Special Delivery
Cast:
Cure Mint, Akimoto Komachi - age 23
Cure Diamond, Hishikawa Rikka - age 16
Cure Rosetta, Yotsuba Alice - age 16
Sebastian Cloverfield - Alice's butler - age 66
Akimoto Youka - Komachi's daughter - newborn
November, 2014
As Alice and Rikka reach the front of the line, Komachi greets them with a smile.
"You know, the owner of the building could be excused from standing in the line."
Alice hides her smile behind a paper fan. "Goodness, no! This is a book signing. Standing in line is a part of the experience!"
"As you wish, young lady." Komachi says, then opens the girls' books to sign them.
Rikka attempts small talk. "Komachi, when is your baby due?"
Komachi smiles. "In another week or so, supposedly, but actually right now."
"Is- is that something you should joke about?"
"I'm serious. My water broke fifteen, maybe twenty minutes ago. It's okay. There aren't that many people left in the queue."
Komachi is sweating visibly. When Rikka peeks behind the table, her face pales. It seems that Komachi is indeed sitting in a puddle of amniotic fluid.
"This could be bad..." Rikka's eyes fall on the butler. "Sebastian, have you ever helped with a childbirth?"
"Indeed, I have. It has been sixteen years, five months, and seventeen days, but I still remember as if it was yesterday."
"Sixteen-" Alice's eyes widen. "Sebastian, why have you never mentioned this before?!"
The situation is not so bad as it might have been. One of the people still in line turns out to be a doctor. They withdraw to the staff section of the building, where Rikka and Sebastian help the doctor deliver the baby.
"Congratulations. You have a healthy baby girl."
The baby is handed over to Komachi. "Youka. Her name will be Youka."
"A fine name," the doctor responds. "Now, I want you to both go home and rest."