[FFML] [teaser][Yotsuba&!] Yotsuba & Mommy

[Mythril Moth]

Ever since I first started posting PN2V, I've mentioned that there was 
another Yotsuba& story I had started previously, which at the time was 
supposed to be my main foray into Y&. After 25 chapters of PN2V and a large 
and ill-received chunk of "Fuuka & Playing House" (changed the title), I've 
decided it's finally time to at least offer up a little taste of what I've 
been quietly working on in the background.

Those who have issues with the vast gulf between my posted works and the 
canon may find this more to their liking. While it's still a digression, and 
it still has a more serious tone to it, for the most part it's a LOT more 
adherent to the manga.

Of course, it's still Koiwai x Fuuka shipping, and certain things which 
exist in PN2V and F&PH actually STARTED here, such as my arbitrary choice of 
given name for Koiwai.

This is the only teaser or incomplete chunk of this story I will post. The 
next time anyone sees anything of this, it will be a completed work.

But for now, I give you this small sample of...

YOTSUBA & MOMMY
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(standard disclaimers apply)
====================================================

Early fall brought a tranquil, muted quality to life in a small but thriving 
and lively town in Japan. The sedate pace of life suited Ayase Fuuka just 
fine.

Seventeen years old and in her final year of high school, Fuuka was the 
middle of three daughters, and widely regarded as the most mature and 
responsible member of her entire family. Such praise embarassed her, of 
course; she didn't consider herself to be anything more than simply a girl 
who took care of things that needed doing, trying to encourage others to do 
the same, and generally trying to keep a level head.

Not always an easy prospect, that, especially since the Koiwai family had 
moved in next door.

The previous summer had brought a certain element of zany chaos into Fuuka's 
daily life, largely in the form of a strange, energetic little girl named 
Yotsuba. Curious about everything, reckless and impulsive, and with a 
tendency to blurt out whatever was on her mind, Yotsuba was childhood 
distilled, a 180-proof vintage of the chaos of youth. Every new day and 
every new thing was an adventure where Koiwai Yotsuba was concerned--and 
apparently very little had existed on the island "to the left" where the 
little girl lived previously, because it seemed like everything under the 
sun was brand spanking new to the green-haired girl.

Along with the boundless ball of childish energy, other unique personalities 
had surfaced: Yotsuba's adopted father, a stringy-haired bachelor in his 
late twenties who worked from home and was such a disorganized slob he 
rarely bothered to put on pants; the spiteful freeloader Yanda; and last but 
certainly not least, the ponderous and improbable tower of a man, "Jumbo", 
who was gentle and light-hearted in defiance of his imposing 210cm height.

As chaotic and strange as life had been since the Koiwai family and friends 
became part of the daily routine, Fuuka would change a minute of it (well, 
maybe SOME minutes of it...), as she had developed deep bonds of friendship 
with Yotsuba, her slacker father, and even Jumbo.

Sunset on a blustery day found Fuuka patiently watching over Yotsuba as the 
child rode her bike up and down the sidewalk; it was the first time she had 
gotten on the bicycle since her father removed the training wheels. 
Occasionally she had to admonish Yotsuba not to pedal off too far, but apart 
from that, she was simply enjoying the sunset and the cool wind. It would be 
winter all too soon, freezing and wet; even Yotsuba would succumb to the 
bitter weather of the season, if only by being slightly less energetic.

The sun had now fully set, casting the neighborhood in dim twilight. 
"Yotsuba-chan!" Fuuka called. "It's time to go inside now."

Yotsuba obediently pedalled to a stop next to Fuuka, dismounting her bike 
and walking it through the gate. "Did you have fun?" Fuuka asked.

"Hai!" Yotsuba cheered.

"Yokatta," Fuuka replied with a smile. "I'm sure your daddy has supper 
ready."

"WAI!" Yotsuba bounded through the door enthusiastically; Fuuka laughed and 
started to head for the gate to go home.

"Fuuka," Koiwai's voice called from the door. She turned to see the stringy 
head poking out. "Would you mind joining us for dinner this evening?"

