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The rhythmic pitter-patter of rainfall against the window, combined with the warmth of his sweet Mama's arms wrapped around the downy blanket she’d swaddled her tiny Kusuo into, had almost lulled the newborn straight to dreamland.
Being a literal baby, he did not have a sense of time or an awareness of.. well, much of anything, really. But none of that mattered to Kusuo now, because little Kusuo — with his stomach full, diaper changed, and energy depleted — was wholly content with his existence at this very moment.
He has only existed outside the womb for a few days. His Mama is still recuperating and his Papa is currently not home, gone to… wherever it is his adult Papa would regularly go to in the daytime.
Kusuo does not know what this “work” place is, but he is certain that he never, ever wants to leave the safety of his mama's arms to go to a location so unknown.
To keep Mama and Baby Ku company, Big Brother Kusuke had ecstatically offered to share some cool facts about animals he was reading about in one of his newest books.
It should be mentioned that the gifted toddler Kusuke, a curious boy with an IQ of 218, does not read traditional children’s books for fun.
The book Kusuke is paraphrasing facts out of for his Mama and newborn baby brother is a difficult biology textbook. The type of book that post-secondary students cry themselves to sleep over.
Kusuo does not understand much, but his brother's enthusiastic voice and mama's sounds of awe make this an excellent bedtime story for baby Ku.
The Saikis aren’t the wealthiest family. The ragged book with washed-out colours and spine falling apart from the seams was a typical old, well-borrowed text from the public library. This edition was specially picked out with love for their darling little genius, but it being free to obtain and not in the finest quality doesn’t take away from its charm or worth.
No amount of money could buy the peaceful, homey atmosphere and feelings of pure familial love that has been brought to the Saiki household by Kusuke eagerly presenting the text to both his Mama and baby brother.
Kusuo can feel the steady rise and fall of his Mama's chest with her each intake of breath, the vibrating hum of her vocal cords echoing within her body with every doting praise she showers upon her beloved eldest son.
It is extremely soothing for Kusuo to now, once more, feel the sensations that he had associated with home and comfort while still inside his mother’s body.
Only a few days ago was he enclosed in the perfect home within his mother. He had everything he needed, the sanctuary was warm, providing and secure. All Kusuo knew was Mama, and that was enough for him.
There was no discomfort inside Mama, no gravity, no hunger, no thirst. It felt like Mama had him encircled in a big hug at all times, Mama's everyday movements rocking him to sleep during the day. Outside noises were muted as Kusuo was surrounded by the beautiful melody of Mama's body working hard to keep Mama alive. It may not sound pleasant to you, but the symphony of Mama’s innards working like a well-oiled machine and the rhythmic beat of Mama’s heartbeat was all Kusuo knew, and it was the perfect lullaby for him.
It was a little scary though, being thrust into this unknown world.
No longer inside Mama, he now felt discomfort. These were foreign feelings to him. Inside Mama, Kusuo never had to feel hunger or the need to expel waste, and the temperature was always just right, so he never had to wear itchy clothes and scratchy blankets. Now everything was all new and strange.
No longer was he weightlessly floating in the water of the womb, able to move freely. Now Kusuo was subject to the pull of gravity, and he doesn’t have much control over his hands and feet at all. Every time he is set down in his crib to sleep he feels the pressure of a bed on his back. It feels a little unpleasant and foreign.
But it was okay though, because all he knew was Mama, and his Mama was always near and there for him. Kusuo hopes Mama will always be there for him, now and forever.
Kusuo loves his Mama.
Kurumi doesn’t fully understand everything her blond and bright baby boy is talking about either, but she is a very proud, supportive mama and loves Kusuke and Kusuo very much. Her wonderful toddler was explaining how the ancestors of the whale were once four-legged land-dwellers (and how whales' nostrils being on the top of their head is proof of their evolution).
Kusuo cutely yawns as his Mama playfully asks Kusuke how loud her little lion can roar. It seemed in the span of a few minutes, the convo shifted to a battle between tigers and lions and which can roar louder?
Kusuke proudly demonstrates his vocal capabilities with a volume that the neighbouring apartments may not appreciate as Kurumi cheers.
After observing his surroundings and understanding the current situation, Kusuo believes it’s adequate to involve himself in this conversation. He is learning to adapt to this world, bit by bit.
Kusuo’s fuchsia eyebrows narrow and his button nose scrunches as he prepares his rebuttal. With his serious face on, he loudly asserts his feelings to his Mama and Brother by releasing a string of gurgles and babble.
Kusuo doesn't quite understand why Mama and Big Brother explode with glee and laughter at his declaration, but little Kusuo decides he likes this positive attention. He will surely try this again sometime.
That fierce lion roar took a lot out of him. Baby Ku’s eyelids feel heavy. He snuggles closer to his Mama as she gently rocks and nuzzles him, giving him a few cherishing goodnight kisses on his forehead.
Baby Kusuo’s eyes gradually flutter closed as he listens to the chatting of his mother and brother, feeling the corner of his mouth quirk upwards as he drifts fast asleep.