Chapter 6: The Nightmare

"Haruto!" Haruto's eyes snapped open when he heard someone yell his name. He was standing in the ruins of what seemed to be a house. The sky was red and he was surrounded by smoke and fire. He turned to see a man and a woman laying on the floor, blood pooling on the floor around them.

"Haruto!" Haruto's body started to move against his will. He turned his body, focusing on a girl. He couldn't make out the details of her face, but he could tell that her hair was long and pointy. Haruto opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"I heard something over here!" A male voice shouted. Haruto started to feel himself shake violently as tears pooled up in his eyes.

"Stay safe, Haruto," the girl said as she walked up to Haruto, placing a kiss on his forehead, "I love you."

The girl then pushed him before his world was consumed by white.

-

Kiara let out a sigh of relief as she stretched. She had just finished a karaoke stream and was winding down for the night.

"I should probably check on Calli and Haruto before going to bed," Kiara said. Although the streaming room was soundproofed, Kiara managed to wake Calli in the past with her screaming. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Calli frantically walk through the hall.

"Is everything okay?" Kiara asked.

"I heard thrashing coming from Haruto's room," Calli, too worried to turn around, continued down the hall.

Without a word, Kiara bolted down the hall with Calli. She would naturally be worried about Haruto but Okayu's email made Kiara's paranoia skyrocket. Naturally, Kiara didn't love Haruto any less but since he apparently wasn't human, no shortage of creatures and beings would try to go after Haruto. After all, a supernatural being is valuable and it's always best to get them young.

The two burst through Haruto's door to see him thrashing around in bed. Although Kiara was relieved her son was being kidnapped, she was still worried.

"Sweetie?" Kiara said as she made her way to Haruto's bed before shaking him gently. After a couple more shakes, Haruto opened his eyes.

"Mama…?" Haruto, his voice shaking, looked up at Kiara, "Mama is that you?"

"I'm here sweetie," Kiara said while hugging the boy, "Are you alright?"

"Bad dream," Haruto managed.

"It's okay," Calli sat down on the other side of the bed before placing her hand on Haruto's head, "We're here."

Haruto hugged Kiara back while burying his head into her shoulder. He was still processing the events that happened in the dream. The already scattered scene was quickly fading from Haruto's mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kiara asked while moving her hand to stroke Haruto's back comfortingly.

"Don't remember," Haruto said simply.

"That's okay sweetie," Kiara smiled.

"Can you stay with me?" Haruto asked.

"Of course," Kiara reassured as she pulled Haruto closer, "We'll stay for as long as you want us to."

-

"Hey Kiara," Calli walked up to Kiara as she pulled the covers over a sleeping Haruto, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"What's up?" Kiara asked.

"I don't know how to say it," Calli said while shifting uncomfortably, "I just don't feel like I'm being a good parent, you know? You're doing all the parenting stuff while I'm just… there."

"Oh Calli," Kiara walked over to Calli and pulled her into a hug, "You're doing an amazing job."

"I don't feel like I am," Calli, more angry than herself, retorted.

"I know you're not used to opening up with your feelings or anything like that. You're doing your best and that's more than I can ask for," Kiara pulled away to smile at Calli.

"I just feel like I can be doing more," Calli, obviously dissatisfied with herself, let out an exasperated sigh.

"Maybe we can set up a father-son kind of thing," Kiara suggested, "We can go to the park and you two can play catch or something. If you don't want to do that, we can always go to the local arcade."

"Thank you Kuso- Kiara. That sounds like a wonderful idea," Calli said before pulling her into a kiss.

"Anytime," Kiara replied as her smile widened,

-

Meanwhile, a woman with short, indigo hair and glasses was on her fifth hour of overtime.

"A-chan, you really need to get some sleep," a girl with long, brown hair said as she placed a cup of coffee on the desk.

"Thank you," A-chan said as she picked up the cup of coffee, "You really don't have to say this long, Sora."

"Why shouldn't I?" Sora tilted her head playfully, "I would never pass up an opportunity to hang out with a friend."

A-chan was about to retort when the sound of a dog barking came from her computer speakers.

"What was that?" Sora asked.

"I have my notifications set up so each hololive member makes a different noise whenever I get an email," A-chan explained while navigating her way through the dozens of tabs on her computer, "That's odd. Korone rarely emails."

"That's true. Korone prefers discord," Sora put a finger on her chin.

"Oh, Sora! You might want to see this," A-chan said excitedly.

"What's this?" Sora asked. She looked at the computer screen to see a picture of Kiara, Calli, Korone, Okayu, and a small boy with messy, brown hair and brown eyes in the middle smiling shyly.

"Kiara and Calli adopted a child! His name is Haruto! Isn't he the cutest little thing?"

"That's adorable!" Sora exclaimed as she grabbed A-chan's shoulders, "when do we get to meet him?"

A-chan contemplated her options before a mischievous smile showed itself, "I have an idea."