Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Esira's Birthday
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“But my house is so far away. What if someone sees me? If they tease me for peeing myself, will you take responsibility?”
Normally, at this hour, I'd have tucked Esira into bed and wrapped up my day.
But today was different.
“Esira, close your eyes for a sec?”
“Okay.”
Despite the sudden request, Esira obediently shut her eyes.
I took a deep breath.
My heart had never pounded like this—not even when facing enemies or staring down the Abyss.
I struck a match.
Lit the candle.
With a faint hiss, the flame flickered to life, instantly brightening the mood.
The wall, which the Commander had so proudly decorated, was festooned with balloons and ornaments.
They screamed "special occasion" at first glance.
On the table sat food helped along by Dancing Butterfly—and the cake I'd made myself.
The result of half a day grunting and groaning away, spurred on by her endless praise.
“Okay, you can open them now.”
Esira slowly opened her eyes.
“……Huh?”
The child alternated between the candle flames and the colorful wall. Her mouth hung open.
Warm light enveloped the room, shining just on the two of us.
“It's the day we first met.”
The day you and I became family.
The day you entered my world.
The day you were reborn.
“One year ago today.”
“Already a whole year……”
“Yeah. So today is your birthday.”
“Birthday?”
“Once a year. We celebrate the day we first met.”
Esira's eyes went wide.
A bright smile spread across her face as she gazed at the candles.
“Wow……”
Good.
I was relieved she liked it like a kid should.
Ah, Esira was always a child.
Had I been staring at Marigold too long?
Her pure reaction felt so foreign to me.
I needed to reflect on that.
“Now make a wish. Think of what you want most, and blow out the candle.”
“Okay!”
Esira clasped her hands and squeezed her eyes shut.
Her lips moved silently.
I couldn't hear the wish, but it had to be a child's wish, I figured.
Whoosh.
Esira pursed her lips and blew hard.
The candle went out, a thin wisp of smoke curling up.
The room dimmed a little, but the atmosphere grew even warmer.
“Happy birthday, Esira. For real.”
“Hee hee hee……”
Esira grinned bashfully, then suddenly leaned forward.
“Mom, aren't you curious what I wished for?”
Her eyes sparkled.
“Hmm. Did you wish to eat cake every day?”
“Nope.”
Esira shook her head and whispered conspiratorially into my ear.
“I wished……for us two to live together forever.”
She put extra emphasis on "forever."
‘……Because of the Commander, huh.’
In her eyes, she thought I'd once loved the Commander.
That must have made her more anxious—worried I'd change my mind someday and leave her behind.
Unnecessary worry.
I'd never see that man as anything but what he was.
Not even if the world ended—I could say that with certainty.
Words wouldn't convince her, though.
I'd have to prove it with actions from here on out.
“Got it.”
I slowly stroked Esira's hair.
“Your wish will come true. We'll live together forever.”
“Really?”
“Have you ever seen me lie?”
Only then did Esira relax, beaming at me.
Seizing the moment, I carefully pulled out the box I'd hidden behind my back.
“Here, a present.”
Inside was a teddy bear.
I'd lost count of how many times I'd unraveled and re-stitched it.
Or how many times I'd started over from scratch.
“Whoa……”
Esira's eyes widened. She truly hadn't expected it.
I placed the doll in her arms.
“One of a kind. You couldn't find another even if you searched the whole world.”
Esira clutched the bear, looking up at me with shining eyes.
“You made it yourself, Mom?”
“Yeah. For you. Took a ton of effort.”
Before I even finished, Esira hugged the bear tight.
“Thank you, Mom……”
Her voice was thick with emotion.
Tears threatened to spill, but she clenched her teeth, a little sniffle escaping.
A few tears had actually fallen.
But pretending not to notice was the right move now.
“Thank you so much……”
Better to let her feel this overwhelming emotion fully.
Besides, any reaction from me might set her off completely.
Esira buried her face in the doll, stuffing down her feelings.
“I'll treasure it forever. Really……”
Seeing her so thrilled made the ground feel soft beneath me. Like walking on clouds.
Was this heaven?
It was happiness so intense it stole my breath.
‘Calm down. Get a grip.’
I couldn't stay lost in it forever.
“Time to cut the cake.”
Esira sniffled but nodded.
Clutching the doll under one arm and refusing to let go—it was both comical and adorable.
“By the way……the cake. I made it. What do you think?”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“……Too pretty to eat.”
My heart plummeted.
Too cute.
“No need to hold back. Food's meant to be eaten. It'll go bad if you don't.”
“Yeah……”
I carefully sliced the cake.
Plated a piece with a fork and handed it over.
“Say ahh.”
“Ahh—.”
Esira opened wide. Cream and cake slipped right in.
Nom nom.
Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.
“……How is it?”
Esira's eyes went huge.
“Super sweet! Delicious!”
“……Phew.”
I let out who-knows-how-many sighs of relief inside.
“You try some, Mom.”
Esira scooped a big bite onto her own fork and held it out.
White cream smeared her lips, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
‘That's not fair, that face.’
