"I'm telling you, Doc, I'm fine!" Rose crossed her arms, pouting like a spoiled kitten. "I probably just inhaled some toxic fumes or something."
The med bay lights buzzed quietly overhead. Her tail flicked in irritation as she sat on the examination bed, legs swinging slightly.
The doctor chuckled as he gently swabbed the inside of her mouth. "You're probably right... but let's just run a quick test, alright?"
He carefully sealed the sample in a vial, pressing a few buttons as it slotted into the scanner. A soft hum filled the room as data streams flickered across the screen.
"Well," he said, glancing back at her with a smile. "You're in great shape. Very healthy. Glad to see it."
Rose gave a proud little smirk and flipped her hair with exaggerated grace. "Well obviously. Staying this beautiful during wartime isn't easy, you know."
The doctor laughed under his breath. "I like your confidence."
She huffed proudly. "As you should."
A few minutes passed.
He glanced down at the scanner results, flicking through the holographic readout with calm professionalism—until suddenly, his hand slipped.
His tablet dropped to the floor with a sharp clack.
"…U-Uh…"
Rose blinked. Her ears twitched.
"Spit it out," she said, her voice tightening. "What's wrong with me?"
The doctor swallowed hard and quickly reached for his comm.
"Uh… Lady Miu? Could you come to the med bay? Right now? Please."
There was a brief pause, then the bubbly reply came through the speaker.
"Okie dokie~!"
Rose's tail bristled. She hugged her stomach slightly. "Hey! That's not an answer! What's wrong with me?!"
"N-Nothing's wrong! Really! I mean… kind of…"
"KIND OF?!"
A few moments later—
The med bay doors slid open with a cheerful ding! and in bounced Miu, hands behind her back, swaying side to side.
"Alright, Doc! I'm here!" she grinned. "What's the emergency—" her eyes landed on Rose, "—Ooh, what happened? Did she get hit in the gut? Oh no, did a tentacle beast get her?!"
"Sit down, please," the doctor muttered.
Miu plopped beside Rose and started rubbing her head affectionately. "You okay, sweetie? Your ears look all stiff!"
"Stop it…" Rose mumbled, though she leaned slightly into the attention.
Then—
The doctor took a breath.
"I don't know how to say this gently but… Rose…"
His eyes darted toward her, wide and nervous.
"You're… you're pregnant."
Silence.
Total.
Complete.
Utter.
Rose blinked. "Huh?"
Miu blinked. "Huh??"
The doctor said nothing.
The monitor beeped softly in the background.
The doctor backed away as Rose looked like she was about to scream, pass out, or maybe throw a medical cart at someone.
And just like that, chaos returned to the med bay.
"WHATTTTTT?!" Rose screamed, loud enough to make the lights flicker.
Somewhere far across the base, Kai shivered violently in his sleep.
Miu didn't say anything at first. She simply smiled.
That sweet, innocent smile that never meant anything good.
"...Rose…" she said in a sing-song voice. "Got anything you wanna add?"
Rose's tail shot straight like a steel rod. "N-No! Y-Your scanner's broken! I mean—it has to be!"
But her voice faltered.
She remembered. That night. The way things… got out of hand.
Her ears drooped.
"O-oh… that could've… done it…"
Without a word, Miu stood up and walked over.
SLAP!
Rose flinched, her face snapping sideways.
"Idiot!"
SLAP!
"IDIOT!"
SLAP!
"IDIOTTTTT!!! What were you thinking?! You know this isn't allowed! What were you even—!?"
"I-It's Kai…" Rose muttered under her breath.
Miu blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Oh. That's… actually kinda cute." She smiled.
Then her eyes burned with rage again.
"THAT BASTARD GOT MY SWEET ROSE PREGNANT?!"
Miu spun toward the door, flinging it open with a furious slam.
"Doctor. Not. A. Word. Not to the Archmages. Not to the Commanders. Not even to Andrew."
Her glare could vaporize titanium. The poor doctor nodded so fast his glasses nearly flew off.
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
She stormed into the hall, activating her comm.
"Takashima," she said flatly, switching to a private encrypted channel.
There was a pause.
"…You never use this line."
"Code Sausage."
"…What the fu—" click
She cut the line without a word.
—Elsewhere...
Kai finally stretched out on his bed, a blissful sigh escaping his lips.
"Finally... some peace and—"
BOOOOM!!!
His door exploded.
He shot up. "WHAT THE—?!"
Miu stood in the smoke, eyes glowing with the rage of a thousand betrayed spirits.
"W-Wait—what did I do—?! AHHH!!"
She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out like a sack of potatoes.
Arnik, sipping juice in the hallway, slowly backed away.
Kai screamed the whole way to the med bay, legs kicking uselessly against the floor.
CLACK!
She threw him in like he owed her money.
"Ow! Geez! What the hell, Miu?!"
Takashima peeked around the corner.
"Ohhh no—"
Too late.
Miu snagged him by the collar and slammed him down next to Kai.
"…I'm too young to die," Takashima muttered.
"Everyone calm down!" the doctor yelped.
After a moment of silence… Rose stepped forward.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the hem of her shirt.
"…Kai," she whispered, barely audible. "I'm… I'm pr—gn—t…"
"…Huh?" Kai tilted his head. "Speak up. You sound like you're mumbling underwater."
