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On May 6th of my first year in high school, I encountered a wild bunny girl at the library. Little did I know that my life would change drastically after that moment….from encounters with other individuals who had puberty syndrome to an array of emotions and experiences. Only a dimwitted rascal could get himself into that much trouble, even trickling into college. But, by some stroke of luck, I’d graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science, which at least saved me from being a lifeless creeper begging teenage girls for money on the sidewalk. Heh, it had been one wild ride, but it all worked out in the end. The future is looking bright. Here’s hoping I don’t get drawn into any more of this adolescent psychology stuff.
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The telltale sound of a metallic key unlocking a door filled the subtle night atmosphere, the squeaky hinges of the door accompanying soft footsteps. Heaving an exhausted sigh, a figure with a long pillowy skirt with accents of blue and gold plops onto the bed.
“What a long and crazy day it’s been..” A drawn-out yawn ends her sentence, as she lies there, blue sapphire eyes looking up at the ceiling.
“You could say that again!” another voice adds, face floating over her frame.
A beat, before she responds: “What are you doing?”
The individual in question begins to chuckle under his breath. “Who me? Just admiring my beautiful wife!” Inching closer to her, at the last moment she slides off the bed, making his lips collide with the white bedsheets.
“Hey! What was that for? You can’t make excuses anymore, I am literally your husband now!” Grumbling while sinking into the covers, he raises an unimpressed glare at his significant other.
“Even still, you should warn me before you do stuff like that! Besides, I’m going to go take a shower anyway, I want to get out of this dress already.”
Her words are laced with annoyance, and before he can complain she’s already scouring through her drawers for pajamas.
“Come on Mai! Our honeymoon has hardly begun! Plus, if you want that dress off, I can always assist!”
His rather sly words don’t go unnoticed as a piece of flying clothing lands instantly on his face.
“You! Get yourself together! I'm really not in the mood for all that right now! It’s late anyway…Once I get out I’m going to bed. You should as well, it’s been a long day.” Slightly slamming the door behind her, Sakuta stared ahead, unsure of what he’d done to make her so upset all of a sudden.
Ever since they were in high school, Sakuta had always joked around like that, though never with ill intentions, it was odd for Mai to be taking it all so seriously. At the same time though, his words held more meaning—they were married now.
Sitting up, he found himself in deep thought, mind running through any strange behaviors he’d noticed from her throughout the day, but there wasn’t any that he could recall. In fact, when they’d left to eat out and go to the movies, she seemed in high spirits, so what changed?
Perfect timing—the water stopped once the possible reason had hit him. Still thinking it over, he decided he’d wait to ask until she’d gotten back into the room.
Entering the room in silence, dressed in dark grey shorts and pants, hair looking slightly damp from the water, and eyes gazing downwards, she almost seemed like a completely different person from who she’d been at the wedding a few hours ago. And yet Sakuta couldn't help but think she was still so beautiful.
The energy of the room was rather tense and awkward; neither of them said a word to the other.
“Listen, I—”
At the same time she began to speak, he also started:
“Mai, I have—”
Pause, and then they’re both laughing.
“Sorry! You can go first!” Giggles erupting from one another, she can’t help but wipe the tears of humor from her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
She simply nods, which prods him to go on:
“For starters, I’d like to apologize for earlier. I was being annoying while you were just trying to take a shower and head to bed! I really need to get myself together…..”
Mai freezes in place, and after considering his words she sits down beside him.
“No, you’re wrong! I should be the one apologizing! You were just being, well, you were being yourself! I honestly don't know what’s wrong with me! Sorry for being such a killjoy! I’m acting like a complete bridezilla!”
Eyes closing with a grunt of frustration at herself, Sakuta realizes that she’s fidgeting with her ring.
“Mai, I have a question to ask you. I’ve been thinking really hard about this, and there’s no other way for me to ask you so it’s best to be upfront about it! Are you afraid of sleeping together?”
For a minute she only blinked, almost as though she didn't hear what he had asked her, but then ever so slowly her face began to take on a red hue.
“W-what? No way!! We’ve slept side by side!
Multiple times actually! Or do I need to remind you—”
Sakuta cuts her off while gently interlacing their hands.
“You know that’s not what I mean! I’m being serious! And you can be honest with me! I want to know how you feel! I can play guessing games, but I’ll never know for sure.”
Eyes landing on their hands so she doesn't feel too pressured, his heart nearly stops beating at the sight of the tear droplets.
“Mai……are you afraid? You can tell me, I promise I won’t judge, make fun of, or ridicule you! Your feelings are valid!”
