Kyouko carefully prepared the bowls, scooping rice and placing it in front of Haruki at the small dinner table. She made sure everything was arranged—soup, side dishes, chopsticks, and cold barley tea. The meat dish was set in the center, steaming lightly.
"Now eat," she said softly, her tone gentle but firm.
Haruki looked up at her, his chopsticks hovering over his bowl.
"You not eating with me?" he asked, glancing at her.
Kyouko shook her head. "No... If I eat now, my family will wonder why I'm not hungry later."
Haruki didn't argue. Instead, he began digging into the food, taking slow, deliberate bites. It was clear how much he was enjoying it—his focus was entirely on the meal.
Kyouko sat next to him, her eyes following his every movement.
"Thank you for cooking," he said sincerely, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"No problem~" Kyouko smiled softly, watching him continue to enjoy the food.
"I love the taste," Haruki added, his voice full of appreciation.
