The waitress informed them that their orders would be ready shortly. Until then, the party was welcomed to more appetizers for the time being. As the waitress left them alone, the table was left in a stale silence. Izuku was the first to recognize it as he was reaching for a buttered roll to break the pregnant silence. Hisashi sat quietly, fidgeting at his tie. Izuku knew his father did that when nervousness was at bay.
His mother, Inko, followed suit with a buttered roll. This was her second batch she ate alone. Inko was a stress eater especially when things surprise her. As she loudly scraped the bread with her steak knife, she probably didn't think that not only was her son dating a teacher, let alone an older woman close to their age. She was also carrying for two as well.
Inko took a hard bite of the roll, allowing the crumbs to settle on her chubby belly. Izuku tried to assist with the clean-up. She swatted him with her hand. Izuku knew she was going to be back for the crumbs.
All the while, Nemuri kept her silence. Opting for lemon tea as she didn't want anything to disturb her already nauseous stomach. Fortunately, there was no need for an ambulance. However, the look on her boyfriend's mother's face when realizing that she was his girl, the hair stood in the back of her neck. On two occasions did the Pro Hero 18+ felt that way. The day when her parents divorced and this. She prayed to God that things won't lead to separating from her boyfriend.
Izuku took a sip of his watered iced tea. He took additional sips. The emerald-haired stared at Nemuri as her eyes were at her stomach. The stale, awkward atmosphere had to end. He was now seventeen and legal enough to make his own decisions. So much so that he even looked at options for emancipation from his parents. He had already made it in his mind to move in with Nemuri after the pregnancy. She was an adult and she had sex with him. At the same time, he felt responsible. He knew the consequences of diseases and pregnancy.
The tension was getting thicker and he was ready to chop it up. He chimed the glass. He was ready to talk. "Mom, Dad. Before you become angry and want to scream your throats out at Nemuri for this, hear me out." His mother placed the knife down. His father quit messing with his tie and folded his arms. Izuku was honestly nervous, but he wasn't going to let anyone or anything bemean the mother-to-be. "Mom, Dad. I am in love with this woman. I know I must be too young to know what love is. However, I am aware that that is my kid growing in her stomach. And being the father, I know that it is my job to take responsibility for my actions."
His parents didn't budge. They looked faceted at their son. The only movement was the occasional drop of melted ice.
"It was my decision to go to Nemuri's home and had relations with her," said Izuku adamantly. "It was my decision to not wear a condom. When I found out she was pregnant, I decided to step up to the plate and claim responsibility with being a parent." He reached into his pocket and display crumpled pieces of paper. "I know it might be hard for me as I am now seventeen. But, she and I have thought long and hard." He coughed. "Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I don't plan to drop out of school. I do want to finish high school to be a pro-hero or find a suitable job, whichever comes first." Izuku was nervous. It was like he was reading in front of a teleprompter. His audience wasn't any better, with the exception of Nemuri.
"Nemuri has the funds and we plan to move in together," said Izuku. "I fear that you guys might kick me out for the mistake that I have caused. Please, Mom and Dad, don't put any blame on Nemuri." He swallowed a lump in his throat for the next part. "Please, don't inform the police about this. I don't want Nemuri to be handed to the law for being a sexual predator. Nemuri isn't like that. She cares about me and I care about her." The sweat was stemming from his armpits to his clothes. His voice was beginning to choke up. "I know the circumstance confuses you. It does too, Mom and Dad. But I am a big boy now. I want you to be proud that I am stepping up in being a father."
By this time, tears were coming from his eyes. "I don't want you to hate me for thinking what I have done was stupid. Yes, it was stupid for I wasn't being smart. But, I know that I care about Nemuri Kayama and I am going to look out for her and the baby." He used a piece of paper to wipe the tears. "Understand Mom and Dad that I am going to do what's right. So, don't hate me and don't hate her."
He took a seat. "I am finished."
Hisashi and Inko looked at each other. Their glances gave hint that they were communicating non-verbally. Hisashi grabbed the napkin and handed it to his son as he was wiping his tears. After a few moments of silence, Hisashi finally spoke. "Well, sweetheart. I can tell that you have put a lot of thought with this proposal that you have made."
Izuku nodded in agreement. "Yes, sir."
"I can tell that you really care about this Nemuri."
"Yes, sir."
Hisashi dug into his ear when he took a sip of his lemon water. He, then, turned to Nemuri. "Ms. Kayama, in what regards do you care about my son?"
Nemuri stammered. She looked at Hisashi as if he was peeking into the windows of her soul. "I care about your son very much."
