The doctor tilted the screen slightly so both Yu and Taichi could see more clearly, tracing with the cursor over the grainy shapes.
"Here and here…"
She said, smiling.
"Are the heartbeats… not just one, but two. Congratulations, you're having twin boys."
Yu's breath hitched, his wide eyes darting to Taichi's face.
"T-twins?"
Taichi's mouth opened, then shut again, his usually steady composure cracking under the weight of awe. His hand tightened around Yu's, thumb brushing knuckles like he needed to be sure this moment was real.
The doctor chuckled softly.
"Both look strong and healthy for their gestational age. You've got double the joy coming your way."
Yu's tears spilled over, but his smile was radiant.
"Taichi… two… we're really having two…"
Taichi bent, pressing a trembling kiss to Yu's temple.
"Two sons. Our sons."
---
That evening, after the excitement had settled into something warm and steady, Yu and Taichi sat cross-legged on the floor of their apartment. Between them lay an open laptop, stacks of baby name books, and a mess of sticky notes where Yu had scribbled down his favorites.
Yu tilted his head, tracing a finger over a page.
"What about Ren? It's simple, elegant…"
Taichi hummed, pretending to mull it over, though his eyes were on Yu more than the book.
"Ren's good. Strong but soft. What about Haruto? It means sunlight. I like that for them."
Yu's lips curved shyly.
"Ren and Haruto… that actually sounds… really nice together."
He flipped a page, circling another.
"Or maybe Sora, for sky. I want their names to carry hope."
Taichi leaned back on his hands, watching Yu light up with each possibility. His chest ached with something fierce and tender—this picture of Yu, glowing with possibility, dreaming aloud about their children.
"We'll pick the perfect names."
Taichi promised, reaching out to smooth Yu's hair behind his ear.
"Names that fit them when we finally hold them in our arms."
Yu nodded, placing one of the sticky notes on Taichi's palm.
"Then we'll keep narrowing it down. Together."
The books and lists might have been overwhelming to anyone else, but for Yu and Taichi, it was a promise—an intimate step toward a future they both longed for, now multiplied by two.
---
Yu took to baby research like it was a second calling. Stacks of books cluttered the coffee table, pages covered with sticky notes and doodles of stars and hearts. Whenever Taichi came home, he would find Yu curled on the couch in oversized sweaters, one hand resting over his small but growing bump, the other flipping through books on parenting, nutrition, or "what-to-expect" guides.
"Did you know newborns can recognize your voice before they're even born?"
Yu announced one evening, peeking up from his reading with wide, sparkling eyes.
"We should talk to them more."
Taichi chuckled, setting down his bag before leaning close to Yu's belly.
"Hey, you two. This is your papa. Be nice to your mama, okay?"
Yu blushed furiously, hiding his face behind the book, but the shy smile that spread across his lips betrayed his joy.
On weekends, Yu convinced Taichi to go with him to baby stores. He spent hours cooing over soft onesies and debating between animal-themed bibs. At one point, Yu held up two tiny hats—one shaped like a bear, the other like a bunny—and groaned dramatically.
"They're both too cute, Taichi! How am I supposed to choose?"
Taichi deadpanned.
"We're having twins. Get both."
Yu gasped like he'd just discovered a brilliant secret.
"Genius!"
He piled both into the cart, along with matching socks, rattles, and blankets until Taichi had to remind him gently about their budget.
Even then, Yu's pouting lips and pleading eyes often swayed him.
As the weeks progressed, Yu grew more determined to make their apartment safe. He fussed with foam corner protectors, cabinet locks, and outlet covers. Taichi teased him.
"You realize the babies won't be crawling for months, right?"
Yu stuck his tongue out.
"It's called being prepared. I don't want them bumping their heads!"
Taichi ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Our place is gonna look like a padded castle at this rate."
The naming thread lingered like a melody in their daily lives. Yu left sticky notes on the fridge with new ideas. Taichi kept a page in his notebook, jotting down combinations. Some names made them laugh, some made them pause in thought.
One night, after a long day, they lay tangled in bed, Yu's bump nestled between them.
"I keep coming back to Taro."
Taichi murmured.
"It feels right for the firstborn. Strong, dependable."
Yu traced circles on his chest.
"And Kenji for the younger. Gentle, wise. They'd balance each other."
Their eyes met in the dim light, a quiet certainty passing between them.
"Taro Arifukua and Kenji Arifukua."
Yu whispered, as though testing the names aloud for the first time. His smile was soft, radiant.
"Our boys."
Taichi kissed his forehead, his voice low and certain.
"Our family."
