Kurura and her husband, Rasa, were seated in their Obstetrician's office, as their doctor spoke his concerns.
"Doctor Murata, will this be an issue?" Rasa spoke, panic already taking root in his mind. Should they continue? Did they have to stop the life that hadn't even been born yet? Would Kurura even give up their child? No. She wouldn't even consider it. What should we do?
Before the doctor could respond, Kurura spoke up, with obvious displeasure in her lacing words. Now bending forward, hands on her knees, looking as if her eyes could burrow into his skull. Clearly, she was not pleased with his delayed talk.
"Mr. Murata, with all due respect, surely there have been similar cases. There must have been prior incidents that had succeeded? You speak as if there hadn't been mutation quirks with similar precedents."
Doctor Murata was prepared. He just needed to break the odds to the couple as gently as possible, and the mother just happened to be a bit intense with words.
"Yes-Well-While you are correct, those cases have been so few in number that they are almost non-existent. Those that did, had-" Murata paused, trying to break it to them as gently as possible. "However, substantial backing."
The doctor continued, as they began to realize that it wasn't a matter of whether it was possible. It was a matter of cost, an extended bill.
''A lot is needed to ensure the survival of a child whose quirk is relatively unknown and in the process of developing this early." Doctor Murata finished. His words affirmed their thoughts.
Rasa looked at his wife as she looked at him. Her expression had changed, relief already on her face. He could already see the answer in her eyes.
He was the same. He never wanted to give up their child, and knowing it was still possible, he was ready to try. The process would just be more expensive. With a nod, he confirmed with his wife and spoke. "Doctor Murata, I-We, would prefer that solution."
Looking at the clock on the wall, Rasa never felt so nervous. He sat just outside the hospital room, waiting for the news. It had been nearly a year since his wife had become pregnant, and it felt just as long.
They had been lucky. If Doctor Murata hadn't noticed that she was at risk. That the baby's quirk could tear her apart before he was even born. It was a terrifying thought, to say the least.
He had gained dark circles around his eyes. Putting in multiple months' worth of overtime in his Hero Support work. So much so, he was promoted to number three in his agency. All to fund the necessary procedures for his wife. He now just hoped it was enough.
Unfortunately, he had it the easiest. Compared to what his wife had gone through, it was far better, from the average symptoms of pregnancy, such as hunger, growth pains, and period cramps, to the instability of her own quirk and their child's quirk developing at the same time.
Throughout all those months, they had to meet with multiple professionals. Initially, having at least a dozen in-home visits in the beginning months. Then, after just a couple of months, she had to move into a special care facility.
After that, they had to work with even more professionals, and here they were. It was now January 17th of 20XX, and eleven months into his wife's pregnancy. Rasa was seated, waiting for news that it wouldn't just be him and his wife anymore.
The door opened, and a nurse came out. "Mr. Sato, congratulations. You're all ready to go in now." Rasa stood up the moment he heard his name. Eagerness, overwhelming him as he followed the nurse inside.
Kurura felt happy, affirming that everything till this moment had been worth it. She knew it would, knew that in the end all the pain would be outweighed by this moment.
Pain was something she hadn't grown accustomed to much before. Now, however, she can confidently say it was something she is intimately familiar with. After all, her quirk allowed her to avoid it most of her life. Having the ability to change her body's composition would do that to you.
She was lucky, though, that it only did so partially. Or else this pregnancy would probably never turn out well. Now here she was, lying on the hospital bed and holding her son.
He was small, definitely not the average size of a baby. His skin was so pale it looked as if he had lost his vitality, appearing grainy and somewhat rough. He had his father's red hair, a little damp puff of it at least. But all that didn't matter, because here he is, her son.
Rasa entered the room the next moment. Kurura beckoned him over as soon as she saw him, an over-eager grin on her face. Looking not the least bit like she had just given birth. He came over, not a moment delayed. This was their moment. Their child was finally here.
As he wrapped an arm around his wife, he gazed down on their child. The first thing on his mind was his size. He appeared so small, barely fitting in both his wife's hands. Both he and his wife knew why.
It was his quirk. An extra layer of skin had formed around his body, which produces sand erratically. A grainy layer composed of sand. But to him, that didn't matter. He was here, and his wife was here; whatever happens next, they would be able to get through it together.
Kurura turned her head to face Rasa. Her face was alight with a smile that spread across her face. "So I think we already know the name we want, right?" He smiled back, the gentle warmth her smile held giving the same in return. They spoke it simultaneously. "He'll be our Gaara."