Kyoko's superhero movie, Silver Flash, was cruising right along. They were getting close to the end of filming, and so they had started to do press for the film. Today, they were at a comic convention to show behind-the-scenes things and build interest in the picture. Though it wouldn't be released for several more months, the fans of the comic were rabid for first looks at the characters and set designs.

She sat at a table on a stage next to her co-star, Hideo Tanaka. They were overlooking a crowd of hundreds, a sea of cosplay and fan shirts. She had been excited about the event for most of the week; she had never really faced any fans before, and was looking forward to answering their questions. Hideo saw the look on her face and how she was practically bouncing in her chair and laughed at her. "You're way too excited about this. Calm down."

She sat ramrod straight. "Sorry!" She didn't want to disappoint him, or anyone else.

He chuckled. "I don't mean you have to stop being excited. You're just at a 12 and I need you at a 6."

She giggled. "I'm sorry, Tanaka-san."

They screened a 5 minute preview on the wall behind the actors, which was met with many oohs and ahhs from the crowd and much applause. After the screening, the moderator gestured at the director and cast. "We're going to open the mic on the floor up for questions that you may have for our crew here."

A young man dressed as Hideo's character, Kojiro, The Silver Flash, approached the microphone.

"My question is for Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko perked up immediately. Her first fan question!

"Can I get your number?"

The room erupted in laughter, and Kyoko turned bright red. She hadn't been expecting something like that to open up the event. "I–what!?"

The young man was escorted away from the microphone by a serious-looking convention staff member. The moderator sighed into the microphone. "Please keep your questions appropriate, thank you."

Kyoko hid her face in her hands, embarrassed… but also oddly flattered? But more embarrassed. Another person approached the microphone to ask the director about the short screening and some of the things he had noticed about the setting. Then someone asked about the costumes and if they were comfortable. Kyoko laughed as she answered that no, her costume was tight, and very hot to move in. A younger girl approached the microphone.

"My question is for Kyoko-chan. Are you Tsuruga-san's bodyguard!?"

Kyoko's mouth fell open. She remembered back a few months to when she had roundhoused a bitch in the parking garage, and imagined that must be to what this young lady was referring. "I–well… sort of?" Kyoko cleared her throat. "In my work as a LoveMe member, I get assigned a lot of different roles. I have worked with Tsuruga-san a handful of times thanks to that."

The girl tilted her head to the side. "Are you close with him?"

Kyoko put on her best Ryokan Smile. "I'm close in the sense that we have worked together several times. We were on Dark Moon together, and I once served as his manager for a short while, and I was his personal assistant a couple of months ago."

"Do you know who the mother of his babies is!?"

Kyoko took a breath to keep her composure, the ryokan mask superglued to her face. "No. Tsuruga-san would not share that information with me, as it is none of my business."

The girl was led away after thanking Kyoko for the information, and leaving her wanting to crawl into a hole and die there. Thankfully, the event concluded soon after, and Kyoko was able to take a breather. Her manager, Ayame, was waiting for her offstage, and they went to the break room that was set up for the special convention guests. She checked her phone and found a text from Kuon.

How's it going?

She smiled to herself and texted him back. A fan asked for my number and someone asked if I was your bodyguard, and asked if I knew who the mother of your children is.

A couple of minutes went by and her phone vibrated. I'll let you guard my body. All you have to do is ask.

Kyoko giggled to herself, her cheeks turning pink. Ayame had come to know that giggle well; it meant that Kuon was being a flirt again. Kyoko texted him back.

After the babies get here. Then I'll guard your body as much as you want.

The phone vibrated again. Even if I want you to guard me several times a day?

Kyoko turned bright red at the thought of 'guarding' him multiple times a day. Ayame cleared her throat. "I can only assume that your boyfriend is not behaving himself."

Kyoko chuckled nervously as she texted Kuon back. You're turning me red in front of Ayame. Gotta go. Love you. "Of course he's behaving! Always a gentleman."

