Big White, bewildered, couldn’t fathom why her master had lost his composure so completely.
“Master,” she explained, “the eggshell is actually an integral part of me. Its diminutive size was merely a result of my incomplete absorption process earlier.”
Of course.
This was a lie.
The truth was, Aya Tone’s mischievous act of forcefully injecting an overwhelming surge of magic had proven too much for Big White, who had burst prematurely from the egg, resulting in her underdeveloped state.
Had she hatched naturally, the eggshell would have dissolved into garments, gracefully adorning her form, rather than leaving her utterly exposed.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
The mere thought of facing his daughter’s indignant, pouting face tomorrow sent a wave of dread through Aya Tone.
He knew just how eagerly Little Aya Jiu had been anticipating the hatching of that white egg.
Originally, the scattered eggshells on the floor might have offered some semblance of an explanation.
Now…
‘Oh, no! I’m doomed!’
“Do not fret, Master! I shall take care of everything!”
Big White tentatively squeezed her newly formed, small hand, still unfamiliar with its shape.
Having abruptly transformed into a human, her five-fingered palm momentarily confounded her; she couldn’t distinguish one digit from another.
Her fingers twitched erratically, nearly sparking a mutiny amongst themselves.
Aya Tone couldn’t stifle a soft chuckle, a burst of laughter escaping him.
The anxiety that had gripped his heart eased ever so slightly.
“Big White, perhaps you should familiarize yourself with your new body before tackling anything else.”
It was true, Big White’s rather foolish demeanor struck him as surprisingly familiar.
It was as if…
He had seen it somewhere before.
But where exactly?
“Big White, whose form are you mimicking? You’re adorably foolish…”
‘…’
Big White regarded Aya Tone with a serious gaze, and only after confirming his master wasn’t jesting, did she speak, a hint of complexity in her tone. “Master, please don’t jest. The magic within me originates from you, and thus, my outward appearance…”
“Naturally, it mirrors you, my creator.”
Had there been a third person present in the living room, they would have undoubtedly noticed.
Aside from the ample curves adorning her chest and the hue of her pupils, Big White’s appearance bore a striking seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Aya Tone.
Even her silver hair and height were virtually identical to his.
“Heh heh, Big White, you truly are a comedian…”
Big White remained silent, merely retrieving a mirror and presenting it to Aya Tone.
‘…’
As he gazed at his reflection, the smile on Aya Tone’s lips abruptly froze, chilling instantly.
Indeed, it was adorably foolish…
“I’ll leave tomorrow to you. I’m going to bed…”
When faced with embarrassment, one often seeks to escape reality, and Aya Tone was clearly no exception.
With a casual wave of his hand, he immediately reverted from his transformed state.
The embarrassment belonged to Aya Tone (female); it had nothing to do with Aya Tone (male).
At this point, it was best to simply wash up and go to sleep.
If Little Jiu truly started asking questions tomorrow…
He was still her father, after all! The head of the household!
How could he possibly let his daughter walk all over him?!
If she truly pressed him, then he would!
‘…he would just have to offer a sincere apology…’
‘Heh heh, Little Jiu is so adorable, she’ll surely forgive her dad, right~’
Aya Tone, a foolish smile plastered on his face, ambled back to his room.
“Goodnight, Master!”
After seeing Aya Tone disappear into his room, Big White, having tidied the house for the first time in what felt like ages, retired to her own quarters.
The night passed in silence.
****
The next morning, bright and early.
Aya Tone, deep in slumber, was jolted awake by Little Aya Jiu’s cries.
He reached beside him, only to find the space utterly empty.
“Little Jiu! What’s happened?!”
Scrambling out of bed, Aya Tone, his hair a disheveled bird’s nest, stumbled into the living room.
The sight that greeted him only deepened the fog of confusion in his still-sleepy eyes.
Little Aya Jiu was clutching a cracked egg in her hands, and if his eyes weren’t deceiving him, it was precisely the same egg Big White had absorbed the previous night.
But… how could this be…
Had time reversed itself?
No, wait! How had Little Jiu managed to wake up before him?!
‘It’s all over!’
The confusion in Aya Tone’s eyes instantly dissolved, replaced by a wave of utter despair.
“Master, are you awake?”
