Chapter 94: Designs

Seiya

Sou smiled as he saw a bag of cookies.

"Cookies! Eiya, can I buy them?"

I snickered. Seemed he was acting like his usual self again.

"Sure!" I said, smiling back.

His eyes glistened as he added them into the cart. Mom had sent us to get food. While spring was coming soon, it still wasn't planting season yet. Although, the early blooms of the cherry blossoms were misleading for outsiders. The high chakra concentration around this town made it that the cherry blossoms bloomed even out of season. Underneath this small, unassuming town laid something powerful. Something we in the know had to protect.

"Alright, what's next on the list?" Sou asked.

I snuck a look at my list. "Towels and meat."

"I'll go get the meat then!"

I chuckled as Sou ran off. That boy really was like a dog. Granted, I was too…

Shrugging, I wheeled the cart over toward the towel aisle. Just before reaching it, I saw a car seat for babies and toddlers. Hmm, since I was going to be a father soon, I'd to buy some stuff for the little one soon.

I dug into my pocket to check my wallet. Most of the money was what Ma had given us for the stuff. She usually gave us an exact amount whenever she sent us out on errands. Although she did try to give us a little wiggle room for a snack, like Sou's cookies.

As for my personal money, I only had a blue bank note. A twenty, good for getting us some burgers, but not for a car seat.

My eyes glided over to some of the baby clothes. They were so small and cute.

I giggled to myself. I always a baby. I'd given up on the idea when I began dating Ziv. At least of being one anytime soon. Gay couples weren't allowed to adopt in this country, and getting a surrogate mother was expensive.

Would the little one take more after their "mommy" or their daddy?

"Eiya! There's a deal on pork! Buy two, get the third free!" Sou yelled as he ran toward the paper towel aisle.

I turned just he slowed down.

Sou blinked. "Huh? What are you doing in this aisle?" He stared at the baby stuff. "Mom didn't ask us to buy our little bro any new clothes. Plus, these are too small for him now." He gasped. "Wait, are you shopping for my nephew-slash-niece?"

My cheeks reddened. "Uh, I just saw the stuff and was thinking…"

He eyed the car seat and hummed. "I think Mom still has the one our bro used. We can use that one."

I smiled. "Good idea, Sou! It'll save us some money!"

"Exactly!" Sou beamed, clearly excited by the thought of the new addition to the family. "Besides, we can always buy new stuff later once we know if it's a boy or a girl."

I nodded, appreciating his practicality. "You're right. There's no need to rush."

With that settled, we continued shopping, picking up the towels and taking advantage of the deal on the pork as Sou had suggested. The whole while, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with a touch of anxiety. Becoming a father was a big step, one that I was excited to take but also somewhat fearful of. The responsibility was huge, but I knew that with the support of my family, I could handle it.

Once we finished shopping and paid for our purchases, we loaded everything into the car. As I drove us home, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Sou. He was happily munching on one of the cookies he had bought, oblivious to the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.

Back home, we unloaded the groceries and put everything away. As I placed the towels in the linen closet and the meat in the freezer, I found myself again thinking about the baby. The car seat, the tiny clothes, the endless list of baby essentials - it was all a bit overwhelming.

I glanced at Ziv's place and wondered how he felt about this. We were a couple, so it was best I consulted him about it. He was the one caring for the egg after all.

After everything was put away, I found myself drawn to Ziv's place again. The air was crisp as I stepped outside, my mind filled with thoughts of the future. As I walked, my fingers brushed against the small blue note still in my pocket. It wasn't enough for a car seat, but it was a start.

As I approached Ziv's door, my heart pounded in my chest. We had discussed raising a baby before, in abstract terms, but now it was becoming real. There was an actual baby on the way, and it was both thrilling and terrifying.

I knocked softly on the door, my palms sweaty with anticipation. When Ziv opened the door, his eyes lighting up at the sight of me, a wave of relief washed over me. I had to remember that I wasn't alone in this. On the flip side, I also had to remind Ziv of that too.

"Seiya," he greeted me, his voice warm. "What brings you here?"

"I was just thinking about the baby," I admitted, my cheeks heating up at the admission. "And I realized, we have a lot to prepare for."

Ziv's smile softened, his gaze understanding. "Yes, we do. But we'll do it together, right?"

I chuckled. "Must you even ask?"

"That said, I was thinking of having Ava help us. She is really excited about making the baby clothes."

"She is?"

He nodded. "Her dream is to be a fashion designer after all.

