Chapter 128: Persuasion
The option brought forth by Hisui.
I decided to place my hopes on that possibility.
To conceive a child and transfer Alicia’s soul into it before giving birth—that was the only way to save her soul, which was on the verge of vanishing.
But for that to happen, the cooperation of my family was absolutely essential. So, I decided to return home to convince them.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Alice.”
Hisui had changed from her shrine maiden outfit into her everyday clothes and returned. She said she’d come with me to explain things to my parents. Her declaration that she would fully support me seemed to be more than just words.
While I was truly grateful, a part of me also felt guilty—as if I were taking advantage of her feelings.
“I sent a summary of the situation to your family by email. It’s better than springing this kind of thing on them out of nowhere, right?”
“Thanks, Hisui.”
I was uncomfortable explaining the whole child-conceiving part myself, so her consideration really helped. It would be easier for my parents too, having some time to think it over and talk things through beforehand.
…But still, what if they’re against it?
In the other world, people fawned over me, calling me a hero or a savior. But here, I’m nothing more than a powerless kid.
Right now, I can’t even provide for myself, let alone raise a child.
As I was thinking that, Hisui gently pulled me into an embrace.
I fit perfectly in her arms.
“Don’t worry. Your uncle and aunt truly care about Alicia. They’ve gone to such great lengths to try and find a way to save her—remember?”
“...You really think so?”
“I do. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Even through the thick fabric of her sweater, I could feel her softness wrapping around me. Maybe it was her fabric softener—there was a faint, pleasant scent tickling my nose that made me instinctively relax.
“…If they’re absolutely against it, then just go ahead and get pregnant anyway. I doubt they’d go as far as telling you to get an abortion.”
“Th-that’s a bit extreme…”
“You want to save Alicia, don’t you? Then you need to be prepared to do at least that much.”
She gently chided me as I hesitated.
“First, set your goal. Then figure out how to achieve it. If something truly matters to you, you can’t afford to be picky about the means. If you waver, you won’t be able to convince your uncle and aunt.”
“…Got it.”
Maybe I’m just feeling a little too overwhelmed by everything.
I closed my eyes, took a slow, deep breath, and calmed myself.
The whole time, Hisui gently stroked my head as she held me.
“Alice, listen. You don’t need to resign yourself to unhappiness. You decided to take action in order to be happy, didn’t you? Don’t lose sight of that.”
Her words hit me hard.
I’d been thinking that as long as I could save Alicia, I didn’t care what happened to me—even if it meant suffering.
“Yeah… You’re right, Hisui.”
But that’s not okay.
My parents would never allow me to sacrifice my own happiness.
I chose this future so I could be happy together with Alicia—and I must never forget that.
“…Thank you. I’m okay now.”
I shifted and pulled away from Hisui.
The fog in my mind had cleared, and my thoughts were sharp and steady again.
“That’s a good look on you.”
Hisui smiled beautifully as she said it.
And this time, I smiled back at her—not as an act of bravado, but from the heart.
When I returned home and entered the living room, my parents and Yuna were already there, seated around the dining table, waiting for me.
Hisui and I greeted them, then took our seats at the table.
“I read your email, Hisui-chan. I never imagined there was such a method… Good on you for figuring it out.”
The first to speak after we sat down was my father.
“I often observed pregnant women at the hospital when researching souls. When I learned about Soul Manipulators, it just came to me.”
“I see… So, Alice, what are you planning to do?”
“I’ll do it. I’ll give birth to Alicia and raise her.”
I responded to my father’s question without hesitation.
“…Alice, do you truly understand what that means?”
My mother asked me gently.
“Not really… I mean, I don’t fully understand it yet. But I am prepared.”
I answered honestly.
What I knew about pregnancy and raising a child was barely at the level of a middle school health class—and the “how-to” part was vague knowledge gleaned from adult magazines at best.
“Giving birth to a child means becoming a parent. And as a parent, you have to live with your child’s well-being as your top priority.”
Becoming a parent…
Of course, if I’m going to have a child, that goes without saying. But until she said it out loud, for some reason, that concept hadn’t truly clicked with me. Now that it had, the weight of that reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Are you prepared to take full responsibility as a parent?”
“I am…!”
Even so, I answered immediately.
I don’t feel ready. I’m not confident at all.
But I won’t waver!
“While other kids your age are out enjoying the most carefree time of their lives, you’ll be stuck inside, barely able to go out, adjusting to your child’s schedule around the clock. Are you ready for that?”
“If I can see Alicia again, I don’t care about any of that.”
“The relationship between two partners who support and love each other, and the bond between a parent who protects and gives love and their child—it’s completely different. Even if Alicia comes back, your relationship with her will never be the same.”
“…Yeah, I know.”
“A child will one day leave their parents behind. If Alicia is born as a child, then someday she’ll find someone she loves and leave you too… Even knowing that, are you still saying you want to give birth to her?”
Even so… I still…!
“I want to live with Alicia. I want her to be happy. Even if I can’t be the one standing beside her—I still want to give her life. Dad, Mom… please give me your permission to have Alicia. Please help me.”
I bowed my head deeply, asking for my parents’ blessing.
“…”
For a moment, Mom and Dad were silent. It seemed like they were having a conversation through their eyes alone.
Eventually, my father opened his mouth.
“…We understand how you feel. Alicia is family. We want to save her just as much as you do. So if you’re that determined, we won’t try to stop you.”
“Does that mean…”
“It means we’re giving you permission. And we promise to fully support you through the pregnancy and raising the child.”
“Th-thank you! Dad, Mom!”
“But…”
My father hesitated a little before continuing.
“What about the other party? You can’t have a child alone, right?”
“W-well…”
“Could it be… Alice, you already have someone?”
“N-no, I don’t have anyone like that! …Actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
I explained artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization to him. That it would be difficult to receive such treatments here in Japan right now.
“So, I was hoping, through your connections, to get it done overseas.”
The Eastern European country where I was officially born. I don’t know all the details, but Dad said he had some pull there.
He even forged my identity, so I thought he could manage to get artificial insemination arranged somehow.
“That’s… going to be difficult.”
But Dad’s reply was discouraging.
“In that country, for religious reasons, only natural pregnancies are accepted. The technology itself isn’t even available, even illegally. And even if you try other countries, at your age it’s nearly impossible to get anything legal. I’ll look into illegal options, but I doubt it will be feasible.”
“I see…”
I was troubled. My plan had fallen through.
At this rate, there was only one way left for me to get pregnant.
“So, what do you plan to do then?”
“Alice…”
Everyone was watching me with worried faces.
Since I had thought artificial insemination would solve everything, it felt impossible to admit I hadn’t really thought this through.
“S-sorry… I need to use the bathroom.”
I stood up and excused myself.
Without hesitation, I opened the living room door and quickly stepped into the hallway.
I have to figure out what to do next.
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