In response to recent comments: I agree. Giroro is going to be a GREAT dad. Once he gets used to Kioshii, I'll have him start carrying her around everywhere in a baby sling. Including platoon meetings. (The platoon will, of course, make endless fun of him for it)
Natsumi was fidgety all through classes that day. Although she had mixed feelings about suddenly being thrust into- for lack of a better word- motherhood, she had to admit that her maternal instinct was kicking in. She worried about Kioshii all day, partially worried about leaving her with Giroro. He was battle-hardened and surly. She wasn't sure she wanted that kind of role model for Kioshii, even though he was- for lack of a better word- her father. Genetically speaking, at least.
Her friends noticed. Koyuki walked up to her before gym class wanting to know what was up.
"What's wrong, Natsumi? You seem distracted today! I don't think I've ever seen your mind wander in class before!" Koyuki said, leaning in a way that was too close for comfort.
"It's nothing. Just… Kululu being Kululu, creating problems. And this time, the effect of his experimentation is going to stick around for a long time, and I'm not sure how I feel about it," Natsumi replied, sighing. Koyuki frowned.
"Do you want to talk about it? Is it something you want me to… take care of?" Koyuki asked, nudging a ninja star out of her pocket. Natsumi grabbed her hand in a panic.
"Not that kind of problem!" she exclaimed, her heart pounding. Koyuki shrugged and put her weapon away.
"Well, let me know if there's anything I can do, okay?" Koyuki asked.
"Actually, if you wanted to come over tonight to help out, that might be good. We can make a night of it, if you want. What do you say, up for a sleepover?" Natsumi asked, determined that Kioshii wouldn't kill her social life. Koyuki was, as always, ecstatic that Natsumi had invited her over, so the plan was finalized.
After school was over, Koyuki flitted off home to get her things, and Natsumi ran home, wanting to get back as soon as possible. Koyuki caught up with her a few blocks away from the house, having already gotten her things, and Natsumi slowed to a walk.
Natsumi opened the door, letting Koyuki inside, and the two of them took off their shoes and went inside.
"Koyuki, why don't you go put your stuff in my room?" Natsumi suggested, and Koyuki nodded, walking up the stairs. Natsumi went into the living room looking for Giroro and Kioshii. They were sitting on one of the couches, Kioshii nestled in Giroro's lap. Aki was across from them on the other couch, smiling and watching them. Noticing Natsumi, she put a finger to her lips. Natsumi noticed that Giroro and Kioshii's eyes were closed, and their breathing was deep and even.
"They're sleeping?" Natsumi mouthed. Aki nodded, smiling. She stood up and walked with Natsumi out into the hall.
"Hello, Mrs. Hinata!" Koyuki said from the stairs. She leapt over the banister and landed on her feet.
"Koyuki! What a surprise! Are you staying over?" Aki asked. Koyuki nodded enthusiastically.
"So, how is she?" Natsumi asked, gesturing to the living room door.
"She's fine. Giroro took good care of her. He's barely put her down all day. I helped out a bit, but I think he'll be fine from now on. There's nothing else he really needs to know. You might want to go out shopping and get stuff for her, though," Aki said. Koyuki stared at them like they were speaking another language. At that moment, Kioshii woke up and started crying, waking Giroro up. He jolted a little, blinked, shook his head, then grabbed Kioshii's bottle, which she decidedly refused. After checking to see if she needed changing and deciding that wasn't the problem, he started panicking a little.
"Aki! I can't tell what she wants!" Giroro said, standing up and carrying her out into the hall. Koyuki gasped when he appeared, and immediately began sniffing Kioshii. Giroro frowned, and Kioshii started crying even harder.
"Koyuki, this is Kioshii. I'll explain later," Natsumi said. Koyuki shook her head.
"No need. She's you and Giroro's, right? I could tell by the smell. Is that what Kululu was up to?" she asked. Natsumi nodded.
"Natsumi, do you want to hold her?" Aki asked. Natsumi was flustered, and shrugged. Aki took the squirming infant out of Giroro's arms and put her into Natsumi's.
The baby promptly stopped crying.
"She just wanted her mommy!" Koyuki exclaimed happily. Despite herself, Natsumi smiled down at the baby, who was cooing at her and drooling a little bit. Giroro looked on, smiling slightly. It felt strange not to be holding the baby anymore, though. His arms, at least, were glad of the break. They felt about as limp as soba noodles!
Natsumi held her for most of the rest of the evening, although she did leave her behind to run to the store, once, in order to get supplies. She got the basics, like clothes, diapers, wipes, and formula, and then also got toys, baby videos, a sling, a stroller, two sets of baby monitors, walkie talkies, blankets and a folding crib. She had a bit of trouble getting it all home, but it was necessary.
Eventually, Kioshii fell asleep, and Natsumi was the one who got her ready for bed, changing her again, putting her into pajamas, and wrapping her in blankets.
"Where should I set up the crib?" Natsumi asked.
"What about the family room? (the room where Natsumi's birthday party was held)" Aki suggested. Natsumi nodded. Giroro set up the crib, as Natsumi was holding Kioshii, and Natsumi set the infant down. Amazingly, Kioshii had stayed asleep through all of this. Natsumi ran back out to the living room and got the baby monitors. She put them next to the crib, then handed Giroro one of the receivers. The other she kept with her. She also gave him a walkie talkie.
"So we can argue about who has to deal with it when she wakes up in the middle of the night," she explained. Giroro looked confused.
"Why would she wake up in the middle of the night?" Giroro asked. The Pekoponians all stared at him.
"What?" he asked, uncomfortable under their stares.
"Don't Keronian kids wake up in the middle of the night?" Natsumi asked, perplexed. He shook his head. The girls all laughed.
"Well, I'm going to hope she takes on that characteristic, then!" Natsumi exclaimed.
"Don't jinx it, Natsumi!" Aki scolded. Natsumi grinned.
After that, everyone parted ways for the night, and, thankfully, Kioshii only woke up once, which made it seem like she took after the Keronian side. Human infants wake up several times, right? Giroro dealt with it, and the rest of the night passed rather uneventfully.