Chapter Text
Three years had passed since Makoto and Kyouko married. The world had calmed down with each passing day. Despair did not flood the world any longer, and the earth and human beings flourished. Life felt as if things were the way they were before the tragedy. Finally, everyone could live a normal life.
It was with that feeling with the world being right again, and the threat of worldwide despair eradicated, that Makoto and Kyouko decided they would try to increase their family. The couple had been trying to have a child.
When they first started trying for a child, the couple was excited. Everyone at Hope’s Peak knew something was up between them as well, mainly because Kyouko was smiling almost all the time, a rare sight for anyone. Makoto announced to his colleagues and friends about the good news to be returned with congratulations.
Every week the couple would be asked if Kyouko was pregnant, and every time they would answer with a no. The excitement and joy that spread across the school whenever either Makoto and Kyouko would walk by slowly quieted down after two months. The two weren’t concerned with the quietness. Of course, the excitement would return after Kyouko comes in with a positive test result. The couple just had to be patient.
Another month passed, and Makoto became concerned when Kyouko stepped out of the bathroom with a frown. Makoto felt his heart sank to the point where he couldn’t find words to express his dissatisfaction. Never in his life did he think that trying to have a child would take so long.
“It’s only been three months,” Kyouko spoke as she walked over to the bedroom. “If you stay concerned, it’ll only take longer.”
Makoto followed his wife sluggishly. “Just hard to believe we’re having trouble.”
“We’re not,” Kyouko reminded him. “Couples spend much longer trying. We’ve only just started trying.”
Makoto sat at the edge of their bed, slouched over. Kyouko crawled on the other side, approached Makoto, and draped her arms over his shoulders. Makoto loved when Kyouko would be affectionate. It showed him how relaxed she was around him, and just how much she trusted and loved him. Even when he felt bad about their situation, Makoto was able to smile just by her touch.
“You’re right, Kyouko. Worrying isn’t going to help.” He sat up straight and locked onto Kyouko’s hands. Tonight, her gloves were off. Makoto’s thumb brushed over the scars and burns that dressed Kyouko’s hands. “We just have to keep trying.”
Kyouko wiggled her hands out of Makoto’s grasp and moved back from him. Makoto turned around and watched Kyouko rest her back against the wall. She was smiling at him, which still made Makoto’s heart flutter.
“Then let’s keep trying,” Kyouko said with a flirtatious tone.
Makoto threw his arms over Kyouko and kissed her passionately.
Two weeks later, Makoto was having lunch with two of his friends, Byakuka and Hiro. They sat inside a now crowded restaurant. Byakuya wasn’t thrilled about how crowded the place was, and insisted the trio should have gone somewhere more fancy and expensive. He also tried to convince them that since Makoto was considered a hero, they’d get their lunches free. However, Makoto would always refuse. He liked the crowded areas, as it showed just how full of life the world was again.
“So how are things going with you and your wife?” Hiro asked Makoto. There was a bit of song and teasing in Hiro’s voice. “Is she pregnant yet?”
Makoto shook his head. “No, not from my knowledge.”
“Aw, come on!” Hiro groaned. He leaned back and threw his hands onto his forehead. “I wanna be an uncle already!”
“Kyouko and I are trying,” Makoto assured Hiro.
“How long have you been trying? It seems like forever!”
Makoto hesitated. “Three months. I’m starting to worry.”
Finally, Byakuya set down his cup of tea. A groan in disgust escaped his lips. “You do realize that three months is considered normal, right? Be worried if she still isn’t pregnant after a year.”
“Kyouko did say something like that…”
“And she’s right!” Byakuya snapped.
“But we’ve been trying almost every-”
“Stop,” Byakuya interrupted. “I’d don’t want to hear the details of your life under the bedsheets.”
Makoto slumped in his seat. “I just don’t get it,” he admitted. “You hear stories about couples having kids unexpectedly, and even after the first try. Yet here Kyouko and I are, planning this whole thing out, and yet we’ve been unsuccessful.”
“Hey, cheer up!” Hiro cheered while he reached forward to place a hand on Makoto’s shoulder. “I have an idea. How about I look into the future and see what month Kyouko will finally have that bun in the oven?”
