Work Text:
Inside a jet that was flying between the clouds, an individual could be find seated besides the window while reading a book. The woman was reading with peace of mind just using the natural light comming from the window to lighten the book, but her read stopped when she heard someone approaching.
"Misaki-sama, we are about to arrive in Tokyo."
Closing the book to look at the window, Misaki saw the city that she lives right below her. "It was about time."
Have landed at the airport, Misaki was leaving the jet and already could see a Rolls Royce waiting from her right in front of the base of the stairs. There was a time she tought that having a private jet and a luxury vehicle to pick you up without even need to pass through the airport terminal was way too extravagant, but when your work forces you to travel a lot, you start to appreciate those things despite still being extravagant.
"Welcome back Misaki-sama." One of The Suits said while opening the car's door.
"It's nice to be back." Misaki got in the car without saying too much.
Misaki was staring at the planes leaving and arriving as the car was leaving the airport while she was busy thinking why her arrival today was different from the others, although she already know the answer. That's obviously a Kokoro's doing.
Usually when one of The Suits come to pick her at the airport they talk about how the trip was and another things, but this time she was only greeted. That's probably because today is her birthday, Kokoro must have said to them that she wanted to be the first one to conglaturate her, that must be why the Suit decided to not start a conversation to avoid the topic.
Well, that's fine... I also want her to be the first one to conglaturate me.
Arriving at the mansion, Misaki hoped It to be the same one that she left, she only left for a week after all, but she doesn't remember to have any crocodiles living in the fountains. Well, she will talk about It with Kokoro later on, now she have other priorities.
"Do you know where Kokoro is?" Misaki asked to The Suit after she was left right on the front door.
"Kokoro-sama said she would be waiting for you at your room" Answered The Suit from the car's window.
"I see... Thanks for telling me." She thanked her for the information and went inside the house.
"She's not in our room, though." Misaki know Kokoro well enough to know that she said It to keep her away from the first floor to gain some time. She's probably on the dining room waiting with a cake right now, but she needed some spare time to The Suits gather together with her for us to enjoy the cake together. Misaki then decided to wait five minutes before to go see Kokoro.
Taking off her suit jacket, Misaki went to the kitchen to drink something. There, she opened the cupboard and picked one mug from her collection, this time she chose the '#1 Best Friend Ever' that Arisa gave her as a joke. Unfortunately, Misaki dind't find to much to drink inside the refrigerator or something to eat at all, that is something really strange to think about It. How can something like crocodiles can appear in your house after one week away but the refrigerator is almost empty!? One of the only things left is that...
"...Now I understand."
Inside the refrigerator, Misaki could clearly see a food packaging with an image of a crocodile on It and the name 'Croc Snacks' right below It... She really need to have a serious talk with Kokoro later on. Leaving her worries to her future self, Misaki moved the reptile's snacks away and saw a grape juice glass bottle alongside a milkshake glass with a rainbow substance inside It. Feeling a chill for something she wished didn't have seen, she quickly grabbed the grape juice and closed the refrigerator's door.
Filling her mug with juice, Misaki enjoyed her purple drink as she wondered why Kokoro was doing that small surprise party. Not that Misaki doesn't like having someone to do It for her, but she could have waited to do that at dinner. And It's not even like Misaki wouldn't have any party for her, they already planned to have a dinner with our families here after tomorrow to celebrate her birthday.
"Regardless of what she is planning, no one would refuse a cake at their birthday, right?" Taking the last sip of her juice, Misaki washed her mug and is finally heading to where Kokoro is. But to Misaki's surprise, when she arrived at the dining room there was no one there.
"Okay, they're not here. Maybe they're in Michelle hall but I'm not sure..." That's the hall they use when they host some parties or events at the mansion. Misaki didn't think they would be there despite the sole purpose of the room, because that place is way too big to just five people to use. Well, Kokoro and sense of proportion never mixed together, so It's better I give a try and see If she's there or not.
Misaki then moved towards the hall. On the way, she realized some footprints on the carpet but instead of human ones, they appears to belong to something like a very large reptile... Ignoring It for now, Misaki could already see the double door of the hall, but as she approached It, she could hear a strange noise that didn't sound strange to her but was hard to tell what exactly It is or when she heard It before.
When she was right in front of the door, Misaki could hear the noise more clearly now and finally could tell that It was the sound of something burning, more precisely a burning wick...
"Oh no, not again!!"