Lifting a hand to brush a few of the tears away, he heard her sniffle under her breath.
“Yes. I am afraid. It’s so stupid too, What was I even thinking? And yet, the idea practically scares the living daylights out of me!”
Her voice comes out constricted and troubled; she hates how silly she’s being right now.
“We don’t have to do that though. Sure other people do it on their wedding night, but that’s a choice. And if you aren't comfortable with it now, then we don’t have to. I am content to spend the rest of the night with you in any way that you want! It’s not silly at all.”
Sending a reassuring smile her way, she can’t help but shake off some of the guilt.
“Thank you. I just feel bad though, because I don’t want you to be disappointed in me!”
Mai’s tears continue to fall but Sakuta only pulls her closer to him.
“Why would I be disappointed?”
His question hangs in the air.
“Because well….you want to have kids, don’t you?”
Eyebrows shooting up at her question, he remains indifferent. Twisting a piece of her silky hair around his finger, he replies:
“I do want to have kids, do you?”
She instantly nods at that.
“Okay, then why would I be disappointed?”
The two stare straight at each other for minutes on end, and Mai is very much unsure of how to counter his words.
“Well, twenty minutes have passed, and you still haven't come up with an excuse! You know what that means?”
Sakuta’s smug grin is removed upon Mai pinching his cheek—and hard.
“Yeah yeah! Fine, whatever! You win this round! So you’re not disappointed in me…that’s good to know. I still feel like such a baby though...”
Tapping her gently on the nose, he exclaims:
“You’re not a baby! I mean, you’re my baby…but that’s beside the point! I am not disappointed in you! I love you so so much! And I want to spend the night with you in any way that I can! Don’t forget I made a promise, multiple promises actually! I’m with you till death do us part! And whenever you are ready, I’m willing to partake in the incredible experience of two married lovers given to us by our Lord! If you want, we could even just adopt! Am I getting my point across or not?!”
Uttering those words all in one single breath, he looks to his wife for some semblance of understanding.
“Yes to all of that! Till death do us part! I’m so thankful for having you in my life, although I don’t say it too often! I love you, much more than you’ll ever know!”
Mai squeezes her partner in a tight hug.
“Yay! My wife loves me!! And I never had a doubt!”
Sakuta’s sarcasm earns him a slap in the face.
“Oh, don’t push it! Or you’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight!”
Her threats go on deaf ears as he snickers.
“Wow, really Mai? You’re going to make your new husband sleep on the floor? That’s harsh!”
Leaning off the bed slightly so that her foot is directly stepping on his, she adds:
“Uh, not sure if you forgot that quickly, but this is my apartment! So you’re lucky I’m even letting you stay here!”
With a small nervous nod of understanding, he grabs her by the waist and now they’re lying in the middle of the bed.
“Heh, smooth right?”
An idiotic grin was plastered on his face, and his grip on her tightened.
Eyes nearly rolling to the back of her head as she speaks:
“Yeah, real smooth. You need a bath! You smell like champagne, onions, and footpowder!”
Attempting to pry Sakuta’s grip off her, Mai tosses and turns making the bedsheets wrinkly.
“Seriously? I guess the cologne wore off, which is weird because it said twenty-four-hour scent. Crap, I need to get my money back!”
He states all this while his significant other continues to try to remove him from the bed.
Eventually giving in, he heads for the bathroom, after planting a kiss on his wife’s forehead.
“You do realize I’ll be here when you get back, right?”
Mai asks, which earns a deadpan expression from Sakuta.
“Well excuse me for trying to be a good husband! Are you saying you didn’t want me to kiss you on the forehead??”
A glare directed his way answers the question for him.
Upon returning from the bathroom he finds Mai buried in the covers with a book in her hand.
“What ya reading? A book on how soon you can file for divorce?”
He receives another shove for that as he’s getting into the bed beside her.
“No! Stop it you! I got this for the wedding photos. I was thinking once we get them printed we can stuff them all in here, you know, for the memories?”
Flipping through the pages, she explains where she thinks each picture will go in an exact order.
“Sounds good to me! Anything else?”
Eyes going up to look at him deep in thought, she reaches for her phone.
“Yes actually! We’ll need to send thank you cards to all of the guests!”
Mai scrolls through a virtual list of all the people who attended the wedding.
“Thank you cards for a wedding? Do people even do that?!”
Sakuta questions with a long yawn.
With a sigh, she places the phone back on the nightstand.
“Well, we’re doing that! It just seems like the right thing to do!”
A slow nod from her husband was enough, although she was going to do it anyway.
“Well then, good night Sakuta, unless you’re going to watch me sleep all night!”
