Work Text:
Their lives were definitely susceptible to change.
They started out as two international students. Late nights studying turned into early mornings spent tracing patterns into each others' backs. Before they knew it, they were married, and in the whirlwind of starting a family, they came out relatively unscathed, with two adorable daughters that rocked their world.
Sunday Morning, 7 AM
Ever since she became a mom, Sana had the habit of waking up too early. This meant waking up at four when her children had school at eight and waking up at seven AM on Sundays. Today was no exception, the clock had just hit 7:01, and she was out of bed, changing out of her sleepwear into something that allowed her to move freely. Today was going to be a lazy day in, a day for her and Tzuyu to relax, and for her kids to catch up on time they lost throughout the week.
She changes into a pair of grey sweatpants and a navy sweater that has a tiny icon of Anya Forger from Spy X Family on the sleeve. The sound of water rushes through her ears as she brushes her teeth and washes her face.
She steps back from the mirror, fluffing up her hair before putting it in a loose ponytail. The telltale pitter-patter of feet in her hallway signals that her oldest, Sachiko, was awake.
"Sachi? Baby why are you awake so early?"
She yawns as she starts walking down the hallway, raising her eyebrows as she finds her five-year-old sitting on the hardwood floor, coloring on a random receipt she found on their kitchen counter. Sachi looks up slowly, staring her dead in the eye, and yawns.
"M'bored and Tsu-tsu is sleeping," she groans mid yawn.
"You can go back to sleep and play with Tsuki later, yeah?"
Sana bends down to pick her daughter up, smoothening out her hair, before trying to grab the receipt with her foot. She struggles a bit, but eventually takes the receipt and puts it on their fireplace.
"Do you want me to tuck you back in? It's only seven right now."
"But what if Tsu-tsu wakes up before me? Then we have less time to play," She pouts, burrowing her head in her okaa-san's shoulder, and shaking her head. Sana sighs. This was going to be hard.
"Then Mama can wake you up, and you guys can play dress up again like yesterday." She laughs, trying to convince her to go back to sleep.
Sachi shakes her head once again, a whine coming out of her mouth. "But I reeeally wanna wait for her to get up so we can watch Princess Sally together too." She starts kicking her legs in the air, trying to protest against the idea of sleep.
Princess Sally was her daughter's favorite cartoon. She was a crime-fighting princess who had long, shiny blonde hair, (Sachi thought that Princess Sally used a special princess shampoo, but realistically, Sana thinks that Princess Sally probably spends a fortune on keratin hair treatments) and equipped a pink fairy wand to 'magic away' all evil while singing a song. She's also caught Sachi pointing a pink wand at her stuffed toys when they were dirty and proclaiming "Make it clean!!" way too many times, yet each new declaration still as equally adorable as the one before. Without a fail, her daughter's toys would miraculously, be spotless the next day, no hints of any movement present. (In reality, the wand was from a princess costume Momo bought her years back, and Tzuyu would dutifully put her toys in the wash while she was at school.)
"She's gonna fight a dragon later, and I reeeeally don't wanna miss it" She lets out another yawn, her head falling flat against Sana's shoulder.
"Baby you know that we can just play it for you later right?" Sachi lets out a sound of agreement, latching onto her mother's shoulder harder.
If she was truly being honest, Princess Sally reminded her of Rapunzel and that other show that Sachi used to watch about the girl who was saving her kingdom after being trapped in an amulet. All of these kids shows were a little confusing, and left her looking them all up on Google trying to understand the plots. As long as her kids were happy, she didn't complain too much.
Sana sighs, her five year old's body was limp against her, meaning she was already asleep. She carefully places Sachi down on the couch, clearing space between the plush throw pillows they had received as a house warming gift, and the Hiragana books that she had started to use, in preparation for the next school year. She adjusts her arms and legs straight to make sure that she doesn't fall off the couch, then looks around looking for something to cover her with.
Moments like this remind her of the early days, postpartum, when she was scared to leave her newborn alone for two minutes, and wondered how she could ever stop worrying. Moments like this also remind her of how much she's matured as a mother.
She picks up the blanket draped on the back of the couch, fluffs in the air, covers Sachi's still form with it, and plants a small kiss on her forehead. She releases a tiny sigh, her lips slightly parted, and she smushes her tiny body into the side of the couch.
Sana sits there for a minute or two, observing the tiny things about her daughter. The smell of her firstborn's strawberry shampoo (Which they bought after Sachi insisted it was the same shampoo Princess Sally used) which clings to her soft baby skin, and the lingering scent of something vanilla-y is noticeable around her cheeks.
Her lips form a small smile when she fixes her baby's hair, long, inky locks that were slightly damp at the edges, (She couldn't stand still enough for Tzuyu to blow dry her hair properly last night) and pulls her frilly night gown sleeve cover her forearm. She puts her hand on her back for a moment or two, feeling it rise and fall as she breathes, then slowly gets up off the couch, and goes into the kitchen to fix herself a cup of coffee.