"Kokor- Boom!" The moment Misaki opened the door and tried to call Kokoro, she heard a loud sound and almost immediately after she felt something hitting against her body really hard, throwing her backwards until she slammed her back against the wall.
After being suddenly blowed away, Misaki was on the floor leaning against the wall. Her back didn't hurt that much end, surprisingly, neither the place she received the impact, but when Misaki looked at her hand which just touched that place, her eyes widened as she saw something red colored... And blue, and green, and yellow? "Is that confetti?"
"I knew It would go wrong."
"She's alrighty?"
"What about the surprise?"
"Surprise bigger than that would be hard?"
"Shhhhhh! Let's pretend It was planned."
Misaki heard some voices not far from her but before she could even lift her head to see their owners, she was suddenly pulled from the floor by her arm and dragged to the hall, and inside It-
"SURPRISE!!!"
Misaki felt even more confetti sendo jogado over her as she saw all of her friends holding a stupidly big birthday banner. The hall was completely party themed with a lot of balloons around, many Inflatable Michelles floating right below the ceiling and many dishes on the tables, there was even one with just her favourite dishes. It was ideed a great sight, but If she had to choose the best part, It would be the image of the person holding her arm right now.
"Happy birthday, Misaki!" Kokoro congratulated with the the biggest of the smiles.
"Thank you, Kokoro."
She really didn't need any party, Misaki is well aware that since she became part of the Tsurumakis and inherited the family business, she became a busy person who doesn't have much time to meet all her friends who are also not free all the time. Just a family party and cake with Kokoro at her birthday would more than enough to her, but of course she was happy to see everyone gathered here just for her even tough It's friday and some of them should have to work today.
"Misaki!! Did you like the surprise? You never saw It comming, right?!" Kokoro was shaking Misaki's arm while shoving questions at the birthday girl.
"Well, It was indeed a huge surprise. I just not expected It to be big enough to even send me flying away." Misaki said while looking at a cannon on the side of the room with It's wick still releasing some smoke.
"Sorry, Misaki-chan! The confetti cannon was supposed to shoot above the door to make a confetti rain, but Hagumi-chan and Kaoru-san were having trouble aligning the cannon and they ended up accidentally dropping It down, that's why you were hit." Kanon approached Misaki and started to apologize by what heppened.
"Don't worry, Kanon-san. My back is just a little sore and It's not like It was my first time getting hit by a cannon."
"Misaki-chan, I don't think this is something to brag about..."
"Mii-kun~!!" Running at high speed, Hagumi get closer to them and jumped to hug Misaki. "Happy birthday! Did you like our banner? We all draw It just for you."
"Dear Hugumi, there's no use to ask something that is already answered. No one wouldn't like to receive shuch gift of affection from so many lovely kittens." This time was Kaoru that arrived.
"I wouldn't put like that, but yes, I really appreciate It. I just not expected to see everyone here today, shouldn't most of us be busy today?" Of course Misaki was happy with their presence, but she would feel bad If they're sacrificing something to be here.
"You don't need to worry about It, Misaki. Everyone was free today, don't you think that It must be the world's bithday present for you?" Guessing what Misaki was thinking, Kokoro quickly calmed her worries.
"Kokoro... How did you know they were free today?"
"The Suits told me, why do you ask?"
"Of course they did...
"Since Misaki is finally here, I think we should start the party now! We have a entire day left to celebrate!!" Kokoro raised her arms and declared to everyone that the party has started.
"Kokoro, It's 4 p.m. You usually do not call It a entire day left." Misaki tried to correct Kokoro, but the blond was already too absorbed with blowouts and party hats with the others from HaroHapi to hear her. "Well, watherver. I think I sould thank the others for their presence... or apologize. I only hope those three did nothing drastic this time."
Misaki had a bad feeling about what Kokoro have planned for the party, but she still couldn't get rid of the grin on her face as she went to meet her friends. "Hey, Arisa! Don't have anything to say to me?"
The party went exactly how someone would expect something organized por Kokoro to go, agitated, fun and way out of the ordinary. They played a lot of outscaled games in order the everyone be able to play together so, of course, things got out of hand, but miraculously any game went wrong, what is really surprising. Seriously, how could a real people version of animal upon ainimal and jenga did not go wrong?
"I'm sure my body will hurt a lot tomorrow."
"They really had no mercy with us, hadn't they?"
"I wasn't expecting to do so much exercise today."
Tomoe, Maya and Sayo were drinking some water besides one of the tables after the last game. They, above everyone else, were the most tired from the games since they were basically used as human pillars, having way harder than others.