"That's a great idea, Ziv," I said, already picturing Ava's designs on our little one. "I bet she'd be thrilled to help. And it'd be nice to have some custom-made clothes for the baby from his or her aunt."

Ziv beamed. "That's what I was thinking, too. Plus, she's really good at what she does. I bet she could even make some cute blankets and bibs."

I couldn't help but laugh at the image of our child wearing designer bibs, but the idea was genuinely appealing. Ava was talented, and her excitement would be infectious. It was another reminder of the love and support our child was already surrounded by, even before they were born.

"We can ask Ava about it now, if you want," I Ziv said, looking over his shoulder. "She might already have some designs finished."

"Alright!" I said walking in.

Ziv walked me over to the kitchen table.

Ava was sketching some baby clothes.

"Hey, guys," Ava said, smiling as she looked up. "Just in time. I just finished some sketches. Although, it might be a bit early to make them, you can at least tell me your thoughts."

I blinked at the images. The clothes were cute, but apart from the onesies, the rest seemed aimed at girls. "Aren't most of these dresses?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I got inspiration by how boys used to wear dresses in their early years in the past."

I scratched my head. "That was a thing?"

Ava nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, it was quite common in the past for young boys to wear dresses until they reached a certain age. It was seen as practical and easier for diaper changes and potty training."

I chuckled, intrigued by the historical tidbit. "I had no idea about that. It's interesting how fashion norms change over time."

Ava grinned. "Exactly! I thought it would be a unique and nostalgic twist for the baby's wardrobe. But if you prefer more gender-neutral options, like the onesies. I can definitely come up with some different designs."

Ziv and I exchanged a look, silently communicating our thoughts. I could tell he was as impressed by his sister's creativity as I was.

"I think it's a great idea to mix traditional and modern styles," Ziv said, breaking the brief silence. "It would give our baby a unique wardrobe."

I nodded in agreement. "I love the idea of blending the past with the present. It's a beautiful way to honor our heritage while embracing the future."

Ava's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'm so glad you like the concept! I'll start working on some more designs that incorporate a wider range of styles. And of course, I'll make sure to include some gender-neutral options as well."

"Thank you, Ava," Ziv said, gratitude evident in his voice. "Your talent and dedication mean a lot to us."

Ava beamed, her cheeks slightly flushed with pride. "I'm just happy to contribute in any way I can. I can't wait to see our little one rocking these outfits! That said, feel free to look over the rest of my profolio. You boys might find something for yourselves."

I laughed. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it would make good practice."

I flipped through her notebook and saw some sketches with a model similar to Sou. 

"Hey, is this Sou?"

She gasped and turned away. "Yeah. Some of them are from memory, but some others I sketched in person. When he isn't jumping around, he can be rather photogenic."

I laughed at Ava's confession as I continued to flip through her sketches. She had really captured Sou's energetic spirit in her designs. 

"That's really good, Ava," I said, showing one of the sketches to Ziv.

"Maybe you should consider doing a fashion line for us as well," Ziv suggested, half-joking.

She smiled. "Maybe. I also used some of my friends as models. Although, I didn't exactly ask for their consent."

I blushed as I came across a sketch of Ziv in a suit. He looked so handsome.

"Isn't this from our graduation?" I asked.

"Yeah, Ava and Mom made that suit," he said.

"Really?" I asked, turning the sketch toward him. "I didn't realize they made it. It looked so professional."

Ziv chuckled, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "Yeah, they did a great job. Ava has a real gift."

Ava, who had been watching our exchange with a shy smile, seemed to glow under the praise. "I'm glad you liked it, Ziv. I wanted to make sure you looked your best for such a special occasion."

"And I definitely did, thanks to you and mom," Ziv said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Seiya couldn't stop complimenting me that day."

I felt my own cheeks heat up at the memory. "Well, you did look incredibly handsome," I admitted, giving Ziv a fond look.

The room filled with a warm, comfortable silence as we all basked in the pleasant memories. Looking at Ava's sketches, it was clear just how talented she was. Each design was unique, filled with intricate details and creative flair without being over the top. The way she had captured Sou's energy, Sehun and Sayuri's beauty, Kai's cuteness, and Ziv's handsomeness was truly impressive.

"Your work is amazing, Ava," I said sincerely, closing the sketchbook and handing it back to her. "I can't wait to see what you come up with for the baby."

She blushed but looked pleased. "Thank you, Seiya. I'll do my best."

And I knew she would. Just like the rest of us, Ava was excited for the new addition to our family. We were all eager to welcome our little one into the world, and each of us was doing our part to prepare for their arrival.