CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143 – “BIG SISTER’S PROMISE”

The morning sun peeked through the gauzy curtains of the nursery, casting a golden halo across the pastel walls and the soft wooden cradle at the center. The house was quiet—peaceful.

Ren had slipped out early to tend to the solar panel calibrations outside. Aoi was curled up on the couch nearby, dozing lightly in her postpartum pajamas.

And Hikari?

She stood beside the cradle, barefoot in her soft pink pajamas, holding a picture book in one hand and a serious expression on her face.

Inside the cradle, the newborn—still unnamed but already ruling the household like a queen—fidgeted softly, her tiny hands batting the air as if swatting away dreams.

"Hey..." Hikari whispered, leaning closer. "It’s morning now."

The baby blinked groggily, then hiccupped.

"You can’t talk yet, huh? That’s okay. I’ll talk for both of us."

She climbed up carefully onto a footstool placed beside the cradle—a precaution Ren installed just for this purpose. With the book in her lap and her feet dangling, Hikari began flipping through the pages.

"This is the story of the bunny who wanted to fly," she said, pointing at the illustrations. "He made wings out of leaves and tape. But they didn’t work. Not until his big sister helped him."

The baby blinked again. Gurgled softly.

"That’s what I’ll do too," Hikari whispered, eyes wide and serious. "I’ll help you. With wings. And anything else. Because I’m your big sister. And big sisters protect the little ones."

From the hallway, Aoi stirred and peeked around the doorframe, watching the moment unfold in silence. She covered her mouth with a hand, her heart squeezing.

"They’re already bonding," she murmured to herself.

Later that morning, Ren returned to find the nursery in soft chaos—Hikari attempting to give the baby a stuffed dolphin, the baby grabbing a fistful of her sister’s hair in response.

"Ow! She’s strong!"

"She takes after her mom," Ren laughed, kneeling beside them.

"Papa," Hikari turned to him with wide eyes. "We need to name her."

"Hmm... You got any ideas?"

Hikari thought hard for a moment, then smiled.

"What about Hina? Because she’s as warm as the sun."

Aoi appeared behind them, nodding gently.

"Hina... It suits her."

And so it was decided. Hina—their second daughter.

That Night

Ren watched from the bedroom doorway as Aoi nursed Hina under the soft glow of the night lamp. Hikari had fallen asleep beside them, one tiny hand resting on Hina’s foot.

Aoi glanced up at him, her voice low and content.

"She’s going to be an amazing big sister, isn’t she?"

Ren stepped inside and wrapped his arms around them all.

"With a mom like you and a heart like hers? She already is."

The wind outside whispered across the wheat fields.Inside, everything was warm.