"Well, at least we're not Misaki" Tomoe said It relieved while pointing towards Misaki, that was so tired that she could barely stand up.
"...I swear... When I find out who gave the idea of a reverse pyramid, I will make sure to pay the favor..."
"I was really surprised when they decided to do that, but It was not as surprising as the fact you manged to endure It." Maya knew that Misaki was strong and that's why she was chosen to be at the bottom of the pyramid, but she didn't know that she was that strong.
"If I couldn't do something like that, I would probably have died a long time ago." Misaki casually said It like It was just a joke, but knowing the history of accident she gets involved because of Kokoro, they knew It wasn't a joke.
"Misaki, get up! It's time for the main event." Interrupting the conversation, Kokoro approached Misaki and pulled her off the chair by her arm again.
"Just give me a few minutes to rest." Misaki tried to protest, but she was too tired to fight back.
Misaki was taken by Kokoro to a really fancy chair with that would be a great match with someone wearing something like a crown, in other words, It's a throne. Misaki's sure that It wasn't there ten minutes ago but since she's tired and It looks really comfortable she will just willingly accept the situation.
"Misaki, you're the special person today so stay here until we start the presentation ceremony." Kokoro let Misaki on the throne and went to call the others to the main event.
"Presentation ceremony, huh?"
Misaki heard someone right besides her left but she already knew who was It's owner without looking at her. She would recognize that sarcastic tone miles away. "I agree that the name is not that great but the intention is what counts, don't you think, Arisa?"
"That's true, but knowing you well, would you prefer to receive only the intention and no gifts, wouldn't you?"
"It's true that I don't deal well with present, but is this so obvious?"
"Misaki-san, except some idiots, everyone here know about It. Did you forget that we were at your graduation party when Kokoro-san gave you a God damn jet as a present to celebrate your diploma? You were so shocked that you couldn't even walk."
"Don't remind me... That day was trully tenebrous." Misaki hope that she do never have another surprise like that one, It would be bad for her heart.
"Must have been..." No one ever told Misaki, but Kokoro had planned to give her a helicopter for her twentieth birthday. Luckily, they managed to stop her in time, but If Arisa remember well, the rich girl said she would postpone the gift... She will try not think that, judging by the party scale, today is probably the day her friend will get a new flying vehicle.
"...But to think that I would be using that same jet so casually like someone would take a train... my life has really changed... Unlike a certain bonsai freak I know."
"Hey! What's the problem with my bonsai shop? You know It's doing just fine. At least I don't have to go overseas, God know how many times, in my private jet just to make millionaire deals... Damm, It do not went how I wanted to."
"Thanks, I do my job very well." Misaki said with a smirk. Of course she knows what Arisa meant, but she indeed choose pretty bad words to say It, so was impossible to not make fun of her.
"Looks like the event is already starting." Misaki saw The Suits bringing a wheelbarrow filled with presents, that probably were being stored in another room, and her friends picking the ones they brought. "By the way, Arisa. Do you will not pick your present?"
"Kasumi will pick our present. I rather being here at your side when your beloved one show what she got for you."
"What a great friend..."
"You're welcome."
The presentation ceremony went way more smoothly than Misaki thought It would be. She doesn't know If her personal information was leaked or not, since every present she got was something she wanted or was interrested on, but despite being considered a rich person, Misaki has simple tastes, so her presents were things like books or an air purifier. She also don't know what to do with the yet to be released book 'Living a Fleeting Life' that Kaoru wrote by herself, maybe aks Chisato how many pages she managed to read before turning It into firewood.
"It's time for the main event. Better get ready"
Misaki dind't need to heard the obvious from Arisa. The sight of Kokoro getting closer to give her a present will make her more anxious than any horror movie that she wached or will ever watch, and this time in specific, It was more unseting than the others.
That Kokoro like to give huge presents is a very known fact. Kanon once said that maybe she believe something like 'double the size, double the love' and knowing Kokoro, that probably must be the reason. That's why the fact she's only carring a little squared present box was more than enough to make Misaki have a really bad feeling about what could be inside It.
The box was about just half feet long, so unless It was one of the biggest diamonds in the world It wouldn't be any jewelry, what makes Misaki believe that inside the box was probably some kind of new new high tech tool that can do something completely absurd and somehow Kokoro got one of the first three ever made, because Kokoro.
"Happy birthday, Misaki! I'm sure that will be the best present in your entire life." Kokoro gave Misaki her present with a big smile and shiny eyes that do not showed no doubt. She was really sure what she was saying.
