Chapter 41:
Sora no Kiseki: A Bittersweet Return to the Stars
Heavy breathing echoed through the hospital room at midnight.
"Pant... pant..."
Enduring the pain of labor, I look up at Yuta holding my hand beside me. His face is a mixture of concern and anticipation. My face has probably lost its usual composure.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes... it's just... more painful... than I imagined."
At my words, Yuta's face shows a guilty expression.
"I'm sorry, I can't do anything..."
"Don't be silly. Just having you here is enough for me."
Every time a wave of pain surges through me, I squeeze Yuta's hand tightly. Strangely enough, this pain doesn't feel unpleasant. Rather, my heart fills with emotion at witnessing the miracle of nurturing and giving birth to life as a human being.
"Ah, that's right!"
Yuta suddenly stands up and takes out his smartphone.
"There's a video message from Ume. Do you want to watch it?"
On the screen appears Ume with her flashy makeup and vibrant clothes. I can't help but smile at her characteristic style.
"Sora! You must be fighting through contractions right now, right? But don't worry, you'll definitely be fine! After all, you were the Ice Queen!"
"Same as always..."
"Oh, right! Ren, say something too!"
The screen shakes, and Ren appears with an embarrassed expression.
"I'm... I'm rooting for you... Sora."
"Hehe... still shy, I see."
Just then, a sudden intense pain strikes me. I desperately try to suppress a scream.
"Doctor!"
Responding to Yuta's voice, the attending physician rushes into the room.
"Yes, it's almost time. Sora-san, let's do our best."
"Yes..."
At that moment, something unexpected happens. The room's lights suddenly go out, plunging everything into darkness.
"The emergency power!?"
As the doctor's voice echoes, faint moonlight streams through the window.
"It's okay, I'll..."
In the darkness, Yuta's voice calms me. He turns on his smartphone's light, providing minimal illumination.
"We apologize. Until the emergency power switches on..."
The nurse's voice trails off. By the window, a mysterious presence appears.
Bathed in moonlight, a gray shadow emits a divine light. Those clear eyes hold deep compassion, and the entire room is enveloped in a mysterious sense of peace.
"Ah..."
Suddenly, the pain starts to recede from my body. Instead, I feel a warm force embracing my entire being.
"Sora-san, just a little more!"
Following the doctor's voice, I gather all my strength. At that moment, a small cry echoes through the hospital room.
"Congratulations. It's a healthy baby girl."
Soon the emergency power activates, brightening the room. The mystical light by the window has already vanished, replaced by a single gray feather quietly resting there.
"Yuka..."
In my arms, a small life conveys its definite warmth.
"Wow... she's beautiful."
Yuta whispers in a voice trembling with emotion. Just then, the baby firmly grasps my finger with her tiny hand. This small grip fills my heart with an emotion I've never felt before.
---
"Who would have thought the power would go out?"
"It really surprised me. But that light we saw then... it gave me such a strange feeling."
A few days after leaving the hospital, I'm talking with Yuta in our living room. Yuka is sleeping peacefully in my arms.
"You know..."
"Hmm?"
"At that time, I had this nostalgic feeling. Like... someone was watching over us."
Just then, the doorbell rings.
"Heeey! Sora!"
Along with Ume's voice, lively presences approach from the entrance.
"Sora-chan!" an excited voice continues. "I saw the baby's photos on social media! Such an adorable little angel...!"
Takashi bursts into the living room, an enormous bouquet in hand. Ume and Ren peek in behind him.
"Geez, Takashi! Don't run!"
Ume peers in excitedly. Takashi also raises his SLR camera with trembling hands.
"I must capture this historic moment...!"
"Takashi, no flash."
Before Ren can finish his warning, Yuka wakes up. But contrary to expectations, she doesn't cry; instead, she reaches out happily toward Ume.
"My, she's not shy at all."
"What an unusual child."
At Ren's words, I smile slightly.
"Yes... I wonder what kind of person she'll grow up to be."
"Oh, she'll definitely become someone wonderful."
Ume says while holding Yuka. Takashi continues clicking the shutter while wiping away tears of joy.
"Oh, that reminds me! We too..."
She steals a glance at Ren.
"We've been thinking about having a child soon..."
Ren's face suddenly turns red. Seeing this, Takashi lets out a small "Ooh...!" of admiration, and I can't help but smile.
At that moment, Ten starts purring quietly by the window. His eyes hold a gentleness that seems to be watching over this moment of happiness.
Yuka suddenly looks toward Ten and shows her first smile. While surprised by this unexpected reaction, we all feel our hearts warmed by this small miracle brought about by the birth of a new life.
"Hey, I'm definitely coming to Yuka-chan's Shichi-Go-San ceremony!"
"Leave the photography to me!"
"Come on, she was just born..."
"Geez! Ren, read the room!"
As the lively conversation continues, I smile quietly. The former Ice Queen now sits at the center of a warm family circle. I truly feel that this happiness must be one of the miracles of living as a human being.
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