WebNovels

Chapter 22 - Chapter 21: The Heart-Pounding Secret of That Girl?

A day of chaos, dubbed "X-Day" by Shirakami and the others, unfolds…

The sight before them leaves everyone in despair, some in tears. Shirakami collapses, unable to look.

Why?! Why did this happen?! No one wanted this! How did it come to this?!

"…Didn't we do this bit before?" Reiji sighs.

"Aua~♪" Giggle giggle Ima-chan babbles.

"Rei-kun, whose baby is that?!" the Holomems cry.

Minutes Later

"My sister got into an accident and is hospitalized, and her husband's on a business trip, so I'm watching Ima-chan again," Reiji explains.

"Oh, thank goodness! I thought someone had your baby!" Fubuki exhales.

No way. If that happened, I'd tell you all first.

"Waa, Ima-chan, long time no see~♪" Mel coos.

"Kya~♪" Ima-chan squeals.

"Mel-senpai, you know her?" Okayu asks.

"Yup, Choco-sensei and I babysat her before~♪" Mel says.

"She's grown a bit, but still adorable~♪" Choco adds.

Mel and Choco are smitten. Ima-chan was five months old last time; now at eight months, she's bigger and can sit up.

"So cute~♪ Choco-sensei, let me hold her!" Nene begs.

"Sure, gently now," Choco says.

"Ukkya~♪" Ima-chan giggles.

"Aw, she's adorable~♪" Nene melts.

"No fair, Nenechi! I wanna hold Ima-chan too!" Matsuri whines.

Everyone's fawning, passing Ima-chan around. She's laughing, clearly enjoying it.

"My turn~♪ Here's Ima-chan, so cute~♪" Marine says.

"…Uuu~… Fueee!" Ima-chan cries.

"Huh?! Why?! She was fine!" Marine panics.

What's wrong? She was happy until Marine held her.

"Marine, what'd you do?! Give her here! …There, Ima-chan, it's okay now~" Rushia soothes.

"Fue… Akya~♪" Ima-chan calms, smiling.

"Why?! Why's she fine with Rushia?!" Marine wails.

Guess Ima-chan instinctively dislikes Marine.

Later, Ima-chan is doted on by everyone. Only Marine's hugs make her cry. Must be instinct.

"Look, Kuro-chan, isn't Ima-chan cute?♪" Fubuki says.

"Yeah… Holding her feels warm, kinda soothing," Kurokami replies, smiling softly despite her usual aloofness.

"Aiya~♪" Ima-chan babbles.

"Sorry, guys, I've got to head to the president's office. Watch Ima-chan till evening," Reiji says.

"Okay~♪" the Holomems reply, too smitten to focus.

Reiji heads to work, worried. She's got the bracelet, but I hope Ima-chan doesn't go wild again…

One Hour Later

"Suu… suu…" Ima-chan sleeps in her crib.

"Her sleeping face is so cute~♪" Polka swoons.

"Like an angel~♪ Unlike Kanata," Luna teases.

"Hey, what's that mean?!" Kanata snaps.

Exhausted from play, Ima-chan's angelic face has everyone melting.

"So adorable~♪" Sora sighs.

"I want a baby with Reiji-kun someday," Azki muses.

Inspired by Ima-chan, Sora and Azki dream of kids with Reiji.

"Cheer up, Marine," Mio says.

"Why doesn't Ima-chan like me?!" Marine sulks.

"Maybe instinct? You're kinda old~♪" Aqua teases.

"Old?! Shut it, you shut-in!" Marine snaps.

"Marine, quiet! You'll wake her!" Mio hisses.

Then, it happens…

"Hey, where's Ima-chan?" Sora asks.

"…Huh?" Everyone freezes.

The crib is empty.

"She's gone?!" Okayu gasps.

"No way! Is someone holding her?" Fubuki asks.

"No! When did she…?" Mio panics.

"Let's find her! She's gotta be close!" Polka urges.

They scramble, but…

"Guys…" Subaru points upward, stunned.

Everyone looks. There, floating, is Ima-chan, giggling. "Pua~♪"

"She's floating?!" the Holomems scream.

"Why's she in the air?!" Okayu yells.

"Shion, did you do something?!" Polka accuses.

"I didn't!" Shion protests.

"Forget that, get her down!" Fubuki shouts.

They try, but Ima-chan floats toward an open window. "Fua~♪"

"She's going outside!" Mio cries.

"Wait, Ima-chan!" They chase her out.

Near Hololive Mansion

"Excited to see Fubuki-chan and Reiji-kun, Hina~♪" Hime says.

"Yup, finally bringing housewarming gifts!" Hina replies, holding sweets.

Delayed by live prep, HimeHina head to the mansion.

