El and Cal have already completed their human transformations, and Dee is said to be close to undergoing hers.
Maynard has grown bigger and can no longer be carried by Mommy.
And right now, especially.
Mommy has a baby brother or sister in his belly.
“You’ll be a big brother soon,” they told me, but Maynard doesn’t feel very happy about it.
Because until now, Maynard had Mommy all to himself.
There were times when Maynard fought with Jay over Mommy, but Jay is often busy going to the tower to become a magician, so Maynard, who can’t do anything yet, gets to be with Mommy every day.
…Daddy said that soon he’ll take Maynard to the barracks too.
Cal and Dee started going to the barracks when they were about three years old, but Maynard still wants to stay with Mommy.
Maynard understands that once he undergo human transformation, he will have to work whether he liked it or not.
And he had to train even before undergoing the transformation.
…But Maynard still wants to rely on Mommy.
He doesn’t want to join the training at the barracks just yet.
Mommy says that Maynard is more clingy than El was when he was little.
Even El used to be attached to Mommy when he was born, it seems.
But from Maynard’s perspective, he thinks that Jay is more clingy than El.
After all, El is already 11 years old and only sometimes seeks comfort from Mommy.
…Sometimes Maynard even stays on the sofa instead of going to anyone’s side.
Mommy calls Jay the “whimsical one.”
When Jay wants to be spoiled, he stick to Mommy, when he’s sleepy, he sleeps, and when he wanted to be alone, he wouldn’t let anyone come near.
But everyone seeks comfort from Mommy when they want it.
Maynard often seeks comfort from Mommy, but he also sit on Daddy’s lap or Grandpa’s lap.
When Maynard wants to seek comfort, anyone in the family is fine…
He can seek comfort from El or Cal as well.
— But if he cling to Cal, he might be pushed away if he’s in a bad mood.
Even though Cal looks similar to Daddy at first glance, he has Mommy’s eye area.
El, on the other hand, apart from the hair color, doesn’t resemble Mommy in any way.
Only the hair color is different.
Cal’s hair color and texture are just like Daddy’s.
But his eyes are the same black color as Mommy’s.
Maynard’s eyes are blue.
According to Mommy, his eye color is the same as Grandma’s.
Maynard doesn’t know Grandma.
She passed away before Jay was born.
To Maynard, Grandma is someone who was never there.
So he doesn’t really understand.
“Mommy, hug, please.”
When I want to cuddle with Mommy, I say that.
Mommy is always busy.
Cooking, cleaning, going shopping, doing laundry…
So I ask if I can cuddle with Mommy when he’s taking a break.
When he says “Sorry,” it’s usually before he starts cooking.
But most of the time, he’d say, “Sure.”
“Sure. Hug!”
Today, Mommy said it was okay.
While hugging, Mommy also strokes my head.
Mommy always smells sweet and is very gentle.
Nii-cha and the others are at the barracks or the tower.
Jii-jii is in the neighboring house.
Right now, it’s just Mommy and me at home.
I have Mommy all to myself.
— Until Nii-cha and the others come back.
Mommy doesn’t get angry even when I lick his face.
He smiles happily and hugs me tightly.
He’d also stroke me gently.
I’m careful not to scratch him with my claws, but Daddy said that Mommy easily get injured when he’s not using magic.
He said Mommy might die if we pounce on her.
I don’t want that to happen, so I just snuggle up to Mommy.
“May is really a clingy person, just like Mommy.”
“…really?”
Mommy is a clingy person?
…I’m not sure about that.
“Mommy has been dependent on Daddy since we met. I relied on Grandpa a lot, and I also relied on Grandma. …And now I rely on El and the others, too. They helped me a lot.”
…Is that true?
Isn’t it just that Daddy takes good care of Mommy?
Isn’t it just that Grandpa is worried about Mommy?
Isn’t it just that the others want to help Mommy?
…I don’t really understand.
“…It might be difficult for May right now. When you grow a little older, I’ll tell you more about Mommy. I’ll tell you about how Mommy and Daddy met… and why everyone wants to protect Mommy.”
“Okay.”
The reason to protect Mommy?
Isn’t it just because “they love Mommy”?
Isn’t it just because “Mommy is physically weaker than everyone else”?
Are there other reasons?
…May doesn’t understand.
“I want you and your siblings to get along and support each other as you grow up. That’s Mommy’s wish… So, please get along with the baby who will be born soon, okay?”
“Okay.”
It seems like Mommy noticed that I was feeling a little reluctant.
But when the new baby is born, the time I can have Mommy all to myself will decrease.
The baby will have Mommy’s undivided attention, and I’ll have to train with Nii-chan and Nee-chan during that time…
I still don’t like it.
I don’t want a younger sibling.
(But if I say something like that, will it make Mommy sad?)
I wonder if Nii-chan and Nee-chan have never thought, “I don’t want a younger sibling”…
If they had, then maybe I wouldn’t have been born?
Well, I guess I have no choice but to endure it.
Perhaps Nii-chan and Nee-chan have been enduring things like this too.
“Even if the new baby is born, it doesn’t mean you can’t seek comfort from Mommy, okay?”
Even though I heard Mommy’s words, my dissatisfaction didn’t go away.
Because it’s true that the time I can seek comfort would be reduced.
“I won’t be able to spend as much time with Mommy.”
“Huh? Why? Even if the next baby is born, Mommy will still be with you.”
I look at Mommy with a puzzled expression, feeling anxious.
“But… Nii-chan, Nee-chan, they said I have to go.”
“Hmm? If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to yet. Jay started going to the tower when he turned 6. And with El, Mommy couldn’t let go and waited until he was 5.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
I don’t have to go right away?
I thought that when the younger sibling is born, I would have to go to the barracks…
I’ve been so worried and troubled, but it turns out it was all for nothing.
“You can decide when you feel ready. Normally, training starts before transformation, but if it’s what you prefer, you can wait until after transformation. As long as you can’t stand on your own, there’s no reason not to seek comfort. No matter how much you grow, Mommy will always be your mommy, and Daddy will always be your daddy. Jii-chan is everyone’s Jii-chan. Family, even if they are in different places, are still family. So, there’s no reason why you can’t seek comfort. Mommy still seeks comfort from everyone, after all.”
I feel like crying.
“I see…”
I don’t have to leave Mommy’s side yet.
That thought brought me relief.
…Maybe now I’m not as dissatisfied with the idea of having a younger sibling.
– End of Maynard’s side –
Author’s Note:
In the end, when the baby is born, Maynard will probably still have some complaints and exhibit childish behavior (laughs).
