Our next kid comes from a more recent couple!

Jolene the Miracle

"AAAAAAAAAHHHH! AAAAAHHH, MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!"

These sounds had plagued Jataro's ears for almost nine months. He just didn't understand why she wanted this. Why did she want to put herself through such torture?

His wife, E. Carmine-Kemuri, had been in a terrible accident as a child, forever ruining her skin. She looked positively atrocious, and her melted flesh was extremely sensitive to anything. She had gone through most of her life wearing a protective suit and gas mask. However, despite fearing that she would never find love, she met Jataro, a rather problematic, confusing boy. They found a deep connection and understanding with one another, and once they reached maturity, they married. Naturally, she wore her suit during most of the wedding, until she raised her helmet for the kiss.

Still, after all these years, Carmine still hated how she looked and hated her condition. She was so happy and grateful that a boy as sweet as Jataro would want to be with her, but now that they had come this far, she wanted more. Eventually, the topic came up: what about having kids? It was tradition amongst all of their friends to have kids and create the next generation of Kids Next Door, create the next symbols of hope for the future. Of course, this was especially priority for the next Firstborn Guardians, but even those would-be legends would need friends and allies.

"Alright, so… what should we do?" Jataro asked. "Should we adopt? …Or, um…" He hesitated to suggest that they find a surrogate mother.

"Jataro… I…" Carmine seemed hesitant as well. "I want… to have a child."

"I know. That's why I asked…"

"No, Jataro. I don't want to adopt and I don't want a surrogate. I want to give birth to a child myself."

"…" Jataro had no idea how to respond. He really didn't expect that. Was it even possible? Why would she… "What?"

"I've been thinking about it for a long time… I was wondering if someone as ugly as me… could still create something beautiful."

"Carmine, you

are beautiful. You know you're beautiful. And I…I would really like to 'sleep' with you…" Now that Jataro thought about it, it would be his first time. "But you know how sensitive you are. You'll… y-you won't be able to handle it."

"I've been training, Jataro. I ask you to give me massages, I try to take barefoot walks, try to take proper baths, all to fight my sensitivity. All to prepare myself for… if that time comes. Please… do this for me. No matter how much I cry or scream, don't stop. Please…"

"I…I need to think about this. …And I should… probably watch a few instructional videos."

"Heh heh… well, take your time. And if you really don't feel comfortable with it… I guess that's fine."

But they did. It was the most horrible experience Jataro had ever endured, required each and every ounce of his courage and patience. And then, his wife became pregnant. He had to question if her weak, ruined body could truly support a baby, but that's probably what she wanted to know, too. No matter how much she was told she was beautiful, she just couldn't accept it. Her dying wish was to prove her beauty once and for all. But Jataro really didn't want to do this. He felt nothing but fear, fear that his wife wouldn't survive, fear that the baby wouldn't make it… and fear that he would never find a woman as kind and beautiful as her again.

And yet, he couldn't believe they had made it to the climax of the pregnancy, the ninth month when everything was decided. Endless cries and pleas to "make it stop, make it stop" would conclude at this. It helped that they had the most reliable doctor, Haruka to help with this operation, along with Melody to help soothe the pain. Still, the strongest person here was, without doubt, Carmine. She never had the superhuman abilities that fellow KND had… or maybe she was reserving them all for this very moment. Honestly, how could anyone doubt her strength after this?

"It's time, Melody!" Haruka yelled. "Get ready!"

"Okay, Carmine! Here it comes!"

One final, ear-piercing scream ruptured the air…

Four years later

Jolene Kemuri loved to run around in the backyard. She would often climb on the fence and make a jump, stamping the ground with enough force to spring a rock up. Afterwards, she would climb that rock and tried to push it back down again. The three-year-old girl had blonde hair tied in pigtails and a frilly white dress with white strap-on shoes. Her blue eyes glittered with life on her pudgy face.

After the pregnancy, Carmine was confined to a wheelchair most of the time. She had next to no strength to spare… but she was happy. It was all worth it to see such a precious little angel running around.

"Mama, can we go to the playground?" she came up and asked her.

"Sure, Jolene… but you promise not to hurt your knee this time, right?"

"Ya, I'll be careful."

Jataro would push his wife's wheelchair as they strolled to the park, letting Jolene bounce ahead. "Jataro… I wonder… should we really let her join the KND?"

"That's really up to her to decide."

"I just… I don't want the same thing to happen again. What if she gets in an accident just like I did? She's the most beautiful thing in our world… I don't want anything awful to…"

"You worked harder than any other parent, Carmine. Even Karin had an easier pregnancy. Our daughter is a miracle. She's a blessing on the world. Whether she chooses to join KND or not… she'll grow up happy and healthy."

"I…I wish…" Carmine truly wanted to believe that, but it just wasn't possible for anyone. Jolene would grow up always worrying for her helpless mother, having to help take care of her, and any cruel children would probably bully Jolene because of her mother's condition. "Even so… I was allowed to live. I nearly gave my life to give her life… and I still have some to spare. I want to be with her as long as possible… and give her every ounce of my love and faith."

"I will, too. I promise, Carmine… no matter what bad things happen, she will live happily."