A/N: Hi, it's me. I apologize for making you wait for so long, and I want to thank you for all your messages. I am still going to finish the story, but with the manga being on hold, I kind of lost inspiration for a while. I have the entire plot outlined and we are in the last stretch of the story, so I hope you will be patient as I finish writing the chapters. Enjoy.

Chapter 22

After what turned out to be a long visit at the hospital, the Kazehaya's were making their way home after dropping off Touta at Shouta's parents' house. Shouta and Sawako had offered to let him spend the night at their house, but the teenager had insisted that he would be fine on his own and that it would be inconvenient since he had school the following day.

"Maybe we should have brought him after all." Shouta sighed as he finally parked the car in their driveway. He knew his brother was old enough to take care of himself, but he was worried that he would oversleep and miss school.

"Maybe," Sawako mused, "but I think he'll call us if he needs us." She unbuckled the belt and got out of the car, stretching her back as she finally stood up. Her baby bump was much more visible now, but to Sawako it felt like her abdomen had doubled in weight and was very protruding. Shouta got out and locked the car behind them before addressing her again.

"Yeah, you're right. Do you want to eat something?" He asked as they entered and switched on the light.

"I could eat." Sawako smiled fondly at her husband. He was so attentive to her needs, it made her feel spoiled. They had already eaten dinner and it was getting late, so they settled for something light before getting ready for bed.

After eating, Sawako sat in bed and reviewed her lesson plan for the following day. Despite having four months left, she had already started planning ahead for when she went on maternity leave. She had been talking back and forth with the administration, trying to find a substitute teacher for her class, and so far, they were undecided.

Shouta had just entered their bedroom, when Sawako felt the tell-tale fluttering in her abdomen. She froze and waited for the feeling to return, but just as she was about to pick her planner back up, she felt it again. It was swift, but there was no mistaking it. Compared to all the other times that had felt like slight pressure, this was without a doubt a kick.

"Shouta, the baby kicked!" Sawako called him over urgently, while trying to locate the place she had felt the sensation. He was beside her in a second, hands hovering over her belly. "Just now?" He asked starry-eyed.

"Right around here. Try talking to her, maybe she'll respond to your voice." Sawako suggested, feeling out of breath. She had placed Shouta's hand on the left side of her stomach and waited for the baby to move again.

"Hi little one, can you kick for your daddy? It's not fair if only mommy gets to feel it. She already gets to feel you all the time." Shouta complained in a soft voice, almost making Sawako laugh. If he wasn't so excited, he would be pouting for sure, Sawako thought.

They waited a little and Shouta kept talking softly, and suddenly it happened again. It was right next to his hand, but he felt it and looked absolutely awestruck. A surge of emotion hit Sawako, and she felt tears well up in her eyes. Shouta was laughing freely and moving his hand around, feeling the baby kick twice more. It was the strangest sensation, and yet it was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced.

Sawako knew she was pregnant, she had felt all the symptoms the past few months, but every time she felt their baby kick, it really cemented it into reality. The nausea, the cravings, the exhaustion and everything else was forgotten when she felt their child move. She was enduring everything for the sake of their baby, and it was worth every second. She looked up at Shouta once more, feeling her heart burst with love for him and their daughter.

He finally caught her eyes and quickly cupped her face in both hands, peppering kisses all over her cheeks, nose and forehead. Shouta was a blubbering mess of emotions, who had forgotten all about going to bed and was laughing and talking all at once. Sawako felt tears sting her eyes again at his display of pure, unabashed joy.

"Our baby kicked." He whispered over and over, laughing to himself and still holding Sawako's face. She placed her hands on top of his and sighed deeply. She loved him so much.

"Our baby kicked." Sawako confirmed, feeling giddy all over.

Despite the late hour, the couple found themselves wide awake. It was a while before they finally went to sleep, but even then, they still felt over the moon with happiness.

"What I don't get is why you are stressing so much over your replacement." Kurumi sighed and took a sip from her coffee cup. "You still have four months to decide."

"I just want the students to have a chance to get used to their new teacher." Sawako replied, swirling her hot chocolate around in her cup. It was her favorite drink and she was savoring every last drop of it.

"They're too attached to you. Like baby chicks." Kurumi snorted. They had finally met for coffee after weeks of trying to coordinate, and were currently catching up.

Kurumi looked stunning in her business attire and elaborate hairdo. Sawako was dressed in a sweater and a long skirt and had left her hair down. To say she felt a little underdressed would be a lie, but they had only just managed to meet up, right after Kurumi had finished meeting with a client. Regardless, Sawako was just happy to finally see her friend again.

They had been talking for nearly an hour, filling each other in about the past few months. Kurumi had almost screamed when Sawako told her she was pregnant, and was still reeling from the shock when Sawako also informed her that Pin got married, Ryo proposed and that Ayane was dating again. Kurumi ordered another cup of coffee and a big slice of cake after that.

