Phases of the Moon
Nanamin Kento x Wife!Reader
The sickness had been lingering like a shadowānever quite announcing itself, but never leaving either. It crept in quietly, first as a dull queasiness, then as a persistent nausea that clung to your days like fog. Youād brushed it off at first. A bad batch of takeout, maybe. A stomach bug. Something transient. But the days passed, and the unease remained, growing roots in your body.
Now, you were hunched over the toilet, your breath ragged, your skin clammy with sweat. The porcelain was cool against your cheek, grounding you in its sterile stillness. Your hair stuck to your face in damp strands, and the taste of bile lingered at the back of your throat. You felt hollowed out.
Kento had noticed, of course. He always did. His concern had been quiet. Heād taken over the kitchen without a word, preparing meals with the kind of care that bordered on reverence. Every ingredient was inspected, every dish crafted with precision. Youād teased him about itācalled him your āprivate chefāāand heād only offered a soft smile, the kind that didnāt quite reach his eyes.
āI just want you to feel safe,ā heād said one night, setting down a bowl of miso soup with hands that had defeated countless curses and still found gentleness.
But even his cooking couldnāt chase the sickness away.
You pulled yourself up from the floor, legs trembling beneath you, and leaned against the sink. The mirror caught your reflectionāa pale, gaunt version of yourself. Your eyes looked too big for your face, your lips cracked and red at the corners. You looked like someone whoād been trapped in a basement for days.
You opened the cabinet above the toilet, rummaging through the clutter until your fingers brushed against a small, forgotten box. The pregnancy tests. Bought months ago, back when you and Kento had first begun to speak in hypotheticals. Children. Futures. Not plans, not yet. Just possibilities.
You stared at the box for a long moment, your heart thudding in your chest. You peeled it open, the plastic crinkling like thunder in the quiet room. Reading the instructions twice, then again, your hands trembled as you followed them. When it was done, you set the test on the counter and backed away, as if distance might soften the blow.
You sank to the floor again, knees drawn to your chest, the cold tile biting into your skin. The minutes stretched, elastic and cruel. Your mind spiraledāmemories and fears colliding in a storm of thought. You remembered the way Kento had looked at you the last time youād talked about childrenāhis gaze steady, but shadowed. āItās not that I donāt want them,ā heād said. āItās just... the world is so uncertain.ā
And it was. Gojoās sudden reappearance had thrown everything into chaos. That boyāYuuji, with the cursed energy stitched into his bonesāhad become a new variable in a world already teetering on the edge. Missions were piling up. Kento was being pulled in every direction, and you could see it in the way he movedālike a man walking through a minefield.
This wasnāt the time.
This wasnāt supposed to happen.
You didnāt hear the alarm on your phone go off.
But Kento did.
He stepped into the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him like punctuation. His tie was loosened, his brow furrowed, his shoulders heavy with the weight of another day spent navigating the wreckage of other peopleās lives. The chime echoed from the bedroom, and he followed it, toeing off his shoes with the grace of someone whoād learned to move quietly through chaos.
He found you in the bathroom, eyes glazed, leaning against the cabinet like a ghost of yourself. The alarm blared from the counter, shrill and insistent.
āHey,ā he said softly, silencing it with a tap. āWhat was that for?ā
You blinked, startled, then bit your lip.
There was no use lying. No use waiting.
āI... I think I might be pregnant.ā
Silence.
Kento didnāt flinch. Didnāt speak. Just looked at you with that unreadable expression he wore when the ground beneath him shifted. You shrank into yourself, bracing for disappointment.
He glanced at the counter. āDid you check?ā
You hesitated. āNot yet.ā
He nodded once, slowly. āLetās see.ā
You reached for the test, hands still trembling, and held it out to him. āCan you... Iād rather you tell me.ā
He took it gently, his own breath held as if he were diffusing a bomb. His eyes scanned the result, and for a moment, you thought you saw his hands tremble. Just a flicker. Then a tear slipped down his cheek, quiet and unannounced.
āItās positive,ā he said, voice cracking into a laugh that sounded like relief and disbelief all at once.
