When we went Inside, everything smelled faintly like lavender and wood polish.
We barely got our shoes off before Rei announced, "Okay! Who wants pancakes, omelet, miso soup—?"
"I'll cook," I said.
Everyone turned to me.
Rei blinked. "…You'll what?"
"I'll cook," I repeated. "You invited us, so it's only fair I help."
Rei scratched her cheek. "Eeh, no need, seriously. You're the guest here. I don't want to—"
"You said you were hungry, right?" I smiled lightly. "Then let me handle it."
Something in my tone made everyone pause.
Even I was a little surprised.
But cooking… wasn't just about food. It was about warmth — like the café, like family.
And for some reason, I wanted to share that feeling.
Naoko hesitated. Then suddenly, she raised her hand. "U-um! I'll help too!"
Mika tilted her head. "Naoko? You sure?"
Naoko nodded — a little too quickly. "Y-yeah! I mean, I can learn!"
Akane grinned. "Oh, this I have to see."
Naoko stood by the counter, holding a knife like it was a dangerous weapon.
"U-uh… Kaito-kun? How do I cut this onion again?"
I blinked. "You've never cut one before?"
"I… usually just order food," she said with a small, embarrassed laugh.
I couldn't help smiling. "Alright, step aside before we both lose a finger."
She pouted softly, cheeks red. "S-sorry…"
"It's fine." I handed her another onion. "Watch carefully. The trick is to curl your fingers like this, so you don't cut them."
She leaned in close, eyes focused on my hands.
Her hair brushed against my shoulder — soft, faintly scented like citrus shampoo.
"L-like this?" she murmured, mimicking my motion.
"Yeah, exactly. Don't rush— cooking's like… learning patience."
Naoko blinked up at me. "You sound like a teacher."
"Maybe," I chuckled. "But if you can't even handle a knife, how're you gonna survive after marriage?"
Her face turned red instantly. "W-wha—!? M-marriage!?"
I froze. "Ah— I didn't mean— I mean, in general! Like, people! Not— you!"
She squeaked, covering her face with both hands. "D-don't just say stuff like that!"
I scratched my neck, flustered. "Sorry… bad phrasing."
"…Y-you really are dense," she muttered under her breath.
I blinked. "Did you say something?"
"N-nothing!"
Naoko quickly turned away—
CLANG!
The spatula slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.
At the same time, the egg mixture she'd been holding splashed out of the bowl, dotting her apron and cheek with yellow spots.
"A-ah! N-no! I—uh—"
She panicked, trying to wipe it off with a tissue… only to bump into a plate beside her.
CLINK—!
Luckily, I caught it before it fell.
"Whoa— got it." I sighed in relief, setting the plate back down. "You're somehow more dangerous than the knife."
Naoko looked down, her face pink. "S-sorry… I didn't mean to…"
I smiled. "It's fine. Everyone messes up when they first start cooking."
I grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the flour from her cheek. "Next time, don't rush, okay? Cooking's all about rhythm."
Naoko froze.
Her eyes widened slightly, and her face turned even redder. "W-wait— I can do it myself!"
I paused. "Oh. Okay."
I pulled my hand back, not sure what I did wrong.
But when I looked again, Naoko was covering her face with both hands.
"Uuu… don't do that so suddenly… that's like… straight out of a drama scene…"
I scratched the back of my head. "Drama? I just wiped off the mess."
"Exactly!!"
She squeaked, her voice cracking. "That's the exact kind of scene that makes people's hearts race!"
"Why would it make your heart race?" I asked honestly.
Naoko stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. "Never mind. Forget it."
A few minutes later, she tried stirring the soup—only to splash some of it onto her shirt.
"Ah— hot!"
I rushed over. "You okay?"
"I-I'm fine!" she said quickly, but she was obviously not fine.
I turned on the faucet. "Here, rinse your hand. Quick."
Without thinking, I took her hand and guided it under the cool water.
Naoko froze, her voice catching. "K-Kaito-kun…!"
"It's just water," I said calmly. "You need to cool it down fast, or it'll sting."
She didn't answer—just looked down at our hands still touching under the stream.
Her face was bright red now.
I quickly pulled away. "Ah—sorry. Guess I overreacted."
Naoko shook her head frantically. "N-no, it's fine! Really! I'm just… uh… surprised."
To distract herself, she grabbed a spoon and pointed at the soup. "W-well, let's see how it tastes!"
She took a careful sip, blew on it once, and then froze mid-breath.
