Slice of Everyday Life

[26 September 2025]

[Friday]

[16:08]

The front door clicked shut behind them. Keith walked into the living room, Sophia following, her movements fluid as she slipped off her shoes.

“You can sit wherever you like. I'll be back in a few.”

“Sure…”

He left the room and went straight to his bedroom. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he immediately dialed Emily’s number. 

In a bustling street, Emily felt her phone vibrate and saw the caller ID: "Kiddo". 

The contact photo showed a smiling Keith on his sixteenth birthday, with a mischievous smile she answered the call.

“Hey, kiddo?”

“Hello, Aunt Emily. Sorry for calling so suddenly, but I'm pretty sure you know why.”

“It's about Sophia, right?”

“Yes. Why is she staying here of all places?”

“Because I'm good friends with her parents, although I'm sure you already knew that.”

“Yeah, but that doesn't explain why she's staying here.”

“She's staying there because her parents had to head back to London to sort out a few things at their job.”

“Okay, but why didn't they just leave her at the house they'll be staying in?”

“Sophia can't cook, that's why. But luckily, you can, thanks to yours truly.”

“Seriously, but—”

“They asked me if I could stay with her, but as you know, I'm out of the country right now, so you'll have to take care of her instead.”

“Why me?”

“She's your childhood friend, isn't she?”

“But what does that have to do with anything?”

“You're the only other person she can trust. 'She doesn't want to stay anywhere she's not comfortable at,' that's what her parents said. It seems she was the one who proposed you two stay together, and I don't see any problems with that.”

“Well, I do,” Keith let out a deep, frustrated sigh. “Just how long will she be staying here?”

“Oh, don't worry. She'll only be there for two or three days.”

“Right. Well, then where will she be sleeping?”

“Let her sleep in the extra room.”

"But didn't you lock that room?”

“The keys are on top of the shelf in the kitchen.”

Another heavy sigh escaped Keith as he walked to his window, gazing at the tall buildings that defined his neighborhood.

“Right. I guess I'll be staying with her then.”

“I'm glad you understand. Now, Keith?”

“Yes?”

“Don't get her pregnant, alright?”

“I wasn't gonna—”

The line went dead, leaving him with the phone pressed to his ear, his words hanging in the air. A familiar irritation washed over him; she'd done this to him again.

Keith tossed his phone onto his bed and returned to the living room, where Sophia was absorbed in her own phone.

“If you want to bathe, the bathroom is at the end of the hall.”

A look of disgust flashed across her face. “Are you telling me that for the sole reason of wanting to spy on me while I bathe? You pervert.”

“Of course not. Oh, forget it.” Keith walked to the kitchen, retrieved the keys from the shelf, and returned, handing them to her. “These are the keys to that room. It's where you'll be sleeping. If you need anything else, just knock on my door.”

He muttered to himself as he retreated to his room and collapsed onto his bed. A groan escaped him.

I’m supposed to live with her for three days. This is gonna be so wonderful, Keith thought sarcastically.

He rose from his bed and headed for the bathroom. Finding it empty by some stroke of luck, he began his shower. 

After his bath, he returned to his room, picked up a manga volume, and began to read.

*****

[19:29]

Akira sat at her desk, engrossed in her homework. She moved through the math problems with an effortless grace, her pen gliding across the paper.

"Akira, dinner's ready," her mother called. 

A visible tension stiffened Akira’s shoulders. The sound of her mother’s voice brought with it a familiar unease.

She stood up, descended the stairs, and entered the dining room. Her father was already seated at the head of the table, eating.

Her mother walked in from the kitchen, a plate of food in her hands. Akira sat down, and her father looked up.

“How was school, Akira?”

A faint smile touched Akira's lips. “It was good. I even made a new friend.”

A relieved look crossed her father’s face, and a soft chuckle escaped him.

“I'm glad you're having fun at school, but don't have too much fun, okay? We still need you to get good grades.”

“Yes, sir.”

Her mother placed Akira's plate on the table. “Your father’s right, dear. Your studies should be your top priority. But even so, don’t forget to have fun as well.”

She offered Akira a gentle smile. But the sight of it triggered a memory, and Akira’s face fell instantly. A grave, pained expression replaced her smile. She rose abruptly.

“Please excuse me.”

Her heart began to pound in her chest, its frantic rhythm a drumbeat against her ribs. Before she could reach the doorway, her mother's voice stopped her.

“Akira, dear, where are you going?”

Akira’s body trembled. She turned back, forcing a smile that did little to hide the fear in her eyes. The words came out emotionless, devoid of any real feeling.

“I'm sorry, but I'm not hungry.”

She fled the room, closing the door of her bedroom quietly behind her. She went to her desk and sat down, the grave look still etched on her face. 

Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her hands trembled. Her eyes were wide, fixed on nothing in particular.

The memory flashed in her mind, a blinding strobe light of pain. She clutched her head with shaking hands as the image intensified. 

Her gaze fell on her notebook, where a corner of a paper peeked out. Still shaking, she took the paper.

The light from her desk lamp revealed writing on the back. On the back of the paper:

Dear Akira

Thank you so much, Akira-san. You're such an amazing person. No words can describe how grateful I am. You are one of a kind. She'll probably think I'm a creep for writing this. Shit, I'm writing my thoughts. Come on, cancel it, you idiot. 

As she read the clumsy, sincere words, a wave of calm washed over her. All the moments she had spent with Keith flooded her mind: his awkwardness, his shy laughter, his timidity, his gentle smile, his kindness, and their first hug.

The haunting memory was replaced by a comforting warmth that spread through her body, all the way to her face. 

A subtle smile emerged as she pressed the paper to her chest. Her heart was now pounding for a new, sweeter reason.

“Thank you so much, goober,” she whispered.

Meanwhile, in the dining room, her parents’ conversation continued. Her mother, Mrs. Kurosawa, looked deeply concerned. 

"How long do you think this will go on?"

Mr. Kurosawa looked at his wife, grief clouding her face. "I don't know."

“Do you think she still feels guilty about what happened a little while back?” Mrs. Kurosawa asked, her voice heavy with worry.

Mr. Kurosawa took off his glasses and slid them into his shirt pocket, rubbing his eyes with his hand. 

"I believe so. There's no doubt about it. She takes after you."

“Really?”

“Yes, you two have a sharp memory, unlike Kyotaro and me.”

“I guess you're right. But what should we do? I hate seeing our daughter this way.” Grief settled in her features once more.

“Do not worry, my dear. She'll be fine. We should just give her some space.”

“You're right. Thank you, love.”

They continued their meal, but the quiet uncertainty about their roles in Akira's life lingered. Still, as long as they had each other, they would face it together.

Akira sat at her desk, a small smile playing on her lips. A heart drawn with shaky hands now held the letters: K + A. Below it, "forever" was written in her elegant script.

"I can't wait to go to school on Monday," she whispered to her doodle, the brightness returning to her emerald eyes. "I'm looking forward to seeing you, Keith. My goober-kun."

Her lips curled upward as she leaned back in her chair, holding his letter to her chest, her eyes shimmering with quiet delight.

[To be continued...]