While waiting for her coffee to brew, her hands automatically go to her phone, quickly unlocking it and looking through her messages. A few new texts from her mom, a DM from a friend she hadn't talked to in a while, and a group chat with her fellow co-workers, Mina and Momo. The sound of fingers tapping on a screen echoes through the empty kitchen, sending quick replies to people's messages, forwarding details about Sachi's upcoming Christmas party at school to Tzuyu, and scrolling through the weekly school newsletter for photos of her adorable daughter.
Sana's scrolling is interrupted when the sound of coffee dripping stills to a halt, she puts her phone in her pocket, turns off the machine, and takes a sip from her cup. The bedroom door seems to open, accompanied by a pair of quiet foot steps that quietly thud across the hall.
Another door opens, and as Sana turns around, putting her mug down on the counter, she finds Tzuyu peering into their two-year-old's bedroom. Tsuki's bedroom door is slightly ajar, the sunlight reflects off the walls facing infront of it, creating a spot of light on Tzuyu's back. After last night's "monsters under the bed" scare, her wife promised to check up on their youngest in the morning.
A few moments pass, Tzuyu closes the door as quietly as she can and walks towards the kitchen island, doing a few quick stretches along the way. She smiles at her, with her metal-framed reading glasses, her hair in a claw clip, and the tiredness showing from her eyes. This is how Sana likes her, not as Chou Tzuyu, the CEO of Chou Enterprises, but as her wife Tzuyu, who still wears the T-shirts that Sana bought her in university, and plays with their kids like there's no tomorrow.
Tzuyu smells citrusy, like the lemon tea that she drinks at night to make her fall asleep faster and sweet, like the vanilla scented chapstick that she's been buying consistently ever since she found it in a Danish drugstore.
"Morning Tzu-tzu"
"Good morning to you too Sha-sha" Tzuyu cracks a smile, picking up Sana's mug, taking a sip of her coffee.
"I was drinking that you know" She rolls her eyes, a smile creeping up her lips, as she flicks her ear.
"I know-" She feigns outrage, gasping while putting her hand to her chest, "You're really going to do that to your wife? How cold-hearted." She starts washing her hands, in preparation to make them breakfast.
"Are you too hurt to fight back, Chou?"
"In your dreams, Minatozaki." She sticks out her tongue like a child. "You're the one who seems hurt, it's all the coffee getting to your brain."
"Right and you're the one who cried last night when Tsuki made a drawing of you."
Tzuyu wipes her hands, throwing the hand towel at her. "Anyways, what are we feeding the kids?" Sana grins in triumph.
"Tsuki doesn't like congee anymore and I swear to god if I have to buy another box of cereal at seven in the morning then they can just drink all those green juices that you have."
Sana taps her fingers against the counter. "Should we just give them natto? Sachi isn't thaaat picky and Tsuki likes it enough." She points at the red box of natto that they bought last Friday on a grocery run, still in a white plastic bag, sitting by the cabinet doors under their sink.
"Yeah sure," She yawns, filling a glass with water, then yawning once again. "Is that all? Maybe give them each an egg and some of the furikake too. The girls are going to complain they're hungry later if not."
She puts her hands underneath Tzuyu's white T-shirt, hugging her against her body. "Yeah that's all." She smiles into her back, standing on her tiptoes and kissing the back of her neck.
"You know, Sachi has a Christmas party in a few weeks. I think I have a shoot that day, so if you're free can you pleasee go? Mina probably hates me already for switching shoot times with her so much." Sana pouts, holding her even tighter.
She tenses up. "Baby, those Korean investors scheduled a meeting for 9 AM sharp that day. Do you think that you could handle it?" Tzuyu seems apologetic, she usually chaperones events like these, and has made friends with a couple of Sachi's classmates' parents.
"Which ones?"
"The Parks."
"Which Parks? We know like ten."
"The Jihyo Parks."
"No kidding." Sana withdraws herself from Tzuyu's back, leaning on the counter instead. "As in Jihyo-unnie?" Tzuyu nods.
"Tell her I say hi then."
"Will do."
They spend a few moments silently continuing their routine, until Sana groans in anguish. "Babe, how do you expect me to deal with that stupid kindergarten teacher?" She leans on the kitchen island, head in hands, possibly reflecting on every moment that brought her to this one.
"Remember when she tried to flirt with you at parent-teacher conferences?"
Sana shudders, memories of her daughter's kindergarten teacher trying to blow her a kiss and writing her phone number on a Post-It taped to Sachi's reports flowing back to her. "Oh god, I almost forgot about that. Nakayama is probably going to be more interested in poor little Daigo's mom anyways."
"Do you really need me to reschedule? I can try and convince Jihyo to start the meeting after lunch instead."
"Nah, I'll deal with it but you owe me."
"Thanks, honey." Tzuyu hums, starting to turn on the stove, and cracks two eggs into the pan.
"Shut up and give me my morning kiss." Tzuyu complies, giving her a peck on the lips. Sana's eyes crinkle in happiness, and she starts putting in her phone password. She sends a text to Mina, practically begging her to consider having her shoot for Vogue a bit earlier.
"The things I do for these kids." She dramatically puts her head back, and her hand to her chest. "If that lady is still there when Tsuki starts I'm going to lose my shi-"
"Mommy!" The child in question runs at her full speed. "What d'ya say?" She clings onto her mother, giving her a half hug.
