It is a bit hot today.
Movements from the far field reveal Seyraphal approach as Shigeko waves to get her attention. From looks alone, the girl was miles better in health. Her stance didn't have this diminutive, ready-to-keel-over attitude, her skin had regained a healthy radiance and the white fuzz that covered her body somehow looked softer, better defined.

''Let's have an important talk tonight.'' Your father whispered to your mom.
''Shit, are you... mad about the tree? This is the last time I'm doubting the physical prowess of a warrior-specie.''
''Ah!'' He laugh. ''I'll use that as an excuse for bedroom discipline. I'll tell you more later.''
''Ugh, come on let's go eat!'' You promptly leave your parent's side and decide to wave the Mamonos inside.

With a healthy dinner of whatever remained of your pantry put in a tasty soup, the egg-shaped slime you've been carrying all day stands in the middle of the table inside a bowl to keep it steady, earning equal parts adoration and disbelief from the three women.

''I'll go into details later, but yeah I'll... be taking care of this little one.'' You almost said ''we''. This responsibility is ultimately yours alone.

"Better than a stray cat," your mother commented as she carefully poked the egg, then looked at her finger. "Y'know, this is a rare one. It'd be best to keep her home for now. In the early days of our Demon Lord's ascension, alchemy was being refined as a science. Slimes were discovered to be near-perfect reagents for all kinds of potions, which inevitably caused their localized extinctions in the Allied Kingdoms. The Lady Lord even made a brief invasion to save what was left."

''The three queens of my home have made a unified decree to safeguard what was left of our native's slimes.'' Shigeko comments, somehow having no trouble eating with finesse by holding her spoon with two big fingers. Beside her, Seyraphal ate in quiet contemplation, one three-fingered hand holding a spoon. ''You have a truly generous heart...''

''Having plenty of people around will be good for her once she's out of incubation.'' Not explaining -everything- about little Usha did pang your heart.

Then comes a comfortable silence as everyone finishes dinner.

''I've been thinking of visiting the city today,'' Canaan says while taking the dirty dishes. ''We can't have our big gal here wearing men's clothes. The girl's rags came undone when I washed them so I threw them away. And the pantry needs refilling.''

''A date? Hell yeah.'' Your father excitedly rises to his feet. You try your best not to roll your eyes. ''Probably a bad idea to have our guests accompany us for now.''

''We... how can we ever repay your kindness?'' Seyraphal speaks almost in a whisper without any shadows of her previous illness, her bigger companion is looking down in shame. That motivates you to reach for the big blue hand of the Oni-woman.