MOTHER
&&
DAUGHTER

Name: Mitsuki Saito

Age: 30

Species: Human

Occupation: Oddity specialist

Background:

I used to work in child consultation. That didn't last for very long, though. I was 22 at the time— so I was used to things not lasting very long. That wasn't the part that impacted my life.

On that day, I was responding to reports of numerous babies crying in a single house. Because the couple had never announced a pregnancy despite living in such a tight knit neighborhood, people suspected that they might be neglecting their children.

I had dealt with cases similar to this before. New parents have a way of getting other people worried about them. At the time, I hoped I could get them on their feet. I had mistakenly assumed that they were just ignorant.

When I arrived at their home, the door was already open. Nobody came to greet me, so I knocked on the doorframe.

I repeated this several times, even calling out the last name of the couple.

The inside of the house was dark, only illuminated by the setting sun behind me. Their car was still parked in the driveway.

Naturally, I assumed that something bad happened to them. I considered turning around and calling the police.

Then, I realized that there might be a baby in there who might need my help immediately.

I remembered my pride as a social worker, and entered the house uninvited.

As I walked down the hall, a terrible scent seemed to be attacking me. Like rotting flesh. I feared the worst. Even so, I kept moving forward.

The smell lead me to the master bedroom.

When I opened the door, I saw them. The couple.

Kneeling over a newborn child, a deer carcass, and other unspeakably disgusting things.

When they realized I had found them, the man harshly grabbed me by my shoulders— I thought he was going to try and attack me— but instead, he pleaded for my help.

Every other child they made disappeared.

They wanted me to save that one from disappearing.

I obviously couldn't do such a thing.

But they kept pushing me.

The more I tried to reason with them— to get the baby away from such a dangerous place— they became increasingly erratic. At that point, I was probably going to be attacked by them.

I had a savior that day.

In a single moment, both of them were killed.

It was a divine punishment. They had committed a terrible sin. To bring a child into the world, knowing it would eventually disappear— and to drag an unsuspecting person into those crimes.

I had heard legends of this person before. The “Guardian of Birth” — a rumor spread by pregnant women, that they experienced an otherworldly and comforting presence before and after giving birth. As if someone had been watching over them.

That being, which I had brushed off as an urban legend, appeared before me.

The first thing that struck me was her beauty.

For a moment, I was mesmerized by her.

Then, I remembered... That baby would also disappear.

“It must have been hard.”

That was the first thing I said.

“You’re supposed to protect, not kill. It must have been hard to be pushed to that point.”

When I said that, she seemed much less like a diety— and more like a confused child. She cried, and I held her.

The two of us... Made a deal.

It was possible for the baby to live, but only if I recognized her as something that is alive.

As the sinless who had found the baby as coincidence— I would have to become her mother. I would have to love her, raise her, and eventually let go of her.

If I was unable to do that, she would disappear.

Without love, that child cannot exist.

Even if I could only allow the baby to live for another fleeting moment, I accepted those terms.

When I did, the Guardian of Birth disappeared— leaving me alone with a baby in my arms.

My first task as a mother.... Would be to name her.

Kei.

恵.

Blessing.

Name: Kei Saito

Age: 8

Species: Homunculus

Occupation: Elementary school student

Background:

My name is Kei. I'm eight years old. I already know all my times tables up to six, and.... I like to ride my bike.

That's all I can think of right now.