Sana freezes for a second, trying to find any appropriate way to finish that sentence. "I'm going to lose my shi..rts! 'Ka-san is gonna go crazy, right darling?" She looks down, her two year old is hugging her leg. She has a slight bed-head, and there's a bit of drool on the side of her mouth. A-fucking-dorable.
Tzuyu sniggers at her, Sana glares. Tzuyu looks back at the eggs she's frying.
"Uh-huh." She looks slightly confused, cocking her head to the side. "Mommy! Up!" Her short arms are trying to reach Sana's neck, yet to no avail. She bends down, picking her up, "How was your sleep, Ms. Tsuki Minatozaki-Chou?" She makes a funny face, the toddler giggles and hugs her neck.
"Good! Mama make there no more monsters." Tzuyu turns around, and winks at her. She would definitely have to ask about it later.
"Mama got rid of the monsters?" A tiny nod follows. "That's amazing Tsu-tsu, let's get your teeth brushed, then we'll wake your sister up, okay?"
Another nod. She starts walking to the restroom, Tsuki talking about her favorite stuffed toy, Ms. Rabbit. Sana doesn't understand half of what she's saying, but it's pretty damn cute watching her baby talk about a stuffed rabbit like how she talks about her friends.
The family of four sits around the glass dining table. Tzuyu and Sachi argue over getting a unicorn as a pet, as Tsuki's dives into the natto, only picking out the beans that didn't seem too sticky. Sana looks on amusedly, drinking small sips of her glass of water while wiping the toddler's mouth.
"Sachi, sweetheart unicorns are too big to fit in this apartment." Tzuyu mixes her egg yolk and rice together, taking a second to think of what her daughter might say next. "Besides, who's going to walk the unicorn every day?"
The kindergartener pouts. "We can just build a bigger apartment then." She answers matter-of-factly, trying to maneuver her baby chopsticks to pick up the enormous heap of seasoning she had put on her rice.
"Not happening."
She groans, dramatically laying her head on the chair's backing. She turns towards Sana, plastering a toothy smile on her face. "Okaasan- how would you like to walk a unicorn every day?" She bats her eyelashes, leaning on her arms and puckering her lips.
Sana's wiping pieces of rice off her youngest's face. She was quite the messy eater, and never cared about what food went where. Tsuki squirms, trying to move the other way. She stops and ponders for a moment. "I don't know Ms. Sachi, I only have enough energy to keep up with my two babies, so how about we rethink that?"
"What d'ya mean?" She stops chewing her food, and tilts her head sideways in thought.
"Sweetie, if we get the unicorn, then we can't give you and your sister as much attention." She tries to empathize, letting out a small sigh of disappointment. Tzuyu sits opposite of her, trying to stifle her laughter with a cough.
"Yeah kid, if we get a unicorn then 'Ka-san and I can't give you as much play time, Unicorns are complicated, y'know?" Tzuyu looks away, afraid of ruining the act. Sachi huffs, slumping back in her chair.
She lights up with a new idea, pushing her chair a little bit closer to the table, putting her hands on the table once more, and stands on her knees. Her mothers share a look, Sana almost reminding Tzuyu to not say anything too out of pocket.
"I don't believe it." She crosses her arms, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry honey, a unicorn is too much for now." Sana looks down sadly,
"Yeah, if we get a unicorn we have to give Tsuki up."
"Tzuyu!" Sana glares at her. She puts her hands up, surrendering to her wife. Sana slaps her arm. She winces in pain.
The five year old gasps in absject horror. "Noooo!" She takes her hands off the table, jumping out of her chair and running to her sister's booster chair, hugging her protectively. "She's MY younger sister."
Her mothers share a look, simultaneously melting at the sight. Sana discreetly takes a few photos with her phone, of Sachi frowning and Tsuki visibly annoyed. Tzuyu looks at Tsuki, apathetic to her sister's affection. She coughs, trying to hide her laughter.
Bewildered by the sudden influx of affection, the toddler scrunches up her face, ready to start crying. After a moment, she looks across the table at Tzuyu, who gives her a warning glance, then at the almost-finished bowl of rice and fermented soybeans, and back at her face again.
"Mama- natto." She grumbles out, flailing her arms in an attempt to get her onee-san off her.
"Tsu-tsu I love you soooooo much." Sachi kisses her cheeks, hugging her again. She looks at Tzuyu once more, eyes starting to water and lip trembling, and she cracks,
"Chi-chi I think your sister wants to finish her natto." She tries hinting to give the two year old some space. She relents, unwrapping her arms from her sister, and giving her younger sister a final pat on the head and walking back to her seat.
Tzuyu reaches across the table at the toddler's bowl with her chopsticks, snatching a chunk of rice with a reasonable amount of seaweed sprinkled on it.
"Mine." She says with a scowl on her face, eyebrows furrowed, eyes narrowed, her baby cheeks hardening.
"I know, I know. Say aaaah." Tzuyu starts bringing it closer to her mouth. She complies, her lips parting, just enough space for Tzuyu to try and feed her some rice.