I couldn't refuse.
I opened my mouth on reflex and took the bite.
Sweetness hit my tongue.
“……Not bad.”
Eating while watching her face somehow doubled the flavor.
No exaggeration—really.
“Hee hee, good.”
Esira propped the doll on her lap and took another bite.
Then, as if struck by a thought, she asked.
“Don't you make a wish, Mom?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Today you met me too. So it's your birthday.”
I hadn't even considered it.
Our Esira was too smart.
She was right.
Meeting you let me be reborn as a mom.
“Well, my wish already came true.”
“Really? What?”
“You being by my side.”
“Aw, really! No other wishes?”
None.
“Then wish for us to live together?”
“Yeah. Let's do that.”
“Yay! Mom's the best! Love you!”
As long as you're by my side, eating tasty things.
Hugging dolls like a kid should.
Laughing without a care.
That was enough.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
Who at this late hour?
Dancing Butterfly already got her cake taste, and the Commander wouldn't dare show up.
I slowly opened the door.
A face popped through the crack, like a ta-da!
“Hi! Number Four sis!”
It was Marigold.
In pajamas, clutching her own attachment doll tight.
‘……Why is she here?’
“How'd you even get here this late?”
“To give a present. Getting one from a peer is an experience too, right?”
“You could've done it another day.”
“Presents are for the day of.”
Marigold strode right in.
“Ma-Marigold sis……?”
“Here, Esira. Watch close. Big sis'll show you some magic.”
Marigold raised her index finger slightly.
A slender thread spooled out from her fingertip. Golden, like twisted starlight.
Every time I saw it, I thought her name suited her perfectly.
“Whoa……!”
The thread twisted and danced in the air, quickly taking shape.
A yellow bunny, a prancing deer,
A butterfly aglow with vibrant colors.
Dolls made of light.
“Hi, Esira! Happy birthday!”
Marigold wiggled her finger, and the bunny hopped right up to her face.
“Look, Mom! A bunny! Butterflies too!”
“……Quite the talent.”
She was a pro at winning hearts.
Marigold caught my eye and shot me a wink.
A smug "How'd I do?" look.
One butterfly alighted gently on Esira's head, then fluttered up to decorate the ceiling.
The room felt like the heart of a galaxy.
“So pretty……”
I agreed with Esira.
It really was beautiful.
Something Calendula could never pull off.
Esira clutched my handmade bear tight while soaking in the magic.
Fine.
Once-a-year day like today.
I could overlook a little commotion.
“She's asleep already.”
“Kids need their early bedtimes.”
“I stayed up till dawn plenty of times.”
Esira slept soundly, oblivious to the world.
Marigold glanced at the bed, flashing a genuinely harmless smile.
“She's so cute.”
“Kids are prettiest when they're sleeping.”
“Huh? Am I cute then? Right, Number Four sis? Am I cute when I sleep?”
Marigold batted her eyes, even posing like a flower.
Saying old folks aren't cute wouldn't fly.
I flicked her forehead.
“Even knowing what you are?”
“Aw, mean. My outside's all soft and squishy kid right now?”
“Skip the squishy.”
Marigold rubbed her forehead, then stared at my hand. Her expression darkened oddly.
“Never imagined this back then. Us chatting so leisurely.”
“……”
“If past me saw this, she'd think future me lost her mind. Or maybe she'd be thrilled I turned young again?”
I didn't reply.
Didn't want to touch on a past I didn't know.
Marigold tilted her head.
“New Asrania's changed so much, still getting used to it.”
“……”
“Current Number Four sis is way more charming. She even smells human.”
Didn't know how to respond.
Marigold glanced somewhere and muttered.
“If sis had been like this back then, would we have turned out different?”
“Who knows.”
We would've. Our cores are different from the start.
Marigold snapped her fingers.
Snap.
A glowing thread seeped from her fingertip.
It swirled in the air, then popped.
Yellow, paint-like goo splattered across her pajamas.
“Ack, it's dirty!”
Marigold flailed dramatically.
“You did that on purpose.”
“Eek. So mean. Real accident. Control slips sometimes?”
“Lies have limits.”
I knew her skills. Especially considering the original Marigold.
Marigold grinned shamelessly, pretending to brush off the stain. Frowning for effect.
“Ugh…… Sticky. Can't wear this.”
“Spit it out. What's your scheme this time?”
“Sis, can I wash up here?”
I crossed my arms.
“No tricks. Go home and wash there.”
“But my house is so far. What if someone sees? If they tease me for peeing myself, will you take responsibility?”
“Who'd tease you like that.”
“Hiiing……”
As I pushed, Marigold drooped pathetically.
Slumped shoulders. Eyes ready to well up.
“Sigh.”
I knew she was full of it, but that kid-like exterior shook me anyway.
Living with Esira had made me weak to this stuff.
Marigold sidled up and grabbed my arm.
Her hand was small and warm. Annoyingly so.
“Sis. Sis.”
She pressed close, voice wheedling.
“Wash me up. Pleeease?”