Kazuki was finally settling down after his dramatic encounter with the thief, ready to enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet in his nursery. His tiny body relaxed, his breathing evened out, and he let himself drift off into a world of calm. Finally, he thought, a break from all the chaos. Just a little sleep... that's all I ask.
But peace, as Kazuki was soon to discover, was a luxury he wouldn't be afforded for long.
The door to the nursery creaked open, and in tiptoed two figures—Kazuki's cousins, Akira and Yui. Both of them were just a few years older than Kazuki, and they were known throughout the town for their boundless energy and mischievous antics. Today, they had a new target in mind: their baby cousin.
"Shhh, we have to be quiet," Akira whispered loudly, his finger pressed to his lips in a theatrical gesture that was anything but quiet.
"Shhh yourself!" Yui hissed back, elbowing him in the ribs. "We don't want to wake the baby… yet."
Kazuki, still deep in slumber, remained blissfully unaware of the impending doom that was his cousins' visit. In his dreams, he was soaring through the skies on a magical dragon, casting spells and saving the world. Ah, this is the life, he thought, smiling in his sleep. No screaming, no annoying people, just me, my dragon, and—
Suddenly, he felt something—a presence. A chill ran down his tiny spine, and his peaceful dream began to crumble. Oh no, he thought, why do I feel like I'm about to be royally screwed?
Akira and Yui crept closer to the crib, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Akira leaned over the edge of the crib, peering down at Kazuki's peaceful face. "He looks so sweet when he's sleeping," Akira said with a grin, "but I bet he's no fun when he's awake."
Kazuki's nose twitched as the remnants of his dream dissolved into the harsh reality of wakefulness. What the hell is that noise? he thought groggily, his eyelids fluttering open. His eyes focused, and there they were—Akira and Yui, looming over him like two miniature agents of chaos.
Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Kazuki thought, a wave of irritation washing over him. Can't a guy catch a break?
Yui, not one to waste time, leaned closer, her face inches from Kazuki's. "Hi there, little baby Kazuki! We're here to play with you!"
Play? PLAY?! Kazuki mentally screamed. I just want to sleep! Why can't you two little demons leave me alone for five minutes?! But all that came out of his mouth was a tiny, annoyed grunt.
Undeterred, Akira pulled out a feather from his pocket, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Let's wake him up properly!" he whispered, as if Kazuki wasn't already wide awake and cursing their very existence in his head.
The feather brushed against Kazuki's nose, and the tickling sensation made his eyes cross in discomfort. Oh, for the love of— Kazuki sneezed, his whole tiny body jolting from the force.
"Aw, he's awake now!" Yui squealed, clapping her hands. "Let's play!"
Kazuki glared up at them, or at least tried to. It was hard to look menacing when you were a baby with wide, innocent eyes. I swear, when I get my powers back, you two are the first ones getting a taste of my wrath, he thought, his tiny fists clenching in frustration.
"Look at him, Akira! He's all ready for fun!" Yui said, beaming down at Kazuki.
Fun? FUN?! Kazuki internally raged. I'll show you fun when I'm not trapped in this baby body! Just you wait! But all he could do was gurgle angrily, which only made his cousins giggle more.
As Akira pulled out the tiny comb and started brushing Kazuki's fine hair, Yui began adorning him with ribbons and bows. Kazuki's eye twitched. This is beyond humiliation, he thought. I look like a damn festival float!
Then came the rattle. Akira shoved it into Kazuki's hand with the enthusiasm of a drill sergeant handing a recruit a sword. "Here, Kazuki! Time to practice your sword fighting!"
What the actual hell? Kazuki thought, staring at the rattle. You can't be serious. But Akira was dead serious, and soon Kazuki found himself engaged in the most absurd mock battle of his life.
Akira swung his own rattle dramatically, making exaggerated "clang" sounds as if they were in an epic duel. Yui, ever the supportive sidekick, added her own sound effects, and Kazuki found himself waving his rattle weakly in response, trying not to let his growing frustration show.