"That wasn't so hard was it? Here comes the airplane!"
Sana rolls her eyes at the sight. "Just feed her, Tzu."
Breakfast continues without a hitch. In between Tzuyu trying to feed Tsuki, and Sana trying to wipe her mouth while taking cute photos, Sachi tells them about her friend Hina's birthday party, how Hina had told her eeeeveryone she invited for her birthday, and how cool her party was going to be, especially the pony that would be there.
"Mama, Hina's pony's name is Rainbow Starlight and it has pink fur! If we can't get a unicorn can we get that?"
"Oh that's cool... sure I guess." Tzuyu's responding to emails, half tuning her daughter out and half sending out haphazardly typed messages. "Wait, what now?"
"Thank you Mama!" Sachi beams, Sana and Tzuyu didn't have the heart to tell her that they would never be getting a pony.
"My babies are so cute!" Sana takes a photo of Sachi mid-beam, one of Tsuki chewing on her spoon, and a final candid shot of her wife clicking send on an email.
Sachi animatedly recites the guest list to her friend's party. "So there's obviously me, Hana H, Hana M, Keiko, Aiko, and Itsuki who has the same name as Auntie Itsuki! Isn't that cool! There's also a bunch of girls from the other class but I don't know their names... I'll find out though!"
She dabs again at Tsuki's mouth, egg yolk running down her chin. Tzuyu feeds her another piece of egg. "That is cool!" She returns the energy, adding a follow up statement. "Y'know, your auntie and I met around the same time that you and Itsuki met."
"So like last year?" She has a grain of rice stuck to her cheek, Sana picks it off.
"No silly! I met her when I was around your age." She giggles, pinching her cheek.
"Kaaa-san" She whines, rubbing furiously at her cheek.
When they all finish breakfast, she rushes out the dining room to get her pink fairy wand (presumably from the toy chest in her room). She runs back, the hot pink tassle waving in the air as she holds it up. "Tsu-tsu wanna play dress up with me yet?" She stops herself a few feet away from the table, a screeeech sound coming from her feet.
Her mothers wince at the noise, yet Tsuki doesn't seem to mind. The toddler turns around and nods, putting her arms up, signaling she wanted to be placed down.
"Wait thirty minutes before playing so your food goes down." Tzuyu's says in a monotone voice, picking Tsuki up from the booster chair, and placing her down on the ground. Sachi doesn't seem to care, bolting out of the room to grab her favorite dress. She only comes back when Sana reminds her that she hadn't drank her Yakult, and goes back to ransack her closet.
Cartoons and unicorns completely forgotten, Sachi lugs her toy box, a wooden box that held her prized possessions, to the living room. She drops it on the carpeted portion of their living room and sighs. Tsuki runs over, curiously peering into the box and pointing at different toys.
Sana walks through the living room, a few dings coming from her phone. The air was still a little crisp from when Tzuyu went out to get some groceries for them a minute or two ago. She glances at her daughters, They seemed to be doing fine. She could take a minute or two.
🐧🐹🍑
Myoui. M.
sent three attatchments.
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My babies at the ice rink 🥰 [7:35 AM]
Hirai. M.
Thoroughly impressed, Myoui.
sent a sticker.
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You guys have any plans over the kiddo's winter break? Haru's asking when she can see Hyeju and the girls again.
She calls them "Pretty aunties' kids" LOL. [7:50 AM]
Myoui. M.
Cute!! We're traveling to Seoul for Christmas to see Chae's family. @hirai.momo @c.m.__sana wbu? [7:55 AM]
Hirai. M.
We're going down to Kyoto to see Hana and my parents from 24-27 [7:56 AM]
We can either meet you there or back in Osaka anytime from the 28th thru the 6th. [8:00 AM]
Myoui. M.
Haru is too cute... The twins miss her and Sachi so much. They're excited to see Tsuki though. [8:03 AM]
We're back on the 28th, @c.m.__sana 's birthday is on the 29th, so should we just do new yrs?? [8:04 AM]
Hirai. M.
Sounds like a plan. @c.m.__sana you up for it? [8:10 AM]
(you)
Omg what did I miss? [8:15 AM]
you hearted three attatchments.
It's a great idea, we're flying down to meet Tzuyu's parents for Christmas so see u guys on 31st? [8:17 AM]
@hirai.momo and @mina_sr_my loved a message. [8:17 AM]
She looks up from her phone, Sachi and Tsuki were still playing dress up and the house wasn't burnt down.
"Tsuki! Pick one." She holds out a mint green feather boa, a plastic-y silver tiara, a pair of black children's sunglasses, and a black Prada shoulder bag.
She chooses the bag, Sachi complies and gives it to her. She then points at the feather boa, which her older sister passes towards her. She tries to put it around her neck, twirling it around with her fingers. Once satisfied, she focuses on the bag, and fiddles with its' straps, quickly losing interest and throwing it on the wood paneled floor.
"Hold on- Is that where my bag went?" Sana spots the bag that she had been looking around for, thrown on the floor next to a pile of miscellaneous toys.
"That's 'ot importan' 'ka-san." She mutters out, far more interested in the furry texture of the boa.
