--------------------It's lunchtime, snack time inside Chaldea.
"Hey, what's going on here, Master?"
The female hunter in front of me asks me a question.
"I wonder what it is?"
I shrugged and replied.
"What were we doing just now?"
"We were eating the apple pie I made."
You really seemed to enjoy eating it, and it made me happy too.
"Ah, that's right. Then why is my body getting smaller?"
"I poisoned him."
" Yeeeeeeee!!"Arrow message of the complaint (Phoebus Catastrophe)
Gyaaaaaaaa＼(＾o＾)／
If it weren't for the "Emergency Evasion," I would have died instantly. Atalanta is really dangerous.
Okay, just calm down, take a deep breath. Hee-hee-hoo, hee-hee-hoo.
"...Phew, phew, I'm not pregnant yet."
First of all, what exactly is this medicine?! Unless you explain the situation, even you won't be convinced!
Hmm, that sounds like you're saying you're okay with anything happening as long as you're satisfied. Shall I explain?
"Well, I was bored, so I asked Da Vinci if she had any medicine to make me smaller, and she immediately made me a stupid-sounding medicine called 'Youjoninar.' I thought Da Vinci was really convenient. The end."
"So why did you put that on me?!"
Atalanta hisses, her hair and tail standing on end in a menacing manner.
But sadly, she's still in her little girl form, so she's just cute, or rather, she's totally a cat.
"See, Atalanta's dream is a world where all children are loved, right?"
"What about it?"
"But Atalanta herself has never received genuine parental love, so first, Atalanta needs to receive unconditional love from her parents, right?"
To realize your own dreams, you first need to experience a part of them yourself.
Thinking along those lines, I tried to brainwash, ahem, persuade Atalanta-chan.
"Uh, well, there's certainly some truth to what you're saying, but what does that have to do with the current situation...?"
Alright, just one more push. You're too easy, Atalanta.
"Absolutely! You have to start with the form in everything!"
Wouldn't you think it's strange for Atalanta to be spoiled even though she's an adult?
In that case, my resort to drugging her and turning her into a little girl was a desperate measure! Because even if Atalanta were honest, she'd probably say something like, "I appreciate your feelings, but I don't need you!"
"Guh, guh..."
"Unfortunately, the effects of that medicine only last one day, so for today, I'll be your parent. And I'm going to spoil you rotten. You can call me Daddy! Or you can just call me Dad!"
By the way, we'll call Atalanta "Ata-chan"!
The words "baby" and "Ata-chan" sound somewhat similar.
"W-wait a minute! You don't mean that the Master will be here all day today!"
"I'm not Master! Call me Daddy!"
...Please understand, Ata-chan. This is also an essential step in making Atalanta's dream come true.
Atalanta herself will experience firsthand how wonderful it is to live in a world where children are loved!
"...! I see, so this is also necessary for my dream, then I have no choice, I am a heroic spirit after all. I've made up my mind! Do as you please! P-p-p-p-eh!"
"Well said! Then come with me! Here we go, up high, up high!"
So, my plan, which was constructed based on half of what I just said and half on my own desire because it sounded interesting, began here.
"Ha, hahaha! Ya, yay! Yay!"
But Ata-chan, aren't you being a little too easy to fool?
≪Part 1: Let's play together≫
So, I'm on the move with Ata-chan in my arms, looking for an easy way to get outside.
Ideally, we'd like a place with good weather and plenty of space. Huh? You're asking if there's a place like that in Chaldea? Well... there is, if you're using Rayshift.
"Dad, is it really necessary to carry him around like that?"
Ata-chan, who is being held in my arms, asks me a question.
It seems Dad was embarrassed after all, so he calmed down.
"What's wrong? Oh, maybe you would have preferred the stroller?"
"No, that's not it... I was just thinking that being treated like this might draw a bit of attention..."
Just a moment ago, for example..."
Red dog-like delinquent Saber: "Mama-master—!? What's that! A child!? No, you're kidding! I haven't even been made yet!!"
King Saber in black Gothic Lolita attire: "Master? Who is that child? No, you don't need to say it, I understand everything from her appearance."
"Hmph, she claims to be a pure hunter, but she certainly does what she's supposed to do... Ah, I suppose she is a hunter in that sense, but now, how shall I make that beast girl pay for this..."
"It's okay, it's okay"
Those two wouldn't do anything that reckless. I'll make sure to follow up properly later."
"It looked like he went off to look for me with a holy sword emitting magic in one hand and bloodshot eyes... Well, if that's what you say, Dad, I'll believe you. But wouldn't it have been better if we had just walked side by side normally to avoid any misunderstandings?"
Tsk tsk tsk, you're being naive, Ata-chan.
"I told you, I'm going to spoil you today. Parents and children really need to touch each other like this. This warmth and the slight weight on my arms as I hold my child express my love."
Even Ata-chan will feel somewhat relieved, right?
"Hmm, I see..."
Ata-chan, looking embarrassed, tightly gripped my chest.
