Chapter Text
Chapter 5: The Percipine of Miracle
Daiki was born two minutes to midnight in the middle of April. The little baby was unresponsive which sent the doctor and a couple of nurses in the birthing room into a panic. Hikaru cried and feared for the worst but Yabu did not give up. He utilized all the knowledge he had to get the poor little one to breathe. It was the worst two minutes in Hikaru’s life.
“I thought my heart was going to stop right then and there, Mizuki-chan. I was so afraid that my whole body started to shake,” Hikaru told Mizuki with a whimper in his voice.
“Oh, sweetheart, your hands are still shaking even now,” commented Mizuki as he held Hikaru’s left hand in between her hands. Then, she reached for the bundle of blankets nestled in Hikaru’s right arm. “He’s so small,” whispered Mizuki as she traced Daiki's chubby cheek with her finger.
“When I heard his cry for the first time, I thought I’m about to pass out but Yabu quickly put him in my arms and I could breathe again. He is my whole life now. I love him so much!” said Hikaru with a happy smile as he gazed at the baby in his arms.
"May I hold him Hika-chan?" begged Mizuki.
"Erm…"
"Please…I'll be careful. I promise!"
Hikaru didn't want to let go of his baby as he kept imagining awful things would happen if he let Daiki out of his sight, but Mizuki kept pleading. So, he relented. "Alright, please be very careful. I feel like his breathing would stop when I let him out of my sight."
The moment his baby was out of his arms, panic seized Hikaru. He felt a strong urge to just reach out, take his baby back and hide somewhere where no one could find them. He knew that it was just his paranoia speaking, so he stamped down on the urge by keeping both his hands under his thighs. Mizuki carefully held little Daiki in her arms, swaying him a little when the baby let out a distressed whimper.
“So, what’s his name?” asked Mizuki.
“Daiki. His name is Daiki and I want him to grow into a great and respectable person just like his name,” boasted Hikaru proudly.
“Hello, little Daichan. I’m your aunty Mizuki. Yoroshiku,” cooed Mizuki to the sleeping baby in her arms. The baby scrunched up his face and let out a cute yawn that made Mizuki gasp in wonder. "Hika-chan, he's so cute! Oh my god! Oh, please, please, can I take him home with me? I think I'm in love."
"Over my dead body, you crazy Beta!" warned Hikaru, narrowing his eyes at Mizuki but the Beta ignored him and kept cooing over the baby.
“Your daddy’s stingy! Aww… look at you. You wanna go home with aunty Mizuki aren’t you sweetie? Yes, you are! The poor little one has a stingy Omega as a dad. The world’s so unfair!” lamented Mizuki dramatically while Hikaru snickered at her antics.
"Speaking of crazy Beta, there is one Beta who is crazy for you," teased Mizuki with a saucy wink towards Hikaru.
Hikaru raised his eyebrows, acting stupid. Mizuki had brought up this topic a lot lately and each time, Hikaru had always deflected it with excuses. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don’t act stupid with me, Hikaru. You know very well what I’m talking about," retorted Mizuki. “Honestly, I think it’s about time you take the next step in your relationship.”
“What relationship? We don’t have a relationship,” denied Hikaru.
“Because you don’t allow it,” argued Mizuki. “What is it that you’re afraid of anyway? He’s a good Beta, kind, respectable, caring, and very much in love with you. You can’t find anyone else with that quality.”
“What if I don’t wanna find anyone else? Daiki is enough for me,” stated Hikaru.
Mizuki let out an exasperated sigh. “Are you still thinking about him? It’s been nine months already and he hasn’t contacted you. He won’t come back, darling.”
“I know that! I’m not that stupid to understand that I’ve been dumped. It’s just…” Hikaru trailed off to rub his face and moaned. “This is hard for me. After everything that happened, I’m… afraid…”
“Oh, honey! I’m sorry that you have to experience all of this and I’m sorry for pushing you to date our kindhearted sensei but you need to realize that you can’t raise Daichan with your wage as a temporary illustrator. Even if you manage to secure a job at a coffee shop using your certificate as a coffee sommelier, having financial security still wins. Don't you wanna give this little guy the best education? Support him to reach his full potential? How about when he gets sick?” persuaded Mizuki.
“Stop it! You make me sound like a gold digger,” grumbled Hikaru in a deadpanned tone. “You know I never care for material things. I could have obeyed my grandparent’s wish to marry the richest Alpha in my village but I didn’t. I chose Yuya because I love him.”
“And you don’t love Yabu sensei?” asked Mizuki with a knowing smirk on her face that Hikaru had learned to hate. She knew him too much.
