Subaru sat with Emilia as the two of them were holding controllers. Emilia's belly had gotten reaaally big.
Subaru: [I've got you, Mili!]
K.O!
Emilia: [Eh?!! You didn't let me get back on the platform! That's reaaally mean, Subaru!]
Subaru: [Knocking your opponent off the platform is the point of the game, Emilia-tan.]
Emilia pouted, turning her head away.
Subaru: [Ah sorry Mili.]
Emilia: [Can we try something else?]
Subaru: [You know what? How about we try some Zelda?]
Emilia's ears perked up.
Emilia: [That sounds great!]
Subaru grabbed the game and loaded it.
Emilia began playing.
Emilia: [Whoa, the graphics are reaaally amazing.]
Subaru: [Right?]
Emilia played for a while as Subaru was basically her gaming coach.
Emilia: [Oh no, the water.]
Subaru: [Water? Don't worry. Link can swim in this game.]
Emilia: [That's not the water I was talking about, Subaru.]
Subaru tilted his head as his eyes widened, and he got up in an instant and helped Emilia up slowly.
Subaru: [Dad!]
Kenichi rushed down and saw it.
Kenichi: [I'll get the car ready!]
Kenichi rushed out the door as Naoko arrived.
Naoko: [Oh dear!]
Subaru and Naoko began helping Emilia walk to the car. Thankfully, due to her elven heritage, she wasn't as helpless as a normal girl, meaning they were able to get there swiftly. They got into the car as Kenichi began driving.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
They arrived at the hospital as government doctors took over.
Doctor: [Don't worry, Natsuki-san. We'll make sure this birth goes well.]
Subaru was sweating so much from nervousness. He was terrified as he sat down next to Emilia. He held out his hand as she took it.
Nurse: [Miss Ellior. Please push.]
Subaru watched as she struggled to give birth, and something clicked in his head.
Subaru: (Cor Leonis.)
In an instant, half the pain flowed into him as he gritted his teeth in pain.
Subaru: (It's horrifying that this kind of pain makes it into my top 15. How the hell do Mothers manage it?)
Emilia: [Subaru?]
She had noticed that her pain had subsided.
Subaru: [I'm alright. The difference you're feeling is normal, so just do your best, okay?]
Emilia was not buying that for a second, but she saw the determination in his eyes. He wasn't just doing this for her but for their child as well. After a while, the baby finally came out. Tufts of black hair and amethyst eyes. Her ears were pointed but less than Emilia's.
Nurse: [Congratulations. It's a girl!]
The Nurse held her as Subaru cut the cord, and the Nurse took her to be cleaned. The Nurse returned afterwards as Subaru was ready to hold his daughter, but the Nurse held her away from him.
Subaru: [What the?]
Subaru panicked for a second, imagining what might happen to his child if the government had decided something.
Nurse: [The mother gets to see her first.]
Subaru sagged at this but was glad that his daughter wasn't in any danger. The nurse walked over to Emilia and handed the baby girl to her.
Emilia: [She's so beautiful.]
Emilia felt tears well up in her eyes. She was so overwhelmed with happiness. Subaru walked over, standing next to her as Emilia rubbed her cheek against her daughter, holding her close.
Nurse: [Have you two decided on a name?]
Emilia: [Fortuna.]
Subaru: (I bet Mili's mom is in heaven, crying grandma tears right now.)
Subaru smiled at the thought. Emilia then felt something strange.
Nurse: [Hold on!]
The nurse got back into position as Emilia felt another contraction.
Nurse: [Looks like we've got another oncoming Natsuki-san!]
Subaru: [What?]
After some more difficult moments, another baby was born.
Nurse: [Another girl. Congratulations.]
Subaru cut the cord, and then it hit him.
Subaru: [We never came up with a name for another girl!]
Emilia: [Subaru... name her... after something important to you.]
Subaru: [Something important to me. Naming her after mom wouldn't be a bad idea, but... it would be a bit weird.]
Subaru thought hard as an old woman appeared in his head.
Subaru: [Lyra. After My Great Aunt from my mom's side.]
Subaru: (She was the only one from Mom's side of the family that wasn't complicated in any way. She always spent time with Mom and Dad whenever she got the chance while she was still alive. I mean... It's totally not because she used to sneak me candy whenever she visited.)
Subaru whistled in his head inconspicuously. Emilia held Lyra, but then she realised.
Emilia: [White hair and... amethyst eyes... her ears too. As pointy as mine.]
