A huge chalk mansion overlooking the beach at Iowa.

　The ivy-twined exterior accentuates the antiquated atmosphere.
　This mansion is the pride of the Iowa Nourishment Area's first-class accommodations.
　Cecily had heard of it through hearsay, but this is the first time she's ever stepped foot inside it, too.

　Passing through the entrance supported by elegantly carved pillars, Cecily and the others entered the mansion.
　In stark contrast to the impressions of the outside world, the interior of the mansion was luxurious.
　The person in charge led them through the formalities right away.

I've heard about the people who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, but is Sagara Kurohiko-sama...?

　Cecily replies with her usual smile.

'Sagara Kurohiko is due to arrive a little late.

　The person in charge of the slack-jawed face is pouting.

"Hmm, how can I help you?
'What?　Oh, I'm sorry.
'Don't worry. He will be met by us, and he will not be bothered by you.
Well, I'm very sorry.

　The gaze of the person in charge went to Kurohiko, who was being held by Currier.

'By the way, where's the baby?'
Is this the boy?　This girl--
'Oh?　There's a cloth wrapped around my left eye... could it be that person, Sagara Kurohiko-sama...?

　The eye patch wasn't the right size, so he was now wearing a cloth around his left eye.

'What?　Oh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's got mother's milk in its eyes and--
Breast milk?
Of course, it's not ours!

　Cecily was a little impatient, cursed, she thought.
　But in order to avoid further suspicion here, she immediately mentioned the setting she had made up.



　Cecily calculates the most effective position for the most upward glance and then makes a pleading expression.

'You don't mind, do you?'

　The face of the person in charge grew redder and redder.

Okay.........is there a problem?
Thank you very much.
Honestly, I'll get you some baby food if you need it.

　Cecily squeezed her charge's hand.

'Thank you.'

　I was a little nervous about the effect since the other guy was a woman, but it seemed to work to make a good impression.
　Currier gives her a look that says, I'll do well.
　After giving Currier a proud smile, Cecily received an explanation from the person in charge regarding her stay.




　The room they were staying in was the back room on the second floor.
　The luggage was carried up the stairs by someone from the establishment, and Currier took it all from there.
　So Cecily is now holding a sleeping Kurohiko who is sleeping peacefully.
　Seeing that there were no people around, Currier said.

'It's a good thing you were granted permission to stay in the same room as Kurohiko.
Yes. I'm relieved to hear that you've prepared a meal for the baby.
But your coloration is useful because it works for the same s*x.
Hmm, I think Currier would be more effective if you're of the same s*x, but...Currier, you're not good at that kind of thing, are you?
Well, yeah, well, I'm sorry I left it up to you.
Don't apologize. I'm very good at what I do, so...

　I unlocked the door and entered the room.
　In terms of size, it's about the same size as the headmaster's office of the school.
　It's not just the size of the headmaster's office, but also the bedroom, which is about the same size as this room.

It's a far cry from the girls' lodgings.

　Currier, who had put his luggage down, let out his thoughts.

'She says it's terrible to compare the accommodations in Iowa with the women's quarters.
Duh!

　Kurohiko reaches for Currier's chest and flaps it.

'Hmm?　Are you awake?　What's the matter, Blackie?
Augh!
Whoa!　What are you doing?

　Kurohiko grabs the fabric of Currier's chest and pulls it languidly.
　Cecily stops him.

'Hey, Kurohiko!　Stop it!　You see, Currier doesn't like it!
"Mutual, mutual, mutual!　Duh!　Kyah!
Hey, Kurohiko!　If you pull that much, you'll tear--oh, my God!

　With a snap, Kurohiko tore the fabric of his chest.
　Currier's inner breastplate peeked out from the torn chest.

'What are you doing, Kurohiko!
'Ahhhh!　Ugh.....

　Kurohiko makes a swimming motion towards Currier's chest.
　Cecily tries to pull away, but Kurohiko doesn't let go of Currier's grip on the fabric of her clothes.
　Fugue, and Kurohiko looks sad.
　Then Currier understands.

''Oh, I see.......you're hungry. It was so sudden, I was so confused I didn't realize it...''

　Currier hides his chest.

'Well, you can't be mad at me for being a baby Kurohiko. But I'm sorry. As I told you in the carriage, I can't breastfeed you, but you don't know how to explain it in words to you now, do you?

　Humph, smiling and sniffing, Currier poked Kurohiko's forehead.

''You're a troubled fellow, you too... hmm?　What's the matter, Cecily?
Why don't you come to me, who's closer by far than Currier?
...Cecily?
'What?　Oh, it's nothing, okay?　Mmmmmm.......well, well!　What do you want to do now?
'First of all, I'll take care of the food for Kurohiko I'll take care of it, can you leave the food arrangements to Cecily?　I'd like to mend my torn clothes if I can.
Okay. But still--
Hmm?
You and I are like a married couple, aren't we?
Huh, you might... hmm?

　Currier raises an eyebrow.

'By the way, in case you're wondering... which one of those is your husband?




　After receiving the baby's food from the institution, Cecily returned to her room.
　She opened the door.

'I got it!　You know what?　This is the meal you've been waiting for, Krohi--

　For a moment, Cecily froze.

'....Co?

　Currier, who is sitting side by side with Kurohiko on the bed, lets out a breath.
　This is the state of affairs, as if to say.
　Kurohiko sucked his fingers and tilted his head.

''Onian-chan is...Cecily, lady?

　A baby, not a baby.
　A slightly grown-up Sagara Kurohiko was there.




'What does this mean, Currier?

　Kurohiko looks up at Currier's face when asked.

''Actually, after you left, Kurohiko's body was enveloped in light again and I was hoping it would return to normal, but as you can see, so...''