"Are you seeing anyone, Kurumi-chan?" Sawako finally asked, having wondered for a long time. Kurumi hadn't mentioned anything, and Sawako hoped she wasn't feeling dejected by hearing about all the things her peers were up to. The brunette in front of her was quiet for a few moments, her expression shifting to something somber.

"No, I'm not." She finally admitted. Sawako had a feeling that she had more to say, but didn't know how to put it into words. "But not for lack of trying?" The black-haired woman asked, helping her along.

"Not for lack of trying." Kurumi nodded and stabbed some of her cake on her fork. She took a bite as she thought, and Sawako waited for her to continue.

"I'm at that age where everyone around me is getting married or engaged, or having kids, and I'm just… here, stuck in the same routine." Kurumi finally admitted. It was something that had bothered her for a while now and she finally had a chance to let it out. "And my mother keeps hounding me about getting married. She keeps setting me up with guys, and I don't know how to tell her to stop." She let out a frustrated sound and pushed her plate away.

"I'm sorry." Sawako sympathized with her. She knew many girls who were in the same situation. Some of her cousins, old classmates and even neighbors, were all being pressured to either study, choose a certain career or to settle down despite only being in their twenties. Sawako was grateful that her parents never pressured her and had supported her when she married young.

"It's just so draining. I just want things to happen my way." Kurumi sighed again.

"I know, and I hope it gets easier." Sawako wished from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to tell Kurumi that she had her support and that they could talk anytime, but she also had a feeling that Kurumi already knew this, but had a hard time opening up about her feelings. It was a sensitive topic that Sawako didn't want to push any further.

Their conversation was conveniently redirected by Sawako feeling her baby kicking again and letting Kurumi feel it too. They stayed at the coffee shop for a little while longer, before Shouta came to pick up Sawako so they could visit his dad at the hospital. Kurumi stayed to congratulate Shouta, but declined their offer to give her a ride home. She had some errands to run before going home.

As Sawako watched her friend walk away and disappear into the crowds, she found herself admiring Kurumi. She was in a situation that sucked, and yet she carried herself with such confidence that no one would have guessed she was dealing with so much pressure. Sawako was also grateful that Kurumi trusted her enough to be vulnerable around her, and vowed to be integral of her support system.

"How's Kurumi doing?" Shouta asked as they set the course for the hospital.

"She's working hard." Sawako replied mysteriously. Whether that meant she was putting in effort at work or she was dealing with something in her personal life, Shouta didn't know, but from Sawako's cryptic response, he assumed it was the latter. He decided to drop the subject and asked about Sawako's day instead.

Once at the hospital, they headed straight for Mamoru's room and wasted no time telling Shouta's parents that they had felt the baby kicking up a storm since last night. Their reactions were similar to Shouta's and they were ecstatic. Touta had practice after school and would drop by on his way home, and Shouta would try to convince him to spend the night at their house.

It was well into the evening and Touta had just arrived at the hospital, when Sawako received a message from Ayane saying 'SOS' in her group chat with the girls. Concerned, she showed her phone to Shouta who immediately started fretting. Shouta's parents and brother were still talking, so he quickly and quietly asked Sawako if she wanted to leave.

"Let me just find out if she's okay." Sawako whispered back and started typing a message, but Chizu beat her to it.

Chizu: What's going on Ayane? You ok? Where are you?

Sawako: Are you okay? Do you need us to come get you?

Chizu: I can be there in 10!

Sawako held her breath when Ayane started typing in their chat, waiting anxiously for her reply. She hoped their friend was okay and that nothing had happened to her. After what felt like an eternity of staring at Ayane's icon, the brunette finally replied.

Ayane: I'm at home. Can you two come over? I need to talk to someone.

Chizu: Omw.

Sawako bit her lip in worry and tilted her screen towards Shouta, whose leg was bouncing with nervous energy as he read their quick exchange. Satisfied that she was at home, he wondered what could have happened for Ayane to ask for the girls to come to her place. She would probably tell him later.

"Take the car, Sawako. I'll walk home with Touta and mom or call Ryu." Shouta lowered his voice and handed her the key, which she gratefully accepted.

"I'll let you know if I stay the night." Sawako leaned over and swiftly kissed Shouta, before getting up to leave, bidding her in-laws goodnight. If they wondered why she was suddenly leaving, they didn't say anything, which made it easier for Sawako to leave.

Sawako quickly made her way out to the car, already feeling short of breath, and set the course for Ayane's apartment. Chizu had probably ridden her bike and was likely already there, but Sawako felt anxious and tried to hurry up as much as possible. She was a careful driver, but she would not deny that she might have sped up a little more than necessary.

When she made it to Ayane's building, Sawako didn't waste any time climbing the two flights of stairs and making her way down the hall. Once she was at the right door, she pushed down the handle, expecting it to be unlocked, and entered. She kicked off her shoes and headed straight for the living room, where she heard Chizu speaking softly to Ayane.