Sana pinches her nose bridge, "What am I going to do with you guys." She mutters to herself, picking the bag up, and dusting it off. She looks behind at her kids still playing dress up, and places it back inside her closet. When she comes back, it's yet another round of dress up. Her eldest now sports a new pair of pink sunglasses and a silvery cape, while her youngest has a gold tiara lopsidedly resting on the crown of her head, teetering back and forth.
"Tsu! This, this, this, or that?" Sachi now holds out a stuffed dog, a Bluey mini figurine, and something black and lacy that weirdly reminds Sana of her thong. She adjusts the crown on her sister's head, and pats it.
"The b'ack one." Tsuki points at the unknown object, moving the gold headpiece closer to the front of her head, then making grabby hands for the lacy piece of fabric.
"One black- uhhh- thing! for Ms. Tsuki!" Sachi looks at it for a second, then hands it over to her, and to Sana's abject horror, the two year old starts toying with it. She bends down, getting eye-to-eye with her daughter.
"Tsuki, that's 'ka-san's. May I have it back please?" She tries to reason with her, but she refuses and shakes her head.
"Baby please, I need to wash that ASAP." She pleads, but to her dismay, Tsuki looks away and continues inspecting it.
She tried to grab it out of her tiny hands, but she began to whine. "ka-saaaaan." Her eyes began to water, lower lip trembling, looking at Sana as if she had murdered a puppy.
She relents, loosening her grip. "Ka-san needs that ASAP baby... please hurry up." The two year old pays her no mind, sititng criss-cross-apple-sauce on the floor, looking at her lingerie as if it had unlocked the secrets of the world. "Kiki?... please?" She sighs, leaving her be.
"Ka-san! This, this, or that?" Sachi stands in a star pose, balancing a pair of cat ears, a pink bow, hold up- was that the pair of earrings Tzuyu had gotten her for their anniversary?
"I'll take the earrings baby." Sana smiles at her, putting the diamond studs in the pocket of her sweatpants. She looks up towards the clock, it had just hit nine. She didn't have the heart to tell them to clean up yet.
An hour had passed. Sachi had given her a total of twenty different necklaces (which would never fit on her) and three princess capes. She was now trying to entertain her younger sister, who responded to her efforts in nods and mutters of approval.
"Darlings, do you want five more minutes with the dress up or should we clean up now?" Tsuki seemed to be disinterested, while Sachi was starting to tire out.
"I'm tired." She faceplants on the carpet, kicking her legs up and down.
She picks her up, setting her on the couch like she did a few hours prior, then fixing her hair.
"Who told you to wake up so early today, hm?"
"Wanted to watch Princess Sally."
"So how about we clean up first, then you can watch it?"
She perks up, the grumpy kid from moments before now long gone. "Okay!"
"Clean up, clean up, every body clean up!" Sachi belts while running around, picking up different stuffed toys, accessories, and figurines. She runs towards the box, dropping a few in the process, then returns to pick up everything that fell. Tsuki is far more interested in the fabric she had been holding for the past hour or so.
She picks up a few plushies, setting them into the box, a pile of boas, sunglasses, hats, and hair bands join, the pink fairy wand sitting on top. She settles Sachi into the newest episode of Princess Sally, called "Princess Sally and The Gates of Kiwi Korner".
The front door opens, Tzuyu proceeds to drop a bag of groceries on the floor, take off her shoes, and go to the living room.
"Hey babe." She removes her mask, kissing Sana on the lips."
She ruffles Sachi's hair, who's far too interested in the show to even care at this point. "Whatcha up to Kiki?" She picks up their two year old, eyebrows raising in alarm when she spots what's in her hands. She looks at her wife, who looks at their toddler and back at her, signaling to handle it.
"Hey Kiki, what's that you're holding?" She taps on the fabric, then nudges her shoulder with her hand.
"You want?" She looks up, meeting her mother's eyes, and gives her the underwear.
"Uh yeah sure. Thanks kiddo." She throws it at a shocked Sana, who catches it almost instantly.
"No p'oblem Mama." She starts to show disinterest, starting to fuss. Tzuyu knows it's about time to put her down.
She places her on the floor. "Go have fun Kiki."
She waddles off, climbing up the couch to watch cartoons with her sister.
Sana pulls her into the kitchen, "You've got to be fucking kidding me right now, Chou Tzuyu." She hisses at her.
It's Tzuyu's chance to be confused now, what did she even do?
"Baby, come on! What did I do this time?"
"Don't want to hear it Chou."
When lunch is finished and their youngest is put down for her nap, Sana goes off to run a few errands, while Tzuyu entertains their oldest. They'll color in coloring books, read a book or two, watch Doraemon (or Shin-Chan if Sana wasn't home) then fall dead asleep on the couch together.
Tzuyu will wake up with a blanket magically draped her and Sachi, and Sana will kiss her on the lips- then she'll snuggle up with them. Tsuki will crawl in, and they all snuggle together for the rest of the afternoon.
