Chapter 162: Hanae, Hazuki, 3 years old

This year, I entered my fourth year at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Medicine.

I had just begun my clinical practice, while Aya, already in her fifth year, was a step ahead, working on a doctoral program.

Even in high school, I thought she was incredibly elite, but her progress is so unbelievably fast that even our classmates are amazed.

Aya’s reputation within the medical school shifted from “the odd one out who married a woman” to simply “a super-genius elite.“

On the other hand, I’m… well, I’m a bit above average, probably due to the direct hit of childcare stress, and my fear of blood makes my hands tremble in the lab.

So, a creeping sense of unease makes me wonder if I chose the wrong major.

Today, as always, I finished a long day of classes, sweating nervously. On my way back, I headed to the daycare center.

The daycare was bustling with children, and as soon as I arrived at the front door, I could hear laughter from inside.
The owners of these familiar sounds were Hanae and Hazuki.
My adorable yet devilish children.

In Japanese age, they’re three (four in Korean age).
It feels like just yesterday when they were newborns, undergoing various tests from genetic to health screenings because they were born between two women. They’ve grown so much already.

“Mom!”
“Mommy~!”

As soon as the door opened, Hanae ran towards me with small steps and jumped into my arms.
With a bright and energetic personality, and her hair cut into a cute bob like mine when I was young, she looks even more lively.

Hazuki, with her long, straight hair, shyly looked at me from a short distance, then slowly approached and quietly held onto my leg.

Their personalities haven’t changed since they were born.

“Yes, yes! My Hanae, Hazuki, did you both have a good day? What did you learn at daycare today?”
“How to wash our hands~ and, um, and also…”
“Quadratic equations!”
“That’s right!”
“Ahaha… I see.”

Hazuki said it with a straight face as if it were obvious, and Hanae agreed as if it were equally obvious.

Quadratic equations at three… My children are already learning middle school level material.
They must have gotten their intelligence from someone…
To be honest… they might both be much smarter than me.

“When is Aya mommy coming?”

Hanae asked, her big eyes sparkling.

“I like Rina mommy more…”

Hazuki murmured softly.

Their preferences… I guess they inherited them from their mothers.

“Okay, let’s all get in the car and go home.”
“”Yes!””

Holding the hands of the two children who responded energetically, I walked out of the daycare. A security guard opened the back door of the car.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Yukikawa-sama.”
“Oh, thank you. Come on, girls, let’s get in!”

As I got into the back seat with the children and the door closed, it finally felt like the day was ending.
Looking at the children sleeping soundly in my arms… it makes me so happy.
Is this what maternal love is like?

It would be perfect if they didn’t bicker so much.
They seem like they should get along, having inherited their personalities from us, but they fight so much, just like sisters.

****

When we got home with the kids, a delicious smell filled the house.
Following the scent with the kids, we came into the dining room. Aya had prepared a beautiful dinner.
Appetizing grilled fish, neat side dishes, and a sweet-smelling soup…
To be honest, I cook sometimes, but… I’m still a long way from Aya’s cooking skills.

“Let’s eat!”
“Let’s eat!!”

Dinner began with the children’s cheerful voices. Hanae, as soon as she picked up her chopsticks, pushed the vegetables aside and grumbled.
She’s being picky.

“I don’t like this…”
“Hey, it’s delicious. Look, Aya mommy made it.”
“Hazuki can have it.”
“I already ate mine.”

Hazuki said indifferently, but she ate all her vegetables.
And probably… I don’t remember being a picky eater when I was little, so Hanae’s eating habits are probably from Aya…

“Hanae, you have to eat everything.”
“Mmm… It doesn’t taste good…”
“Everything Aya mommy makes is delicious, isn’t it?”

Hanae looked away, as if embarrassed.

“Were you like this too, Aya, when you were young?”
“No, well, ummm…?”

Aya also looked away.
How could she not know? We’ve spent countless hours chatting in bed.
Aya when she was young was completely different from Aya in high school. She was a tomboy and a picky eater.