　How old is the Kurohiko that Currier looked at, considering his age?
　It's not a baby.
　Is it an age when you can call it an infant?
　It seems that he can speak the language from what he just said as "lady-chan".
　It seems to be able to communicate with each other.
　While pondering, Cecily cuts to the chase, "This is--

''Is it correct to assume that it's returning to normal in stages?
I know.

　The currier is ministering.
　Cecily notices.
　Now Kurohiko was wearing different clothes than when he was a baby.

'What are those clothes?'
Hmm?　Oh, and here's one I made while I was mending my... well, my torn chest, with a random cut of my spare clothes.
Currier is a currier, and he's handy.
When I was traveling by myself, I used to sew up all the frayed and torn spots myself and the eye patch was adjustable, so it was easy to adjust.

　Fidgeting, Kurohiko leaned closer to Currier.

'Hmm?　What's going on?

　Kurohiko smiles at Currier as he chuckles.

'Thank you ... currier, lady.'
!
Isn't Currier's girl amazing?
!!!
...Marie Curie?
...
Huh?
I'll raise her!

　Currier hugs Kurohiko with a mugshot.

''........what a sense of déjà vu.

　Cecily smiled a twitchy smile.
　However, it wasn't hard to understand Currier's feelings.
　The current Kurohiko exudes a different kind of charm than the original Kurohiko.
　It's a strange sensation that makes you want to get involved with it.
　Moreover, in the corner of that sensation is a strange tingle that makes me want to play a little trick on you.

"Muguggh?　Ugh....it hurts...it's so painful...Currier lady...

　Kurohiko, whose face was buried in Currier's cleavage, let out a muffled moan.

''Ha!　I'm sorry!　Are you all right, Kurohiko?
But what's up with you all of a sudden, Currier lady?
"No, no....Kurohiko was just....too much of a dick....so I just... ...
My fault?

　Kurohiko's eyes began to moisten.
　With a look on his face as he struggled to keep his face from crumpling, he said.

'I'm sorry, come... currier, lady.'
No, no!　Wrong!　It's not your fault!　So ... oh!　What can I say?　Cecily!
...
Cecily?

　That second voice, calling his name, sounded different.

'What?'

　Cecily, who was enthralled, came to herself.

''Well, um ... Kurohiko, it's okay, okay?　None of them are angry, okay?　Come here, come here~?
What?
Are you okay?　You can walk by yourself?
Uh, yeah... maybe.

　While you are concerned about Currier, a pompous Kurohiko approaches you from the bed.
　Currier, on the other hand, was extending his hand towards us while saying, "Awwww".

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Cecily bends down and squeezes and pulls Kurohiko into a hug.

'Whoa?　Cecily, little girl...?

　We look at each other and smile at each other.

''Hmm........hmm?　Oh?　What's going on?　What's with your face all puffed up?
Wow, I don't know. I don't know what it is, but being so close to Miss Cecily's face makes my heart beat faster and faster, and it smells soothing. ...
'Chucks, is Kurohiko a sissy now?　Hmmm....maybe I should come closer?　Eh.
Wow!
If I get any closer to you my beating heart will explode?
But it's okay... even if I don't squeezed you... it's okay...
''Hmmm........Kurohiko is great, isn't he?　Ch-chan, you're a boy, right?
Uh-huh.

　Poppin' and patting Kurohiko's head with enthusiasm.
　A pure smile with no evil intent.
　In that smile, there was certainly a trace of Kurohiko's face before this happened.
　Umm, Currier groans in admiration.

''That's great, Cecily.

　'Haha,' chuckles Cecily.

'I don't know if this is the right thing to do, though?　I'm still figuring it out, too.
The right place to explore that is talent.
Yes?　Anyway, Kurohiko now seems to be able to recognize us as "people who know"...?

　Kurohiko is touching the eye patch in his left eye.

'Is your left eye bothering you?'
I don't think I'm blind in my left eye.
Well, that's because...

　Unable to think of how to explain, Cecily searched for words.
　Then Kurohiko said.

'But you know what?　Losing this eye I'm proud to say that I've lost my left eye. I think I lost this eye for the sake of some very important people. Somehow, though.
Oh, Kurohiko...

　The vocabulary seemed a little richer, perhaps because he was pulling the right words out of his former memories.
　Cecily combed Kurohiko's hair with her white hands, stroking it with an affectionate touch.

'Hmm... you make me fall in love with you even when you're tiny.
?
You're a fine man, even though you're small.
Well, I don't know...
?

　Kurohiko is embarrassed by the compliment.

'Well,'

　Cecily stands up.

'Would you like to eat?'
Do you have a diner?
Yeah. Kurohiko--

　Cecily squeezed Kurohiko's fluffy hand with a squeak.

'Do you want me to take you with me?'
'It will be all right if you give us another random reason and we don't call you names in the dining room. We can't leave you alone, either.
Well, I'll do it then. Is Kurohiko hungry?
Uh, yeah ... actually, a little bit.
'Huh, no need to be shy, you know?　Honestly, you can tell me anything you want, okay?
Oh, thank you Cecily, little girl.
Yes, it's great to be able to say thank you, isn't it?　Well.........would you like to go to dinner with me while holding hands?
Yeah!

I think you were more friendly to me when you were a baby.
So we're all equal now.
Mmmm... maybe I chose the wrong word or something.

　Kurohiko left Cecily's hand and went in front of Currier.
　Looking up at Currier, Krahiko said.

'I love you too, Marie Curie, don't I?
!
So don't hate me, all right?
Uh-uh.

　Currier's face was crumbling.
　It was similar to the melting of ice.

'I'll be your lady for the rest of my life!

　Currier squeezed and embraced Kurohiko.

''Ah.........''

　Cecily felt a little left out.