty very quickly since you wear them as a dress from time to time!" Yuta replied with a pout.
"But you won't deny that I look fantastic with your shirts on and even more so when I'm only wearing my underwear underneath!" - she kissed his lips several times and sat for a moment –"Even now pregnant I wear them from time to time to feel more comfortable with this big belly you created!" Maki pouted slightly as she pinched Yuta's cheeks.
Her husband smiled and blushed remembering such an image of his wife wearing that garment of his. "Well, it's just that whenever you wear my shirts without wearing something underneath I can't say no to you"
Maki smiled and then sighed as she lay back down next to her husband. "We have already made a small part of our life here and the truth is, although it is hard to admit it, I think you are right, it would be better if we moved to give the baby a bigger space"
Yuta hugged her again, as she leaned back against his chest "What made you change your mind? I Asked because I thought you would again flatly refuse to move."
"Well, I practically remembered the words that old lady Yamauchi had told us the time we met her, as well as the words that Utahime sensei and Megumi told me this afternoon, all that made me come to my senses" Maki looked Yuta in the eyes.
She continued speaking, "And that is that my home will always be the one where you and our son are, that place will always be my home. So I say it will be a good idea to find a bigger nest for the three of us. I want a house that I can also call home."
Yuta kissed his wife's forehead. "I promise you that we will find a place where you can be comfortable and happy. And it will be the best place to watch our baby grow up"
"Yes, I guess we can look for a bigger place and move in soon after the baby turns one" Maki said with a slight smile, "I really want to welcome our son in this apartment" "Yeah, I guess we can look for a bigger place and move there soon after the baby turns one," Maki said with a slight smile, "I'm looking forward to welcoming our son into this apartment."
"Is that what you really want, Maki san?"
"Yes, and more than anything because I want to have good memories of his first year of life in this our first nest, besides it is almost a hundred percent sure that this baby will be sleeping with us almost all his first year and more than anything I am the one who wants to be close to our baby when sleeping" She caress her belly – "So I would like enjoy a little more this apartment before looking for another one."
Yuta smiled at the idea. "I think it's perfect" he kissed Maki's forehead.
"Although I have also thought that now instead of an apartment, I would like us to buy a house that has a nice yard and is big enough for the three of us" replied Maki with a smile.
Yuta kissed her forehead once more. "That's how it will be. I'll buy you the house you want. Although there is also the option of keeping this apartment for when the two of us want to spend some free time alone you and I" he said in her ear.
His wife smiled at such words and looked him in the eyes. "I like that proposal much better"
Maki kissed her husband's cheek as they settled into that sofa.
Maki lay on her right side while Yuta hugged her back from behind and caressed her belly, leg, and arms lovingly.
So the two began to talk a little more about what they would buy for the arrival of their first child, as well as where they would put those things in that apartment.
There was still one more thing to do, though, and it was super important to Yuta.
And that was that Yuta would have to talk to his parents about the fact that they were going to be grandparents. Which seemed like they wouldn't take it well at all.
Sometimes, those who are your blood family are the least supportive. And Yuta would find that out on his trip to Sendai.
🍂To be continue...
Notes
I hope you liked it. And let me know how are you liking this story?
Also, An Apologies if there are some errors in the translation.
I'm doing the best I can, if you don't like this translation you could read the fic in its original language, Spanish.
Sorry I'm late with this fic, I've just been busy.
Perhaps in a few chapters later I will tell you how it was that moment where Nobara realized that those two had already married, as well as how that wedding went.
As I said, the autumn season of this fic, will try to go into the past, since I have always felt that this season of the year is the most nostalgic and also how in one way or another, influence the present of someone, in this case as it influences the present of Yuta and Maki and more with the arrival of that baby. For that reason there will be flashbacks so that they understand some things of the story.
And in this chapter I decided to touch on how they got their current apartment and how it's not easy to let go of the place you call home. And in the next chapters there will be more surprises.
The next chapter will probably touch on the subject of Yuta's parents and sister. What do you think will happen? Will they take the surprise of being grandparents and aunt well? Or will they not take it well at all?
Also, the revelation of the baby's sex is coming soon, what do you think it will be, a boy or a girl? I'll be reading them.
In other news, I hope to be able to update soon, because from now on, my life outside the platform will become more hectic due to personal and work issues, even so, I will try to keep an eye on it and I will try to give myself time to write.
I hope I don't have to make the drastic decision to stop writing to focus on other situations and if it should happen, I will let you know.
Still, again, thank you very much for all your support.
Pd: if you are going to offend me, please do it by private message to my Twiter Vera1794