Ayame chuckled and rolled her eyes. She had seen the way that Kuon looked at Kyoko, the way that he seemed to undress her with his eyes. She knew what that man wanted. Gentleman or not, he had needs.

Kyoko put her phone away. "What's next?"

"Autographs from 2:00 to 3:30."

Kyoko laughed nervously. "I can't imagine that I'm going to have a line for that. Let's go."

Ayame led her to the hallway where a table was set up for her to sign autographs…only to find that there was already a line gathered. They cheered when they saw her coming, and she gave them a bashful wave as she took her seat. There were girls dressed as Momiji from Lotus in the Mire, a couple of Mio Hongos from Dark Moon, and even a Natsu from Box R. She was shocked that all of these people even knew who she was, or wanted to dress as the characters that she had portrayed. She was even more shocked that they wanted pictures with her, and that several young men had tripped over their own tongues trying to speak to her.

That night when she got home, she was exhausted, but also very excited to tell Kuon about her day. She got in the door and shut it behind her before kicking her shoes off. "Kuon, I'm home!"

He came out of the nursery. "Welcome home. How did it go?"

She went to the kitchen to heat up their leftovers from the previous night. "It was amazing! So many people knew who I was! I didn't think they would!"

He joined her in the kitchen and kissed the top of her head. "I'm not surprised. You've been great in everything you've been in."

Kyoko set the container in the microwave and hit a couple of buttons. "Thank you, Corn." She turned to him. "How was your day?"

Kuon stretched. "I didn't do much. I got a box of baby clothes from Mom today, so I washed them and put them away in the dresser if you want to go look."

Kyoko shot past him to go to the nursery and look at the baby clothes. She pulled the drawers open and took out the tiny onesies and clutched them to her chest. "They're adorable! Oh, Kuon! I can't wait to dress them up!"

He appeared in the doorway, smiling. "Most of that stuff is going to be too big for them for a while." His smile faltered. He had started thinking about how small they were going to be when they were born. The doctor had already warned them that the babies would need to stay in the hospital for several weeks, but the closer they got to the 32nd week, the more of a reality that was becoming for Kuon. He was worried for them.

Kyoko folded the onesie she was holding and put it back in the drawer. She went to Kuon and hugged him. She rubbed his belly. "They're going to be okay, Corn. It's going to be hard, and complicated, and scary, but what part of our relationship hasn't been?" She smiled up at him encouragingly and it got a laugh out of him. She kissed him. "I love you."

He squeezed her into a tight hug. "I love you, too."

Their appointments with Doctor Kojima had become weekly occurrences since Kuon had hit the third trimester. With Kyoko's filming schedule, she hadn't been able to make every single one anymore, and so Yashiro was accompanying Kuon for most of them.

Kuon lay back on the chaise lounge in Lory's office. At 28 weeks, they were getting closer and closer to the finish line. Doctor Kojima ran the transducer over the full expanse of his belly. They had done their best to keep the skin moisturized and to keep him hydrated, but he had still developed some stretch marks. The Doctor had assured them that it was normal, and was unfortunately not totally unavoidable.

Lory pulled a cigar out of his pocket. "Hurry up! I want to see the babies!" He went to light it, and Yashiro slapped it out of his hand.

"You can't smoke near Ren!" And then his eyes went wide as he realized whose hand he had just slapped. "I-I'm sorry, President-san! But, please don't smoke right now!" He bowed.

Lory laughed and tucked the unlit cigar back into his pocket. "I'm sorry, Yashiro-san. You're right, I forgot." He looked over at Kuon, who was giving him the stink eye. "It's still so weird seeing you like this. Sometimes I forget that you're pregnant!"

Kuon's eyes narrowed on him. "I'm glad someone can." There was no forgetting for Kuon at this stage. He was reminded with every kick to his bladder, every sneeze that made him pee, every fresh round of heartburn. His mother had assured him that all the heartburn meant that the babies would be born with full, luscious heads of hair, but Kuon thought it was just a side effect of all the weird shit he was eating.

