Present

Next day, I woke up to find out that I was alone at home. I was left with a note from Jane saying that she and Emmi went out to the mall to get supplies before school started.

After breakfast I went and got the keys of the girls. I stand in my living room thinking about how I should give these back. I’m sure that they won’t believe me if I tell them that Bernard found them but didn’t say anything, although it is the true.

“Ahhh!” I yell in frustration.

It’s eight in the morning so I’ll study for a few minutes before going. I'll let the future me decide what the plan will be.

I put the keys on the dinner table and go to my room to grab my notebook and the entrance exam. The piece of paper Bernard gave me last night was a copy of my exam so I can see what I did wrong.

After a few minutes into my practice, I am already having a headache. I decided to take a small break, just then my doorbell rang.

I wonder who would come at this hour in the morning, maybe Bernard? He likes to come at random moments.

“Going”. I go and open the door.

“Good morning dumb guy”.

A robotic face with the points of her hair dyed red greets.

“Yuki!?”.

What is she doing here?

“Here” she pulls up a bag.

“What is this?”.

“A present for helping me yesterday”.

A present!? The girl who has called me an idiot more times in the last few days than people have called me by my name my entire life just brought me a present.

“You didn’t have to. I only did what was correct at the moment. I couldn't let you girls stay outside waiting”.

“Well, it’s not that I wanted to, my mom forced me”.

And here I thought she was actually grateful.

“Thank you anyway”.

“...”.

She stays there, staring at me. I have no clue what she is thinking, her face is expressionless as always.

“Oh right!” I almost forgot the keys, this helps me a lot, I really wasn’t ready to go and knock at her door, but now that she is here, I can give her keys back.

“I have something for you”.

She tilts her head to the side in intrigue. That’s the most I’ve seen for her if we talk about reactions.

I walk towards the dining table; I left the keys next to my notebook. I pick them up, but I stay put, wondering which one is hers. Does she look like a cat person, or a dog person? I don't know, she looks like a nothingness person, but well, I will just bring both to her and surely, she will recognize hers. I could also give Lucy’s to her and save me the hassle. I would like to use the opportunity to talk to Lucy and try to become more friendly, but she will probably stare at me to death if I appear with her keys. I will retreat for now and try another time.

“What are you doing with my keys?”.

“Ah!”.

While I was lost in thought, Yuki appeared behind me poking her head over the side, looking at the keys in my hand.

“Ah, you see. Bernard told me last night that he found these at his office”.

“...”.

Although her expression hasn’t changed, I know she is looking at me in suspicious.

“He forgot to tell you girls and left the keys to me so I can give them back”.

“...”.

Still seems like she isn't believing me, I don't blame her though, it's a pretty difficult thing to believe.

"It must have fallen from my pocket I guess" she stretches her hand and grabs the pink keychain with the cat.

Did she really believe me? not that I complain, I am relieved that she did.

"Thank you".

She actually said the word.

"Don't mention it".

"...".

Yuki looks at me, then at her keychain, she repeats the same two more times. Suddenly she wraps her keychain with her hands, lowering her head slightly.

"Are you okay Yuki?".

"...".

Eh? What's going on?

"Do you think is weird".

"What?".

"My keychain…".

Ehhh! What is this adorable scene? Is she really embarrassed about her keychain? Now this is the most I’ve seen her express herself, she even has her cheeks in a pink tone.

“Not at all”.

“Really?” She looks at me.

“Yeah, I think it is cute” I am more of a Hamster person, but cats are cute as well.

“Yeah, cats are cute” She stares at her keychain with a soft look.

Her eyes seem too bright once she hears me say that I think she is happy.

“...".

"What now?" I see her looking down again.

"Aren't you going to try them?" she pointed at the bag she gave me before.

"Oh this? What is it?" I open the bag and see two bread looking things inside wrapped in plastic.

"Dorayaki".

"Is it good?" I Pull out one and look at it. It is like a pancake that has been stuffed with something.

"Yes, It's extremely good. It's fluffy honey pancakes stuffed with red bean paste. The sweet taste of it goes perfectly with the warm and slightly bitter flavor of green tea" She looks very enthusiastic about these Dorayaki things. Well, I’m not a fan of sweet things, but I guess I can give it a try.

“I guess I'll try it and see if it is as you say”.

“Believe it is delicious”.

I put the bag on the dinner table and go to the kitchen, I grab two plates and two teacups.

“I believe we should have green tea somewhere in the kitchen”.

“Oh no, this is for you” she pushes the bag to me.

“You brought me these, so It's only normal that we share, besides, Jane and Emmi are not here, and also I’m not really into sweets, so I can’t eat both of these”.

“...”. She doesn't complain anymore. Well, I'm sure she wants to eat it, or that's the energy she gave me once she started talking about it.

I go to the kitchen to look for green tea. Jane is a fan of teas, and she has a ton of them, with different flavors and colors. Every time I’m sick, she gives me very ugly tasting teas, but they work and cure me in a day.

Once I found the green tea, I put the water to boil and went back to Yuki.

“The water should be in a moment…”.

I see Yuki, looking at my notebook and my copy of my entrance exam. My soul leaves for a few seconds.

Just then, my doorbell rings, putting my soul back to my body.

What now?