I glance at Nina, and she's all stares. Yup, this is not a casual inquiry. I sigh internally.
[Well, I don't know how many children I want, honestly. If you can't have them more frequently than every few decades to centuries, then I don't think I'll have a problem with the number of children for quite some time. That said…if we really won't die of old age…I don't think we can just keep having children indefinitely. They'll likely be insanely powerful, and maybe even ageless. At some point, their numbers could start being a serious influence on this world. So, I don't know...do you have a number in mind by chance?] (Mizuki)
I sense satisfaction from Nina, and I see a smug smile spread across her face. Clearly, she intended for me to ask this question. Her tone comes through quite chipper.
[I want at least one boy and one girl! However many children it takes to make that happen is how many I want. But so long as you give me one of each, I don't care if we only end up having two.] (Nina)
Well, that's not exactly unreasonable, and I suppose there are far less flexible demands she could have made. I smile at Nina and nod.
[Alright, that sounds fine with me. Just…uhm…not in the next ten years, yeah?] (Mizuki)
And we'll need to start thinking about some kind of birth control strategy for when we're done having kids in a few centuries or so, but that discussion can wait.
[Fufufu…as we've discussed, that's not possible. So, what about my other question?] (Nina)
Oh yeah…what kind of father will I be? She's really grilling me today.
[Honestly…I don't have a good answer prepared for that. All I can tell you for sure is that I don't want to be like my parents. I'm going to do my best to make sure my kids know that they weren't born just to meet some expectation of mine. I don't want them to feel like they've got to earn my attention or support. So long as they're not a menace to society, I'll just help them pursue whatever will make them happy.] (Mizuki)
I sense relief from Nina, followed by excitement.
[That is all I needed to hear Mizuki…I've chosen my mate as well as I thought. Fufufu…all this talk has me quite excited for tonight, hmm?] (Nina)
Nina's eyes cut towards me with a suggestive glint, while her lips curl up mischievously. Before I can respond, though, her eyes widen suddenly.
[Oh, Mizuki, I just realized. I've asked quite a lot of you today. Is there anything you want to ask me in return? It only seems fair.] (Nina)
Nina stares at me expectantly, and I rub my upper lip as I think it over. Is there anything I wanted to ask of her? I normally just do that whenever it crosses my mind. I don't bottle things up like she seems to. Although…she did imply something earlier that I should probably follow up on. I'm not sure how I'll feel about the answer, but…
I turn to Nina and nod appreciatively.
[Now that you mention it…there was something I was curious about.] (Mizuki)
Nina's eyes widen slightly, then she nods. Her gaze just lingers on my face, questioning.
[Well, you've mentioned frequently before how dragons view weaker races and friendships in general, but I also know that you're a little…different. So, I couldn't help but wonder...do you feel like you have friends now? Alto and the others – do you…care…about them?] (Mizuki)
I see Nina's face go stiff at the question, and she glances at me briefly before staring into the air in front of us. She's quiet for several moments, as I sense rising nervousness and apprehension from her. Eventually, she sighs and meets my gaze with a forced smile.
[I enjoy their company, and I'll protect and support them like my own children, but…no. I'm sorry, Mizuki. I've grown fonder of the people here thanks to you, but I'm still a dragon. I don't truly care for them the same way that you seem to. I wouldn't be upset if they left our group. Still, they're important to me because of their importance to you. I hope you'll forgive me.] (Nina)
Yeah…I kind of suspected that. Her admission should probably scare me, like finding out that a dear friend is a diagnosed psychopath. But she's devoted to my friends by proxy, and she even enjoys their company. She just doesn't seem capable of anything more personal with them. Honestly, I can't bring myself to blame her for that when she's being so honest about her feelings and treating all my friends as if they were her own. I've always thought that what people do with their feelings is what's important.
I look over at a nervous Nina and smile reassuringly.
[Don't worry, Nina, there's nothing to forgive. I never want you to feel like you have to hide something like that from me – I value your honesty. I can accept that this is how you are, and I appreciate that you're taking such good care of them just for my sake. Can I rely on you to keep helping them, as if they were your friends?] (Mizuki)
I sense relief flood Nina as she smiles at me.
[Of course, Mizuki, you have my word. What's important to you is important to me…I love you.] (Nina)
That damn dragon is trying to make me cry right here in the middle of the street, isn't she?
[I love you, too, Nina.] (Mizuki)