2025-09-13: Young Mothers
- Log: Young Mothers
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Miho Ijuuin
- Where: A clinic in Rengedai, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: September 13, 2025
- IC Date: Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
- Summary: Yua and Miho visit a fertility clinic.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Having received a letter from the head of the Ijuuin family, Yua and Miho report to an upscale fertility clinic in Rengedai; normally, they'd need an appointment, but for someone of Miho's family it's only a phone call away. (Waiting weeks for an appointment would have simply been too harsh on Yua's nerves.) The waiting room is quite fancy and comfortable; the front desk is made of marble. They were given some intake paperwork to fill out, and...
"This all looks in order," the receptionist says. "Just, one thing... you haven't listed a husband, ma'am?"
"Oh," Yua says, nervousness crossing over her face. "I-I don't --"
"Sorry," the receptionist corrects herself. "Your boyfriend?"
Yua looks entirely trapped in the headlights, like a deer not long for this world. "Er --"
The receptionist smiles, sympathetically, with a hint of a wince. "Fertility services aren't really appropriate for single women..."
"T-that's," Yua's panic rises, "um--!"
She's definitely not going to remember that they have a letter specifically for this conversation.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho, of course, would not leave Yua to navigate this process alone even if it really were something separate from herself. ...But it's not, so that's completely out of the question.
So she's been here to reassure and to help, and to navigate bureaucracy as needed. For instance:
"That is not the situation." A pause, and Miho pulls from her folder a letter, which she hands to the receptionist.
"The details of Miss Ooshiro's situation must be kept private for now," Miho says, "But this document should explain all that you need to know."
Miho remembers. It's fine.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Miho is here! And she is not someone defeated by headlights. Yua looks to her with unvarnished gratitude, as she hands her letter over; the receptionist takes it, opens it up...
"Oh," she exclaims, "this is the Ijuuin's seal!" It's something which opens an awful lot of doors; their clan is old and venerable, even to the present day. She scans through the letter, and says, "Ah, I see... I'll put this in your file, ma'am. Please, take a seat..."
Yua clasps Miho's hand, when they sit; but that's not so unusual, because many women have support people coming with them to these appointments, and Miho could as easily be a dula as a fiancee. "I'm nervous," she murmurs, to her, but at least they don't have long to wait. This is, after all, the kind of clinic which serves people like Miho -- they don't tend to over-book.
"Right this way," a female doctor ushers them into an interview room. It's a comfortable place, designed to make a family comfortable more than to intimidate a patient; there's a couch alongside the chairs angled to face each other, and Yua sits there, beside Miho.
"I'm Dr. Himari Matsuhashi," she introduces herself, smiling. "What's brought you to us today?"
"I-I, um," Yua starts, one pointe shoe crossing over the other as she crosses her ankles, "I -- I'm to be a surrogate mother for Mimi! So -- so, we need your help!"
"Mm," Himari nods, glancing down to her file. "I saw that you have... personal arrangements with regards to the family," she says, "but it's important for me to ask... Ijuuin-san will be raising the child, then?"
"Um -- me too!" Yua barks out, glancing up to Miho as if to say 'SAVE ME'. "I-I'm, um... g-going to help, or, um..."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
If headlights try to blind Miho, the headlights should fear.
Miho smiles when the receptionist takes the letter and notices the seal. That is all she has to say; and of course, it is not strange here for Yua to hold her hand. Miho curls her fingers under Yua's supportively. "That's all right," Miho says. "It is natural." To be nervous.
And once in the room, Miho sits with Yua, and waits for the doctor. She waits, for Yua to speak up first, because she's the one who was asked the question.
"That is correct," Miho cuts in. "I will. But in my career, stopping to have a baby could mean stopping entirely. So Yua is helping..."
A pause. "As she will help later, yes. They say it takes a village, but I say it takes at least one very good friend. And the support of my family, of course."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I understand you'll be going overseas to compete very soon," Himari nods, to Miho, because indeed she read the file. "Good luck to you. So, you have your family's support..."
She pauses. "Mm. I'd like to ask who had the idea to start your family this way?"
"I-it was my idea," Yua speaks up, reaching over to clasp Miho's hand again. "B...before I do anything for myself, I really wanted to repay her! But -- but my mother really struggled when she was having children, so -- s-so I thought I had better do it when I was still young...?"
Himari tilts her head. "... is that really it?" She asks, gently.
And Miho can feel the way Yua shuts down, when her story is questioned. A scowling pout crashes onto her face, and her tone drops, too. "I already told you! Don't be so nosy."
... though, the thing on Himari's face is concern. "Everything you say in this room is confidential," she assures her, her voice still gentle. "I'm only asking so I know what risks you're facing, Ooshiro-san."
"Don't be weird!" Yua admonishes her, as she shrinks towards Miho, and... well, perhaps Miho foresaw her struggling with the questions a fertility doctor might ask her, given she's right here.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"That's true." A pause. "Thank you."
