Chapter Text
Karamatsu leans his head on one hand as the other taps his fingers impatiently on the table. His eyes shift every few seconds to something new, avoiding his mother standing at the counter preparing a snack as his leg begins to shake from the nerves. If he holds it in any longer he’s gonna explode, but this isn’t something he can just say, he needs the perfect moment. He closes his eyes, fingers still tapping away and clears his mind, looking deep within himself.
Suddenly he feels it.
He straightens up in his chair, a grin coming to his face as he picks up his tea, lifting the cup to his lips.
“We’re trying, you know.”
He takes a sip as the chopping suddenly comes to an abrupt halt.
Perfect.
After the short pause, Matsuyo resumes chopping, much slower than she had been before, “Trying? … Trying for what?” The knife continues to go slow, but comes down hard, the chop sounding almost intimidating.
Karamatsu sets his cup down again with a confident smile, eyes closed as he stalls for dramatic effect. Her chopping begins to go faster and Matsuyo tries to will herself not to look into it too much, but her second eldest’s self assured silence is driving her mad and she chops at a frantic pace now, trying not to get her hopes up, “Trying for what, Karamatsu?” She repeats, sweat beginning to bead at her hairline.
Turning to finally face his mother, he figures he’s kept her in suspense long enough. His eyes sparkle in their signature Karamatsu fashion as he answers her question happily, “Heh~ … Why, a baby of course!”
The knife clatters to the counter as Matsuyo’s whole entire body freezes. The room goes quiet for a few seconds before she’s suddenly at his side, hands gripping his arm like a vise, “IS IT TRUE? DON’T LIE TO YOUR MOTHER NOW KARAMATSU! IT’S NOT NICE TO PLAY WITH YOUR MOTHER’S HEART LIKE THIS KARAMATSU!!"
He somehow manages to smile at her amidst the pain as he desperately tries to pry his arm free from her claws, ”Y-yes, Mommy, it’s true! My honey and I are working diligently to bring a new life into this world!“
Matsuyo stares at him blankly for a few seconds, trying to look for any sign he was joking before she releases his arm, hands flying to her cheeks as she sighs dreamily, "A baby! A baby! Oh, Karamatsu you’ve made Mother so happy!"
His teeth are grit in a tense smile as he holds his arm examining the hand prints and puncture marks before shaking it off (it wasn’t as bad as the time she cut off his nipples, but it still hurt nonetheless).
He moves his uncrushed arm with a dramatic flair, light seemingly radiating off him, "Soon you will be grandmother to another precious blessing!” Matsuyo clasps her hands together, eyes glittering with unshed tears behind her round frames. With a happy cry she rushes to him and Karamatsu stands just in time to catch her, being pulled easily into his mother’s tight embrace. He hugs her back just as tightly, chuckling as she rambles into his chest excitedly about how long she’s waited for him and Ivette to have a baby, how they’re gonna have such beautiful children and how happy she is for them.
Karamatsu watches his mom dance around the kitchen in joy and he feels a warmth in his chest at the sight. This wouldn’t be her first grandchild, and certainly not her last, but he’s still so happy that she’s so happy about the news and he feels tears begin to pool in his eyes, his emotions getting the best of him.
Just as he’s about to break out into an emotional sob, his mother turns her head mechanically, eyes locking on him with a hardened expression, “What are you still doing here?"
He blinks at her, the tears stuck, "eh?"
"You’ll never make a baby sitting around here! Go! Get to it!” She shoos him, grabbing him by the shoulder and forcing him out of the kitchen.
“M-Mommy! Ivette is at the studio today! She won’t return home until this evening!"
She stops pushing and gives him that blank stare once more, glasses gleaming, ”Pay her a visit.“
”MOMMY??“
"She has a dressing room, doesn’t she?” Matsuyo deadpans, and Karamatsu shakes at just how calm she is about everything she’s saying, “It should only take about 15 minutes. Man up, Karamatsu.”
“MOMMY, PLEASE!!”