Just then, Big White poked her head out from the kitchen, still in her youthful, maiden-like form.
The apron draped across her front was gently lifted by her ample curves, proudly showcasing her ‘assets’.
Aya Tone swiftly pulled Big White aside, whispering urgently into her ear, “What’s wrong with Little Jiu?! And what’s with that eggshell?”
Startled by the sudden tug, Big White stumbled, her back hitting the wall, and an involuntary, delicate gasp escaped her cherry lips.
For a moment, she imagined her master had abruptly pinned her against the wall, intending to unleash his passion upon her, and a blush crept across her pretty face.
She was merely a magical construct, after all; such things were impossible for her…
Yet, as Aya Tone’s question registered, the crimson flush on her cheeks receded as swiftly as an ebbing tide.
Clearing her throat, she replied, “Master, did I not promise that I would handle everything?”
Having been created specifically to care for Little Jiu, Big White understood her young mistress far better than even Aya Tone, her own father.
She knew her eating habits, her temperament, everything.
“That eggshell is a part of my body, you see, so it can naturally be controlled by me and rematerialize.”
Consequently, Big White had meticulously calculated Little Jiu’s wake-up time and orchestrated this ‘accident’.
Children, with their expansive imaginations, would soon be distracted by other things.
Such as herself, for instance.
Aya Tone: ‘…’
Had he just heard Big White utter a sound she shouldn’t have?
But before he could press her further.
“Papa~ the baby in the egg is gone.”
Little Aya Jiu, clutching the cracked eggshell, bumped into Aya Tone’s heel with what seemed like an innate tracking ability.
Her small face, pouting coyly, rubbed ceaselessly against Aya Tone’s thigh.
Little Aya Jiu, having just woken up, had rushed into the living room full of hope, only to discover the cracked eggshell. Believing the baby inside had vanished, she had let out that startled cry.
Her papa had told her last night that the baby inside the egg was almost ready to hatch, and she had been excited for ages.
Now, having accidentally fallen asleep, the baby had apparently broken free and flown away, and she hadn’t even gotten a glimpse.
‘Wuwuwu—’
His body stiffened as Little Jiu suddenly clung to his thigh, and he immediately shot a meaningful glance at Big White.
‘[Quickly, soothe Little Jiu for me!]’
Big White blinked her inky eyes. ‘[Received!]’
“Little Jiu, why are you crying?” Big White instantly materialized behind Aya Tone, bending down gently to comfort the sobbing little darling.
“Big White?” Little Aya Jiu sniffled, her pitiful little face peeking out from behind Aya Tone’s pant leg.
Just as Aya Tone braced himself for his daughter to be frightened by this ‘stranger’ Big White, something incredible happened.
Little Aya Jiu’s eyes reddened, and her small hands released Aya Tone’s pant leg, launching herself directly into Big White’s embrace.
“Big White~ Little Jiu missed you so much~” she mumbled.
As she spoke, her small head burrowed into Big White’s soft chest, rubbing against it incessantly.
Aya Tone’s eyes went wide with disbelief.
This?!?
Was this even possible?
Only after Little Aya Jiu had calmed down somewhat and disengaged from Big White’s embrace did Aya Tone have a chance to lean closer to his daughter.
“Little Jiu, how did you recognize Big White?” he whispered.
Big White’s current appearance, if not entirely different, certainly bore no resemblance to her previous form.
Did his daughter possess some extraordinary talent?
“Papa~ Big White is Big White,” Little Aya Jiu replied, a shimmering tear still clinging to the corner of her eye, her small expression tinged with confusion.
It was as if she found it strange that Aya Tone hadn’t recognized Big White.
“Uh… Little Jiu is right, Big White is Big White…”
Aya Tone was momentarily speechless, yet he couldn’t think of any point to refute.
Forget it, as long as Little Jiu was happy.
What transpired next was exactly as Big White had foreseen.
Children’s minds were incredibly simple.
Just as Big White had been replaced by the white egg for a month, Big White’s return naturally made Little Aya Jiu forget all about the white egg.
Everything returned to normalcy once more.
Congratulations… clap, clap, clap.
Aya Tone: ‘Heh heh, it’s great that I’m not involved…’
…
Huh, I guess she can sense the magic or something.