This is it, Kazuki thought, as his arm grew tired. This is how I go insane.
Finally, he let the rattle slip from his hand, hoping that would end the madness. But Yui, ever the enthusiastic tormentor, decided it was snack time. Kazuki barely had time to register what was happening before a bottle was thrust into his face, and milk was spilling everywhere.
You've got to be fucking kidding me, Kazuki thought, milk dripping down his face. First a ridiculous hairdo, then a stupid sword fight, and now this? Is there no end to this torture?
Yui gasped in horror at the mess she'd made, and Kazuki could only sigh internally. Great, now I'm sticky too. This day just keeps getting better and better.
But just as Kazuki was about to mentally scream into the void, the door to the nursery swung open, and in walked the nurse. She took one look at the scene—Kazuki covered in milk and ribbons, Akira and Yui looking guilty—and shook her head with a sigh.
"What are you two troublemakers up to now?" she asked, hands on her hips.
Akira and Yui froze, their eyes wide as they realized they'd been caught. "We were just… um… playing with Kazuki," Akira stammered, trying to look innocent.
The nurse shook her head again, this time with a smile. "Well, it looks like poor Kazuki has had quite enough 'playtime' for one day. Come on, you two, let's leave him to rest."
Finally, Kazuki thought as his cousins were ushered out of the room. Maybe now I can get some damn sleep.
Once they were gone, the nurse quickly cleaned Kazuki up and tucked him back into his crib. As she left the room, Kazuki let out a long, silent sigh of relief. Maybe being a baby hero isn't all it's cracked up to be, he thought, as sleep finally took over. But at least now I can get some peace and quiet... until they come back, that is.
And with that, Kazuki drifted off, praying that his next nap would be a peaceful one.
"Take that, evil sorcerer!" Akira cried, swinging his rattle dramatically. "And that! And that!"
Kazuki, exhausted from the impromptu rattle duel, let the rattle slip from his tiny fingers. He had hoped that dropping the "weapon" would signal the end of the madness, but instead, it only inspired a new idea in Yui.
"Kazuki's tired from all the fighting," Yui said, picking up the rattle. "He needs a snack!"
Before Kazuki could even think about protesting, Yui had grabbed a bottle from the nearby shelf and began attempting to feed him. However, her enthusiasm quickly turned into clumsiness as she fumbled with the bottle, managing to spill milk all over Kazuki's face.
"Oh no!" Yui exclaimed, looking horrified. "I'm so sorry, Kazuki!"
Kazuki blinked through the milk dripping down his face, his irritation mounting. This is a nightmare, he thought, his tiny fists clenching in frustration. I just wanted a nap, and now I'm covered in milk, dressed like a clown, and exhausted from a rattle fight!
But before Yui could attempt to clean up the mess, the door to the nursery swung open, and in walked the nurse, her expression one of both surprise and amusement.
"What are you two troublemakers up to now?" she asked, hands on her hips.
Akira and Yui froze, their eyes wide as they realized they'd been caught. "We were just… um… playing with Kazuki," Akira stammered, trying to look innocent.
The nurse shook her head with a sigh, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, it looks like poor Kazuki has had quite enough 'playtime' for one day. Come on, you two, let's leave him to rest."
Reluctantly, Akira and Yui allowed themselves to be herded out of the nursery, but not before each giving Kazuki a quick hug. "Bye, Kazuki!" they chorused, "We'll see you later!"
I sure hope not, Kazuki thought, watching them go. Finally, the door closed, and the room was once again filled with blessed silence.
The nurse, noticing the state Kazuki was in, quickly cleaned him up and tucked him back into his crib. As she left the room, she cast one last glance at the baby hero, now drifting back to sleep.
Kazuki, finally alone and free from his cousins' chaotic visit, let out a tiny sigh of relief. Maybe being a baby hero isn't all it's cracked up to be, he thought as he drifted off. But at least now I can get some peace and quiet… until they come back, that is.
And with that, Kazuki was once again asleep, dreaming of a world where mischievous cousins didn't exist—or at least, one where they let him nap in peace.