“I hate you,” said Hikaru in a serious tone.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’m just stating the obvious. I know love when I see it and you, sir, are very much in love with our good doctor Yabu Kota,” Mizuki drawled. Then she cooed at a sleeping Daiki in her arms. “Isn't that right, Daichan? Your daddy is a baka, right? He doesn’t want to listen to your aunty Mizuki," cooed Mizuki at the baby and when little Daiki let out a small sigh, she was triumphant.
“Please stop involving my child in your scheme, you sly woman!” scolded Hikaru.
Mizuki let out a mock gasp. “A scheme! I beg your pardon! Yamamoto Mizuki never schemes,” she declared indignantly. “She plots and plans. There’s a difference.”
Hikaru snorted before groaning into his pillow while Mizuki chuckled mirthfully at his predicament. As Hikaru and Mizuki bantered back and forth over Hikaru's love life or lack thereof, the door to Hikaru's room was suddenly opened to reveal Yabu Kota, the subject of their gossip, who came to check on Hikaru and Daiki.
"Yamamoto-san, I didn't know that you came to visit," greeted Yabu.
"Is Hikaru not allowed visitor, sensei?" asked Mizuki in a probing tone. Suspicious of her tone of voice, Hikaru watched her carefully and sure enough, when he noticed the way the side of her mouth turned up a little bit, he knew that his best friend was up to something.
"Of course he is. It's just that if I know that you're here, I can postpone the check-up for later," explained Yabu.
"Oh, I'll beg to leave, then."
"No, no, you can stay of course to keep Yaotome-san company."
"I really can't stay for long, sensei. I'll be expected back at work in a few minutes. Things are rather hectic at the shop today because two of my coworkers are on sick leave," explained Mizuki as she handed Daiki back to Hikaru.
"Take care Mizuki. Please, don't get sick too," said Hikaru worriedly after hearing about Mizuki's work situation.
"Don't worry, dear. I'm a lot stronger than I look," said Mizuki with a playful wink. She bid her goodbye by kissing Hikaru's cheek. Yet, it turned out to be just a ploy to whisper more of her persuasion in his ear.
"I bet my ass that the check-up is just made up for an excuse to see you, Hika-chan. Remember, you're just afraid of being happy. Give yourself a chance, okay?" whispered Mizuki in Hikaru's ears. Hikaru gave her a look but she just grinned slyly at him and flounced out of the door. Mizuki was quite forceful when she had made up her mind. She was also not one who shied away from voicing them out loud.
"She's quite… spirited," commented Yabu after Mizuki left the room.
"That's Mizuki," Hikaru agreed. "She's a very passionate person and a force to be reckoned with."
"I wouldn't want to be on her bad side then," replied Yabu. "How are you feeling today, Hikaru-kun?"
Yabu had started to forgo Hikaru's surname and called him with his given name two months before Hikaru gave birth to Daiki. After that pie episode, both Hikaru and Yabu had started to form a camaraderie and they met more often outside of Hikaru's scheduled check-ups. Hikaru had to admit that Yabu is a wonderful person. He was attentive, caring, and genuinely loved to help others. As expected, he became popular among the residents of the Omega house. Many of them fell for him but according to what Hikaru had heard through the grapevines, the doctor never reciprocated.
There were so many rumors circulating about the reason why Yabu was still single until now. They went from tame to outlandish to downright outrageous which made Hikaru confused about which one to believe. Some even said that he already had a mate back in his village and they had somehow died in a terrible accident, probably one of the reasons why he was estranged from his family. That accident traumatized him so badly that he did not want to be in a relationship with anyone.
Yabu of course denied all of those widely circulated rumors and gave a chortled laugh when Hikaru told him the wildest one. He assured Hikaru that none of those rumors were true and he had already told him about his failings with his older brother before. Hikaru felt silly for worrying but couldn't help but felt elated when learning that Yabu's seemingly lack love life was not due to any romance-related trauma.
“I feel better thank you. I can’t wait to bring Daiki home,” answered Hikaru with a smile.
“I like the eagerness. I hope it’s not because of my lack of bedside manner,” Yabu quipped.
“No, sensei. You’ve been amazing. If it’s not because of you I won’t be able to hold my baby right now. I owe you my son’s life. Honto ni arigatou gozaimasu!” expressed Hikaru
“I’m just doing my job,” replied Yabu with a smile. “I need to be honest with you, Hikaru-kun. I fell in love with this little guy the moment I saw him. I would be devastated if something bad happened to him.”
“You’re a lucky boy Daiki,” Hikaru told his baby before planting a kiss on his little button nose.
“Well, now that we’re alone, I’d like to ask about what we talked about the other day. Have you considered it?” asked Yabu.
It was as if you could hear the clunking noise of the gears in Hikaru’s mind suddenly stopping as the Omega blinked cluelessly at Yabu. His heart skipped a beat as his mind replayed his conversation with Mizuki earlier and wondered if what Mizuki said was true after all. He tried to remember if Yabu had confessed to him before this.