"I'm here," Sawako panted as she finally came to a stop. When Ayane looked up, it was with a tear-streaked face and Sawako felt her gut clench anxiously. Chizu's expression was stoic, and she was rubbing Ayane's back with one hand when she noticed Sawako's labored breathing.

"Did you run all the way?" Chizu asked worriedly, and moved over so Sawako could sit on the bed.

"Only the stairs." Sawako gasped and gratefully sat down next to Ayane, who was curled up with her knees against her chest. Chizu dragged Ayane's desk chair over to the bed and went back to fussing over Ayane.

"What's wrong?" Sawako asked gently, reaching over to take one of Ayane's hands. It was completely limp.

"She was out with Ibusaki today." Chizu stated, biting her lower lip. She had only managed to get a few sentences out of Ayane since arriving ten minutes ago.

"Did he do something?" Sawako couldn't mask the anger in her voice. If he had done anything to hurt Ayane, she would personally see to it that he wouldn't go anywhere near her again. She could also stage an accident-

Ayane took a shuddering breath and slowly shook her head, "No…"

"Do you want to tell us about it?" Chizu prodded gently. If Ayane just wanted company, that was perfectly fine and she would gladly spend the night. When Ayane nodded, Chizu hung back and observed the distressed brunette, trying to figure out what could have happened.

"We had dinner together and he was walking me home," Ayane started quietly. Chizu and Sawako immediately fell silent, waiting for her to continue. "We were… holding hands and talking… and I realized that I really like spending time with him."

"That's… Good, right?" Chizu exchanged glances with Sawako, who looked equally confused.

"Yeah. It means I'm starting to fall for him." Ayane took a deep breath and used her free hand to wipe her eyes as new tears started falling from her eyes.

"Do you not want to?" Sawako asked timidly. She knew it would be hard for Ayane to fall in love again, but she was hoping Ibusaki would be the one to open her heart.

"I… I don't know. He's so nice and smart and he makes me feel good. I just… I don't know." Ayane sighed.

"It's okay, you don't have to decide right away. You can think about it." Chizu rubbed her back again, and was glad to see the brunette responding to her touch. Chizu left the chair and squeezed into the small space between Ayane and the dresser next to the bed.

"That's not all…" Ayane closed her eyes and sighed, gathering her strength. Sawako and Chizu braced themselves for her next words.

"I kissed him. And he kissed me back." She admitted and slowly opened her eyes, now brimming with new tears. "I wanted to invite him up, but when he was holding me close… He… Backed me up against the wall and it made me remember when I was… My… My trauma." Ayane choked out, tears now falling freely from her eyes.

"Oh my God." Sawako's hand flew to cover her mouth and Chizu was stunned into silence. No wonder she had sent an SOS. Her assault had probably been replayed over and over in her mind.

"Are… Are you okay?" Chizu braved the question, knowing she couldn't be. Ayane was a strong person, but being strong didn't mean it was any easier to overcome trauma.

"I-I thought I was over it." Ayane hiccupped, clutching Sawako's hand and leaning into Chizu's side. "I thought I had put it behind me and I was healing." She gulped for air and covered her eyes using both hands. Sawako, not knowing what else to do, started stroking her hair. "Shh, it's okay, you're okay."

Seeing Ayane break down in front of them was extremely had on both Sawako and Chizu. They offered her comfort and soothing words, and just let her cry her heart out. In between sobs, she managed to choke out that Ibusaki had stopped kissing her right away, when he noticed how she was frozen and unresponsive. He had tried getting her attention, but Ayane had freaked out when he touched her arm and had sprinted inside her building, leaving him standing out on the street.

He had tried calling her a few times, but Ayane had been too upset to talk. He had also texted her that he was sorry for overstepping and that he would like to talk to her when she felt up for it.

"What if he doesn't want me anymore?" Ayane whispered when she had calmed down a little. She was still hugging her knees, but she was also being smothered with love from her two best friends, who hadn't let go of her even once.

"He clearly wants to talk to you. I think you should hear him out and maybe explain a little about why you reacted so strongly." Chizu suggested wisely. They were all sitting on the bed, huddled together against the wall.

"Chizu-chan is right. You don't have to tell him everything, but I think it would help of he knew that there was a reason you ran." Sawako added and shifted uncomfortably. Her legs were falling asleep, but she didn't dare leave Ayane's side. "Maybe you should see your therapist again?" She suggested, hoping Ayane wouldn't shut down the idea.

"Maybe." Ayane finally replied after a few beats of silence. She rested her head on her arms and tried getting her breathing completely under control. So far she had avoided a panic attack by using the breathing techniques she had been taught, but she also felt exhausted and there was no telling if she would be able to remain calm if she was triggered again.

"Whatever you decide, we're with you every step of the way." Chizu announced in a no-nonsense manner. She had resolved to support Ayane with all her might, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. She also knew that Sawako felt the same way, as did both Ryu and Shouta.

"Thank you." Ayane whispered, in a small, broken voice.

Next time, more on Ayane and what she's going to do. Until then (=w=)/