Work Text:
The morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains of Kentaro and Natsumi Yamada's apartment, painting soft golden streaks across the hardwood floor.
Three years of marriage had transformed the apartment into a home filled with shared memories. Framed photographs from vacations decorated the shelves, fresh flowers sat in a vase on the dining table because Kentaro insisted on bringing them home every Friday, and the kitchen smelled faintly of coffee from earlier that morning. It was comfortable, welcoming, and unmistakably theirs.
Natsumi stood in the kitchen staring thoughtfully into the refrigerator.
She frowned.
"...That's strange."
A moment later she closed it again.
Then opened it once more.
Honda, who had stopped by after finishing work to spend the afternoon with her best friend, looked over from the living room.
"What are you looking for?"
Natsumi tilted her head.
"I don't know."
Honda blinked.
"You don't know?"
"I wanted something."
"What kind of something?"
Natsumi thought seriously.
"...Sweet."
Honda nodded.
"Okay."
"But also salty."
Honda paused.
"...Both?"
"And maybe fruit."
Honda slowly smiled.
"Interesting."
Natsumi sighed.
"I've been craving strange combinations all week."
Honda quietly made a mental note.
"Hm."
Natsumi eventually settled on sliced apples with peanut butter and a handful of pretzels.
Honda watched in silence.
Another mental note.
Natsumi happily sat down.
"I've also been so tired lately."
Honda looked up.
"You have?"
Natsumi nodded while absentmindedly eating.
"I've been falling asleep on the couch after work."
"You never do that."
"I know."
Honda listened carefully.
"And coffee hasn't been helping."
Honda raised an eyebrow.
"Anything else?"
Natsumi shrugged.
"I've been a little nauseous in the mornings."
Honda froze.
"But it always goes away."
Another pause.
"And yesterday I cried because the grocery store was out of strawberry yogurt."
Honda slowly lowered her cup of tea.
"...Natsumi."
"Hm?"
"When was your last period?"
Natsumi blinked.
"I..."
She stopped.
Then frowned.
"...Actually..."
Honda waited patiently.
Natsumi counted backward in her head.
"Oh."
Honda folded her arms.
"Oh?"
"...I don't remember."
Honda gave her a knowing look.
"Natsumi."
"What?"
"I think you might be pregnant."
Natsumi laughed immediately.
"What?"
"I'm serious."
"No."
"You've listed cravings."
Natsumi looked uncertain.
"You've been unusually tired."
"..."
"You've had morning nausea."
"..."
"And..."
Honda smiled gently.
"...you're late."
Natsumi stared at her.
Then laughed nervously.
"...No."
Honda smiled kindly.
"I think we should check."
Natsumi looked overwhelmed.
"You really think so?"
"I do."
She reached across the table and gently squeezed her friend's hand.
"It doesn't mean we know for sure."
Natsumi nodded slowly.
"But it would be good to find out."
After a few quiet minutes, the two of them walked to a nearby pharmacy before returning home.
The walk back was strangely quiet.
Natsumi held the small paper bag in both hands.
"I can't believe I never noticed."
Honda smiled.
"You weren't looking for it."
"I guess not."
"You've had a lot going on."
Natsumi laughed softly.
"I've been blaming work."
"You blame work for everything."
"I do."
Back inside the apartment, Natsumi stood outside the bathroom door for a long moment.
Honda smiled encouragingly.
"You don't have to be nervous alone."
Natsumi nodded.
"...Thanks."
Honda waited patiently in the living room while Natsumi took the test.
The few minutes afterward somehow felt much longer.
Eventually the bathroom door opened.
Natsumi stepped out holding the test with both hands.
She looked stunned.
Honda immediately stood.
"Well?"
Natsumi looked down.
Then back up.
"...It's positive."
For several seconds neither of them spoke.
Then Honda's face lit up.
"Natsumi!"
She immediately hugged her best friend.
Natsumi laughed through suddenly watery eyes.
"I don't know why I'm crying."
"You don't have to know."
Honda hugged her a little tighter.
"I'm so happy for you."
Natsumi smiled.
"I think I'm happy too."
"You think?"
"I think I'm still processing."
Honda laughed softly.
"That's fair."
Natsumi sat down on the couch, still looking at the test.
"...Kentaro."
Honda smiled.
"He's going to be so happy."
Natsumi looked nervous.
"What if he panics?"
Honda blinked.
"...Kentaro?"
Natsumi nodded.
"What if he's overwhelmed?"
Honda couldn't help laughing.
"Natsumi."
"What?"
"Have you forgotten something?"
She looked confused.
"What?"
Honda smiled mischievously.
"Come with me."
She walked toward the bedroom closet.
Natsumi followed.
Honda opened the upper shelf.
Tucked neatly behind a storage box was a small notebook.
Honda reached for it.
"I found this accidentally months ago."
Natsumi looked puzzled.
"What is it?"
Honda handed it over.
