Work Text:
Maki was out grocery shopping on a quiet afternoon. She navigated her way through the aisles, mentally checking items off her list. As she turned toward the dairy section, something caught her eye — a small figure sitting on the ground near the end of another aisle.
It was a little girl, no older than five, looking around with wide, confused eyes. She had soft features and disheveled hair, clearly lost and afraid.
Maki approached her cautiously.
“Hey... are you okay?” she asked gently.
The little girl looked up at her, then suddenly wrapped her small arms around Maki’s leg, clutching tightly.
“Mama…” the girl whimpered, her eyes welling with tears as she gazed up at Maki.
Maki blinked in confusion. “Huh? N-No, I’m not—”
But she couldn't bring herself to push the girl away. Instead, she knelt down, hesitantly wrapping her arms around the child and lifting her up.
“It’s okay... don’t cry. We’ll find your mom, alright?” Maki said softly, patting the girl’s back as she scanned the store.
“What’s your name?”
“Mai,” the girl sniffled.
The name hit Maki like a punch to the chest. Her breath caught in her throat, but she nodded slowly, holding the girl a little closer.
She made her way to the front counter and approached a cashier.
“Excuse me… this girl seems to have lost her mother. Can you make an announcement?” Maki asked.
The cashier nodded and made the announcement over the intercom. A few minutes later, a tired-looking woman rushed toward them. Her hair was oily and tied in a messy bun, and dark circles under her eyes revealed a serious lack of sleep. She looked like someone who hadn’t had a moment’s rest in weeks.
“M-Mai!” the woman cried, rushing to her daughter.
The girl reached out, and the woman took her into her arms, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you so much,” she said to Maki, her voice cracking. “I was so scared… I—how can I ever repay you?”
“You don’t have to,” Maki replied with a small smile. “Really, it’s okay.”
Maki continued her shopping, picking up the rest of the items on her list. Eventually, she found herself behind the same woman and her daughter in the checkout line.
While they waited, the little girl rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. Maki smiled gently and played a little peek-a-boo, which earned a soft giggle from the child.
“Your total is 2,300 yen,” the cashier said.
The woman began rifling through her purse, opening every pocket and compartment. After a few minutes of searching, she came up with only 2,000 yen.
“Um… sweetheart, we’ll have to put the cereal back,” the woman said with a forced smile.
“But I want it…” the girl said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment.
“I know, baby, I know… but things are tight right now. I promise I’ll get it for you next time.”
The girl nodded, her expression subdued.
“Um… I can cover it,” Maki offered suddenly.
The woman turned to her, eyes wide. “I-I can’t ask you to do that… You’ve already done so much.”
“It’s fine. Really,” Maki insisted gently, handing the cashier a few extra bills.
The woman’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you… thank you so much.”
After paying for her own groceries as well, Maki headed home.
---
When she stepped inside, she was greeted by the familiar scent of dinner and the warm sound of Yuta humming softly in the kitchen.
“Welcome back, dear. Did you get the milk?” Yuta asked, glancing up with a smile.
“Yeah,” Maki replied, placing the bags on the kitchen table.
“I’ve already filled the bathtub for you. Nice and warm.”
“You’re the best,” Maki said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before making her way to the bathroom.
As always, the tub was filled with water and rose petals floating on the surface. Yuta was the one who always thought of the little things—leaving her love notes, staying up to cook her favorite meals at odd hours, or whisking her away to quiet restaurants just because.
She slipped out of her clothes and slid into the warm water, letting herself sink in and relax. Her eyes fluttered shut.
---
“Sis… when you grow up, can we leave this place?”
It was Mai’s voice.
Maki opened her eyes, startled.
She was no longer in the bathtub, but under a tree. The sun was setting, and two young girls sat side by side, sharing a small bag of nuts. She looked down and saw herself as a child, and next to her was Mai—young, radiant, and full of hope.
Without thinking, Maki turned and hugged her younger sister tightly.
“Of course. We will,” Maki whispered, her voice trembling.
---
Maki snapped back to reality with a sharp inhale. The water had gone tepid. She stared at the ceiling, her mind heavy with memories.
That little girl in the store… her name… her eyes… It was like Mai herself had returned, if only for a fleeting moment.
I want a child, Maki thought.
---
After drying off and dressing in a loose shirt and shorts, she wandered to the living room and curled up on the couch. Yuta joined her, placing two steaming plates of white sauce pasta on the table.
Maki scooted over and shared the blanket with him, their legs brushing beneath the fabric.
“So, how was your day?” she asked.
“Boring. Meetings, presentations, and more meetings,” he sighed.
She rested her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head.
“I love you so much,” he murmured.
“You say that every minute,” Maki teased.
“Because every minute, I fall for you all over again.”
Maki smiled, biting her lip gently. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Yuta?”
“Hmm?”
“I… think I want a baby.”
He looked at her, surprised. “A baby?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“But we’ve only been married a year.”
“I know. Still…”
He leaned in and kissed her deeply. Maki melted into it, her heart racing. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.
“If you want a baby… how could I ever say no?” he whispered.
They kissed again, more intensely this time. Maki began tugging at his shirt, her desire outweighing her nerves.
“God…” Yuta murmured as he gently traced her thigh with his fingers.
“Too much for Mr. Yuta?” she teased breathlessly.
“Not even close.”
---
Later, they lay side by side, their bodies warm and slick with sweat. Maki buried her face into Yuta’s chest, his fingers lazily drawing circles on her back.
“So…” he said, “if it’s a boy, what about Yuko? And if it’s a girl… Yuki?”
“You’re already thinking of names?” she laughed softly. “At least let me take a pregnancy test first.”
“Oh, I’m pretty confident. Especially with the way you were—”
She quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, cheeks burning.
Yuta chuckled and kissed her palm.
“Maki,” he said softly.
“Yeah?”
“You’re going to be an amazing mother.”
She didn’t respond right away. Her lips curled into a faint smile, but a shadow of doubt crept into her eyes.
I hope so, she thought.