Demons of Kitchen

School seemed to finish just as it started.

Ok maybe I did feel it was kinda dragging, but to be fair for myself: Yui looked like she could melt into a puddle of pastel any time now.

I was with her in the ladies’ restroom, fixing my hair clip. It had become slightly undone, and it had been bothering me for hours.

“Maya-chan, I don’t know how you keep your cool. Like seriously.”

I was too focused to even answer. Not like Yui cared. She probably just wanted to vent.

“I mean, like, literally eternity in karaoke could be so much better than eternity of school lessons, right?”

I finally got the clip to adjust. Finally.

“I guess,” I replied. I realized I’ve been sheepish. Oh well. I wasn’t really paying attention.

“But you know what I mean…? Totes can’t tell why we need this crap in our lives anyway…”

“Fine then, I won’t help you anymore.”

My bluntness probably hurt Yui too much because now she’s tugging on my blazer.

“WAHH SORRY I NEED YOU MAYA-CHAN…!”

Oh great. Now she’s sobbing. Whatever am I gonna do with you, Yui?

I smirked. Reflex. “Jeez. You can’t do anything without me.”

Yui sniffed.

“B-But you’re so cool and reliable though…! And very beautiful too! You’re literally sparkling everywhere…!”

Damn. Last I checked people don’t sparkle.

“What? You love me?”

“I love you, Maya-chan!”

And then she hugged me. So much for not glomping.

We both came out of the restroom. Aoi and Rina had been waiting for us. We walked home together.

“So like, you’re never gonna believe this one, Ao-chan.”

“Whaddup now?”

“Like, I heard, something really saucy about our classmate.”

My ears perked a little. Yui’s usually gossip about a kouhai or a senpai. Maybe even celebrities. This was the first time she’s putting a fellow batch mate, let alone classmate, into the gossiping chair.

Either way, I walked at a quicker pace. I had to make sure no one heard us.

That would be hella awkward if said classmate did.

“Haha, sounds like ya got a juicy one,” Rina commented. She turned around, then turned back to Yui. “We far ‘nuff from da school, who’s it?”

Yui leaned near us. I’d like to think she’s also avoiding getting hit by bicycles.

“It’s Nishikawa.”

I paused on my walk. Yui did too. So did Aoi and Rina.

Except I imagined I’m the only one who paused for a different reason.

“Ahhh… Nishikawa, the gloomy lookin’ one in front-a me.” Rina nodded. Yes, we all knew who it was.

Nishikawa Haruka.

The really shy girl who seemed like someone was coming after her from every direction.

“Yeah, her! So I heard, like, she’s got a boyfie. Like one of the senpais or something.”

My eyes widened. Nishikawa having a boyfriend? That shouldn’t be gossip-worthy. Or if it was, Yui wouldn’t be pressed to know.

She’s after the most scandalous ones as she so claimed to me.

I had to remind her that life isn’t like reality TV.

It’s very unglamorous. I know, it shocked her.

What shocked me was what Yui said after.

“…and that boyfie had some serious issues with her; apparently he started—”

I deadass couldn’t believe what Yui said next. I knew it was fiction. I should think it’s fiction.

But holy shit.

“Oh my God Yuikko. That’s quite heavy.” Aoi chimed.

“Maya-chan, ya got any comment?” Rina turned the conversation to me.

The hell am I supposed to say?!

Like, “OMG” or “Holy shit”? I’d rather keep all of that inside my head. There is absolutely no way Yui would need to hear it from me.

“She was hiding like… marks and shit…”

Unbelievable.

“And I even heard she’s calling randos on the street.”

“OKAY, Okay, okay, TMI Yui.” I raised my hand and moved to signal Yui to shut the hell up. I’ve heard enough, and I do not wanna hear anymore.

“Yuikko dominated Mayacchi for once. Hehe, it’s kinda amusing.”

“…please don’t say it like that.”

I put my head in my hands. My face was boiling. I groaned.

Worst conversation ender ever.