Snuggling deeper into the covers, her eyes flutter shut slowly.
“Maybe I will, or maybe I won’t! Good night Mai, my beautiful and extraordinary wife! Until tomorrow.”
With her eyes still closed, she groans with irritation at his words.
“Why? Why do you have to go on like that? Wouldn’t a simple good night suffice?”
His only response is a peck on her lips.
“Good night! You rascal!”
Shifting so she’s no longer facing him, she speaks one final time before drifting off.
“Hehe, Futaba’s usually the one to call me that! Guess she’s been a bad influence….oh well. Anyways, I love you!”
Being careful to whisper this last part, Sakuta’s surprised to see Mai shift so she’s facing him and is now closer to him.
“Love you too…”
She hums, eyes lidded, before closing them again.
For a few minutes, he simply just takes in his surroundings. Mainly the person lying right beside him—his high school sweetheart, his best friend, his girlfriend, and now his wife. The tears pricking his eyes are barely noticeable in the darkness, but he can feel them pouring down his face.
With one last peek at the gorgeous woman beside him, he falls asleep until morning.
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Sitting up in bed, arms stretching outward, and lungs opening to take in the early morning air, Mai Asuzagawa let out a drowsy yawn. Gazing at the opposite side of the bed, instantly noticing the absence of her husband, she rubbed at her eyes before reaching for her phone.
Picking up the device, she sees a text that looks to have been sent about an hour and a half ago.
“Good morning my beautiful wife! I hope you slept well! I hate not seeing your pretty face this morning, but I got an urgent text from Koga, so I had to head out. I love ya so much!”
A slight giggle left her lips at Sakuta’s sappiness, but a lump of concern formed in her stomach for whatever was going on with Koga. Pushing those thoughts aside, she headed out of bed.
Once inside the kitchen, she whipped up a quick breakfast of eggs, sausage, and a bagel.
“I miss my dear husband, but at the same time I can’t help but enjoy the peace and quiet.”
Mai thought to herself while enjoying the simple meal and the calmness of the morning.
It's almost hard to believe that they’d been married for four weeks now, not much time had passed but at the same time, it had. They’d been through so much together, and yet here they were.
A perpetual feeling deep in the pit of her stomach suddenly pulled her away from the reminiscing.
The food in her mouth was now bitter and hard to swallow, a sort of dizziness took over, and at the taste of bile rushing up her throat, she rushed to the bathroom.
Luckily, she made it there in time, lurching over the toilet to rid herself of the vomit.
“W-well, that came out of nowhere!”
Mai muttered, hating how scratchy her throat felt at the moment. Seated on the tiled floor, she kept herself close enough to the toilet just in case she was to get nauseous again.
Her stomach no longer bubbled, and a painstaking headache formed in her skull instead. She decided she’d remain seated for a few minutes, in hopes that the pain would eventually stop in its own time.
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“You’re not usually one to text about an emergency, so I expect this to be serious. If it’s a matter of determining what pants make your butt look big, I can’t assist much.”
Taking a sip of his coffee, Sakuta couldn’t help but be a tease.
“No that’s not the reason why I asked for you to come! Plus, why would I text you and claim that to be an emergency anyway?! Augh, you’re such a nuisance picking on me like that!”
With a grumble of disgust, Koga Tomoe swatted at her bright red cheeks. From the way she squirmed in her seat, and how she kept zoning out, he could already tell she was troubled about something.
“I’m just messing with ya! Anyways, what’s the big emergency?”
His eyes focused on hers, and he was being serious now.
For a second she didn’t say a word, only fiddling with the spoon in her drink, not raising her head.
“I know you’re well aware that I graduated from high school, and for the longest time, I wasn’t sure what I should major in. In the meantime, I did two years of customer service, in preparation to be a flight attendant.”
As Koga spoke, she went about mixing her drink, speaking slowly.
“Oh yeah! I remember I always said you would make a super cute flight attendant! So how has it been going?”
Nodding his head in remembrance, he had difficulty understanding why this news was the so-called “emergency.”
Lifting his hand and gesturing for her to continue, he saw her swallow nervously before continuing:
“It has been going fairly well. I learned about the typical things, operating equipment, basic airline safety, and I even did a few practice flights,”
Humming at her response, he started to notice she seemed off.
“More training after more training! But I guess that’s expected right….flight attendants do way more than wear sexy outfits and flirt with the passengers, right?”
Koga’s question sounded more like a desperate attempt to prove herself wrong, despite knowing the obvious answer.