"Eeh?" Fuuka blinked. "Ah...hai," she agreed, bowing. "Chotto..." She pulled 
out her phone and dialled her own home number. "Kaasan? Koiwai-san wants me 
to stay and have dinner with them. Yes, I'm wasting minutes to tell you 
something I could've walked five steps to say to your face. Okay. I'll be 
home later, then." Putting away her phone, Fuuka headed into her neighbors' 
house.

Koiwai was not much of a cook, but he got by alright; spicy croquette and 
soba weren't terribly hard to make even for a slacker bachelor. During 
dinner, she listened to Yotsuba regale her father with tales of the day's 
adventures, and generally kept quiet, simply enjoying spending an evening 
with good friends she was thankful to have in her life.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize Koiwai had asked her 
something. "Ah-hai? Gomen..."

Koiwai rolled his eyes. "I asked how you think you're going to do on 
entrance exams," he repeated.

Fuuka pursed her lips in thought. "Probably okay, I hope," she said.

"What college are you going to shoot for?" Koiwai asked.

"I haven't really thought about it," the teen replied, faintly blushing; 
having said so was tantamount to admitting to having absolutely no plan for 
the future, given the harsh, competitive nature of the Japanese educational 
system.

"Sou desu ka," Koiwai said absently. "...Yotsuba, don't splash soup all 
over."

After dinner, Yotsuba had scampered off to the TV room to watch her favorite 
show, and Fuuka helped clean up the dishes. Once the cleaning was done, she 
bid her neighbors goodnight and headed for the door.

"Fuuka," Koiwai said suddenly. "There's something important I want to talk 
to you about."

The teenager paused in stepping into her shoes, and turned. "Eh?"

Koiwai glanced in the direction of his daughter in another room, a toothpick 
wiggling and down in his mouth. "You know," he said, "raising Yotsuba isn't 
easy."

"I...I can imagine not," Fuuka said, blinking.

The stringy-haired man sighed. "I don't know how good a father I am to her, 
but I'm trying my best."

"You're...you're a good dad!" Fuuka exclaimed. "A great dad! Okay maybe 
you're a little irresponsible and kind of a slob, but--"

"Yeah, I know," Koiwai said. "But...I can't do everything. I'm barely 
managing as it is. And when she gets older..." He trailed off, pursing his 
lips, making the toothpick touch the tip of his nose. "There's stuff I can't 
help her with. I mean, stuff I don't know anything about, you know?"

"Ah...hai," Fuuka replied, reddening slightly.

"Yotsuba needs a mother," Koiwai said.

"I...think that's probably a good idea, yes," Fuuka replied, nodding and 
glancing in the same direction as Koiwai...

...except he was no longer facing that direction, and had taken the 
toothpick out of his mouth. "You've taken such good care of us, Fuuka," he 
said suddenly. "I never have really thanked you for that."

"Ah...it's nothing, it's nothing!" Fuuka said, bowing and smiling 
sheepishly. "I mean, it's just, you know--"

"You're very mature and responsible. A lot more than I am."

Fuuka felt herself turning very red. "I...arigatou...anou..."

"I think you'd be the perfect mother for Yotsuba," Koiwai said.

Fuuka nearly fell over. "NA-NANI!?"

"I know it's sudden, but...I'd like you to be part of this family. To help 
me raise Yotsuba the right way."

The teenager felt all the color drain from her face. Her knees felt weak; 
her body felt heavy with shock. "You're not..." She swallowed. "Koiwai-san, 
are you--"

"Kotashi."

"--eh?"

"My name's Kotashi."

Fuuka blinked stupidly, then shook her head. "Kotashi-san...you're not..."

"Proposing to you? Yeah."

"...."

"You don't need to answer right now. I want you to take time to think about 
it." Koiwai paused. "I'm serious about this, Fuuka. I'm not looking for a 
wife for me, I'm looking for a mother for her. And I think you're exactly 
the right fit."

"I..." Fuuka paused. "I don't know what to say..." Slowly, mechanically, she 
stepped backwards, nearly tripping over her own shoes as she slipped into 
them. "Anou..."

"Think it over. There's no rush."

"--h-hai."




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Mythril Moth
www.mythrilmoth.net