---
Yu's world changed nearly overnight. The nausea hit hardest in the mornings, leaving him clutching a bucket by the couch. Sometimes he could only stomach pickles dipped in ice cream, or spicy ramen at 2 a.m. Taichi would groan at the request, but he always went out to fetch it anyway, even if it meant dragging himself out after a long shift.
Yu balanced his days between crocheting tiny baby socks—his fingers trembling with excitement—and signing into online classes. His teachers praised his sharp mind and his gentle way of explaining concepts, though sometimes he muted the mic to gag quietly into his bucket.
The hospital visits were frequent. Ultrasounds showed their tiny sons growing, and Yu's eyes lit up each time he saw the grainy images. He carefully tucked each sonogram into a decorated scrapbook, already full of doodles and little notes to his babies.
Yu's bump grew visible, and so did his moods. He cried once because Taichi ate the last piece of toast, then laughed about it five minutes later. He snapped photos of his belly in different outfits, posting them with crochet projects on Instagram, where followers adored him even more. Sponsorships for baby products stared trickling in, and Yu felt like he was contributing, even from home.
At the same time, Taichi pushed himself harder than ever. He had dropped his third year of college to work odd jobs—lifting heavy boxes at warehouses, hauling deliveries, working nights at convenience stores. He came home sore, shoulders stiff, but Yu was always waiting:
Hot dinner on the table, bath steaming, clean clothes folded.
On days when Taichi groaned too loudly, Yu massaged his shoulders with trembling hands, whispering apologies that he couldn't do more.
"You're already doing everything."
Taichi would remind him, pressing his forehead against Yu's bump.
"Both of you are my strength."
Yu's energy fluctuated wildly. Some days he was a whirlwind of activity—baby-proofing the apartment with foam guards, setting up cribs side by side, sewing plush toys that resembled tiny Taichi's and Yu's. Other days he could barely move from bed, curled with his swollen ankles propped on pillows, whining until Taichi brought him tea and snacks.
His cravings reached peak strangeness:
Candied ginger with cheese, fried rice drenched in chocolate sauce.
Taichi gagged just watching him eat, but Yu would grin, cheeks puffed, declaring.
"The babies love it!"
Doctor visits grew tense as the C-section plan became concrete. Twins meant higher risk. Yu's courage wavered, but Taichi never missed an appointment. He held Yu's hand during every scan, memorizing the sound of their babies' heartbeats.
At night, when Taichi thought Yu was asleep, he scribbled in his notebook:
Baby budgets, dream home sketches, and a hidden line item marked "proposal." Yu, half-awake, saw the flicker of the penlight and smiled faintly, pretending not to notice.
Through all the trimesters, their apartment became a cocoon of warmth and strain. Taichi's body grew weary from work, but his eyes lit up every time Yu waddled over with a plate of food or a clumsy massage. Yu, in turn, glowed brighter with each passing day, even through tears and pain, as he knitted the threads of their small world tighter and tighter around Taichi and the babies.
---
The rare quiet of a shared lunch was a luxury. Yu had managed to sit upright with the twins shifting inside his belly, nibbling at rice and vegetables Taichi had carefully prepared. For once, there was no nausea, no soreness—just laughter and warmth filling the small apartment.
Then came the knock.
Soft at first, then firmer.
Yu frowned, instinctively rising, but Taichi's hand shot out to steady him.
"I've got it. You stay with the boys."
His voice was firm, protective.
"I'm fine, darling."
Yu insisted weakly, but the second knock crashed into the door with violent force. It wasn't knocking anymore—it was pounding. Banging. Then came the voice, the one Yu would never forget.
"Open up, pretty thing! Don't pretend you're not home. We all know what you really are!"
The taunts slithered under the door like poison, each word slicing through Yu's fragile calm. His breath hitched. His hands trembled. In an instant, his chest tightened until he could barely breathe.
"No… not again…please."
He whispered, collapsing to his knees as tears streamed down his cheeks. His sobs came broken and ragged, the sound of a wound torn open all over again.
Taichi's world went red.
He threw the door open in one violent swing. The thug from Yu's nightmares stood there, smug for half a second before Taichi's fist collided with his face. Rage drove every blow, years of fighting instinct flaring back to life. The man stumbled, scrambling, but Taichi was relentless—each strike punctuated with his growl.
"If you ever come back… If you ever touch my wife, my children—"
Taichi's eyes glowed with something feral, terrifying. He seized the man by the collar, slamming him against the wall so hard the plaster cracked. His voice dropped, low and lethal.
"I'll kill you."
The thug's bravado crumbled into raw fear. He shoved away and fled down the hall, stumbling over himself to escape the storm he had unleashed.
Taichi stood at the doorframe, chest heaving, fists clenched and bloody. The rage still clawed at him, but behind him—behind the fury—was Yu. Fragile, trembling, crying on the floor.