But seriously... that whole exchange was unlike me. Sure the story Yui told was just a rumor—fiction, as I usually called it—but it felt a lot more real. Real as in I witnessed it right in front of me.

I should stop watching television dramas.

~~~

We four all said our goodbyes, gradually. I knew where they lived around the area and they knew where I lived. We also all had MINE accounts, where Aoi was, apparently, way louder.

I didn’t have to check my MINE though.

Social media’s not my thing.

I got to my house and unlocked the gate. Sealing it back, I opened the door to a very horrible stench.

“Ugh, what the fuck…?”

I carefully placed my arm on my nose. That smell is abhorrent. It’s disgusting. Vile.

It also came from the kitchen side.

Oh god; I knew what was happening as soon as I traced it to the kitchen.

I walked there after closing the door. I don’t want our neighbors to die tonight. As I stood, my worst fear was realized.

I knew it was that. There was a part of me that wished it wasn’t.

“Maya!”

I sighed, my arm still covering my nose.

“What the hell, Dad?!”

“I’m sorry, sweetie…!” He ran towards me. “The demons of the kitchen came to take us…!”

I removed my arm, and placed my hands on my Dad’s shoulders.

“Relax, Dad. I’ll handle this.”

I always did.

I tied my hair up in a bun, and got an apron. Had no time to change though, so I just made do while wearing my uniform.

Except the blazer.

That’s hard to clean. No way I’m gonna stain that.

I looked at the pot.

Dad’s probably trying to cook the ramen we bought from that ramen shop.

He’s so hopeless at cooking. Especially ever since…

I paused while fixing flavors.

…ever since Mom—

I shook my head.

I shouldn’t feel melancholic right now, I have to fix whatever went wrong in the dish.

Luckily for me, I knew which parts it was he messed up on.

Didn’t take me a while either. It was really quick. As soon as I had done my work, I removed the apron.

I looked at my shirt. I’m sweating under my uniform.

Whatever. I’ll just take a shower.

“Hey, Dad!” I called out. “Let’s eat!”

~~~

We set the table quickly. Dad was a bit clumsy in setting the plates and utensils. I brought the pot of ramen over.

And on the one side of the table, a portrait.

It’s of Mom. She was smiling bright, her auburn hair flowing in the wind.

I stared at the image as I sat down. People close to us said that we looked alike.

That’s the one comment, I’ll be honest, I actually genuinely liked.

I wish she’d still be here to see me grow up.

Every day I did.

Dad poured tea for me, gentle as he did it. He may not be the best cook, but he was an amazing dad. He didn’t care for how “flashy” I looked like some of my teachers did; he just wanted me to live comfortably because it gave the best results.

And he loved me as much as he loved Mom.

Even if he comes across a big moron sometimes.

We ate in silence. But it was comfortable.

I didn’t have to wallow in my thoughts of whatever the hell just happened.

I just had to eat food with Dad, and… as cheesy as it sounds, we felt Mom’s spirit blessing us and keeping us safe.

Sappy, I know.

~~~

Nighttime came, quite late, when I found myself slowly tossing and turning on my bed.

I was probably going crazy.

Or maybe I am already insane.

Either way, I couldn’t seem to fall asleep. There weren’t any nightmares or anything. I did my night routine to keep my skin healthy correctly and just like I wanted to, but I still couldn’t shake a sinking feeling within me.

It couldn’t be that weird, uncomfortable conversation I last had with my friends, right?

I’m probably overthinking it.

I checked my phone. 11:00pm.

I was definitely overthinking it.

I ended up lying down on my bed, and instead of staring at the blank ceiling overhead, I was endlessly scrolling on MINE, the messy group chat me and my friends have, littered with stickers of…

I don’t– I have no clue.

I made the choice to mindlessly scroll back and forth on my MINE app, until I got groggy and fell asleep.

It took me until one in the morning.

I’ll definitely regret it later.

The next day, I realized that night wouldn’t be my most eventful moment. The girl from the rumors, spread not just through Yui but to everyone, appeared. And as I had expected, everyone seemed to be avoiding her.

Soon, I would find the truth.

And the truth is uglier than I would have thought.