Natsumi opened it.
The very first page read:
Possible Baby Names.
She blinked.
Then looked at Honda.
"He has..."
Honda nodded.
"...a list."
Natsumi slowly turned the pages.
There were names.
Little notes beside some of them.
Comments like:
Sounds cheerful.
Cute nickname.
Maybe.
Ask Natsumi someday.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"He never told me."
Honda smiled.
"I don't think he was planning to until the time felt right."
Natsumi smiled through happy tears.
"He really did this?"
Honda nodded.
"He loves you."
"I know."
"He also talks about your future together every chance he gets."
Natsumi laughed quietly.
"That's true."
Honda smiled warmly.
"You two are going to be wonderful parents."
Natsumi looked down at the notebook.
"I hope so."
"I know so."
After a long quiet moment, Natsumi smiled.
"I want to surprise him."
Honda's eyes sparkled.
"Oh?"
"I don't want to just tell him."
"You have an idea?"
Natsumi thought.
Then suddenly laughed.
"A bun."
Honda blinked.
"A bun?"
"In the oven."
Honda stared for one second.
Then burst into laughter.
"That is wonderfully cheesy."
"I know."
"He'll either understand immediately..."
"...or he'll be completely confused."
Both of them laughed.
Together they placed a single fresh bread roll on a baking tray inside the oven.
Then they waited.
An hour later the apartment door opened.
"I'm home."
Kentaro's cheerful voice echoed through the apartment.
"Natsumi?"
She immediately walked into the hallway with a bright smile.
"Welcome home."
His entire expression softened the instant he saw her.
"There you are."
He stepped forward, wrapped an arm gently around her waist, and greeted her with a warm kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, both were smiling.
"I missed you."
She laughed.
"You've only been at work."
"I know."
"I still missed you."
She smiled affectionately.
"I missed you too."
He looked wonderfully content.
Then noticed Honda sitting in the living room.
"Oh."
He smiled.
"Hi, Honda."
She waved.
"I've been sworn to secrecy."
Kentaro blinked.
"...Should I be worried?"
"A little," Honda teased.
Natsumi laughed.
"I have a surprise."
Kentaro's eyes brightened instantly.
"I love surprises."
She gently took his hand.
"Come here."
She led him into the kitchen.
Then pointed toward the oven.
Kentaro looked confused.
"...Dinner?"
She smiled.
"Open it."
He did.
Inside sat...
One bun.
He blinked.
"...You baked bread?"
Honda quietly covered her mouth from the living room.
Natsumi waited patiently.
Kentaro looked at the bun.
Then at Natsumi.
Then back at the bun.
His eyebrows slowly lifted.
"...A bun..."
He looked at the oven again.
Then suddenly froze.
"...In the oven."
Silence.
His eyes widened.
He looked back at Natsumi.
"No way."
She smiled with tears already gathering in her eyes.
He whispered,
"...Really?"
She nodded.
"We're having a baby."
For a heartbeat he simply stood there.
Then his face completely transformed.
Pure joy.
Disbelief.
Wonder.
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
Then immediately pulled her into the biggest hug he could manage.
"We're having a baby."
She nodded against his shoulder.
"We are."
He laughed again.
"I can't believe it."
Neither could stop smiling.
He leaned back just enough to look at her.
Then gently placed both hands on her cheeks.
"I love you."
She smiled through happy tears.
"I love you too."
He kissed her softly.
Then again.
Then rested his forehead against hers.
"I've dreamed about this."
She laughed.
"I found your notebook."
His eyes widened.
"...You what?"
"Honda showed me."
He looked toward the living room.
Honda smiled innocently.
"It was hidden very badly."
Kentaro laughed sheepishly.
"I've been caught."
Natsumi smiled.
"So you've really been thinking about this?"
He nodded.
"For a long time."
She laughed.
"You already picked names."
"They were only possibilities."
She smiled warmly.
"I liked some of them."
His eyes widened.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"We'll choose together."
He smiled so brightly that Honda couldn't help grinning.
"I'd like that."
Honda quietly watched the couple standing together in the kitchen, smiling through happy tears and holding each other as if the world had suddenly become even brighter.
She folded her arms with satisfaction.
"I knew he'd react like that."
Kentaro laughed.
"I don't think I've ever been happier."
Natsumi reached up and gently brushed a tear from his cheek.
"You're crying."
"I know."
"So are you."
"I know."
They both laughed.
Then Kentaro looked at her with the same warmth she'd fallen in love with years before.
"You've already given me the greatest surprise."
She smiled.
"It was our surprise."
He nodded.
"Our surprise."
Honda quietly slipped toward the front door, giving the couple a moment to themselves.
Before leaving, she looked back one last time.
The two of them were still standing together in the kitchen, smiling, talking excitedly about the future, and completely wrapped up in each other.
She smiled to herself.
Their little family had just begun, and she couldn't have been happier for her best friend.