The sight gutted him.
"Yu…"
Taichi knelt, pulling him into his arms, murmuring softly as if his voice alone could mend the cracks in Yu's heart. Yu buried his face in his chest, sobbing until the tears ran dry.
That night, neither of them spoke much. They curled into bed early, Taichi holding Yu close, his hand pressed protectively over the swell of his belly. The violence still burned in Taichi's veins, but Yu's trembling body, clinging to him like he was the only safe place in the world, quieted him.
In the darkness, with Yu's breaths uneven against his chest, Taichi made a silent promise.
'No one would ever hurt his family again.'
The apartment was dark but save for the glow of the bedside lamp. Yu clung to Taichi as though his body alone was the only anchor left in the storm. His tears had dried into tight salt trails across his cheeks, but the tremors in his body hadn't stopped. Each little shift of the walls or groan of the building made his breath hitch, his nails clutching tighter into Taichi's shirt.
"Yu, my love…"
Taichi whispered against his hair, slow and steady, his palm rubbing soothing circles over the small swell of Yu's belly.
"It's over. He's gone. I'm here. The babies are safe. You're safe."
Yu wanted to believe him, but the phantom echo of the banging still rattled in his ears. His mind replayed the taunts, the fists against wood, the horrible sense of being prey. Every sound outside now felt like a threat. He tucked his face deeper into Taichi's chest, eyes fluttering shut, whispering hoarsely.
"Don't let go… please don't let go."
Taichi pulled the blanket over them both and only tightened his arms.
"Never."
The night bled slowly into uneasy rest, their bodies tangled in desperate closeness, Yu pressing into every inch of warmth Taichi gave as though he could hide inside it.
---
The café was quiet, empty except for her chosen seat in the corner. Jezebel Suzuki sipped her iced latte with sharp, lacquered nails tapping impatiently against the plastic. Her eyes, striking blue, were cold fire as the man she had sent slouched into the booth opposite her.
He looked battered—face swollen from Taichi's fists, bruises painted along his jawline. Jezebel leaned forward, her lips twisting into something between amusement and annoyance.
"Well? Report."
The thug grunted, rubbing his jaw.
"That Arifukua bastard nearly killed me. Said if I ever came back near his wife and kids, he'd finish the job. He's not bluffing, that one. Scary as hell."
"Wife?"
Jezebel's voice cracked with disbelief.
"Kids?"
The man shrugged.
"That's what he said. I don't know the details, but they're living like they're married. And the cross-dressing freak? He's pregnant. The bump's right there—saw it myself as the door slammed open, when she—he—collapsed, right as the bastard was beating me."
Jezebel's cup cracked under the force of her grip, cold latte spilling across her manicured fingers. She didn't flinch. Her smile was brittle, venomous.
"Pregnant?"
She hissed.
"Impossible. No. No, he must've adopted. Or they're playing house. Whatever it is—it's disgusting. He dares to think he can beat me? That he can stand against me?!"
Her eyes glittered with rage as she wiped her hand with a napkin, the gesture delicate despite the storm seething under her skin.
"Fine. If brute force won't work, then we'll use the system."
She pulled her phone from her designer purse, dialing with measured calm.
"I'll report him. That thug Taichi Arifukua assaulted my associate in cold blood. Let the police dig into their situation."
The thug's eyes widened.
"Wait—you're really calling the cops?!"
But Jezebel wasn't listening. She turned her face to the café window, watching her reflection smile back—sharp, cruel, triumphant.
"Let's see how long their little domestic paradise lasts once the law starts asking questions."
---
It was late morning, the twins quiet in Yu's belly, his body heavy from another restless night. The knock came sharp and firm, nothing like the hesitant tapping of the old lady next door or the cruel pounding of the thugs. Yu's chest tightened as he shuffled to the door.
Peering through the peephole, he froze. Two uniformed officers stood in the hallway. His heart lurched. For one dizzying moment he thought the men had made good on their threats—but when he cracked the door, the taller officer lifted his badge and spoke calmly.
"Good morning. We're with the local precinct. We're here to follow up on a report. Does a Taichi Arifukua live here?"
Yu's breath caught.
"Y-Yes… what's wrong?"
The officer cleared his throat.
"We've received a statement that he may have assaulted a man outside this building. We're required to investigate."
Yu's stomach twisted. He understood instantly—it had to be the man from yesterday. Still, his instincts overrode his fear, and with meek politeness he stepped back, opening the door wide.
"Please… come in."
As the two stepped inside, Yu's gaze darted to the shorter of the two—a woman with sharp eyes, hair now streaked faintly with silver. Recognition hit him with a jolt.
She tilted her head, studying him as though piecing together a puzzle. Then her eyes widened slightly.