Subaru: [I know, right. She's so perfect, isn't she? A mini Emilia-tan.]
Lyra had strongly inherited all the things that made Emilia's life difficult. She felt a sense of dread at this.
Subaru: [Hey Mili. Don't be a dunderhead. This isn't Lugunica. She's not going to have nearly as hard a time over here.]
Emilia's dread seemed to calm a bit.
Emilia: (Subaru's right. She doesn't have to go through what I had to go through.)
Subaru held Fortuna with his unseenhand to his chest.
Subaru: [And don't worry. If anyone bullies or is mean to her, her Old man will beat them up!]
Subaru said this, tapping his arm with a grin as Emilia smiled.
Subaru: [Two beautiful twins with Emilia-tan. I'm so happy.]
Emilia: [Subaru. Release Cor Leonis.]
Subaru: [Not yet. I'll put up with it until you've recovered a bit.]
Emilia pouted.
Emilia: [I'm really strong, Subaru. I'll be fine.]
Subaru: [I know. I'm not protecting you because I think you're weak. I'm protecting you because I love you.]
Emilia smiled at this.
Emilia: [If it becomes too much, then please release it, Subaru.]
Subaru: (This much isn't enough to get me on my knees, let alone kill me.)
Doctor: [Everything seems fine so far. We'll do some tests to make sure, and then you can take them home.]
Subaru nodded.
Emilia: [That's good. This bed feels reaaally uncomfortable.]
Subaru: [Arlight Mili. You don't have to worry about me. Mind if I introduce them to everyone?]
Emilia smiled.
Emilia: [Sure.]
Emilia said this as her eyes slowly closed and she dozed off.
Subaru: [...]
Subaru: (Mili is such a sleepyhead.)
The nurse opened the door and let the rest of the family inside. There was Kenichi, Naoko, Natsumi and Beatrice. Natsumi was standing as she stayed close to Naoko.
Kenichi: [Twins!]
Naoko: [Oh my god!]
Naoko looked to them and smiled softly.
Suabru: [Meet Fortuna and Lyra.]
Naoko: [Lyra... Subaru you...]
Subaru smiled.
Natsuki: (After Auntie... Subaru you...)
Naoko smiled to herself.
Beatrice: [Adorable, I suppose.]
Natsumi: [Baby...]
Naoko: [That's right, Natsumi. Baby.]
Kenichi started teasing Lyra by poking her in the cheek as Lyra tried to bite him. Fortunately, she had no teeth, so the attack was not effective.
Kenichi: [She just... tried to bite me. She's definitely got the Natsuki blood in her.]
Subaru sweat dropped at this.
Subaru: [They're both so adorable, aren't they? I love them so much already!]
Subaru was so giddy that the strain on him from Cor Leonis shifting part of Emilia's burden to him felt like water washing over him.
Natsumi: [Ly... Lyra. Fortooona?]
Naoko: [For...tu...na]
Naoko helped Natsumi pronounce the name.
Natsumi: [Fortie!]
Subaru: [...]
Kenichi: [...]
Naoko: [...]
Beatrice: [I expected nothing less.]
Natsumi: [Bako!]
Beatrice smiled at the girl.
Beatrice: [This one is growing up too fast, I suppose.]
Naoko: [I think so too.]
Naoko leaned down, pinching her daughter's cheeks, who tried to pull away.
Natsumi: [Mommy!]
Naoko laughed to herself a little.
Natsumi: [Big Brotha... Mommy is being mean to me!]
Subaru placed a stool next to the bed.
Subaru: [Come meet your Nieces.]
Natsumi walked over. She tripped over her short little legs as Subaru caught her with the unseen hand, helping her stand as she got onto the stool and saw Lyra. Natsumi poked Lyra's cheek. Lyra once again tried to bite the hand poking her.
Subaru: (My daughter seem a bit fiesty for a newborn. Like she has all the energy in the world.)
Then a look of dread appeared on Subaru's face.
Subaru: (How on earth am I going to get that child to fall asleep?)
Subaru lamented as he imagined the child crying all night out of sheer boredom.
Subaru: (This is... going to be rough.)
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
His prediction proved true as Lyra refused to sleep. She cried as if she had the energy of five men. Fortuna, on the other hand, was sleeping like a stone in the river. Subaru stared at Fortuna with eyes that showed how tired he was. He looked like the chosen undead.
Subaru: (How do you manage to stay asleep while next to your sister?)
Subaru then looked to Emilia, who was fast asleep in bed.
Subaru: (Like mother, like daughter. You're both such sleepyheads.)