You gasped, knees buckling, but he caught you before you hit the ground. His arms wrapped around your elbows, steady and warm.
āIām sorry,ā you whispered, the words tumbling out. āI didnāt mean for this to happen now. With everything going onāGojo, Yuuji, the missionsāyouāre already stretched so thin, and I donāt want to add to it, and I know we arenāt trying, andāā
āSweetheart,ā he interrupted, pulling you close, pressing kisses to your damp forehead, your cheeks, your temple. āHow could I ever be upset about this?ā
You blinked up at him, tears welling. āBut itās not a good time. We didnāt plan for this. It might mess up yourāā
āNo,ā he said firmly, brushing your hair back. āIt wonāt mess up anything. Iāll just adjust my plans around this. Around you. Around our child.ā
You stared at him, heart thudding, the weight of your fears slowly lifting.
---
By the next morning, he had already booked the appointment. You hadnāt even asked. You woke to the sound of his voice in the hallway, low and clipped, the kind of tone he used when speaking to superiors. When he returned to the bedroom, he sat beside you and placed a hand on your thigh.
āTomorrow. Nine a.m. OBGYN had a cancellation.ā
You blinked at him, still groggy, still unsure if this was real. āYou didnāt have toāā
āI did,ā he said simply. āItās not negotiable.ā
That night, he stayed up late. You woke once to the soft glow of his laptop, casting a pale light across his face. He was reading. Medical journals, parenting blogs, forums filled with anxious first-time fathers. His brow was furrowed, his fingers curled around a mug of tea gone cold. You watched him for a moment, then drifted back to sleep.
By morning, the kitchen had transformed. The counter was lined with prenatal vitamins, ginger chews, and teas labeled āsafe for pregnancy.ā Heād printed out a list of dietary restrictions and taped it to the fridge, right next to the photo of the two of you in Kyotoāsmiling beneath cherry blossoms.
Your meals became fully overseen by Kento. He cooked with reverence, measuring spices, double-checking every label, every temperature. You teased him once. Called him your ābodyguardā, and he didnāt even smile. Just said, āSomeone has to be thorough,ā and handed you a bowl of steamed vegetables with the care of a man offering a prayer.
One afternoon, you went out for lunch together. The restaurant was quiet, the air fragrant with soy and citrus. You scanned the menu, eyes landing on the sashimi platter. You hadnāt had it in weeks, and the craving was sharp, almost physical.
āI think Iāll getāā
āNo,ā Kento said, gently but firmly, his hand closing over yours. āRaw fish is off-limits.ā
You blinked. āItās justāā
He launched into a quiet, impassioned explanation about mercury levels, parasites, and the risks to fetal development. You stared at him, amused, touched. His voice was calm, but his eyes were fierceālike he was around Yuuji.
You ended up with a miso-glazed salmon, cooked thoroughly, and he watched you eat like he was memorizing the way you chewed.
Another time, at a gathering with friends, you reached for a plate of fruit. Pineapple, papaya, mango. The colors were bright, the scent sweet. But before you could take a bite, Kento appeared beside you, gently taking the plate from your hands.
āSome fruits have enzymes that can trigger contractions,ā he murmured, replacing them with slices of apple and pear. āBetter to be cautious.ā
You shouldāve been annoyed. You shouldāve rolled your eyes and told him to relax. But instead, you felt something warm unfurl in your chest. His protectiveness wasnāt suffocatingāit was grounding. It was his way of coping with the nervousness of stepping into the new, fitted shoes of fatherhood.
He began waking with you during your bouts of morning sickness, no matter how early, no matter how exhausted he was. Youād stumble to the bathroom, and heād be there mere moments later, holding your hair back, dabbing a damp cloth on your forehead and collar, whispering reassurances in a voice that felt like balm.
He brought you ginger tea in your favorite mug.
One morning, after a particularly rough spell, you collapsed into his arms, trembling. He held you close, his chin resting on the crown of your head.
āYouāre doing beautifully,ā he whispered. āIām so proud of you.ā
Your fingers curled into his shirt.
