Double Mother: The Miracle Woven by Haruka and Mana's Love - Chapter 4

The morning light streamed through the curtains into the living room. Yet even that light was too bright for Haruka. Unable to bear the sluggishness in her body and the churning sensation in her stomach, she lay on the sofa and let out a deep sigh. This had been happening almost every day since entering her fifth week. The morning sickness was so severe that even eating a little or drinking water had become difficult.

“Haruka-chan…”

Mana, sitting beside her, peered at her with concern. She too was suffering from morning sickness, but today Haruka clearly had it worse. Mana gently grasped Haruka’s hand. Her hand was warm, offering a small sense of comfort.

“Sorry, Mana-chan… I’m the only one complaining…”

Haruka murmured in a faint voice, but Mana immediately shook her head.

“That’s not true. I’m the same… It’s just that I’m feeling a bit better today.”

They had never competed over who was suffering more, simply supporting each other through it all. However, having their morning sickness periods coincide had brought them unexpected hardship.

“…I wonder if there’s anything I can eat.”

Haruka held her stomach and made a slight grimace. She knew that not eating would weaken her body further, but her stomach rejected everything she tried to eat. Seeing this, Mana thought for a moment, recalling the refrigerator.

“What do you think? Maybe some of the rice porridge we made before? You might be able to eat a little of that?”

Choosing her words carefully, Mana made the suggestion. They had both managed to eat some last time, so perhaps it would work today too. Haruka gave a small nod and decided to leave it to Mana.

Mana stood up and headed to the kitchen. She immediately took the container of rice porridge from the refrigerator and prepared to warm it up slightly. Even as she worked, her heart overflowed with concern for Haruka. It pained her to see Haruka so weakened. Yet at the same time, she felt happy that Haruka trusted and relied on her.

Returning with the warmed porridge in a small bowl and a spoon, Mana said gently, “Don’t push yourself. Just take it little by little.”

As Mana offered her the spoon, Haruka took it with trembling hands. She slowly brought a mouthful to her lips, making a slight grimace. But she managed to swallow it without vomiting.

“Thank you… Mana-chan.”

Haruka smiled with gratitude, though exhaustion still lingered on her face. Mana gently stroked Haruka’s hair and softly touched her cheek.

“You’re doing so well, Haruka-chan.You’re really amazing.”

At those words, Haruka’s eyes grew slightly moist. Though tears threatened to spill, Mana’s kindness seeped into her heart.

“I’m really glad you’re here with me, Mana-chan…”

Haruka squeezed Mana’s hand in return, soothed by its warmth. Even during these difficult days, there were moments of salvation because Mana was by her side. And this was something they both felt.

In the evening, the two-lay side by side on the bed, spending time quietly. Both were equally exhausted, and without speaking, simply holding hands was enough. Only when the waves of morning sickness subsided did a small sense of peace visit them.

“Hey, Mana-chan! Do you think we can really raise these children properly?”

When Haruka let slip her anxiety in a murmur, Mana looked at her with slight surprise. She had been thinking similar thoughts herself, but had been somewhat afraid to voice them. However, now that Haruka had said it aloud, she could share that anxiety.

“Me too! I sometimes feel anxious, but since there are two of us, I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

Saying this, Mana gently kissed Haruka’s forehead. They believed that by supporting each other, they could overcome any difficulty. So even though the present was painful, joy must surely be waiting for them ahead.

That night, as they spent a quiet evening with their bodies still not fully recovered, the sound of wind gently rustling the trees could be heard outside the window.

Mana softly placed her hand on Haruka’s back, feeling reassured by its softness. Wrapped in that warmth, Haruka was able to fall asleep, if only a little. From now on, the two would walk together, supporting each other as they nurtured new life.