Subaru sighed as he picked Lyra up and fed her. He tried everything to see if something was stopping her from sleeping, but in truth, it seemed that she was just too energetic.
Subaru: [God. How on earth do you have this much energy?]
Beatrice walked over.
Beatrice: [She's inherited her mother's mana reserves, and she is already passively using a toned-down version of the flow method.]
Subaru: [Seriously?!!]
Beatrice: [Why are you acting so surprised. You did the same when you first came to Lugunica. How else could you have accomplished all those feats of strength? She seems to have inherited that natural inclination along with her mother's mana reserves.]
Beatrice held out her hand.
Betrice: [Same magic affinity as Emilia as well. Hm? Same level of spirit affinity as you, Subaru.]
Subaru: [You gotta be kidding me. She's some kind of natural born prodigy!]
Beatrice: [You're feeling tired, right?]
Subaru: [Of course I am.]
Beatrice: [Then transfer your tiredness through Cor Leonis to her, and she'll fall asleep.]
Subaru: [You're a genius, Beako!]
Subaru began doing this as Lyra slowly yawned and began falling asleep.
Subaru: [Perfect.]
Subaru put Lyra back in her crib and put the blanket over her. Then he picked up his Beako and went to bed, hugging Beatrice as he slept next to Emilia.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
So many moments passed over almost two years. Subaru and Emilia got married, wearing traditional wedding wear for Japan. In a photo, they could be seen standing next to each other with smiles. Lyra said her first word.
Lyra: [Mayo.]
Naoko: [...]
Kenichi: [...]
Subaru: [...]
Subaru: (This one is definitely the one who caused Mili to have those cravings.)
Fortuna then said her first word not long after.
Fortuna: [Papa!]
Subaru's eyes lit up.
Subaru: [Aw!!! That's my baby girl! Tha'ts right. I'm your papa.]
Emilia watched the gigantic smile on Subaru's face as he held his daughter up and then started thorwingher into the air and catching her. Emilia paled at this.
Emilia: [Subaru, stop! That's dangerous!]
Fortuna held up her hands.
Fortuna: [Me too!]
Emilia: [No!]
Fortuna pouted.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Echidna stood before Roswaal, who kissed her hand.
Roswaal: [I've wanted to see you again for so long, teacher.]
Echidna: [Well done, Roswaal. Your magic has become very powerful.]
Felt: [You're only allowed tolive again cause I said so.]
Marcos: [Filore-sama, please engage in conversation with the Witch. Allow me and Reinhard to do so.]
Felt: [I ain't scared of this Bitch of Greed.]
Echinda: [Oh? So bold.]
Felt: [You're gonna help us bring back two people via the Mogolade Geyser.]
Echidna's eyes lit up.
Echidna: [Mogolade Geyser. I've... always wanted to experiment with it.]
Echidna licked her lips.
Echidna: [I'll require the Divine Dragon's Blood.]
Felt tossed a vial to her.
Felt: [Natsuki Subaru and Emilia. Bring them back.]
Echidna: [Very well. This is something that will satisfy my curiosity, but the Mogolade Geyser is a function of the world to eject foreign things. Using it against its purpose could damage it. Repairing such damage may take three years.]
Felt: (So if we bring Big Bro back, he'd have to wait at least 6 years to see his family again?)
Echidna: [Repeated Missuse would likely permanently dmage it. Natsuki Subaru must decide between this world and his own. Lest he suffer the consequences. His choice will be so very interesting.]
Echidna: (The timing is off, which means that Aldebaran succeeded. Now the sequence of events for the undesirable future doesn't align anymore. Bringing him back won't be a problem anymore. I'm sure Aldebaran feels the same way, which must be why he cooperated and told them. Well done, my apprentice. You've provided me with such... curious possibilities.)
Echidna: [I'll begin working on it. It should take me six months to create the magic formula that will allow for a return. It would have likely only taken three if only Beatrice were here or if Roswaal's body were ready to create such complex magical formulas.]
Felt: (Six months? That's longer than I expected. Damn it. That means he'll have been gone for almost 3 and a half years.)
Felt: [Hurry up and do it! Whether Big Bro is willing to come back... for 6 years... that's up to him.]
Echidna: [Very well. This shall be very entertaining.]
Echidna smiled. For Echidna, all of these fascinating opportunities were appearing before her. What would become of them, even she was not sure. The events that could occur going forward were so deliciously filled with boundless opportunities, and each one seemed equally satisfying.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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