"So what did the doctors say?" Aki looks to his left to see Hiroto standing by the door. His lecture had just finished and Hiroto was already here. It had been a week since the night he spent at Hiroto's. After Haruki had calmed down, the two of them had visited the hospital once again, their suspicions of his pregnancy not being real turning out false.
"Let's not talk here," Aki says, grabbing Hiroto's wrist. He glances over his shoulder to smile at Kanae. "I'll be back for lunch, okay?"
Kanae looks between Aki and Hiroto in confusion but doesn't get to say anything as the two scurry away. Hiroto slips his hand into Aki's once they enter the library. There's barely anyone in there since it was only the start of the year, so Aki drags Hiroto to the closest empty table and takes a seat.
"Alright, now let's speak."
"First of all, who was that guy?" Hiroto asks once they've settled down. Aki raises his eyebrow, confused as to who exactly he was talking about. "The guy you're going to get lunch with."
"Kanae?" Aki laughs, grinning at the thought of him. "He's just a friend of mine. I've known him since high school."
"Just a friend?" Hiroto's voice sounds so accusing, Aki leans back and chuckles, amused by his tone of voice.
"And why exactly do you sound so jealous?" Aki questions, enjoying how Hiroto flushes at his comment. "Whoever I'm friends with or more doesn't concern you, now does it?"
Hiroto glares at him before rolling his eyes. "Fine, whatever. I don't care. Just tell me what the doctor's said. Are you really pregnant? Is it my child?"
Aki sighs and places his chin on the palm of his hand. It was awkward enough thinking that he was having a child, but actually looking at Hiroto and telling him that they were going to have a child together felt strange. The two of them had only just met a few weeks back. They had had sex for whatever reason they did and that was all to it. But now there was so much more to consider.
Another life was being brought into the world. Hiroto was from the family of Aki's rivals. As much as Aki wanted to be separated from the life he originally came from, there was no way his dad was going to allow the birth of this child. And even if the child was to be born, they would be accepted only if they were an alpha. A beta would also be allowed into the family, but an omega stood no chance and Aki didn't want his child to experience the hell that he had gone through.
"Yeah," Aki says slowly, sounding a little disheartened at the idea. Hiroto would probably be the same. Who in their right mind would be happy having a child with someone they just met? "I'm pregnant, and it's most likely your child because of the day range the doctor suggested. You're the only alpha I was within that week."
Hiroto's lips part in surprise and he remains silent for a while. The fact that he wasn't saying anything made it worse. Was he angry? Did he not like the idea? Did he want Aki to abort the child? In all honesty, Aki wasn't against having the child. He knew that it would be difficult and stressful, especially if Hiroto refuses to take responsibility and if his parents deny the child, but he didn't want to get rid of the life being made inside him.
"I know this may burden you," Aki starts, lowering his head. He didn't know why he felt guilty. Technically, both of them must've gone wrong somewhere to have created this child, but the weight on his shoulders felt heavier than the one on Hiroto's. "I'm not asking you to take responsibility, neither am I expecting your help in anything. I just figured you would want to know about this."
Aki keeps his eyes glued to the ground. He didn't want to see the face Hiroto was making — relieved, happy, probably glad that Aki wasn't blaming him for anything. From the few days he had spent with Hiroto, the alpha seemed like a nice person who just sometimes said a few harsh things from time to time. Aki was hoping to never hear anything harsh from him again.
"Aki," Hiroto speaks softly, his hands coming round to Aki's face and cupping his cheeks. He tries raising Aki's face, but he doesn't let him do so. Aki was scared. That was all. He was scared of seeing Hiroto's reaction to it all and he was scared about what his dad would say about this, he was scared of the looks and rumours people would spread once they found out that he was having a child but no one was with him. "Come on, look at me."
"I don't wanna," Aki mumbles, pressing his cheek into Hiroto's hand.
"I don't bite," Hiroto jokes, trying once again. This time Aki gives in and looks up. His eyes widen at the look on Hiroto's face. He looks pained by what Aki has said as if it was the worst thing to have mentioned. "What makes you think that I would leave you alone after finding out we're having a kid together?"
"It's happened to my friends before," Aki replies, averting his eyes to a bookshelf nearby. He wasn't lying. Just a year ago Aki had reunited with one of his friends to find out that he had a year old daughter from an alpha he had dated back in high school. The alpha had left them not long after finding out. Too scared to take responsibility for her actions.
"I'm not like the others," Hiroto sighs and takes Aki's hands into his. "Listen, this child is mine as much as it is yours. I won't let you take full responsibility for something the two of us created together." Hiroto pauses and scratches the back of his neck. "It's going to be a bit difficult since our families, well…"
"Hate each other?" Aki offers with a weak smile. Hiroto turns to him with wide eyes but laughs lowly.
"Yes, they hate each other a lot," Hiroto's shoulders relax and he looks at Aki with a sweet smile. "But that doesn't mean we won't be able to make it work, neither does it mean I will just give up on this child."
Aki leans forward to wrap his arms around him. Hiroto's hands come to rest on his back and they both sigh in relief. What was Aki even worried about? Why did he think that Hiroto would've left him like that? But then Aki clears his throat and fidgets in his seat.
Hiroto pulls away and raises an eyebrow. "What's up? I can tell you have something you want to say."
Aki hesitates, fiddling with his fingers. "I just have a small question, it may sound dumb but-"
"Don't worry," Hiroto assures him, placing a hand on his shoulder. The smile on his face is so genuine and caring that Aki feels bad asking him this. But it was important to him.
"Can I still," he pauses to watch Hiroto's reaction closely. "Can I still have sex with other people?"