A/N: Sorry this is so late. I suck.
As soon as Sugawara and Mizuko stepped through the door, they were bombarded by noise. Mizuko flinched and gripped tightly onto Sugawara's arm. Struggling to keep his composure, his insides glowed at her touch. "Guys!" He called out. "I have a guest!" Two children careened around the corner and towards Sugawara.
"Koushi!" The little girl squealed.
"You're back early!" The little boy added, a wide grin across his face. Sugawara reached down and ruffled his two siblings' hair, chuckling as they squirmed away.
The little girl was the first one to notice Mizuko, who was standing slightly behind Sugawara still clutching his arm. The girl cocked her head and asked, "Koushi, who is she?"
"Manners, Hana," Sugawara chastised. "This is my classmate Mizuko."
"Is she your girlfriend?" The little boy asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Haru!" Sugawara couldn't help the flush that came to his face at the idea. Mizuko smiled faintly and shook her head shyly.
"I'm Hana. I'm seven years old," the little girl said, interrupting Sugawara's attempt to scold them. "And this is my brother, Haru," she continued.
"I'm older," Haru added, puffing out his chest a little.
"We're twins!" Hana argued indignantly.
"I'm still older!" Haru fired back.
"Barely!"
"Twenty-two minutes!"
"It was not, you liar!" Hana grew red-faced.
Sugawara cut in with a good natured laugh, "It was twenty-one minutes, Haru. Believe me, I was stuck in the waiting room."
Mizuko smiled to herself at the idea of Sugawara anxiously pacing the hospital lobby, waiting to meet his baby siblings.
She was ripped out of her thoughts by Hana squealing, "Koushi! She's so pretty when she's smiling!" Mizuko's face felt hot.
"Are you sure she's not your girlfriend?" Haru asked. "Are you two going to get married?" Mizuko let out a small giggle and raised an eyebrow at an even more flushed Sugawara.
"N-n-no," he managed to stutter out. "W-we are not getting m-married."
"Can she just be your girlfriend then?" Hana pressed.
"Enough," Sugawara groaned. "Where are your manners? She's a guest." He emphasized the last word, raising his eyebrows at the twins expectantly.
Immediately, Hana let go of Sugawara and stood in front of Mizuko. She bowed. "Would you like tea?"
"Showoff," Haru muttered under his breath. Hana shot him a glare but otherwise didn't respond to the jibe.
No, thank you. Mizuko signed.
"What does that mean?" Hana asked.
"N-no...Th-thank you," Mizuko managed to murmur.
"Don't be shy," Haru said with a smile. "Koushi is the only baka in the Sugawara home!"
"Hey!" Sugawara chuckled, a mock look of offense on his face. "For that, I think I should crush you in RoboBrawlers."
"Pshh, as if you could beat me!"
"Is that a challenge?"
"You bet it is!"
YOU ARE READING
Thirteen Months
FanfictionMizuko is an african american girl born and raised in Japan. When she ends up in the foster-care system, she is taken in by Daichi Sawamura's family. As she adjusts, she begins to grow from her timid, mute self to a more confident, joyful young wo...