Her eyes widened. "…Eh?!"
"What?" I asked.
"This… this is amazing!" she said, nearly dropping the spoon. "It's perfectly seasoned, not too salty, not too light—how do you do that?!"
I shrugged, stirring the pot gently. "I just adjusted it by smell. My uncle used to make this a lot."
Naoko leaned closer, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "You learned this from your uncle?"
"More like… picked it up from watching him," I said, smiling faintly. "When you live alone, you sort of have to learn."
Naoko looked down at her bowl again. "That's really cool, Kaito-kun. You make it look so easy…"
I didn't reply—just smiled quietly.
Her words felt warm, like the steam rising from the soup.
Naoko's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before she realized it—and quickly looked away, cheeks pink again.
"A-Anyway!" she stammered. "We still need dessert, right? Everyone's waiting!"
We moved on to making dessert—something simple: parfaits with layers of vanilla cream, fruit, and crushed biscuits.
Naoko insisted on helping again, though she nearly dropped the mixing bowl twice and accidentally whipped the cream too much.
"Careful," I said, steadying the bowl. "You're supposed to fold it gently, not attack it."
"I-I'm not attacking it!" she protested. "It's just… resisting me!"
"Cream doesn't resist, Naoko."
"Then why does it splash back?!"
I chuckled. "That's gravity."
Naoko groaned, puffing her cheeks. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Maybe a little," I admitted. "Here—let me show you."
I moved behind her, guiding her hands as she whisked more slowly this time. The cream started to smooth out perfectly.
"See? Like this. You control the rhythm, not the other way around."
Naoko's voice turned small. "Y-you make it sound like dancing…"
"Cooking is like dancing," I said. "Just with more cleaning involved."
She giggled, the tension easing between us.
When we finished, six perfect glasses stood on the counter—each topped with whipped cream, strawberries, and a mint leaf.
Naoko exhaled, proud and glowing. "We did it…"
"Yeah," I said, smiling at the neat little line of desserts. "Looks good enough to impress even Rei."
Naoko grinned. "Let's go bring them out before she eats the table out of impatience."
I laughed softly. "Good idea."
As we carried the tray out of the kitchen together, the faint scent of vanilla followed us—
and somehow, the air between us felt a little warmer than before.
When Naoko and I brought out the tray of parfaits, the room went silent for a few seconds.
Then—
"Finally," Rei sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "I thought you two got lost in the kitchen."
Akane smirked, her tone teasing but her eyes suspiciously sharp. "Or maybe they were too busy doing something else?"
Mika leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "You two sure took your sweet time. What were you really cooking in there?"
Even Hana, who was usually calm, gave a small cough and looked away. "It… did sound lively from here."
Naoko nearly tripped over her own feet. "I-It wasn't like that! We were just cooking normally! Right, Kaito?!"
I placed the tray down on the table, pretending not to notice the growing shade of red on her face. "That's right. Just normal cooking."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Normal cooking, huh? Then why do you both look like you've been in a food commercial?"
Mika squinted playfully. "And why does Naoko smell like vanilla and regret?"
"Wha—?! I do not smell like regret!" Naoko puffed her cheeks, completely red now. "Stop saying weird things!"
The girls burst into laughter, half teasing, half sulking—
and somehow, all of them kept sneaking glances my way.
I could feel the air turning oddly heated, filled with a blend of jealousy and curiosity.
Finally, Rei sighed again, leaning back with an exaggerated pout. "You know, it's kind of unfair. You and Naoko get all the fun while the rest of us starve."
Akane added, "Yeah, next time we're the ones helping in the kitchen."
Mika folded her arms. "Right. I wanted to try his cooking skills up close too."
Naoko froze. "W-wait, what do you mean by that—"
Before the argument could spiral further, I smiled gently—soft but firm enough to make them pause.
"Alright," I said, my voice calm but steady. "You can complain later. For now, just enjoy the food."
They blinked.
I met each of their eyes with a small, patient smile—the kind that made it hard to stay mad.
"Everything's been cooked with care," I continued quietly. "So don't let it go to waste. No leftovers, understood?"
There was a strange authority in my tone—gentle, yet impossible to argue with.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Rei sighed, defeated. "…Fine."
Akane poked at her parfait with her spoon. "You sound like someone's husband when you talk like that, you know."
Mika giggled. "Yeah. Serious Kaito is kinda… cool?"
Naoko's spoon clattered against her bowl. "Wh-what's that supposed to mean?!"