She looked up at him, cheeks red.
"I said… I'm pregnant."
He blinked. "What? Say it slower, I thought you said you were pregnant."
Rose's eye twitched.
"Okay, Kai," she smiled sweetly. "Let me… spell it out for you."
She stood.
Grabbed his ear.
And screamed.
"I'M PREGNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT!!!"
Kai turned pale as a ghost.
Takashima fainted.
The doctor quietly backed into the corner and pretended to be invisible.
Miu cracked her knuckles.
"Now then… let's discuss what comes next."
Takashima adjusted his glasses and slowly stood up, brushing dust off his coat with sharp, irritated motions. His voice cut the silence.
"Tch… I could go on and on about how stupid you two are… But I won't. Because it'd be a complete waste of time on idiots like you."
Kai winced. Rose flicked her tail in defiance.
Takashima sighed. "Rose… you know what this means. If word gets out… you could be kicked from Angel Squad."
He crossed his arms. "I recommend removing the ba—"
"No."
Her voice rang out loud and clear, cutting him off like a blade. Even the lights in the med bay seemed to flinch.
"No?" Takashima blinked. "But—"
"Shut up." Rose glared at him. "How dare you even suggest that."
Her hand slid down to her belly, pressing gently against it.
"This is a life… my child." Her gaze shifted to Kai, eyes softer now. "Our child. And they deserve to live. No matter what. I'm keeping it."
Silence fell again.
Until Miu finally smiled, her voice barely above a whisper.
"…That's why I love you, Rose."
Kai stayed quiet. His fingers clenched in his lap.
"This is too much… Rose, we can't do this. We're not parents… We're soldiers. You can't be both."
Rose rolled her eyes with a dramatic huff. "Of course I can."
Takashima and Miu raised their brows in sync.
"How so?" they both asked at once.
Rose crossed her arms confidently.
"Demi-Cats reproduce faster than both Demi-Wolves and Humans. Our bodies adapt quicker."
Takashima tapped his chin. "So… still three to four months minimum. You can't go that long without training."
"Then we'll make it two," Rose said casually.
Kai narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"
Rose looked away, ears twitching nervously.
"…I'll take Birth Acceleration."
"No." Kai shot to his feet. "That's dangerous, Rose! That treatment fails half the time! It's illegal on almost every planet for a reason!"
She jumped to her feet and got in his face.
"I have to do this, Kai! This is the only way I stay on the team! You need me. We all do!"
Takashima stepped forward, voice calm but sharp.
"She's too valuable to sideline. And if her condition leaks? Angel Squad could be disbanded."
Kai's mouth opened… then shut.
Miu nodded solemnly. "Then… it's decided."
"Yes," Takashima confirmed. "She'll take the acceleration treatment."
He looked at Rose, voice dropping low.
"…The side effect is that giving birth will be twice as painful as normal."
Rose's tail curled tightly, but her voice didn't waver.
"Let's do it."
Miu stood. "We'll begin preparations. The treatment will be ready in under a day. You'll be placed on medical leave and transferred to a secure zone until the birth is over."
She gave a rare, gentle smile. "Don't worry, Rose. No one else will know."
Kai still hadn't moved. His face was unreadable.
Miu glanced at Takashima. With a silent nod, the two stepped out, leaving the door to slowly close behind them.
The room fell still.
Just Rose and Kai now.
Alone.
The hum of the medical scanner pulsed softly in the background.
Rose sat down beside him.
"…Say something," she whispered.
Kai didn't look at her. His hands rested in his lap, motionless.
"I never wanted this for you," he said. "Not like this."
Her ears drooped. "I didn't either."
"But…" she forced a smile. "We don't get to choose how life comes to us, do we?"
Kai finally turned to her.
Her hand was resting gently over her stomach again, her eyes focused and warm.
"…I'm scared, Rose."
Kai's voice was barely above a whisper. His hands trembled as he rested them against his knees. The weight of it all—the war, the future, the life they'd created—pressed down like a storm cloud refusing to pass.
Rose exhaled softly, brushing her hair behind one ear.
"Gosh…"
Without another word, she leaned her head against his shoulder. Her ears flattened a little, her tail curling toward her lap.
"…Can you say you love me?"
Kai stiffened.
"R-Rose…" he looked away, face red. "Why would you… ask that now?"
She didn't answer right away. Her eyes shimmered as she turned his face gently toward her, her fingers cold but tender.
"Because… I want to hear it." Her voice trembled. "I want to know if you'll support me. So I'm not alone in this."
Their eyes locked. Her gaze, so soft and full of uncertainty, nearly broke him.
Kai's lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, he glanced away again, avoiding the ache in her expression.
"…I'll support you," he murmured. "Promise. It was our mistake anyway…"
Rose gave a small nod, eyes falling. She didn't get the words she wanted… but it was enough for now.
He just needs time, she told herself.
Kai sat still for a long moment, then said the words that no one wanted to bring up.
"We're… going to have to put the child in foster care. Somewhere safe."
A beat of silence.
Then Rose nodded, slowly.
"…Yeah."
The room went quiet again. No more shouting, no more panic. Just the quiet hum of the medical equipment and the uncertain path stretching before them.
Whatever came next, they would face it.
Together.