The soft patter of rain tapped against the kitchen window like a distant, rhythmic melody. The air inside was heavy with the cool, fresh scent of rain-soaked earth drifting through the vents, bringing a strange sense of peace to the small apartment.
Reikou stood at the kitchen entrance, his breath hitching as he watched her.
Meiyu turned on the tap. The sound of running water filled the room as she rinsed the fresh vegetables. Droplets clung to her pale skin like morning dew on a porcelain petal. Reikou couldn't look away.
‘I can't believe it,’ he thought. ‘Why is she doing this? Does she have a plan? No... she just looks... content.’
One by one, Meiyu placed the vegetables on the wooden cutting board. The knife glided with rhythmic, steady precision. Tak. Tak. Tak. It was a heartbeat in the silence of the room.
As she chopped, a flush warmed Meiyu's cheeks. ‘Why am I doing this?’ she wondered, her hands moving on their own. ‘Honestly... I feel good. Is this what they call a romantic situation? No, no cooking isn't romantic. It’s just... preparation.’
She finished the prep and placed a pan on the stove. She picked up the lighter.
Click.
Click... Click.
Nothing happened. Her brows furrowed as she stared at the burner. "Why isn't this gas stove working?"
Reikou felt his soul leave his body for a second. He rubbed the back of his head, his face twisting into a pained wince. "Oh—shit! The cylinder's empty. I totally forgot to refill it."
He waited for the "Ice Queen" to melt into a puddle of rage. He expected a lecture on his incompetence or a cold glare. But when Meiyu looked at him, her gaze was calm.
"It's okay," she whispered. "These things happen."
Reikou blinked. ‘She’s... not angry?’
"Now, let me go," she said softly, turning toward the door.
"Ah wait!" Reikou called out, reaching for his umbrella. "Let's go outside and eat instead. I’ll drop you home afterward."
Meiyu froze. Her mind began to spin like a frantic compass. ‘If I say no, he’ll know I have a rule about guys walking me home. But if I say yes, I break that rule myself... again.’
Reikou watched her, reading the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "If you think I'm trying to guess your rules... I'm really not," he said, his voice dropping to a sincere whisper. "Believe me. I just want to eat. As friends."
He offered a second umbrella. Meiyu looked at him, searching his face for a trap, a smirk, or a hidden motive. She found nothing but a hungry boy with a nervous smile.
She reached into her bag and felt the familiar handle of her own umbrella. A quiet sigh of relief left her lips.
"Okay," she said firmly. "But I have two conditions. First I pay the bill. Second I go home on my own."
Reikou smiled, genuinely impressed. "Deal."
They stepped out into the gentle drizzle. Both opened their umbrellas simultaneously two quiet canopies blooming against the grey sky.
They walked side by side, their footsteps tapping a synchronized rhythm on the wet pavement. The world around them blurred into a silver mist the trees swayed gently, and puddles rippled with every falling drop.
The rain wasn't cold. It felt calm, wrapping them in a private world where the labels of "Princess" and "Failure" didn't seem to matter. The silence between them wasn't empty it was full of the unspoken weight of the last few months.
Reikou glanced at her. She looked peaceful under the shadow of her umbrella. Finally, he couldn't keep the quiet any longer. His voice broke through the hush like a stone skipping across a still lake.
"Can I ask you something?!"
[End of Chapter 27]
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