Chapter 33- Adorable Kei!
"Took you a long time, buddy. You want something to drink?"
As Kei walked to the living room, wearing a plain white T and a quarter pants Ryuuta gave, the latter asked his friend.
Kaori was sitting on the couch, across the living area, with her face toward the kitchen. And she was thankful that she was far away since her current self was nothing less than shameless.
Upon seeing Kei's flushed face with so much skin exposure, Kaori knew she couldn't resist taking his pictures; that's why she took this precaution.
'Fuck! I might lose it! Why is he so defenseless and so adorable!!'
Wiping her drool, Kaori clicked dozens of pictures without restraint as she heard Kei responding to Ryuuta.
"Nah, I am good."
In normal circumstances, Kei would have noticed being pictured so violently by someone, but at the moment, his mind was in chaos.
Thoughts of Karen were making him fuzzy, and the conversation they had. Her expression when he was leaving her apartment on a not-so-pleasant note made him troubled in his heart.
He might have been living in solitary until now, but once he considered someone close, Kei could not throw them away whenever he wanted.
It might be a little complicated now, but Kei has resolved to settle the matter with her.
"You okay, man?"
Suddenly, Kei got out of his reverie as he felt Ryuuta's hand on his shoulder. Blinking in confusion, Ryuuta asked his friend as he saw Kei spacing out.
Kei nodded after a slight pause before he walked to the dining table, where Kaori stood with a worried expression on her face.
"Something happened, Kei?"
Kei took one of the chairs as he answered to quell her worries.
"Nope, I am good and hungry too."
Rubbing his belly, Kei made a pitiful face since he had indeed been starving like hell since afternoon.
"Coming right away~."
After taking a long glance at Kei, Kaori went inside the kitchen and brought the bowls for three of them. Ryuuta already took a bath upstairs, so he also joined the table.
A lot was prepared, and most of them were of Kei's liking. From unagi to pomfret, Kei loved them all.
"You made all this by yourself? Amazing."
It indeed was amazing for someone working as a high-ranked officer General to know cooking at this level. And not just because of her job. Kei never heard of Kaori having any hobby for culinary back in the days.
"She learned it for you."
Ryuuta passed the comment casually, but the glare he received from his sister wasn't casual at all. He almost forgot that Kei was still oblivious to Kaori's feelings…maybe.
"Is that true, Kaorin? Thank you."
Kaori wanted to say something, but suddenly being directed with such a dangerous smile and also the way he called her was truly…
"...baka… "
"Umm, you said something?"
"N-No, nothing."
.__________.
As planned, the three gathered on the couch for a whole night watch party after so long.
The snacks were arranged with drinks, and other things on the table as the three sat with Kei in between and siblings on either side.
The movie was a mystery sci-fi that Kei and Ryuuta had wanted to watch for some time. Despite this fact, Ryuuta fell asleep just after half an hour of the movie.
'Seriously, bruh? '
Remembering the big talks about the all-night movie and fun Ryuuta talked about when they were buying snacks, Kei scoffed and lightly elbowed Ryuuta's torso.
But just like a log, nothing affected him.
Under the dim lighting, Kei had their attention long lost from the movie as he thought about what to do with this slightly awkward atmosphere.
"Hey, Kei. Can you tell me what's troubling you?"
Suddenly Kaori broke the ice as she asked in a solemn voice blended with slight concern as she kept her gaze straight.
Kei was slightly startled upon being asked; nevertheless, he replied not so long after.
"Nothing. I am really fine."
This time Kaori turned toward him, utterly disinterested in the movie as she narrowed her gaze in complaint.
"Even though I was away for some years, that doesn't mean I have changed, Kei. I still can read your emotions like an open book, and right now, I can see how much distressed you are. I understand if you don't want to share things with me now, but at least do-"
"I was confessed by someone today."
Suddenly interjecting in her words, Kei told her his genuine problem, but the latter took it as something else…
'D-does he still remembers… ?!'
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A/N: - Welp, this will escalate rather quickly because Kei isn't the one who can handle such matters for a long.
Lemme know if the story still entertains you~