---
The bedroom was quiet in that late-afternoon wayāsunlight slanting through the curtains, casting long golden streaks across the floor, the air still and warm. You were barefoot, standing in the middle of it all, folding laundry with slow, practiced movements. The scent of clean cotton and lavender clung to the fabric, soft and familiar. A half-finished basket sat beside the bed, shirts and towels stacked in neat piles.
Kento was nearby, sitting cross-legged on the rug, matching socks with determined focus. His sleeves were rolled up, and he had that look on his faceāthe one he wore when he was deep in thought. Youād grown used to the silence between you. It was full of small things. Shared space. Shared breath.
You reached up to place a folded stack of shirts in the top shelf of the closet, stretching just slightly. Your shirt lifted with the motion, exposing a sliver of skin above your waistband.
Kento noticed.
He paused mid-fold, eyes catching on the curve of your lower stomach. It was subtleābarely there. He stood up slowly, like he didnāt want to disturb the tranquil moment.
You were still stacking more shirts when you felt his arms wrap around you from behind. Warm. Solid. Familiar. His hands settled low on your belly, gentle and unmoving, and you froze for a second, startled by the sudden closeness.
āKento,ā you said, laughing softly. āYou scared me. I didnāt hear you get up.ā
He didnāt answer right away. Just pressed his palm a little more firmly, like he was checking. Like he needed to feel it for himself.
āYouāre showing,ā he said quietly, almost like he didnāt believe it until now.
You blinked, then looked down. āReally?ā
He nodded, then guided you gently toward the mirror without a word. You let him. His hands stayed on you, steady as ever, and when you stood in front of the glass, you saw itājust a slight curve. A soft swell. Nothing dramatic, but it was there.
āI didnāt even notice,ā you murmured.
You smiled, reached up to touch his cheek. āYouāre staring.ā
āIām allowed,ā he murmured, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. āYouāre carrying our child.ā
You leaned back into him, letting your weight rest against his chest. His arms tightened around you, and you felt his breath against your neckāslow, steady. His thumbs moved in slow circles over your belly, like he was memorizing it.
Your hands joined his over the curve of your stomach. The laundry sat forgotten on the bed. The sun kept sinking. And for a little while, you just stood thereāwrapped in each other, wrapped in the moment.
He shifted slightly, brushing your hair back behind your ear, then kissed the side of your neck. āYouāre beautiful,ā he said, voice low. āEven more than usual.ā
You rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed you. āYouāre just saying that because Iām growing a tiny person.ā
āIām saying it because itās true,ā he said. āBut the tiny person helps.ā
You laughed, soft and breathy, and turned in his arms just enough to rest your forehead against his collarbone.
---
The clinic was quiet in a way that made everything feel more serious. Not sterileājust still. The kind of quiet where even the sound of your shoes against the tile felt too loud. You sat beside Kento in the waiting room, your fingers loosely laced with his. He hadnāt said much since you checked in. Just nodded when the nurse called your name, just squeezed your hand once when you stood to follow her.
You could feel it in him. Not nerves exactly. Just something tightly wound. His thumb kept brushing over your knuckles, slow and rhythmic, like he needed the contact to stay steady. You glanced at him once, and he gave you a small smile.
Inside the exam room, the lights were dimmed. The technician was kind, her voice soft and practiced. You lay back, shirt lifted, gel cool against your skin. Kento stood beside you, one hand resting lightly on your shoulder, the other curled into a fist at his side.
Then the sound filled the room.
A heartbeat.
Fast. Steady. Alive.
You turned your head toward him. His eyes were wide, mouth slightly parted. He didnāt speak, didnāt move. Just stared at the monitor like it was something sacred.
āEverything looks great,ā the technician said, smiling. āYour babyās developing beautifully.ā
You nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat. Kento didnāt say anything until you were dressed again, the printed scans tucked into a small envelope in your hands. On the way out, he asked for a copy of the heartbeat recording. His voice was quiet, but firm.
The drive home was quiet. You sat with the envelope in your lap, fingers tracing the edges, then pulled out the scans one by one. The tiny form. The curve of a spine. The outline of a head. It didnāt feel theoretical anymore. It didnāt feel like a maybe.