Who had the idea? Miho is quiet at first; she is not watching Yua. No, she is watching the doctor. Throughout Yua's story, throughout what she says, Miho's eyes are on Himari, because she is the one who could be a danger here. She rests her other hand over Yua's to reassure her, and considers. Confidentiality...
"Confidential, then. I understand." She doesn't need to threaten. But she does think...
"It's all right, Yua."
A pause. "Yes, those are the public-facing stories," Miho says. "But in reality, Yua and I form a pair. She is having our baby because it will be our baby."
"Do you understand?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua takes a breath, feeling Miho's hand over hers, and visibly relaxes; and this, too, Himari sees, because she too is watching them.
Miho reassures her, and Yua nods, swallowing at a lump in her throat. She's scared, but... Miho's here.
And they form a pair.
"I do," Himari nods. "... you're not the first I've seen. There are, occasionally, women whose husbands attend with them far less than a 'friend'... please understand that I'm your doctor, so I'm not here to pass any sort of judgement on your arrangement. I'd just like to ask some questions about your feelings --"
"Anything you have to say, you can say it in front of Mimi!" Yua yells, turning herself towards her.
"No, ah -- please let me explain," she shakes her head. "When women are in a situation like yours, it isn't always as safe, so whether you feel you're safe is very important to me... but I can see you don't feel very safe right now, Ooshiro-san. Is it okay if I ask why?"
And Yua grumbles, latching herself about Miho's midsection, though eventually she explains. "... someone treating me was weird about it. She asked all these weird questions... and enjoyed it too much."
"I see," sorrow crosses over Himari's face. "That's awful. No one should be exploiting you like that. I won't ask any questions about your relationship unless Ijuuin-san is with you, all right?"
"Mmh," Yua mumbles an untrusting agreement, against Miho.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Himari understands; Miho nods, at that. "I see," Miho answers, and feels a moment of solidarity with other women in their position, an unusual feeling for her. She is not accustomed to feeling commonality with the People. It is strange.. but not entirely unwelcome.
"That incident," Miho explains, "Is part of why I intend to be with her at as many of these appointments as is possible. I do understand if you need to ask if she feels safe with me..." Magnanimous, "But this was her idea; she brought me the ways and means that we could use, and did a great deal of research."
A pause. "But thank you for respecting her wishes in that matter."
"I believe that she can be trusted, Yua. Let us answer her questions in a spirit of cooperation."
"...We will need an ally, on the path we're on."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Those women, of course, needed to marry men to get what they wanted -- but just because they need to cleave to the whims of society, does that make their love any less true?
(Yua is reassured to know that they're not alone, too.)
Miho is magnanimous, and Yua embraces her, seeking safety beside her from the world outside. Himari can hear the way Miho speaks, of course, but she can see the way Yua leans on her just the same. She can tell when someone is speaking over their partner, after decades of experience in the field, and she doesn't assess Yua as being uncomfortable with the way Miho speaks up.
And Miho assesses Himari as trustworthy, and Yua looks up, to her. "Mm... you're right," she sighs, and turns towards Himari again, though she still holds Miho's hand tightly. "Okay..."
"I'd like to take some basic measurements of you both," Himari says. "And take some samples to send back for testing. Is that all right?"
Yua sighs, deeply. "Okay..."
... and it all goes about as well as can be expected; she does ask both Miho and Yua whether they have any concerns about the situation, when she sends each off with a little jar, and of course Yua says she really does love Miho and really does want a baby. She's far more of a baby about the blood samples, but of course Miho can hold her hand so that's fine. Her height comes out as 153 centimetres, to Miho's 183; her weight is a mere 50 kilograms, which explains why Miho can lift her up so easily. And as for her vital signs...
"Do you... normally have issues with hypertension, Ooshiro-san?" Himari asks, as the cuff on the blood pressure monitor deflates.
"No..." Yua pouts.
"Ah, then... you're still nervous, aren't you?" Himari smiles, sympathetically. "Ijuuin-san, would you mind coming over here? I think Ooshiro-san might be more at ease beside you."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho would say it doesn't; she is aware, at least, of the things she can do that many cannot.
Miho knows that she holds the power here to make these matters easier, and exercises it. So, basic measurements, samples... "Very well."
Miho does feel safe in this situation, as it happens. But she does have some concerns: Doctor, you will be sure that Yua's health is kept in foremost priority, won't you? It's like that. But Miho is also loving, and glad of this plan.
Miho is bigger, and heavier, and stronger.
"Certainly," Miho answers Himari, and steps over from where she'd been. "It's all right, Yua. You can relax; I'm with you."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Himari assures Miho, in turn, that she will have no higher priority than Yua's health throughout her pregnancy. And that priority may well seem to hold true, as she gathers her measurements; she is very careful to take everything into account, careful to get a full picture.