Hana just smiled faintly, sipping her tea. "I think he'd make a good partner one day."
"Can we not start this again?" I muttered under my breath, earning another round of laughter.
But as everyone dug in—smiling, teasing, eating noisily—it felt warm.
Like the sound of clinking spoons and quiet laughter could fill the entire mansion with life.
Rei dug into her parfait first and immediately froze.
"…Wait. This is actually amazing."
Akane blinked. "Seriously?" She took a bite. "Oh my god—who gave you permission to cook this good?!"
"Yeah, this is unfair!" Mika complained between spoonfuls. "You're not supposed to look that clueless and be talented!"
"I'm not clueless," I said quietly, still sipping my cocoa. "Just… polite."
Rei burst out laughing. "Polite?! You literally just bossed us into finishing our food!"
Hana smirked from her corner. "He's got a point though. 'No leftovers, understood?' That was peak dad energy."
Naoko choked on her drink. "D-dad energy?! He's not—he's not like that!"
Rei leaned forward with a grin. "Oh yeah? You sound awfully defensive, Naoko~"
"I—It's not like that! He was just… helping me with the stove, okay?!"
"Helping you?" Akane teased. "You mean holding your hand while teaching you how to stir?"
Naoko's face turned the color of a ripe tomato. "It—it wasn't like that either!"
Mika faked a gasp. "Ah, so you were holding hands!"
"I SAID IT WASN'T—!" Naoko almost stood up, but her chair squeaked loudly and made her sit back down in embarrassment.
The whole room burst into laughter. Even Hana had to cover her mouth to keep from snorting.
I sighed softly, hiding my smile behind a spoonful of parfait. "You all sure have a lot of energy for people who were complaining about being hungry five minutes ago."
"Hey, don't change the subject!" Rei said, pointing her spoon like a weapon. "You and Naoko secretly had a moment, didn't you?"
I looked at her, dead serious. "If by 'moment' you mean 'nearly burning the frying pan,' then yes. We had a very meaningful one."
That broke everyone again. Akane nearly fell backward laughing, Mika started coughing from laughing mid-bite, and Rei smacked the table with her palm, gasping for breath.
Even Naoko couldn't help giggling through her embarrassment. "O-okay, that part's true…"
The laughter carried on—light, bright, filling the spacious mansion kitchen with warmth that felt like home.
Between bites and jokes, the table became a battlefield of playful teasing and chaotic banter:
Rei trying to steal bites from Akane's plate,
Akane swatting her hand away like a cat,
Mika sneakily feeding Hana a spoonful of whipped cream ("Come on, just one bite!"),
and Naoko nervously trying to balance her parfait glass only to spill a tiny bit on the table.
"Ah—sorry! I'll clean it!" Naoko panicked, fumbling for a napkin.
Before she could, I reached over and wiped it gently. "It's fine. Just eat before it melts."
That made her freeze up again, blush creeping back across her face.
Meanwhile, Rei and Akane exchanged the most dramatic gasps known to humankind.
"Oh no," Rei whispered, pretending to cover her heart. "He's smooth and caring."
Akane nodded solemnly. "We're doomed."
That set off another round of laughter.
For a while, it was nothing but cheerful noise—the kind of noise that made even the cold autumn morning feel warm.
Hana looked around the table, smiling faintly. "You know… this isn't so bad."
Rei grinned. "You mean hanging out with us chaotic people?"
"Yeah," Hana said softly. "Something like that."
I leaned back, watching them all laugh. "See? No leftovers, no problems."
Akane raised her spoon. "Then we better eat everything before you scold us again, Chef Kaito."
"Please don't call me that."
"Too late," Rei said with a smirk. "Chef Kaito it is."
"Chef Kaito~!" Mika sang playfully.
Naoko giggled, shy but happy. "It… kind of suits you though."
I just sighed in defeat, smiling as the sound of their laughter filled the room again.
Outside, the autumn breeze brushed softly against the window.
Inside, the warmth of friendship—and maybe something a bit more—lingered with every laugh and every bite.
Naoko was still nibbling shyly on her parfait when she suddenly spoke up, her voice soft but curious.
"Um… Kaito?"
I looked up from my plate. "Hm?"
She hesitated, tracing circles on the table with her spoon. "I was just wondering… how are you so good at cooking? You move like a pro, and everything you make tastes amazing."
I chuckled lightly. "Ah, that? Guess I just practiced a lot."
Mika leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Practiced where though? Like, you don't just wake up one day knowing how to cook like that."