Doctor Kojima pointed at the screen. "There, Takarada-san. This is Baby A."

"Kuzen," Kuon corrected. The more he said the name, the more he fell in love with it. Lory smiled.

"Kuzen, huh? Cute. Did you name the other ones yet?"

Kuon shook his head. "Haven't thought of a name for the other boy yet, and we don't know what Baby C is yet."

Doctor Kojima poked around a bit and raised his eyebrows. "There it is. Do you want to know?"

Lory jumped out of his chair. "YES!"

Kuon frowned. "Only if we can get ahold of Kyoko-chan. She should decide."

Yashiro gloved up and hit the button for Kyoko's phone.

"You've reached Kyoko's phone. This is her manager, Hinamori."

Yashiro had not actually formally met Ayame Hinamori yet. He turned pink at the husky rumble of her voice, the words, "Step on me!" popping into his head. He cleared his throat and brought himself back to the present.

"Ah, yes, Hinamori-san. This is Yashiro-san. Is Kyoko-chan available?"

Ayame lost some of her business-like tone in her answer. "Oh, hello, Yashiro-san! Unfortunately, she's filming right now. May I take a message for her?"

Kuon shook his head from his place on the chaise.

Yashiro smiled. "No, that's all right. Ren will bring it up with her later. Thank you, Hinamori-san."

"Of course, Yashiro-san. Have a good rest of your day," she purred into the phone. Yashiro blushed.

"L-likewise!," he hung up.

Lory gave Kuon his patented LoveMon frown. "B-but–!"

Kuon cut him off. "No buts. If Kyoko isn't here for it, then no one needs to know."

"But I could plan a gender reveal like you wouldn't beliiiieve!," Lory whined. "Please!? I won't ask for anything else!"

Kuon rolled his eyes. "Yashiro-san, order me a pair of waders so I can make it through Lory's bullshit."

Lory pouted. "You're so mean to me. Ungrateful, spoiled child!"

Kuon smirked and turned to the Doctor. "Everything looking good?"

The Doctor nodded. "Everything looks fine. If you would like to know the sex later, you can call me."

"And you won't tell this guy anything, right?" Kuon jerked a thumb at Lory.

Doctor Kojima nodded. "We have doctor-patient confidentiality. I cannot risk revealing anything to Takarada-san; it would cost me my job."

Lory crossed his arms. "But I pay you!," he huffed. His whole purpose in being there that day was to be nosy!

Doctor Kojima appraised Lory over the top of his glasses. "And that is nice, but I did not spend 14 years in medical school to throw it away because you want to know something trivial." He shut the machine off. "You're free to go, Tsuruga-san. I'll see you again next week."

Yashiro handed Kuon a towel to wipe the gel off of his belly and then checked his phone. "You've got an interview in an hour. We'll get you a snack first."

Kuon cleaned up and buttoned his shirt back up. He looked back over at Lory, who was sulking like a child with his lip stuck out in a pout and everything. "You'll find out when everyone else does in a month, Lory. You can't be allowed to know everything." Truthfully, he was enjoying having at least this over Lory; it was some small payback for the artificial insemination ordeal.

Lory got up from his chair and crossed the room to his desk where yet another dating sim was paused on his computer. "I'm not talking to you. You're mean." He vowed to get Ruto to spy on the couple and find out the sex of Baby C.

"Harumi, hang on!"

Kojiro held onto Harumi's forearms as she dangled over the edge of a building. She tried to get a toehold on the side of the building, but it was no good. Her feet kept slipping; the wall was wet from the rain that fell all around them. She looked into Kojiro's eyes.

"You have to let me go."

He shook his head. "NO!" His eyes welled with tears. A gash in his abdomen was leaking blood onto the roof, and opening wider as he tried desperately to pull her up. The pain was almost unbearable.