Yabu seemed to sense Hikaru’s confusion because he asked again. “Don’t you remember?”
“I… uh… well, what we talked about the other day… Uhm… honestly, I don’t think I’ve put a lot of thought into it. I’m sure you understand my situation?”
Yabu chuckled. “Of course I do. That’s why I ask you.” Yabu dragged a chair closer to Hikaru’s hospital bed to sit on before continuing, “Now that Daiki is born you’ll need financial security for your future. I know that starting new is scary and you’ll probably think that you’re not good at it but you won't know until you try it.”
“You sound like Mizuki. Have you been talking to her?” asked Hikaru suspiciously.
“No, but that means that she’s right,” said Yabu with a grin. “Please accept it, Hikaru-kun.”
“Even if you beg me like that, I don't know if I can accept it for that particular reason. If I accept your proposal then that'll make me a golddigger,” bemoaned a distressed Hikaru. Yabu laughed at his antics, which upset Hikaru even more. “Stop laughing! This isn’t a joke. I want to have a relationship with you based on love and not on material things.”
Disturbed by Hikaru's agitated shriek, Daiki let out a small whimper. Hikaru quickly whispered, "Sorry baby. I'm not mad at you," and rocked him back to sleep.
“Wow! I don't know that your consideration in deciding to take a job is that deep," commented Yabu.
Hikaru stared at Yabu, feeling stupid and embarrassed at the same time. "Wait, A job? You're talking about a job?"
"Yes, I've told you the other day about the vacancy here at the clinic. We're renovating the kitchen and in need of more cooks. The position may not match your certified skillset as a coffee sommelier but when I know that there will be a vacancy I immediately remember you. I like all your cooking, so I think it's best if you work here."
"Oh my god! I'm so embarrassed," exclaimed Hikaru in shock.
"What did you think I was talking about?" asked Yabu with a smile. "Wait, don't tell me. Did you think I was confessing?"
"Ugghhhh… excuse me please," Hikaru said as he pulled on his blanket to cover his head. "I need to find a hole and bury myself," lamented Hikaru exaggeratedly.
Yabu chuckled at him. "I hope you don't do that. Who will take care of your baby?"
"I'll take my baby with me," muttered Hikaru from under the blanket.
"Now, now, don't be like that," teased Yabu as he pulled down his blanket to peer into Hikaru's inflamed face while the Omega averted his eyes embarrassedly. "You know what? I think I need to be honest with you Hikaru-kun. The real reason why I offer you this job is to keep you near me. I realize that after you give birth to your son you won't visit the clinic as often as you used to unless your baby is sick or something. But just thinking about some sickness to befall this little fellow has already made me sick in the stomach. I don't want to wish for something bad to happen to him. You will also move out of the Omega house and there goes my excuse to visit you there on the pretense of checking up on your condition. So, the most logical step to take is to offer you a job here in the clinic. I'm sorry for being selfish but I really do like you, Hikaru-kun."
"I…"
Hikaru was lost for words and kept his head down as he was still too embarrassed to look at Yabu. He saw Yabu's hand moving slowly, reaching out to grasp his hand. Hikaru let Yabu hold his hand as he recalled Mizuki's parting words a few minutes ago. Maybe it was time to give himself a chance. It's time to move on and think of the future.
"Please take the job," implored Yabu softly.
Hikaru looked up into Yabu's eyes and made a brave decision that would further reshape his life. "Yes, I gladly accept your offer, sensei."
"Wonderful!" Exclaimed Yabu with a large grin; that one grin that made his eyes turn to slits and that Hikaru grew to adore. "How about my love confession then?"
Hikaru whined. "You don't play fair, you know that right?"
"You don't have to answer now. As long as you promise to open your heart and give me a chance I promise I will work hard to gain your trust and win your love," promised Yabu.
Hikaru smiled shyly. Little did Yabu know that he was already halfway there in winning Hikaru's love. "Don't forget that you still need to compete with this little guy for that," said Hikaru, gesturing to the sleeping little Daiki in his arms.
Yabu looked at Daiki worriedly. "It's a tough competition but I will work even harder to win little Daiki's love too!"
"Ganbatte, ne!" whispered Hikaru with a grin.
"Un! Ganbarimasu!" answered Yabu with his own happy smile.
When Hikaru reflected on his life, he was grateful that he made that split-second decision four years ago to hop onto Yuya's van and went to live in the city. Though that plan didn't work out in the end he did not regret it, because it led him to meet this little bundle of joy named Daiki. He vowed that from now on he would live for his son and would put his son's happiness to be his priority in life.
Fin.