The car glided silently into the quiet residential neighborhood, coming to a stop in front of Gaio's house. The driver quickly stepped out, opening the back door with a respectful bow.
Gaio exited first, followed by Rin, whose steps were slightly hesitant. Her ice-blue eyes, still tinged with a mix of confusion and scrutiny, flicked to Gaio's profile—
As if trying to figure out if this guy was really as unhinged as she'd imagined, maybe even schizophrenic…
"Thanks for the ride," Gaio said to the driver with a calm nod.
"My pleasure, Young Master Gaio," the driver replied with a deep bow, his movements precise. "Please call if you need anything."
The driver returned to the car, and the black Alphard pulled away quietly.
Gaio turned to Rin, flashing his trademark gentle, almost brother-in-law-like smile. "Let's go. Your cousin Marin," he said, pointing at the closed front door where faint noises could be heard from inside, "is probably already back."
Rin's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she nodded. "…Okay."
They approached the entrance. As Gaio pushed open the door—
A strange smell hit them, a mix of burnt food and chaos.
At the same time, loud clattering—ping-pong—came from the kitchen, accompanied by the unmistakable vibe of someone scrambling.
Rin froze mid-step, her ice-blue eyes flashing with understanding… and deep resignation.
Gaio's smile faltered briefly before melting into a fondly exasperated expression. "Tch, looks like the 'oyakodon' cooking process… got pretty intense."
The sound of the door and their footsteps alerted whoever was in the kitchen. A blonde ponytail suddenly poked out from behind the doorframe.
Marin Kitagawa's face was smudged with soot, her apron splattered with sauce, and the spatula in her hand was coated with some charred mystery substance.
"Rin-chan!" Her eyes lit up, and she rushed over in two bounding steps, her apron strings flapping. She shoved the spatula into Gaio's hands and threw herself at Rin. "I missed you so much!"
Rin stumbled back half a step, the scent of caramelized soy sauce filling her nose.
She instinctively caught her cousin, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. "It's only been six months…"
"Six months is 182 days!" Marin clung to Rin like a koala, nuzzling her neck like a kitten. "Ahh~ Rin-chan's scent~"
A loud thud came from the kitchen.
Gaio stood in the middle of the mess, a spilled bottle of mirin rolling across the counter.
He held a blackened frying pan in one hand and a half-cooked egg in the other, looking thoroughly exasperated.
Marin immediately let go of Rin and dashed over, barefoot. "Gaio-kun~ My oyakodon!"
"In theory…" Gaio poked at the charred rice with the spatula, "this should be called 'charcoal-grilled oyako,' right?"
Marin stuck out her tongue playfully, pouting. "Gaio-kun, you don't like undercooked eggs, so I tried to cook them through… I just… overdid it a little."
Gaio shook his head with a helpless smile, grabbing a tissue from the table and wetting it. He gently lifted Marin's chin with one hand, carefully wiping the soot from her cheeks with the other.
Marin tilted her face up, her eyes curving into happy crescents, looking like a content kitten.
"There you go," Gaio said, tucking the tissue away and ruffling her hair. "Go hang out with your cousin. I'll handle this."
"Okay!" Marin nodded eagerly, bouncing out of the kitchen. As she passed Rin, she winked smugly. "Gaio-kun's cooking is amazing!"
Rin stood at the kitchen door, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
Through the glass door, she watched Gaio tie on an apron with practiced ease, cleaning up the chaotic counter.
The guy who'd given off dangerous vibes in the car was now calmly sorting through usable ingredients, his demeanor so gentle it was like he was a different person.
"He… actually cooks?" Rin blurted out. "Should I… help?"
Marin giggled, grabbing Rin's arm and pulling her toward the living room. "Don't worry, Rin-chan! Gaio-kun's cooking is insane!"
They sank into the soft couch, and Marin pinched her own cheeks. "Look, I've even gained weight living with him."
"Wait…" Rin sat up straight. "You two… are living together?"
"Yup!" Marin's eyes sparkled. "Three months and seven days~"
Rin nearly dropped the throw pillow in her hands. "And… Uncle didn't say anything?"
"Oh, Dad," Marin said, kicking her feet playfully. "He used to check in all the time. Once, he showed up at three in the morning!" She giggled. "But then he saw Gaio-kun making me brown sugar ginger tea, and he hasn't come back since."
The faint clink of a spatula and a waft of savory aromas drifted from the kitchen. Marin leaned in, lowering her voice. "Actually, Dad totally loves Gaio-kun now. Last week, he even asked him when he's gonna marry me."
Rin nearly choked on her tea.
"Kidding~" Marin stuck out her tongue, then grew serious. "But Gaio-kun's super thoughtful. He even tracks my period better than I do."
In the kitchen, Gaio sprinkled chopped green onions over a plate of tomato scrambled eggs, his apron tied neatly in a bow at his back.
Before long, three dishes, a soup, and pan-fried dumplings were neatly arranged on the table.
The tomato scrambled eggs were vibrant, the stir-fried green peppers and pork tender and glossy, the sautéed lettuce crisp and green, the dumplings golden and crispy, and a simple seaweed shrimp soup steamed gently.
"Sorry, Miss Tohsaka," Gaio said, removing his apron with an apologetic smile. "We're low on ingredients, so I could only whip up something simple."
Rin waved it off. "No, this is plenty." She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the stir-fried pork.
Her pupils shrank slightly.
