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‘Who's our little cutie pie?’ Nene squealed. ‘You are, yes you are!’
Towa looked up from her laptop as Nene lifted little Choco high into the air, and smiled. Their daughter giggled loudly, her surprise passing as easily as it'd come as she curiously looked around from her new vantage point. Then she pointed at Towa. ‘Mommy?’
‘Mommy’s busy, but mama is all here for you!’ Nene beamed, gently lowering her back down. ‘So what do you want to do, my darling?’
She considered that for a moment, wide green eyes blinking innocently. ‘Bebi?’
A squishy little devil scampered into the room as if on cue, bouncing over to nuzzle right into Choco’s soft orange onesie. ‘Bebi!’
Nene’s smile didn't falter, but Towa didn't miss her quiet sigh as she withdrew and joined her at the table. ‘You know it's their bond, right?’ she softly said as they watched Choco squirm against Bibi’s attempts to lick their face. ‘You're not doing anything wrong.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ she said, giving her a weak smile. ‘Nene's just feeling a little unpopular today, that's all.’
‘Well, I definitely don't plan to ignore you,’ she said, taking her hand for a little squeeze. ‘Don't you go thinking bad thoughts on me now, okay?’
She could already feel the heat flushing her cheeks as she held Nene’s eyes. But even if she never got used to being honest like this, the genuine smile blossoming on her wife's face was still totally worth it every time. ‘Thank you, Towawa,’ she softly said. ‘I won't.’
She just hummed, not quite trusting her voice with a coherent reply, and turned back to watch Choco clumsily get to her feet and totter over to the toy box. She tried to put a few plastic toys in her mouth, all quickly batted away by a vigilant Bibi, but then she dug out a big plush rabbit and buried her face into it with a happy little squeal and Towa's heart melted all over again. She'd abandon the Underworld a thousand more times for them, and wasn't that ironic when she'd been so sure the mundanity of this life would get to her in months?
Hah. Who'd have known one clingy little mortal would be what it took to finally give her the courage she needed?
‘She really is too adorable, isn't she?’ Nene sighed above her, the back of the chair creaking under her weight. ‘And she's gonna be just as pretty as you one day!’
‘No way. She's got all your cuteness, and you know it.’
‘Hey, those little horns literally can't be mine!’
‘And which of us is blonde, again?’
‘Well, that's…’ Nene mumbled, petulantly trailing off. ‘Okay, fine. I guess she can't be all like my beautiful wife. Oh, but don't you think she looks a bit like a tiny Choco-sen too?’ she added with a curious hum. ‘I've kind of been wondering, did she maybe get mixed in a little when she helped with the ritual? She could be the third mom for real!’
Towa frowned, considering that as Nene's hands started to card through her hair. ‘It was definitely just our essences. Are you sure you're not imagining it just because they're both devils and blonde?’
‘But her eyes are even darker than mine, right?’ she hummed. ‘Ah, or maybe it's recessive? A super-rare color that could only spring from our love! Isn't that, like, super ultra deluxe romantic?’
‘You're the only one with genes here, Nene,’ she said, fondly shaking her head. ‘You're such a weird mortal that you went and married a devil, remember?’
‘Then she's still half genetic from the bits of me, right?’ Nene continued, undeterred. ‘It's not impossible!’
‘How would that even work?’ she said. ‘You can't just have half of a gene or something, it doesn't work like that!’
‘But isn't she magic?’ she said, innocently tilting her head. ‘Magic doesn't have to make sense, right?’
‘That's not how any of that-’ she started, but then she let out a long breath and settled for rubbing her forehead. ‘It really doesn't work like that, okay? Please just take my word for it.’
‘Oh, okay,’ Nene hummed. ‘Well, I guess it's fine as long as she's still our little Choco!’
That, Towa couldn't argue with. She leaned back, content to let Nene play with her hair for a little longer, but when she looked up again Choco was sitting down, rubbing at her eyes adorably.
She made to get up, but firm hands clamped down on her shoulders. ‘Nene?’ she asked, glancing back confused.
‘I'm not letting you!’ she declared with a cheerful smile.
They both knew Towa could break free from her grip the moment she wanted to, just as they both knew she never would.
‘But you've been taking care of her all morning already,’ she tried instead. ‘It's definitely my turn now, right?’
‘And we've both been keeping you from your work, right?’ she said, playfully tapping her nose. ‘Why don't you finish that before you start asking for more?’