When Misaki hold the present in her hands, she felt that she was disconnecting from rest of world by how tense she was at the moment. Every passing second, she felt her chest squeezing more and more like she was out of... Air? inhale* Ok, I almost forgot to breath.. Better open It already before I start to asphyxiate again. Kokoro is sure that I will love It, so It can't be that bad, right? Giving herself a push, Misaki opened the box with more caution and dexterity than someone defusing a bomb and what she saw inside It was a-
"A mug!" Inside the box, wrapped in bubble wrap, Misaki saw a mug, but not any mug. That mug meet all the prerequisites to enter your collection. "This will be a nice addition to my collection."
"It can not be my first time seeing this, but I'm still surprised about how exited do you get with a single mug, It's almost creepy." Arisa remember that Misaki had the sabe reaction when she also gave a mug to her as a present. She only bought It that time because Rimi said Misaki would like It, but Arisa had no idea that she even had a entire collection of them.
"You're right, Arisa. Being this exited about something this specific can be really creepy, but I think we should call Tamagawa-san, the bonsai, to discuss about that."
"You little-"
"And what is truly important is not the mug Itself but the meaning and story behind It. If I really wanted to, I could buy as many mugs I wanted, but It would be pointless. Every single mug I have was a present and the phrase in each one of them is related with something I did or what I am. You wouldn't give me the '#1 Best Friend Ever' one If you wouldn't think of me as a pain of a friend."
"Thinking about It, that's not that different from raising a bonsai. Buying one don't get even close to the feeling of raising one by yourself."
"Well, despite everthing I said, I can't really get why Kokoro gave me a 'World's Best Dad' mug. I know It's a classic one, but..." Misaki was really curious about It.
"Maybe she's finally thanking you for being a father for the band for so long."
"Good theory, but let's ask the person herself." Misaki said It while looking at Kokoro that was running back there. The reason she was talking with Arisa about her present until now was because Kokoro has sudden left right after she saw that Misaki liked the present to go somewhere else and is finally returning.
"Kokoro, I really liked your present but I'm a little curious about why did you choose that mug."
"What you mean, Misaki? That not your present."
"It's not?!" Misaki didn't see that coming at all. "If It's not the present, so what is It?"
"It's just the first clue for the present, and I just left to pick the scond one." From her sleeve, Kokoro pulled out a fabric that unfolded into a really small clothing.
"That is... A baby outfit? Okay, I'm not getting It at all. Kokoro, can you please tell me what is that special present you want to give me?... Don't tell me is that academy idea of yours."
"No, It's not the Smile Academy plan. Your present is actually a really good news."
The moment Misaki heard It, her body activated the emergency mode. Years of dealing with Kokoro made her develop almost a sixth sense that helps her to detect, avoid and deal with any crazy situation that her partner for life is somehow involved with. Now, this same sixth sense is desperately screaming to tell that whatever Kokoro has to say, will change Misaki's life forever, with the last time she felt the same thing being seconds before she proposed to her cheerful wife. But is already too late to step back, the only option she have is to hear It, that was the path she chose. "What's the news?"
Everyone stayed quiet to hear what Kokoro will tell Misaki. The fact that she gathered all her friends today and the declaration that this would be the greatest present she will give in her life builded a huge air of anticipation that made everyone tense to know what is that news.
"Misaki..." Kokoro placed her hands on her belly and said the words that once said cannot be unsaid. "I'm pregnant with your baby, isn't that great!"
Kokoros words echoed through the room, and for some seconds the entire place became the incarnation of silence, until-
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?!"
Everyone shouted in unison with everything they have.
"P-P-Pregnant!?" Tsugumi face was completely red.
"P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P." Looks like Rinko's brain processor was overheated.
"But how she's pregnant?" Eve was more confused than flustered.
"To Kokoro-chan get pregnant..." Himari then rushed to Misaki's side and started to shake her by the shoulders. "Misaki-chan, what did you do to her? How could you do that? Why don't you say anything?!"
"Himari, stop shaking her." Tomoe followed Himari to stop her from making smooth of Misaki's brain.
"Misaki-san?" Arisa knew she was shocked but It was weird that she didn't say anything.
"I think I know the problem." Saaya got closer and snapped her fingers right in front of the birtday girl, but her eyes didn't even blink. "Yep, she blacked out."
"Maybe It was too much for her brain to process at once." Arisa never thought that Kokoro would come with a present that would shake Misaki more than that jet that soon.
