Days have passed since my daughters were born, and our house feels even livelier and warmer than ever. The addition of eight tiny, precious lives has transformed everything.
Right now, I'm standing next to Yomogi, who is sitting on a chair, and holding a square device in my hand. One of her breasts is bare as her little baby suckles gently from it. Yomogi gazes down at her baby with a soft smile and tender eyes.
"Good girl, Himawari… that's right. Drink up, you did a great job..."
"Yomogi, stay just like that. I'm going to count."
"Alright, Motegi-chan."
"One… two… three."
A soft mechanical whirr follows, and a warm piece slowly slides out from the slot on top.
"Can I see it, Motegi-chan?"
"Of course."
I hand the glossy film to her, showing a moment that's perfectly frozen in time. Her gaze is downward, affectionate, and calm, smiling as her daughter feeds in her arms.
"Fufufu… I look so warm in this..."
"You really do, Yomogi."
Yes, for those of you wondering, you're right to guess that this thing is a Polaroid camera. And of course, Pinna built it using my sketches and a rough concept when she was pregnant. I described everything I knew, and she, in her usual terrifying precision, built it perfectly and made it look like the ones back on Earth.
Just like the piano, the rice cooker, and the other devices in this house, cameras also didn't exist in Acrusse. I still remember the first time Pinna and I tested it... Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Salacia, Manas, Lilith, and Brunhild were all gasping like they'd just seen a magical painting appear out of thin air without brushes or canvas.
But since then, I didn't use it again until now. Because I wanted to capture these moments, as they're too valuable to just pass by.
And speaking of Himawari… yes, that's my daughter's name. Because Yomogi means "mugwort," I wanted a plant name too. And I came up with the flower that doesn't even exist in Acrusse and only grew in our terrace garden… the sunflowers, or Himawari.
I turn next to Chantal, who is cradling her little baby. Her breast is out, and her daughter is latched on tightly. Chantal chuckles and brushes the baby's head with her knuckle.
"Hehe... you like it, Rochelle? Mama's milk is delicious, right?"
"Chantal, stay still. I'm going to count."
"Alright, Motegi-kun."
"One… two… three."
Once the result comes out, Chantal lifts her chin.
"Lemme see it, Motegi-kun!"
"Here you go."
I hand her the film. She sees herself... eyes focused downward, a grin creeping up as she holds her daughter to her chest, which makes her laugh.
"Hahaha! I'm grateful my face didn't break from grinning so hard."
"Would've been bad if it did, right?"
Rochelle was the name that Chantal came up with herself, just because she thought it sounded cute. But the coincidence didn't escape me. "Chantal" comes from a French word meaning "stone." And in the same language, "Rochelle" means "little rock," and somehow… it fits.
Now, I turn to Kimberly, who has her little baby nestled peacefully against her breast.
"Darlene… yes… drink slowly… that's it…"
"Kimberly, stay still for me, okay? I'll count."
"Alright… Motegi-sama…"
"One… two… three."
"May… I see… the result, Motegi-sama…?"
"Yup."
I hand her the film, and she gazes down at the glowing image in silence... a soft smile forming as she sees herself nursing her daughter with eyes full of peace.
"I've never seen... a comforting sight… that can be seen… forever… as much... as I want…"
"Now you know it."
Kimberly chose the name Darlene on her own. But of course, that's only the name she gave us. Her daughter's real name, the elven name, is a hurricane of syllables spoken in a single breath... just like her own real name.
And then, I step toward Pinna, who is sitting cross-legged and has her breast suckled by her little baby. Pinna's eyes are half-lidded, but the faintest touch of red colors her cheeks.
"My milk production remains optimal. Output and intake ratio continue to match predicted values. Bora's consumption patterns are stable and reflect healthy development."
"Pinna, stay still. I'm counting."
"Yes, Master."
"One… two… three."
"Request permission to see the result, Master."
"Of course you can."
I hand her the film. For a few seconds, she simply stares. Then slowly, her lips part just a little with a smile.
"This may be the most incredible invention you have introduced to me, Master. I am honored to have brought it into existence. And deeply grateful to witness it being used like this."
