Bai Qiu walked into the kitchen.
The countertops were spotless, making it obvious that Nagasaki Soyo cleaned them regularly.
Glancing at the refrigerator and the stove, he decided to cook himself.
What a bargain for Soyo and little Mutsu.
The two of them were about to enjoy a delicious meal.
...Yeah, right.
The truth was, Bai Qiu hardly ever cooked.
His food was decent at best—certainly nowhere near Soyo's level.
And Mutsu didn't look like someone who could cook, either.
Besides, someone needed to keep an eye on Soyo.
So the job naturally fell to him.
Opening the refrigerator, Bai Qiu decided to work with whatever ingredients were available.
After all, this wasn't his home.
Unfortunately, what he found was disappointing.
Soyo's fridge was nearly empty as well.
She had probably been too sick to go grocery shopping.
After searching around, he managed to find two reasonably fresh green vegetables, a few shiitake mushrooms, and a small potato.
There was also a large bag of macaroni.
An idea quickly formed in his mind.
Vegetable macaroni soup.
Nutritious.
Simple.
Quick.
He began preparing the ingredients, washing the vegetables, peeling the potato, and cutting it into chunks...
"Oh, right!"
Bai Qiu suddenly remembered the cucumbers Mutsu had brought.
"Let's add those too."
After asking for her permission, he took out one long, perfectly straight cucumber.
Every cucumber was of exceptional quality, obviously cultivated with great care.
After all, they had been grown personally by Wakaba Mutsu, so there wasn't a trace of pesticide residue.
After rinsing it briefly under clean water, he chopped it into bite-sized pieces.
While Bai Qiu busied himself in the kitchen...
Soyo dozed off for a while.
Mutsu quietly remained by her side.
When she heard Bai Qiu mention the cucumbers, a faint ripple passed through her normally tranquil eyes.
Her gaze slowly shifted from Soyo to Bai Qiu.
She wanted to go over and watch.
Macaroni wasn't meant to be cooked for very long.
The meal came together quickly.
Finally, Bai Qiu added the seasonings—finely chopped scallions, coarse salt, and a dash of black pepper.
Before long...
A steaming pot of vegetable macaroni soup with cucumber was placed on the dining table.
Three sets of bowls and chopsticks sat neatly beside it.
Bai Qiu thought it was only fair.
The girls had provided the ingredients.
He had provided the labor.
Sharing a meal together wasn't asking too much.
After informing Mutsu, she gently woke Soyo and helped her over to the table.
Still groggy, Soyo froze the moment she arrived.
The meal was simple.
But sitting before her was her favorite dish—
Vegetable macaroni.
And beside her sat Bai Qiu and Mutsu.
A warm current silently flowed through her heart.
Her nose tingled.
Moisture gathered unconsciously in the corners of her eyes.
She hurriedly tried to hide her emotions.
Just moments ago, she'd had no appetite.
Her mouth had tasted bitter.
Yet now...
She actually felt hungry.
Bai Qiu noticed every subtle change but said nothing.
Instead, he smiled.
"Looks pretty good, doesn't it?"
"After you finish eating, you can take your medicine."
"...Mm."
"Thank you."
Soyo answered softly.
Her voice was still hoarse, and every word caused a sharp sting in her throat.
Bai Qiu filled a large bowl for the patient first.
Then one for Mutsu.
Finally, he served himself.
The meal began.
Both Bai Qiu and Soyo started eating.
But they quickly noticed something strange.
Mutsu sat quietly with perfect posture.
She made no move to touch her food.
With some difficulty, Soyo asked,
"Mutsu... what's wrong?"
Her first thought was that the food wasn't to Mutsu's liking.
But that shouldn't be the case.
There were cucumbers in it.
Soyo knew better than anyone how much Mutsu loved cucumbers.
Bai Qiu was equally puzzled.
Don't tell me it tastes that bad...
Little Mutsu, you're breaking my heart.
Mutsu gently shook her head.
"It's already past my meal time."
Bai Qiu and Soyo both paused.
Did she mean...
She was only allowed to eat during fixed hours?
Remembering how she'd stood downstairs waiting for two hours, Bai Qiu asked,
"Aren't you hungry?"
Mutsu placed a hand on her stomach, quietly felt it for a moment, then shook her head again.
Soyo knew Mutsu's family was strict.
But she had never imagined it was this strict.
She softly persuaded,
"Mutsu... even if it's late, you still have to eat."
"My father..."
"...won't allow it."
"I'm only allowed to eat during designated meal times."
Mutsu explained quietly.
Bai Qiu stared at her in disbelief.
What kind of ridiculous rule is that?
If it were me, I'd probably end up skipping all three meals every day.
"Mutsu..."
Soyo looked at her with sympathy.
Compared to Mutsu...
Even though she only lived with her mother...
Her mother genuinely loved and cared for her.
Mutsu, on the other hand, had famous parents who imposed countless rules upon her.
Perhaps...
That was exactly why she'd become the person she was today.
