Chapter 53: A Taste After a Long Time
"Mmm…"
Zen nodded with satisfaction while chewing his bite.
"Aunt Liyana, this is amazing. Your hands are blessed."
Liyana smiled warmly and wiped her hands on the edge of her apron.
"Enjoy your meal."
The warm smell of food filled the dining hall. For the first time in a long while, everyone was gathered around the same table, sharing a relatively peaceful evening.
Zen looked around the table for a moment.
"Where's Shin?"
At that question, Sora and Daichi paused.
Sora frowned slightly as she thought about it.
"Actually… I haven't seen him for quite a while either."
Then she looked at Zen.
"Seriously, Zen… where is he?"
Zen swallowed quickly, suddenly feeling his throat dry. He coughed lightly.
"Cough… uh…"
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Um… sister… Shin just wanted to be alone for a while."
Sora didn't react immediately. Her eyes slowly moved across the table.
"I see…"
Then she turned to Daichi.
"I guess I've been neglecting them a little too much."
At that moment, Kazeki stepped in with a cheerful smile.
"Hey Zen! Remember that game we used to play together?"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"That board game. Want to play it again?"
Kaito immediately let out a long sigh.
"Ahhh…"
He placed his hand on his forehead.
"That ridiculous game of yours…"
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from the entrance of the dining hall.
"COUNT ME IN!"
Mitsuni had entered the room with a big grin, loudly announcing himself. At the same time, he took a huge bite from an apple slice in his hand.
San immediately stood up from his chair.
"You damn excuse of a doctor!" he shouted.
"What's with all the yelling?!"
Mitsuni burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!"
Kaito slowly turned his head toward Mitsuni. At the same moment, San looked at Kaito.
For a brief second, they both fell silent.
Then, as if sharing the exact same thought—
(Their minds)
"Let's kill him."
Kaito smirked.
"You crazy doctor… I thought we were eating dinner first. Looks like you've already moved on to dessert."
Mitsuni shrugged while happily chewing his huge bite.
"Well, health comes first, right?"
Everyone in the dining hall looked at each other.
Then suddenly, laughter filled the room.
It had been a long time since everyone laughed so freely.
Haruto wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
"Ah… we laughed way too much."
Then he turned toward Yuki.
"Right, Yuki?"
Yuki smiled softly.
"Yes, Haruto…"
He hesitated for a moment.
"But Shin—"
Haruto gently interrupted him and placed his hand on Yuki's head, lightly ruffling his hair.
"Don't worry."
Meanwhile, Sora was observing everyone around the table.
"I guess I need to have a long conversation with Shin."
Then her gaze shifted toward Kaito.
"And you, Kaito… you've gotten a bit relaxed lately. Looks like you've grown a belly in just one week."
Kaito froze instantly.
"W–WHAT?!"
He nearly sprayed the water in his mouth as he turned toward Haruto.
"Are you calling me fat?!"
Haruto burst out laughing.
"Look at yourself first!"
Kaito pointed at him accusingly.
"You skinny rat!"
Haruto dramatically leaned back in his chair.
It looked as if lightning had struck him.
"Y–you…"
He leaned forward across the table.
"How could you think such a thing about me?!"
Everyone at the table watched their argument.
But at the same time, they continued eating their meals.
Scenes like this were fairly normal in the headquarters.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind the dining hall.
The first person to turn was Kazeki.
He sat quietly in his wheelchair, but his warm smile never left his face.
The person entering the room was the leader of the headquarters.
Alex.
As Alex stepped inside, he glanced briefly at Kazeki.
Then he gave him a small wink.
Kazeki smiled faintly in return.
Alex greeted everyone at the table with a nod.
"Good evening."
Then his gaze stopped on Haruto.
"Haruto."
Haruto immediately lifted his head.
"Yes, sir?"
Alex spoke calmly.
"After dinner, I'd like you to come to my office."
Several people at the table exchanged glances.
Alex added one more word.
"Please."
At that moment, Daichi leaned back in his chair with a grin.
"I feel like I've seen this moment somewhere before…" he said.
Light laughter spread across the table again.
But Yuki quietly looked at Haruto.
And deep inside, he felt that something was about to change once again.