The flavor was perfectly balanced, the pork tender without a hint of gaminess, cooked to just the right texture. The sauce layered beautifully, coating the ingredients flawlessly.
This was way beyond home cooking.
She tried the tomato scrambled eggs. The eggs were fluffy and fragrant, the tomatoes sweet and tangy, blending seamlessly without any raw egginess or unripe tomato bite.
Even the simple sautéed lettuce was crisp, with just the right touch of garlic and wok hei.
Rin, a skilled cook herself, knew how hard it was to elevate these simple dishes to this level of mastery.
Her grip on the chopsticks loosened slightly. Just how many sides did this guy have?
"Delicious, right?" Marin said proudly, stuffing a dumpling in her mouth, cheeks puffed out. "Eat up, Rin-chan!"
Rin nodded, quietly digging into the meal.
The sweet-tangy eggs, the savory pork, the crisp lettuce, and the naturally flavorful seaweed soup were all perfect.
Marin watched Rin lose herself in her boyfriend's cooking, her big eyes curving into smug little bridges, practically begging for a "praise my taste in men" comment.
Half an hour later, the three set down their chopsticks, the plates nearly empty.
"I'll do the dishes," Rin said, standing to gather the plates.
"No way, Rin-chan, you're a guest!" Marin protested, trying to stop her.
Gaio chimed in, "Miss Tohsaka, leave it to me."
Rin shook her head, stacking the dishes efficiently. "Cooking's hard work. I'll handle the dishes."
Her tone was gentle but firm. Marin and Gaio exchanged a glance, chuckling helplessly, and let her have her way.
The sound of running water and clinking dishes echoed from the kitchen.
While Rin was busy, Marin grabbed Gaio's hand, sneaking them into the bedroom.
The door clicked shut, and she dove into his arms, taking a deep breath. Her muffled voice came from his chest: "Ahh~ I haven't had my boyfriend scent all morning~ Recharging…"
Gaio wrapped his arms around her slim waist, patting her back gently, staying quiet.
He knew Marin didn't pull him in here just to cuddle.
Sure enough, after nuzzling for a few seconds, she looked up, her face a mix of hesitation and worry.
"Gaio-kun," she said softly, her fingers fidgeting with his shirt, "can I… talk to you about something?"
Gaio met her gaze, his eyes warm. "Sure, go ahead."
Marin pursed her lips, struggling to find the words, then finally whispered, "Rin-chan's back because… my aunt, her mom… she passed away."
She paused, her voice dropping lower. "Before she passed, my aunt asked me to look after Rin-chan, to be there for her…"
Gaio's arms tightened slightly, offering silent comfort.
He understood how Marin was feeling.
"My aunt didn't want to burden me," Marin continued, her voice muffled against him. "But Rin-chan's dad passed away not long ago, too… Aunt just hoped I could keep an eye on her in everyday life."
She hesitated, then added, "I've got income now, from modeling and your concerts, and I'm an adult… so I was thinking, maybe I could be Rin-chan's guardian…"
Gaio's brow furrowed slightly.
A guardian? Marin was an adult with income, but she was still young, with limited social connections and experience. Legally, it might be…
'The Gojo family's influence could probably sort it out,' he thought briefly.
Marin looked up, her big eyes filled with nervousness and hope. "Gaio-kun, I want to take care of Rin-chan. So… can she live with us?"
Worried he might hesitate, she quickly added, her lips pouting slightly, "Not for long! Rin-chan's going abroad to study soon. Just when she's back in Japan, can she stay with us? I don't want her to be alone…"
Her voice trailed off, her eyes pleading and anxious, clutching his shirt as she awaited his answer.
Gaio looked at her hopeful, nervous face, his earlier frown gone.
He raised a hand, resting it warmly on her head, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "Of course."
He said it so naturally, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Really?!" Marin's eyes lit up, her excitement practically spilling over.
"Yup," Gaio nodded, pulling her closer. "This is your home, too. You call the shots."
He paused, then added, "Miss Tohsaka could use someone looking out for her."
His tone was calm, betraying no doubts about the feasibility of her being a guardian.
"You're the best, boyfriend!" Marin squealed, standing on her tiptoes to plant a loud smooch on his cheek, her smile as bright as a little sun.
Gaio chuckled, pinching her cheek gently. "Don't get too excited yet. How are you gonna convince Miss Tohsaka?" he teased, knowing Rin's cool, independent nature might not make this easy.
"Leave that to me!" Marin puffed out her chest, patting it confidently, her eyes sparkling with a sly, determined grin. "Watch me! I'll win Rin-chan over!"
She spun around like a bunny, bounding toward the bedroom door.
Gaio watched her lively figure, a helpless yet fond smile on his lips. He raised his voice slightly, calling after her, "Little Dream, keep it down. Miss Tohsaka… might be done with the dishes."
His words barely landed when Marin yanked the door open.
The living room's bright light flooded the bedroom.
There stood Rin Tohsaka, just a few steps from the door, holding a dish towel, her movements paused as if she'd just come from the kitchen.
Her ice-blue eyes were calm, taking in the couple at the door and Marin's excited charge.
The air froze for a split second.
Marin's radiant smile faltered, then stretched wider, tinged with a touch of embarrassment and guilt at being caught. Her voice pitched up deliberately. "R-Rin-chan! You're done already? That was fast!"
Rin's gaze swept over her face, then flicked to Gaio's calm expression behind her. She gave a faint "Mm," casually setting the dish towel on the armrest.
At the bedroom door, in the living room, the three stood in a subtle, silent standoff.