Towa glanced back at her laptop, and sighed. ‘I guess that's fair,’ she reluctantly conceded. ‘Fine. She's yours. This time.’
Nene just grinned and quickly pecked her cheek, but as she went to pick up Choco, Bibi tugged on the hem of her pants. ‘Bui? Bui…’
‘Aw, you want to nap with her too?’ she giggled, easily surrendering to their plea. ‘Oh well, I guess that's fine!’
She shifted Choco up against her shoulder, and held out her other arm. ‘Just be careful not to wake her, okay?’
‘Bui!’
Bibi quickly clambered up, and Nene headed on to the bedroom. ‘Don't miss me too much while I'm gone, okay?’ she winked at the door. ‘I know my minutes will take forever without you in them!’
Towa just rolled her eyes at her, but the warmth on her face spoke for itself as she quickly turned back to her laptop. Really, the way she could just say things like that… but then she did love that about her too, didn't she?
The doorbell chimed.
Towa let out a groan. Just when she'd finally gotten back into the flow too, because of course it did. And who could it even be in the middle of the afternoon?
She pushed back the laptop and took off her glasses, idly running a thumb over the little braid Nene had managed to sneak in along her temple. She really just couldn't help herself with those, but then she'd be lying if that wasn't why she'd started wearing her hair long again too.
The bell chimed again, and she got up with an annoyed sigh. It'd really better not be another dishwasher salesman…
‘Sorry, Towawa!’ Nene called out as she passed the utility room. ‘I'd get it, but…’
She took one look at the pile of laundry blocking the door, and waved her off with a smile. ‘It's fine, we don't need another set of pans right?’
‘Hey, that was one time!’ Nene whined after her, and she laughed quietly. Then she saw the horned silhouette behind the frosted glass, and her irritation vanished as she rushed to open the door. ‘Sensei! What are you doing here?’
‘Good day to you too, Towa-sama,’ Yuzuki Choco smiled. ‘I'm not interrupting anything, am I? I found myself in the area, and just couldn't help but wonder how my adorable little namesake was doing.’
‘Oh, no, it's totally fine, I was just working ahead,’ she quickly said, shaking her head. ‘Please come on in, I'm sure Nene will be happy to see you too!’
‘Pardon the intrusion, then,’ she smiled. But as she stepped in, Towa finally noticed the bulging bags in her hands, several radishes and a big leek sticking out.
‘Is that all for us?’ she curiously asked. ‘Hey, did you start gardening and end up with more than you know what to do with or something?’
‘Oh, no, nothing like that,’ she smiled. ‘I was just thinking about making some nice comfort food together, and then there was this little supermarket with deals you wouldn't believe… but do you mind if I put these down? They're getting a little heavy.’
‘Not at all!’ she quickly said. ‘But seriously, are the four of us going to be enough to put that all away? It looks like enough food for a small orphanage.’
‘Well, we have plenty of friends don't we?’ Choco hummed, carefully nestling the bags against the wall. But as she went to pull off her coat, something squirmed in her pocket and a little black devil kitty popped out, blinking up at Towa with deep blue eyes.
‘Oh, hey there Chocolat-chan,’ she smiled. ‘You felt like tagging along too? I hope you didn't come to play with Bibi though, they're napping with our Choco right now.’
Chocolat just bobbed her head, and she couldn't resist patting two fingers between her little horns. ‘By the way, I've kind of been wondering, does she just not make any sound?’ she asked, looking back up at Choco. ‘I don't think I've ever actually heard her.’
‘Oh, I'm sure you will,’ she said, an amused twinkle in her eyes as she scooped her out of her pocket. ‘She's just a little… reserved.’
Towa let out a breath. ‘You just love playing mysterious, don't you?’
‘Guilty as charged,’ Choco smiled. ‘But then where's the fun in telling people everything?’
She just shook her head and led her back to the living room. ‘Black tea as usual?’ she asked, stepping into the kitchenette as Choco settled on the sofa.
‘Yes please, that would be lovely,’ Choco hummed, idly scratching Chocolat behind her ears. ‘But how has little Choco been? Is she still trying to eat everything she can get her hands on?’
‘I think she's starting to figure out what's edible,’ Towa said as she puttered around. ‘Speaking of which, she somehow totally loved the eggplant snacks you brought last time. Seriously, how do you keep doing it? I'm happy you're getting her to eat properly and all, but she's so picky with everything we try!’ she added, unable to keep the frustrated whine out of her voice. ‘It's kind of annoying how it's like you can make her eat anything, you know?’
