Scent of Romance

The sky was growing dark as Shinya walked slowly and silently down the sidewalk, still carrying the weight of the soul he had just guided. A gentle old man with teary eyes who, despite his resistance to accepting death, spoke of life with sweetness and serenity.

He climbed the stairs, and when he reached the door of the place he was slowly beginning to call home, he felt the energy in his body shift, growing lighter, and freer.

It was a familiar feeling, one that always washed over him when he returned.

And with it came thoughts of Hana.

A quiet curiosity stirred in him every time he stood there, in front of the door, wondering if she had already arrived, or what she might be doing.

He didn’t know when that habit had started, but by now, it was part of him. Constant. Natural.

When he opened the door, he saw Mayu and Hana talking in the kitchen. He stepped inside, took off his shoes, set his coat aside, and walked over to them. Both looked at him as if they had been waiting for his arrival.

“You’re right on time,” said Mayu.

“And why’s that?” Shinya asked.

“We were talking about making something different for dinner. How about takoyaki?”

Shinya glanced at Hana, looking for some sort of hint on her face to guide his answer. Noticing the slight sparkle in her eyes, he found it.

“All right.”

Hana smiled faintly at his response but quickly grew more thoughtful.

“It’d be even better if more people were here too...” Hana added.

Shinya knew that the only people he could invite, besides Hana and Mayu, were Tsubasa and Akari... but the thought of having Akari there, with all her teasing, sent a chill down his spine.

While he was trying to think of a polite way to say they didn’t need anyone else, Hana clapped her hands and smiled sweetly.

”I’ll call Akari,” Hana said as if it were the best idea in the world. ”Since she’s your sister and she’s letting me stay here rent-free, the least I can do is invite her, right?”

Shinya desperately wanted to disagree, but Hana’s enthusiasm completely disarmed him. Now he understood why Mayu had hidden her true favorite cake flavor for so long.

“Maybe Tsubasa could come too?” Mayu suggested.

Hana’s expression immediately shifted, as if realizing Mayu had just said out loud something she had been trying to keep to herself. It was obvious Tsubasa had affected her somehow when they met, and no matter how hard she tried to hide it, Hana knew her too well, it was clear as day.

“Then it’s settled,” Hana said energetically. “I’ll grab the takoyaki griddle. Once they get here, we’ll start our takoyaki night!”

“Let’s do it!” Mayu cheered.

Shinya felt like a fish out of water. He couldn’t quite match their excitement, but deep down, he liked the idea. Maybe a night like this, surrounded by people he cared about, wouldn’t be so bad after all. His only lingering doubt was: how would dinner go with his siblings there, considering that, just like him, they didn’t need to eat?

***

When the guests arrived, the atmosphere became much livelier than usual. Not that everyone was talking nonstop, but the truth was that Akari, by herself, filled the entire room.

Shinya had never seen his sister so animated and energetic. It was as if that environment was an endless source of fuel for her, and no one seemed prepared for it.

“When Hana-chan invited me over for dinner, I wasn’t expecting this kind of thing,” Akari said, glancing at Tsubasa and Mayu sitting side by side at the table.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I don’t like that look on your face,” said Tsubasa. “And I’m only here to make sure you don’t cause any trouble. We all know what you’re capable of.”

Shinya nodded subtly, agreeing with his brother. As much as he tried not to dwell on the past, he knew very well what Akari was capable of. After all, he had once been one of her ‘victims.’

Akari, however, didn’t seem the least bit fazed by the accusation. On the contrary, her excitement only grew, especially as she observed Mayu’s behavior. Quiet, reserved, but stealing discreet glances at Tsubasa from time to time.

While Tsubasa seemed oblivious to these small details, Akari watched it all unfold like an enthralling stage play.

Meanwhile, Hana busily arranged the takoyaki batter and fillings in the center of the table. Shinya began pouring batter onto the electric griddle, and soon Mayu and Hana joined him, carefully filling each little pocket with colorful ingredients like corn, bacon, cheeses, and, of course, cooked octopus.

