Chapter 12:Mother's Day

Yotsuba was feeling a rush of emotions as she stood in the graveyard. It had been ten years since her mother died. Ten crazy, wild years full of sorrow and regret and boundless joy. It had been one year since Yotsuba had married Fuutarou. April 28th was their anniversary, it was Yotsuba's anniversary. If the five girls could be born on the fifth day of the fifth month then Yotsuba's special day should be on the day that's written the same as her name.

It was so weird to think about. Despite all the regret she had for the way she had behaved, she knew she wouldn't change it for the world. She loved things just the way they were and wouldn't give it up even if it meant undoing the mistakes she had made. Even so, deep down, all she wanted was her mother's approval. It was a silly wish. Obviously Rena Nakano was proud of all her daughters. She would certainly approve of Fuutarou. Everyone who had known her and who she was as a mother knew this to be true. Still, hearing it in her voice would be more satisfactory.

"Hey Mom." Yotsuba said. She was tired. The sun hadn't even come up yet. All her sisters were surely asleep. She and Fuutarou had spent the night with his family. Yotsuba wanted the opportunity to come here alone and have some words with her mother on Mother's Day. "It's been a year since I got married." Yotsuba said as she toyed with her ring. "Everything has been great. Fuutarou-Kun and I have both kept busy with work and friends….and each other." She blushed. "The world's been a little crazy lately. This pandemic has gotten us all stressed."

She pondered her next thought. The full reason why she was here. The Nakanos were very superstitious. Their grandfather and mother were both creatures of habit that fully believed in things like fate. Yotsuba fully believed her mother was in heaven, looking down on her with a smile. And that filled Yotsuba with a careful warmth that allowed her to control every impulse that was coursing through her body. She wondered if her mother already knew. How omniscient were the people in heaven? It's not something Yotsuba ever put a lot of thought into and frankly, thinking about what things must be like for God made her head hurt. She could barely listen to one person at a time, let alone the millions of people praying at any given moment.

"I'm pregnant." She said. "I just found out yesterday." She kept her voice as even as she could. She wanted so badly to just scream it from the rooftops. She had tried and failed for so long, an entire year with no results. "With enough hard work even an idiot like me can achieve something. It's embarrassing to say but this was a lot of work. Fun work but….I'm sure you don't want to think about that. Sorry."

She looked back at the car parked on the road. Fuutarou had woken up with her and was here for her. The plan was to go gather the other Nakano quintuplets after this. Once gathered the five girls would pay their respect to their mother.

"He doesn't know yet. I'm scared that this might just be a faulty test. I heard somewhere that you should wait a few weeks before telling anyone outside your immediate family. Just to be safe." Yotsuba shrugged. "That's it for now, I'll be back later with everyone else. Happy Mother's Day. Even after all this time I still love you."

Yotsuba returned to her waiting husband. He didn't say anything. He just smiled and nodded. He never had the opportunity to meet Rena, the real Rena that is. But he knew the impact she had on the girls. Ichika had fully inherited her caring spirit and charm. Nino had inherited her stubbornness and her ability to cook. Miku had inherited her softness and her ambition. Yotsuba had inherited her caring spirit and her desire to help everyone she loves even at the cost of her own health. And Itsuki had inherited her strength, her mannerisms and her dream.

"Yotsuba, is there anything you want to tell me?" Fuutarou said as they approached Nino and Miku's apartment.

"You could tell?"

"You're not exactly hard to read."

"I'm debating whether to tell you first or when I tell all my sisters." Yotsuba smiled and laughed a little. Fuutarou used to be so clueless about everything and now he could seemingly read her mind.

"Suit yourself." Fuutarou said. "But next time, you might want to make sure you took the pregnancy test with you."

"What!?" Yotsuba freaked out and looked in her purse.

"That confirms it." Fuutarou sighed. Yotsuba dug through and found the test she had taken the prior day while Fuutarou was away. If it's been in her purse the whole time then that meas…"

"Not funny Fuutarou-Kun." She pouted.