They'll look at photos Sana had took over the last week or so, AirDrop some that Sana looked especially pretty in or that the kids looked cute in, and send some to family. Tsuki wakes up and fusses a little, lulls back to sleep, and the cycle repeats. Sachi; who Tzuyu dubs as 'Sleeping Beauty' sleeps through the event, drool pooling under her rosy cheeks until it starts to drip on the blanket, and Sana wipes it away with her hand.
After an hour or so, when the kids start waking up and asking for stories, they'll tell tales of when they were babies, or before either of them were born. They ask silly questions and draw patterns on her back with their hands, then clap their tiny hands together every time Sana finishes a story.
She tries to capture this moment for her mental file cabinet of everything dear to her. Her wife curled up into her side, her older daughter clinging on her front, and her younger one playing with her hair.
They look at the girls' photos from years past, videos of Tsuki's first steps, Sachi's first day of preschool, and many more. In the haze of swiping, they find one from two years prior, one of her family that she took herself. A freshly postpartum Sana (who was as beautiful as ever) smiling slightly, holding a newborn Tsuki, and two-year-old Sachi beaming, leaning on the hospital bed's side.
By now Tsuki had nuzzled into her mother's chest, fast asleep listening to the soothing voices and whispers, and Sachi quietly asks even more questions about 'the early days'. Her wife chuckles with every adorable question, ruffles their daughter's hair, and they ease into each other even more.
This is her life. Spending the rest of her life with Sana, and their daughters.
"Ka-san! Look at what I made!" Sachi beams, holding up her drawing of herself and her sister. They have purple pointy hats, and don matching triangular blocky dresses. They stand behind a rectangle-ish castle, with two pointy roofs on either side of the structure, and a square-ish second level in the center.
"Who's this? She looks stunning." She points at the bigger figurine, who has a trademark S on her dress.
Sachi giggles. "Ka-san it's me!" She puts one finger on the arrow that directs to her name.
"Oh silly me!" She slaps her forehead with her hand, Sachi giggles at the sight. "You wanna go show Mama what you made?
"Yeah!" She bolts out of the living room, calling for Tzuyu and pridefully showing her every part of her drawing.
She looks back down at her younger daughter, fully focused on making a heart out of red crayon.
"What's my baby Tsuki doing?" She fixes her hair, taking a few inky strands off her forehead, tucking it behind her ears, and planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
"D'awing." Her pudgy hand holds on to the crayon, scribbling in the heart with even more red crayon.
"Is this a heart?" She leans over the side of the table, cocking her head.
"Mhm." She sticks her tongue out the side of her mouth, screwing her eyebrows together in concentration.
"Do you want Ka-san to leave you to it?" Tsuki nods, a small "T'ank you Ka-san" escapes her lips.
She spots Sachi cutting a potato in the kitchen, Tzuyu supervising on the side. Her wife spots her looking right at them, and she nods, pulling up the five-year-old's sleeves. She watches as Tzuyu whispers into their daughter's ear, she looks up, and waves at Sana. She waves, then blows a kiss back.
She looks back at her toddler, who she observes has now changed from crayon to a washable marker. She takes her phone out her pocket, silently taking a photo, then checks her DMs.
🐧🐹🍑
(you)
sent an attatchment.
(tsuki.redheart.jpeg)
I wonder who my baby is making this for... [6:05 PM]
Myoui. M.
Definitely Tzuyu. That's her little doppelganger ❤️ [6:06 PM]
Hirai. M.
Noo how about Sachi? We can't forget about her either [6:06 PM]
(you)
NGL I really do hope it's for me 😅 [6:06 PM]
Hirai. M.
@c.m._sana you sure about that? From the mini you sure but not the mini Tzuyu 💀 [6:06 PM]
Myoui. M. thumbs up-ed a message.
Myoui. M.
sent a sticker.
(penguinexclamation.jpeg)
Agree with @hirai.momo here. Sachi's the mini you, the mini socialite. Tsuki's the mini Tzu, she's more of the quiet but deadly sort. [6:07 PM]
(you)
@mina_sr_my They're the products of us ツ
idc what you guys say my baby is giving me that heart [6:07 PM]
Hirai. M.
@mina_sr_my let's make a bet [6:08 PM]
Myoui. M.
@hirai.momo I'm betting it goes to Tzuyu and you bet Sachi? [6:08 PM]
Hirai. M. added an exclamation mark to a message.
Hirai. M.
¥1,450 for the winner [6:09 PM]
(you)
Mark my words she's going to prove you both wrong [6:10 PM]
Hirai. M.
@mina_sr_my The delusion is real. [6:10]
Myoui. M. laughed at a message.
"Babe, can you help set the table?" Tzuyu's carrying Sachi by the armpits, her apron and shirt seem to be soaked, along with their daughter's mini-apron and sleeves. Strands of hair stick to her face and droplets of water pelt the floor as she sprints into the bathroom, Sachi cackling as she does.
"Okay!" She leaves her spot on the couch to start setting out the placemats. She grabs the two plain grey polyester ones from the cupboard for her and Tzuyu, the plastic Hello Kitty themed one for Sachi, and the waterproof animal themed mat for Tsuki. Four white porcelain bowls, two pairs of wooden chopsticks, and two pairs of pink trainer chopsticks. As she sets down the glassware, she feels a tug on her shirt.