“Of course, that’s not all they do! I mean, maybe a few are like that, but not all of them have to be! But, I get the feeling that you already knew that…Koga, what is this really about?”
Head raising abruptly to look at him, her forced smile began to crack.
“I-I…I don’t want to be a flight attendant!”
The words came out louder than anticipated, and the people in the building were surely glaring at her, but she did not care.
“That’s it, get it out of your system. I guess the real question is, what do you want to be then?”
At his query, Sakuta noticed Koga’s grip on her spoon had loosened. Cobalt blue irises gleamed with a sparkle of hope as she exclaimed:
“I want to be a pilot!”
Taking another long sip of his drink, he found himself laughing at her enthusiasm.
“Then be a pilot! I don’t see an issue.”
At his nonchalant reaction, he noticed her gasp under her breath.
Rising from her seat and slapping her hands hard on the table—‘which made her cup teeter close to the edge’—she wore a terror-stricken look on her face.
“What?! You see no issue?! College isn’t free! I’d have to drop out and add so many classes! I’d need a student pilot certificate, a medical certificate, and more! Plus, aviation school is expensive! There’s no flipping way I’d receive enough financial aid to even go! And then there’s my parents….”
Koga’s arguments were clearly stemming from a place of low self-esteem; the light in her eyes that shone was now dim.
“I think first and foremost your parents want you to be happy, that includes doing something you love to do for the rest of your adult life, right? And if being a pilot is truly what you want, I don’t see why they wouldn’t approve. There’s no flipping way that they would be happy to discover that they’d been wasting money on flight attendant school when that’s not something you want to do with all of your heart!”
At Sakuta’s honest approach to her dilemma, Koga can’t help but crack a smile.
“You’re probably right, but dang, did you really have to get all mushy at the end?”
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Head spinning, muscles and limbs feeling heavy, she wasn't getting any better. By some stroke of luck, Mai was able to stand on her two feet, holding onto the counter for support.
Taking in a measured breath, she checked the shelves for ibuprofen or some other form of medication that could help ease her predicament. Unfortunately, they were fresh out.
Heaving herself through the doorway on shaky legs, she headed for the kitchen to retrieve her phone. The cold floor beneath her bare feet was making her skin crawl, and the aroma of bacon grease stung her nostrils.
Almost subconsciously, she calls Nodoka, but she can hardly hold the phone to her ear when she feels herself trembling.
Stomach twisting in knots, not enough air fills her lungs, and the last thing she can feel is her legs giving out beneath her.
When she regains consciousness ever so slowly, the first thing she notices is a muffled voice calling her name.
“Mai! Are you feeling okay? You gave me quite a scare when you didn't answer your phone!”
From her hazy vision, she can see her younger sister's worried expression.
“I'm sorry, I did not mean to scare you. I believe I was calling you to ask if you could go buy some medicine for me, but I guess I must have passed out or something....”
Mai explained that while surveying the surrounding area—they were currently in the living room on the sofa.
Raising her hand and placing it on her sister's forehead, Nodoka attempted to check her temperature.
“Or something?! What exactly do you need medicine for? You don't appear to have a fever. Does it have something to do with the cause of your fainting?”
There was a moment of silence before Mai lifted her head from the pillow and started to recollect what had happened earlier.
“Well, I started off the day like usual. I received a text from Sakuta about how he'd gone to meet up with Koga about an emergency, and then I got out of bed and made breakfast. Out of nowhere, I started to feel off. I ran to the bathroom and ended up vomiting. After that I felt a little better, that is until I got a headache. That's when the dizziness started, and so I went to look for medicine but we're out, so I went to call you, then I passed out.”
Nodding her head like she was a doctor listening to a patient, Nodoka began to type rapidly on her phone.
“Okay. Are you feeling nauseous, dizzy, or any of those other symptoms now?”
Her question received a slow shaking of her head.
For a brief second, the typing stopped as she let out a deep breath while speaking:
“That's good. Let me know if that changes, alright? Now, I'm texting Kaede right now and asking her to swing by the store and grab some medications just in case. I have a question for you, please answer it honestly. When was your last period?”
At the question, Mai's eyes widen.
“Six weeks ago....”
She so much as whispers back in disbelief.
With steady hands, Nodoka goes to embrace her sister.
“Thank you, that info helps a lot. We can't be sure of anything yet, but I also asked Kaede to fetch a pregnancy test while she is there. Whatever's going on, I'll be right here for you big sis!”
The two of them stayed wrapped up in each other's arms for a while, only stopping when the doorbell rang several minutes later.
“Hey! Sorry I took a while, the self-checkout line was long! How's she doing?” Kaede asks upon entering the building, a grocery bag in tow.
