When talking about the future for our group it's obvious that getting married, being pregnant, and giving birth would all have a huge impact on how we live our lives. Let's take a look at how life is changing for each of the women.

Keine and Ran

Two days ago.

Keine "That's all for our lesson today."

Keine had continued to teach at the school after becoming pregnant. Even when the swelling of her stomach made it difficult to walk or even to stand up, she still continued to teach.

Normally she would have been given maternity leave for her own sake and for the health of the child, but it was Keine's desire to continue working. Still, it was hard not to worry about the child growing inside of her.

Keine "With myself and Rinnosuke as its parents, I'm sure it can handle this."

Eirin's health checks showed no signs of complications, so Keine's reasoning seemed solid enough.

However... the size of her stomach had certainly made it more difficult for her to not only work at her job, but also to take care of household chores. Seeing this, Ran began to help out. It was still unclear if Ran was pregnant or not, so her body showed no signs of pregnancy and she was able to act as normal. It wouldn't do for Ran to take over all of the chores, however, as that could lead to Keine gaining excessive weight and increase the dangers to her child. To that end Ran helped to an extent that Keine could still do some measure of work.

Student B "Wow, sensei, your belly is so big!"

Keine "Of course it is, I'm pregnant."

The children were fascinated by the swelling of Keine's stomach. While they had learned of pregnancy from books it was an entirely different thing to see a pregnant woman in person.

Student A "So there's a baby in there?"

Keine "That's right."

Student O "Can I touch it, sensei?"

Keine "It's okay, but be gentle. You don't want to surprise the baby."

The students cautiously leaned in towards her stomach to place their ears against her. After several had rested their heads against her belly a soft thud sounded from inside. The baby had moved.

Student I "It moved! It moved! It just moved!"

Student A "No way!"

Student I "I'm serious!"

Keine "See? The baby's really in there. When you were all babies you too were inside of your mothers like this. You'll all experience this again once your adults, so pay close attention."

Students ""Yes sensei!""

The students cheerfully replied.

Student K "Will we get like this too?"

One of the male students asked.

Keine "Boys don't get pregnant."

She softly flicked his forehead.

Nevertheless, having so much extra body weight made it difficult not only to work and keep up with chores around the house, but it also made flying more challenging. Instead of making it easier to manage the new weight, flying only exhausted Keine further. Though she did spend more time sitting while teaching she never let her fatigue show on her face.

Ran "How are you feeling, Keine?"

Ran had been waiting outside of the school building for Keine to exit.

Just as every day before, Ran had come to the school to check on Keine's health. She had been a mother of sorts for myself and Keine in the past, so she understood the challenges that Keine was facing. While she had never carried a child inside of herself or given birth, she still understood the difficulties of raising a child. The obstacles, pains, and joys.

Keine "I'm doing well enough. I can still move around."

Ran "Don't push yourself. It's good that you're keeping active, but don't overdo it."

Keine "I know that. Still, I'm happy. I can finally give birth to Rinnosuke's child. I'm going to be a mother."

Ran "I'll become a real mother one day too. Then we can be mothers together. Mothers, friends, and family."

Keine "Hahaha, that we will."

Being a mother was certainly difficult. The difficulties never really ended, there were no breaks, and there was no wage paid for the work. Still, Keine would be able to overcome all of that. She would never cast her child aside and abandon it as her own mother had done to her.

And Ran had raised Keine to be the woman she was today, so Keine was certain that Ran would be an excellent mother as well.

Long ago, before she had come to Gensoukyou from the outside world, Ran had done whatever she pleased. Some of those things were of such a scale that they were listed in history books - and they made what Seija had done look cute in comparison. She had watched innocent men, women, and children die while she laughed.

China, India, and Japan were her stomping grounds. When danger grew she would move to a new area, seduce and possess a man of power, and then continue on her way. Eventually she was sealed and taken to Gensoukyou by Yukari to become a shikigami. At first she could only feel displeasure at becoming slave instead of master, so she fought against Yukari even though she was a shikigami. Nobody could imagine the Ran of that time as being a mother.

It was said that becoming a mother changed a woman, and in Ran's case that was true. When she had first begun to look after myself and Keine she was nothing like her current self. She had a foul attitude and her words were filled with anger and hatred. She treated us like pests that were in her way.

But as time passed and we spent more time living together, Ran began to calm down. She became more skilled at household chores until she was keeping up with everything easily. The laundry was scrubbed clean, her cooking failures became few and far between, and the barbs that filled her words faded away. Even her expression softened with time. Eventually seeing her clad in an apron and looking motherly was completely natural.

Ran "But you've never raised a child. Shall I teach you again?"

Keine "I... I'm fine. I can raise a child or two."

Ran "Is that so? I'm not so sure..."

Keine "Truly, I'll be fine. I'm sure."

And I'm sure she's right. Both of them are sure to be fine mothers.

Keine "After all... you raised me."

I've watched them both for long enough to know.