Miyuki stared at the ceiling, breathing out an audible sigh.

She had accepted and worn a number of titles throughout her life, receiving and changing in and out of them like clothes. She had been [the] village gatherer, then the prettiest lass in all of Opis, then a head scientist in genetics, a wife and currently, a mother.

In all honesty, she wasn't sure if she had done well in the latter category, considering how much trouble Hana was worth in an average day, not because she was naughty, but more because she had a chronic habit of info-dumping.

Which wouldn't have been a problem if it weren't for what the counselor had told her that morning.

Jasper had been significantly calmer about it than she had been at least, assuring her that Hana would grow out of that habit soon. He had also suggested ways of relieving it, like cutting back on their work hours so she could talk to them instead, or inviting Lail to come down so Hana could chat with her instead.

To say that Miyuki had been assured by that was an understatement.

Bile rose in her throat and she quickly sat up before she could throw up. This wouldn't-wasn't-right in any way right now. This wasn't right, bottling up her frustration and giving her daughter and husband the silent treatment. Heck, why even? Why was this?

Jasper was already fast asleep, but Hana definitely wasn't. She had a later bedtime than her parents (though still an earlier wake-up time than them), so she was very much awake now when Miyuki reluctantly rolled out of bed and padded down the staircase into the living room, where she sat on the floor playing with her animal plushies.

"Mom", she chittered in acknowledgement, then went back to her plushies.

Miyuki squeezed back a half-hearted growl as she plopped herself on the couch and tried to think of a way to apologize, or at least, assure Hana that she didn't need to worry about what the counselor had said. Heaven forbid, she actually wanted to ream that motherfucking counselor instead! She supposed her mother would have a few choice words for that bitch later, so right now, she crouched down on the floor...

...and hugged Hana.

The spiderling let out a little squeak when her mother suddenly hugged her close, but she relaxed into it anyways. Hugs from mom were the best, especially before bedtime. Maybe she could sneak a night snuggle as well? That'd be nice.

"Hana, dear...I...I'm sorry about what happened...back at school", Miyuki begin, albeit slowly.

Hana let out a squeak of surprise again. Ah, so that was why the hug had come.

"That...that counselor...she doesn't deserve her job, alright"? Miyuki explained, regaining some of her composure as she did. "You're perfectly alright. Of course, interrupting the teacher was a bit much, but you're alright still. You don't have to apologize for that".

"So I'm normal"? Hana asked.

At that, Miyuki held her daughter up and murmured quietly. "Love, you were normal since the day your father and I first got to hold you. There is no standard definition of 'normal', you understand? There are good things and there are bad things, and there are things that seem weird but cause no harm. You are normal, Hana. You've always been".

"But what about the counselor"? Hana asked again.

"If she says anything about you being abnormal again, tell her she can always take it up with me", Miyuki advised her daughter, then set her down on the floor again. "That's enough for now. Its about time we went back to bed".

"Can we snuggle tonight please"? Hana asked.

"Tomorrow, dear. I promise", Miyuki assured her daughter, then they both detoured into their bedrooms.