Shinya had seen this kind of gathering many times in various dramas, where everyone helped prepare the meal, laughing and talking together. It was a moment of bonding, and everyone could participate in their own way, whether by adding fillings, flipping the takoyaki, or just being there to eat and chat.

As the batter cooked, he picked up a metal skewer, preparing to flip the takoyaki, when he noticed Tsubasa simply watching everyone, looking a bit out of place. That’s when Shinya decided to pull him into the activity.

“Why don’t you add some fillings to these empty ones?” he suggested.

Reluctantly, Tsubasa grabbed a bowl of corn and started spooning it into the empty molds.

It didn’t exactly go smoothly. He piled so much corn into each that it overflowed from the round molds. Mayu couldn’t hold back her laughter when she saw it.

“No, Tsubasa! You don’t need to put that much!” she said, giggling.

She moved closer, laughing, and helped redistribute the extra corn into other empty spaces.

“Sorry...” he mumbled, embarrassed.

“It’s fine,” Mayu said with a smile. “It just means you’re too kind. But there’s no room for that much kindness in one tiny ball!”

Her gentle words completely threw Tsubasa off. She wasn’t criticizing him, and he knew that, but the way she approached, guiding him so warmly, left him flustered. His hands began to sweat, not from the mistake, but from how sweetly she had spoken to him.

Meanwhile, Hana and Shinya continued working on the takoyaki, showing a near-natural rhythm and teamwork, flipping and shaping the little balls swiftly and efficiently.

At one point, Shinya stopped moving altogether, getting lost in watching Hana and her serious, focused expression. She paid attention to every small detail, doing her best to make sure everything turned out well. Shinya admired that about her, the way she cared so deeply about even the little things.

Then Hana caught his stare. Their eyes met, and for a second that felt eternal, they shared a shy, meaningful smile. But noticing that he wasn’t moving, Hana didn’t miss the chance to tease him a little.

“Those takoyakis aren’t going to cook themselves,” she said, turning her attention back to the work.

“Okay, okay...” Shinya replied, feeling his face grow warm.

Watching the four of them, Akari curiously stayed quiet. There was something about the atmosphere, the small exchanges, the timid gestures, the discreet smiles, that gave her the same sense of peace she often saw in the visitors to her temple.

And even though she was the only one not paired with someone else, she didn’t feel alone. In fact, she felt whole, as if she had finally achieved something she had been seeking.

“Shinya, I get it... but you, Tsubasa... you seem pretty close to Mayu, huh?” Akari teased with a mischievous smile.

Tsubasa, who hadn’t even realized how close he had gotten to Mayu while working side by side with her, immediately pulled back, turning his face away, blushing. Mayu did the same, trying to hide her face.

“I was just kidding,” Akari added, laughing. “But I love the scent of romance in the air.”

The next instant, the apartment lights flickered several times, making everyone stop what they were doing. After a few seconds, the lights stabilized.

“We might need to check the electrical system...” Hana commented, looking toward Akari.

But Akari just laughed, looking completely satisfied with the sudden flickering.

And so, the night continued.

The five of them, sharing a moment that once would have seemed impossible. Even Akari and Tsubasa, reluctant at first, eventually gave in and, to everyone’s surprise, tasted takoyaki for the first time and marveled at the flavor.

Little by little, Shinya was getting used to this world. Cooking with Hana, watching dramas, and experiencing something new every day.

Being there, surrounded by these people, wasn’t something he had ever thought he would experience. For so long, he had believed his only purpose was to guide souls to the afterlife. But by Hana’s side... he felt different.

He didn’t know if he should allow himself to live and enjoy this feeling, unsure if it was right or wrong.

But the force pulling him toward her was greater than him.

When he looked at Hana, he felt things that went far beyond anything he had ever imagined or witnessed. Without even noticing, he found himself always watching her. The way she ate, the way she absentmindedly tucked her hair behind her ear, the way she laughed so genuinely at Akari’s jokes and Mayu’s teasing.

He didn’t know exactly the name of that force that hypnotized him, that made him want to stay by her side, experiencing more and more of this sensation that seemed to give new meaning to his existence.

No matter how confusing it all seemed, none of it mattered. All he wanted was to spend his time with her.