As they entered the kitchen, Arashi immediately tied an apron around his waist like he was preparing for battle.
He opened the fridge and scanned the ingredients calmly.
"We'll keep it simple," he said. "Soup, eggs, toast, and something warm for Mizuki."
Satoru leaned on the counter."Look at him acting like a professional chef after one YouTube video."
"I don't need a video," Arashi replied. "Just common sense."
Takumi picked up a tomato."So… what do I do?"
"Wash vegetables," Arashi said.
Ren raised a hand."And me?"
"…Don't touch the stove."
"Hey!"
Before Ren could protest, Satoru laughed."He's right. Last time you tried cooking, you almost burned water."
"That was one time!"
At first, things went smoothly.
Then Takumi tried cutting onions and immediately started tearing up.
"I'm not emotional," he sniffed. "The onion is attacking me."
Satoru smirked."Sure. Very tragic love story between you and the onion."
Meanwhile, Ren accidentally dropped a spoon, then another, then a lid.
The kitchen echoed with clattering sounds.
Arashi closed his eyes for a second."…I said no big tasks."
"We're helping!" Ren defended.
"You're surviving," Arashi corrected.
Despite the chaos, the food slowly came together.
A gentle, warm smell filled the kitchen.
Just as Arashi finished pouring soup into bowls, soft footsteps approached.
Mizuki appeared at the kitchen entrance.
Her hair was slightly messy from sleep, and she looked relaxed but still a bit weak.
Arashi noticed immediately.
"…You should be resting," he said.
"I was," she replied softly. "But it smelled good."
Satoru whispered to Takumi,"Man cooked one meal and already has an audience."
Takumi nodded seriously."True power."
Arashi ignored them.
He pulled out a chair."Sit. You're not allowed to help."
Mizuki smiled faintly."Bossy."
"You're recovering."
She sat down without arguing.
As Arashi placed the warm soup in front of her, she looked slightly surprised.
"You made this… for me?"
"For everyone," he said calmly.
Then after a tiny pause,"…But mainly something light for you."
Mizuki replies.
"But I just had my soup"
Arashi looks at her in the eyes and says.
"Yeah, I know. But you need to eat more. The doctor said you fainted because of weakness, so you should eat properly."
Her expression softened.
Mizuki quietly picked up the soup bowl.
She took a small sip.
"It's good," she said quietly. "It tastes gentle."
Satoru blinked."Tastes gentle? What does that even mean?"
Takumi nodded wisely."It means he passed."
Soon everyone gathered around the table.
The girls came downstairs, still talking among themselves.
Ayane immediately said,"Wow, it smells nice."
Miyu looked suspicious."Who cooked?"
Everyone pointed at Arashi.
Hina looked impressed."Seriously?"
Satoru added,"He didn't even sleep. This is dedication."
Mizuki looked at Arashi for a moment but didn't say anything.
She just smiled slightly.
They started eating.
For a moment, the table was quiet.
Then Ren said, surprised,"…This is actually really good."
Takumi nodded."I was ready to fake my reaction, but I don't need to."
Arashi sighed."Your honesty is unnecessary."
Mizuki quietly reached for the salt but couldn't reach it.
Before she asked, Arashi slid it toward her without looking.
She noticed.
"…You saw that?"
"You always reach with your left hand first," he said simply.
She blinked.
"You pay too much attention."
He replied calmly,"Only to important things."
For a second, she didn't know what to say.
Satoru loudly cleared his throat.
"Alright, that was smooth."
Miyu smirked."Very smooth."
Mizuki looked away, slightly embarrassed.
Arashi just kept eating like nothing happened.
When everyone finished, the table looked like a small battlefield of empty plates and crumbs.
Takumi leaned back."I'm full. I can't move."
Ayane agreed."If I stand up, I might fall over."
Ren stretched."That's the best meal I've had in a while."
Arashi quietly started collecting plates.
Mizuki noticed and stood up.
"I'll help."
He gave her a look."No."
"I'm not made of glass."
"You were unconscious yesterday."
She paused."…That's unfair to use against me."
He calmly took the plates from her hands anyway.
"Sit."
She stared at him for a moment, then sighed and obeyed.
Miyu whispered to Hina,"He's gentle but strict."
Hina smiled.
While the others relaxed in the living room, Mizuki eventually walked back to the kitchen for water.
She found Arashi rinsing dishes alone.
The morning sunlight from the window made the scene feel peaceful.
"You really didn't sleep?" she asked softly.
"Nope."
"…Why?"
He shrugged slightly."I wanted to make sure you were okay."
She looked down at the glass in her hands.
"You worry too much."
She hesitated, then said quietly,"Thank you… for staying."
Arashi stopped washing for a second.
"…You would've done the same."
She didn't deny it.
A small silence formed, but it wasn't awkward.
It was comfortable.
Then Satoru's voice came from the hallway:
"Are you two having a drama scene in there?"
Mizuki immediately stepped back."We're not!"
Satoru peeked in with a grin."Relax, I just came for water."
Arashi handed him a glass without reacting.
Mizuki quietly hid a smile.
The morning slowly filled with laughter, teasing, and warm food.
It wasn't a fancy breakfast.
It wasn't a special day.
But somehow, it felt peaceful.
Like a small moment none of them would forget.
And for the first time in a while, everyone felt at ease.