Taking care of a child...was more peaceful than I thought?

I mean, she does still annoy me but compared to Gorn and the others? She's basically harmless.

"Hm...Kio!"

"No, too common."

"Uh... Pinky?"

"What the fuck, what is she a dog?"

"Hey, Language!"

My clones, Uno(the missing one) as well as Dos, Tres, and Quatro have been bickering and coming up with names for the kid.

Right now, I'm having a staring contest with the child. Her sitting on the table, her clothes a floral dress we got from Serena and me sitting on the chair in front of her wearing a dark blue female style hakama.

"Sparkle?" Quatro suggests, twirling an imaginary mustache like some mad scientist.

"No. Absolutely not," I say, narrowing my eyes.

The kid, unbothered by the chaos, kicks her tiny legs on the table, her curious gaze fixed on me. She tilts her head, her big, innocent eyes staring me down as if trying to unearth the mysteries of the universe. Or maybe she's wondering why I haven't offered her another cookie.

Yeah, I made some cookie's for her when we bought her floral dress and my hakama. Maybe some japanese people are here too? I mean how on earth would these clothes be here if not?

"Okay, what about Blade?" says Dos, her voice dripping with exaggerated coolness. "She'll grow up and become a badass warrior with a name like that."

"She's seven," I snap. "And a *Blade* sounds like she's starring in a bad action movie."

"Okay, fine. How about Artemis?" offers Tres, adjusting her imaginary glasses like some intellectual scholar. "A name from the myths, you know grace, and power."

"Do I look like I have time to raise a goddess?"

Quatro slaps the table, standing up dramatically. "Then I propose Snuggles! It's ironic and adorable!"

There's a collective groan, including one from me.

"Snuggles?" I repeat, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Do you want her to get bullied?"

Very far fetched, but I do plan on creating a school here sometime in the future for her and the monster kids

Quatro shrugs unapologetically. "Maybe it'll build character."

"Right. Because that worked so well for you," mutters Dos, earning a sharp glare from Quatro and making me wince.

Yeah, I remember getting bullied before for only having a mother. I didn't care but everytime somebody talks about things like that, it reminds me of her...

I guess even if they are me that doesn't mean they understand what happened, huh?

Do they have like, only the memories but not the emotions I felt back then?

"Enough." I cut them off with a sharp wave of my hand. The clones quiet down, though I can still feel their collective disappointment hanging in the air. I turn my attention back to the kid, who has somehow managed to balance a cookie on her nose like a seal.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Alright, tiny menace," I say, leaning forward on my elbows. "What do you want to be called? Got any preferences? Cool nicknames? Weird hobbies we can name you after?"

She blinks at me, the cookie sliding off her nose and landing with a soft plop on the table. Then, without breaking eye contact, she picks it up and takes a massive bite.

"Helpful," I mutter. If she wasn't so cute I would've left her with Leah and Serena instead.

"Maybe she doesn't need a name," says Diez, having decided to grace us with her presence after I told her to stay in the kid's shadow. She's leaning against the doorway, arms crossed her eyes flickering over the child.

Hm?

"Oh, look who finally decided to show up," I say. "What's the matter, Diez? Afraid to bond with the kid?"

She rolled her eyes. "I've been busy, unlike you lot sitting here playing *Name That Child*."

"And what exactly were you busy with? Last I checked you were the one playing with the tiny menace here." I ask suspiciously.

"Stuff."

Before I can press her further, the kid interrupts by pointing at her. "Shadow Man."

The room goes dead silent.

"...What?" says Diez, her *composure* cracking just slightly.

"You," she says, jabbing her tiny finger toward my clone again. "Shadow Man."

The clones burst out laughing, Quatro nearly falling out of her chair.

"Oh, this is perfect!" Quatro wheezes, clutching her sides. "It must be because you're always in her shadow unlike Nueve who often goes and play with us!"

Even I can't suppress the smirk tugging at my lips. "Well, Shadow Man, looks like you've made quite the impression."

Diez glares at the kid, who is now munching on her cookie with a self-satisfied grin but then hurriedly hid it. "That's not my name," she says flatly.

"It is now," I say, leaning back in my chair. "You might as well embrace it."

"Focus," snaps Diez, redirecting the conversation. "If we're keeping her around, she needs a proper name. Something practical, not ridiculous."

What's wrong with her? She was so easygoing back in the dungeon and before I put her in Mika's shadow, did something happen?

The clones and I exchange skeptical looks. "Practical? What, like Clipboard?"

Diez's face darkened. "You're impossible."

As the bickering starts up again, the kid hops off the table and waddles over to me. She tugs on the sleeve of my hakama, her tiny hands surprisingly strong for someone her size.

"What?" I ask, glancing down at her.

She tilts her head, studying me like I'm the most perplexing puzzle she's ever seen. Then, with all the confidence in the world, she says, "Mama."

The room freezes.

"...What did she just say?" asks Dos, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mama," she repeats, tugging harder on my sleeve.

The clones erupt into chaos.

"Oh, this is gold!" howls Quatro, practically rolling on the floor. "You're her mom now! Congrats!"

"Shut up!" I snap, my face heating up. "She doesn't know what she's saying! And if she calls me Mama, then you guys are too! You're basically me!"

"Seems pretty clear to me," says Tres, smirking. "Guess you're officially parent material. And we don't care!"

"She is not calling me that!" I protest, but the kid has already climbed onto my lap, snuggling against me like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"Aw, look at you," says Dos, mockingly wiping away a fake tear. "All grown up and raising a kid. I'm so proud."

"I hate all of you," I mutter, but my voice lacks its usual venom. The kid is warm and soft, her small frame fitting perfectly against mine. It's... weirdly nice.

Diez, the now voice of reason, clears her throat. "If she's calling you Mama, she's going to expect you to act like one. Are you ready for that responsibility?"

"Absolutely not," I say immediately.

The kid, apparently sensing the tension, looks up at me with those big, doe-like eyes. "Mama?"

And just like that, I'm defeated (┳Д┳)

"Fine," I grumble, slumping in my chair. "But we're still giving you a real name."

The clones cheer, already throwing out more ridiculous suggestions. "How about Victory? Or Trouble! Or—oh! Pinky Snuggles!"

I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose again. "Someone kill me now."

The kid giggles, and despite everything, I can't help but smile. Yeah, taking care of a child isn't so bad after all.

As long as I survive the naming process, that is.

---

By the time the chaos dies down, we settle on a name that's not too absurd but still feels right: Mika. Short, simple, and easy to yell when she inevitably gets herself into trouble.

"Alright, Mika," I say, ruffling her hair. "Welcome to the family!"

She beams up at me, her grin infectious.

The clones, meanwhile, are already plotting their next big project—teaching Mika how to prank me.

Taking care of a child might be more peaceful than dealing with Gorn and the others, but with these idiots around? It's definitely not going to be boring.

And honestly? I think I'm okay with that.

Little theater:

*Mika is sitting on the table, scribbling on paper while the clones are cleaning up the room.*

Dos: "Mika, what are you drawing?"

Mika *seriously*: "You."

Dos *peeking*: "Why do I look like a potato with legs?"

Mika: "Because you are!"