Makoto looked up at Hiro, shocked. “Really?”
“I wouldn’t do it,” Byakuya scoffed. “He’ll charge you way too much only for his prediction to be inaccurate.”
“Hey, I’ve been right multiple times!” Hiro argued. “Besides, I’m gonna not charge him this time. I’m thinking of this as being a gift to my future niece or nephew, maybe even both if you have twins.”
“Well,” Makoto muttered, “I mean it wouldn’t hurt to try, especially if you’re not charging…”
“Great!” Hiro shouted. He pulled out his crystal ball from seemingly out of nowhere, which shocked Makoto, and disgusted Byakuya. “Now this may take a while, but bear with me.”
“...Surely you can’t believe this imbecile,” Byakuya groaned.
Makoto shrugged his shoulders. “It’s not going to hurt.”
“He said that I will have five children with Fukawa,” Byakuya reminded Makoto. “Do you honestly think I would believe something like that?”
“You had Hiro tell you your future?”
Byakuya hesitated. “...No, I didn’t. The idiot told Fukawa her future, and afterwards, he came up to me and congratulated me for something that hadn’t happen, nor will ever happen.”
“I got it!” Hiro shouted, which brought almost everyone in the restaurant to his attention.
“What does it say?” an impatient and curious Makoto asked.
Hiro looked closer at his crystal ball. “Hm, according to this, your wife will get pregnant in the month of...November?”
“Obvious,” Byakuya sneered. “He’s even unsure of his own prediction.”
“But we entered December a couple days ago,” Makoto whined. “If you’re right, that means it’ll take more than a year for Kyouko and me to start our family.”
“Also, it says here you two will have a girl,” Hiro blurted out.
Makoto placed his hands on his head in frustration. “What am I gonna do?”
Byakuya groaned once again. “For crying out loud, Naegi, just keep trying. I sure as hell wouldn’t take Hagakure’s predictions to heart.
“I have an idea,” Hiro added. “Why not take your wife out on a date? If you two are stressed about this, maybe a date can calm your nerves. Then, when you get home, put on some soft music, light some candles, and-”
“For the love of god stop,” Byakuya demanded. “I’d rather not have the image of Naegi and his wife having sex.”
“I’m just trying to help my best buddy out,” Hiro said.
“I hate to admit it, he might be right about the date thing. If you two keep stressing out about this, you’ll never have a kid.”
“Performance issues and all,” Hiro said.
Makoto continued to frown. “I appreciate the help, guys. Maybe a relaxing night is what we need.”
Before Makoto returned home for the evening, he stopped at a flower shop and bought Kyouko a bouquet of red roses. Makoto was surprised at how fresh the roses looked for being out of season. The store must have had a special greenhouse somewhere nearby.
The plan was to relax Kyouko from what Makoto would assume to be a busy day for her. He’d treat her like a princess, and cater to her every wish. Perhaps he will be able to ease his stress as well. Maybe even tonight would be the night they finally conceive a child.
Makoto was optimistic about his plan until Kyouko returned home. He was waiting for her in their room with the flowers placed on the bedside where Kyouko slept, with one rose in between his teeth. Sure, it was embarrassing, but he would do anything for his wife. The rose fell out of his mouth when he saw Kyouko sluggishly walking into the room with her arm over her stomach. Makoto jumped off the bed and to his feet to Kyouko’s side.
“What’s wrong?” Makoto asked in fear.
“Don’t worry, Makoto,” Kyouko said groggily. “I’m probably catching a cold or something. The stress of everything must be getting to me.”
Makoto frowned. He put his hand on Kyouko’s back and rubbed it tenderly. “You should rest.” He led the sick Kyouko over to their bed. Her eyes caught onto the bouquet of roses.
“You bought roses for me?” Kyouko muttered.
“I thought you’d like them,” Makoto admitted. “Thought maybe I could help ease your stress tonight, then we could...you know.”
Kyouko sighed. “I’m sorry, Makoto. I’m not feeling up for it tonight”
“I know. I’m still going to take care of you.”
