Chapter 154: Test tube procedure

Finally…! The day I’d been waiting for arrived – university entrance ceremony day! The entire building buzzed with excitement, like the Takamari spring festival. Everyone was thrilled to be starting university, especially at such a prestigious institution.

This was a first for me. I hadn’t attended university in either of my lives. In my past life, I’d died as a repeat student, struggling to get in, so this was a dream come true.

Cherry blossoms bloomed, their petals scattering in the wind. The sight of new students laughing and chatting filled me with a sense of excitement and belonging.

“Is that… Kurosawa Rina?”

“I think so! Wow, she’s so cute!”
“So the Trinity really did come here.”

Even strangers recognized me, thanks to my reputation and my association with Takamari Academy. But the attention no longer bothered me. My three years at Takamari had changed me.

I was no longer a mob character. I was the protagonist’s girlfriend!
I smiled and greeted the people who approached me, even making a few new friends.

After the entrance ceremony, Aya and I moved into a luxurious apartment near the university.

Living together… it was a dream come true. But my happiness was short-lived. I was relaxing on the sofa when the intercom buzzed. It was Aya’s mother, accompanied by a man in a black suit.

“Kurosawa-san, may I have a word with you?”
“Yes, of course.”

My heart sank. This couldn’t be good. I’d never spoken to Aya’s mother alone before. I knew this was serious.

Her careful, deliberate Japanese, so different from her usual accented speech, made me even more nervous. She usually spoke casual Japanese with a strong foreign accent, but today, her tone was formal and serious.

Aya’s mother entered the apartment.

“Rina-san, we need to discuss the matter of… marriage.”

As expected. I clenched my fists and nodded slowly.

“…You mean… having an heir?”

Aya’s mother’s eyes widened in surprise. I was also surprised to see such a strong reaction from her usually impassive face. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes. We would like you to undergo… a procedure. I’ve already discussed this with Aya, but I wanted to hear your opinion as well.”

“I’ll do it.”

My immediate agreement seemed to surprise her again. Her expression shifted subtly as she looked at me intently and took my hand.

“Rina-san, this could be a difficult process. There might be pain and emotional distress. Are you certain?”

I took a deep breath, thinking of Aya. I couldn’t stand in her way. She was going to inherit the pharmaceutical company, and that was why she’d chosen this path. I could take a leave of absence from university. It was common in Japan for students to take time off for pregnancy.

“Yes, I’m prepared. It’s our child, Aya’s and mine. I can do this.”

Aya’s mother smiled.

“Aya has found a good partner. I’m relieved.”

After she left, I sat on the sofa and sighed deeply.
Ovulation induction, egg retrieval, the procedure, and then pregnancy… Perhaps that dream I’d had was a premonition.

I was scared, and I also doubted… if I could really do this.
Carrying Aya’s and my child…
Just then, Aya came home.

“Rina, my mother was here?”
“Yes, she just left.”
“Are you okay?”

I smiled at Aya’s concerned expression, walked over to her, and took her hand.

“Yes, I was expecting this.”

Did Aya know what her mother had said?
She seemed to.

“Rina… thank you.”

I melted into Aya’s warm embrace, the tension leaving my body.

Yes… I would do anything for Aya.
Even though I knew it was a dangerous thought… I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

****

A week later, I was at the Yukikawa Hospital for egg retrieval. A nurse greeted me.

“Kurosawa Rina-san? Today, you’ll receive a prescription for ovulation induction medication. You’ll administer the injections at home for a few days, and then we’ll schedule another appointment for egg retrieval based on your follicle development.”

“Okay…” I said, following the nurse to the examination room. The doctor greeted me with a smile. He seemed to know about our situation and calmly explained the procedure.

“We’ll start with the ovulation induction injections. These injections will stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple follicles. You’ll need to inject yourself daily, at the same time each day, for about 7 to 10 days, either in your abdomen or thigh.”
“Daily injections…?” I hadn’t realized that. The doctor continued,

“Yes, and you’ll need to come in for ultrasound checkups every few days to monitor follicle growth and hormone levels. Once the follicles are mature, you’ll receive a final hCG injection to trigger ovulation, and then we’ll retrieve the eggs 36 hours later.”

Wow… this was more intimidating than I’d thought. I nodded, trying to remain calm.

“Will the injections… or the procedure… be painful?”
“You might experience some discomfort similar to premenstrual syndrome while taking the medication: bloating, nausea, headaches, fatigue, etc. The egg retrieval procedure is done under anesthesia, so there won’t be any major pain, but you might experience some cramping and light bleeding afterwards.”

So… it was an internal procedure. I took a deep breath, but the anxiety lingered. This was really happening, and the thought of this process lasting for a year…

“I understand.” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. The doctor called a nurse to demonstrate how to administer the injections.

“You’ll inject yourself at the same time every day. Please try to avoid stress and get plenty of rest.”
“Okay.”

I left the hospital feeling uneasy. Aya couldn’t come today due to her schedule, but she’d been messaging me constantly.

Aya: Rina, how was the hospital? Are you okay?

I knew it would be difficult, but I was determined to endure it, for Aya, for myself, and for our future child.
That night, I gave myself the first injection. The small needle pricked my skin, a sharp sting followed by a wave of anxiety. This was just the beginning…

****

I’d had a dream about this.
I’d been so tired, drowsy, and achy.
I’d barely passed my classes.

“Wow…”

The reality was far worse than the dream. I’d heard about IVF, but I hadn’t realized how difficult it would be. I might have given up if it weren’t for Aya’s constant support. I always had difficult periods, and the medication amplified the symptoms, making me feel like I was walking through hellfire.

Every morning, I woke up feeling exhausted, and I’d spend the day struggling to stay awake. Thankfully, I was only a freshman, and the classes weren’t too demanding. If I’d been taking specialized medical courses, I probably would have taken a leave of absence.

Even Aya, who was much healthier and stronger than me, sometimes felt tired from the medication, but she always put on a brave face for me.

“Let’s eat.”
“…Okay.”

I had no appetite, but Aya’s home-cooked meals always gave me a boost of energy. I picked up my chopsticks and looked at her.

“Aren’t you tired, Aya?”
“Tired of what?”

“The injections… You’re taking them too.”
“I’m a little tired, but I don’t have as many side effects as you. We just have to endure it a little longer.”

“…Okay.”

I took Aya’s hand. All we could do now was hold onto each other and endure.

But I didn’t realize then that the real problem wasn’t Aya… It was me.

****

A few days later, at the hospital.

“Kurosawa-san, we have the test results…” The doctor’s expression was grim. Aya had come with me this time, and just seeing his face made my heart sink.

“Is something… wrong…?”
“Your response to the medication hasn’t been as good as we’d hoped. The follicles aren’t developing sufficiently, and it might be difficult to retrieve any eggs.”

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“Th-Then… what should we do?”

The doctor’s words were a blur. Aya looked at me with concern, but I couldn’t meet her gaze.

I just… hoped that dream was a premonition, that it would all work out in the end. I could endure this, I had to.