Today is just a normal work day at Squad 4.
"Vice-Captain Yukawa!!"
...And just now, it stopped being normal.
"Captain Kuchiki... um, for you to suddenly come to Squad 4 and call for me by name..."
"I apologize for that! But, my wife! My wife!!"
The Captain of Squad 6 stormed into Squad 4 with a changed expression, so the squad members are looking at us with eyes saying "What's going on!?" or "What's wrong, Vice-Captain!?"
Moreover, the usually cool and collected Byakuya Kuchiki is distraught to the point where he looks like he's about to go mad any second.
The squad members are hurriedly averting their gazes, thinking, "Eh, is it okay to see this!?"
But Byakuya is usually like this in front of Hisana-san, you know. It's a face he can't show to others.
"Please calm down. Is something wrong with Hisana-san?"
"Yes! Her condition has been wife's a little bad for a while...!! What should I do..."
First, please go to a nearby doctor. Why did you come to me?
Also, please calm down. Your sentences are all messed up.
You want to say Hisana-san's condition has been somewhat bad for a little while, right?
"Eh? Several years have passed since we stopped the regular checkups, but she shouldn't have such a weak constitution that she'd break down so easily, right? An illness severe enough for you to storm into the relief station..."
"But, but...!! What on earth should I do!! Please, I want Yukawa-dono to examine her!!"
So calm down!! We're in public!!
Your dignity is decreasing at a tremendous rate!!
"I understand, I understand, so please calm down. I just need to go to the Kuchiki manor, right?"
"Yes, please, by all means!"
"So that's the situation, I'll be gone for about three hours. Please tell everyone."
Leaving just that message with a nearby squad member, let's head to the Kuchiki manor for the first time in a while.
...Before that.
On the way to the Kuchiki manor, I ask something I was wondering about.
"Captain Kuchiki, may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"If you had contacted me via Denreishinki, we could have acted a little quicker..."
"Ah... th-that is..."
The moment I pointed it out, he made a face that said, "I completely forgot!"
"I-I am terribly sorry..."
"Well... it means you were so upset you forgot even that."
So let's hurry to the Kuchiki manor!
Just in case, just in case, let's make sure it's not "too late."
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"Hisana-san, long time no see."
"Oh my, Sensei. Long time no see. Thank you very much for your help back then."
Arriving at the Kuchiki manor, I was guided to Hisana-san...
From a glance, she doesn't seem to be in bad condition. An extremely normal state—no, she looks just a little under the weather.
"By the way, what business brings you here today...? I haven't heard anything..."
"I was told your condition was strange and asked to examine you."
"Oh my!"
When I told her the reason, she was surprised, looking as if hearing it for the first time.
"Byakuya-sama, as I told you before, there is nothing wrong with Hisana."
"H-However! I was simply anxious! When I thought that you might collapse like before! Thinking that this time, we might fall into an irreversible situation!! I was worried sick!!"
"Bya, Byakuya-sama..."
...Watching the exchange between these two makes me crave strong, bitter coffee.
Hisana-san's face turned bright red instantly at his words full of love.
Byakuya also seems traumatized by the previous experience. That's why he called me at the stage of early symptoms. Before it was too late.
In other words, the current situation is indirectly caused by me headbutting Byakuya.
"I will begin the examination soon, so please verify your love for each other after the sun sets."
"...Tt!!"
"N-No, this is, um!!"
These two are really innocent...
"Well then, Hisana-san, Captain Kuchiki too. You said she wasn't feeling well, but what specific symptoms does she have?"
"That is—"
As a result of the inquiry, what the couple told me was roughly like this.
Running a slight fever.
Constipation.
Occasionally attacked by strong drowsiness.
Back pain, and around the stomach. The lower abdomen feels heavy.
Breasts hurt as if swollen.
Headache.
Feelings are often unstable.
Prone to dizziness and lightheadedness.
Such light symptoms... hm? This is... don't tell me...
"Sorry, excuse me for a moment."
Just in case, just to confirm. Probing with spiritual pressure irradiation...
Oh my.
No doubt about it.
"I'll ask just in case, but—well, I guess you wouldn't say that anymore. Did you have your monthly period?"
"Monthly...? ...Ah! N-No. That is not yet... Eh!? Um, don't tell me...!?"
"That 'don't tell me'."
"Is there a possibility... that it is just late?"
"No, there is not."
Hearing this much, I figured it out as expected.
Well, it's her own body. There shouldn't be absolutely no clue.
"Um, what on earth has happened? The two of you seem convinced..."
"Byakuya-sama! U-Um!"
Just when I thought that, there was one person who didn't understand.
I probably have to tell him. Even considering my role, sort of.
"Captain Kuchiki, please listen calmly."
"Y-Yes!!"
"Congratulations."
"Haa... ah, thank you...?"
That's not what I mean!
I didn't think he was this dense...
"No, I don't mean that. Hisana-san is pregnant. Feeling unwell was an early symptom of pregnancy."
"...Eh!? Um, who, whose...?"
"Hisana Kuchiki-san is pregnant with Byakuya Kuchiki-san's child."