"Getting in a trance from hearing this is very Misaki-chan like." Lisa commented, seeing the commotion a little further away.
"Honestly, I think I would do the same in her place." Yukina is also bad dealing things like that, so she relates with her.
"fueee! But what we will do with Misaki-chan."
"Don't fret, dear Kanon. I have the perfect idea."
She see the meteorite. She feel the meteorite. the meteorite is her. She see the stars. She feel the stars. the stars are her. She see the galaxy. She feel the galaxy. the galaxy is her. She see the universe. She feel the universe. the universe is her-
"Bright..." Misaki slowly woke up and tired to open her eys, but the room lighting was hurt them.
"Misaki! You're finally awake!"
Misaki saw Kokoro looking at her from above, blocking some of the light. She could feel the blond hair falling over her face and that the back of her head was leaning on something very soft. After recovering a little more of her awareness, It didn't take long to Misaki realize she was actually in a lap pillow in some bench.
Misaki agree that It was a nice feeling and she wanted to stay there for some time, but she still needed to get up to solve something that's bothering her. "What exactly happened?" She is confused that the last thing she remembers was to receive the presents, so she asked this as soon as she got up.
After her question, everything have gotten even more confusing. Kokoro was just smiling, what she's always doing, without saying anything and her friends were making a complicated expression.
"Misaki-chan, we need to tell you something really important." Lisa got closer to the bench with a serious face and touched Misaki's shoulder, "Look, when two people lo-"
"Wait! You're being too direct. She will stop woking again If you explain like that, let me try." Cutting off Lisa, Tae pushed her a little, stood in front of Misaki, looked at her direct in the eyes and slowly started talking. "Sometimes things are born, they live, and they stop... Forever!"
"I know..?" Misaki tilted her head, having no idea what Tae was trying to say.
"But at some point during this period, things will meet another things and make sure to keep this cycle working... Forever!"
"Okay, somehow I'm more confused now than when I woke up."
"Oh my God! Your wife is carrying your baby! Do you get It now?" Arisa, that wouldn't endure to hear even more of that stupid conversation, just vented out and told the truth in the bluntly way possible.
"Arisa, you can't tell It for her like that." Kasumi scolded Arisa, that was not what they agreed with.
"Kasumi, believe me, It's better this way. And It's not like she will have a short again."
"Nope, she's totally not reacting again." Ako was waving her hand in front of Misaki's eyes, which were just looking straight.
"Come on..." Arisa grumbled.
She see the rain. She feel the rain. the rain is her. She see the lake. She feel the lake. the lake is her. She see the river. She feel the river. the river is her. She see the ocean. She feel the ocean. the ocean is her-
Misaki could feel herself waking up. She didn't open her eyes yet but she already noticed a problem. Her head and face were abnormally soaked as If someone had just thrown a bucket of water on her, but It wasn't the problem at all, her friends must have done that to wake her up. The real problem was the fact that when she went to breathe, she couldn't.
She suddenly opened her eyes and saw that her head was fully surrounded in what appeared to be a glass sphere filled with water. Misaki spent some futile effort tring to pull the sphere out, It didn't move a single centimeter away from her neck to allow the water to get out. She needed to do something fast before she was out of breath.
"Moca, are you really sure that is a good idea?" Maybe was too late to ask It now, but Ran couldn't help but to ask It while she see Misaki struggling to remove the globe.
"Ran~. Do you really have so little faith on Moca-chan? Trust me, we're just giving her a little shock to make her remember everything. And is really safe, she just need to realize that the top of the sphere is a lid and let the water out." Moca answered confident of her plan. That's why everything was fine with just the three of them watching Misaki right now.
"But that lid do not have a lock?" Aya, that was the third on the watch, she asked worried when she saw something that supposedly shouldn't be there.
"Don't worry, I asked Kokoro-chan to unlock It."
"Unlock what?" Kokoro heard her name being said so she wanted to know what they're talking about.
"The lid of the of globe. With the key I gave you, remember?"
"Ah, that key! But It wasn't just to hold It?" Kokoro said that innocently as the faces of the other three were filled with panick.
"B-But do you still have the key with you, right?" Aya quickly asked for the key before anything.
"I gave It to Hagumi." The face of the other three got even more twisted.
"And where is she?" Ran asked right away. They needed that key before was too late.
"Hmm~, I think she went to the bathroom." They panicked even more.
"Ah, She's back! Hugumi, come here." The three let out a high sigh in relief.