"Yeah," Rei added with a grin. "Don't tell me you went to some elite cooking academy in secret or something."
"Or maybe he's a retired chef who lost his memory," Akane teased.
They laughed. I smiled faintly.
But for some reason… that smile didn't quite reach my eyes.
"I just… learned," I said quietly.
Mika tilted her head. "From who?"
That's when something inside me tightened.
The sound of their laughter faded into the hum of the room — the soft ticking of the clock, the faint clink of spoons against glass.
For a moment, all I could hear was that old, sharp silence — the one I thought I'd long forgotten.
"Don't," I said.
My tone wasn't loud. But it was firm — steady, almost too steady.
The others froze.
Mika blinked. "…Huh?"
I set my spoon down. "Don't ask about that. Please."
The warmth in the room disappeared in an instant.
Even the sunlight that had been spilling through the window suddenly felt cold.
Rei, usually the loudest in the room, went silent.
Akane's smile dropped. Naoko's spoon trembled slightly against her glass.
Mika's voice came out barely above a whisper. "…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
I exhaled, slow and controlled.
My expression softened — just enough to let them breathe again.
"It's fine," I said, forcing a small smile. "I know you didn't mean anything bad. Just… drop it, okay?"
The girls nodded, but the silence lingered — thick and awkward.
Even Rei, who could turn anything into a joke, didn't say a word.
I could feel their eyes on me — not in fear, but in confusion.
Like they'd seen a side of me they weren't supposed to.
So I smiled a little wider.
"Anyway," I said lightly, picking up my spoon again, "your dessert's melting. Eat before it gets sad."
It was a weak joke — but enough to make Naoko let out a small, nervous laugh.
Then Akane snorted. Then Rei followed.
Bit by bit, the tension cracked.
Got it — bagian itu memang terasa terlalu meta dan bikin pembaca keluar dari suasana.
Rei finally exhaled. "Jeez, Kaito… for a second there, I thought you were actually mad."
Akane crossed her arms, trying to sound casual but still a little tense. "Yeah, your face went all serious. Like, really serious. It was kinda scary."
I blinked. "Scary?"
"Yeah," Rei said quickly. "You didn't even frown, but somehow it felt like the room dropped ten degrees."
Akane nodded. "Exactly. You gave off that 'silent pressure' vibe, like a teacher right before scolding someone."
"I wasn't mad," I said simply.
"That's what makes it worse!" Rei groaned. "You were too calm about it!"
Akane snickered, finally relaxing. "You should've seen Mika's face. She looked like she was about to apologize for burning down the kitchen."
"Hey!" Mika protested, cheeks puffed out. "You were just as quiet as me!"
Rei grinned. "True, but at least I looked stylish while panicking."
That earned a round of laughter. Even I couldn't help smiling at how quickly the tension melted away.
The late afternoon light spilled gently over Rei's garden — a wide stretch of green that seemed to blend into the edge of the beach beyond her house. The sea breeze carried a faint scent of salt and flowers, swaying the tall grass like waves on land.
"Let's go for a walk!" Rei said brightly, hands on her hips. "The weather's too perfect to waste sitting indoors."
Akane stretched her arms with a small groan. "You just want to show off your garden again, don't you?"
Rei gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? It's not showing off—it's called appreciating nature! I just happen to own a lot of it."
"Yeah, yeah, Miss Mansion by the Sea," Akane muttered, but she still followed along.
We eventually ended up by the garden path that led toward the beachside fence. The sound of the ocean lingered faintly in the distance, calm and rhythmic.
I walked behind the others, my hands tucked into my pockets. I wasn't sure why, but I didn't really feel like talking much. The laughter around me felt a little distant — not unpleasant, just quiet.
Maybe it was the cool wind, or maybe I was still thinking about earlier.
Rei slowed her pace and turned halfway toward me. "You okay, Kaito? You've been weirdly quiet since we came out here."
I blinked. "...Just enjoying the breeze."
"Huh." Rei tilted her head, squinting. "You sure it's not because you're shy around five girls?"
Akane rolled her eyes. "Don't start."
Before Rei could tease further, Naoko let out a small yawn. "Uuuh… the breeze feels too nice. I could totally fall asleep here…"
"Eh? Naoko-chan, we just started walking," Mika said.
But Naoko was already drifting toward the nearest bench, plopping herself down beside me with a sleepy sigh. "Five minutes… just five minutes…"
Rei raised a brow. "She's serious."