Moreover, it's sized for a 3-year-old, so it fits snugly.
What is this cute creature? Are you trying to kill it? Yes, yes, do more.
"I've already asked Roman to handle the Rayshift, so let's head to a peaceful grassland where there are no enemies."
She probably heard the story from Da Vinci-chan.
The doctor who readily agreed to do it is undoubtedly the man best suited to doing odd jobs within Chaldea.
I'm complimenting you, okay?
So, we've arrived at our destination, and the weather's great!
"So, what are you going to do? Hunting?"
"No, it's 2015 now. It's definitely not the time to be hunting with kids anymore. Here, take this."
"Is this a glove and a baseball?"
"That's right, playing catch. It's one of the essential tools for strengthening the bond between children and parents."
"Games would have been fine, but Ata-chan prefers playing outside, right?"
"Well... but this is my first time experiencing something like this, so I'm a little confused..."
"Okay, okay, don't think about anything complicated."
Right now, Ata-chan is just a child, so she should just enjoy herself and follow her emotions.
Alright, let's have a blast! Come on, Ata-chan!
"I, I understand! Please!"
Ata-chan has such a great personality, I really love her.
Wow, as expected of an Archer-class player, he has great control. His pitching is excellent, I'd say. He's going to be a great pitcher.
It seems like we could even form a baseball team within Chaldea.
"Huh?"
While I was thinking about something so trivial, the ball slipped out of my hand.
However, as expected of a hunter raised in the great outdoors, he caught it without any trouble.
Wow, that was an incredible jump! What's with that little girl? (shocked).
"Heh heh, what's wrong, Dad? Are you just out of control?"
Ata-chan looks at me proudly, her ears twitching.
Suddenly, I had an idea and called out to Ata-chan.
"Ata-chan, Ata-chan. Come over here without throwing the ball."
"?"
Ata-chan then runs over to my side.
"Hmmmm! Just like my child! Nice catch! Good job, good job, good job!"
I immediately hugged him, stroked his head, and rubbed my cheek against his.
"Hmm, nnn! Whoa!? Ahaha! That tickles, Tosama!? W-what's wrong all of a sudden?"
"It's common sense to praise well-behaved children."
Praise and encourage even the smallest things.
Praising well and disciplining effectively are the fundamentals of parenting (confidently).
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Dad's parenting philosophy is really insightful..."
Yeah, I know I might get criticized for talking about parenting with such a know-it-all attitude when I'm not even an adult yet... but Ata-chan looks happy, so please forgive me, her tail is wagging like crazy.
Well, playing with kids like this is good practice, I suppose.
What, you're asking about a rehearsal for what? It's obviously for my own children, don't make me say it, it's embarrassing.
In the end, I threw the ball saying, "Go on, fetch it!", and praised and petted Ata-chan as she caught it and brought it back to me... and we played like that for a while.
Partway through, I started to think, "Isn't this more like a pet owner relationship than a parent-child relationship?", but Ata-chan seemed to be having fun, so I decided to ignore it.
Part 2: Let's give them milk.
After our game of catch was over, we returned to the master's room, and it seemed it was time for dinner. I asked a question with a sense of unease.
"Hey, what is that you're holding in your hand, Dad?"
"It's a baby bottle."
...Ah, I see. I had a bad feeling about this ever since the bib was placed over me...but I'm not stupid. Given my current situation being held by my master, I could easily imagine what was going to happen.
"And now it's time for feeding. Drink lots and grow big and strong!"
"W-Wait! Even with this body, breastfeeding is still embarrassing, mmm! Ngh!"
"Don't worry about the little things, don't worry about them."
Right now, Ata-chan is just a child, so it's okay to just relax and let things happen without thinking about anything.
Oops, some milk is spilling from your mouth! Here, let me wipe it away.
I let my master do as he pleased, wiping the milk from around my mouth with the bib around my neck.
Now that things have come to this, resistance is probably pointless... This guy is the type who will absolutely see things through once he's decided to do something.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm, slurp, slurp, slurp..."
Giving up, it sucks milk from the bottle it's holding in its mouth.
...However, when the baby is held in a cradle, wiped with a bib, and drinks milk from a bottle...
It really makes me feel like I've become a child again.
The master is looking at me with a truly amused expression.
He went to the trouble of warming the milk to body temperature and being considerate of my position; he must be serious about spoiling me like a real parent. What a thoughtful man he is...
---Ah, that's a bit of a relief.
≪Part 3: Let's take a bath≫
Right now, Ata-chan's smooth, flat body is in front of the bathroom mirror.
And behind them was me, with a towel wrapped around my waist.
The mirror reflects the image of Ata-chan, completely naked with a red face and a shampoo cap on her head...
Hmm, of course there's no hair growing there.
"What's wrong, Ata-chan? You've been so quiet lately."
"Well... I thought I'd just go with the flow now that I've come this far, but even so, I still feel embarrassed..."
"There's absolutely no need to be embarrassed."
