We will be here!

It a girl!

The late afternoon sun cast a soft, golden glow over Kurenai's small apartment. She sat on the couch, her pregnant belly resting in her lap, one hand gently rubbing over it. Her baby bump was now visible, and though she had just learned today that she was having a baby girl, the joy was bittersweet. It had only been a few weeks since Asuma had passed away. Every small movement from the life growing inside her filled her with both joy and a profound sadness. Her daughter would come into a world without her father—Asuma, the man she loved.

Across from her, Kakashi leaned back against the couch, his head tilted slightly, the usual unreadable mask replaced with a rare somberness in his visible eye. Gai, his typical boisterous energy muted, sat on the floor beside Kakashi. His eyebrows were furrowed, his expression pensive. Even his vibrant spirit seemed dimmed by the absence they all felt. Asuma's empty chair stood as a silent reminder of their shared loss. On the table before them, a pink cake decorated with the words "It's a girl" sat untouched.

"I miss him," Kurenai whispered, breaking the heavy silence that hung over the room. Her voice trembled as her fingers traced slow, absentminded circles over her belly. "I miss him so much. It just... doesn't feel right to celebrate without him."

"We all miss him," Kakashi said quietly, his voice low and steady, carrying a weight that came from understanding loss all too well.

Gai spoke next, his voice unusually subdued. "Asuma was like a brother to us. His absence... it's hard to accept sometimes. Especially on a day like today."

Kurenai's breath hitched, her hand stilling on her belly. "I just wish... he could be here," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "He was supposed to be here to see her, to protect her, to celebrate with me."

Kakashi leaned forward slightly, his gaze soft as he met her eyes. "He is here," he said gently. "As long as we remember him, he'll always be here. We can't replace him, but we care about you, too."

Gai reached out, placing his hand on top of Kurenai's. "That's right! You don't have to do this alone. Asuma wouldn't want that. We'll be here for you and the baby. That's a promise," he said, his usual exuberance returning in the form of a sincere, unwavering vow.

Kurenai looked at them, her heart swelling with a mixture of grief and gratitude. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep, steadying breath. Asuma's absence would never fully leave her, but knowing that Kakashi and Gai would be there to support her brought her a measure of comfort.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know what I'd do without you both." Her eyes misted over with unshed tears. "I need you both to stay safe. I can't... I can't lose you, too."

Kakashi and Gai exchanged a brief glance before speaking in unison, their voices filled with quiet resolve. "We promise."

Kurenai nodded, wiping at her eyes, a soft laugh escaping through her tears. "I guess I'm a bit more emotional than usual. Blame the pregnancy hormones."

Gai, always ready to lift the mood, grinned and jumped to his feet. "Enough of this! Let's cut the cake and celebrate this wonderful news! Your daughter will grow up surrounded by the energy of love and youth!"