Well… even now, glimpses of that side of her appear in bed.
Beast Aya.
Anyway, whether it was passed down from Aya or not, Hanae is a tomboy and a picky eater.

“…Hanae, you need to eat everything.”
“Hmph… Okay.”

At that moment, Hazuki nudged Hanae, who was being picky.

“Do you like Aya mommy that much?”
“I’m going to be like mommy when I grow up.”
“Me too, I’m going to be like mommy.”
“Which mommy?”
“Like Aya mommy!”
“I’m Aya mommy too!”
“Hazuki, you should be Rina mommy!”
“No, Hanae can be Rina mommy!”

They pouted and glared at each other…
Wait, why is it only about Aya?

“Why is my name on the disliked side? Do you both dislike me?! Rina mommy is going to cry?”
“Rina mommy can’t cook.”
“Right, Rina mommy can’t cook.”

When Hanae and Hazuki said the same thing at the same time, Aya giggled beside me.

“You guys are betraying mommy like this…”

When I covered my face, Hanae finally rushed into my arms and acted cute.

“But I like Rina mommy~”
“Me too… I like you.”

Hazuki also quietly approached and held my hand.
Still… the wounds in my heart haven’t healed… you guys.

****

Actually, the kids know everything.
That Aya is much smarter, and as the legitimate heir of the Yukikawa family, she’s practically the future head of the family.
So, I understand they like Aya, but… still… I gave birth to you…
It’s true that I feel a bit hurt.

But looking at the children sleeping peacefully in bed, the hurt feeling faded away.
Hanae and Hazuki lying side by side in bed, sleeping soundly… they couldn’t be any cuter.
When they were toddlers, they were truly devilish, but now, at least while they sleep, they are little angels.

“Rina.”
“Yes, Aya?”
“Rina, you should sleep too.”
“Oh, um… Right.”

It’s still a little early to start sleep training.
So, we put the children’s bed and our bed in the same room but use them separately.
That’s when it happened. Aya gently wrapped her arms around my waist and quietly led me not to the bed, but to another room.

“…Huh? Aya, what… what are you doing?”
“Shh… You’ll wake the kids. Come quietly.”

Calming my pounding heart, I followed Aya’s hand and carefully entered the other room, locking the door behind us.
Aya smiled and pushed me against the wall.

“Aya…?”
“The children fell asleep early today.”
“Th-that’s true…”

Suddenly, Aya’s hand gently stroked my cheek.
She slowly leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“You’ve been paying too much attention to the kids lately, Rina.”
“Oh, um…? That’s true…”

My face flushed, and my heart started pounding.
Ahh… It’s been five years since we got married, but I still get butterflies when she seduces me like this…
Aya’s soft gaze overflowed with love.

“So, I’m a little jealous today.”
“…Jealous?”
“Yes. I feel like the kids stole my favorite Rina.”

Aya said, gently lifting my chin with her fingertips.
Soon, her lips softly met mine.
It was a sweet sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time, making it hard to even breathe.

“Mmm… Aya, wait…!”
“Don’t you want to?”

Aya pulled away slightly and asked, and I quickly shook my head.

“No, no, of course not…! It was just so sudden…”
“…Then should we take it slow?”

This time, she smiled playfully and led me towards the bed, holding my hand.
As we lay side by side on the bed in the dark room, Aya gently embraced me.
Aya… was wearing a loosely tied gown, revealing her white legs through the opening.

“Rina, I love you.”
“…Me too. I love you more than anything, Aya.”

Whispering our confessions, we nestled into each other.

“Then… should we make a little brother or sister for the twins?”
“Let’s wait until I graduate…!”
“Okay, then we’ll do it like we’re making a baby.”
“Aya… you beast…Mmm…!”

Aya… is a beast, a total beast.
As if we were still newlyweds, crimson petals bloomed all over my body, and all over Aya’s too.
I wasn’t going to lose either!