#Crimewatch PriCure

[plagiarism-is-the-game]

RANDOM OUT OF CONTEXT PAGES/PANELS. (MAY INCLUDE SPOILERS KINDA)

[slit-the-rasceta]

[Scribbled] Miku’s pregnant!

A/N: Thank you for the lovely response to chapter 1! I'm still planning out the story, but here's a small bit to get the ball rolling following Miku's 'reveal'. Also, the Netflix anime adaptation just dropped, let's go watch! Cross-posted on ao3!

Thankfully, it was a weekend.

Miku didn’t have any pending deliverables for work, and the neighborhood association meeting was postponed. They both had the entire Saturday alone. Well, plus one.

Tatsu was spending a moment wrapping his head around them being pregnant. Not that he didn’t understand the stages of pregnancy, or y’know, conception— he just wasn’t sure when exactly Miku started showing signs. What could he have missed? Are his observation skills so low that he can’t even distinguish Miku’s dislike for his new food experiment from actual morning sickness?

While he was contemplating the past few weeks, Miku was talking to her mother about doctor’s appointments and what their next steps might be.

“I did a home pregnancy test last Sunday,” Miku says, her tone steady and sure. From his position at the kitchen, Tatsu’s ears perked up at the prospect of hearing more details. He dialed down the faucet to hear a bit more clearly, albeit not forgetting to scrub the plates twice and set the glasses aside gently.

“Kā-san , home pregnancy tests have improved, and I didn’t just buy from a convenience store,” she starts abruptly, no doubt trying to convince her mom. “I definitely missed my period and I’ve been nauseous all week—well, that and I’ve been more tired recently.”

Was that why Miku’s been going home early for the past few days?

“Yes, I just told him. He’s in the kitchen right now.” With the sudden change in subject, Tatsu works double-time in drying the dishes and clearing the counter. Most likely her mom would want to talk to him also. “No, not yet. We could try Teramoto-hakase’s clinic downtown. I will, yes, I’ll remember to do that.”

Tatsu mentally notes the task of calling Teramoto-hakase’s clinic first thing tomorrow, but loses focus when he hears someone calling his name.

“Tacchan?”

Alerted by Miku’s voice, he looks up and sees her peeking from the corner, telephone in hand. Stopping in the middle of scrubbing the already-sparkling dining table, he fluidly crosses the room in three steps and stands by Miku, almost statuesque in his apron and aviators.

Me? He asks, mouthing the words. She nods, whispering, “It’s my dad.”

Tatsu’s mirth doesn’t diminish but a subtle nervousness suddenly appears. He politely clears his throat before greeting his father-in-law. “Hello, this is Tatsu, good evening otou-san.”

His father-in-law asks how he’s been and casually asks for any updates from their part of the town. Just as Tatsu was in the middle of sharing a story about their indoor plants, his father-in-law announces, “I heard that Miku has been leaving work early.”

“Yes, she has,” not missing a beat, Tatsu shares that they have been resting for most of the weekend and that other than the vomiting episode this morning, Miku’s condition is mostly well.

“Vomiting?” his father-in-law sits ramrod straight, shooting a glance at his wife who shakes her head in feigned confusion. “Is she alright now? Minako said—”

Does otou-san not yet know that she’s pregnant?

Tatsu immediately looks at Miku for confirmation. She nods once, confident with her husband’s ability to read people’s expressions. He sniffs, “Hai! Miku’s pregnant!”

Across the room, their cat Gin, stops mid-chase, listening with rapt attention. Even the cockroach attempting a heist on Miku’s Crimewatch Pricure collection is momentarily distracted.

Meanwhile, Miku’s face crumples in confusion. Tatsu contemplates learning sign language.

“Miku is pregnant?" his father-in-law asks a second time before Tatsu registers the question.

"Yes, she tested with a home pregnancy kit; apparently they have improved greatly since—" he tries to redeem what little control of the conversation he had to begin with. But his father-in-law bursts into excitement and all semblance of cool disappears in an instant.

"... A grandkid?" he asks after a while. He doesn't wait for Tatsu to say anything. "My, you're going to be a father! Minako, we're going to be grandparents!"

Tatsu hears his mother-in-law's muffled laughter and jumps to imagining the couple spending time with their granddaughter— or grandson, grandkid?

“This is great news, Tatsu!” his voice was beaming with joy, already excited for this new chapter to unfold. “Have you made an appointment with the doctor?”

“No, not yet, Miku and I will try for a walk-in appointment at Teramoto-hakase’s clinic tomorrow.”

“Try in the afternoon, Teramoto’s usually more keen to accept walk-ins by then,” he suggests, remembering that the clinic’s morning schedule is usually full. “How is she?”

“She’s good. Actually, she...” Tatsu stops, noticing Miku brewing a cup of tea for herself. He observes for a moment, the slow slant of her arm and her unusually placid expression. Silently, she heads over the kitchen island and pours another cup of tea. She places it on his spot across the table and returns to nursing her cup. “She’s great.”

“Drinking tea right now, actually. We usually do that at this hour, you see.”

“Ah, that reminds me,” his father-in-law hums, curious. “Minako and I should probably be having our afternoon tea as well.”

His father-in-law briefs him a bit for their antenatal appointment, and reminds him to always watch over Miku. After exchanging words of encouragement and gratitude, his father-in-law hangs up and Tatsu stands still by the doorframe, looking at the steaming cup of tea.

Later that night, as they were both getting ready to sleep, Tatsu decides to stay at the boundary of their futon. He smoothly plops into a kneeling posture, making sure that his Pricure pajamas aren’t wrinkled in the process.

He calls her name. Miku hums in question, not looking at him as she fluffs up their pillows. “Miku,” he says with a little more weight.

Turning to face him, she smiles at their matching nightclothes but feels sudden concern at his unreadable facial expression. She leans her body a bit closer to him, prompting him with an expectant look. “Tatsu..?”

“Miku! I’ll take care of you!” he drops his head to the floor in a soft thud, spine gracefully bent in a seated bow. She doesn’t respond immediately, already used to Tatsu’s sporadic (and often expressive) displays of endearment.

He steals a glance at Miku and is relieved to see her gaze soften. He moves to his spot, and sits cross-legged. Still with the look of someone who could be talking about the weather, he professes, “Though I have yet to master the way of the house husband… I will do my best to be a good father.”

Her smile comes naturally. Tacchan, “You’re going to be a great father.”