Bits of Love, Lines of Code
Chapter 103 - 98: “Mother’s Quiet Moment”

Chapter 103: Chapter 98: “Mother’s Quiet Moment”

The countryside air was crisp in the early morning. Dew shimmered across the grass as sunlight filtered through the curtains of the nursery window. Inside, the only sound was the rhythmic ticking of a soft wall clock and the faint lullaby hum from a smart speaker in the corner.

Aoi stood alone in the nursery, barefoot, wearing a long, loose knit robe. Her hair was slightly messy from sleep, but her eyes—though tired—were soft and radiant. She gently rocked Hikari in her arms, who had just fallen asleep after a night feeding.

A quiet smile played on her lips.

She didn’t speak, but she didn’t need to. Her gaze traveled across the little room they had designed together—lavender walls, white wooden crib, stars hanging from the ceiling, and a framed family photo resting on a nearby shelf.

A sudden rush of emotion welled up in her chest.

"...She’s so small," Aoi finally whispered, voice trembling slightly. "And yet... she’s changed everything."

She carefully lowered Hikari into the crib and pulled the blanket around her. Then, Aoi turned, leaned against the doorframe, and stared at the soft, sleeping baby with misty eyes.

Flashback – Two Weeks Ago

It was just after the hospital delivery. Aoi was still hooked up to IVs, exhausted and aching. Ren had fallen asleep in the chair beside her, his hand still gripping hers.

But she couldn’t sleep.

The fear hadn’t left her. Fear of failing, of losing what they’d built. Of the dangers still circling like shadows.

She remembered watching Ren’s eyes as he held Hikari for the first time—how he stared at their daughter like she was everything good in the world.

"I want to be the kind of woman who deserves this," Aoi had whispered that night, touching her daughter’s tiny fingers.

Present

Aoi walked into the kitchen quietly, made herself a cup of warm tea, and stepped out onto the back patio. Their house overlooked the gentle curve of a hill where the cornfield swayed in rhythm with the wind. The garage where Ren’s tech lab and AI systems were hidden remained shut—no loud machinery today.

She sat down on the bench, wrapped the robe tighter around herself, and just... breathed.

Freedom. Peace. But always the distant thrum of anxiety.

A notification buzzed softly from her phone. Aoi picked it up.

"Lucia: Threat level normal. No intrusions detected. Mr. Ren is still asleep. You may relax, Mrs. Aoi."

Aoi giggled softly. "Thank you, Lucia."

She looked up at the rising sun and closed her eyes.

Elsewhere...

Saki watched from a new rooftop hideout. She had dyed her hair darker, was dressed plainly, and her expression was unreadable as she zoomed in with a military-grade lens on their peaceful home.

"She looks happy..." she whispered. "But that won’t last forever."

She turned to her desk, where files, photos, and strings connected names and locations. In the center—circled in red—was Hikari’s name.