She turns around, Tsuki has a shy look on her face and hides her face in her sleeves.
"Ka-san..."
"Yes, darling?"
"Can I s'ow you a thing?" She removes her face from her sleeves, looking at her with her big brown eyes.
"Of course, baby. Ka-san is setting the table right now, so how about you put this at your spot, and you go show me?" Sana hands over her cup gently, making sure the two-year-old doesn't drop it in the process. "Good job darling. Let's go look now, yeah?"
"Okay." She looks up at her mother and nods, grabbing her hand, and leading her to the living room.
She makes Sana wait at the edge of the carpet, and grabs a piece of seemingly blank paper from the table. She walks towards her with her arms behind her back, and gives her the piece of paper.
"Kiki, what's this?"
"Other side, Ka-san."
She flips the paper around, and to her absolute delight, it's the drawing from earlier, but even better.
"Oh darling..." She kneels down, almost lost for words, and reads the paper. Inside, in messy toddler handwriting, it writes "Ka-san aishiteru". There's a giant heart in the middle, and next to that, a drawing of a figure being hugged by a bigger figure. They both have descriptios over their heads, Tsuki and Kasan written in pink marker.
"I draw it in pink 'cause you really like pink, and that one is you and that one is me."
"I love it so much Tsuki. Thank you." She chokes, eyes beginning to water.
"I love you Ka-san, don't be sad." She runs over and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Sana wipes her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.
"Just give me a moment." She turns around, fixing herself up, and gives a watery smile. "Sweetheart, Ka-san isn't sad, she's just feeling very touched."
"What's touched?"
"It's not the same thing as when someone touches you like this." She places Tsuki's hand in hers. "It's when someone does a very nice thing for you and you feel very happy. Just like right now when you gave me the card."
"So touched is a good thing?"
"Mhm, you make me very happy, darling."
"You make me happy a lot too Ka-san."
"Now give Ka-san a hug." She opens her arms, Tsuki returns it.
"I love you so much Tsuki Minatozaki-Chou." She tenderly kisses the crown of her daughter's head.
Her arms tighten around her mother's neck as she burrows her head in her shoulder. "Love you too, Ka-san."
"Babe I got Sachi changed after that whole fiasco with the sink and-" Tzuyu peeks in, but leaves at the sight. "Alright I'll leave you to that."
🐧🐹🍑
(you)
sent an attatchment.
(ilysmmybabytsuki.jpeg)
pay up bitches [6:20 PM]
Myoui. M.
Heyhey congrats! That's cute asf. [6:22 PM]
Myoui. M. sent ¥1,450.
Hirai. M.
Goddamnit. [6:23 PM]
Hirai. M. sent ¥1,450.
(you)
Told you guys she wouldn't fail me :) [6:23 PM]
Hirai. M. and Myoui. M. both loved a message.
After a productive dinner filled with discussions of next weekend and the upcoming school week, they do the dishes together while watching their daughters running around in the living room. Sachi does a cannonball into the couch, Tsuki giggles and claps. Tsuki dives into the couch, Sachi cheers. They make sure that no necks are broken while talking.
"So what happened earlier?"
"What happened with Sachi earlier?"
"You go first."
"Fine."
Sana puts a plate into the dish rack and turns around to look at her. "So Tsuki made me a card and basically it said she loved me and there was this cute ass drawing of us hugging and giant heart in the middle."
Tzuyu stops scrubbing the plate. "No fucking way! You lucky bitch"
"Aww Chou are you mad that it wasn't addressed to you?"
"That kid is my mini-me there's nothing to be mad over" Tzuyu shrugs her shoulders and grins at her. "Besides Sachi's drawing yesterday was for me so we're even."
"Anyways you know I cried over that." She gets a hum in response and a plate handed to her. "It's just that the fact she actually wrote it down and drew it for me kinda made me feel special."
She wants to say something, a rebuttal, how the girls always did cherish her in their own way, but she stops herself. "I guess Tsuki is sweet like that." She settles with that, and wipes her hands on the dish cloth hanging by their fridge.
"I guess so." Sana puts the last bowl in the rack, and they both lean on the counter, establishing a comfortable silence.
Sana breaks it, asking her for today's story of the day. "So what did Miss Sachi do this time?"
"She put the water pressure all the way up while we were washing the cauliflower and we both got soaked."
"Ah."
"What did Sachi say to you earlier?" Sana asks, remembering how her wife and daughter were in kahoots for all of dinner, whispering back and forth about something that she was curious to know.
"What do you think she said?" Tzuyu smirks at her, adopting a cockier stance.
Sana frowns, it's a fake one, but nevertheless still existent. "Just answer the damn question, Tzu."
Tzuyu just smiles at her, unwilling to tell. "Can't, pinkie promised it was a secret with her."
"I told you what Sachi said about Elkie's birthday gift for her!"
"Fine..." She looks around, checking that Sachi was still distracted, and whispers into her ear. "It was about you."
"No way." Sana puts her chin on her hand. "What did she say about me?"