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhh!!!!"
Loud!? I thought my eardrums burst.
Byakuya screamed with a voice so loud it probably echoed throughout the mansion.
"Hisana! Thank you, thank you!!"
"Byakuya-sama... u-um..."
Just when I thought that, he hugged her.
Well, they look happy. Let's leave them be.
Even so, these two were doing it properly.
Certainly, I told them "It's safe to get pregnant now."
Did they massage as a couple and then go straight into a night massage?
You have to report properly to Ginrei-san, Rukia-san, Renji-kun, and the servants of the Kuchiki family. And also before Sojun-san's grave.
"Since it wasn't an abnormality, I will take my leave now."
Haa, good grief.
It's not quite "the mountains labored and brought forth a mouse," but what a fuss.
Even so, pregnancy and childbirth.
In that case, my turn is over.
It's the child of the head of the main house, Byakuya. If such a child is born, it's a huge event.
It's not Squad 4's place.
"Ah, please wait, Yukawa-dono!!"
"Um... is there something else? Honestly, there is nothing more I can do..."
If I were to say what more I could do, it would be advice like avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and medicine, refraining from strenuous exercise, washing hands, gargling, and wearing a mask to prevent infectious diseases, and avoiding crowds.
But everyone knows that much as common knowledge, right?
"Um, I am fully aware that it is still early to talk about this, but..."
"Yes?"
"I would like Yukawa-dono to deliver Hisana's child... um..."
"...Yes?"
Pffft!! Eh, me!?
"Wa, wait a minute! That is way too heavy a burden... Besides, if it's the Kuchiki family, surely you have an exclusive midwife...!?"
"Indeed, we do. However, I have no intention of asking anyone other than Yukawa-dono for Hisana!!"
I said no!! If you let me step in that far, dissatisfaction will definitely arise somewhere!!
"Um, midwifery is outside my specialty."
"There is still a grace period of ten months and ten days!! So please study during that time and—"
"No, probably more than a month has passed, so about nine months until birth..."
"Ooh! You can tell even that!!"
Oops! I dug my own grave!!
"Be, Besides, Hisana-san too! It's impossible for someone like me, right...!?"
"Um... yes. Just saving my life and letting me reunite with my sister is already a great debt. Therefore, I think expecting more from Yukawa-sensei would be a nuisance..."
Aah! What's with that way of saying it!!
That's unfair!! You're attacking me with guilt from the side!!
Doesn't that mean "I don't want to ask anyone but you, but if you insist, I'll endure it and ask someone else"!!
"...I understand."
I'll do it, damn it!!
"Ooh! Then!!"
"However, only after you discuss it properly with your family and everyone involved and get approval that it's no problem for me to deliver the baby!! Also, since it's outside my specialty, I will give you my answer after consulting with my Captain! Those are the conditions!"
"Yes! There are no problems at all!!"
...Before, Nubatama said "Kuchiki family affection level MAX," but this was unexpected...
'My, oh my, even I didn't expect this much... Fact is stranger than fiction, as they say!!'
"Also, one more request..."
There's still more!?
"If possible, the name..."
"No no no no!! That is no good, really no good! Absolutely no good!!"
Just when I thought it was over, he threw an even more outrageous bomb, this Byakuya Kuchiki!!
"The father, you, should decide the name. Or rather, if you are going to ask someone, please ask Ginrei-sama!! He's the grandfather, right!? Not running it by him is too big a problem!!"
He was so interested, like "When can I see my great-grandchild's face!?"!! If you neglect him, he'll surely cry!!
"Please, somehow! Just, just a suggestion is fine!!"
Eei! Don't pull my hem!! Are you a spoiled brat!!
"Then... umm, using characters from Byakuya's 'White' (Byaku) and Hisana's 'Scarlet' (Hi/Aka), combining them to use characters like Peach (Momo) or Cherry Blossom (Sakura). How about that?"
"Ooh, I see!"
"Ah, but if it's a boy, the characters might be too cute, so that's a bit of a problem. In that case... since there is a similar expression 'Toki-iro' (Crested Ibis color), if you use the character for 'Toki', it won't be that girlish... probably... no..."
I realized it after saying that much.
The couple is looking at me with smiles. With warm eyes that seem to say, "See, you wanted to name the baby after all."
"E-Excuse me!!"
I felt somewhat embarrassed, so I fled from the Kuchiki residence.
On the way home.
I realized something terrible.
If it's Momo, the name completely overlaps with our Hinamori-san!!
'Is that what you are worried about!?'
It can't be helped!! Name overlapping is a felony!!
Besides, if I consult the Captain, she's definitely going to say "Absolutely do it"... Byakuya will somehow persuade everyone, and the role will definitely come around to me...
'I-It is not good to become cynical!?'
Maybe I should look for books related to pregnancy, childbirth, and midwifery at the library in District 4...
I've held a baby before. You know, Ganju-kun from the Shiba family.
A long time ago, when I went to play, I held him and changed his diapers.
But unlike that time, this is a newborn...
I should at least study properly.
To be prepared for any eventuality.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]