Akane snorted. "Classic Naoko."
I looked at her — she had wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and was leaning slightly toward me, her hair swaying softly in the wind. "You'll catch a cold if you fall asleep here."
"Mm… it's fine," she mumbled, eyes half-closed. "You're warm enough to block the wind anyway…"
I blinked. "I'm… what?"
"Shh…" Naoko murmured, resting her head lightly against my shoulder. "See? Perfect wind shield…"
Akane and Rei immediately froze mid-step.
"Ohhh-ho-ho," Rei said, grinning like a cat. "Would you look at that."
Akane folded her arms, smirking. "Guess Naoko found the coziest spot in the garden."
"Eh? What's wrong?" I asked, completely clueless.
"Nothing~," Rei said sing-song. "Don't mind us. Continue being… wind shields."
Naoko groaned softly, trying to hide her red face. "S-shut up…"
Rei and Akane burst out laughing, their voices mingling with the rustle of the leaves.
I just stared ahead, watching the faint glimmer of waves beyond the fence.
The air felt calm again, but somehow warmer than before.
As the afternoon light softened into a mellow gold, the group slowly drifted apart around Rei's wide seaside estate.
Akane and Mika wandered off toward the flower beds, arguing over which color suited them more. Rei headed to the small greenhouse, bragging about her rare herbs to Hana, who followed reluctantly.
And that left just me… and Naoko.
She had dozed off completely now — her breathing slow and even, her head still resting gently against my shoulder.
For a moment, I thought about waking her up.
But then the sea breeze brushed past us again, cool and gentle, carrying the faint scent of the ocean and freshly cut grass.
And somehow… I didn't have the heart to move.
The garden stretched wide before me — a lazy collage of green and gold, with petals drifting quietly in the wind. The sound of the waves reached us in soft rhythm, like a heartbeat under the silence.
A butterfly landed on one of the nearby hydrangeas. The leaves rustled, and the faint laughter of the others echoed from somewhere behind the trees.
It was peaceful.
I looked down at Naoko. A stray strand of hair fell across her face, swaying lightly with each breath she took. She mumbled something — probably a dream — and her expression softened, as if she'd found something pleasant in her sleep.
"…You really can sleep anywhere, huh," I whispered, smiling faintly.
A small bird landed near my foot, tilting its head curiously at the two of us before hopping away again.
The sun dipped a little lower, turning everything into shades of orange and honey.
The breeze grew gentler as the sky deepened into late afternoon hues.
Shades of orange spilled across the garden, turning every leaf into glass kissed by the sun.
Naoko shifted slightly, her head brushing against my shoulder.
Her bangs fluttered with the wind, revealing a small, peaceful smile on her face.
For a second, I just sat there — watching her.
There was something strangely calming about it.
The way her hair caught the light, the faint movement of her eyelashes, the soft rhythm of her breathing… it all blended into the sounds of the sea behind us.
It felt… human. Warm.
Simple.
I didn't know what she was dreaming about — maybe something silly, maybe something sweet — but I found myself smiling anyway.
"Must be nice," I murmured under my breath. "Being able to rest like that."
A soft gust passed by again, brushing through her hair and across my cheek.
For a moment, I closed my eyes too — letting the sound of waves, rustling leaves, and distant laughter mix together.
No worries. No noise. Just the quiet rhythm of a day slowly ending.
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was dipping into the horizon, painting everything gold and calm.
Naoko was still asleep, her hand resting lightly on my sleeve — like she didn't want the moment to end.
I looked at her one more time, the corners of my mouth lifting without me realizing.
"…Guess we'll stay like this a little longer," I whispered.
And so we did — just two silhouettes under the fading light, wrapped in the quiet peace of a seaside afternoon.
Sometimes, peace doesn't need words.
It just happens — between the sound of waves, the soft warmth of sunlight, and the quiet heartbeat of someone sleeping beside you.
That morning started with laughter, teasing, and a dozen little misunderstandings.
But somehow… it ended like this.
Calm. Gentle. Almost too perfect to disturb.
Maybe that's just how life works.
You don't always plan the moments that matter — they just find you when you least expect them.
Naoko shifted again, mumbling something I couldn't quite catch.
Her voice was soft, like a dream trying to stay just a little longer.
I looked at the sea one last time before the day faded completely.
A small smile found its way to my lips.
"Yeah… maybe this isn't so bad after all."
As the wind carried the last hint of sunset across the waves, the world felt still —
and for a fleeting second, it was enough.