‘Well, I do know what it's like to be a picky eater,’ she replied with a small giggle. ‘Maybe it's just a matter of affinity?’
She let out a sigh. ‘Maybe. It just still bothers me a little as her mother, I guess.’
Choco hummed, studying her with a gentle smile. ‘You're doing a great job, Towa-sama,’ she softly said. ‘Please take it from me, little Choco is very lucky to have such wonderful parents as you.’
The cooker dinged, and Towa quickly turned away to pour the tea. But really, if anyone deserved some appreciation here… it wasn't as if they'd had to think twice about her name. Not when they'd never have had little Choco in their lives without all her help.
She shook her head, and picked up the tray. The enthusiastic slam of a door announced Nene’s return too, and her favourite menace just barely managed to dodge around her as she burst in. ‘Hiya, sensei!’ she beamed, plopping down on her favourite chair with a loud creak and no regard for the disaster she'd nearly caused. ‘It's been ages!’
‘I was here just last week, Nene-sama,’ she said, amused. ‘My, did you miss me that much already?’
‘Of course!’ Nene nodded, her face serious. ‘Even little Choco missed you!’
‘Please stop trying to bully sensei into spending all her time here, Nene,’ Towa sighed, giving her an unamused look along with her cup. ‘She's plenty busy too, you know.’
‘But I can hardly just ignore such a cute, needy girl, can I now?’ Choco hummed, Nene obliviously nodding along. ‘Right, Towa-sama?’
She just sank down on the other chair with an exasperated huff. ‘Can you at least not enable her? I already feel kinda bad about how much you keep doing for us, honestly.’
Choco smiled. But before she could reply, the world shook. Searing blue light flashed into the room, and Towa reflexively covered her eyes. More teeth-rattling tremors ran through her, but even as she gripped her seat she realised they weren't physical. Reality itself was shaking, straining as something tore at it.
Like it was trying to break through.
A cold shiver ran down her spine. What could possibly do that?
What could stop it if it got through?
Panic rose up her throat, but then that incandescent blue flashed out again. And again. And again. With every pulse the tremors faded, until finally, there was only a heavy buzz of disturbed aether as far out as she could feel.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked outside, blinking against the sunny afternoon that didn't seem quite so real anymore.
What the hell just happened?
‘Towawa? What was that light?’ Nene asked, her voice shaky. ‘Are you okay? You- you scared Nene a little there…’
‘That was…’ she started, but before she could come up with a single useful word a new ripple pierced through. She whipped her head around, just as that same electric blue flashed out of their bedroom once, twice, thrice.
‘Towa? What's going on? Hey, Towa?’ Nene asked behind her, but she only had eyes for the small bed as she dashed over, fear gripping her heart.
Empty. Only the plush rabbit stared back up at her, beady glass eyes reflecting wide green into the dark room.
She frantically looked around, trying to peer into every nook and cranny. Did she crawl out somehow? But even if she had- she had to be somewhere, right? She couldn't just… disappear!
Or did someone take her?
Nene gasped, but she barely heard her. ‘Towa? Where- where did she go?’
She clenched her fists. If someone dared to touch their precious little Choco…
She didn't feel the hand on her shoulder either until Choco pulled her around. ‘Please don't worry, Towa-sama, Nene-sama,’ she said, all too calm. ‘She'll be okay. I promise.’
Icy suspicion settled over her. ‘You knew this was going to happen.’
She hesitated. ‘Well, something like it,’ she admitted, glancing away. ‘But can we sit down first? It's… a bit of a long story.’
She grit her teeth. ‘Our daughter is gone, and you want to sit down and talk?’ she incredulously asked, nails digging into her palms as she fought the urge to seize her collar. ‘Just tell me where she is!’
Choco let out a long breath, clutching her arm. ‘She's still here,’ she said, looking more nervous than Towa had ever seen her before. ‘Or, well, she's already back. I'm… well, there's no good way to put this. I'm your little Choco too.’
Everything froze.
‘Huh?’ was all Nene could bring out to that, and Towa didn't feel much different.
‘Hey, sensei, this really isn't the time for jokes…’ she weakly tried. That- it couldn't be, right? It didn't make any sense! Even if she looked dead serious, how could she be their little Choco?
‘Ah, please let me show you,’ she said, sheepish under their stares. She plucked Chocolat from where Towa hadn't even realised she'd been peeking over her shoulder, and held them up towards her. ‘They have been waiting for this moment for an awfully long time too, you know,’ she added with a faint smile. ‘Come on, you don't have to hide anymore.’