It was real.
Kento tapped his phone, and the heartbeat filled the car againāsoft, steady, looping. You stared at the scans, tracing the shape of the babyās body with your fingertip, and something inside you cracked open.
You sniffled once. Then again. Tears welled up, uninvited, and spilled over before you could stop them.
Kento glanced at you, alarmed. āHeyāare you okay?ā
You nodded, but the tears kept coming. You tried to speak, but it came out as a hiccup. He pulled into the driveway quickly, parked without turning off the engine, and was out of the car in seconds. Your door opened, and he was crouched beside you, arms already reaching.
āCome here,ā he said, voice low and urgent.
You let him lift you, let him carry you inside like you weighed nothing. The scans were still clutched in your hand, crumpled slightly now. He settled you onto the sofa, sat beside you, pulled you into his chest.
You cried into him, face buried in the soft cotton of his shirt. His arms wrapped around you, firm and steady. One hand cradled the back of your head, the other rubbed slow circles into your spine.
āWhat happened?ā he asked softly. āIs something wrong?ā
You shook your head, sniffling. āNo. Itās just... it hit me. On the drive. That thereās a heart. A real heart. And itās beating. And itās inside me.ā
He brushed the hair from your face, wiped a tear from your lips with the pad of his thumb. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were warm. Deep.
āIām carrying a whole person,ā you whispered. āAnd theyāre growing. And theyāre okay.ā
He didnāt speak. Just held you tighter, rocking you gently like you were the child. His hand smoothed down your hair, again and again, until your breathing slowed.
āYouāre doing so well,ā he murmured. āIām so proud of you.ā
You hiccupped once more, then went quiet. The tears had stopped, but your face was still damp, your fingers still curled into the fabric of his shirt.
āIām sorry,ā you mumbled, voice small. āI didnāt mean to make a scene.ā
He tilted your chin up gently, made you meet his eyes. āYou didnāt,ā he said. āYouāre allowed to feel this way.ā
You nodded, eyes glassy. He leaned in and kissed you softly. You melted into it, into him, into the gentle hum of the house around you.
---
Gojo arrived first, as expectedāarms full of takeout bags and a bottle of sparkling cider he claimed was āthe good stuff, non-alcoholic, baby-safe, and blessed by the gods of celebration.ā Shoko followed not long after, hair still damp from a late shift, a box of pastries tucked under one arm and a quiet smile on her face. Yuuji showed up last, a little breathless, cheeks pink from jogging up the stairs, holding a bouquet of sunflowers heād clearly picked up on the way.
āSorry Iām late,ā he said, grinning. āI didnāt know what to bring so I brought... these.ā
You laughed, taking the bouquet. āTheyāre perfect.ā
Dinner was easy. The kind of night where conversation flowed without effort, where laughter came in waves and the food disappeared faster than you could plate it.
You waited until everyone had settled, until the table was cluttered with empty dishes and half-finished drinks, before you cleared your throat.
āSo,ā you said, glancing at Kento. He gave you a small nod, the corner of his mouth twitching up.
āWe wanted to tell you something,ā you continued. āWeāre having a baby.ā
For a second, there was silence. Thenā
āNo way!ā Gojo practically shouted, nearly knocking over his glass. āYouāre serious?ā
Shokoās eyes widened, then softened. āYouāre really pregnant?ā
You nodded, and Yuuji let out a whoop, throwing his arms in the air. āIām gonna be an older brother? Thatās so cool!ā
Gojo leaned back in his chair, grinning. āUncle Gojo has a nice ring to it, donāt you think?ā
āGod help us,ā Kento muttered under his breath.
Shoko laughed. āI call dibs on being the cool aunt.ā
āYouāre all going to corrupt our child,ā you said, smiling despite yourself.
