Maki-style Osechi complete
'But Ren was different, really different, on that day when I fell asleep in the classroom alone while Ren was fighting Geto. I felt like a pathetic weakling...
I couldn't even show my face to him, and before I could redeem myself, he had already moved away from me once again. He said he would text me and gave me his number, but other than "good morning" and "good night", we never really texted each other that much...
Not like he had any reason to text me anyway.
I was back in that state again, trying to move away from the people who made me feel things.
It was safer for me that way. It's still safer for me right now.'
Maki grabbed a spatula and pulled the potato fries from the bubbling oil, setting them carefully onto a plate.
'Or so I thought... when Ren finally came back, he was hurt. I was so angry at him because I had made him promise he wouldn't do something stupid or reckless again, and he broke it…
Wait, does he even remember that?'
A single drop of hot oil jumped from the pan and struck Maki's finger. She didn't flinch or wince; she only reached for a tissue and wiped it off with suffocating calmness…
'Ha... he probably forgot. Whenever he came back, that was all that mattered. I had night duty guarding him while he recovered. I acted like I hated it, and in a way, I did, because I knew I would start feeling things again.
But that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was just when I thought I'd had enough time away from him to stop those feelings...
She came. Mei Mei.'
Maki flipped the eggs in the pan before grabbing a patty and pressing it down. It hissed and sizzled, the steam rising around her. For a second, her eye twitched as her finger brushed the edge of the hot pan. She simply washed the digit under the tap and dried it.
'I couldn't think, couldn't speak, couldn't express how I felt when I saw her in his room. It was weird; for the first time in my life, I felt that way.
It wasn't anger, and it wasn't exactly sadness. It's something that stings even to this day. I found out the reason he wasn't texting me: he was with her.
Ren said, "We have been only dating for a month," which somehow made me feel better. Now that I think about it, I don't see her around him much lately. I don't even know if Ren is still dating Mei Mei or not... and I don't want to ask. I didn't dare ask something like that.'
She moved to the counter and sliced a loaf of bread in half, spreading the sauce she'd prepared over both sides of the bun. She took the cooked eggs out of the pan and replaced them with the buns, face down, letting the sauce and bread toast against the heat.
'Days went by. We trained. It was calm and nice, and then the Goodwill Event started. We were at a disadvantage with Ren being late and Hakari refusing to follow any plan, but it didn't matter.
I had grown stronger. And just then... I saw Mai.
She said she hated me.
And I said sorry.
Things have changed between us; she's grown distant, but I still said it.
Not for any grand reason, but because of that promise I made her.
I broke it.'
Maki pulled the buns from the pan. The sides with the sauce were warm, while the crusts were perfectly toasted.
'But that happened; it doesn't matter. I've already left Mai behind, and she hates me for it.
That day was annoying for so many reasons, mostly because Ren seemed down—almost lost. He looked like he was trapped inside his own head.
So I spoke some crap about believing in him, and he actually smiled.
He got out of that mood. It felt so good. I was so happy I hugged him; it felt so nice. We won the event, but seeing him smile... that was the real win.
But just when things were going nicely, my past caught up to me.'
Maki placed the patty on the bun and layered the vegetables on top with rapid, frantic movements. She stepped to the fridge, returned with a slice of cheese, and draped it over the meat before topping it with the eggs. She used her bare hands to close the burger while it was still on the hot pan. She had to shake her hands out afterward to dull the sting of the heat.
'Naobito, the head of the Zenin clan... the man form that family I tried to leave behind... gave me the first order he's ever given me. Normally, I would never listen, but it's him. He was the one who first let me leave the clan. Even though I dislike him, I can't disobey.
And even if I tried, he would still find a way to get what he wants. Every day, I feel myself getting closer to Ren. I feel myself falling for him again, even though I try to suppress it.
There is nothing I can do other than push him away fully.'
She pulled out a small black box. She tucked the fries into the corner and placed the burger inside.
'That's all I can do. That's all I've been doing. It's the best option for Ren. He doesn't deserve to be dragged into the mess I'm in.
I'll do what I have to for his sake; he won't get anything out of staying with me anyway.
I mean, logically, what am I even thinking? We live in different worlds. He is a genius, the youngest Special Grade, someone even the Zenin clan covets.
And who am I?
A nobody.
We aren't compatible at all.
Not to mention, Mei Mei is still there...'
Maki reached out; her fingers had been wrapped with small bandages. She shut the small black box with a firm click.