Tzuyu checks for privacy once again, and whispers in hushed tone. "She said that you were the best Ka-san she could wish for."
"That's nice I guess." She tries to brush off the compliment, shrugging her shoulders and looking in the other direction.
"Y'know, she really appreciates you. I think she genuinely means it."
"Ehh I think she's just saying that to make me feel good about myself." There's a smile threatening to creep on her face, but not yet.
"She started writing you a birthday card and last night she asked for you."
She knows the look on Sana's face. It's the one that she has when she tries to prevent herself from smiling in front of others, when they're out in public and Tzuyu does something especially sweet, or when the girls accomplish something they think as minor, but in reality, it's so much more.
"I guess she's just a Mommy's girl through and through." She sighs, thinking of how Sana and Sachi truly clicked, her two extroverts that could be so carefree and happy at times.
"You think so? Mina said the same thing earlier."
"No shit." She snorts. "Her eyes light up whenever you come home from work."
Sana rolls her eyes but still smiles.
"I know." Sana says. "If it makes anything better, Tsuki definitely loves you more. She's just more compliant with you."
"I know. But I think both the girls have a thing for you either way, and I don't blame them."
"The girls are lucky to have you. I'm lucky to have you." She says sincerely, holding her close to her.
Sana smiles with the warmth of a thousand suns. She falls in love once more with the drop dead gorgeous model who won over her heart years prior, the girl who weaseled her way into her heart. Tzuyu feels dizzy as Sana hugs her, was any of this real? She pulls back, gazing into her almond shaped eyes, the inviting honey brown color makes her head spin. Tzuyu crashes her lips into Sana's, she's startled, yet eases into the kiss. They stay like this for a minute or two, enjoying the warmth of each other, Tzuyu thinks, How did she ever get this lucky? Why and how was she blessed to have Sana?
"We aren't doing too bad at this parenting thing, are we?" Sana looks up at her, still breathless.
"Not at all." Tzuyu pecks her on the cheek and holds her once more.
She chuckles, inhaling the scent of lemon tea and vanilla chapstick. Tzuyu's long hair partially blocks her view of her kids, but as long as she could stay like this, forever with Tzuyu, everything would be okay.
After the tiring bath time routine, Sana helps Sachi get to bed. She helps her put on her pink satin pyjamas (courtesy of Mina) and detangle her hair in the bathroom.
"So Miss Sachi, how did you like today?" She turns on the sink, wetting the hair brush in her hand.
"It was good." Sachi yawns. "I liked it when you and Mama cuddled with me earlier. Oh and when Tsuki cannonballed into the couch."
"Well we'll do it again next Sunday." Sana smiles at her, a genuine one she only saves for those closest to her.
"Can you and Mama both play dress up next Sunday?" Sana continues brushing through her hair, disposing of stray hairs in the trash.
"Probably. Do you want us both to?" She finds a towel to dry Sachi's hair with and dries the ends.
"Yeah. I like it when you both play with me. I also like it when it's just us. We don't do it a lot."
"Hm. Do you want it just to be us more often?"
"Yeah. Mama and Tsu-tsu are too quiet sometimes." She shrugs, walking back into her bedroom as Sana trails her.
"They're just more shy than us, that's just how they're wired."
"I know. It's just a little too quiet with them sometimes."
"How about we get coffee next Friday? Just you and me, after school." Sana proposes, opening the bed covers to start tucking her in.
"Yes! Thank you so much Ka-san." Sachi beams, hopping into bed.
"No problem honey." She pulls the covers over her.
Sachi starts to ease into bed, her eyes drooping, and her posture relaxing.
She finds this as her cue to leave. She gets up from her spot at the end of the bed, turns off her bedside lamp, and starts to tiptoe out.
"Mommy?" This was saved for when her kids were really vulnerable, when they wanted to be her babies and have her smother them in attention. This was usually when they were sick, got hurt, were scared, or really just wanted her warmth.
"Yes, darling?" She stops, turning around.
"I love you." She mumbles, holding onto her stuffed toy, and falls asleep.
She walks over, making sure her daughter was actually asleep. "I love you too sweetheart. More than you'll ever know." She kisses her forehead, and exits the room.
Once Sachi's door closes, she practically sprints down to her room with Tzuyu, and when she opens the door, she exclaims "Tzuyu! Sachi said she loves me!" She squeals, jumping onto the bed, and hugs her again.
"I told you, she really does." Tzuyu closes her book, folds her glasses up, and places it all on the nightstand.
"It just feels better when she actually says she does."
"I know. It always feels better when they do." She gets up, walking over to the door to turn off the lights.
They crawl into bed under the covers, and try to fall asleep.
When her arms end up against Sana's waist and she pulls her form tighter to herself, Sana moves closer, almost fitting them like puzzle pieces.
She touches the back of her neck, pulling their heads closer, and kisses her softly.
"I love you. I love you. I love you." She says it so much it echoes off the walls, in her throat, and in her heart.
Sana smiles into their kiss, breaking it for a moment to kiss her nose, and kisses her once more.
"I love you too, silly."
When they wake up together on a Monday morning with both their daughters under the covers, neither one questions it.
Maybe they were meant for this life together.