āCorrupt?ā Gojo gasped, mock-offended. āIāll have you know Iām a pillar of moral excellence. Speaking of whichādo you think the baby will like mochi? Because I feel like mochi is a personality trait, and itās never too early to start.ā
You rolled your eyes. āYouāre ridiculous.ā
āAnd yet, here I am,ā he said, raising his glass. āTo the baby.ā
Everyone echoed the toast, glasses clinking, laughter spilling into the warm air of the apartment. It felt good. It felt real. Like the future was already beginning to take shape around you.
Hours later, the house was quiet again. The dishes were done, the lights dimmed, and the two of you had been in bed for a while now. Kento had fallen asleep easily, one arm draped over your waist, his breathing slow and even.
You, on the other hand, were wide awake.
You shifted. Tried closing your eyes. Tried counting your breaths. But the craving had crept in slowly, then all at onceāsharp and specific and impossible to ignore.
You turned onto your side, nudging him gently. āKento.ā
He stirred, groaning softly. āMm?ā
āI canāt sleep.ā
He blinked, voice thick with sleep. āWhatās wrong?ā
You hesitated. āIām... hungry.ā
He sighed, already sensing where this was going. āWhat is it?ā
You bit your lip. āGarlic butter pasta.ā
He didnāt move.
āAnd... red bean mochi.ā
There was a long pause. Then, muffled into the pillow: āIām going to kill Gojo.ā
You laughed, sheepish. āIām sorry. I tried to ignore it.ā
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. āYouāre lucky I love you.ā
āI know.ā
He reached for his coat and keys without another word. You sat up too, swinging your legs over the edge of the bed.
āYou donāt have to come,ā he said, glancing at you.
āI want to,ā you replied, already pulling on a hoodie. āI feel bad.ā
He looked like he was about to argue, then stopped himself. He just nodded, quietly accepting that this was one of those things you couldnāt help.
The mochi was easier to find than expected. The pasta, thoughāhe insisted on making it himself when you got home. You sat on the counter, legs swinging, watching him move around the kitchen in sweatpants and a hoodie, hair still rumpled from sleep.
He didnāt complain. Just muttered things under his breath about āGojo and his cursed influenceā while he stirred the sauce.
When he finally set the plate in front of you, you nearly melted at the first bite. The pasta was perfectārich and buttery, with just the right amount of garlic. The mochi was cold and chewy and exactly what youād been craving.
You didnāt even finish the plate. Halfway through, your body gave in to the warmth and the fullness and the comfort of it all. Your eyelids grew heavy, and you leaned against Kentoās shoulder with a quiet sigh.
āSleepy?ā he asked, brushing your hair back.
āMhm.ā
He scooped you up without hesitation, carrying you back to bed. You didnāt protest. Just curled into him as he pulled the blankets over you, his arms wrapping around you like a second skin.
He kissed your forehead, then tucked your head beneath his chin.
āBetter?ā he murmured.
You nodded, already half-asleep. āThank you.ā
He didnāt say anything. Just held you, steady and warm, until the world faded out.
---
The third trimester had arrived like a tideāslow at first, then all-consuming. Your belly had grown into something undeniable, a round, heavy presence that shifted your center of gravity and made even the simplest tasks feel like uphill climbs. Your feet ached constantly, your back throbbed in a dull, persistent rhythm, and your ankles had begun to swell by mid-afternoon no matter how much water you drank or how often you elevated them.
Youād started groaning involuntarily when you sat down. Or stood up. Or turned over in bed. Kento had taken to watching you like a hawk, his eyes narrowing every time you winced or rubbed your lower back.
The two of you had been overjoyed to learn you were having a girl. The moment the technician had pointed to the screen and said, āLooks like a daughter,ā Kento had gone quiet in that way he did when something hit him deep. Later, in the car, heād whispered, āA girl,ā like he was still trying to believe it.
Since then, heād thrown himself into preparing the nursery. Heād insisted on keeping everything gender-neutralāsoft greens, warm wood tones, muted creams. āI donāt want her to feel boxed in before she even gets here,ā heād said, adjusting the height of the mobile above the crib.
Youād laughed. āSheās not going to be forming opinions for a while, you know.ā
Heād looked at you, completely serious. āSheās already a person. I want her to feel free.ā
And that was Kento. Thoughtful to the bone. Headstrong in ways that made you feel safe even when your body didnāt.