"Right," he said as he sat back. He unfolded his arms. "If you care about Izuku, what is his nickname we have given him at home."
"Icchan," she immediately answered.
Hisashi nodded as he took another drink of water. "Izuku had an accident when he was six years ago. Please explain what kind of accident was it?"
"Izuku was pushed by Katsuki while riding his bike," said Nemuri. "It resulted in Izuku being ridden into the lake. He nearly drowned. Fortunately, Katsuki's mom saved him in time."
Hisashi nodded in approval. He looked at his watch. He then looked at his wife and Izuku before returning his sights on Nemuri. "One more question and I am finished. Why did you pick my son?" He then folded his arms again. "What makes my son the chosen one instead of all the candidates out there?"
Nemuri stared blankly at his questioning.
"I must know, Nemuri," said his father. "All the charm and glamor that you have. You have wits that can sway any guy your age. Hell, it says in your persona." He slammed the table harshly. "Why did you pick my son to get yourself pregnant?"
"I care about him," she told his father. "And that's the God-honest truth. I sincerely care about Izuku. If I didn't want this baby, I could have aborted." She looked at Izuku. "Izuku was by my side the moment he learned I was pregnant. He never abandoned me. He never has forsaken me. He stayed on my beck and call each and every moment." She tilted her head down. "Better than the so-called guys my age I used to date." She then faced Hisashi. "Don't think I wanted your son out of convenience. Yes, your son is a student. It is wrong for teachers to get with their students. But every single time I have seen your son, I saw a man, Mr. Midoriya. A man within."
"But he isn't a man." Nemuri turned as Inko gripped the table lining. "He isn't a man, Kayama-sensei. He is a boy that you have fully taken advantaged of."
"Mom," interjected Izuku.
"Hush, Icchan," retorted his mother.
"Mom," he glared at her.
"I said, shut up." Izuku was met with a slap to the face. The slap was heard throughout the restaurant. She felt the pressure on her head, throbbing as she saw the cut she gave her son. She then turned to Izuku. "You have no right to explain what it means for a boy to be a man. He is seventeen. A child, Kayama-sensei." She took a seat. "Let's be grateful to God that I won't report this to the police."
Izuku winced as he felt the unsuspecting slap from his mother. He went quiet. Then, he glared at his mother. "I won't shut up, Mom."
"Izuku," said Nemuri.
"No, no one is going to disrespect my girlfriend like that," said Izuku. He stood up and pushed the table. "And if you don't want to understand that, you don't have to," he barked at his mother. He walked a few feet as he turned around to his parents. "Since I am seventeen, I am legal to make my own decisions. I will send for my things. You don't have to worry about your little boy in your way anymore."
Nemuri watched as Izuku walked away from the table. He stared at the awkwardness of his parents before excusing herself from the table. She followed Izuku as he headed into the parking lot. She heard the sniffling as he walked away. "Izuku," she called to him. Immediately, he stopped. As a child does to his mother, he ran into the bosom of his girlfriend. Nemuri grabbed his swollen cheek and kissed it tenderly. "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't cry, baby. You have to be strong for this baby."
Izuku didn't hear it. Nemuri held on to her beloved tightly. Even she knew that this was overwhelming him more than he let on.
A few hours later….
Izuku was sitting in the kitchen of Nemuri's apartment as he worked on a checklist of items to get from his house. Nemuri approached the table and gave him a glass of milk. She rubbed his shoulders as she thought he needed to relieve some tension.
"Thanks, sweetheart," he said to her.
"Don't mention it," said Nemuri.
"I think I would go by whenever Mom takes Dad to the airport next week," said Izuku as he was scratching his eyelid with a pencil. "They probably don't want to see my face anyway."
Nemuri rubbed her hair. She then pulled Izuku's chair to face her. She kneeled to the floor. "Izuku, look at me." She sighed heavily. "Your parents are taking a lot right now too. This is a lot to digest for all of us."
"But they disrespected you with questions. Angry, harsh questions," said Izuku.
She stroked his cheek, rubbing it affectionately. "Baby, your parents have every single right to ask those questions."
He pulled back. "What side you are on," he asked defensively.
She squeezed his cheeks. "Yours and forever yours." She kissed her forehead. "Take it from their perspective, sweetie. I am thirty-one years old and you are seventeen. That is a huge age gap." She rubbed the sole of her house shoe. "They have every right to be cautious of me."
"Nemuri," said Izuku.