And she's aware of just who's strong enough to support Yua, evidently, as she calls her over. Yua holds her hand, leaning her face towards her where she's sitting beside the desk, and Himari nods. "Do you feel a little better now?"
"Yeah..." Yua says, her gaze on Miho's hand instead of the doctor.
"Can I try again?" Himari asks, and makes a point of asking.
"Sure," Yua says. And this time, the reading... is a mere 136 over 92! Which Miho might recognise as a little elevated, given all the health appointments she needs for her work as an Olympian, but far less concerning than the first go around.
"There we go," she says, unstrapping the cuff from Yua's arm. "You two can go and sit down again, if you'd like...?"
"Mmhm," Yua nods, taking Miho by the hand and dragging her back to the couch.
"We'll know more when the test results come back," Himari says, "but from what you've told me about your mother --" because of course Yua was giving her a verbal history of her mother's pregnancies, throughout all that -- "I'd like to monitor you closely throughout this process. If we can get you a good first pregnancy, you'll be in an excellent position to grow your family, should you wish."
She looks to Miho, having by now intuited the score, as she asks: "Do you have a blood pressure machine at home, Ijuuin-san? I'd like you to buy one, if you don't, so that you can keep an eye on your blood pressure at home."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho is glad to hear that! She even believes it.
But now, Miho is there. She holds Yua's hand when she can, and notices... elevation. But that's fine. A little elevated is okay.
"Yes," Miho answers of being seated, and walks back with Yua and sits down.
They'll know more... hmmm. Of course.
"That would be good. It would be nice to have options, wouldn't it?" Miho says to Yua, and then looks back to Himari.
"No. I will acquire one immediately," she says, willing to follow the doctor's instructions. "Yua also has a personal nurse; if you could provide instructions to her to anything that might be necessary, I would be appreciative."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua hums, tilting her head, looking to Miho instead of Himari yet again. "Having a daughter would be nice, too..." She smiles, drawn out of her shell a little by the thought of it.
Himari of course expects Miho to agree, though she isn't unreasonable; she's aware that her colleagues can at times issue directions to their patients with no explanation, but given that her patients are by and large people who are used to issuing orders, she's learned to spend a little more time making sure they're on board. "That's great news," she smiles, when Miho mentions Sachie. "We'll get you a consent form so that I can speak with her properly... but it's very reassuring to hear you have a connection like that already, Ooshiro-san. She can help us monitor you at home, so you can stay where you're comfortable more often."
"That sounds okay," Yua nods, and she's still slow to trust, but is at least slowly coming around to Himari; Miho trusts her, and Miho would remove them at once if she saw Himari doing anything bad, so this must all really be fine.
"Let's schedule an appointment at the hospital for you as well, Ijuuin-san, so that we can extract your eggs. It's a single-day procedure, though you should be aware there are potential complications relating to bleeding and anesthesia... the risk is low, but you may wish to think about when you'd like to undergo the procedure, given your career."
"That's kind of scary..." Yua sighs, placing a hand at Miho's arm as she looks up to her. "What do you think, Mimi?" Because of course it's one thing for her to take on the task of pregnancy, with all the risks ahead of her... but the risks to Miho are another thing entirely, in her mind.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
A daughter!
But, "Very well." Miho will sign it. She is glad that it is reassuring, because she hoped it would be; she does want all of this to work out... and that includes having a cooperative relationship with the doctors. They expect a certain deference, and Miho is, while not deferential, certainly polite.
"Yes," Miho says of the appointment, and considers. "I will not have Yua undergo risk without doing so myself. I would prefer to make it soon, so that if there are any complications, we can sort them prior to my meets."
Miho knows Yua is kind of scared, but...
"I would rather proceed as quickly as possible."
A pause. "Does that suit your approach, Doctor?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua... will also sign it, if Miho signs it.
But Miho is brave, and a woman of action, and where Yua hesitates she strides forward. She's always admired that, about her, an emotion which comes out as an affectionate, "Mimi..."
"I see that you're eager to move forward," Himari nods. "So I'll arrange for the appointment as soon as I'm able to review your test results. You'll need to take a day off of work, but you should be well to return the next day -- I'll arrange that paperwork for you, too."
She smiles, gesturing to them with an open palm. "We'll go as quickly as we can while being safe. I can see this is very important to you."
"It is," Yua nods, grasping Miho's arm. "I really want to have a family. We're really serious."
"You are," Himari nods, and she is quite patient, with Yua. "Don't worry, I'll give you instructions on how to keep an eye on your progress while you're overseas, too. I want you to know that we're here to support you and Ijuuin-san every step of the way, Ooshiro-san."
"Okay!" Yua smiles, to her, finally offering a shred of acceptance. "So long as it's Mimi, too... it's okay!"
Miho won two battles, today.