Tonight, you were in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and trying to stretch out your spine. The ache had settled deep into your lower back, a kind of pressure that made you want to cry and crawl out of your own skin. You groaned softly, pressing your palms into the edge of the counter, trying to shift the weight forward.
Kento walked in, barefoot and sleepy-eyed, heading toward the sink for a glass of water. He paused when he saw you, his brow furrowing.
āBack again?ā he asked, voice low.
You nodded, teeth gritted. āIt feels like someoneās wedged a brick between my spine and my pelvis.ā
He set the glass down and walked over, placing a hand on your shoulder. āI saw something online. Want to try it?ā
āAt this point,ā you said, āIād let you hang me upside down if it helped.ā
He smiled, then moved behind you. You felt his hands slide around your belly, fingers interlacing beneath the curve. He adjusted his stance, braced himself, and gently lifted.
The relief was instant.
The weight shifted forward, off your spine, and you nearly whimpered. Your knees went soft, your shoulders dropped, and your head fell back against his collarbone with a quiet, broken sigh.
āOh my god,ā you breathed. āDonāt move.ā
āIām not,ā he murmured, arms steady beneath you. āJust breathe.ā
You did. Slowly. Deeply. The pain didnāt vanish, but it dulledāmuted by the shift in pressure, by the warmth of his body behind yours, by the quiet strength in his hold.
You stayed like that for a while. Minutes, maybe. His arms didnāt tremble or falter. He just held you, patient and still, like this was the most natural thing in the world.
āI donāt deserve you,ā you whispered, eyes closed.
āYou do,ā he said simply.
You turned your head slightly, cheek brushing his shoulder. āYour arms are going to fall off.ā
āThey wonāt,ā he said. āIāve got you.ā
Eventually, he eased you back upright, his hands lingering for a moment before releasing. You turned to face him, eyes glassy, body lighter.
āThank you,ā you said.
He kissed your forehead, then reached for the glass of water heād forgotten. āAnytime.ā
You watched him drink, watched the way his shoulders moved, the way his hair fell into his eyes. And you felt that overwhelimg onslaught of love for your husband.
---
The bedroom was quiet, lit only by the soft amber glow of the bedside lamp. You were already in bed, propped up against a stack of pillows, your legs stretched out and ankles wrapped in a warm compress Kento had prepared earlier. The ache in your back had dulled to a low hum, but your skin felt tight, stretched across the curve of your belly like it was holding something too precious to contain.
Kento emerged from the bathroom, towel slung over his shoulder, a small glass bottle in his hand. His new favorite part of the bedtime routine.
He climbed onto the bed beside you, settling in with quiet focus. āReady?ā
You nodded, lifting your shirt just enough to expose the soft swell of your belly. The marks were faint, thin, silvery lines that had begun to bloom across your skin like whispers. You hadnāt minded them much. They felt like proof. Like evidence of something growing.
Kento poured a few drops of oil into his palm, warming it between his hands before leaning in. He kissed one of the marks, then another, then another.
You giggled softly. āYouāre ridiculous.ā
āIām thorough,ā he murmured, lips brushing the curve of your belly. āSheās growing in here. I want her to know sheās loved.ā
āSheās not going to remember this.ā
āI will.ā
He began massaging the oil into your skin, his touch gentle but firm, moving in slow circles. You closed your eyes, letting yourself sink into the warmth of it, the intimacy of being cared for like this. His hands moved with intention, tracing the shape of you like he was memorizing it.
After a while, you opened your eyes again, watching him work. āYou know,ā you said, voice casual, āsex is allowed during pregnancy.ā
He didnāt pause. āI know.ā
You blinked. āYou know?ā
He nodded, still focused on your belly. āI read about it. Itās safe. As long as youāre comfortable.ā
You stared at him. āThen why havenāt you... I mean, we havenāt...ā
He finally looked up, eyes wide. āWaitāyou thought I didnāt want to?ā
You shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. āI donāt know. I figured maybe I wasnāt... appealing right now.ā
He sat up straighter, panic flickering across his face. āNo. No, no, no. Thatās not it at all. Iāve wanted to. I just... I didnāt want to push. I was waiting for you to say something. I didnāt want you to feel pressured.ā
You blinked again, heart thudding. āYouāve wanted to?ā
He nodded, earnest. āIāve never been more attracted to you. Youāre carrying our daughter. Youāre glowing. Youāre... you.ā
You reached for him, fingers curling into the hair at the nape of his neck. āYou idiot,ā you whispered, and then you kissed himāfirm, hungry, grounding.
