"I have some bad news," Setsuna said as she walked into the kitchen.
"What is it?" Michiru asked. She set the plates she was holding onto the table.
"The moving company called and said that they've run into some trouble. They won't be able to deliver our furniture until tomorrow," Setsuna sighed.
"What?! How are we supposed to move in without our furniture? We don't even have a bed!" Haruka complained as she walked in with a new box of dishes.
"We'll just need to think of a way to survive until tomorrow. As for the bed, there's the mattress the previous owners left upstairs," Michiru suggested. Haruka set the box on the counter.
"But there's only one mattress," Haruka reminded her. She took out a knife and cut open the box.
"We won't mind sharing with Setsuna. Isn't that right, Haruka?" Michiru asked in her usual teasing voice.
"Uh, yeah. Of course not," Haruka said, sounding unsure.
"Well if you're both okay with it, then I guess it's fine. But what about Hotaru? We can't let her sleep on the mattress in case one of us happens to roll over during the night," Setsuna pointed out and gestured towards the baby that was laying on the floor on top of a blanket.
"We can use these," Haruka said, pointing at the box she had just opened.
"Are you seriously suggesting that we would put our baby in a box?" Michiru asked and leaned down to pick Hotaru up from the floor.
"We have some blankets and pillows in the back of my car. We'll just put one of them in a box. Besides, she's too young to know where she's sleeping," Haruka explained.
"Haruka does have a point. We don't really have anywhere else to put her," Setsuna agreed. Michiru sighed and looked down at the small child in her arms.
"Fine. Go get a blanket then. I think Hotaru is ready for a nap," she smiled as Hotaru's eyes started closing.
For the remainder of the day, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna unpacked the boxes they had managed to bring in by themselves. The house still felt very empty and cold, but it was the best they could do without any furniture. Haruka had dragged the mattress to the living room since it was still very cold in the bedroom without any rugs or even curtains.
"So how do you want to sleep?" Setsuna asked as she covered the mattress with a sheet.
"I think I should sleep in the middle since I'm the smallest," Michiru suggested. Haruka agreed with her and set Hotaru's box down onto the floor, next to the mattress.
"I think she likes her new bed," Michiru laughed as she put Hotaru into the box. The baby relaxed almost immediately.
"Should we also get some sleep? There isn't anything else to do around here," Haruka asked and nuzzled Michiru's neck. Setsuna dropped three pillows on the mattress, along with blankets for each of them. Haruka wasted no time crawling under hers, pulling Michiru down with her. Setsuna turned off the lights and lay down next to Michiru.
"Good night, Michiru. Good night, Setsuna. Good night, box baby," Haruka said with a yawn.
"Box baby?" Setsuna asked. Haruka could practically hear her raising her eyebrows.
"Yes. She's a baby. She's in a box. She's a box baby," Haruka explained. She felt Michiru giggle against her neck.
"Box baby. I like it. It's cute," Michiru said and snuggled against Haruka.
"I think we should still call her Hotaru," Setsuna laughed. Just then, Hotaru let out a small yet surprisingly loud sigh.
"See? She also likes 'box baby'," Haruka said.
"Just go to sleep already," Setsuna sighed, pulling her blanket tighter around herself.
"Hmph. Fine. Good night, Michiru, Setsuna and box baby," Haruka said, earning a groan from Setsuna and another giggle from Michiru.
"Good night," Setsuna and Michiru replied in unison. Their little box baby slept peacefully in her box.