"Listen, sweetheart," said Nemuri. "I am not perfect as you think I am. I played my role as the school flirt. I played my role as the seductress of any men, women, anyone." She grabbed his knee. "Prior to you, Izuku, I didn't value myself. I slept with many people before you, baby." She grabbed his knee tightly. "And baby, don't take this the wrong way. My love for you is pure and true. But it was a love that took self-discovery and growth."
"Nemuri," said Izuku.
"You weren't my first, second, fifth, sixteenth, baby. I am not trying to upset you. I just wanted to let you know that I didn't know what I was searching for," she told him. "Even that day when we had sex, I wasn't sure what we were doing." She began sniffling. "My worst fear was that you were going to be one of them again. Another guy that said, 'I've slept with Pro Hero 18+ Midnight,' and move on." She wiped the tears. "I am not asking for your sympathy. You don't know the names I have been called when you are gone and I am all alone. When I go shopping or even when I was at school." She took another sniffle. "With you, I've felt different. It was like when I am with you, I knew that everything was going to be okay."
She stood up. Although she felt it was risky, she got herself on Izuku's lap. He didn't resist. He took her in open arms. "I knew from the moment you had me at the diner, I knew I developed feelings for you right then and there. And to tell you the truth, you are the first I haven't used a condom. If God shall strike me dead if I have lied, I've meant it. I love you, Izuku. I do. I do. And I want you more than ever."
"I do, too, Nemuri. I want you more than ever." Izuku and Nemuri exchanged kisses and hugs as they bathed in the warmth of their love and their tears.
"No matter what, Izuku, God has us. We will be fine," said Nemuri.
"What about my parents," questioned Izuku.
"In time, baby. In time," answered Nemuri as she kissed him on the lips.
A month later….
Izuku was holding Nemuri's hand as they were waiting at the doctor's office for the ultrasound. Also, today was the day of the gender reveal. Both were excited when finding out on what the gender was of the babies.
Izuku almost fainted when it determined at the last doctor's appointment when finding out that Nemuri was having triplets. He thought back at his baby batter and concluded that God gave him quite a gift.
Nemuri just got off the phone. She was contacting the school. "I am on sabbatical for the rest of the term. They want me to take it easy as much as possible before returning to school."
"Cool! Still kinda sucks on not seeing you around," said Izuku as he was taking a bite of his ice cream before spoonfeeding it to her. "School is actually kinda dull."
Nemuri flicked his nose. "Oh! Oh! Oh! C'mon, you should be excited that you are the keeper to my little secret of the school." She smiled as she snatched the rest of his ice cream. "It isn't every day one can say, 'I got Midnight Pro Hero 18+ pregnant' and be under 18." She winked as she was smacking on the ice cream.
"Nemuri Kayama." The couple turned as the doctor was calling for Nemuri. "We are ready to see you."
As they were prepared to go, Izuku received a phone call. "Go on without me, baby. I am going to take this." Nemuri pecked him on the cheek before heading inside of the room.
He answered the call on the fifth ring. "Hello?"
"Icchan."
Izuku turned around when hearing the same sound on the phone being in person. He saw in front of him was his mother.
Izuku hung up the phone as he saw his mother standing in the hallway. Her face was puffy. Her hair was unkempt. It looked like she had lost sleep. The duo stared at each other before she extended her arms. Izuku didn't flinch as he rushed to hug his mother.
A floodgate was released as the mother and son held each other for the first time in over a month. The last time Izuku saw his parents were at the restaurant. Being a man of his word, Izuku moved out of his parents' house the following week. He had changed phone numbers as well. Izuku was trying to move on. However, deep down, he couldn't.
And neither did his mother.
"Mommy," he cried to his mother.
She shushed him. "It's okay, baby. I am here. Your mother is here."
"Sorry for being so stupid."
"You weren't, dear. I was. Don't worry, all is well, sweetheart." She took his hand. "We can talk about that soon. I need to know about the gender of my grandbabies."
He raised his eyebrow. "How did you know there was more than one?"
Nemuri stepped out of the room. She was covered in glop as she was excited to see Inko.
Inko patted Izuku's back. "Nemuri never lost contact with me and she has kept me informed since."
Nemuri displayed a peace sign. "Welcome to the wonderful of estrogen, Papa."
"All girls?"
"Yep! Yep," she exclaimed excitedly.
Izuku was pulling the collar of his shirt. "Jesus, is it getting hot. Is that you, God?" It's getting hot in here, so take off all your fur. I am getting so hot, I'm gonna take my fur off. The father-to-be fell backward. Surprisingly, he was caught by another guest.
He wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Glad to catch him in time," said Hisashi. "I hope you are ready for this, Papa."
To be continued….