"Let's make Gunpla with Reiji-kun~♪" Hime says.

"Maybe a PG Astray… Huh? Hina, what's that?" Hime points skyward.

"Auu~♪" Ima-chan floats toward them.

"A baby?! A flying baby?!" Hime gasps.

"Do babies fly?!" Hina asks.

"No!" Hime retorts.

"Ai~♪" Ima-chan descends, landing in Hime's arms.

"W-What's with this kid?" Hime stammers.

"Dunno, but…" Hina starts.

"So cute~♪" they both squeal, smitten.

"Oi, Ima-chan! Where are you?!" Fubuki calls, running up.

"Fubuki-chan!" Hime waves.

"Ima-chan! There you are!" Fubuki says.

"Ai~♪" Ima-chan floats to Fubuki, hugging her.

"You know her?" Hina asks.

"Y-Yeah, Reiji-kun's sister's kid. We're watching her. Her name's Ima-chan," Fubuki explains.

"Wow, she can fly?" Hime asks.

"Uh, we just found out…" Fubuki admits.

Safe, Fubuki and HimeHina return to the mansion.

Hours Later

"I'm back… What the?!" Reiji stares at the exhausted Holomems sprawled across the room, even Hime and Hina. "What happened?"

"Welcome back, Rei-kun…" Fubuki mumbles.

"What's going on?" Reiji asks.

"Ai~♪" Ima-chan floats to him.

"Hey, Ima, flying again? That's dangerous," Reiji scolds.

"You knew she could fly?!" Fubuki gasps.

Forgot to tell them. No wonder they're wrecked. "Sorry, forgot to explain."

"Explain what?! Why can she fly and levitate things?!" Fubuki demands.

"Calm down. I'll explain…" Reiji wakes everyone.

Ten Minutes Later

"Basically, Ima-chan's abilities come from her bloodline," Reiji says.

"Bloodline? But you and your sister are human, right?" Sora asks.

"Yeah, we are. It's her dad—my brother-in-law."

"?" The Holomems tilt their heads.

"He's a mixed-blood of eight races," Reiji reveals.

"Eight races?!" they gasp.

"That's beyond rare!" Flare exclaims.

Mixed-bloods with three or more races are a 1-in-20 miracle. Eight? Ima-chan's a walking miracle.

"What races?" Mio asks.

"Angel, demon, dragonkin, elf, mage, necromancer, vampire, and lion tribe," Reiji lists.

"That's wild!" Okayu says.

"When I first heard, I was shocked too. Ima-chan started floating at six months. She can't control it yet, so she wears a suppression bracelet. Must've come off again." Reiji finds it under the crib and reattaches it. "There. No more outbursts, but reattach it if it falls off."

"Kya~♪" Ima-chan giggles.

"Phew…" Fubuki collapses again.

All settled.

Later, the Holomems scold Reiji for not warning them. Fair enough.

One Month Later

"Thanks, Reiji! With my husband away, you saved us~♪" Reiji's sister says, now discharged.

"Breaking a bone tripping? You okay?" Reiji asks.

How do you even do that?

"How'd you get this mansion? And all these cute wife candidates besides Mel-chan and Choco-chan!" she teases.

"Wife candidates? So old-fashioned," Reiji groans, as the Holomems blush.

"Manma~♪" Ima-chan babbles.

"Oh, Ima, you can say 'Mama'?! So smart~♪" her mom gushes.

"Ai~♪"

Ima-chan's picking up words fast—her dad's influence, no doubt.

"Fubuki-chan, everyone, take care of Ima-chan if we need you again. And look after this idiot brother of mine," Reiji's sister says.

"I, Shirakami Fubuki, swear to support Rei-kun forever!" Fubuki declares.

"Leave it to us!" the others chime.

"Stop it, Sis," Reiji groans.

They're too enthusiastic.

"You've got great girls. Treasure them," she says.

"I know," Reiji replies. "You're such a mom."

"I worry about my little brother! I'll visit soon~♪" she says.

"Ai~! Nee-tan, bye-bye~♪" Ima-chan waves.

Meddling as ever, she leaves with Ima-chan. Wish she'd trust me more.

"Now that babysitting's done, let's relax—" Reiji starts.

"Rei-kun?" Fubuki interrupts.

"Yeah?"

"Taking care of Ima-chan made us think… we want babies too," Fubuki says, eyes gleaming.

The Holomems' stares are intense. This can't end well…

"Get ready, Rei-kun~♪" Fubuki chirps.

I'm dead.

A month later, Reiji, utterly drained, lands in the hospital for a week. The Holomems get a stern lecture from the nurses.

Author's Note Ima-chan, Reiji's niece, returns! Maybe overdid her powers a bit. Next, that prim maid appears. Stay tuned!

More Chapters