"No need to get fussy. I could tell something was different about you when I got home yesterday. Why didn't you tell me? I'm not upset or anything, just surprised considering how long you've talked about having kids."

"I just...I need to make sure this is real." She explained. Fuutarou nodded and placed a hand on her thigh. She placed her hand over his. It was so much warmer than hers. She didn't grab it or anything. She just let it rest there as he continued to drive.

"I made all your other dreams come true." Fuutarou said. "This one will be no different. Even if it's just a defective test or something else going on in your body. You'll be a mother eventually. And you'll be just as good, no you'll be even better than your mom."

"That's a tall order." Yotsuba shrugged.

"You'll have me. If you'll forgive me for saying, a lot of the problems your family has faced was due to a lack of a paternal figure. Maruo did what he could but even he only came into your lives when you were ten. So any mistake you make, won't be as bad because we'll have each other."

"That's true." Yotsuba said.

Within an hour, they had gathered Miku, Nino and Itsuki and put them all in the same car. It was starting to feel cramped in the backseat, which just made Yotsuba giggle. Ichika was the only other girl that drove. The other three always just took public transportation. So Ichika was going to meet them at the graveyard.

When the five of them arrived, Ichika was already waiting with an iced coffee, sunglasses and a mask. On top of protecting her from current health risks it also helped stave off any fans. The five girls gave their prayers and dropped their flowers off at their mother's grave. Meanwhile Fuutarou visited his own mother's grave where he gave a silent prayer of thankfulness.

"Before we head to lunch there's something we need to tell you." Fuutarou said as they all gathered around. "Yotsuba."

"Put me on the spot, why don't you." Yotsuba muttered. "Guys...it finally happened. I'm pregnant."

The cheers were incomprehensible. Nino and Miku grabbed Yotsuba by the hands and got really close. Ichika tried playing moderator. Yotsuba was sent into a flurry of confusion. Everyone was asking questions all at once and it was too much for her sleep addled brain to process. Itsuki was the only one who didn't bother, she just slipped back to where Fuutarou was.

"Congratulations." Itsuki said.

"Thank you." Fuutarou said.

"Did you say anything to your mother?" She asked.

"Not particularly." Fuutarou said.

"I'm really happy for you." Itsuki said. "I'm excited to have my first niece or nephew. So, don't take my lack of enthusiasm…"

"Thank you Itsuki for showing some self control. Unlike some people!"

"Sorry." Nino said as she backed off.

"I want it to be a boy, like Fuutarou." Miku said.

"But a girl will be so much cuter." Ichika said.

"I just want it to be healthy." Yotsuba said in a daze.

"Any names in mind?" Nino asked.

"We have a few." Yotsuba said.

"Alright girls, give my wife some space." Fuutarou said.

"You should be more excited." Ichika said.

"Right now the only thing I can feel about it is relieved." Fuutarou said with a nod.

"Relief is a strange feeling to have." Itsuki noted. "Was this really stressing you out that much."

"No, this just means that maybe I'll have a good night sleep without Yotsuba getting all…."

"Okay!" Yotsuba snapped out of her stupor. Itsuki's face went bright red knowing what he was about to say.

"I kinda want to hear him say it." Ichika giggled.

"It's a private matter okay." Fuutarou grunted. "All you need to know is that dealing with Yotsuba, especially when she has baby blues, can be really exhausting."

"Oh I bet." Ichika winked.

"Let's just go." Fuutarou said as he played with his hair. He was embarrassed which always made Yotsuba feel very proud of herself.

Yotsuba wasn't a mother yet but that dream was finally in her sight. Finally, she can live fully for someone other than herself and pass her mother's wisdom onto someone else. Finally she can fill the hole in her heart, or more accurately dispense of all the excess love she had in her soul. Finally she could direct all her energy at someone who absolutely needed it instead of towards people who merely wanted it. And the best part was, it was Fuutarou's child too. She and him and all four of her sisters would always be there for each other, and for the child. And that sense of joy and belonging triumphed over all the other feelings swirling inside her.