STOP THE KOTOKO BASHING

Irie Kotoko

"A vacation, Kotoko?" Tomoko asked.

"Yeah, I deserve it!" She nodded, smiling excitedly.

"Ya, and it'll be way more peaceful here, too." Marina smirked.

"Less accidents, I'm sure." Motoki added.

"Ah, I'm sure it won't be that dif-"

"It'll be a whole lot quieter," Keita laughed.

"Geez, I thought you were all my friends." Kotoko laughed along, brushing off the pain that was in her heart.

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"What an idiot."

"You're so stupid."

"Why'd Irie-san marry an idiot like her?"

"She can't even do her job correctly..."

"Days are easier when she's not here..."

"That Kotoko is very troublesome."

"Geez, watch where you're going, idiot!"

"You're so clumsy."

"Dummy."

"No wonder you were in class F."

Kotoko laid in the bed she shared with her husband. She sighed. She was used to being called an idot, she graduated from Class F, not Class A. She was no genius like Naoki. But lately, all the things people were saying to and about her were...weighing her down.

"Kotoko?" Yuuki popped his head into the room.

"Yes?" She asked, sitting up, smiling at her younger brother (in-law).

"What're you doing just lying there? We've been calling you. It's time for dinner and you're making us wait."

"Oh." Her smile faltered slightly. "Sorry, I didn't hear, I'll be right there."

"Of course you didn't hear, stupid." Yuuki mumbled, walking away.

Kotoko took a deep breath. I'll be ok. She headed downstairs.

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"Where do you want me to put these?" Kotoko asked the head nurse.

"In storage room 4."

"Alright!" She nodded, starting to walk away.

"Oi! Irie! That's the wrong way!"

Kotoko cringed, kicking herself internally. "R-right, I'm sorry!" She turned, going the right way this time.

"Such a hassle." Head Nurse shook her head. "Why do I even try with that one?"

Kotoko heard. And her smile disappeared. Why do they even deal with me?

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"Irie-kun, welcome home!" Kotoko smiled, greeting her husband. "Ah, you look tired? Are you hungry? Do you want anything?"

"No, I'm good." He answered in his usual cold voice. "God knows what you'd do to that kitchen."

"Ah...well, did you have a good day?" She asked, walking along side her husband to their room.

"It was fine." Was his reply.

"I bet you made your patients all better!" She always had the utmost confidence in him.

Naoki groaned, flopping onto the bed. "Please, Kotoko, I'm tired. Let me sleep."