"Why are you calling Hagumi?" Hagumi was curious to know why Kokoro called her.
"Hagumi, can you give us the key Kokoro-chan gave you." Moca wasted no time to ask for the key, since It was something Misaki doesn't have too much left.
"Ah, the key!" Hagumi searched in one of her pockets, then in ther one but without find the metalic object they wanted. "Hagumi think she forgot It on the bathroom."
When the three girls heard those words, they went from slightly in panick to completely desperate.
"Moca, there must be another way!" Ran held Moca by her collar. She was the one who had that idea so she should have other solution.
Moca had no other solution. The better they could do was to try break the sphere, but she was told It was made from a very hard acrylic so It wouldn't be fast enough to stop Misaki from drowing entirely, at least they could at least save her life. "The only op- Crash!"
Before she could say something, Moca was interrompida by the sound of something breaking and falling on the ground together with splash noises. Looking towards where the sound came from. The guests got surprised seeing Misaki, surrounded by a wet floor covered with shattered pieces of the sphere, trying to catch her breath and with her head sopping wet. That scene made them think the same single thing. Did she break It with just her hands!?!
It took some time to Misaki breath to stabilize, but as soon It did, she immediately glared at one person with not friendly at all eyes. "Aoba-san... I will remember that."
Mocha reflexively hid behind Ran as she felt goosebumps caused by the not-so-friendly look that was upon her. She didn't want to lose her free card for the next day so soon.
"Why are you hiding?"
"Yeah, and why behind me? There is no way I woud serve as a good defense against Misaki-san... Like almost everything in that room." Ran understand very weel why Moca was hiding, but not why she was the one being used as a shield.
"You see, when someone who could easily break your skull barehanded is angry at you, It's not that strange that you would try to hide behind the first thing in your reach." Moca explained her reasons. "By the way... Misaki-chin, how did you know the sphere was my idea?"
"Simple, It was impossible to be someone other than you." Misaki declares while drying her head with a towel that was close to her. "The big dummy trio would never do something so small, unflashy and purposefully dangerous. PoPiPa would have done something more thematic but Arisa would have stopped them anyway. Hina-san wouldn't be able to do something like that as long Sayo-senpai is here. Roselia's stupd ideias would most likely involve cats, they're not that creative in that departament. Making you the only person here capable to have such idea wihout someone to stop you, since Afterglow always let you free to act and you're rational enough to make the others think you know what you're doing."
"That... Was more detailed than I tought It would be." Moca tought Misaki just guessed It since she was the closest one to her while she had the sphere on her head.
"It's really adorable how Misaki-chan unconsciously let out her feelings when she's a little angry." Chisato know for experience, that Misaki doesn't realized that she basically said how much she pay attention to her friends.
"I think that habit will never die on Misaki-chan." Kanon already saw Misaki doing that same thing many times in the past and she always get happy when her friend, without noticing, says how important her friends are to her. Kanon only feels bad about how many times she and the other three managed to get Misaki angry, with reason, to make her already used to seeing It.
"Well, Aoba-san's idea at least worked? Do you remember something?" Arisa was eager to know It. She doesn't want to wait to Misaki wake up for a third time.
"It worked... The shock of almost drown was smaller than the one of remember everthing, but It's hard to pass out when there is water trying to invade your lungs." What Misaki's saying can sounds like just as an exaggeration, but to her, who always need to be ready to deal with the unexpected cause by the person she shares her live with, seeing one of the last things you were sure that person would never be able to do turning into reality, really affected her.
"So Moca-chan's idea was a good one in the e-." Ran covered Moca's mouth with her hand before she made things worse.
"To almost drown be better than remember what happened..." Arisa knew Misaki was could be overdramatic with a few things sometimes, but It was already too much.
"My brain still trying hard to process everthing, but there's still one thing I wish to know." Misaki headed to Kokoro and stood in front of her for a few seconds until she gathered courage to finally ask what she wanted even knowing she wasn't ready for It. "K-Kokoro, can you please tell how are you p-p-pre... How do you have m-my... how you did that?"
"When I asked The Suits the best present I could give, they proposed a potion that would make me have your baby. It took a few years, but It was finally done two weeks ago just in time to your birthday." Kokoro said It like It was as simple as order a birthday cake at a bakery, not that's something new to her.
"A potion, huh?... What did it taste like?"
"It tasted like orange juice."
"Orange juice, I see... That make sense."
