This Side of Paradise - Tsukishima Kei x OC

Chapter 15: Breaking the News

Chapter 15:

Month 1 - January

"I'm so glad we're able to have lunch..." Mizuki's mother hugged her affectionately, "You've been so busy lately!"

"I know..." Mizuki murmured sheepishly, "I'm sorry mom..."

"Hey, it's okay!" She reassured her daughter, "I just missed you!"

"Mom's been so clingy lately..." Jun, her younger brother, teased.

"Oh, my adorable son..." She pinched his cheeks a few times and he pouted as a response.

"I'm literally 21 years old and you're treating me like I'm 10..." He sighed.

"You'll always be my baby." Her mother kissed his forehead and he smiled subtly.

"Speaking of baby," Jun smirked deviously, "Where's your baby?"

"What-what do you mean?" Mizuki cleared her throat nervously.

She had asked her mother and brother to meet for lunch at a restaurant in order to tell them the news about her being pregnant. Kei, his parents, and his brother were running a little late so she had to stall.

"Kei-san?" Jun raised an eyebrow suspiciously, "Don't you disgustingly call him baby?"

"Right..." Mizuki laughed anxiously, "He'll be here soon."

After talking for a few minutes, Kei and his family entered the restaurant. As soon as he saw her relieved face, he couldn't help but smile.

"Sorry we're late..." Kei murmured apologetically, "Traffic..."

Mizuki had gone home to Miyagi for a few days just to tell her family in person about her and Kei's baby. She didn't know why she was so worried but being with Kei helped ease the anxieties she felt. He sat down beside his wife and immediately intertwined his hands with hers.

"It's nice to see you again, Mizuki-chan..." Kei's father smiled, "It's been a while."

"Yeah... You too, Tsukishima-san." She nodded politely.

Kei's mother hugged Mizuki quickly before taking a seat beside her mother. Even though Kei's parents were divorced, they decided that they would be there for both of their sons even though they weren't together.

"As much as I adore you, Mizuki-chan..." Akiteru grinned, playfully hugging Jun as he sat beside him, "It's very rare for all of us to meet like this, especially with the full family here..."

"Akiteru-san!" Jun huffed, pushing him away, "Go away!"

"Right..." She cleared her throat as everyone got settled into their seats, "The thing is... Uh..."

"How about we order first?" Kei suggested, causing her to sigh in relief.

"Great idea!" Mizuki's mother beamed.

After ordering a variety of rice bowls, udon, and yakisoba, Kei updated everyone by saying that his dissertation was finally approved by his supervisor, meaning that after he faced a panel of professionals and got his paper approved, he would obtain his Ph.D. That would make him Dr. Tsukishima Kei, one of the youngest people in Japan to receive their doctorate at the young age of 26. Everyone was ecstatic for him, especially Mizuki, who wholeheartedly admired her husband's intelligence and perseverance.

"How about you, Mizuki-chan? Any new life updates?" Kei's mother asked curiously.

"Uh..." She bit her lip, avoiding everyone's curious gaze, "There's..."