Harumi smiled up at him. "It's okay." His fingers began to slip on the slick, wet leather of her sleeves, and his eyes widened with fear and disbelief. Her eyes filled with tears. "I… I love you, Kojiro." She slipped out of his grasp, and Kojiro screamed.

"Cut!," The Director shouted. "Awesome work everyone! Take five!"

Kyoko, who had fallen approximately three feet to a padded mat, gave Hideo a thumbs-up to let him know that all was good, and then went to see Ayame, who passed her a water bottle. "Great job, Kyoko-chan!"

Kyoko drank heavily from the bottle. Her stunts that day had been intense. There had been two fight scenes, and then the fall scene. Her body was aching from the activities of the day. "Thank you, Ayame-san. Have I had any calls?"

Ayame nodded. "One. Yashiro-san called earlier to ask you about something, but said you could take care of it with Ren later. Speaking of which…" she pulled out her own phone with a coy smirk. "You should see this." She passed the phone to Kyoko, who looked down at the Renion fan page to see a large photo of Yashiro holding Ren's belly with the caption:

IS YASHIRO-SAN SECRETLY REN'S BABY DADDY!?

She couldn't help herself from doubling over with laughter. "Oh no! Poor Yashiro-san! Do you think he's seen it!?"

Ayame took her phone back and pocketed it with a giggle. "I'm going to assume that he's okay with it; it takes any and all focus off of you," she whispered. "Besides, it's got the fans talking, and in this business, any press is good press."

"Places!," the director shouted, and Kyoko set her water bottle down. It was time to get back to work.

Filming ran extra late, and by the time she was home, it was almost 1:00 AM. When she unlocked the door and stepped inside, she found Kuon asleep, propped up against the arm of the couch. She smiled as she reached a gentle hand out to shake his shoulder. "Corn. Wake up."

He blinked slowly and then smiled as she came into focus. "Hey." He had tried to stay awake for when she got home, and had failed miserably.

She giggled. "You don't have to wait up for me, you know."

He sat up and rubbed his belly sleepily. "I know. But I like being awake when you get home." His schedule had become a lot less full these days to account for all the extra rest that he needed. He was home before Kyoko was on most nights.

She sat down on the couch beside him. "How was your ultrasound? Is everything looking okay?"

He nodded. "Everything looks fine… though, the doctor did happen to get a peek at Baby C today."

Kyoko's eyes went wide, "AND?"

"I didn't want to know without you there. He said we can call him directly if you would like to know."

She breathed a small sigh of relief; she would have been a little sad if everyone knew what Baby C was before she did. "Thank you. So, when are we going to call?"

Kuon rubbed the back of his head. "About that. I've been thinking… wouldn't it be fun if we just let it be a surprise?"

Kyoko's eye twitched. She had wanted to color code all of the babies' things ahead of time.

"I just figure… they won't be home from the hospital for several weeks after they're born, so it'll give us time to get whatever stuff you need in any event. So there's really no harm in it."

Kyoko frowned. "But the name. I don't want us to be that weird couple that doesn't have a name picked out for their baby, Kuon!"

He chuckled. "Well, if it's a girl, you were just going to call her Kanae, right?"

She chewed her bottom lip. "I guess." She was actually having misgivings about that. Not because she didn't want to honor her best friend, but because she wanted to honor someone else just a little bit more.

He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. "It's only four more weeks, and then we'll know for certain. I'll be okay if you want to know, but I just think it would be really fun if we waited." He held up his free hand. "I almost forgot! I thought of a good name for B."

Kyoko smiled. "Yes?"

"Jiro. It starts with J, for my mom, and it's a name traditionally for–"

"The second son," Kyoko finished with a giggle. "I like it. It fits." She rubbed his belly. "Kuzen and Jiro. Now to meet their mysterious sibling." And think of an appropriate name for them, she thought, exasperated.