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Main Story - Before the Original
My drowsy consciousness gradually became clearer. I wanted to sleep a little longer, but day by day, I was waking up. While feeling safe in the warmth of being held, I became aware of my awakening.
Just a little longer like this...
His time to wake was near.
◆
"Hehe."
I held my son Shu in my arms, gazing at his sleeping face. Yeah, he really is cute!
"Hey Akari, your face is getting sloppy."
"Leave me alone, Bellemere."
I can't help it if Shu is cute!
"But this child really doesn't cry much."
"Shu's a good boy. Isn't that right?"
This blissful moment of gently rocking him while talking to my beloved son. If anyone tried to interrupt this, I'd blow away even Golden Lion Shiki! ...Though I couldn't actually do that.
"But kids from the neighboring village start crying just from seeing Genzo's face, you know? Yet Shu is completely fine, so you can't blame people for thinking he's strange."
"Bellemere, that's rude to Genzo."
Officer Genzo sometimes visited the neighboring village, and whenever children saw him for the first time, they'd always start crying.
Genzo had a tough-looking face but loved children, so it really shocked him.
"Well then, I'll go do some laundry. You rest easy, Akari."
"I'll help too, Bellemere. I should at least wash my son's clothes myself."
"...Dr. Nako told me about your disease."
...So she found out.
"So, Akari, how long do you have..."
"If I last another year, that'd be a blessing."
"One year..."
Bellemere looked down. Come on, that expression doesn't suit you.
"It's okay. I'm suppressing the pain with my ability, and I'll live long enough for Shu to call me 'Mama' out of sheer stubbornness."
"Akari, can't you cure that disease with your ability?"
"Unfortunately, I can't. I could temporarily heal it, but it would worsen again, and I'd lose stamina in the process, actually shortening my lifespan."
This was confirmed with Dr. Crocus during Captain Roger's time. Even so, Captain Roger used my ability to heal himself when he had to fight at full strength, literally shaving away his life.
"Come on, let's go do laundry. If I just eat and sleep and let my stamina drop, that would actually be worse."
I encouraged Bellemere while putting Shu in his crib.
Well then, Mama's going outside now, so be a good boy, Shu.
◆
The distant sound of waves and the scent of salt stimulated all five senses, as if inviting awakening.
The drowsiness gradually faded, and what felt like a dream of daily life slowly became clear reality.
The consciousness of the reincarnated person, Shirakawa Shu, was now approaching the moment of awakening.
◆
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the smell of salt. Next was a strange feeling in my body. When I moved a little, I saw small, chubby hands.
Yeah, I'd become a small child.
Since I was lying down, I naturally saw the ceiling. Should I say the classic line?
"Auauaa (I don't know this ceiling.)"
My speech was completely slurred. How old was I right now?
I tried moving my body to understand the situation, but it wouldn't move the way I wanted.
Still, as I moved my arms and legs, the feeling of disconnection gradually disappeared.
I think I can do this.
I put some momentum into twisting my body and successfully rolled over.
"Aua! (Oh! I did it!)"
I was now face down and could see bars nearby. Were these crib rails?
I crawled lightly toward the bars, grabbed them, and tried to stand up, but it didn't go well.
"A-u! (Bad balance!)"
With an infant's poor body balance and weak muscles, my attempts at pulling myself up kept failing, and I kept falling over.
Even so, whether from my previous life's experience or thanks to the old man's special gift, I rapidly gained a sense of balance and started getting the hang of it.
"Auaa! U-aa! (Fight! One more!)"
While reciting the familiar slogan from a certain product commercial I loved in my previous life, I finally succeeded in standing up while holding onto the bars.
"U-aa! (Yes!)"
I felt a sense of accomplishment and pleasant fatigue as I continued standing while gripping the bars. Then I heard a voice from outside the room.
"Shu, I'm home!"
A beautiful woman with wavy purple hair entered the room saying that. When she saw me, her eyes widened and she froze.
"U? (Mom?)"
I tilted my head slightly as I said this. Though this was my first time meeting this woman, I naturally understood that she was my mother.
(Is this like an imprinting phenomenon?)
As I thought this, I lost my balance and fell over. I'd reached my limit with my poor body balance and the weak stamina of this young body.
"Are you okay?! Shu! Are you hurt anywhere?"
Before I knew it, she'd gotten close and caught me as I fell. The fatigue from reaching my physical limit and the sense of security she gave me brought irresistible drowsiness.
"A... (Good night, Mom...)"
Though my speech was slurred and incomprehensible, I still said good night to my mother and slowly closed my eyes to sleep.
◆
When I returned from hanging laundry outside, I found my son Shu standing by holding onto the crib rails! But I missed it...
I missed my son's historic moment!!
Then Shu looked at me and went "U?" while tilting his head, and I almost spat blood, which was actually love leaking from my mouth.
...Because he was just too cute.
I really regretted not having a Video Den Den Mushi. Maybe I should steal... I mean, borrow one from the nearby Navy base?
While I was seriously debating this, Shu lost his balance and fell over.
I instantly coated my feet with Armament Haki and kicked off the floor with just enough force not to break the floorboards, getting close enough to gently catch Shu.
Shu looked at me with relief and said "A..." while smiling. An angel! There's an angel here!
Shu fell asleep in my arms, but I used Observation Haki to check if he was okay.
And what I sensed in Shu was...
"Is this... Armament Haki?"
Yes, I could sense traces of Armament Haki faintly remaining in Shu's body.
...Could Shu be...
While thinking about this, I was looking at Shu's peaceful sleeping face with a soft expression when Bellemere spoke to me with an exasperated voice.
◆
"Akari, you've got that sloppy expression again."
When I returned to the room, Akari was holding Shu with her usual beaming smile.
"Ah, Bellemere! Listen to this!"
Akari was always in a good mood when holding Shu, but today she seemed even happier than usual. Did something happen?
"What's wrong, Akari?"
"Shu was standing!"
"...Huh?"
Shu, still a baby, was standing?
"I mean, Shu was doing a pulling-up stand holding onto the crib rails!"
"Wait a minute, Akari. Shu's only about six months old, right?"
"That's right! Isn't it amazing!"
I'd never raised children, but... was that even possible?
"Um, it's probably amazing, but... is that even possible?"
"He really was standing!"
"No, I'm not doubting you."
Um, normally they crawl first, right? What's going on here?
"Plus, Shu seemed to be using Armament Haki."
"...Huh?"
Hold on, I can't keep up!
"You mean he's been using Armament Haki since birth?"
"That's right, so Shu is..."
Akari looked down with a serious expression. Was there some major problem with Shu?
I'd heard of people who could use Haki from birth, but I'd never actually seen one. So I couldn't imagine what kind of problems might arise. Sometimes too much power can hurt the user...
What kind of problems could there be? I waited tensely for Akari's words.
"So Shu is a genius!"
It was just parental pride.
"...Sigh."
"What's with that sigh, Bellemere? Isn't it amazing?"
Akari showed me Shu in her arms like she was bragging.
I felt like I'd worried for nothing...
"Oh, I need to tell Genzo about this amazing thing!"
"Alright, alright. I'll go call Genzo, so you stay put, Akari."
Akari pouted like a child in dissatisfaction. I waved at her and went to call Genzo. Even after six months back in my hometown, my best friend hadn't changed, which made me feel relieved as I cheerfully ran off.