"Misaki-san, I don't think a potion that taste like orange juice makes a lot of sense, or any potion at all." Sayo got a little worried that Misaki's brain was still lacking some oxygen from what happened earlier.
"The potion was just a way to simplify the whole thing to Kokoro, so It make sense. Knowing The Suits, the real explanation must be somewhere right under our noses." Misaki then put her hand in her pocked and felt a paper in there. "Knew It."
Inside the paper there was basically the entire explanation about the process that allowed two woman have a baby together, telling how It happened in both scientific and administrative ways. It sure will be a big uproar when that knowledge become public. Misaki also noticed something a little unsettling about the process to 'make the potion works'.
"Kokoro, The Suits asked your permission to take something from me."
"Yes, they explained the potion needed a part from both of us to work, so I let them do get what they needed. It was probably just a strand of hair."
"Sure..." Misaki won't say anything about It since Kokoro legally owns the rights of her body.
Bang!
With the conversation over, everyone heard the sound of a bell ringing that signaled that was time for the dinner and since they were hungry because of everything they had played before, they went without delay to get something to eat.
"Misaki, let's eat!" Kokoro called Misaki to pick their foods together.
"I think I'm going to rest a little here, can you pick something for me?" Misaki actually want just a few minutes alone to order her toughts properly. Learning the truth about her present made her head hurt again.
"No problem, I will pick every food from Misaki's favourites table or the whole table If you want."
"Just one plate is fine." Someone would usually want to eat more than one plate If you can pick only your favourite dishes, but Misaki know that Kokoro's buffet plates are about Dragon Warrior size.
"Alright." Kokoro then rushed to the food tables to prepare her and Misaki's plates as fast as possible.
Seeing the other leave, Misaki chose the closest chair to her and sat there, letting out a big sigh. She knew should be waiting something big from a surprise party that Kokoro had the trouble to invite everyone of her friends, but frankly, she's would never be ready for this. Misaki could feel her head killing her, so she tried to just look down without think in nothing to let the brain cool down a litttle before Kokoro come back. But unfortunately, It wasn't long before Misaki saw a shadow on the floor of someone who was right behind the chair.
"So what I owe the displeasure, Kaoru-san?" The silhouette and the size of the shadow could only match one person, and leaning on the back of the chair while looking straight above, Misaki could see that she was right.
"You look really tired, my good friend Misaki, but I can't blame you, receiving such news would shake even the best od the actors. It's like a big twist in the play of your life"
"A big twist, huh? I guess we call It like that..."
"Have you some problem with the present?" Kaoru asked a little worried.
"...No, I mean, of course not, but It's really hard to swallow, you know? It feels so ureal that I'm feeling like I'm being pulled away from reality... It's complicated."
"That's completely understandable, Misaki. I already saw cases like yours some times on the stage world, their scale were not that big as yours but I beleive you also just need some time to think about It and found your resolve to live together the change in your life. I also have an advice for you, Misaki. Would you like heard It?"
"Misaki, you fleeting comedian, you almost caugh me." Kaoru laughed a little of how effective Misaki joke was on her, but just after that, her face turned into a more serious expression. "Well, I don't really know If you can call It a advice or not, but I just want to remind you that besides the twist, in one play there's many other obstacles, cimaxes and crisis that you need to be careful with, not because you wouldn't be able to handle It, but because in a romantic play there's two protagonists."
Misaki doesn't know If It's was because she's looking at Kaoru from below or It was some effect created by the illumination, but her friend looked taller than usual, not in the way of twice the size, double the fall, but more like she was more firm than normal. "Thanks, Kaoru-san. I will take that in mind."
"By the way, Misaki" Kaoru asked but looking straight foward.
"What?"
"Kokoro is good at balance things?"
"She's pretty decent, why do yo... It's the plate, right?"
"Yes." Kaoru just nodded.
"Heigh?"
"I would say more than 1 meter tall."
"Shit!" Misaki quickly got up and ran to help Kokoro before she dropped all that food.
Late at night, after the party ended, Kokoro and Misaki were getting ready to sleep after such busy day. Since the party managed to extend Itself enough to reach the next day, It was almost 3 a.m, a little late to Kokoro but the usual to Misaki.
Kokoro sentou sobre o seu lado da cama e observou Misaki, that just left the shower, drying her hair and wearing her pajamas. "That was a great party, wasn't It?"
"It was rather intense for sure, but I liked to see everyone." Despite the news that shaked her soul, she really enjoyed the party. "But we still having the cake with our families, right?"
"Of course, It's not everyday we can see them together."
