Hisashi is a busy man.
He's been busy, if a little bored, for the last century.
And just over a year after Inko comes into his life, he gets a whole lot busier.
His first order of business is to tell his companies that he won't be able to visit his offices as often.
His second order of business is to put most of his underground work on hold. He lets the Doctor manage Project Delta when he's not there and instructs his underlings to work as usual.
His third order of business is to write up the invitations for Inko's baby shower.
Wait-
What?
"Hisashi?"
He turns his head from his book, over the back of the sofa he's sitting on, to see Inko in the doorway, face pale.
"What's wrong?" he asks, worried.
Inko stumbles forward, holding onto the wall for support. Hisashi jumps to his feet, but is waved off.
"I feel really nauseous," she says, and Hisashi walks to her and holds her arms to steady her.
"Okay," he replies. "I think you should get into bed. I'll bring you some painkillers." He puts an arm around her shoulders, steadily leading her back to their room.
Inko clasps his arm as they walk, face pale. He sets her in bed, glad her pyjamas are still on, and props her up on a few pillows.
Inko sends Hisashi a shaky smile, which he returns before he leaves the room.
He hurries back to Inko once he has the painkillers and glass of water, only to find that she's no longer in the bed. Fretting, he bursts into the bathroom, where he finds Inko bent over the toilet, retching.
Hisashi kneels by her side and pulls her hair behind her back so that it's not in the way of her mouth.
Inko sends him what seems to be a smile, but ends up looking more like a grimace. Hisashi merely rubs her back in what he hopes is a comforting way.
For all that he's lived through, he doesn't have a lot of experience with consoling sick family members.
Yes… it's been long enough that he thinks he can call Inko his family.
He sits with her for another few minutes as she throws up. When she tells him there's no more coming, he takes her back to bed, making sure she swallows down both pills. He sets the refilled glass on her bedside table and leaves her to sleep.
He really should've taken that sickness relief quirk years ago.
Hisashi sits back down on the sofa and opens his book, though he turns on a hearing quirk so he won't miss if something happens to Inko.
He falls asleep.
Of course he does, because Hisashi has the worst timing every time something big happens.
He curses his human body as he gets to his feet and heads to his room. Inko, once again, is not there.
Remembering where she was last time, Hisashi opens the door to the bathroom.
Inko stands with her back to the door, head down.
Hisashi rushes to her side, slipping an arm around her waist. "What's wrong?" he breathes.
Inko turns her head to meet his eyes. She looks happy, despite the tear tracks on her cheeks. "Hisashi," she says after a moment of silence. "I'm pregnant."
Hisashi is too shocked to speak, which is perhaps the wrong thing as Inko's face falls quickly and she pulls herself away.
"Do you not want a child?" She asks, eyes wide, scared.
Hisashi lets out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Inko," he says, eyes already filling with tears. "I want a child. I am so happy," he tells her.
Inko covers her mouth, starting to cry. "I'm sorry," she mutters. "You were so quiet and I thought you were upset-"
Hisashi pulls her hands away from her face and holds them in his own. "I was surprised. I'm sorry I made you feel like that."
Inko sends him a shaky smile before she pulls Hisashi into a kiss.
They cry together that night as they plan for the months ahead.
Inko visits the hospital the next day.
The baby is healthy.
It's her day off so Hisashi takes her out for dinner to celebrate – without wine, of course.
They tell Mitsuki and Masaru the following week when they have their planned meet-up. Hisashi goes into work with her the day after. He stands by Inko's side as she tells her friends, smiling.
He thinks that it really is a pity neither of them have any family to tell, but that won't deter Hisashi's good mood.
They paint the spare room and fill it with baby furniture when they have free time together. It's a time-consuming and tedious task, but they make it fun, joking and laughing as they work. They finish as Inko hits five months.
Hisashi and Inko sit down that night and talk.
"You could stop working," He tells Inko. "I have enough money to last for years, even if I stopped working too."
Inko frowns. "I'm not sure," she says slowly. "I became an accountant straight out of university because the job was there. I love my job…"
"But?" Hisashi prompts, knowing she's not done.
"But I always wanted to be a lawyer," Inko finishes with a sigh.
Hisashi nods, contemplative. "You could do that," he reassures. "What if you leave the accounting firm permanently when you take your maternity leave? When you're ready, you can get your degree and training."
"I'd love to do that, but what about looking after the baby?"
"You could take a few years and when the baby is old enough for nursery or school, whichever works best at the time, I can look after them in the evenings while you're training," Hisashi suggests, and Inko gives him a small nod and a smile.
"Thank you, Hisashi. You're amazing."
He blushes. "You're better."
He sits, writing invitations when his phone chimes.
'Project Delta meeting – 17:30'
Hisashi sighs, finishing off the invitation he's on, before packing away the stack of cards and slipping his pen into the open draw next to his leg.
An odd feeling washes over his mind as he leaves the house, causing him to shiver. A chill runs down his spine.
Something's going on and Hisashi has no idea what it is.