First-person: Hoshino Yume
Following the successful comeback performance, we returned home. Ai, Aqua, Ruby, and I fell into a routine of peaceful days.
Of course, I had considered looking for another house. However, since Ai insisted she wanted to continue living here with the children, I decided against moving. We would stay here, even if it meant taking a slight risk.
Fortunately, this area was sparsely populated. Although going out into the city was difficult, we could spend time together in the yard in front of the house without much worry. Of course, I had to remain somewhat tense and keep a constant eye on our surroundings, but to protect our current lifestyle, I was willing to endure that much.
Aqua and Ruby also seemed to have grown accustomed to life in this house.
One afternoon, Ai, holding Aqua, asked, "Are you hungry? Want some milk?"
She offered to breastfeed him. However, knowing exactly who resided inside that tiny body...
I simply offered a moment of silence for Aqua and gazed at the distant mountains.
Meanwhile, Aqua, cradled in Ai's arms, shook his head violently in refusal. As always, I handed Ai the bottle I had prepared in advance.
"Since Aqua is mature, he seems satisfied with just the bottle. I think it's fine not to give him your breast."
"Ehh~? Wow, Aqua really loves the bottle, huh?"
Then, with a mischievous grin, Ai slowly approached me. She sat on my lap, leaned her back against my chest, and whispered:
"Then, since Aqua isn't eating... how about you, Yume?"
"Pfft!?"
He spat it out.
At Ai's words, Aqua, who had been sucking on the bottle, sprayed milk everywhere. Fortunately, Ai didn't see it, but hearing the sound, I naturally understood what had happened.
"There's no way I would... And I told you, at least wait until you're twenty before asking that."
"Ehh~? It's just drinking milk, isn't it? Don't you want to be my baby for a day, Yume?"
"I refuse."
"Tch~"
As if giving up, Ai just leaned her weight against me. When I turned my head toward the crib, Ruby was looking at us with sparkling, expectant eyes.
In response, I grabbed Ai by the scruff of her neck like a cat and steered her toward Ruby. As if waiting for this exact moment, Ruby started babbling at Ai.
"There, there, Ruby-chan. More milk?"
Ai casually exposed her breast and began feeding Ruby.
Even though I'm right beside her... should I scold Ai for being so casual, or is she behaving this way because she feels comfortable with me?
While I was seriously pondering this, Ai noted, "Ruby really loves milk, huh~"
When I looked at Ruby, she was flashing a smug smirk at Aqua. Then, sensing my gaze, she quickly reverted to an innocent baby expression and happily continued drinking.
No doubt about it. Ruby, you are definitely Ai's child.
Meanwhile, on the TV I had left on, a clip of Ai appeared.
"Look at that, Mama~ Isn't it amazing?"
Watching Ai boastfully point at her own image on the screen, I wondered how long we would have to keep up this double life.
I seriously considered whether I should keep it a secret from Ai and talk separately to the two "babies" in her arms. But even if I tried to talk, there was no way Aqua or Ruby would reveal their past lives to me. I had no choice but to act cautiously.
Somehow, I'm the one worrying the most. What is it with this mother-daughter duo...?
"Sigh."
Sighing and pulling a lollipop from my pocket had become a routine. I was eating so much candy to manage my stress that I couldn't even tell Ai to stop eating Häagen-Dazs anymore. In fact, it had reached the point where I was the one being told to cut back.
As I ate the candy, I checked outside the window. President Saito's car had arrived.
I looked at Ai, who was still holding the children.
"Start getting ready, Ai. It's time for work."
"Okay~"
In case of any unforeseen situations while Ai and I were away, Miyako had agreed to look after the children at our house. I told Ai and Saito to go ahead and wait for about 20 minutes.
Then, I decided to quietly eavesdrop on the conversation inside the room where Miyako and the children were left alone.
"You should hold back a little."
"Why? As her daughter, sucking Mama's breast is the natural order, isn't it? It's my God-given right!"
Wow. Really, Ruby, you are Hoshino Ai's daughter. Even that shamelessness reminds me of a younger Ai...
Of course, Ai was actually quite dark when she was young, but I thought if she had grown up normally, she might have had a childhood similar to Ruby's.
"First, let me ask: were you a woman in your past life too?"
So he's asking that first.
"Yeah."
"Then... well, it's barely within acceptable limits."
"Hah? An otaku's jealousy? Creepy!! Well, since it's ethically problematic for an old man to breastfeed, it's a good thing I was born as a girl who can legally experience breasts!!"
Ruby, please, watch your language! I'll raise you as a second Ai, but I don't want you to learn her vocabulary too...!!!
"From my ethical standpoint, that's also out."
Actually, since Ruby isn't an adult yet, maybe it's okay to let that slide...
"Poor Mama. Who would have thought her own child is her otaku fan? That's really gross... Ah~ poor Mama. I'll protect her forever."
Well, I'd appreciate that.
"You're even more disgustingly gross, you know?"
Meanwhile, the topic of conversation shifted to me. Honestly, I wanted to listen until the end, but unfortunately, due to lack of time, I hurried to the car where Ai and Saito were waiting.
Third-person: Hoshino Aquamarine / Ruby
"By the way, who is this Hoshino Yume person?"
"Well, judging by the shared last name, maybe he's family?"
"But didn't Mama have no family?"
"....."
At Ruby's words, Aqua knew the truth: in his past life, he grew up in the same facility as Yume and they shared the last name, but unfortunately, they weren't blood relatives. However, since he couldn't tell Ruby this fact, he simply remained silent.
"Still, if possible, I wish Yume could be our papa."
"Why?"
"I mean, we're living in such a big house, and before we were born, he lived with Ai all along, right?"
"That's true."
"Then isn't Yume someone incredibly high-spec who can take responsibility for our Mama?"
"I think judging him just by the house might be a bit much."
Aqua said this, but from his investigations in his past life, he had actually discovered that Yume was one of the top executives at Kuma Security Company, a premier security firm.
Thinking about how much hardship Yume must have endured to reach that position at such a young age, Aqua vaguely understood that it was likely all for Ai's sake.
"Still... well, if Yume were our father, it might not be so bad."
"Right? Ahh~ I wish he'd be our papa~"
It was a casual conversation between two babies spouting words, but they did not yet know that this wish might one day become the truth.
=============================
For every 200 Power Stones — one extra chapter.