"There's no doubt about it."
Pinna named Bora herself, which was a name passed down from her great-grandmother. According to her, the original Bora was a pioneering inventor known for crafting something called a "stargazer." Although, I'm pretty sure it was a telescope.
Next, my eyes settle on Salacia. A tiny hand rests against her chest as a little baby suckles, calm and content in her mother's arms.
"You're so cute when you drink from Mama, Mariana. You're such a good girl, aren't you?"
"Stay still, Salacia. I'm going to count."
"Okay, darling~!"
"One… two… three."
"So? Did it turn out cute?"
"It did."
I hand her the film, and she takes it. The glossy image captures her frozen in time... her lips form a soft smile as she gazes down at Mariana warmly.
"Fufufu... this is so funny, darling~..."
"You like it?"
"Mhm... very much~...."
Yes, Mariana is the name I gave our daughter. I mean... I was the one who named Salacia after the Roman sea goddess, after all. So for our little girl, I wanted something just as oceanic, and that's when I thought of the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench.
Next, I make my way over to Manas, who has her baby resting in her arms and feeding quietly.
"Asha, drink well, grow swiftly, and thou shalt become a fearsome dragon princess, aye…"
"Manas, hold still. I'm going to count."
"Aye, mine king."
"One… two… three."
"Hath the image been captured true?"
"Absolutely."
I hand her the film, revealing her very image of maternal pride. Eyes soft, Asha at her chest, and a smile peeking from her lips.
"This… I shall ne'er forget, mine king."
"You better not. We've only just begun."
Asha is our daughter's name, and another one I picked. Just like I named Manas after the Hindu snake goddess, I wanted something from Sanskrit. That's when I came up with "Asha," which means hope in Sanskrit. And with how Manas dreams of her daughter becoming a fearsome dragon princess… yeah, I think it feels right.
I turn next to Lilith, who has her little baby greedily nursing in her embrace. Lilith moans softly, brushing her fingers through her daughter's head.
"Mmh… you really are such a hungry little succubus, Naomi…"
"Lilith, hold still for me. I'm going to count."
"Yes, honey~..."
"One… two… three."
"Okay, okay, show me~!"
"Here you go."
I hand the film to her, and she chuckles when she takes it and sees the result. The image captures her soft smile and the unmistakable glint of delight in her half-lidded eyes. There's something undeniably sultry in the way she looks at Naomi, even if it's unintentional.
"Why do I look so naughty in this?"
"And why don't you ask yourself for that?"
She pouts immediately.
"You're so mean, honey~…"
"Hahaha..."
Like Chantal with Rochelle, Naomi was Lilith's name choice for her baby only because she liked it.
Finally, I turn to Brunhild. She has her baby nestled against her chest, content and still. Brunhild gazes down lovingly, fingertips brushing her daughter's pale cheek.
"There, there… such a peaceful soul you are, my precious Heidi…"
"Brunhild, I'll count now. Stay still."
"Yes, my Lord."
"One… two… three."
"May I, my Lord?"
"Yes, you may."
I hand the film to her. In the picture, her face is gentle and proud, and Heidi rests at her chest like an angel in the arms of another.
"Thank you for bringing this amazing moment to life, my Lord."
"You're welcome, Brunhild."
Again, Heidi was a random choice, and Brunhild just liked how it sounded. And yet… Heidi means "noble birth" in German, which is also another coincidence given Brunhild's chivalric bearing and divine look.
As I lower the camera, I hear a string of chirps from below.
"Kyuu! Kyuu!"
Puck stands at my feet, trying to catch my attention.
"Yes, yes, I'll take your picture too. Stay still, alright?"
"Kyuu!"
"One… two… three."
Once the result comes out, I crouch and show it to Puck.
"Here, you like it?"
"Kyuu!"
"Hahaha!"
And just like that, I keep going and return from Yomogi to Brunhild, capturing the moments all over again without letting any of them slip away. I also take a few more shots of Puck and zoom in for close-ups of the babies themselves.
When it's done, I lay out the fresh set of photos on the table.
"Alright, pick the ones you like best."
Yomogi scans the shots of her and Himawari. She lingers over a few, then her finger gently presses down on one image.
