CHAPTER 23: WARMTH

When he opened the door to his apartment, the bitterness eased for a moment. Aiko was curled up on his bed, fast asleep. A small smile tugged at his lips. He set the groceries down, walked over, and gently covered her with a blanket.

Then he went to the kitchen, turned on the stove, and began preparing ramen noodles.

Raito was standing in the small kitchen, an apron tied neatly around his waist. He was focused, knife moving quickly as he sliced carrots and other vegetables. The sound of chopping filled the quiet apartment. Soon, the scent of simmering broth and fresh ingredients spread through the air. He dropped the veggies into the pot, stirring gently.

On the bed, Aiko stirred. She blinked slowly, sat up, and rubbed her eyes. Her nose twitched as the smell reached her.

"What’s this smell? It’s so nice," she murmured, finally noticing him in the kitchen.

Raito glanced over his shoulder, a faint smile on his lips. "Oh, looks like you’re awake."

Aiko tilted her head, amused. "You haven’t changed one bit. You’re the first person I know who wears an apron just to cook noodles."

"What’s bad about that? Maybe it’s just a habit," Raito replied, shrugging lightly. "Sure, cooking noodles won’t stain my clothes, but still, it feels right."

"Wow," Aiko said, her eyes widening as she looked around the counter. "You even bought groceries... meat, rice, and all this stuff. Seriously? Are you sure this came from that crappy job, cleaning gears? Or... did you finally stop?"

Raito paused, then gave a small nod. "Let’s just say from now on, I’ll be financially stable. I know that was one of the things you always worried about. But like I’ve told you before, don’t think about giving me money. Don’t worry about groceries either. This time, things will be okay. And yes, I already stopped cleaning gears."

Aiko’s face lit up. "Finally. Wow. You stopped. I’m actually happy to hear that. Having things in order isn’t that hard after all."

Raito chuckled softly as he lifted the pot off the stove. "Oh, yes it is," he said, carefully setting it down on the counter. He reached for two plates, filling them with steaming noodles, vegetables, and broth.

Carrying the plates into the room, he handed one to Aiko. The small apartment only had a single bed, close to the ground, serving as both bedroom and living room. They sat side by side, placing their plates on the floor as they began to eat.

Aiko glanced around between bites. "If things are finally getting better for you, isn’t it about time you lived like your age mates? Maybe get a proper place with a living room and a bedroom instead of just this one room apartment. Don’t you think it’s a little... crappy? And the funny thing about this place is, there’s nothing in it. Just your bed and some old pictures on the wall. Can’t you decorate it a little? Maybe plaster the walls, add some furniture?"

Raito looked at her, then back at his plate. "No. I don’t like talking too much when I’m eating. So please, just enjoy your meal. Let’s eat," he said calmly.

The two of them fell silent, eating quietly, the warmth of the noodles filling the room.

When they finished eating, the two of them clasped their hands together.

"Thanks for the meal," they said in unison.

"So... when are you going back?" Raito asked, looking at her curiously.

"To be sincere, I’ll be here for about a week," Aiko replied. "But I won’t be around most of the time."

"For a week? Isn’t that a bit too long?" Raito frowned. "Still... what’s the reason you came? I’m sure you didn’t just show up without something specific in mind."

"Yeah," Aiko said, brushing a strand of her gray hair behind her ear. "Last week I got a message in my group chat. My classmates and I planned to meet up again. So I thought I’d stay here while that happens."

"Oh. I see." Raito leaned back slightly. "Well, as usual, you can stay on the bed. I’ll bring out the mat."

Aiko gave him a teasing smile. "Thank you. But you don’t have to—honestly, I don’t mind sharing the bed with you. You’re just my little brother."

Raito narrowed his eyes. "No. Stop saying that. It doesn’t sound right. Don’t say it again."

Aiko let out a small laugh, covering her mouth. "Well, well... you can do as you like. But still, that noodle you made was actually really tasty."

She stood up, collecting the empty plates and carrying them into the kitchen. There, she washed the dishes and even scrubbed the pot clean.

Raito sat quietly, watching her work, his mind drifting. She’s going to be here for a week? Oh no. But then again, she said she won’t be around much. That’s fine. Because what I need now is to dive into the dungeon. To level up as much as possible.

After a few minutes, Aiko came back.

"I’m feeling sleepy," she said.

"Here, you can stay on the bed," Raito replied. He pulled out a mat, laid it on the floor, and spread a blanket over it. Aiko tucked herself under a blanket on the bed, while Raito switched off the light and lay down on the mat.

Some time passed, but Raito still couldn’t fall asleep. I’m not even feeling sleepy. But it’s already late. Around 8pm. She’s the one who said she was tired, not me... he thought.

"Hey, Raito. Raito. Are you still awake?" Aiko’s voice broke the silence.

"Yes, I am. Haven’t you slept? You said you were feeling sleepy," Raito answered.

"I was... but for some reason, I’m not anymore," Aiko admitted softly.

"Well, okay. Is there anything you want to ask me or tell me?" Raito asked

"I just wanted to say this," Aiko began. "I know I haven’t said it before, but whenever I come around, sometimes it’s just to check how you’re doing. Ever since Mom died, I promised myself I’d make sure you were okay. I try to play a mother’s role in your life. Which is actually really funny, now that I say it out loud."

"Mother role? You?" Raito chuckled. "You usually behave more like my little sister."

"Hey, I’m serious. This isn’t a laughing matter," Aiko pouted.