Ch.175Epilogue: Family (4)

Sometimes,

When raising children, there are very, very rare moments that worry me.

Will our children think our family is strange?

It’s not simply about two women being married. In a world where even same-sex couples can have children, I don’t think people would find that too unusual.

But even excluding that basic aspect, our family is quite extraordinary.

One me, with three wives.

A family where just the “couple” already consists of four people.

And we’ve given birth to six children, all of them girls.

Children from other families might find our family strange, and their parents might reject us.

What if our children get teased or ostracized because of us? What if they end up hating me?

With these occasional worries in mind, I’ve tried my best to shower our children with love.

I didn’t want to show them what I was like in my childhood. I didn’t want them to become like I was back then.

“You’re overthinking it.”

One day, when I expressed these concerns to Rose who was visiting our home, she responded as if I was being ridiculous.

Jiyun and Eunha had gone to school, Eunhye and Yeji to kindergarten, so the house was somewhat quiet.

Jia and Jueun were being looked after by Ju-a and Hayun.

I had brought drinks for Rose, Dalia, Delphinium, and Pang Pang who were gathered in the living room, and apparently, I had unconsciously brought up my concerns during our conversation.

“Have the kids ever actually said anything like that? Or shown any signs of thinking that way?”

“…No?”

Rose shrugged at my response.

“Then why worry about it now?”

“That’s right. You can worry about those things when they actually happen. We’ve seen how you all raise your children for so long.”

Dalia chimed in.

Delphinium was quietly listening to the conversation, but she seemed concerned about Jia and Jueun. I could tell by how she kept glancing toward the room where they were.

“If you want to see them, feel free to go. Hayun and Ju-a are with them.”

“Then I’ll go check on them.”

Delphinium had always loved the first four children when they were little too. I know now that while her facial expressions don’t change much, her actions are quite honest.

“Ah, I want to see them too.”

Dalia said as she got up from her seat.

I looked up at the two child-loving friends with a slightly bitter smile.

With the table now a bit emptier, Jihye, who had just returned from the kitchen, took a seat.

“So, you’re saying you want to see a house?”

Pang Pang said with a smile.

Pang Pang’s attire was much more modest compared to back then. Unlike the days when she used to wear only ripped jeans and trendy clothes, now she was dressed in a neat blouse and formal skirt.

She now completely looks like a businesswoman.

Surprisingly, Pang Pang had a talent for investment, and she was using that talent to actively develop the space industry. If things go well, she might realize her goal within a few years. She’s remarkable in many ways.

Of course, she’s involved in other businesses to secure funding. While Noir Corporation’s construction division isn’t specialized in apartment construction—well, I’m sure among their partner companies, there must be one that knows how to build a single-family home.

“A single-family home… Yes, that would be better for you all to live in.”

“So, do you have any good suggestions?”

When Jihye asked with sparkling eyes, Pang Pang nodded.

“I know some construction companies that handle small-scale projects, so I’ll look into it. The company that built our employee housing should be sufficient, don’t you think?”

Both of us felt relieved at her words. Ju-a and Hayun in the other room would probably feel relieved too if they heard this.

As I was drinking orange juice with a momentarily excited heart, Rose suddenly brought up another topic.

“Should we go somewhere fun?”

“Fun?”

“Yes. You all haven’t been able to go out properly for a while because you’ve been raising children.”

“Ah… that’s true.”

“Don’t worry. If we’re all together, whoever has free hands can take care of the children.”

From what Rose was saying, it seemed like she had already discussed this with Dalia and Delphinium.

“Going out sounds good, but where to?”

“How about an amusement park?”

This time Pang Pang spoke.

As she pulled tickets out of her handbag, it seemed like she had already discussed this with Pang Pang as well.

I smiled softly.

“You all had this planned out already.”

“Plans should always be made in advance before bringing them up. Especially when planning outings with friends, that’s how you get everyone together.”

We already meet often.

Well, of course, we don’t often have all the magical girls gather because of the children. These days, there aren’t even super strong kaijin appearing that require all of us to attack at once.

Still, if I had to say, we do see each other regularly…

“Alright.”

I said with a smile.

“Be honest. The ones who went into the room, they actually went to tell them about this plan, right?”

Just as I said that, the door opened, and four people came out with the children.

Judging by the smiles on their faces, that was definitely the case.

An amusement park.

“The kids will love it.”

I answered with a smile.

*

I know the children have been to amusement parks with their school before, but this was the first time our entire family had gone together.

Well, I had been during our dating days. And, um.

Also during the time after we got married but before we had children.

Thinking about it now, it really has been a long time, but well.

Jia and Jueun in the stroller probably won’t even remember what we did for fun today, but that’s okay. Their “aunts” were busy taking pictures anyway.

Eunhye and Yeji had expressions that suggested they didn’t quite understand what was going on. This was their first time in such a place.

The most excited ones were Jiyun and Eunha, who knew what to expect here.

Looking at Jiyun holding my hand with an excited face, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh, right, and look forward to it.”

Pang Pang said with a smile.

“These tickets aren’t ordinary tickets.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I actually… didn’t just buy tickets. I also bought some shares in this place beforehand.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that right away.

Is this really the same person who used to live in that semi-basement apartment?

Does she just buy hospitals when she gets a stomachache too?

Even if that’s not literally true, I could somehow imagine a hospital named after Pang Pang existing without any surprise.

“Now, now, Jiyun and Eunha, what do you want to ride? This auntie will take you on everything!”

“Really?”

“Auntie is the best!”

Saying that simultaneously, the children ran off, which made me feel a bit abandoned, but I just smiled wryly without much concern.

To be honest,

After deciding to have six children, I did sometimes worry if I was being too ambitious.

And even after stubbornly having all of them, it wasn’t like there weren’t difficult times.

But in the end, everything turned out fine.

“Ahem.”

As I was absentmindedly watching the children who had run ahead with their aunt, Hayun gently linked her arm with mine.

Her face was slightly flushed.

Just like when we were dating.

No.

We’ve always been like this. We’ve been able to rely on and help each other in ways that even I find amazing when I think about how I could act like this.

With three wives, I had to make an effort—

…

No, we all made efforts.

With all our might. Because we didn’t want to break our loving relationship.

“We’ll take turns later.”

Jihye said, somewhat jokingly.

But probably somewhat seriously too.

“We can take turns sitting next to you. Since we have tickets that let us ride without waiting in line anyway.”

Ju-a also chimed in.

Well, well.

Even after all this time, feeling so popular makes me feel like I’m living a life that can’t help but be happy.

As if they caught me thinking that, Jihye, Hayun, and Ju-a poked my sides and back with their fingers. Even as I giggled, I was happy.

I see.

So that’s why they all decided to come together. Rose, Delphinium, and Dalia too.

…

I truly am fortunate.

How did I ever think those thoughts when I was young—

No.

It’s because of those times that I am who I am today. It’s because we went through all those events that our relationship was completed.

So, they were all me. All those existences.

Hayun smiled and pulled my arm as if telling me to hurry up.

Letting myself be gently led into the amusement park, I looked up at the sky.

It was blue, so blue, and even more blue.

A single white cloud floated above, just like my mood.