As my due date approached, the Commander also decided to take a vacation.
After all, it wouldn’t be good for me to be home alone when something suddenly came up.
For that reason, the Boss ordered the Commander to take some time off.
“What should we have for lunch?”
“Meat.”
“…That was sudden?”
“…It’d be fine otherwise.”
“No way. Just go out and get some meat.”
Lately, my appetite had been all over the place.
Just a while ago, I had no appetite at all, but recently it felt like my hunger had actually increased.
Had all that pent-up craving finally burst forth?
I had been grazing on meals here and there, often stopping before I was full, but now I felt hungrier than usual.
Was it really because I hadn’t been eating much lately…?
“Commander, I’m hungry.”
“Are you really that hungry?”
“…Yes.”
I was really hungry.
In fact, there were side dishes my mom had made waiting in the fridge, but I still craved meat.
It was the kind of feeling where I just wanted to fill myself completely.
Of course, if I did that, I’d probably end up feeling even worse.
Yet, the craving remained.
“…Should I go get some?”
“Yes.”
Anyway, since it was still before lunch, I sent the Commander on that errand.
I could have gone along, but I was a bit tired.
…Honestly, waddling around in my heavy pregnant state was pretty tough.
*
“Lindera.”
“What is it?”
While the Commander and I were resting at home all day, the Boss suddenly came to visit.
What was this?
“It’s almost time for your delivery, right?”
“Um… yes?”
“From a few days from now, you’ll be staying at the hospital.”
“…What?”
What kind of unexpected message was this?
I certainly wasn’t prepared for a sudden visit from the Boss, telling me to stay at the hospital.
After all, just a little while ago, the Commander had been granted leave to spend time with me.
“Boss? Why are you here all of a sudden… what are you talking about?”
“Delivery is right around the corner; are you really going to stay at home? Are you planning to have the baby at home?”
“That wouldn’t be the case…?”
“Let’s have you stay at a big hospital. It’s not like you need to go immediately, but get things prepared… The Commander will probably be satisfied too.”
“Uhm…”
This was quite sudden.
Hearing that I should move to the hospital made the reality of the delivery feel very close.
Of course, it actually was close.
I was full-term and the last time I’d been to the hospital, they had said my delivery date was approaching.
But hearing someone say it made it feel real…really real.
If I stayed at the hospital as the Boss suggested, it would probably feel even more real.
“Um, Boss…?”
“What now?”
“But is it really necessary to go in right away…? Isn’t the due date still a bit away…?”
“Ah.”
“………”
“The time right before delivery is the most dangerous. So, just behave and stay at the hospital.”
Oh… is that so?
That made sense…
I didn’t know much about pregnancy, that was for sure.
But, that aside, it did feel like the final stretch was the riskiest part.
Lately, I’d been really worried, and while the Boss’s suggestion was sudden, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“So when do I go…?”
“Hmm… Well, technically, you could go in right now, but you have to prepare, right?”
“That’s true.”
“How about staying at the hospital in about three days? It’s close to your due date.”
“Hmm…”
That seemed alright.
Of course, if I thought about it solely in terms of comfort, staying at home with the Commander would be a lot more preferable.
But ultimately, staying at the hospital would be much better.
That’s probably why the Boss came to talk to me specifically.
“Commander.”
“Huh? What’s up?”
After finishing the house chores, the Commander sat on the sofa where the Boss and I had been talking.
Thanks to that, he hadn’t heard a single thing we discussed and was now asking questions.
So I explained everything we talked about, line by line.
What the Boss said and also what I had been thinking.
Since it was somewhat important, it was only right to explain it thoroughly.
“Oh… that sounds good.”
“I think so too.”
“Boss, what should we prepare…”
“Well, you need to pack clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other things…”
The Commander and I began listening to the Boss’s suggestions one by one while sitting close together on the sofa.
Starting with the basics to know before entering the hospital, and more various details.
Honestly, it seemed a bit bothersome, but none of it was really hard.
It was mainly just packing a few things… and that didn’t seem too difficult.
“Thank you, Boss. But…”
“Thank yous can wait, just prepare and go.”
“…Yes.”
“And Lindera, make sure to take care of yourself.”
“I will. But are you leaving already? Didn’t you come right here after work? At least have dinner…”
But the Boss suddenly began getting up to leave.
