Taking care of a child...was more peaceful than I thought?
I an, she does still annoy but compared to Gorn and the others? She's basically harmless.
"Hm...Kio!"
"No, too common."
"Uh... Pinky?"
"What the fuck, what is she a dog?"
"Hey, Language!"
My clones, Uno(the missing one) as well as Dos, Tres, and Quatro have been bickering and coming up with nas for the kid.
Right now, I'm having a staring contest with the child. Her sitting on the table, her clothes a floral dress we got from Serena and sitting on the chair in front of her wearing a dark blue female style hakama.
"Sparkle?" Quatro suggests, twirling an imaginary mustache like so mad scientist.
"No. Absolutely not," I say, narrowing my eyes.
The kid, unbothered by the chaos, kicks her tiny legs on the table, her curious gaze fixed on . She tilts her head, her big, innocent eyes staring down as if trying to unearth the mysteries of the universe. Or maybe she's wondering why I haven't offered her another cookie.
Yeah, I made so cookie's for her when we bought her floral dress and my hakama. Maybe so japanese people are here too? I an how on earth would these clothes be here if not?
"Okay, what about Blade?" says Dos, her voice dripping with exaggerated coolness. "She'll grow up and beco a badass warrior with a na like that."
"She's seven," I snap. "And a *Blade* sounds like she's starring in a bad action movie."
"Okay, fine. How about Artemis?" offers Tres, adjusting her imaginary glasses like so intellectual scholar. "A na from the myths, you know grace, and power."
"Do I look like I have ti to raise a goddess?"
Quatro slaps the table, standing up dramatically. "Then I propose Snuggles! It's ironic and adorable!"
There's a collective groan, including one from .
"Snuggles?" I repeat, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Do you want her to get bullied?"
Very far fetched, but I do plan on creating a school here soti in the future for her and the monster kids
Quatro shrugs unapologetically. "Maybe it'll build character."
"Right. Because that worked so well for you," mutters Dos, earning a sharp glare from Quatro and making wince.
Yeah, I rember getting bullied before for only having a mother. I didn't care but everyti sobody talks about things like that, it reminds of her...
I guess even if they are that doesn't an they understand what happened, huh?
Do they have like, only the mories but not the emotions I felt back then?
"Enough." I cut them off with a sharp wave of my hand. The clones quiet down, though I can still feel their collective disappointnt hanging in the air. I turn my attention back to the kid, who has sohow managed to balance a cookie on her nose like a seal.
"Alright, tiny nace," I say, leaning forward on my elbows. "What do you want to be called? Got any preferences? Cool nicknas? Weird hobbies we can na you after?"
She blinks at , the cookie sliding off her nose and landing with a soft plop on the table. Then, without breaking eye contact, she picks it up and takes a massive bite.
"Helpful," I mutter. If she wasn't so cute I would've left her with Leah and Serena instead.
"Maybe she doesn't need a na," says Diez, having decided to grace us with her presence after I told her to stay in the kid's shadow. She's leaning against the doorway, arms crossed her eyes flickering over the child.
Hm?
"Oh, look who finally decided to show up," I say. "What's the matter, Diez? Afraid to bond with the kid?"
She rolled her eyes. "I've been busy, unlike you lot sitting here playing *Na That Child*."
"And what exactly were you busy with? Last I checked you were the one playing with the tiny nace here." I ask suspiciously.
"Stuff."
Before I can press her further, the kid interrupts by pointing at her. "Shadow Man."
The room goes dead silent.
"...What?" says Diez, her *composure* cracking just slightly.
"You," she says, jabbing her tiny finger toward my clone again. "Shadow Man."
The clones burst out laughing, Quatro nearly falling out of her chair.
"Oh, this is perfect!" Quatro wheezes, clutching her sides. "It must be because you're always in her shadow unlike Nueve who often goes and play with us!"
Even I can't suppress the smirk tugging at my lips. "Well, Shadow Man, looks like you've made quite the impression."
Diez glares at the kid, who is now munching on her cookie with a self-satisfied grin but then hurriedly hid it. "That's not my na," she says flatly.
"It is now," I say, leaning back in my chair. "You might as well embrace it."
"Focus," snaps Diez, redirecting the conversation. "If we're keeping her around, she needs a proper na. Sothing practical, not ridiculous."
What's wrong with her? She was so easygoing back in the dungeon and before I put her in Mika's shadow, did sothing happen?
The clones and I exchange skeptical looks. "Practical? What, like Clipboard?"
Diez's face darkened. "You're impossible."
As the bickering starts up again, the kid hops off the table and waddles over to . She tugs on the sleeve of my hakama, her tiny hands surprisingly strong for soone her size.
"What?" I ask, glancing down at her.
She tilts her head, studying like I'm the most perplexing puzzle she's ever seen. Then, with all the confidence in the world, she says, "Mama."
The room freezes.
"...What did she just say?" asks Dos, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mama," she repeats, tugging harder on my sleeve.
The clones erupt into chaos.
"Oh, this is gold!" howls Quatro, practically rolling on the floor. "You're her mom now! Congrats!"
"Shut up!" I snap, my face heating up. "She doesn't know what she's saying! And if she calls Mama, then you guys are too! You're basically !"
"Seems pretty clear to ," says Tres, smirking. "Guess you're officially parent material. And we don't care!"
"She is not calling that!" I protest, but the kid has already climbed onto my lap, snuggling against like it's the most natural thing in the world.
"Aw, look at you," says Dos, mockingly wiping away a fake tear. "All grown up and raising a kid. I'm so proud."
"I hate all of you," I mutter, but my voice lacks its usual venom. The kid is warm and soft, her small fra fitting perfectly against mine. It's... weirdly nice.
Diez, the now voice of reason, clears her throat. "If she's calling you Mama, she's going to expect you to act like one. Are you ready for that responsibility?"
"Absolutely not," I say imdiately.
The kid, apparently sensing the tension, looks up at with those big, doe-like eyes. "Mama?"
And just like that, I'm defeated (┳Д┳)
"Fine," I grumble, slumping in my chair. "But we're still giving you a real na."
The clones cheer, already throwing out more ridiculous suggestions. "How about Victory? Or Trouble! Or—oh! Pinky Snuggles!"
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose again. "Soone kill now."
The kid giggles, and despite everything, I can't help but smile. Yeah, taking care of a child isn't so bad after all.
As long as I survive the naming process, that is.
---
By the ti the chaos dies down, we settle on a na that's not too absurd but still feels right: Mika. Short, simple, and easy to yell when she inevitably gets herself into trouble.
"Alright, Mika," I say, ruffling her hair. "Welco to the family!"
She beams up at , her grin infectious.
The clones, anwhile, are already plotting their next big project—teaching Mika how to prank .
Taking care of a child might be more peaceful than dealing with Gorn and the others, but with these idiots around? It's definitely not going to be boring.
And honestly? I think I'm okay with that.
Little theater:
*Mika is sitting on the table, scribbling on paper while the clones are cleaning up the room.*
Dos: "Mika, what are you drawing?"
Mika *seriously*: "You."
Dos *peeking*: "Why do I look like a potato with legs?"
Mika: "Because you are!"
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