"You…"
Yu's hands fidgeted at the hem of his cardigan. He remembered her voice—steady, reassuring—years ago inside the police station after the Halloween night chaos when Taichi and Isuke had fought in the streets. She'd been the one to kneel by him, to calm his trembling breaths when the world had been too much.
Hanae Mori.
"You were that kid!"
She said softly, her voice dropping, less formal now.
"The one caught up in that brawl years back. You look… different, but I remember those eyes."
Yu swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes. That was me."
The officer beside her glanced between them in confusion, but she held up a hand. Her eyes softened, but her tone remained professional.
"I'll be honest—this makes things complicated. But I need to hear the truth. Did Taichi Arifukua assault someone here yesterday?"
Yu's heart thundered. The truth burned on his tongue. He saw Taichi's fists, the blood on the thug's face, the fury in his eyes—and he also saw his own trembling body on the floor, sobbing into his hands until Taichi's arms had lifted him back into the light.
He pressed a hand against his bump, the twins shifting as though sensing his turmoil.
"...He was protecting me."
Yu whispered, voice breaking.
"That man… he and others have been harassing me for over a year. Every day. Knocking, banging, leaving trash, writing things on the door. Yesterday he came back. I—"
His throat tightened, tears brimming.
"I couldn't breathe. Taichi… he just snapped. But he was only trying to protect me and the babies."
Hanae's brows furrowed deeply. She glanced at the other officer, then back at Yu.
"Babies?"
She echoed softly, her voice more human now than official.
Yu nodded shakily, both hands cradling the swell of his belly.
Yu guided the officers towards the couch then went about making tea. Boiling the water and making peppermint tea, he managed to hold himself together enough to pour the tea into two mugs.
He set down two mugs of tea, his hands trembling only slightly as he placed them on the low table in front of the officers.
"Please… drink."
He said, his voice soft but steady.
The taller one nodded, taking the seat with practiced formality, while the Hanae Mori—the same woman who had once calmed his terror years ago—offered him a faint, encouraging smile before sitting down.
Yu disappeared into the bedroom for a moment, returning with a slim folder and his laptop hugged to his chest. He set both down on the table, flipping the laptop open and sliding the folder toward them.
"Please… let me explain."
On the laptop screen flickered clips:
Grainy but unmistakable footage of the same man pounding on the door, shouting through the wood, scribbling slurs across it with thick black marker. Another clip showed him dropping garbage, rotting food, and even obscene items on the doormat.
Yu's voice was calm, but the cracks in it betrayed how much it cost him to recount this.
"This… this has been my life. Every day, for over a year. He bangs, he taunts, he leaves things. Sometimes more than once a day. My neighbor recorded everything, this is footage from her security camera next door."
He slid another sheet from the folder:
Hospital papers, discharge notes, even the ultrasound printouts. His fingers lingered there, trembling slightly as though revealing too much of himself.
"The harassment pushed me so far I almost killed myself…"
Yu admitted, his eyes glistening though his voice never rose above a whisper.
"I couldn't take it anymore. But then… I found out I was pregnant. Twins."
He pressed a hand protectively over his stomach.
"I wanted to live—for them."
The officers sat frozen, staring at the documents. Hanae Mori covered her mouth, her eyes already misted.
Finally, Yu leaned forward, his voice suddenly sharp with conviction.
"Officers…"
He asked, meeting their eyes one by one,
"If your loved one, family or otherwise, were pregnant and left at home with no way to defend themselves… and a man came every day, pounding on the door, writing those words, leaving those things… pushing them to the brink of death—how would you react?"
His words hung heavy in the air.
Neither officer spoke immediately, but their silence carried a shared truth:
They would have done the same. Maybe worse.
Especially Hanae Mori, who's younger sister is now married and expecting her own child to be due soon.
The taller officer finally cleared his throat, his voice unsteady.
"Why… why didn't you file a case sooner? Or have family stay home to protect you?"
Yu's smile was small and heartbreakingly gentle.
"Because we were saving money. For the children. Taichi the only family I have and he was in school back when this first started… I didn't want to distract him. He's working so hard to give us a future. I couldn't take that from him."
Hanae's eyes brimmed. She sniffed and nodded, murmuring almost to herself.
"You're stronger than I could have ever imagined."
Both stood after a long silence, gathering the folder and copying notes from the screen. Their heads bowed slightly as they looked back at him.
"We're sorry."
The taller one said quietly.
"Sorry for the intrusion, for… for not knowing sooner. We'll review this properly. For now… take care of yourself. And your children."
Yu's smile, faint but genuine, lit the room.
"Thank you."
They left with subdued footsteps, the echo of their apology lingering in the air.