‘What's she supposed to-’ Towa started, but then Chocolat shifted into an impossibly familiar shape.
‘Bui?’ Bibi said, waving a stubby paw at her.
Her breath left her lungs like she'd just been punched in the gut. ‘That's… impossible,’ she whispered. ‘Nene? I'm- I'm not seeing things, am I?’
But Bibi was right there, looking up at her with a big smile on their squishy face. She hesitantly reached for their bond, and doubt surged as she touched a cold shell. But then Bibi reached back. A wave of happiness washed over her, tinged with confused dejection. They'd been apart for way too long. Was she not happy to see Bibi too? Wasn't she happy to finally have them back?
Had they… not done a good job?
‘Towa?’ Nene confusedly asked as she swept them into a tight hug, refusing to let them feel that way. ‘Hey, what does it mean that sensei has another Bibi-chan?’
‘No. It's our Bibi,’ she said, slowly shaking her head. ‘It's really them. I don't know how, but it is.’
She looked back at Choco, a million questions already whirling through her head. ‘But if they're your familiar too…’
Choco smiled. ‘Let's sit down first,’ she suggested, relief clear in her voice. ‘We have a lot to talk about, and I do believe our tea is getting cold.’
Towa leaned back, taking in Choco as she calmly sipped her tea. She tried to match her to the little girl Nene just put to bed.
‘So we're your parents,’ she finally said. ‘Family.’
The word tasted alien on her tongue. ‘I really can't wrap my head around it, honestly,’ she sighed, shaking her head. ‘It's just too crazy.’
‘It does make for an odd relationship now, doesn't it?’ Choco said with a small smile. ‘I don't think anyone will hold it against you if you're a little overwhelmed, Towa-sama.’
She just nodded, lost for words. Their mature, reliable senpai was their daughter? Had been their little Choco all along? Had helped them raise herself, somehow? It all felt like she was sitting through the strangest kind of dream.
But the evidence was curled up right in her lap, spilling crumbs all over her pants as they happily nibbled on her cookie. She absent-mindedly scritched Bibi behind their horns, and they let out a happy little squeal.
Not that this weird feeling of reunion made any sense either. Nene had put them to bed an hour or two ago, and now how was she supposed to understand how long they'd been apart? What did it even mean that they'd suddenly gone from being together nearly all their lives to Bibi being well over twice her age?
She shook her head, and sighed. This was going to take some getting used to.
‘So what happened to you just now?’ she asked, turning back to Choco. ‘When you disappeared, I mean? Where did you go?’
‘The Underworld,’ she said, pausing to take another slow sip of her tea. ‘Ayame-chan found me on the edge of the Blackforests, some eight centuries ago.’
‘Wait, what?’ she exclaimed. ‘Ayame-senpai just… found you? Out there? She just happened to be wandering near those nasty places, right where you ended up? That's some insane luck...’
‘Well, she never might have found me if a certain little scamp hadn't made off with one of her swords,’ Choco said, an amused smile playing across her lips. ‘Towa-sama, why do you think my Chocolat-chan was always so eager to go play with Bibi?'
‘What do you- ah,’ she groaned, realisation dawning. ‘So Bibi was in on it all along?’
‘Bui,’ they chimed in, and she exasperatedly poked their soft tummy. ‘You just told them, and they went right along with tricking me?’
Choco smiled. ‘It wasn't too difficult to convince them when it was for your happiness, Towa-sama.’
She let out a long breath, and poked their tummy again with a stern look. ‘You're really gullible, you know that?’
‘Bui?’
But really, how could she be mad at them? ‘I guess you did well,’ she sighed, rubbing their head. ‘Good job. I'll get you a whole box of your favourite cookies later, okay?’
‘Buiii!’
‘Wait, but does that mean Ayame-chan raised you too?’ Nene asked, tilting her head. ‘That's a little hard to imagine, to be honest...’
‘Well… she did become my guardian,’ she said, sheepishly scratching her cheek. ‘But she really was a bit hopeless back in those days, you know? She never lost a fight, but when she was often the one who put us into danger to begin with…’
She shook her head. ‘But then that reckless attitude of hers also took care of us,’ she added. ‘We all but lived on her arena winnings while I went and got a proper education in Acheron, and she certainly didn't leave me short on practice either there.’
‘Oh, yeah, that's where you went to the Academy right?’ Towa hummed. ‘I guess that makes sense, they're famous for their medical school.’