Bai Qiu couldn't help asking,
"What about late-night snacks?"
"Or if you suddenly get hungry?"
"I need my father's permission."
Mutsu answered immediately.
Bai Qiu finally understood one of the reasons she was so small and delicate.
It's all that old man's fault.
Looking at her, he spoke firmly.
"When people make unreasonable rules..."
"We have to resist them."
"If you're hungry, then eat."
"If you eat while you're outside, your father will never know."
Mutsu looked straight at Bai Qiu.
Her expression remained calm.
Yet one of her arms trembled ever so slightly.
Resist...
Sakiko had told her the same thing before.
But...
She wasn't Sakiko.
She couldn't do it.
Soyo added gently,
"Mutsu, go ahead and eat."
"We won't tell your family."
Putting on a serious face, Bai Qiu deliberately tried to scare her.
"If you don't eat with us..."
"Soyo and I won't be able to finish everything."
"By tomorrow, the cucumbers will go bad."
Soyo blinked in confusion.
Why had the conversation suddenly turned to cucumbers?
Mutsu visibly tensed.
Her calm eyes wavered.
Her gaze shifted away, while beneath the table her fingers slowly curled together.
Seeing her reaction, Bai Qiu knew he had found her weakness.
"These are the cucumbers you worked so hard to grow."
He pressed on.
"So if you don't want them to go to waste..."
"Come eat with us."
Mutsu hesitated.
She still didn't dare challenge the rules of her family.
Looking at Bai Qiu, she asked quietly,
"...Can I?"
"Of course you can."
His answer was firm and unwavering.
Encouraged by both Bai Qiu and Soyo...
Mutsu slowly raised her hand onto the table.
Finally...
She rested it on her spoon.
"...Mm."
She nodded.
Soyo looked at Bai Qiu in surprise.
She hadn't expected him to persuade Mutsu so easily.
Mutsu quietly lifted a spoonful of food to her lips.
Watching her finally begin eating, Bai Qiu and Soyo both smiled.
Even the way she ate was graceful and refined.
It was as though she'd received years of formal etiquette training.
She held her utensils delicately.
Her pearly teeth bit gently into the food.
Even her chewing maintained a steady rhythm before she swallowed.
As she tasted the cucumbers...
The tension gradually left her face.
Her usually expressionless features softened ever so slightly.
That wasn't easy...
Bai Qiu sighed inwardly.
Compared to her...
He and Soyo ate much more casually.
Rumble!
A deafening clap of thunder suddenly echoed outside.
Lightning streaked across the sky.
Moments later...
Rain began pouring down.
The storm intensified almost instantly.
Soyo couldn't help turning toward the window.
The howling wind drove sheets of rain against the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Bai Qiu teased,
"Scared of thunder?"
Soyo shook her head.
Her nose wrinkled slightly.
"I just don't like heavy rain like this."
Mutsu quietly looked toward Soyo.
She seemed to have remembered something as well.
Bai Qiu nodded.
Weather like this wasn't suitable for going outside.
It was perfect for staying home and sleeping.
Thankfully, they had all gotten back in time.
Otherwise, they'd have been soaked again.
Then Bai Qiu suddenly realized something.
"If it keeps raining like this..."
"Won't it be difficult for little Mutsu to go home?"
"Little Mutsu?"
Soyo subconsciously repeated the nickname.
Her sapphire-blue eyes moved back and forth between Bai Qiu and Mutsu.
Since when did he start calling her that?
Isn't that... a little too intimate?
What exactly happened between these two while I was sick?
Countless messy thoughts instantly flooded her mind.
Mutsu also seemed to think of something.
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
"Mutsu..."
"Would you like to stay at my house tonight?"
Soyo suggested.
But the moment she spoke, she realized how unlikely that was.
Mutsu's family was incredibly strict.
Back when everyone in CRYCHIC practiced together...
Mutsu always left exactly on time.
Sometimes she even had to leave early.
She had never once stayed out late to play with everyone.
Come to think of it...
It was already getting late.
Soyo glanced at the wall clock.
It was almost nine o'clock.
Bai Qiu agreed immediately.
Winking at Mutsu, he said,
"That's a great idea."
"You can help take care of Soyo."
Soyo was clearly tempted by the idea.
Mutsu gently bit her lip.
If she could...
She wanted to stay and look after Soyo too.
But...
Her family...
At that moment—
A cellphone suddenly rang.
Very soon, Mutsu took out her phone.
She lowered her eyes.
The caller ID read:
Mother.
Seeing that, Bai Qiu and Soyo both stopped eating and quietly fell silent.
Meanwhile...
The relaxation that had finally appeared in Mutsu's eyes disappeared.
It was replaced by unmistakable tension.
She lowered her gaze toward the bowl in front of her.
Inside was macaroni.
And cucumber.
She ate slowly.
There was still more than half a bowl left.
A trace of confusion appeared on Bai Qiu's face.
Right in front of the two of them...
Mutsu answered the call.
The instant she did...
An ominous feeling rose in Soyo's heart.
-------------------
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