"'Papa'. Can you say 'papa'?"
The little girl stared up at Haruka with her big eyes.
"Come on. I know you can do it. 'Paaaaapaaaaa'"
No response. Haruka sighed in frustration and lifted the girl from the floor into her arms. Hotaru giggled and clapped her tiny hands together.
"Just speak already," Haruka said and sat down on the sofa.
"Gaa!" Hotaru gurgled happily. Haruka shook her head. She had been trying to get Hotaru to talk for a while now, with no luck so far. She had read from one of Setsuna's many baby books that this was the age when babies could start speaking, and Haruka was determined to make sure that Hotaru's first word would be 'papa'.
The blonde heard a familiar giggle from behind her. Michiru stood in the doorway.
"Are you trying to get her to speak again?" she asked and walked over to the sofa.
"Yes. But she's still not saying a word," Haruka sighed, and Michiru picked up Hotaru from her arms.
"Maa!" the baby said happily. Michiru smiled and kissed her cheek. 'Maa' was not far from 'mama'. Haruka knew she would have to change strategies in order to win. Well, raising a child was not a competition, but it would be nice if Hotaru's first word was 'papa'. Besides, Setsuna and Michiru had been there to see Hotaru's first smile, so it would only be fair if it was now Haruka's turn.
"Is everything all right?" Haruka snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Michiru.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about how cute the two of you look," she answered.
"Aww, thank you. You look pretty cute yourself," Michiru said, leaning in to give Haruka a quick kiss. Hotaru giggled again from between them.
"But, of course, you're the cutest," Haruka said and tickled Hotaru's small foot. The baby laughed again.
"Hotaru, can you say 'papa'?" Michiru asked. Haruka looked back up at Michiru. The woman had a gentle smile on her lips.
"Paa?" the girl said, looking confused. Haruka's lips curved into a wide smile, and she gave the girl a small kiss on the cheek. 'Paa' was not far from 'papa'. Maybe she hadn't lost the game just yet.