Hotaru entered the kitchen.
The stove was spotless; Soyo cleaned often.
Checking the fridge and stove, Hotaru decided to cook.
Soyo and Mutsumi were lucky.
Joking—he wasn't a great cook.
Decent at best, not like Soyo's cooking.
Mutsumi didn't seem like a cook either.
She needed to watch Soyo.
Hotaru had to step up.
The fridge disappointed—scarce ingredients.
Soyo, sick, likely hadn't shopped.
He found two fresh greens, shiitake mushrooms, a small potato, and macaroni.
Vegetable macaroni it was—nutritious, simple.
He prepped: picked leaves, diced potatoes.
Then remembered Mutsumi's cucumbers.
Perfect addition.
After telling Mutsumi, Hotaru grabbed a cucumber.
Each was pristine, pesticide-free, carefully grown.
He rinsed and sliced it.
While busy, Soyo napped.
Mutsumi stayed by her, eyes wavering when Hotaru mentioned cucumbers, shifting from Soyo to him.
She wanted to see.
Macaroni cooked quickly.
Seasoned with chives, coarse salt, pepper.
Soon, vegetable macaroni soup with cucumber was on the table, with three bowls and chopsticks.
They provided ingredients, he provided labor—fair.
Eating together wasn't too much, right?
Mutsumi woke Soyo, helped her over.
Soyo, groggy, was stunned.
Simple meal, but her favorite macaroni.
Hotaru and Mutsumi sat beside her.
Warmth filled her heart, eyes moistening.
Hiding her emotions, her appetite returned.
Hotaru noticed but didn't comment, smiling, "Looks good, right? Eat, then take medicine."
"Mm… thank you," Soyo said hoarsely, throat sore.
Hotaru served Soyo, then Mutsumi, then himself.
They ate, but Mutsumi sat quietly, not touching her food.
"Mutsumi, what's wrong?" Soyo asked, worried it wasn't to her taste.
She knew Mutsumi loved cucumbers.
Hotaru wondered too. Not good, Xiao Mutou?
Mutsumi shook her head, "Past mealtime."
They were stunned. A set eating time?
Recalling her two-hour wait, Hotaru asked, "Not hungry?"
Mutsumi touched her stomach, shook her head.
Soyo knew Mutsumi's strict family but was shocked.
"Xiao Mu, you need to eat," Soyo urged.
"Father… only allows designated times," Mutsumi explained.
Hotaru was floored. Skip meals?
"Late-night snacks? When hungry?" he asked.
"Father's permission," Mutsumi said.
Hotaru understood her petite frame.
Her father's fault.
"We must resist," Hotaru said. "Eat when hungry. Your father won't know."
Mutsumi stared, arm trembling.
Resistance… Sakiko said that too.
But she wasn't Sakiko.
Soyo added, "Mutsumi, eat. We won't tell."
Hotaru threatened, "If you don't, we won't finish, and the cucumbers will spoil."
Soyo was confused—cucumbers?
Mutsumi tensed, eyes wavering, fingers curling.
Hotaru pressed, "Your carefully grown cucumbers."
"Eat to save them!"
Mutsumi hesitated, then asked, "Can I…?"
"Why not?" Hotaru said firmly.
Encouraged, Mutsumi took the spoon, nodded, "Mm."
Soyo looked at Hotaru, surprised.
Mutsumi ate gracefully, trained in etiquette, chewing rhythmically.
Tasting cucumber, her expression softened.
Not easy, Hotaru sighed.
He and Soyo ate casually.
Thunder roared, lightning flashed, rain poured.
Soyo glanced out, wind lashing her windows.
"Afraid of thunder?" Hotaru teased.
Soyo shook her head, nose crinkling, "Just hate heavy rain."
Mutsumi looked at Soyo, thoughtful.
Hotaru nodded. Rainy days were for staying in.
Good thing he returned quickly.
"Mutsumi, inconvenient to go back, right?" he said.
"Xiao Mutou?" Soyo murmured, eyes darting between them.
Too intimate a nickname?
What happened while she was sick?
Mutsumi's eyes dimmed.
"Stay over tonight?" Soyo suggested.
She doubted it; Mutsumi's family was strict.
During Crychic, Mutsumi left practice on time, never stayed late.
It was nearly nine.
Hotaru winked at Mutsumi, "Good idea, you can care for Soyo."
Soyo was tempted.
Mutsumi pursed her lips, wanting to stay.
But her family…
A phone rang.
Mutsumi's phone showed "Mother."
Hotaru and Soyo stopped eating, quiet.
Mutsumi tensed, eyes on her half-eaten bowl.
Hotaru frowned.
Mutsumi answered in front of them.
Soyo felt a bad premonition.
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