He responded instantly, hands finding your waist, your back, your face. The oil bottle tipped onto the sheets, forgotten. The lamp stayed on.
---
There was a low, dragging ache in your back. You were standing in the hallway, one hand pressed to the wall, the other cradling the underside of your belly, trying to breathe through it. Youād felt tightness beforeāBraxton Hicks, pressure, discomfortābut this was different. This had rhythm. This had teeth.
You called for Kento without raising your voice. He was already watching you from the kitchen, glass of water halfway to his lips. He set it down, crossed the room in three strides, and placed a hand on your spine.
āIs it time?ā he asked.
You nodded, eyes squeezed shut. āI think so.ā
The drive to the hospital was quiet. You didnāt speak much. You couldnāt. Every few minutes, another wave would hit, and youād grip the door handle, breathing like youād practiced, like it would help. Kento kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on your thigh, his thumb moving in slow circles.
At triage, they confirmed you were in active laborābut not ready yet. āSix centimeters,ā the nurse said, cheerful in a way that made you want to scream. āWeāll get you admitted. In the meantime, walking helps. Or the birthing ball.ā
You stared at her. āYou want me to walk?ā
āIt helps move things along.ā
Kento helped you into the gown, his hands steady as he tied the back. You leaned against him, forehead to his chest, breathing through another contraction.
āI donāt want to walk,ā you muttered.
āI know,ā he said. āBut staying still makes it worse.ā
You glared at him. āYouāre not the one whose pelvis is trying to split open.ā
He nodded solemnly. āIām aware.ā
You shuffled down the hallway, one hand gripping the rail, the other clutching his. Every few steps, you stopped, bent slightly, and groaned through the pain. You cursed. You cried. You leaned into him like he was the only thing keeping you upright.
Eventually, you returned to the room and eyed the exercise ball like it was a personal enemy. Kento crouched beside it, patting the top.
āJust for a little while,ā he said. āIāll be right here.ā
You lowered yourself onto it with a groan, gripping his forearms for balance. The pressure shiftedānot relief, but something different. You winced, breathing through it, forehead pressed to his abdomen.
He just held you steady, murmuring encouragement, brushing your hair back when it stuck to your face.
Time blurred. The pain sharpened, then dulled, then sharpened again. You squeezed his hand so hard he winced, but never pulled away. You swore at him. You apologized. You swore again.
When it was finally time, Kento stayed beside you, his hand in yours, his voice low and steady.
āYouāre doing so well,ā he said. āIāve got you.ā
You didnāt feel strong. You felt like you were being torn open. But he stayed with you, through every push, every scream, every insult you hurled at him in the heat of it.
And thenā
A cry.
Sharp. New. Alive.
You collapsed back against the pillows, chest heaving, tears streaming down your face. Kento stood frozen for a moment, eyes glassy, before the nurse placed her in his arms.
Your daughter.
Tiny. Pink. Real.
He looked down at her like she was something sacred. His voice cracked when he whispered, āIāve waited so long to meet you.ā
He brushed a thumb over her cheek, then looked at youāexhausted, trembling, radiant.
āIām going to protect her,ā he said. āWith everything I have.ā
You nodded, unable to speak. The nurse helped you position her against your chest, and she latched almost immediately, her tiny mouth searching, finding, feeding.
Kento sat beside you, one arm around your shoulders, the other holding his phone. He snapped a few quiet photosāyour face soft with awe, your daughter nestled against you, the room dim and warm.
For memory. Because your lives had changed completely from this moment onwards.
oh this is just so beautiful..