"We're just a father and daughter here. It's a common sight to see parents and children taking a bath together. If you want, you can even poke this thing of mine and say, 'Yay, Daddy's elephant is so big!'"
"No way!"
Really? They say children are curious and innocent, so it doesn't seem like it would be a problem...
"Okay, let's start by washing your hair. I think it'll be fine since you're wearing a hat, but it's dangerous if it gets in your eyes, so please close your eyes, Ata-chan."
"Yes"
Rinse with water, then apply shampoo.
Wow, Ata-chan's hair is so smooth and silky...
"Are there any itchy spots?"
"...Mmm! Mmm... Ahhh, it's okay... It feels good... Mmm... Father."
Ata-chan seems to get startled from time to time.
Well, I guess the cause is my ears; I can't help but touch them when I wash my hair.
But of course, I won't miss a thing. I'll make sure to clean every nook and cranny of your ears thoroughly.
For now, let's gently massage it in using all of our fingertips.
"Eh! W-wait a moment, mmm! D-daddy, nooo! Don't wash that part, ahh, aaah!"
Okay, I'm done shampooing, so I'll rinse the lather off completely.
Next, let's wash your body, (Ata-chan has a melting look on her face, but don't worry about it, don't worry about it).
Well, you could use a body towel, but... a baby's delicate skin is quite sensitive, so washing with bare hands and lather might actually be better, probably, maybe.
Now, let's start from the slender neck, move up to the shoulders, then to the arms, and carefully apply the foam from between the fingers to the fingertips.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm... Wait, wait, I'm sensitive now, it tickles, mmm! Ah, ah..."
Next, I'll slide the foam up and down your armpits—around your flat stomach—and then massage your chest...oh, there are some areas that are a little hard...I don't discriminate. I'll clean every part of your body.
First, make sure to thoroughly soak it with foam.
"...Ahhh, oh, my chest, aaah, mmm! Meow! Ahh, it's hard and crunchy..."
Next, start from the tips of the toes, then massage the area around the legs and the surface of the buttocks. Then, insert your hands firmly into the cleft and gently slide them up and down.
Naturally, there was no reason to miss the tail that was growing there, so I thoroughly stroked it repeatedly with my soapy hands.
The reaction when I grabbed its tail was far more intense than when I grabbed its ears. The tail is a weak point; that's common knowledge for all of humanity.
"Haa, haa... Fuwaaaah! Th-that far too, ahh, mm, ahhhhh! P-please don't touch my tail... Ah, ah, ahh! Ah!..."
At the end, there's a slurping sound coming from the crotch area, which sounds like some other kind of liquid mixed in, but I'm probably just imagining things.
"...Hee, ahh, there, right now, it's squishy, ah, ahh, aaaahhh!!"
It turned out beautifully and with incredible skill!
I take Ata-chan, who is in a dazed state with unfocused eyes and drooling from her half-open mouth, into the bath.
Eventually, Ata-chan regained consciousness and picked up a bath toy (Dog Paddle Fou-kun: an endless swimming beast that swims forever and ever when you turn the screw, 338 yen).
He asked me a question while we were playing.
"...Surely even parents and children wouldn't go that far?"
"Really? I think it's quite common for parents to wash their young children's bodies, or rather, I think Ata-chan is just overly sensitive..."
"No! It's just that Dad's too good!"
"I see... but when you get a little older, you'll eventually stop taking baths together."
"Is this what they call a rebellious phase? Are you going to say things like, 'Don't wash my clothes with your dad's!'? Hehe."
"That really hits home. I bet it makes you reminisce about how they used to be so innocent..."
"When I grow up, I'm going to marry my daddy!"
"Hahaha, you say such cute things. Daddy is happy."
The two of them continued their silly, lighthearted conversation for a while...
≪Part 4: Let's sleep together≫
"How was your day, Ata-chan?"
"Ah, I'm so exhausted. I think I could fall asleep right now."
"Then that's fine."
"Is that okay?"
We lay together on the bed, and the master, snuggling up next to me, replied with a happy "Ahhh."
"Children play hard, learn hard, eat well, and sleep until they're exhausted. And with their parents watching over them, children can feel safe and confident trying new things."
And Ata-chan... you had fun, didn't you?
――――Ah, yes, it was certainly fun.
I had forgotten that I was a war hero, and I truly felt like just an ordinary child.
It was a rare and precious experience, and it reaffirmed my wish that such a warm world should be commonplace.
I have nothing but gratitude for the master.
"Goodnight for today... Once Ata-chan falls asleep, Dad will sleep here too."
As he said this, he gently stroked my head and hummed a lullaby.
Even though they're not particularly skilled, for some reason, they make you feel safe and comfortable enough to entrust everything to them.
It's warm, so warm, so cozy... My eyelids are getting heavy, and sleepiness is coming over me...
Tomorrow, Ata-chan will disappear, and I will become the heroic spirit Atalanta.
But...for now...just for now.
Maybe it's okay to have a good dream...