“So far she's been doing better. Thanks again for stopping by the store! I just couldn't bring myself to leave her for fear of something happening again!”
Opening the door for her, Nodoka did her best to express her gratitude.
“I almost forgot! Nodoka, don't you have an idol meet and greet scheduled for today? And Kaede, don't you have classes today? I wouldn't want to ruin your chances of getting into veterinary school.”
Guilt was finding a home in the pit of her stomach, and before either of them could respond the familiar sickening feeling started to take over.
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“Thanks again! By the way, sorry about texting you so early!”
Koga spoke while standing up from her chair and heading for the exit.
“Don’t mention it! Although I was disappointed in not being able to wake up next to my wife.”
Sakuta’s snarky reply received a shocked look from the latter.
“Oh gosh, I’m really sorry! I didn’t even think of that! How has it been going? Living together and stuff? What’s married life like so far?”
Bursting with genuine curiosity, it sorta takes him by surprise.
The mid-June summery air meets them as they step out of the building. For a minute he considers his response, before chuckling under his breath:
“It’s honestly hard to explain, but I promise it’s just as great as you think it is! I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with any other!”
Smiling in response, she shoves him in the arm. After waving and saying goodbye, Sakuta feels the vibration of his phone in his pocket and quickly goes to grab it.
Air leaves his lungs, and then he’s running.
Head empty but for one thought—he had to get home.
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“Is Mai okay?! What’s going on?!?”
As soon as Sakuta enters the apartment, he is met with the scene of Nadoka and Kaede sitting silently in the living room, both gazing ahead at nothing in particular.
“Finally! What took you so long?!”
Mai’s younger sister huffs, jumping from her seat and grabbing him by the ear. Confusion mixed with irritation rises inside of him, as he is being pulled out of the living room.
No words are said but for his annoyed grunts, and it’s rather unsettling.
Where was his wife?
Stopping in her tracks when she reaches the bathroom door, Nodoka slaps Sakuta on the shoulder like she’s preparing him to brace himself.
“W-what the heck is—!”
He’s cut off by the press of sharp nails.
“She’s been in there for the past hour, I thought it would be best to call to let you know.”
Eyes crinkled in so much confusion, while he pried her fingers off of him. Her eyes bore into his, communicating enough without saying a thing. Whatever was going on, Mai needed him here.
Kaede then appears behind them, slowly nodding her head, eyes locked on her brother.
Taking a steady breath, he opens the door cautiously.
The squeaking of the door is loud, but Mai doesn’t look up from her spot on the toilet seat. Her head drooped, something in her hand, it’s like he’s not even there.
Approaching her slowly, Sakuta takes a moment to think of what he should even say.
“Hey, you okay? Sorry, I had to head out so early.”
No response, and now he’s really worried.
Then out of nowhere his nose picks up the smell of bleach and spray, almost like somebody had tried to rid the room of a bad smell.
She remains seated, as still as a stone.
Is she even breathing?
Unable to come up with anything else to say or do, he drops to his knees directly in front of her, at the same time she clutches the thing in her hand to her chest.
“Mai, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Are you upset with me? Whatever it may be, if it’s hurting you, please tell me. I’ll always be here to listen, as your husband, but also as your best friend.”
Sakuta spoke as clearly as possible, although he found his voice quivering in some parts.
His words had unblocked something inside her, as she squirmed in her seat and let out a little cry.
Their eyes meet, and despite the tears present in her eyes, he knows that she’s okay.
Mai’s hands shake, directing Sakuta’s vision to a small white and blue object in the palm of her hand.
It’s as though time stops for a beat. He looks up at her, and then back down at the plus sign on the contraption.
“You ’re-we’re-?!”
His words come out in shocked gasps, eyes searching hers with a hint of uncertainty.
“Yes…I’m pregnant! And we’re expecting!”
She replies with tears still flowing mixed with a smile she’s unable to hide.
The reality of it all comes rushing in, and before the two know it they’re sharing matching grins.
With joyous laughter and relief of it not being anything life-threatening, Sakuta lifts Mai and spins the two of them around, which earns a squeal and a harmless warning from her.
They both cry—and hard—but they also take turns wiping each other’s tears.
Then they’re slow dancing across the bathroom tiles while whispering/singing Perfect Duet by Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé to each other.
Eventually, Nodoka and Kaede grow concerned due to never hearing back from either of them, so they barge into the bathroom, and are very surprised to see the pair in the middle of a dip kiss.
Many profuse apologies later, they headed to the doctor's office, and afterwards they all celebrated by ordering takeout and watching movies all day long.