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘It was a pleasant time in its own way, even if I… always felt there was something missing.’
Towa's breath caught. Could it be?
‘There was… this one memory that kept filling my dreams,’ she softly continued. ‘Of a smile brighter than the sun, and emerald eyes sparkling with simple joy. Of feeling loved.’
She gave them a watery smile. ‘I never could recall your faces, but I knew as soon as I met you again.’
She'd… remembered them?
‘Then- why didn't you tell us?’ Nene asked,her voice thick. ‘If you knew, if you knew- we could have been there for you this whole time!’
‘Because it was too dangerous,’ she softly said. ‘Stopping them could have changed everything.’
‘Wait, them?’ Towa sharply asked, leaning in. ‘You know who did this to you?’
‘Well… there aren't many beings of such power,’ she sheepishly said. ‘And I just so happened to run into Kronii-sama and Hakos-sama on my way here, passing me by in so much of a hurry that they didn't notice me at all.’
She just stared at her, incredulous. ‘But then- why didn't you stop them?’ she asked when she found her tongue again. ‘If it was them, you could have stopped it all right there!’
‘Yes,’ she softly said. ‘And I would have lost everything I have now.’
She fell quiet, letting that sink in for a moment. ‘I did think a lot about what I would do if I could turn it all back, you know,’ she continued. ‘About living a normal life as your beloved daughter. But when the moment was there, I couldn't bring myself to erase all the precious friends and memories I made as your senpai. Not when- when it meant it wouldn't be me who would meet you again.’
She rubbed her eyes. ‘I'm sorry,’ she said. ‘I'm a selfish daughter, Towa-sama, Nene-sama.’
A heavy silence fell between them, broken only by a quiet sniffle as Choco sat there with her head bowed.
Then Towa let out a long breath. ‘Geez, just drop it with the stiff honorifics already,’ she sighed, crossing her arms. ‘That's no way to talk to your parents, right?’
‘Oh, but what do we call you then?’ Nene asked, tilting her head. ‘We can't just keep calling you sensei now, right? And are you going to call us mama and mommy again?’
Choco started up. ‘You two…’ she softly said, her surprise morphing into another teary smile. ‘Ah, but that would really just be too weird after all this time as your senpai, I think,’ she sheepishly added.
Nene hummed, tapping her chin. ‘Then, why don't we just drop all the honorifics?’
She blinked. ‘Gachi?’
‘You can just call me Nene!’ she said. ‘C’mon, try it!’
‘Then, Nene-sa… Nene?’
‘There you go!’ she beamed, clapping her hands. ‘And we'll just call you Choco then! Oh, oh, or can we call you Chiyoko too?!’
‘Ah, I'm fine with either,’ Choco smiled, holding up her hands. ‘But it will definitely take some getting used to, being so casual with you two…’
‘It's not like we were ever a normal family anyway,’ Towa said, fondly shaking her head. ‘We'll just have to deal with it… Choco.’
‘Yes,’ she smiled. ‘Please do forgive any mistakes I'll make… Towa.’
‘No worries, it's not like we won't be making plenty too, sen- Choco,’ she corrected, embarrassedly coughing into her hand. ‘Yeah, we're all going to need a while to get used to this…’
‘Anyway, it's almost five already!’ Nene declared, jumping to her feet. She turned to Choco, planting her hands on her hips. ‘I'm still a little sad I didn't get to raise you with all my love, so let's start making up for that with some delicious home-cooked food for you!’
She'd only turned halfway towards the kitchen when Choco embarrassedly scraped her throat. ‘Ah, well, I kind of expected you two to be a little exhausted after all this,’ she sheepishly said. ‘So I may have brought everything I need to just make a simple curry for the three of us?’
‘What? No way!’ Nene declared, crossing her arms with a petulant attempt at a glare. ‘We're still your moms, we should be the ones taking care of you here! What kind of moms would make their daughter cook for them?’
‘You also know she's better in the kitchen than both of us combined,’ Towa dryly said. ‘And besides, wouldn't cooking together be a nice way to get to know her again too?’
Nene hesitated. ‘Well, when you put it like that… okay, fine, let's do it together!’ she finally decided. ‘But don't you dare try and do it all by yourself!’ she added, raising a stern finger at Choco. ‘I won't forgive you if you do, and I can punish you now if you're being naughty!’
With that dire warning she bounced off into the kitchen, and Towa just shared a fond smile with Choco as they followed her.
Maybe this didn't have to be all complicated.