Kyouko smiled weakly. “Thank you. I can’t remember the last time I was this sick.”
“Maybe you should consider taking a leave from Hope’s Peak,” Makoto suggested. “Ever since you picked up detective work again, you’ve been overworking yourself. I can’t tell you to stop doing your detective work, but I can let you know I’ll be fine running Hope’s Peak on my own for a bit.”
“It’s fine,” Kyouko said. “I am still with you at Hope’s Peak because I want to work by your side. I’ll just sleep tonight, and I should be fine by the morning.”
“Kyouko…” Makoto whined. “Take the day off tomorrow.”
Kyouko turned away from her husband. She should have known that Makoto would worry about her. She should have just tried to hide her illness. She was sick earlier in the morning, but was able to hide that since Makoto was fast asleep and she had left their home before he woke up. Now she felt sick yet again tonight, and she couldn’t hide it from Makoto this time. Kyouko hated the feeling of being vulnerable, but at the same time, she couldn’t resist the desire to be pampered by Makoto.
“If I’m still not feeling well in the morning, I’ll take the day off,” Kyouko negotiated.
“Deal.”
Kyouko woke up that morning by making a trip to the bathroom. This time she was unfortunate that her sudden dash out of bed woke Makoto up. He stood outside the closed bathroom door, only because Kyouko refused to let him in the room with her.
“Could you please unlock the door?” Makoto asked.
“No,” Kyouko groaned. “I don’t want you seeing me like this.”
“You’ve seen me sick plenty of times,” he reminded her. “What makes it different now?”
“Because it’s not you who is sick.”
Makoto sighed. “Well, at least now you’re staying home. Remember, we made a deal last night.”
“I remember.”
“I’m thinking I should stay with you today.”
Kyouko groaned once again. “I’m a grown adult. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“Okay,” Makoto said quietly. “Please take care of yourself today.” Makoto paused. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Kyouko called out before planting her head by the toilet again.
Kyouko didn’t leave the bathroom until Makoto had already left for Hope’s Peak. Her stomach still churned as she groggily walked to the kitchen in hopes that a light breakfast could calm her stomach. While she searched for something to eat, her eyes caught sight of the calendar she had been using the past three months. Each previous date was crossed out with red marker. She examined the calendar carefully, as if something were amiss. Her eyes widened after close inspection.
Wait a minute, she thought as she counted each day, and flipped the calendar back to the previous month. Could it be…?
Makoto arrived home later than usual, only because he stopped to get cold medicine for Kyouko. When he walked inside their home, Kyouko was at her desk, working on her current case.
“Hey, Kyouko,” Makoto said hesitantly, “I thought you said you’d rest.”
“I did,” Kyouko answered while not taking her eyes off her work. “Then I felt well again. You know I am unable to lay in bed all day, especially since I’m feeling better.
“But you were so sick this morning-”
“I was, and now I’m better.”
“...How?”
Kyouko continued to face away from her husband. She couldn’t hold back the smile she wore on her face that she didn’t want Makoto to see just yet. “I took it easy for most of the day,” she finally replied. At least her voice could hide her excitement.
“Well, I bought cold medicine,” Makoto stated. “Maybe you should take some just in case.”
“I’m fine. Why not put it in with the rest of the medicine just in case it’s needed later?”
Makoto hummed in distress. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Makoto sighed in frustration. His wife had to be one of the most stubborn people he’s ever met in regards to their health. He knew that the next time he saw Kyouko ill, he’d make sure she’d take this medicine. He walked out of the room to put the medicine he got for her with the rest of their medications. As he walked into the bathroom, he noticed something sitting out by the sink that wasn’t there before. He looked down at the peculiar object, and he swore his heart stopped for a second. His body trembled violently, and he was close to losing his ability to stand as he read the word displayed to him.
“Pregnant.”
Kyouko could hear Makoto’s scream of excitement from her room. Her face flushed a bright pink and she lost any composure she had left. She knew with that scream, Makoto saw the test result she had left lying out for him to see. She took her hand and gently placed it on her abdomen.
“And to think he was worried,” Kyouko muttered to herself while she continued her work.