"I'm turning off the lamp." Kokoro then covered her legs with the sheet and reached out to turn off the light, but when the room was already dark and she was about to lay down, she felt two arms embracing her from behind.
"Kokoro... what is bothering you?" Misaki asked Kokoro in a worried tone.
"What you mean, Misaki?" Kokoro doesn't got what Misaki is saying.
"Kokoro, you never turn off the light before I'm also on the bed" Every time they go sleep at same time, Kokoro always let the light on until Misaki is at her side on the bed, not even tuning It off when she tries to fake sleep to give her a surprise attack like a tickle or a koala grab. "It's my fault, isn't It?"
"I'm alright, Misaki. You did nothing wrong."
"I know you're not lying, Kokoro, but I know when you're not happy even when you don't realize It yourself."
"That's not I-"
"You're sad about my reaction to you present, aren't you? Sad that It didn't get me happy at all, confused If you had done the right choice. You were expecting for this day for so long and It didn't go how you expected to..."
"..." Kokoro didn't know what to say... What to feel right now. She could only feel Misaki's embrace getting tighter.
"I'm sorry, Kokoro! Sorry to make you feel like that. I'm actually really happy with your present, way more than It looks like, but It was hard for me to put my feeling in place. I-I never tought that It could happen. When I started my relationship with you, I already had kinda accepted that our family would be only the two of us, If you exclude our families or the fact we could adopt a child of course, but when you told we can have a baby together... I-I mean, already have a baby together, It felt so fantastic and unreal that I couldn't help but to act like the way I did on the party. Can you forgive what I did?"
Kokoro felt drops of water falling over her shoulder, and It's worty more than any apology. "Misaki, are you happy with my- your- our present?"
"Yes, I'm really happy. I may be young, and never have thought about the idea of having children, and be really clueless about that whole parent thing, but I'm sure I will do everything in my reach to make the tw- three of us, the happiest family in the world. I will try to stay here at Japan as much as I can and always have some time for us spend together, even If I need to work double or even more to achieve this." Misaki then suddenly felt a familiar feeling of something really soft and warm pressing against her lips, It was Kokoro kissing her. She didn't noticed when Kokoro turned to face her, but seeing her face, that even with some water in her eyes was still showing her smile that was shiny even in the dark, made her heart feel more lighter.
"Misaki, you don't need to apologize. I'm sure you will do your best as much or even more than I will also do, but..." Kokoro started to slowly wrap her arms around Misaki's neck. "Don't say three, I think will want another one."
"Eh, another one!? Don't you think It's a little too fast?" Misaki wasn't expecting and ready to hear that her wife wanted another child when they technically you don't even have one yet.
"You always said I take things too fast, don't you?" Kokoro rested hes head on Misaki's shoulder.
"That not what I meant... Well, technically is, but you shouldn't use it as an excuse." Misaki sighed whiled she felt Kokoro's warmth in her arms. "What I will do with you?"
"You know very well." Kokoro raised her head and gave Misaki another kiss.
Just the way Kokoro said that would be enough to Misaki get the implications, but she decided to look down just to confirm what she thought. "Kokoro, why isn't your pajama buttoned up?"
"There's nothing wrong with giving two presents to the person you love."
"Maybe not, but If you keep doing things like that, I might get a bad habit."
"Didn't I say It in our marriage? I'm ready to deal with all your bad habits."
After hearing that, Misaki could hold herself any longer and immediately pushed Kokoro down on the bed. "You asked for this."
And that's how Misaki most memorable birthday ended, with her and the love of her life enjoy- "Ouch! Kokoro, what I said about bitting too strong."
"Eh? But Itt wasn't me?"
Misaki moved her left arm, the one that was bitten, and felt something... Unusual. "Kokoko, have you bought any new stuff animal, pajamas, pillow or sheet with scaly texture."
"Not that I remember."
Connecting the dots, Misaki unfortunately solved the mystery. "I think I found the missing crocodile..."
"Must be Bruno, he's the biggest one but really love to play hide and seek, so he was here this entire time."
"I can see he's also really good at It."
"Want to stop?" Kokoro know what she said before, but Misaki said she was bitten and The Suits sai-
"I'm sorry, Kokoro, but there's nothing that can stop me right now."
Despite having an almost 17 feet reptile on their bed, Kokoro could only feel that the one predator in the room was actually right above her, with It's eyes fixed on It's prey, ready to attack. And that day was the first time in her entire life that Kokoro ever tought she went too far with a present.