"This one, I like this one the most, Motegi-chan."
Next, Chantal leans over, flitting her eyes from one picture to another. Then, she jabs a finger at one image.
"This one looks so cute, Motegi-kun. I'm picking this."
Kimberly studies the images next, then pauses on one.
"I prefer… this one, Motegi-sama…"
Pinna scans the images next and stops at one overhead shot.
"Among all available options, this image displays the most satisfactory composition of maternal posture and infant attachment, Master."
Salacia bends over her row, giggling as her eyes flick from photo to photo. She taps one with her finger, the one that shows her gently kissing Mariana's forehead.
"I think this one's better, darling~..."
Manas's eyes are locked on her photos, and her fingers drift across several before pausing on one image.
"Hmm… this might be to mine liking. The light doth flatter mine daughter's profile, mine king."
Lilith leans in, and her eyes immediately settle on the very first photo I took... her half-lidded smile when Naomi latched on.
"Mmm~... of course I choose this one, honey~..."
Brunhild is the last to pick. She gazes at her collection with wonder, then looks at me as she taps a photo with her fingertip.
"Everything looks incredible, my Lord. It is a little hard to choose, but if I must… I want this one."
Finally, Puck walks through its own tiny line of photos and inspects them, waddling back and forth before confidently pressing one paw against its favorite.
"Kyuu!"
With that, I gather the chosen films in hand.
"Alright then. Let's go to the nursery, shall we?"
"Yes!"
"Kyuu!"
We head down the corridor, each of them walking with their babies cradled close. The nursery door opens with a gentle push, revealing a massive shared crib that's big enough for eight babies to sleep side-by-side in safety and comfort... with Puck's crib next to it. Against the wall hangs the macramé, a wide handmade tapestry of soft cords and loops, hooked to nails.
While my wives tuck the babies into their blankets, I step up to the macramé. And one by one, I clip each chosen photo to the cords with smooth wooden clothespins.
Yomogi and Himawari, Chantal and Rochelle, Kimberly and Darlene, Pinna and Bora, Salacia and Mariana, Manas and Asha, Lilith and Naomi, and Brunhild and Heidi. And Puck, posing in its favorite snap. I also add a few of my own choices, like the babies' feet, their sleepy faces, and the way all eight mothers looked together in that one perfect frame.
After that, I step back.
"Alright, it's done."
My wives approach me, and their eyes light up with warmth. Even Puck hops with joy, thrilled to see its picture displayed proudly among the others.
"This is so beautiful, Motegi-chan..."
"It's too precious to even look at, Motegi-kun…"
"These really… look like… multiple tiny paintings… into one, Motegi-sama..."
"This is a highly satisfactory result. I intend to mentally process this arrangement again and again, Master."
"Our babies look so cute in here, darling~..."
"This room now holdeth the most incredible treasure… one that surpasseth thou vault, mine king."
"I really don't wanna take my eyes off this, honey~..."
"It cannot be any warmer than this, my Lord."
"Kyuu! Kyuu!"
Yes, this is why I requested a Polaroid instead of an SLR. If I'd chosen the latter, Pinna would've had to make a laptop, a printer, and an entire photo-processing setup... all for something that would've been far more trouble than it's worth. Besides, with my [Copier] skill, I can duplicate the blank film sheets endlessly.
And as for the photos that didn't make it to the wall... I can glue them into a photo album, and it will become something we flip through on rainy days.
Then suddenly, a thought hits me, and I open a teleportation portal out of nowhere.
"Hey, what if we go back in time and capture the moments from our wedding?"
And their eyes suddenly light up in approval, as Puck also joins in.
"Yes, Motegi-chan!"
"Oh hell yeah, Motegi-kun!"
"I would love... to, Motegi-sama…"
"I approve this proposal, Master."
"Let's do it, darling~!"
"Aye, let us relive the sacred ceremony, mine king."
"That sounds so fun, honey~..."
"Let us go at once, my Lord."
"Kyuu!"
"Alright, let's go!"
With that, we step through the portal together.
And starting from here, my journey from campus life to another world paradise has reached a new stage.