I thought for sure he’d have dinner or hang out for a bit longer before leaving.
But I didn’t expect him to head back to his hotel right away.
“You’re fine, so just take it easy. The Commander next to you looks so anxious, why are you still here?”
“That’s not true…”
“Don’t give me that look every time you make eye contact.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Anyway, you two rest well. Lindera, if anything happens, always contact me.”
“Yes, I will. Please be careful on your way. See you next time.”
And just like that… the Boss returned to his hotel.
I hoped he could have stayed just a little longer to chat.
Though it was clear the Commander still found the Boss intimidating…
Anyway, I was thankful everything was going well.
“Ha.”
“…Was the Boss that uncomfortable for you?”
“Wh-what?”
“The moment the Boss left, you breathed out like that. Is there…?”
“No, no… Lindera?”
I purposely gave the Commander a really meaningful stare.
Like, really meaningful.
“Hmmm…”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m serious, it really is…?”
“Hmmm…”
“I’m not uncomfortable because of the Boss; I just sat down after finishing some chores, okay?”
“Hmmmmmm………”
“…This is so unfair, I swear.”
It was a funny reaction.
Unlike the usual playful teasing, he genuinely seemed flustered.
Of course, if I teased him about his girlfriend’s parents being uncomfortable, he’d naturally react awkwardly and embarrassingly, a little dumbfounded too.
That just made it even funnier.
Normally when I teased him, he’d just say he was a bit uncomfortable, but his expressions wouldn’t change much.
Now… his voice and expression screamed “unfair.”
“Pfft…”
“…I swear, I was shocked.”
“That was a joke. But hey, it could be a little uncomfortable, right? Meeting the Boss at work and then at home… haha…”
“…That’s unfair.”
We chatted some more with the Commander before winding down for the night, had some snacks, watched a little TV, and then crawled into bed.
Honestly, today was filled with more teasing than usual.
But overall, I had a fun day.
The Boss’s sudden visit had startled me a bit, but fundamentally, today was just another normal day.
Teasing the Commander was just too entertaining.
“Yawn…”
“Feeling sleepy?”
“Yeah, I’m tired… as always.”
Then, as it got late, it was indeed time for bed.
I had things I had to do tomorrow too.
Since it was getting late, we were both preparing for bed.
I didn’t really have to get ready, but the Commander was changing before bed and washing up.
So, I just lay in bed waiting.
“Finished yet?”
“Maybe?”
“Then hurry up and lie down.”
I waved at the space next to me on the bed.
What kind of man is getting all ready before bed like this?
Even I, a woman, just wash my face and go to bed without fuss.
“Okay, okay. Were you that eager to sleep?”
“I’m not eager to sleep, but I’m telling you to lie down quickly.”
“Well, if Lindera says to lie down quickly, then I will.”
“Then hurry up and lie down.”
Anyway, with that, the Commander and I settled comfortably in bed.
I had a pillow, but I placed his arm under my head.
“Yawn…”
“You really must be tired.”
“Because of you, I woke up earlier than usual…”
I had actually been sound asleep, but the Commander’s fidgeting had roused me.
It wasn’t just waking up, but he kept squirming around after I woke up, making it harder to fall back asleep.
Originally, I planned to sleep soundly until around 11.
“…If you keep cuddling me, what do you expect?”
“You should have waited until I woke up.”
“That’s asking a bit too much…”
To be fair, I did fall asleep while hugging the Commander.
Regardless, he did wake me up by wriggling in my arms.
So, I could say he was the reason I got up, right?
“By the way, Commander, what’s for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Shouldn’t we eat what we have left over? After all, we’ll be in the hospital soon… even if it is a private room, it’s still a hospital.”
“Ah…”
That was a good point.
The Commander was right.
In our usual routine, we’d eat at home or go out, but… we wouldn’t have that option for a while.
“Let’s start with the meat.”
“…But wouldn’t that make us gain weight?”
“Stop with the nonsense.”
“Yeah.”
Anyway, we chatted until falling asleep.
Staying in the hospital…
Now, it genuinely felt like the delivery was right around the corner, and I was more worried than ever.
…I had heard giving birth was incredibly painful.
…That thought scared me a lot.
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