The sunlight filtered through the trees like glitter dust, and Hikari was running barefoot across the garden grass, a pink butterfly net in one hand and a determined expression on her face.
From the porch, Aoi watched her daughter with a soft smile, her hand resting unconsciously on her belly again.
"Do you think she’ll understand?" she asked gently.
Ren, seated beside her with a mug of tea in his hands, exhaled thoughtfully. "She’s more mature than most five-year-olds I’ve ever t." He looked sideways at her, teasing. "She takes after you."
Aoi smirked. "Well, then she might demand we give her naming rights."
Ren laughed.
"Let’s tell her."
A few monts later, Hikari skipped up to the porch, sweaty and triumphant.
"Mama! I almost caught one!"
"I saw," Aoi said. "You’re really fast."
"Faster than Papa now!"
"Hey—" Ren feigned a wounded gasp. "I’m still faster in my dreams, thank you."
Aoi knelt and cupped Hikari’s cheeks. "Sweetie, Mama and Papa have sothing important to tell you."
Hikari blinked, her tiny brows furrowing in curiosity. "Did I do sothing?"
Ren chuckled. "No, no. Nothing bad. It’s sothing happy."
Aoi looked at her daughter, then gently placed Hikari’s hand over her stomach.
"There’s a baby growing in Mama’s tummy."
Hikari’s eyes widened.
A long silence passed, and Ren and Aoi exchanged nervous glances—until suddenly, Hikari’s face burst into joy.
"I’m gonna be a big sister?!"
Aoi nodded, tears already forming. "Yes, honey. You are."
Hikari squealed and hugged Aoi tightly. "I’ll protect the baby forever! I’ll teach her how to climb trees and draw rockets and—wait—is it a girl?"
"We don’t know yet," Ren said, smiling warmly. "But I have a feeling she’ll be just like you."
Hikari turned, eyes blazing. "Papa, you better build her sothing cool too!"
That night, after Hikari fell asleep cuddled in her mother’s arms, Ren stepped into his hidden workspace beneath their ho.
He stood in front of the central interface and whispered, "Lucia, private design protocol. Lock room."
The screens flickered to life.
"I want to make sothing. Sothing for Aoi. Sothing different this ti."
Lucia responded gently. "Define purpose, sir."
Ren paused, placing his hand against his chest where the new arc module now humd faintly.
"...Sothing that grows with her. A living archive. mories, monts, voice recordings... I want her to carry the essence of this family, always."
Lucia processed. "Understood. Initiating ’Living mory Crystal’ prototype."
Ren smiled to himself. "This won’t be a weapon or a defense tool. This is... love, in digital form."
Outside, in the peaceful stillness of the night, Aoi cradled Hikari in her arms. Her heart was full—and so was her future.
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